What is everyone up to - Spring 2011 Edition

[Beefmaster_Mark]

This forum has been mighty quiet!  What has everyone been up to lately?  Is anyone riding motorbikes any more?  Ha ha.

It seems like the only riding I've been doing lately has been pretty Long Beach - South Bay local.  Commuting about once every week and a half, and then weekend or evening rides around the PV peninsula or down to Huntington Beach.

In other news, I picked up a pair of Dainese boots.  They are awesome, but do have a different fit as compared with my Alpinestars.  Basically they are looser at the top unless you have leathers on or leather pants tucked in, at least.  They manage fine under jeans still.

http://www.dainese.com/us_en/motorbike/stiv-torque-pro-out.html?cat=125

[rwalterk]

Sweet boots!! Seriously, I love those things. I'm just chillin this weekend, and I've gone on the occasional solo ride here and there (went last Saturday to AFH). I need to get out there more. 

[aprilmaybe]

Nice boots! We actually just got back from a ride As long as the weather is decent we've been riding on Sundays. We actually saw someone try to evade last week and wind up in cuffs in front of Nukes. That was the excitement for the ride

My big news is that I finally officially own the Bonneville. I signed the paperwork on Tuesday 5/24 and the guy at South Bay Triumph wants to sell me a big bore kit!

I did this...
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_1105_kawasaki_ninja_250r_honda_cbr250r_hyosung_gt250r_comparison_test/index.html
Yes, there is actually a tiny picture on the last page.

That pretty much sums it all up. We need to get together for a ride soon...or dinner...or a ride and dinner

[wlk12]

Yes, there is actually a tiny picture on the last page.

Yes, there's a tiny picture of you on the bike, but where is the portrait shot???

Nothing new here. several drives in the Miata to San Diego County and other destinations. Bike riding has just been local occasional rides, eg Mt Baldy.

Ready for an SCLR ride anytime.

Bill K.

Ray, I'm not commenting on the boots since I know nothing about them

[JimT]

I've been riding as much as possible. I have Sunday Monday off now so a lot of Sunday rides.

I'm excited that we finally bought the Bonneville, its such a good bike plus it has like $4k worth of mods on it. The Monster got new Showa suspension, forks and shock, from an Ducati ST over the winter. I rode it today, it has totally transformed the bike!

SV 62K. The Aprilia has just over 5K now, I'm looking at getting some exhaust and maybe an Ohlins shock from a factory model for it.

So when is the "big" group ride going to be?

[Beefmaster_Mark]

Just returned from Mt. Baldy, Bill! I thought of you - next time I will try to contact you to do that ride, it was awesome!

Actually on Saturday, Carla and I drove up to the Crystal Lake area.  Unfortunately it was utterly socked in with clouds above about 5,000 feet, but we did manage a VERY cool hike to an area called Soldier Creek and Lewis Falls.  We did actually get up to Crystal Lake, but the fog was so thick you could barely see anything, including the water. 

Today (Monday) I went back up solo on the bike, back to Crystal Lake from Azusa Canyon - 39.  Today, it was clear and beautiful and gorgeous.  Went to where 39 is closed, then back down and across the East Fork (good GOD there were a zillion people up there!  They were all concentrated in the main two areas right off the road, of course). 

Immediately after the day camp area, where the road takes a sharp hairpin turn up and to the right, it cleared out.  I let two faster guys on bikes blow by me about a mile from there (never saw them after that), and continued all the way up to Baldy.  It was a very tight route and I gave up trying to go fast because I don't know the road and it is unpredictable.  No scary moments - very little debris for the whole ride today - but I took it a little slow.  Wow what a great ride - not sure why we haven't been riding up there sometimes!  Bill we have to go.

[wlk12]

I am soooo lucky to have those roads in my "backyard". And Mark, we've done them several times, probably before you were an SCLR regular.

Bill K.

[Cammie]

Mark, grats on the new boots....very cool article April....also, grats to both you and Jim on the Bonneville.  It's good to see both Bill and Ray check in and say hello.  I hope everyone is doing well.  Even though the board is quiet, I check in almost daily and it's nice to know you all are here.  O is commuting here and there.  I haven't been riding for almost a year now (I'm not counting riding around the neighborhood on the 250 as riding).  It would be nice to go on a shorter ride...maybe to Cook's Corner.  We should post up something like a short ride or dinner.  It would be nice to see all of you.

[zerog]

well, let's see... I haven't ridden in 2 years.  Really need to get my bike into running condition again since my car got totaled when someone rear-ended me at a red light.  But I've been too busy to get the bike running, but not busy enough that I am currently taking some sailing classes in Marina Del Rey

[aprilmaybe]

Cam--set up ride! Or if you want to do something low key I can meet up with you on Saterdays.

Yifan--yes, you need to get that poor ninja running! Have fun with the sailing classes a friend of mine went recently.


Big news in the local motorcycling world...

Angeles Crest Highway is finally opening in La Canada today!!!

[Beefmaster_Mark]

April and Jim, congrats on the Bonneville purchase!  I missed your post somehow.  I really do love that bike, and it's great that you got a good deal including the bonus items (especially that Arrow setup!!).

Cammie - I am down for a short/local ride if we plan it out with some form of advance notice. 

Carla and I are contemplating taking some sailing lessons in Long Beach.  We were going to do it up in MDR when we lived in Torrance, but LB is closer to us now.   

[zerog]

Alberto helped me get my bike running again last night.  Thanks man!  Now I need to get my feel back for the riding.

Also, I passed the first sailing class last week, so if anyone's interested, I could take you around the channel in Marina Del Ray in a little Capri sailboat (can't go outside of the barrier yet until I take some more classes).

[aprilmaybe]

That's awesome the bike is back.

[JC]

Well hi there.   I'm studying for the bar.  The test is at the end of July and then I'm going to move down to OC.  A few days and the warhorse should be ready to go - Just needs a battery and an oil change.   Maybe I'll see you all in August 

[rwalterk]

Well hi there.   I'm studying for the bar.  The test is at the end of July and then I'm going to move down to OC.  A few days and the warhorse should be ready to go - Just needs a battery and an oil change.   Maybe I'll see you all in August 

W....T....F....  it's JC!!! Good luck on the bar and don't be such a stranger! Speaking of the bar, I'd like to remind everyone that I once witnessed you breaking two laws at the same time.