1st ride in 2021

[cushman eagle]

I finally got my first ride in 2021
I only got 20 miles, as it was overcast,humid and only 44 out,but it sure felt good to be back on the VXII ,after not being on since 12/13/20.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Loren, 11 weeks of winter and your back on the roads! Crazy man, hope you kept a eye on the road debris/anti-skid material that was broadcast all winter long.
I still have 3 weeks left of wearing a cast on my right arm so no road time for me, at the moment that is. Once I get the go ahead I'll try to start clocking some miles.
Congrats on hitting the blacktop and getting 20 miles in, many can only hope for that much while staring out the front window at the snow!!!!

[ekap1200]

Hello from New Jersey.. Well not my first ride of the new year, but a big surprise hit NJ at about 3:00 pm on Sat.. Against the weather forecast of rain all weekend long , the sun came out and blue skies appeared . I could not get my gear on quick enough... I had stopped raining for about 2hrs here and the roads were dry . I did not stop , and headed toward the clear open sky , and rode the back roads until dusk. I was a needed relief from my non-stop work routine. When not at my day job , Im here in my shop doing honey doooo's for the house. One room left to trim and do flooring.
And when not doing that I'm still going thru and selecting parts for the bike build.

Which is another story... Having only one genuine Kawasaki key that fits a good ignition , I gathered up all the bag and trunk latch's , found 6 in A1 condition and on advise from a lock-smith took them all apart. Never knew how easy it is to redo the wafers in the lock. So another item of the too-do list for the bike build.....One key fits all.

With no sun in sight today, its out in the shop and stain enough trim for four doorways. NO rest for the weary ....

[cushman eagle]

Yeh,Gene,I was not geared up well enough to ride any longer
Hey,that left tank cover you sent me sure looks good Thank you!

[cushman eagle]

Yeh,Scott,the rains we had removed almost all the salt,brine,etc from the roads.
So,what did you do to deserve the[ autograph tube] on you right arm?

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

So,what did you do to deserve the[ autograph tube] on you right arm?

Well a few weeks back I tried to do a pirouette like a ballerina but soon discovered that there was ice under that fresh covering of snow behind my daughters house. Fortunately she works at an orthopedics office and got me in Monday without any issues. a few x-rays later and the doc says "well its broke, in 2 places" then asks if this hurt while pressing with his thumb, was very surprised when I said "uh, it's uncomfortable but I wouldn't say hurts".
We agreed that I must have a high pain tolerance, compared to most.
Luckily he gave me a "short arm cast" that laces up so I can take it off for showers and evening if I promised not to use it so it could heal.
I did and I am!
We break quicker/easier the older we get & we heal slower the older we get, but it's much better than the alternative which is not getting older at all!

[Nails]

Did you break your wrist or a long bone? Two months after breaking my left wrist, I'm just now able to pull the clutch reliably. (I've checked every time I walk past my XII.) I almost took it out a few days ago, but that would've involved riding 20 miles home in dark freeze. However, by the end of this week, we should be looking at high 50s!
I honestly doubt I'll ever recover completely. I got nerve damage in my fall, and now my hand gets tingly numb all the time. It's about 40-50% strength, according to the physical therapists; and I'm using it as much as I can.
Getting old sucks. Well and truly.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Wrist (not the long bones), well actually there are two breaks and one is the end/knob section of the long bone, it kind of cracked in half and separated. The second break the doc had to point out as it was amidst the jumble of bones in the wrist and had to see (until it was pointed out).
Still aches at times but its only been 3 weeks, I'm debating if I really need the 6 week check up or just go with my gut and assume its healed!
The throttle will be the true test for me!!!!!

[Nails]

Sounds like the same two breaks as me. Mine also wasn't very tender to poking around, but it sure hurts using my hand.

I rode abut 80 miles today. It's tired and sore from pulling the clutch. Seems like a good therapy -- kinda like the chainsaw. But I'm not ready for a long ride.

