anyone go for a ride today? Pics?

[alke46]

Don't you love when old bikes come back into your life? I thought I was happy when I got the chance to buy my B-King back but when I scored my old 2012 Thruxton a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't have been happier! I really love this bike, so nice to have it back! So nice to be able to do my birthday ride on it today too! :applause:

Oh yeah, that is one nice looking bike. I too like the looks of the Thruxton and maybe this year I will finally get to test ride one.

Happy Birthday by the way.

 

[Hayabuser]

Exciting.
How did that happen?

Happy Birthday.

When I sold it, I was guaranteed first right of refusal if the new owner ever decided to part with it. You see, the only reason I let it go in the first place is I had found myself suddenly out of work and liquidating some of my motorcycles was the quickest way that I could raise some money. I sold a ZX14 at the same time.

That was 2014.

Back in January, I received an e-mail from the then-current owner saying that it was time for him to sell and was I still interested? Obviously I was but he didn't have a price in mind at that point and wanted a bit of time to work that out. Two months passed with no word so I presumed that he'd changed his mind and decided to keep it, until it popped up on a local online classifieds website priced almost a grand more than I had sold it to him for... four years prior. I sent a reply to the ad asking if my first right of refusal was still valid, but he didn't respond. Two days later, the ad was marked as SOLD and disappeared. I was pretty choked. Within 24 hours however, the bike re-appeared on the same site (UsedVictoria.com, for those interested) but this time for less money and being sold by the local BMW dealership.

The same dealership at which I used to work!

As luck would have it, my friend still works at the Motorrad shop and had recently been promoted to General Manager, so I sent him a message and relayed my story and he replied with "Well buy it from me!". I asked for his best cash price and when he gave it to me, it was the proverbial offer that I couldn't refuse. Less than I what I had sold it for in 2014 and less than I was prepared to pay to get it back. Some times things just work out the way that they should!

The icing on the cake? Island BMW delivered it to my house in their shop van so props to them! All in all, a fantastic reunion with my old love.

 

[Boriqua]

Went out for a ride yesterday with the wife. Ohhhhh the new chain and clutch cable make it so silky smooth but I had the strangest experience. Came across a low lying black cloud which was a swarm of bees. I mean the air was almost black. I tucked my head down and bapp bapp bapp bapp as the bugs were bouncing off my freshly cleaned bike and my bubble shield. Another 10 yards and another cloud of bugs. Bap Bapp bapp

At the time I didnt notice it was bees but I have been riding out here for a dozen years and had never run through large bugs. Knats and such yea but never a large cloud of large bugs. I get to a place where I can pull over and assess and my hands and arms were sticky and there were dead and half dead bees stuck to my cloths. I had to chase my wife off the bike and start swatting half dead bees off her that were still crawling on her jacket.

It was TRIPPY!!

Arizona loses a couple of people each year to bee attacks and with spring coming maybe this group was moving but .... looking down and having my shirt full of half dead bees was disconcerting!!

 

[Burque73]

That's crazy! We ran through a similar cloud in NM. Sounded like driving through a hail storm. We had a car though, couldn't imagine if we were on the bike.

 

[Boriqua]

That's crazy! We ran through a similar cloud in NM. Sounded like driving through a hail storm. We had a car though, couldn't imagine if we were on the bike.

That is perfect ... that is exactly what it sounded like .. Hail .. I never wanted a full face helmet so bad in all my life. Being all sticky and then having to swat the bees off my wife was ... well another one of those things that makes you wonder if we are all Crazy!!

Still ... I cant imagine not riding.

 

[Redman]

................
........... Some times things just work out the way that they should!...........

Sure did that time.

 

[Jedz123]

IN the 30's today but grabbed 70ish miles... Nice to ride on the not so great roads on the little 250 today!

Come on Spring!!!!

 

[Boriqua]

That is perfect ... that is exactly what it sounded like .. Hail .. I never wanted a full face helmet so bad in all my life. Being all sticky and then having to swat the bees off my wife was ... well another one of those things that makes you wonder if we are all Crazy!!

