First Poker Run today.
Never did a group ride like this before. Wouldn’t have done it but it was to raise funds to offset medical costs for my wife’s cousin, recently diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Young, 47, chief of police and mayor of small town where we’re from. Her name is Nikki. Great person, terrific mom.
Never been a fan of group rides, especially when the objective is to stop at numerous bars. I don’t drink when I ride. Would rather have all my faculties. I’ll have a beer when the ride is done. Not judging. I just don’t want to be involved in someone else’s drunken mishap. Everyone today seemed well behaved. It wasn’t a big parade type of ride. You rode by yourself or with your group of friends, at your own pace, visiting the bars in whatever order you want to pick your cards. Prizes to be awarded for best and worst hands. I had no idea what a poker run was. Had to look it up. I have no friends who ride at the event, but did chat with 2 couples on 2 HDs at registration. We rode together to the next bar. As I had GPS, I lead.
20 miles into this first leg of the ride, I was really hammering the throttle up a straight mountain incline. All of a sudden, I felt my bike’s engine power go sorta limp. Didn’t die. Kept running. Just became gutless. Great, just as I was getting into the most exciting part of the trip. I know this twisty mountain road like the back of my hand. Travelled it hundreds of times by car in my teens to get to work. I was about to leave the HDs In my dust or at least show them some great corner carving. Nope. It wasn’t meant to be. Bike was down on power. Taking off from stop signs became tricky, requiring much clutch feathering. The HD driver that was behind me said he saw white/blue smoke from my exhaust going up that hill. We parted ways after this. Or rather, they didn’t look for me before taking off for their next stop. I did chat a while with an older gentleman about his 2022 Triumph Rocket III.
I rode by myself the rest of the day. All the while debating whether to just head home. Made it to the third bar, in my hometown, where I chatted with Nikki’s brother Kerry, who was dealing the cards at that stop. Kerry owns and operates a body shop/towing company. He made sure I had his cell number in case my bike died somewhere in my travels. I thanked him and hoped I wouldn’t need it. Then took off for the fourth bar, just 10 miles away. Made it. Picked my card at the bar and took the pic below.
Left for the fifth bar, same as the first. Filled up gas. Hoping beyond any reason that maybe I just got bad gas in the morning on my way out. I’m not that lucky. On this stretch. I got to a long flat straight stretch, and gently laid on the throttle. 75mph was my top speed. Uggh. I finally made it to last stop. Picked my card. I could very well win worst hand. Oh, well. I sat by myself, and had a very good cheesesteak and French fries. Chatted with an older HD rider in the parking lot about his ‘82 GS650G that he hasn’t ridden in years.
Probably about 200 vehicles involved today. Only a handful of Jap, British, German, Italian mostly modern bikes. Mostly HDs, of course. Second in number, quite a few cam-am three wheeled type vehicles. Some very nice classic cars, like an incredible looking customized ‘37 Ford Coupe (according to Kerry) sorry I didn’t get a pic. And this sweet Gran Torino, with my bike behind it.
I’ve been burning oil since at least the start of summer. My guess is I need new valve stem seals. I’ll start a thread after I check my plugs and some other things and see what I can see. I’m just glad I made it home. Just shy of 250 miles of mostly great roads. Too bad I couldn’t really enjoy it. Weather was great. Now I’m enjoying a beer or two, as much as I can while contemplating the end of my riding season.
Whatever the issues with my bike, I know my friends here will help me get it squared away.
This ended up being a much longer post than intended. Congrats if you made it to the end.
