| Author | Message | ||
     Smoke |
Loren, i must have blasted right past you guys after i pulled into the Kansas welcome station and you kept on. i needed the map to see how the best way was to get to 71 south in KC. i remember passing through Russel,Ks later on but got fuel in Oakley and then Salinas. i was wondering if i would catch back up with y'all or not. Billet front mount in your future? s2 mount?(if you can find one) tim | ||
| F_skinner |
Jack, you do know I live just South of Colorado Springs! My work phone is 719-554-7256 and my cell phone is 719-200-4957. Use my work phone until 4pm. Are you sure it is the disk that is warped? Could it be the caliper? You can stay at the house until we get it fixed. Let me know what I can do to help. Frank (Message edited by f_skinner on June 24, 2009) | ||
| F_skinner |
Jack, I hope you did not take it to PPHD. They might be able to help you but I think they will have to order the disk. They charge around 90 an hour for older bikes. You can bring it to my house, we can order a disk from Al at American Sport Bike and have it on tomorrow. Plus we can rebuild the brake caliper as well. Give me a call. | ||
| F_skinner |
Jack, I forgot when I talked to you but if they let you keep your rotor then keep it. Frank | ||
| Bartimus |
Wow, sorry to hear that some had problems on the way home, but glad to hear that most are either home, or back on the road. Loren, had you recently replaced your front isolator? I recently went through two front isolators, and am running a used one I took off the '99 S3 just before leaving. I was so worried as I headed up to the Gathering, I checked it every time we stopped, but it's still good to go so far. Mike and Jack, I hope you've got your repairs done and are back on the road. I had a great time at the Gathering. It was good to see old friends again, and meet new ones, and put faces with some of the names I've seen here on the Badweb. (I'm so bad with names!) Thanks to Frank, Lynn and Rex for all they did to make this Gathering a success, and to the Sponsors that donated the swag that was handed out at the dinner. The ride on Saturday was great! Even with the rain on the ride back, we still enjoyed ourselves immensely. Kim did a great job of leading up through the twisties at brick pace that kept everyone happy. I hope I got good shots of everyone riding. If anyone wants a high resolution copy of any of the pics I post, just shoot me an email at: Buelligan@cox.net. So, here's some of our pics of the trip: All bright and shiny, loaded up and ready to go:  We rode about 450 miles through the mountains of Arizona, and across the New Mexico Navajo Indian Reservation. (Very barren Desert) We stopped in Mancos, Colorado, a very typical small town between a river and a mountain.  Friday morning, we headed out to Salida, to check into our rooms, and then ride up to Buena Vista, to meet Frank and check in. Kelly & Lisette on the Kawa:  We stopped midway up Wolf Creek Pass to get some pictures. This is just one of the many great roads around Colorado.  Curves that make you giggle   The rolling green fields with the snow covered mountains in the background takes your breath away.  We stopped south of Salida on 285 to take this pic:  We finally made it to the guest hotel and signed in.  There were already quite a few bikes lined up in the parking lot. What a Beulltiful sight to see so many S2's in one place. Lisette volunteered to clean the bugs from my fairing.  I especially liked Mike's bike  We had dinner across the street, and watched Eric and Jackie roll into town. Frank, nice pic of that buffalo mural, and thanks for the use of that marker! Your lucky I didn't get a chance to sneak a USMC sticker onto your bike. Saturday, we showed up Bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for the days ride. It was overcast, with spots of sun breaking through the clouds.  We had a good sized group, led by Kim on his Triumph, with Lynn on her Nightster, and Cheryl on her Triumph riding sweep. We tried to get shots of everyone riding, but our battery died in the camera just before we stopped for lunch, we may have missed a few of the riders.           I'm not sure of the location of our first stop, but it was well timed, and the scenery as usual, was spectacular.  I headed up the road to some curves after a bridge Kim told me about to get some shots of the riders in the curves.         We stopped for lunch at a small festival that was going on, I have no clue what town it was. Then headed up to Loveland pass for some pictures.     We left the pass, and started heading back, that's when the clouds let loose with a torrential downpour that followed us all the way back. The pack broke up as some pulled over to put on rain gear. I pulled over twice to warm my hands, the rain didn't bother me so much as the cold. It was still an enjoyable ride as the curves were still fun. We just had to ride a little slower. In Fairplay we pulled into a gas station with a Subway and had some hot coffee, and dried out our gloves on the hand dryers in the bathroom. We made it back to the hotel safe and sound and warmed up a bit in Frank and Lynns room. Thanks you two!  