Tonight's post isn't going to have anything to do with customizing motorcycles or motorcycle maintenance, as I post frequently enough on those topics. So today I'll mention the two rides I did this weekend and later I'll try to update or post a photo album from Saturday's ride.
Saturday was a busy day in San Diego County for motorcyclists, as it always seems to be. First, John "SoLow Cali" So's viewing and memorial were happening. Lots of the sportbike riding scene was going to be doing that, but due to other commitments and illness I decided to let my brothers in the Godspeed CMA chapter cover the services. Another event I couldn't make was "BACA by the Bay", an event by Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA). This is a family event supported by many clubs, groups and riders, and I know a few of the BACA guys and gals and think highly of them too. While it would have been fun to check it out, as a multi-day camp-out, just "dropping in" sometimes isn't good form. The third big event was the 17th Annual May Ride, AKA Clint Black's May Ride 17, and a bunch of other names.
Put on by local on-air personality Clint August and hosted by Biggs Harley-Davidson, this is a huge event honoring military personnel in San Diego and deployed, and this year due to our recent firestorm first responders. It is a poker run/bike show/car show/vendor fair/live music extravaganza and the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) was going to have a booth again this year. Since it's tough to keep a booth manned all day, especially as hot as it gets on asphalt when we've had a Santa Anna, I volunteered to be afternoon relief and help tear down. So I didn't do the poker run, which was ok as I never do well (pair of 8s, again?!!?) I got there a little before noon and it was already packed. The first group from the poker run had come back in and there were already 50-100 bikes in the parking lot. Ha ha ha foolish me-before long it would be packed with 6 rows of bikes, probably about 500-600 in all. Vendors of all sorts were there-clubs, clothing, motorcycle accessories, fundraisers, games for the kids, food. Oh yeah, food! Mike's BBQ, cookies, cupcakes and sno cones were all available, plus raffle prizes. Biggs had all their bikes on display and the service bay was very busy as well. Great event and I look forward to participating every year from now on. I rode my 1999 Sportster to Bigg's from the house, about a 45 or so mile round trip with some earlier riding and the bike ran great.
Today I took a three-hundred mile ride up to San Luis Obispo on the Kawasaki Concours, the "Connie" or Miss Swail. This is the bike with the oil leak (she's been parked next to a Sportster too long I guess!) but seems to run just fine if I check the oil and top it off every now and then. Since this was a longer trip than I like to make on the Sporty, I gave it a shot, and wasn't disappointed. The bike never over-heated and ran like a champ. I was able to get off the interstate about 1/3 the way up and rode State 154 for the first time. Once past some slow traffic it was a great ride, and despite a fuel gauge approaching "E" I made it fine. I got about 250 miles of mainly freeway speed riding out of the tank before going on reserve and was able to get to a gas station 10 miles later, so no worries there. The new highway pegs worked great, and along with the throttle lock make the bike pretty much set-up for a potential Iron Butt ride. 300 miles didn't seem to be too bad, but I'm a little sore tonight so I'll keep that in mind as I consider the Iron Butt. I'd recommend using 101 and 154 to get up the western side of California, but be aware 154 does have some 1 lane areas that are slow if in traffic.
That's all for tonight, hope you had good safe rides this weekend as well!
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