I was in a cast for 5 weeks. Supposed to be six, but I think the cast was more of a problem than a solution. It doesn't take long for the PT folks to get me to submit -- I'll just put it that way.

[cushman eagle]

Hey,Scott,aren't we a little too old to be doing gymnastics?
We are over 25 you know.

[GrandpaDenny]

Yeah, Nails, I know what you mean about physical therapists. They hurt me worse than the injury! Sadistic sadists, every one of them. But, y'know, they do a great job.

Put Gertrude back together today, drained the carbs, fired her up and went to do laundry. Tomorrow is bath day. OMGs she REALLY needs a bath!

Amazing how quickly one's skills deteriorate when one doesn't use them. It's only been, what, a month-ish since I last rode? Fired her up, went to ride around the block, changed my mind & decided to pull a u-turn so I wouldn't lose my parking spot and..... splat. Down we went. I had a bunch of tool sitting in the trunk, hadn't even latched it. Tools went all over the place LOL. Later I geared up and went to do laundry, by the time I'd gone a couple of blocks I could feel the old skills coming back. I need to go play in a parking lot for a while, though, seriously.

[Nails]

When the P Therapist makes me jump for the chandelier, then says "sorry" ... bull-lll-schee-it!

I certainly had to pay attention riding today. Front tire slipped very slightly sideways on a little rock and about gave me a heart attack.

"Yard-sale" falls -- I hate it when that happens.

[cushman eagle]

Hey,GrandpaDenny,This is bad time of the riding season to bust yourself up with an accident just ask Scott
Keep the rubber side down!

[GrandpaDenny]

You got that right! Falling off hurts, and I'd much rather ride than be in the hospital.

Gave Gertrude a hosing down last night. Pulled the bags off, doused her grimy parts with Purple Power, high pressure car wash nozzle (low pressure around the lower right side of the engine due to the balancers being there - for those who don't know, using high pressure can force water and dirt past the seals and cause an oil leak. The wheels are actually shiny! Other than getting the salt and greasy crap off I didn't wash her. I will use a waterless cleaner on her today.

Yeah, my baby Elephant is worth ten bucks. But not often!

I also let the air out of the forks - I'm running progressive springs - which brought my headlight down from illuminating the ISS. I had tried airing up the forks to help deal with the horrendous roads around here. I haven't been up on I-76 yet, but riding out 73 and 309 the ride seems really nice now, even much better than when I first changed the springs. I guess the springs needed some time to work in or something.

So, today's projects:

1. Complete the bath

• Finish installing the CB

• Fix, adjust, tighten up a few things yesterday's voyage revealed

We shall see how much, if any, of this I get done. It's a chilly day.

[Nails]

My job on this chilly morning is to borrow my neighbor's backhoe to make a hole to bury my good old dog that died last night.

Just 3 months ago -- she went down fast.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Nails, I am sorry for your loss. Dogs are such grateful and forgiving to us humans that they deserve more from us than what we offer. You are doing right by giving him a proper burial.
Be careful and dig with caution.
Thoughts and prayers!

[cranky]

+ 1 to Scott's comments... I'm at the age where I'm losing the human kind... sigh...

[cushman eagle]

I agree with Scott,and cranky
Dogs are very hard to bury,especially if you have had the blessing of haveing them for a long time.
Like cranky said,I am 72,and have lost 4 good friends in about the last year!

[GrandpaDenny]

Damn, Nails, that sucks. I think losing pets is harder than losing humans sometimes.

[Nails]

I think losing pets is harder than losing humans sometimes.

Agreed. Like children dying, they're so innocent. But dogs also trade affection for loyalty unlike anybody. I'm getting over it, especially after getting all the leftover dog stuff out of here and vacuuming up all the dog hair everywhere. She was a good dog, and that's okay.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program: XIIs. I'm a whole lot more free to ride! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfjon-ZTqzU