A 'lovely' day for a ride in Chicago

[chicagorandy]

Just back from a few hours well spent on a gray December day just ridin' around. It being the 13th of December and this being Chicago, temps in the 40s and a very mild mist are a fair price to pay for what may be one of the last rides I can make this season before mandatory (for me) two-wheel hibernation.

Just in case this was the last one, I filled the tank and Sea-Foamed the snot out of it a couple miles from home,so other than bringing the battery in and putting it on its maintenance charger, I'm ready for whatever Mother Nature opts to dish out.

And yes.... it felt GREAT to be out there on one of the very few cycles to be seen on the roads.

[cushman eagle]

I don't know how you got that warm of a day just isn't fair, .we only got to 33 and mist .Weatherman says we will get to 43 tomorrow .We will see if I get to ride.

[chicagorandy]

We must be livin' right - lol

I've been watching the weather forecasts for weeks just waiting for a brief riding window.

[Lucasind]

..... Hoping your Chicago weather is heading this way.....we are told near 50 for sunday .... and all the way to a possible blistering 53 for monday..... that's great for December around here ! if it comes true, I'm going out riding .... what the heck....the XII is still filthy from 2 weeks ago anyway ! as the airlift has been occupied with the latest project,... the XII has been totally neglected

[ghostler]

Here in NM its been riding weather for the past week. With highs in the 50's I've been out every day except today (gusts to 65 mph). It's been an exceptionally warm December.

[chicagorandy]

Today it hit 50F so again I took the opportunity to ride for a few hours. Cloudy, foggy and humid so the roads were slightly damp but the bike ran like a champ.

I am really enjoying the quiet but substantial power increase and solid handling over my '82 Honda GL500I. I suspect that it will hit the local Craigslist come next Spring.

[Lucasind]

....Hit 56 here in toledo today... got out for a short (but fun) 25 mile ride after work,'starts getting dark (then cold) after 5:00 but what are ya gonna do. We got out and ran the XII, the ZRX 1100,
and ninja 1400 F/I, all ran great ! We stopped at a diner for a bite to eat then headed home,this time of year ya gotta take an opportunity when given ! ,we could be buried in snow at any time

[cushman eagle]

Got a chance to put 31 miles on the VXII on a business run ,got home, and the Cushman seemed disappointed , so I took a 4 mile out of the way ride on it to work .Then rode it home after work.

[ghostler]

This and last week been riding my Voyager XII back and forth to "work" as a volunteer Salvation Army bell ringer on sax at Walgreens Pharmacy.



Tough job but someone has to do it.

[Lucasind]

....Awesome Ghostler ! ...god bless ya for that !

[kjsett]

....Awesome Ghostler ! ...god bless ya for that !

I agree.
Rode in this morning, but next week don't think I will trust the mountains between here and Albuquerque to not snow, so the 4wd PU (98 Dodge Ram w/Cummins) will be Santa's sled to see our grandchildren (about 3 hrs from you). Forecast (long range) says snow the day before we leave from Phoenix, then snow the day after Christmas. (no, not in Phoenix, over in Edgewood, NM, just the other side of Albuquerque)
Blessings on you and yours,
Ken & Family

[chicagorandy]

The weather gods again smiled upon us today, so I took a SWEET 4 hour late-December ride through the local forest preserves and back roads. And as always this time of year, filled the tank and added some SeaFoam on the way home.

[ghostler]

Thanks, all. Our chapter put in 93 hours bell ringing at Walgreens Pharmacy, Clovis, NM. They're a good bunch.

[kjsett]

Thanks, all. Our chapter put in 93 hours bell ringing at Walgreens Pharmacy, Clovis, NM. They're a good bunch.

My son saw you there and waited to introduce himself, but you never paused to take a break.

Blessings upon you and everyone there who contributed.
Oh, and weather and possibility of single digit weather required we take the 4x4 PU.
Merry Christmas to all and to all another year of great riding.

Ken and family (at Edgewood, NM for Christmas).

[ghostler]

My son saw you there and waited to introduce himself, but you never paused to take a break. Blessings upon you and everyone there who contributed. Oh, and weather and possibility of single digit weather required we take the 4x4 PU. Merry Christmas to all and to all another year of great riding. Ken and family (at Edgewood, NM for Christmas).

Ken, my apologies. I'm used to playing for 4 hours straight on the sax, and to help out the Salvation Army, found that people gave the most when I was playing. I'd take a break say of 5 minutes after playing an hour, but then would have people approach me asking when I would be playing, go figure.

I did stop and talk to people who came up to me. There were people who'd stand in the background and listen, I might have mistaken your son for one of those. I don't know what your son looks like, so wouldn't have a clue who that might have been.

[kjsett]

My son saw you there and waited to introduce himself, but you never paused to take a break. Blessings upon you and everyone there who contributed. Oh, and weather and possibility of single digit weather required we take the 4x4 PU. Merry Christmas to all and to all another year of great riding. Ken and family (at Edgewood, NM for Christmas).

Ken, my apologies. I'm used to playing for 4 hours straight on the sax, and to help out the Salvation Army, found that people gave the most when I was playing. I'd take a break say of 5 minutes after playing an hour, but then would have people approach me asking when I would be playing, go figure.

I did stop and talk to people who came up to me. There were people who'd stand in the background and listen, I might have mistaken your son for one of those. I don't know what your son looks like, so wouldn't have a clue who that might have been.

No worries!
He was the one who got the Voyager and then passed it on to me, so I credit him with my being involved with this great group of people.
Maybe someday you will meet (rides a black and white Triumph Rocket 3 touring now). Works there on the base at the 20th AV Aircraft Maintenance Unit. Maybe I'll post a pic soon.
Again, Merry Christmas,
Ken