LowRyter

My grandma and your grandma Were sittin' by the fire My grandma told your grandma "I'm gonna set your flag on fire" Talkin' 'bout Hey now (Hey now) Hey now (Hey now) Iko, iko, un-day (Oh, oh-oh) Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né Jock-a-mo fee na-né (Note: I've been listening to a lot of Dr John on Pandora. Thinking about Fat Tuesday in '22) (heck maybe '21, I'm getting my shot this week)

Had the tap replaced in an emergency with straight fitting. Haven't replaced it, keep a cork to plug the tube now. Maybe get a plastic tube and drain the gas first. Stupid Guzzi pet cock.

I read his book, "Ghost Rider". It was a melancholy autobiographical story of grief, Canadian winters, drums, GS Beemers and scotch. And lots of nice people and travel. It was a great book. I tried to read his next book but couldn't get into it.

Took the Ducati out on Tuesday, very nice 63 out. Now it's in the 30s and the fireplace is burning (.....but had a cigar and a scotch today).

I never put my bike away. Looking to get up to near 60 early next week and 50s until next weekend's cold spot. I can usually find more comfortable days to ride this time a year than late July-early Aug. Of course, I'd rather be in Colorado then even with the afternoon rain showers there. This has been an unusual winter, the jet stream has angled south and we're getting the winter storms from the southwest which seem weird. This storm came straight from the south with rain/mix from the Mexico border (Rio Grande) all the way to Kansas. From here it's heading NE, snow north and rain south in it's path.

New Year in Okla. Snow and mix from the Rio Grande to Kansas. Only thing to do is stay in and have John's frittata and a Bloody Mary.

We shared the Scotch later in the day. (But as you know from our campouts I do like my scotch in a coffee cup.) The cup was given to me by the same friends that gave me the shirt. It is the "disappearing wives" of Henry VIII. Fill it with hot coffee and the wives fade to white outlines like ghosts. As the cup cools, they reappear. I also thought the image of King Henry holding court with a scotch and cigar seemed to go together.

Docc, I'll tell ya that my V11 makes 77 horses at the wheel. And those guys are Clydesdales. They ain't shetlands. OTOH, I don't know how many horses are in my Ducati but I'm thinking they are Thoroughbreds.

Docc, you look like a serious dude. ( I'm thinking it must be cold.)

The idea is give your wrist a rest when you feel it getting sore. And you only have to take it off for a minute or so, maybe 20 seconds. You don't have the issue with the left wrist since you can take it off the grip when you want to. Go on a long trip, especially on a long straight interstate, then you'll know.

Got my licence at 14. Then I got my car licence at 16 and there was no separate motorcycle endorsement then. Moved to Texas many years later, got my licence and needed an endorsement. Had to take a complete exam and riding test. During the test, the examiner would follow me and I had to turn left on a honk and right on two honks (or vice versa). Anyway turned the wrong way and flunked on the spot. A month or so later, went to another exam station across town, dang if I didn't get the same examiner! During that test, I was driving through a stop light intersection, and I'll be dang if a group folks jay walked right in front me me, then it was dilemma whether to stop or ease through them. I eased through and waited on the examiner. I tried to explain myself but he waved me away while he tallied the score. Somehow I had passed.

I have several throttle locks, the simplest, easiest to use and most reliable is the "clothespin style", one like this: https://www.wleodv.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=69377 It take all of about 30 seconds to install. Slip it over the throttle grip, make sure there is adequate tension, and then when you're riding, just slide it with your thumb on to the brake lever. (Just make sure you don't accidently slip it behind the brake lever.) I have a plastic one similar to this one. I also have an aluminum one from China that I never bothered to install. I have some more expensive ones that are more complex and never seem to work because they are always out of adjustment. These are $10-20 and sacrificial when they lose tension, although I'm using the same one a bought a couple of years ago.

I personally wouldn't ride due to Covid. And I wouldn't ride in Jan regardless. I probably wouldn't do a fly and ride unless I was very certain the bike was going to make it. Instead, I'd rent a bike trailer from UHaul which I've done on several occasions. Hopefully this bike has luggage. Make sure you have lots of layers of clothing and wet weather bike gear. At least a couple of different pairs of gloves. Bring some fuses and relays, some tools and a tire repair kit and compressor. If the tires are old, get them changed out before you travel. I'm not sure if this bike has 170 or 180 rear. If it's a 170 you may need to special order it. I'd also get a throttle lock so you can rest your right wrist for a minute or two before it hurts constantly. I-10 has FL panhandle, Gulf Coast and New Orleans on the way. Normally I would enjoy that if the weather was nice and I wasn't afraid of getting sick. I suppose I haven't hidden my feelings but since the topic was brought up...... So far as distance riding it, I find my 30 inch inseam to get a little cramped. I've ridden my Sport as far as N Carolina hills from OKC, and to Austin for a few trips and Arkansas for maybe more. So all of these were 350-450 mile days. Typically take a Tylenol or Advil before you go. Don't drink more that one cup of coffee. Hydrate properly. Eat light but often. Get off the bike and rest, particularly if your legs, back or wrists get cramped. Fatigue is the enemy, rest or stop.

Docc- check out these AGV for pricing. https://www.championhelmets.com/en/helmets/modular-helmets/agv-modular-helmets/ The Neotec 2 are now under $400 Euros ($480 USD).

Christmas bin berry beery guut to mi.

I'm good with my Neotec 2, got it for under $500 from Champion Helmets in Europe. Has ECE emblem on it. It's a little tight in the temple over a few hours' ride, hopeful it will break in. Compared to the original Neo, this needs to slam shut which is a difficult when you're riding with it open and attempt to close it. It might drag more air when it's open too. So far as quiet, I wear earplugs. I recommend earplugs along with other gear. I've heard Arai is the loudest helmet and Shoei are actually quieter. But modular helmet is going to be louder. The Arai's are featherlight and the best quality for little I've ridden them. The only gear I don't wear regularly are riding pants, for local travel I wear jeans (and I have regretted doing that on fall off).

Some Bilt items are better than Sedici. Even better than Alpinestars. But as a rule it's the lower end and cheaper stuff. Most important, get something comfortable and functional. If the cheaper gear works, that's good enough. If not, pay enough to get what you need. The next factor is how long it will last; you can check for quality when you purchase it but ultimately don't know until you own it. I don't have an inflatable vest. I think they make a lot of sense. For heat, like in Okla & TX, I have mesh gear. It works well. Mesh jacket and mesh over pants.

No problem Docc....... I've been sending thumb drives all over the country with all kinds of music.

Just a quick mention, for Christmas received and gave a few records. The new Springsteen and Dixie Chicks are quite good. The new Dylan was so-so.

I always did fine with a paper map, written instructions and a trip odometer.

I wouldn't attempt 180 miles any my bikes, including the V11 Sport. 140 is comfortable, 150 gets sketchy.

The Ducati Scrambler is a mild manner daily commuter. Several other models are standard, like the Monster, Hypermotard, Multi Strada, Diavale or my Supersport.

p6x- I would recommend that you get the Gas Buddy app on your phone. That'll show the gas stations and prices along your route. I think the Beeline App will show miles remaining on your phone. But you could also plot out the gas stations on your route as waypoints so they will countdown on the Beeline. And if you are riding a Spine Frame, I'd make sure that I had a gas station within 140 miles of my last fillup. Or for 125 miles for a pee break.

that's spooky.

If you have HBO check out David Byrne's "American Utopia". I'd like to see the show live. Spike Lee did the video. (One of the songs is done a second time by a marching band with opposite meaning.) Byrne appreciated that.