Of course the rain stopped when we got back! The S2 riders  With their bikes  The awards and some of the swag   Frank already posted who won what. I was shocked to receive the modified award, Debbie wished she had a picture of my face when Frank called out my name. I certainly thought it was going to Dan. Phelan, my bike has an NRHS stage two kit, with the thunderstorm heads, and S&S cylinders, HSR42 carb, forcewinder intake, Barnett Clutch, progressive springs in the front and a works shock for the rear. S2T handlebars, and a super duper, Steble air horn guaranteed to wake up the dead. There was talk of next years S2 gathering in Texas, I'm sure they will put on as good a time as Frank, Lynn, and Rex did for this, the first S2 gathering. Shame Court couldn't make it, we need to razz him good! With dinner done and the awards handed out, it was a cold ride back to Salida for us. We planned on meeting Frank Sunday, possible for a ride over Monarch pass. Frank, we must have passed each other when Deb and I pulled over and went up 24 about a mile to take this picture.  We were only here long enough to take this picture, and then continued on to your hotel. Debbie left you the flowers, I left the note. Sorry we missed each other, it would have been good to get one last ride in with you before we left. So we headed out over Monarch pass, to Gunnison for lunch and then a quick stop at Mesa Lake at the turn off for 149 which would take us down to Lake City for the night.  I learned about Lake City from a friend, Kim, who lives in Santa Fe. She stopped there on one of the Colorado rides, i think organized by the CBR, a few years back. 149 is a beautiful road with tons of curves, and scenic vistas. The Alpine Moose Lodge in Lake City is the place to stay. Bruno is a 5 star French chef, and his food is spectacular. I've stopped here perhaps twice a year since Kim first told me of the place. After the meal, the patio behind the rooms is a great place to sit back, listen to the river, and talk of the days ride.  Bruno told me that he is now 65, and that he will sell the place next year, so this summer may be the last time anyone can enjoy his great cooking. This place really is a must stop if you can fit it into your ride schedule. Lake City is surrounded by 5 mountains that tower 14,000 feet above the area. The next morning I stepped out to start loading the gear on the bike and saw these two guys  I played deer whisperer and tried to get close to them  We finally headed out, and down the mountain. After you hit the valley, the road follows the Rio Grande river for many miles. After living in New Mexico so long, I was used to seeing this river brown and muddy. It's amazing how clear and strong it flows in Colorado! We stopped at the bottom of Wolf Creek pass to stretch and give our butts a break. Debbie fed some of the local chipmunks some nuts from my trailmix.  We didn't take any more pictures as it's a long way from Lake City to Phoenix, and as we came out of the mountains and back into the desert, the sun took it's toll on us. We rode across the Arizona stretch of the Navajo Nation, just south of Monument Valley. After being in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, the stark desert landscape, and the brutal afternoon sun made us want to just get home, The throttle got twisted a little farther, and we were thinking that Flagstaff would be a good place to stop for the night. The next morning, with a good nights sleep, and a healthy breakfast, it was a quick 3 hours later when I pulled into my garage. Today, I'm cleaning bugs and rain sludge off of the S2.  Once again I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed myself on this trip. It was great meeting and riding with everyone, and the roads are simply spectacular. The first S2 gathering may be in the books, but it will always be remembered here in this thread. Thanks again to everyone involved in making this happen. Ride safe, and stay happy!!!  Bart & Debbie | ||
| F_skinner |
