Rain rain and more rain

It started off as a clear day and I had high hopes that I would miss the rain. The first hour wasn't bad and then the proverbial poop hit the fan. At the new york border it started to rain and then it started to pour, then it tapered off, then it rained some more. And some more. I thought I would get a break by stopping at my favorite diner but they were closed. Back into the rain I went. Now it was just a death march to get to Jay's house and a warm shower. That's when disaster struck, The driver in another car gestured to me that I was losing the pack on the back of the bike. I pulled over to find my tent in my sleeping pad for history. I went back about 5 miles in retraced my steps thinking thatI the missing pieces couldn't have fallen off too much before the guy told me. They have either fallen off long before or they were off in the bushes were I couldn't find them. Back to the road in onward to Jay's. Chili and cornbread will make you forget a lot of things Is certainly improve my spirits immensely. Now for a good night sleep and back into the rain predicted for tomorrow.

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Cross Country Trip 2011

The Bike - 1983 CB1100F

The Plan - US Route 6 - CT to CA

I was going to fly out to Calif to see my parents when I suddenly became unemployed. Too good an opportunity to pass up I thought. Jet Blue said that I could change my reservations for a small fee ($100) but that it would be cheaper to just not show up for the flight west and then use the eastbound half of the ticket. You have to love airline thinking.

My first choice was my NX650 but then my friend Paul called me and told me about this cool bike that I had to go see. I went, I saw, I bought! The CB1100F is an old school UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle). Inline 4 cylinder engine, long wheelbase, upright seating. It has power everywhere, not hot rod power but smooth, effortless power everywhere in the rev range. At 586 pounds it's not "flickable" but it is rock solid once you set it up for a curve and is agile enough for spirited riding in the twisties. Add a comfy seat and a tiny wind screen and it just begs to eat the miles.

US Route 6 runs from Provincetown MA to Los Angeles CA. This was the main way to get from New England to the west coast before there were interstates. Unlike Rt 66 most of it still exists and is a trip back into an earlier America. I've ridden parts of it but never the entire length. This time I will.

I've got a couple of friends to see along the way but I have no reservations or time schedule other than being in Yosemite by the 16th. Some days may be fast, others may be short. I'll be camping whenever I can but I've always been a sucker for a '50's style motel.

I'll keep posting progress here each day. Stay tuned for more adventure.
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Choices

I knew I had made a good choice 20 years ago when she suggested a better cleaner instead of having a hizzyfit about the MX boots in the kitchen sink.

Test 3

Yet another test

Test 2

This is a test from my phone with a picture of the nx650

test post

This the first test post with a picture of the trip bike.

--
J. Braun
Amston CT USA
xl600v <at> gmail <dot> com

Speed is not a four letter word!

Free Magazine

Roadgear is having another promotion with Motorcyclist magazine. Free subscription for the first 10,000 people to sign up.

Here is the link http://roadgear.com//-i-111.html

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New Bike

1982 CB1100F

 

586 pounds of motor! Doesn't matter what gear you're in, when you twist the grip it takes off like a jet fighter. In the twisties it's not exactly flickable but it's solid and stable which inspires confidence.

On 6 Sept I'll be leaving for San Francisco on this. I'll be taking the old US Route 6 across country. I'll be posting pictures and stories along the way. Stay tuned.

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Sounds like fun

This guy is really good!



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All Grown Up

 

My brother's daughter got married this weekend. How time passes. It's a cliche but it seems like only yesterday that she and her friends were piling into the back of my pickup so we could sneak down to the lake for ice cream. I don't think we really fooled her mother but it was great fun pretending.

Now she's married to Michael and I'm a fond memory in the rear view mirror.

Congratulations to them and Bon Voyage.

Life is a wild ride!

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What are you doing on the 21st? - City Version

If you can't or don't want to come out to the country and ride in the Tiddler Tour there is the Velocity show in Brooklyn.

