S.E. Michigan anyone?

abronco1 · January 28, 2006, 10:29:51 AM

Hey everyone,
I'm headin into my second season riding with my '97 GS500 and would like to know how many people in my area visit this website so that we could meet up and go for some great rides. I'm in Clarkston, anyone else near here?

RedShift · January 31, 2006, 06:52:48 PM

I'm about 80 minutes north of you via I-75. It's as flat as a pancake around Midland -- far better riding where you're at. If you have yet to wander afar, suggest the Pinckney - Stockbridge area. Was only there once, but was a great riding day.

skoozi12 · February 16, 2006, 11:19:55 AM

Um when I get my new bike, I'm in for this. I live in the West Bloomfield area so I'm like 15 minutes from you.

~Anna~

yamahonkawazuki · February 26, 2006, 12:35:51 AM

lolz i might be moving to mt pleasant b4 long so i might have to join ya's

flyingbeagle71 · March 01, 2006, 01:53:02 PM

Quote from: RedShift on January 31, 2006, 06:52:48 PM
If you have yet to wander afar, suggest the Pinckney - Stockbridge area. Was only there once, but was a great riding day.

I'm from the Stockbridge area and agree with RedShift, there are some fun roads around here. I work over in the Farmington HIlls area, so Clarkston wouldn't be that far out of the way...

skoozi12 · March 01, 2006, 02:53:06 PM

haha i work in farmington hills too.

14+Farmington, we must be neighbors!

RedShift · March 01, 2006, 06:45:48 PM

I feel a road trip coming on, once we get rid of this cold, mostly white or slippery stuff.

Anybody in favor of meeting at a coffee shop in a couple of months and riding through the Pinckney area with flyingbeagle as our guide?

skoozi12 · March 01, 2006, 09:00:31 PM

ahoy...hopefully i will have my bike by then

sounds like fun, you better go slow for the noob (me)

flyingbeagle71 · March 02, 2006, 08:04:15 AM

skoozi12, small world I guess. I work over by 275 and 10.

RedShift, A ride sounds good, I'm up for it. I've never ridden with others, and I haven't really pushed by GS too hard yet, so no knee draggin...

RedShift · March 02, 2006, 07:49:43 PM

Quote from: flyingbeagle71 on March 02, 2006, 08:04:15 AM... I've never ridden with others, and I haven't really pushed by GS too hard yet, so no knee draggin...

... And that two of us. The only time I've ever put my knee down was to check the tire pressure.

BTW, who ordered all this white stuff?

RedShift · March 13, 2006, 04:38:22 PM

Anybody get out over the weekend. I didn't -- spent time with my family instead, then spring cleaning.

Still, I've officially started my 2006 Riding season with riding to work on Friday. I was the only one out there Friday when the temperature was 38-43°F, but you couldn't swing a stick without pointing to a motorcyclist on Saturday & Sunday. Cruisers & sport bikes, but narry a dirt bike. Quite pleasant to see. (Every bike caught my eye.)

If you went out, where did you ride?

st8racin · March 13, 2006, 09:03:32 PM

Wow I didn't realize there were so many ppl from MI on here. I'm new, I'm in Lansing. I've been here less than a yr tho, was in good ol' Mt. Pleasant for about 3 years before that. I would love to tag along and ride with ya'll sometime. I saw ya mentioned the Stockbridge area... like Dexter Trail? Can someone make spring hurry up? I don't even really know how to ride yet but I'm dieing to get out there.

RedShift · March 14, 2006, 04:23:08 AM

Welcome Sarah. Glad to add you to this group. Seems we're a bit spread out, but still well within riding distance. If anything, having to ride an hour to gather is part of the fun.

Stick around, and keep wishing for this cold stuff to disappear. It's always the last remnants of Winter that take the longest to loose. Patience. Patience.

Time to plan, and to prep your ride for the season ahead.

flyingbeagle71 · March 14, 2006, 09:06:03 AM

Quote from: RedShift on March 13, 2006, 04:38:22 PM
Anybody get out over the weekend. I didn't -- spent time with my family instead, then spring cleaning.

Still, I've officially started my 2006 Riding season with riding to work on Friday. I was the only one out there Friday when the temperature was 38-43°F, but you couldn't swing a stick without pointing to a motorcyclist on Saturday & Sunday. Cruisers & sport bikes, but narry a dirt bike. Quite pleasant to see. (Every bike caught my eye.)

If you went out, where did you ride?

