| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
Durango to Grand Junction with a lunch stop at Joe Cocker's place. And staying on the western slopes opens up a whole slew of sight seeing opportunites with National Parks and whatnot in Utah and western Colorado and in the general Four Corners region for non-riding family members to go to. Just some thoughts. BattleTrax? BRAG? I've forgotten what those are.  One primary reason track days are not better attended is the day they are held on. Petty excuse, maybe, but valid, weekday events will almost always have lower attendance. The secondary reasons are bike prep and riding gear. Not everyone has a full suit, and renting someone's pitted out used suit adds to the costs. And not everyone has their bike all safety wired nor wants to tape over or disconnect their lights and such. More relatively minor nitpicks but still valid reasons. Exactly how many locals attended the most recent Buell Coming Home deal? | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
This years attendance was down from all the previous ones. Locals werent even out in force. Joe Cockers place I believe is out of business. His wife actually ran it. The track days around here have never required safety wiring at all. Dont need leathers either. Joe rocket cordura jackets & pants are acceptable. Almost everyone has at least the setup. So that leaves maybe taping up a few lights as an excuse not to go. Personally I think its more a case of people buy a bike that is well suited for track days & they talk a good game, but never actually set a tire on the track for fear of falling down & scratching the damn thing. Go get grippy tires, get more power by installing an exhaust & intake, add sliders, etc etc & yet never even consider going to the track??? And no thats no meant towards anyone, its just folks in general. Seems like they are afraid of tracks. | ||
| Cj_xb |
Colorado smack in the middle of the Buellmap. BINGO !!!! The secondary reasons are bike prep and riding gear. Not everyone has a full suit, Bingo again !! I did call Daves yesterday about the track day, but I'm not a racer and never will be so the above is the reason I won't be doing track day YET !! Daves suggested I go and watch to see what's it's all about, and if I go that's what I'll do, keep Heather company !!  CJ | ||
| Cj_xb |
Seems like they are afraid of tracks. I'm not afraid to admit I'm afraid !!  | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Nothing to be afraid of tho. You only need to go as fast as you want. Its not a race, you are there to improve your skills & find out just how far you can trust yourself & your bike. Think about it, clean corners with no gravel, no tar snakes, no animals, etc. You do pretty well in the corners already. Start out in the novice class & you would do fine. Trust me on that. I have spent enough time riding with you this summer to see where your skill level is. You could easily handle a track day. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
The secondary reasons are bike prep and riding gear. Not everyone has a full suit, Bingo again !! I did call Daves yesterday about the track day, but I'm not a racer and never will be so the above is the reason I won't be doing track day YET !! Dont need a full suit. Joe Rocket gear is fine, you have that stuff already. | ||
| Darthane |
Yeah, I don't know about you, but I'd be much, MUCH more comfortable on a closed track than ripping around unfamiliar roads. When we went on the NE Tour, the first day was spent in SE Ohio. I had a great time, but there are some nerve-wracking moments thrown in there, too. Horses and their •••• in the road, gravel strewn all over the corners, blind downhills, blind corners, etc. Give me a track anyday...still haven't managed to make it to one. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Riding would be secondary. We would ride of course, but more so I'd want lots of opportunity to socialize I think I've found the problem is that there wasn't been enough riding at the Wisconsin events. For me, the ideal event would have a variety of routes available between 200-600 miles. Over a 3 day event, you'd get the chance to break into groups depending on the length of your ride. At the end of the day, everyone gathers back at a host location to "brag" about their great day. That being said, I can't think of a better location than Colorado. It's somewhat centrally located (easy access from both coasts). Having lived there, I can attest to the GREAT variety of roads available. He can't beat the scenery. Possiblities of a track day at PPIR (don't know if there are other tracks in the area). My only concern is not being able to make the event around my late summer schedule  Once again...my $.02 | ||
| Darthane |
That's why the planning starts now! By this time next year I'll definitely be up for another long trip. | ||
| Mikej |