Bart and Debbie, great write up and even better pictures. Of course you have to send the one you got of me riding to my email (f_skinner@yahoo.com). I am happy that you had a good time. Of course putting on any event is a PIA but I was real pleased with the out. It was made possible by the people that attended. We did miss a few people that could not make it but there is always next year and we can hold it over their heads. Jack should be at the dealership right now and I invited him to stay at our house tonight and after the dealer does his brakes I will go back over them and do them right. I have not heard anymore about Mike so hopefully he is back on the road. I was lucky to get Tim out of my garage before I started missing parts off of my S2s. Eric and Jackie as well as Shane are probably still on the road having a great time. I have been thinking of the caliper of the people that showed up for this event. Only two people trailered their bikes and I know for a fact they would not have done that if they did not have to carry so much crap. What kind of bike stirs so much emotion and dedication! The S2 certainly does that for me. Out of the many bikes I have owned from Yamahas, Kawasakis, Harleys and Buells there is no other bike that I knew would be the last bike I will ever own. I am pretty sure most of you feel the same way. So next year my plan is to blow off every ride I usually do if vacation time is short and head to TX to see Ross and everyone. We will ride and hope to have a great adventure as well. I still have body parts, awards and gifts for EB, Kim T and Court to get out in the mail. They may not have made it to the Gathering but you can bet they were thinking about it! I was happy to have a small part in this historic and hopefully yearly event. Frank | ||
| F_skinner |
Oh and by the way. You got a good pic of Lynn so send that one to me as well. Frank | ||
| Phelan |
This was definitely one to remember. I wish I could've made it, but there were things that happened that prevented me from doing so. For all that made it, please contact me via email at phelan.z06@gmail.com . I am really slow at RSVP this week because I am moving, but I and others are working on the location and details of next year's event. I would like to hear everyone's comments on good and not-so-good about this last weekend's RoundUp. One thing we are all in agreement about is that it will not be in June next year; just too hot in Texas in June. | ||
| Gowindward |
Tim, we stopped in Goodland for lunch right after you pulled off. I’m sure you would have been ahead of us by the time we had the break down. I think a billet mount will be the best insurance in the future. Bart, a new Drag Specialties front isolator had been installed last Wednesday. The mount broke when we hit a dip from going onto and off a bridge on the interstate. You know how the pavement will be a little higher because of repaving. It was not much of a dip, but that was the straw that broke the camels back. It went all at once with no warning vibration before hand. Oh and Bart, great photos! While we sat for 3 ½ hours waiting for a ride, it had be thinking how to deal with a major breakdown in the future far from home. We were only 30 miles from the Buell dealer in Hays, KS , but being Sunday afternoon more than likely it would be Tuesday before they opened and the bet would be they would not have the needed Buell parts in stock. Tow insurance will typically only get you to the next town or repair shop, which is no great comfort. So as we are waiting and me pondering the how in the future a Ryder rental truck pulls into the rest stop. Of course!!! Tow insurance and get hauled to the nearest U-haul rental location most are open 7 days a week. A truck with a ramp, a trip to Wal-Mart for tie downs, and the Visa card gets you and the bike home to your own garage. Any other ideas beside the BRAN list and Franks garage and parts stock pile? We had such a great trip the break downs we had seem little in the big picture. So anyone that didn't make it you really missed out!! | ||
| Smoke |
loren, i went nonstop(except fuel) until topeka where i went inside Taco John's to cool down some and then nonstop until Joplin,Mo where i took a nap at the gas station. from there nonstop to the workplace in broussard, la. one thing for sure is it was hot monday and tuesday during the afternoons. and Kansas is wide!! i had a great time and when i tell my coworkers(and family) what a great time i had they look at me like i'm nuts. what's wrong with them? let's do it again. racing this weekend at Road Atlanta!! WOOHOO!!!! tim | ||
| Smoke |
Frank will fix you up good Jack. (and he didn't even check my pockets when i left his garage) thanks Frank!! tim | ||
| F_skinner |
Unfortunately I have no idea where Jack is. I left work a little early and tried to call him and left a message. I then called the shop and he had left. Jack is a free spirit so he may have headed West back to California. Hopefully he will post soon. We still have Jack, Shane, Eric and Jackie and Mike still on the road. I think Denny may be hanging around Colorado as well..... Frank | ||
| Lynn |
Bart and Debbie, the pictures are great thanks so much.... Lynn....  | ||
| Jvv |
Frank...I am in Montrose....got here about an hour ago........(gave up fighting the setting sun).....just set up the laptop.....I called your work # and left you a voice mail about 2 ish........I had them save the disk for you in the service dept..the Service manager........(a good guy, went out of hes was to pull this off)... and a counterman both know to save it for you. Thanks again for the kind offer!!! Off to eat. ride safe, Jack | ||