Nope, no riding for me yet. My cylinder head gasket was shredded during my valve check, so I'm waiting for it and new shims to come in. Previous owner used gasket sealent on both sides and it ripped when I removed the head cover. I found out why after cleaning things up, I found huge gouges in the cylinder head. It looks like someone tried prying off the head cover. Hopefully I'll be able to get it to reseal... I was really hoping they would arrive last week, but no luck. I ended up being a cager and going shopping. My wife kept hitting me saying, stop looking at the bikes and watch the road...Everyone was out riding!! cept me!

flyingbeagle71 · March 14, 2006, 09:19:46 AM

Quote from: st8racin on March 13, 2006, 09:03:32 PM
Wow I didn't realize there were so many ppl from MI on here. I'm new, I'm in Lansing. I've been here less than a yr tho, was in good ol' Mt. Pleasant for about 3 years before that. I would love to tag along and ride with ya'll sometime. I saw ya mentioned the Stockbridge area... like Dexter Trail? Can someone make spring hurry up? I don't even really know how to ride yet but I'm dieing to get out there.

Mt. Pleasant huh, did you go to CMU? I grew up in the Stockbridge area, so yep, I know Dexter Trail. There are some good twisties on it, pretty flat though. I haven't rode it on a bike for about 10 years. I just got back into riding last summer when I got my GS.

It sure felt like spring yesterday, today though...

st8racin · March 14, 2006, 08:34:59 PM

Yup I'm a Central girl. Still have 3 pesky classes to finish up to get my degree. I'm starting to think about moving back up there to get those done and out of the way once and for all. Who knows tho, I like Lansing way better than Mt. P, not sure I could handle going back there.

RedShift · March 15, 2006, 04:44:05 AM

Quote from: flyingbeagle71 on March 14, 2006, 09:06:03 AM
Nope, no riding for me yet. My cylinder head gasket was shredded during my valve check, so I'm waiting for it and new shims to come in. Previous owner used gasket sealent on both sides and it ripped when I removed the head cover. I found out why after cleaning things up, I found huge gouges in the cylinder head. It looks like someone tried prying off the head cover. Hopefully I'll be able to get it to reseal... ...

It's sad to see this. Shows a basic lack of thinking about the consequences of using hardened steel objects on aluminum. The only way to fix this is to fill in the gouges (or grind the entire head down -- hard to do). Due to the temperature swings, the only sure-fire fix is to use metal -- perhaps there is an aluminum-based hardening paste that could be used for this purpose. Unfortunately you may need luck to avoid using Liquid Gasket again to get a good seal.

Roy...

flyingbeagle71 · March 15, 2006, 10:39:12 AM

Quote from: RedShift on March 15, 2006, 04:44:05 AM
It's sad to see this. Shows a basic lack of thinking about the consequences of using hardened steel objects on aluminum. The only way to fix this is to fill in the gouges (or grind the entire head down -- hard to do). Due to the temperature swings, the only sure-fire fix is to use metal -- perhaps there is an aluminum-based hardening paste that could be used for this purpose. Unfortunately you may need luck to avoid using Liquid Gasket again to get a good seal.

Roy...

Yep, I agree, I don't as much as I would like about wrenching, but even I know better than that...Anyway, I didn't think about trying to fix it, I was just going to regoop and assume I would always screw up the gasket getting it off. I checked JB Weld's website and they say that's supposed to work on Aluminum, maybe I'll try that first...

jonny5neal · March 16, 2006, 09:55:21 AM

HI Yall!

Just logged back into the web page after a long cold season. I am located in Canton. Just off the 275, M-14 area. Between livonia and Ann Arbor. Been riding since I had my license. I would be interested in riding in a group. Kinda tired of riding with all the honda, kaw, yamaha riders. That would be cool if we could start our own riding group.
I attend a few bike nites a week, and know some good riding (twisty, not too fast for those who havent riden in groups, and great scenery). Take the Huron River Ride all the way. I usually ride with my Dad, Brother and thier friends, but they all ride cruisers. They dont have that enjoyment of leaning into a turn and dropping a knee.
If any are interested, Tuesday nights, in Ypsilanti (Go EMU) at Aubree's in Old Village is bike night. Tends to be more of a European, cruiser, sportbike, odds and ends bike night. Great place, half off pizza too!
I ride at every opp. only cause gas prices are going crazy, and the GS gets great mileage, yet can beat any car!
If any are looking for an good riding buddy, hit me up, I am 23, still a student (milking it), Have ridin since I was 16, and love riding in groups.

abronco1 · March 16, 2006, 06:52:59 PM

Dang, I had no idea this many people in the area have GS 500's! I was lucky enough to go out twice this past weekend (once friday and then after work on Sunday) Sunday was MUCH colder but still worth it. I have a small loop I ride from Davisburg road into Holly up and around on to Dixie Highway again. I've been up to the Midland area once (a friend of mine went to Northwood). Just give me a time and place and I'll be there! I can't WAIT for spring to come (it can't come soon enough)! If anyone wants to chat on AIM any time my S/N is abronco1 drop me a line sometime!

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S.E. Michigan anyone?