Great ride today

171.2 miles, reserve bar started flashing at 166 miles. My friend took me over o-HI-o's newest hiway # 823 designated as the 23 bypass running from Portsmouth at the o-HI-o river to near Waverly, normally I don't mention riding a 4 lane divided road but this one is a good one, it's cut through some of our bigger hills, 42 cuts showing the complex geology of the region, some of the cuts rising up over a 100 feet above the road that was already built up over the valleys. The remainder of the ride was on two lanes following the Scioto river and the old o-HI-o to Erie canal system.

Nice! Rain, rain, rain & more rain in Iowa.

Rain---why not ride in it? Right clothes including rubber boots makes it ok.

Just had one of those days when the SW excels. Took a 40 mile ride through a couple of small towns and some open country roads before joining a dual-carriageway for some unexpected reciprocal fun with an Audi TT.

The traffic was light, everyone was moving at a very sociable speed, sun shining and a cool airspeed to make it just right.

During the ride I came up behind a motorcycle from Greece, (not the film). I'm sure it was two Ladies onboard. They were cruising along and as I slowly overtook them I gave them a wave. I can't be sure what the bike was, but it looked like one of those Kymco type custom jobs. The engine didn't look very big (125cc?) but they were loaded up with enough stuff for a sabbatical.

Just one of those 'Gem' days when I'm glad I have my SW. AS for those chicks from Greece...'helmets-off to 'em'.

I’m currently in Rhodes, Greece with Mrs M. Want to see battle scarred old scooters ridden by bare headed locals in vests, shorts, and flip-flops carrying the occasional 10kg propane cylinder across the footboards on the narrow and bumpy stone paved streets of Rhodes Old Town, scattering tourists perusing shop full of tat, this is the place.  

Only about 6 miles through the countryside with pillion. Over Beachy Head, (not literally!) where it was cold and foggy. Off into the country, where it was sunny and warmer and the SW behaved superbly. I had my (disabled) Partner, Allie, on the back and it made me think that the SW rides better with pillion onboard.

If you think that the SW has a rather bumpy ride to it, tighten up the rear shocks and stick a Girlie on the back!

We're expecting a week of wet weather ahead so we needed to get our fix while the sun shines.

That sounds very good!
The weather up here's been similar: cold, mist and fog on the coast but much warmer not far inland.

I've decided to stay off the Forza for the next few days; if I fall off there won't be any doctors working to mend me.

Loosemarbles wrote:

If you think that the SW has a rather bumpy ride to it, tighten up the rear shocks and stick a Girlie on the back!  

That's what you're recommended to do in the Owner’s Handbook anyway, as well as upping the front and rear tyre pressures.

I always did that with Mrs M for trips out and tours on the Silver Wing and had no problems at all. I carried out the same procedure as recommended in the Handbooks with previously owned 400 and 650 Burgmans when carrying Mrs M.

My manual doesn't say anything about sticking a Girlie on the back! I just used my initiative

Mine didn't either.  In the easily offended world we all live in now, it seems calling a woman a Girlie is considered both derogatory and offensive, even if it's meant as a term of affection.

Talking about offensive, since April 1st the black visored throttle jockeys have surfaced for the next six months or so. Most of them must have saved up their money to buy loud, very loud exhausts. You know, the ones with big logos stamped one them.

Over Easter there's been packs of these weevil dicked bell ends out in groups assaulting the eardrums as they ride to and from the local bike dealership to show off to other members of their tribe.

Sir David Attenborough has missed a trick by not doing a series on them.

"Sir David Attenborough has missed a trick by not doing a series on them"

Agree 100 %

Meldrew wrote:

Over Easter there's been packs of these weevil dicked bell ends out in groups assaulting the eardrums as they ride to and from the local bike dealership to show off to other members of their tribe.

Sir David Attenborough has missed a trick by not doing a series on them.

Meldrew, this is GREAT. Sir David should look into this series, he's done most everything else

Thanks, it's interesting that after hearing and seeing these bikers all over this Easter weekend because of fine weather. Because overnight and today it rained on and off until mid afternoon when it brightened up.

So today I haven't heard one loud exhaust at all, and no riders passed me when I was out earlier.

Fair weather riders ay? What can you do with them?

Never ridden a “pillion” , but 100lbs of chicken feed does NOT cooperate in the curves or at a stop. Dead weight stacked that high is not recommended!!!!!! Made it home safely.

Oh yeah, that’s not my house in the pic, just a cool photo op.

I only rode with the wife on as pillion ONCE! Actually she and I exceed the max weight by quite a bit, in addition her arthritis makes mounting and dismounting very difficult. On my old GL1800 that I had for 5 years she rode with me three times. And the Goldwing is much better for that. Same problem with her arthritis, hopefully the trike will help this situation as she can mount and dismount OK. Sigh.

Only time will tell.

Had a 100 mile round trip yesterday, (hospital appointment) and with light traffic, sunshine and perfect temperature, it made for a great ride. I could have ridden all day long. Days like this make the SW a great choice of mount.

I'm planning a ride to McDonald's at East Grinstead with my Girlie on the back. It's a practice run of stopping for petrol and toilet conveniences for my disabled Girlie so that we can plan a visit to Belgium this summer. Much logistics involved.

I went out on the SW just to do some shopping when I was possessed by an uncontrollable urge to go down a road which I've never been down before.

Wow!..perfect weather, lovely roads (mostly), countryside, small villages and I went past the old Royal Observatory at Herstmonceux. I knew I'd have to visit there, 'one of these days', but I didn't realize it was so near from home.

It must go down as a great ride