| Author | Message | ||
     Berkshire |
"Hey honey - look what followed me home!" She just rolled her eyes, shook her head and went back in the house..."  I was leading a small group down a narrow, twisty, barely-2-lane road through the woods a few months ago - sort of a "paved deer trail" type road. There were two riders on 12R's and one on a 9R, and on previous rides I had a hard time keeping up with a couple of them, so I wanted to set a good pace. I rode like hell and after 3 miles there was a fork in the road and I didn't see anybody behind me, so I stopped. I was starting to think maybe something bad had happened when the first guy came around the corner and pulled up. I was having a great ride and really felt fired up, so I wasn't surprised when I noticed the guy appeared to be a little "animated". I WAS surprised when he got his visor open and I heard cussing, apparently directed at me! ...something about some specific corner back there, and the phrase way too fast was used, I dunno what it was all about - it didn't make much sense. I was kind of worried the other two had wrecked or something and that it might be my fault, but then I remembered the group motto "ride at your own pace" - this means don't try to keep up if it means getting in over your head - we wait for everyone to catch up at intersections. When he got his helmet off he seemed more composed and I asked him what had happened. He said "no big deal" and something to the effect that he couldn't believe I could go so fast on a "little" bike and I'd be downright dangerous on a fast bike. I got the feeling that he had gone into a corner too hot and nearly lost it, and by now it had dawned on him that he'd totally got served by a BLAST and was possibly a bit ruffled, so to smooth things I said something about how little lightweight bikes are more maneuverable than big heavy bikes on really tight twisties, and when we got back on the highway later I'd be the one bringing up the rear. The 9 and the other 12 rolled up soon after, and we continued on to more great twisties. The first 12R guy replaced his bike with an 1125R shortly after that, and I can't help but wonder if the Blast had something to do with that... There's actually more to the story, but I'll save that for another type. | ||
| Reuel |
Tell us now!!!  He should'a gotten a Blast! (Message edited by reuel on July 29, 2008) | ||
| Ezblast |
Mt Diablo - North Gate    The ASBN Meeting   Suffice it to say - with friends and family I had a great day of riding, adventure, and time talking about one of my favorite topics - the Buell Blast! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Ezblast |
  Above - We had Mt Diablo practically to ourselves - South Gate Rd - the bottom southern half of North Gate RD was closed for repairs - which didn't bother us at all since it actually extended our back road riding - we put over double the miles going to the meeting, as we did going home - it was a great ride!   Scott's Dream M2 - above  The stars of the evening - funny thing was I had to find a rear brake reservoir cap - my daily driver's fell off during the ride - a NAPA parts guy directed us to Cycle Salvage - lets just say a 80's model Suzuki's will fit a Blast - lol  The red bike in the middle is a new Harley - lol  I think the CR looks nicer -  The meeting itself with Jon taking the helm. It was a great night, and the more folks learned about the Blast the more questions they had. At the night's end there where a good number of folks around both bikes doing comparisons and asking more questions - after all that the quick ride home via freeway was actually relaxing, and once home beer with friends and family made the day. Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| P3_pilot |
Hills sure are pretty, remind me of thee Santa Monica Mountains, probably a lot less traffic though. Hope we have a big Cali Rally soon, would like to meet and ask you a million questions on customizing, until then, Keep the the rubber down Dark one. | ||
| Indybuell |
Great Pics. Which reminds me. I need to take some pics of the neighborhood during my ride tonight! I actually had it in 3rd gear for about 30 seconds. | ||
| Rex |
Photos from our ASBN August Meeting. A big Thanks to EZ for covering the Blast in this months meeting. REX Photos from Jack Van Voast http://www.pbase.com/jvv/ASBNaugust2008 | ||
| Ezblast |
Thank you - it was a great nite! EZ | ||
| P3_pilot |
Where is ASBN located and can I sign up, looks like fun. Or do I have to go through some hazing ritual like putting a funny light on the front of my bike. just kidding man don't hit me! | ||
| Ezblast |
http://www.americansportbikenight.net/ Just the Oak tree ritual - lol - in the front of the Straw Hat Pizza place. EZ | ||
| Indybuell |
We need to start a chapter in Central Indiana. I've done some searching and none of the old BRAG clubs converted into anything that still exists  | ||
| Ezblast |
Do you have any Oak trees there? EZ | ||
| Indybuell |
I have a really large oak tree in my front yard  | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - contact Swampy for the correct Dance steps and required uniform - and you'll be set to start your own riding group - or you could just ask others to join you in a ride - lol EZ | ||
| Swampy |
Ez, Those roads in the pictures just look crazy! Kind of reminds me of Highway M-119, the famous Tunnel of Trees, no center line, just a strip of black top through the woods. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yeah - over half my favorite Bay area back roads look like that. EZ | ||
| Jon |
Great meeting! | ||
| Ezblast |
Even though it was lite due to it being too nice out to not go riding - it was a great meeting. It was good to see you again Jon. EZ | ||
| Berkshire |
