Tomorrow I am getting up.  Taking a swim to clean off.  Then I am meeting Destro at 9:45.  We're going do some twisties.  Then I am taking the bike to the shop to get the 11,000 mile service and also some new Metzler M-1's mounted up!   

I love you guys!  Have a good weekend!

aw shucks.

Don't trust Jake D...he wants something..... 

Saturday morning, I got up early and met Destro, a fellow GStwinner that has moved up to the YZF-600R.  We met at a liquor store near my place and I was happy because I didn't get robbed.   
Never met a 'twinner before.  But Destro is super cool!
We rode all over creation, mostly twisties, for about 3 hours, checked out the Motorcycle closeouts store and I got a tank bag. 
We would trade off the lead in the twisties.  He is faster than me, for sure.  He has a bit more experience, but I plan on practicing and getting better.  I had a blast and we plan on riding again really soon.  I also got my bike up to the highest speed I've ever done on a motorcycle.  That was pretty fun.  Thanks Destro!

After the ride on Saturday, I dropped my bike off at a local shop called Cafe Racer.  Those guys were great.  I got the 11,000 mile service on the SV (about 900 miles too late) and got new tires and a new chain.

The new tires are amazing.  I got the Sportec M-1's.  I rode Sunday and scrubbed them in good.  They are so sticky and predictable.  It was like it was on rails on the clover leafs.  I did a couple of laps around Wyco Lake and it is like a night and day difference.  It is so much more predictable and I feel so much more confident than I did on the old Dunlop 220's. 

The new chain actually made a lot of difference too.  I guess mine was pretty cashed.  It feels like it has a lot more HP now than it did before.   Money well spent.  I can't wait to get out and ride this week.  Planning on hitting bike night with Destro on Wednesday.  Maybe more twisties next weekend. 

In all, it was an awsome weekend! 

Yeah, great Saturday. 
I was so wore out I fell asleep on the couch, when I was supposed to be babysitting.   Jake is a great riding buddy!  I bet those new tires, chains and service will definitely shorten the gap in our riding styles.   Next time, I will bring the camera... I had to leave it at the hospital with the new baby.  I really need to get my priorities straight.

I'll toss my camera in the new tank bag.  There should be good photo ops next weekend at the lake.  The tires really do make a big difference.  But it will still be a while before I can stay right with you.

I have to remember not to try to keep up and to just "ride my own bike."  Thankfully I had just read Eagan's column in Cycle World this month about "riding your own bike."  One of the most common causes of a single bike crash is "a group ride with a fast guy." 

I had to think about the same thing! 
I could feel my testosterone wanting to get up and go, but I knew I would quickly be above my skill level, kind of like that on-ramp to 29 when I didn't quite make the turn!    It is always good to be humbled like that. We may have a few more riders next week, possibly fresh MSF grads, so we will keep the pace a little more subdued.   But going fast in a striaght line, just isn't all that impressive to me, and you pushed me pretty good around the lake and the twisty parts.

I feared for you on that on ramp.  I was watching you thinking, "Wow, he is leaned over really far.  He is flying.  Wow, he is merging right away, I mean right away."  Then I realized that you just went a little wide across the white line.  I'm glad that worked out! 

That would be sweet having a couple MSF guys.  Maybe they could refresh our memories. 

I should be a little quicker around the lake now.  It really drives out of corners now with the new tires. 

I'm ready to go right now!

Another match made on GSTwin..... 














Glad you guys had a great ride!! 

It is good to have somebody to ride with, that is for sure.

Maybe even have a riding group!   

Quote from: pandy on June 12, 2006, 12:49:48 PM
Another match made on GSTwin..... 

Glad you guys had a great ride!! 

LOL - that's great.  sounds like a fun ride guys.  have fun and be safe.