| F_skinner |
Jack, glad you got it taken care of. We were looking forward to having you at the house but I know how it is when you want to get on the road. Safe Travels.... Frank | ||
| F_skinner |
Any other ideas beside the BRAN list and Franks garage and parts stock pile? Interesting, the Uly elitist were working on some type of parts stockpile that can be mailed out in case of breakdown. Belt, clutch cable, bearings etc. Thinking about your situation Loren I do not think there is anything that could have been done. When you break down and the nearest person on the BRAN is YOU then what do you do? Typically when I travel I take a spare clutch cable, throttle cable, belt, tools, air pump, timing cup, oil etc. This support equipment usually takes up one bag on the S2T. With your break down and Jack's this would not have been much help. Jack did not really break down but I never carry a spare front brake disc.  I also have AMA roadside service and Lynn has HOG which we have actually used. There are many HD dealers but not so many Buell dealers which can be a problem. In Tim's situation I called a shop called American Motorcycles but they told me flat out they do not work on Buells. Tim took the rim off and we took it down there. I did ask them if they were going to change their name to "Some American Motorcycles". So what do we do? Assuming we can get access to the Internet or access to someone that has the Internet we may be ok. BRAN works well for this. Of course I am guilty of not printing it out just like Mike because I just do not think about it. I think BRAN is probably the best thing we have going right now. I wish we had more but I do not know what more is. | ||
| Jvv |
Hope the "others" still on the road check in.  My bike leaving the service area yesterday.........good front brake sure feel good Ride safe everyone....Jack | ||
| Buffalobolt |
Great post's! HUGE Thanks to Frank, Lynn, and Rex for setting up this rally. It can't be said enough that it's the bikes that bring you in, but the people that keep you coming back. Thanks for everyone's help and kind thoughts on my "adventure"! Well, I got in about 7am this morning... took a loooong hot shower and headed to work (mistake)! I know that I SWORE that I was done with the "iron butt thing" (at least for now), but Tim inspired me. I stopped to see an uncle in Denver. While getting back on the bike I decided to give it a go. Everything was going awesome. At almost the halfway point to the Buttburner Gold (1500miles in 24hrs), I was over an hour ahead of schedule. I just finished thinking that I just may make it "IF" nothing happened. Not five minutes later there was a bang, a screaming engine, and a loss of forward motion. I was right at an exit so I parked there at 1am. Iron Butt glory gone.... I sat there until 6am looking at the BRAG atlas to locate a dealer, then called the AMA for roadside assistance. At 8am the wrecker showed up and between being pretty tired, hot, and impatient, I got in a big rush and went to shove the S2 onto the truck. I slipped and over she went... Many thanks to Norice, and the staff there in Ames, IA (along with all of the offers and online help here!). One a side note: Frank you couldn't have beat me up anymore than I beat myself!  They got me going at 1pm on Wednesday, and I hit the road. About a quarter to ten I stopped to get a bite to eat on the thruway and noticed that the left bag wasn't quite hanging right. The frame was broken in two places. The only thing keeping the bag on was the two hooks from the bunjee net and the turn signal! After looking around the truck stop, the only thing that I could find was duct tape. After some creative "alternative engineering" (read, Redneck) I was back on the road. Boy was she a sight! But, it got me home (another 8.5hrs and almost 450 miles). The bag mount is shot. The paint is tore up. I'm P@ssed off and tired. But, in the end I had a great time (while there anyways)!  So, lets see, 11 months, 3 weeks to fab/get new bag mounts, and do a paint job... I'll post a picture of the "beauty" later. I need to get back to work, and then get some sleep! Thanks again EVERYONE! | ||
| F_skinner |
Mike, I am happy you are safe and sound. Jack is on his way as well. I am waiting to hear from Shane and Eric/Jackie. When all have arrived home safe and sound then it will be over. Lesson Learned, when 9 S2 riders tell you that your belt is shot, listen to them!!!  The main thing is you get some rest, when the pain goes away and the bike is back in shape I have a feeling you will be doing this again. I look forward to seeing the pics. BTW: Thanks for thanking Lynn, all through this exercise in futility she wanted to help me and did. Without her to give me focus I do not know if I could have done it. Rex is a rock and had all the bases covered. Next year, I am betting will be even better. See you in Texas. | ||