Still ... I cant imagine not riding.

alright so I went out to check on something else and happened to glance at my headlight. Between the tiny crack between the headlight and trim ... 5 bees who met their maker. Front end covered in bee glop...

Now over the years I have been through all sorts of torrential downpours, ridden regularly in the snow, Dust storms so bad you had to pull off the road, Baked under 120 degree heat, rode when it was below freezing ..... but never ever never once did I drive straight through a full on swarm of bees. A true WTH moment if there ever was one.

 

[Jedz123]

31' when I left the house... It's riding season!!!

B-12 is out and running great! New PR4GT tires, pads, SS lines, fork seals, fork boots, Givi rack and plate landed yesterday and I'll be going through it all this weekend so she's ready for inspection next week! New plate on it yesterday. This slug will be my primary motorcycle this season.

 

[storm 64]

Looking good Jedz, I'm glad you're not going to drag that HD around all summer.

 

[Jedz123]

Looking good Jedz, I'm glad you're not going to drag that HD around all summer. 

I'll be slabbing to Indiana on the B-12 this year... I trust it, the XR-12 I can't trust. 7 instances of break down or semi-critical issues in 2.5K miles...
Sad my 20 year old Suzuki is worlds ahead in reliability, also it's way more comfy and stupid fast...

 

[earlfor]

I'll be slabbing to Indiana on the B-12 this year... I trust it, the XR-12 I can't trust. 7 instances of break down or semi-critical issues in 2.5K miles...
Sad my 20 year old Suzuki is worlds ahead in reliability, also it's way more comfy and stupid fast...

I'm glad you FINALLY figured out which is the GOOD bike. LMAO

 

[Redman]

31' when I left the house... It's riding season!!!..................

I would have said that 20-25 years ago. (Typically started riding to work some in March.)
Now I say, "has rained enough in recent days to wash salt off roads, is getting close to riding season, will be out for some short rides soon...."

I'll be slabbing to Indiana on the B-12 this year... .....
...

Will be good to see you.
(although, I suspect, maybe slab to Ohio, then Norm & Steve might have some interesting roads from there.)

.

 

[storm 64]

From my house we'll slab it to Steve's house. We don't want to be late for Steve's tour of his ultimate motorcycle shop, or lunch that Mrs Steve(graciously) has to offer. Then we just follow Steve to Bedford.

 

[Jedz123]

I'm glad you FINALLY figured out which is the GOOD bike. LMAO

I've always known but I'm not going to be a hypocrite and mock HD and never have own one.

Now that I have I know better. Hahah

 

[Jedz123]

I would have said that 20-25 years ago. (Typically started riding to work some in March.)
Now I say, "has rained enough in recent days to wash salt off roads, is getting close to riding season, will be out for some short rides soon...."




Will be good to see you.
(although, I suspect, maybe slab to Ohio, then Norm & Steve might have some interesting roads from there.)

.

Poured on the way home today... Not so fun when it 44'. Haha back in the saddle is good, rain or shine... Cold is tough but still worth it!

I am very very excited to ride with all you cats!

From my house we'll slab it to Steve's house. We don't want to be late for Steve's tour of his ultimate motorcycle shop, or lunch that Mrs Steve(graciously) has to offer. Then we just follow Steve to Bedford.

Slabbing is fine. I'll be on the B-12 it will keep up just fine with the FJR!.. hopefully! Hahaha

 

[Downs]

Short 2 hour ride looping up to Bonham SP and back. Rescued a turtle from the middle of the road and found historical cemeteries every 10 miles it seemed. Found an abandoned county road in Fanin county. Was going to explore it but lots of recent rain and being alone I decided to stick to pavement today. Rounded it out woth a cold one at Corner Street Pub.

 

[Downs]

 

[Guest]

Looks like a really nice ride Downs. We're still waiting for warmer weather up here in Michigan. I lived in Austin and San Antonio for a total of about 23 years; lots of great roads for riding in Central Texas. Thanks for sharing!

Scott

 

[cowboyup3371]

Does riding and leaning in the car count? I was on a gorgeous winding road in Tennessee this morning - State hwy 230 - and spent the entire 10-20 miles leaning from one side of the car to the other. I’d like to go check it and any others down there out on the bike some day