I took a ride yesterday with a local sportbike group. I knew better than to go with the "expert fast" group, but I didn't want to go with the rookie group for fear of getting stuck behind people who would go slow in the corners, so I optimistically went for the "faster intermediate" group. We took freeway to get out of town and the leader kept the speed reasonable. Once on country roads, the pace opened up a bit and several people passed me when the Blast reached it's relatively low terminal velocity on a long straight section. I figured I was last in line then, but was able to keep the guy in front of me in sight, and then caught up when the road got curvier. The leader waited at a stop sign, and I was surprised to find that there were several people further back behind me - yay, I wasn't last! At the first "fuel + standing around talking + waiting for the 3rd group to catch up because they got pulled over and had to show paper and listen to a lecture" stop, someone called out "who rides the yellow Ducati?" I looked at the only Ducati's there, two black monsters parked side by side. I looked at all the bikes there and mine was the only yellow one. I said "you mean that one over there?", kind of nervous thinking maybe I had done something reckless, or I would asked to ride at the back or with the slower group. The guy said "yeah, that one", and one of the guys I normally ride with chimed in and said "that's a Buell - why, what's up?. (nice to ride with friends!) The yellow Ducati guy said, "oh, a Buell, OK - nuthin' wrong, I was just riding behind you, and your exhaust sounds wicked, it's like a dirt bike or something!", and then he made mouth noise that (I guess) was supposed to sound like a dirt bike, and said something else about what a good sounding exhaust it was. so... three reasons I love my Blast: 1. looks like a Ducati 2. sounds like a dirt bike 3. fast enough to ride with 600 & liter superbikes and NOT be the last one!  | ||
| Swampy |
Labor Day Ride. I have been Jonesing to ride for almost a week knowing that that the end of riding season is fast approaching, I needed to reconnect after the previous seven days being extra harsh, looseing the greatest mother-in-law anybody could ask for, putting a ton of windshield miles in, breaking in a new guy at work, and watching many beautiful summer days go by being absent from a bike to ride. Sunday is spent with the wifes family at the brother-in-laws lake lot making friends with a five year old boy I renamed Rocko, baiting hooks so he could catch ALL the fish in the canal. I remembered back when my boys were that age and I was wasting most of my time at work, wondering now, how things might be different if I had spent more time fishing then investing in my job. Monday the Big Kid showed up after hanging out all weekend with his girlfriend so after I get done painting the privacy fence, I convinced him and his mother "Its time to go for a little ride" Air in the tires, a short warm up, and we hit the road thinking this may be the last time we get out together for a long time as the Big Kid is getting married at the end of the month with a kid of his own on the way. I'm riding his Blast, he is on my Sportster. He falls into formation slightly behind and to the right, I can see him in the left side mirror. I remember all the summer bike trips to the Upper Penninsula and Norther Michigan, coming home late on I-75, getting off at Waters to get gas, talking to a couple of golfers and watching the sun set with them, listening to one of the guys tell my son "You are a lucky kid, having an Old Man take time to go on a trip with you" I smiled, knowing the Big Kid was hurrying me since the second day of the trip to get back to see his girl friend. They have been together since kintergarden and apparently really like each other as evidenced by the recent pregnancy test. As we carved down some winding roads following a river towards a town I worked in on Saturday, all the things I want to tell him are released into conciousness and begin to come together, all the things he needs to hear to move on to the next step in his life. I smile as the joy wells in me thinking how life repeats inself, generation after generation, knowing full well, when we reach our destination, I didn't know where we was going from there, so we just stopped, drank a pop together, got back on the bikes and headed back in the direction we came from. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
 Beautiful.I could hear the theme from the Lion King playing in the background.! I think getting old(er) is natures way of slowing us down so we dont completely miss everything important in life. | ||
| Ezblast |
Moving meditation - definitely a good thing. EZ | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
whats up guys? its been almost a month but i got my bike back and its running beautifully. so i was out riding the other day and i pulled up at a red light. then i saw three older dudes on harleys comin up on my right, they had a green light to turn right. as they were passing me one of them yelled CROTCH ROCKET! at me. I thought to my self, dude this is a harley too. those older biker dudes think theyre pretty special. WTF? | ||
| Ezblast |
I love it - lol - the Blast is a crotch rocket? - too cool - thanks for the smile! EZ | ||
| Reuel |
Ignorance is bliss, right? | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
yea it was pretty funny. if they only knew right? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
It is simply amazing to me how many people who ride Harleys (even longtime 'enthusiasts') have no idea what a Buell is. I've had one of my cars called a Japanese p o c (at an HD dealer). I guess they hadnt ever heard of an Austin either. On the other side of the coin just think of all the "Star" riders who've gotten told 'nice Harley'. I bet that makes their day! "Star"=Yamaha Royal Star, Road Star, etc. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Hey, Hey....OLD!!! I resemble that remark!  ...Wait a minnit...that's wrong... I'm experience enhanced.. Besides, if you have to stop and wait for the young'un on the CBR600 at the stop sign at the end of your favourite set of twisties...does that make a Blast a C.R. ???? (Message edited by fast1075 on September 05, 2008) (Message edited by fast1075 on September 05, 2008) | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
I just meant older than me, im 23. and no nothing makes a blast or any buell for that matter a crotch rocket. how about this one, i was sitting at a bar (not drinking, clean for a year) and i was talking to a guy about bikes. he said he had a sportster that he hooked up and when i told him i had a buell he said "oh those are german right?" I said no...haha | ||
| Dankno |
Congrats on 12 hard months Garlic! I've been trying to kick the bottle for a few years now, part of the reason I sold my cage and bought my Blast, it's rough... The guys I work with are all raging alcoholics and being around it all the time makes it even that much harder. Funny thing is, to quit smoking (started when I was 15, haven't had one for 2 years, I'm 24 now) all I had to do was quit buying cigarettes and after a while people quit giving them to me... I haven't been able to be so strong when it comes to the sauce. Great Job, Keep it up!!! |