| No_rice |
glad you made it home safe and mostly in one piece mike. was starting to wonder. i enjoyed the talk and the drinks. if your ever in this area again give me a call! even if its 1 am and your broken down, i dont sleep anyway lol. same goes for anyone passing through. couple more weeks and i should have a couch to spare | ||
| Court |
>>>So, lets see, 11 months, 3 weeks to fab/get new bag mounts, and do a paint job... Don't beat yourself up until we talk. Drop me a note with your number when you catch your breath. | ||
| Road_thing |
If I can help with anything for next year's Texas gig, pm me. I live in the suburbs of Welcome, about halfway between Houston and Austin.  rt | ||
| Jvv |
Hi guys..............Glad Mike made it..........nothing more "fun" than waiting to get you bike back on the road. Took till Utah to get the brake pads seated in.........she is back to her old self. I am about 200 miles from Ca........took all "back" roads.........great weather.....(cept for a few quick sprinkles)......... Frank...did they hold the disk for you?? Already looking forward to Texas! Ride safe...Jack | ||
| Sportyeric |
Just dropping a quick line from San Fran. I've not got permission to be on the puter too long. Rolled into San Fran to visit Jaci's aunt and Firemanjim (not necessarily in that order.) Heading for FMJ's at Sears Point Infineon Raceway and noticed at a stop that the front isolator I'd installed last week before leaving Vancouver was seriously hooped. Now the visit to Jim became a project for him instead, which was kind of embarrassing but he didn't mind. Got us fixed up in no time and had a good visit at the same time. Couldn't stay to watch him drag racing his GSXR as the visit to the aunt was still on the to-do list. More when we get home. Twas great fun meeting you all and riding with you. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Sounds like you folks had a great time. Nice seeing so many S2's together. The scenery looks SPECTACULAR! Another area of the U.S. added to my "would like to ride there" list | ||
| F_skinner |
Eric, I know you are still on the road but when you get the chance please pm or email me your mailing address. Same goes for you Shane. Great meeting you all. | ||
| F_skinner |
The first S2 Gathering has come to past. I am still busy getting boxes out, letters and some other goodies to those who helped out. I would like to thank everyone for their support in putting this event together. It is not something I would want to do everyday with a real job and other activities but I feel that it was well worth the effort. Ross (Phelan) will be putting together next years event and I ask that you give him all the support that you gave me and Rex. I am hoping that everyone that wants to come can make it. I know several were not able to attend this year and that is understandable. As the event (to be in a different location each year) moves across North America maybe it will give everyone a chance to attend. While this was an event to celebrate the Buell S2 Thunderbolt it is really the people that own and ride these great bikes that make it worth the time and effort. When was the last time you saw 10 S2s lined up in a parking lot? Or seen a group of them motor over a Colorado mountain pass (in the rain no less)? As a S2 guy I cannot begin to express my excitement to meet all the people that showed up. People that rode straight from NY and LA and others that broke the journey up into a few days from AZ, KS, CA, TX, WA and Canada. Each one will have a different story to tell but they all center around the S2. Thanks again everyone for your help, your positive attitude and safe riding skills. See you next year at a location and time to be determined. Frank S2 Rider | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
EButch wrote: "On Jay's Black S2T is fairing-sheild a rifle,by Gustoein?I,d like to see more pics of it." Butch, It is a Gustafsson touring fairing, not a Rifle. Unfortunately it now has a nice 8" crack running across it due to a run-in with the railroad tracks in Texico on the way up to Buena Vista (I'll tell the whole story shortly). You can still get them from Gustafsson in +2" and +4" heights. http://www.bikescreen.com/products.asp?cat=92&pg=2 Rifle also still shows theirs still available: http://tiny.cc/vSAx4 Hope this helps! HellBuelly J | ||
| Gowindward |
I already see the theme for next year. With everyone leaving Colorado with saying "See you in Texas" I think this fits. "Lone Star Roundup" "See All Y'all In Texas" (Thanks Denny) Glad to see everyone is making it home safe. Just the three from the great north west to go. | ||
| Ebutch |
James is yours 2 or 4"?And it looks shaped different than stocker or Zerro Gravity which I use 4" over. |