Details are here. I've attended this in the past and always had a good time. There are plenty of interesting bikes, great people watching, and good food and drink. Unfortunately, I can't be at this and the TT both. Darn!

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Ugly bikes

When punk music first came out it was a revolt against disco and the over-produced housewife rock of the times. However, it was soon a genre of me-too mediocrity.

The bobbers, cafe bikes, and rat rods are following the same path. There is certainly a lot of great workmanship going into some of these bikes but, to me, it's all looking the same and getting pretty boring. Check out a few of them here and make up your own mind which are the ones that really stand out.

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What are you doing on the 21st?

3rd Annual New England Fall Tiddler Tour 

21 August 2011 - 10am side stands up

150 Kinney Rd Amston CT 06231

Dale Hoyt has created a ride through the CT countryside that promises to be interesting. Bring a tank bag or route sheet holder. Or just follow the rider in front of you and get lost together. 

This year's TT coincides with the Annual Brit Jam meet. There will be special display parking for the Tiddler riders. Every year the Brit Jam club gives away a restored bike. This year it's a 1970 BSA 650. Can you shift with your right toe?

BBQ Chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks back at the start after the ride.

Be There, or Be Square!

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What are you doing on the 20th

Nothing here about motorcycles unless you're riding your Henderson Super to the event.


GELBER & MANNING IN PICTURES - trailer from JAMES LESTER on Vimeo.

It looks like a lot of fun

THE 6TH BI-ANNUAL JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY ON GOVERNORS ISLAND
 SATURDAY & SUNDAY AUGUST 20TH & 21ST, 2011
http://www.eventbee.com/v/jazzagelawnparty

Here's pictures and videos of previous years.
http://dreamlandorchestra.com/music.php

Here's another act that will be there
http://gelberandmanning.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=171

We can bring our croquette set.

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Girls just want to have fun!

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Road Runner Cartoon

Nothing is more fun than a Road Runner cartoon unless it's a Road Runner cartoon with motorcycles. Watch it here.

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It’s Official: MS Internet Explorer Users Have a Lower IQ!

This has nothing to do with motorcycles, but as a web developer for many years this confirms my suspicions and pleases me no end.

A recent survey by AptiQuant, a psychometric consulting company based in Canada, has concluded that Internet Explorer users have a lower Intelligence Quotient than users of other browsers. Those with IE6 scored little over 80. Firefox, Chrome and Safari users fared better at 110. The most intelligent people — with an average IQ of 125 — use Opera (that’ll please their marketing department!)

The 2011 assessment sampled 101,326 individuals over the age of 16 from the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. The company offered a free IQ test which most participants found via organic search results or PPC advertising campaigns. Subjects were not aware their browser preference was being monitored.
The researchers observed:

• IE users had a significantly lower IQ.
• There was little difference in the IQ for Firefox, Chrome and Safari users.
• Individuals using Opera, Camino, and IE with Chrome Frame had the highest average IQ.

You can read the rest of the article at SitePoint:

It's Official: IE Users Have a Lower IQ! by

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Ride or Die?

The wide angle lens makes the trail seem much narrower than it is but that is not to take anything away from these guys. Funny how it seems safer when there are bushes on the side of the trail even though the drop is the same.

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Write or Ride - What would you do?

I admit that it's hard to write anything when the weather's great, a friend comes over with a dirt bike and I've found a whole new area a hour from my house.

 
Yes, that's a 40 year old Yamaha DT-1 250cc. Nothing stopped it which is a tribute to the great engineering that went into to it.

The only problem we had was ween Jason missed cresting a hill climb and bumped into a tree as he worked his way back down. That disturbed a hornet's nest and we were quickly running away from the stinging swarm. We stood around at a good distance for several minutes until they calmed down before going back to get the bike.
 
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Unemployed Again

 Alas, my project was canceled and I have time to blog again. New and improved as this is now reformatted to fit mobile devices.

So, if anyone is still out there, I'll be back online with new and views of whatever comes my way.

Stay tuned.

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