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DanTheMan
Guest
I installed my new Pirelli Scorpion MT90 rear tire Sunday, and while doing that I discovered my rear brake pads were in need of replacement, so I picked up new ones at the local dealership (30 miles south) on Monday afternoon on the way to practice with a pit orchestra I'm playing in that's in the same town. Bear with me now, this is just a lead in to my story here.............I couldn't ride the bike to check out the new tire on Sunday or Monday, so, yesterday morning I installed the new brakes and put my cheap too small Chinese saddlebags back on, and went over to my son's house in my truck (it was pouring down rain) to help him install drywall. When I returned home in the afternoon I worked in my shop until about time to go south to Brainerd again for orchestra practice.
The sky had somewhat cleared up, only a little drizzle, and it was a balmy 44 deg. F so, I donned all my gear (fleece lined jeans, cotton t-shirt, hoodie sweatshirt, leather vest, AeroStich roadcrafter suit, down vest over that, my regular riding boots, baklava, helmet, and warm gloves), and set out for my ride to Brainerd. It was about 4:30 pm, traffic was pretty light, I rode rather gingerly on the new tire not doing any quick maneuvers or fancy cornering as I wanted to be rid of the mold release agents on the new tire. It rained and drizzled all the way down to Brainerd, the bike handled well, the roar I'd been hearing from the rear was gone, my old Pirelli was a slightly different size than my new one, I'd tried out a 130 radial instead of the bias ply 120, don't guess I'll use them anymore. As the wider tire wore down, it got noisier due to the unworn lugs on the corners (too much straight, flat road riding......note to self: gotta ride more of those twisty roads right out my back door.....), anyway, I got to the stoplight on the north end of the Baxter/Brainerd conglomeration, and as I was waiting at the light in the drizzling rain, a girl in the car next to me, in the left turn lane, looked over at me and gave me this incredulous look, wondering what this crazy guy was doing on such a chilly, wet day, on a motorcycle. I just grinned, gave her a thumbs up, she got out her handy cell phone, and was taking pictures as I rode away to my practice.
After the play practice was done, I dressed in all my warm gear again (everybody at practice was quite impressed too, or convinced that the bass player really is crazy
), and rode home. The moon was peaking out from behind the clouds, it was down to 41 deg., the bike ran perfectly, grip heaters and fairing lowers are sure nice.........I followed a car most of the way home so if any of those four legged vermin with or without antlers ran out in front of me the car would get it first, and hopefully I could avoid it.
All in all, it was a nice ride, but I was the only motorcycle on the road, never saw another one either going there or riding home. Doing it again tonight, hasn't been raining today, should be an even better ride.
The sky had somewhat cleared up, only a little drizzle, and it was a balmy 44 deg. F so, I donned all my gear (fleece lined jeans, cotton t-shirt, hoodie sweatshirt, leather vest, AeroStich roadcrafter suit, down vest over that, my regular riding boots, baklava, helmet, and warm gloves), and set out for my ride to Brainerd. It was about 4:30 pm, traffic was pretty light, I rode rather gingerly on the new tire not doing any quick maneuvers or fancy cornering as I wanted to be rid of the mold release agents on the new tire. It rained and drizzled all the way down to Brainerd, the bike handled well, the roar I'd been hearing from the rear was gone, my old Pirelli was a slightly different size than my new one, I'd tried out a 130 radial instead of the bias ply 120, don't guess I'll use them anymore. As the wider tire wore down, it got noisier due to the unworn lugs on the corners (too much straight, flat road riding......note to self: gotta ride more of those twisty roads right out my back door.....), anyway, I got to the stoplight on the north end of the Baxter/Brainerd conglomeration, and as I was waiting at the light in the drizzling rain, a girl in the car next to me, in the left turn lane, looked over at me and gave me this incredulous look, wondering what this crazy guy was doing on such a chilly, wet day, on a motorcycle. I just grinned, gave her a thumbs up, she got out her handy cell phone, and was taking pictures as I rode away to my practice.
After the play practice was done, I dressed in all my warm gear again (everybody at practice was quite impressed too, or convinced that the bass player really is crazy
), and rode home. The moon was peaking out from behind the clouds, it was down to 41 deg., the bike ran perfectly, grip heaters and fairing lowers are sure nice.........I followed a car most of the way home so if any of those four legged vermin with or without antlers ran out in front of me the car would get it first, and hopefully I could avoid it.All in all, it was a nice ride, but I was the only motorcycle on the road, never saw another one either going there or riding home. Doing it again tonight, hasn't been raining today, should be an even better ride.
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I had to put the liner in my jacket before I went for a ride late this afternoon. It was sunny, upper 50's here in Chicago. Beautiful day to ride. Worse, I scurried home before the sun went down.
)
don't know why I didn't figure that out earlier 