Well I still need pants and then some free funds and the breather bypass fixed up some or maybe a new bike which will take care of the breather but not the funds nor the pants so a track day for me is probably in the future but not this year but maybe next and if not I'll just start shopping for floorboards for the M2. And considering I fell down on my bicycle last Saturday I'll probably have to get some body armor too.  Just heard about Cocker's place a few years ago when I was going to be out that way, not even sure what town it was near except that it was between Durango and Grand Junction. Big area but I meander a lot at times. Are you sure about the safety wiring? I'm sure I read it on one of the track school web sites. Maybe that was for something different. Oh well. Still not a bad idea though, so I'll keep it as an excuse.  | ||
| Daves |
I have a pair of Joe Rocket Phoenix pants in stock Mike. I'd make you a good deal on them. Size large. Dave | ||
| Mikej |
I'll keep that in mind, but a large might be a squeeze at least until I drop another 30 pounds or so. | ||
| Kim |
Joe Cocker's place was in Crawford Colorado. It has been closed for a couple of summers. Crawford is on Hwy 92, one of the best roads in the state. Although like a lot of you are saying, almost any road west of Denver is well worth riding. Kim | ||
| Court |
>>>almost any road west of Denver is well worth riding. Particularly with Kim leading! Plan away...but keep your eye on Nashville, TN sleepy little hollow at the foot of the Natchez Trace. Musical sponsors, Buell bands and some interesting research is underway. Don't say I didn't give you early warning. | ||
| Mikej |
Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. |___|___|____|____|___|____|___|___|___|___|___|___| Time frames were looking at for any/all events? Any projected "official" Buell plans out there for next year yet? | ||
| Daves |
Well you'll just have to come up on Sat and try them on then! The Joe Rocket rep will have other sizes too I'm sure. Be a great chance to try on what you want so you know what size you'll need when you are ready. Dave PS, I would "think" that any BRAG/Buell homecoming type events in WI would be around the Road America dates in June. | ||
| Mikej |
Let's see, rewiring part of the house, drilling long blind holes, pulling wire, getting zapped, vs attending the Sport Bike Day. Sometimes the preferred choices get over-ruled by the practical ones. Why does anyone need lights in a basement stairwell anyway????? Thanks for the suggested tip on the RA calender coalignment. I'll keep an eye on that as plans develop and as this summer begins to end. | ||
| Cj_xb |
Dont need a full suit. Joe Rocket gear is fine, you have that stuff already. But not the pants, and seriously like Daves said go see it first, nothing wrong with that !! And thanks for the compliment !! CJ | ||
| Cj_xb |
At least I'm willing to ride to Colorado, and Nashville sounds pretty good too to a southern girl !!! CJ | ||
| Daves |
I'll loan you a flashlight Mike! Come to the sportbike day! I need as many Buells there as I can muster. Ride to the edge! Dave 1-866-757-1651 Ask for Dave in the SALES dept | ||
| Bomber |
CJ -- track day has little, if anything to do with racing -- participation will increase your skills and confidence quicker than any other activity, bar none watching one, though, the first time, ain't altogether a bad idea -- it would help calm the understandable butterflies that ensue at the beginning of one the first time | ||
| Uwgriz |
CJ, I have some cordura overpants that you can use. | ||
| Outrider |
I find this fact finding thread really fascinating. I did a quick survey of all the locations suggested and the discussions and came up with a few issues you may want to consider. First, BRAG folks are young and have more family obligations. Second, BRAG folks, by merit of their age and career path, are lower on the seniority list concerning first pick of vacation dates. Third, All the locations suggested have great riding roads and lots of local culture that can enrichen your life's experience. Fourth, Gomo's post that initiated this thread suggested two rallies, One East and One West, for attendance reasons. From my perspective, I would suggest waiting to see what BRAG comes up with for National and Regional events for 2005 and work around those. Dave has a good point about the race venue's as there were at least two events centered around races in 2004. Road America and Infineon (Sears Point). The only thing that bugs me about BRAG is the late announcement of the next years events. It almost seems that they announce after HOG makes their plans known. To me, this is wrong as BRAG folks are younger than HOG folks and have different responsibilities and priorities that require longer notice to plan their vacations. Therefore, I would suggest you write to BRAG and request them to make an early release of the dates and locations of next years events in October or November. This release does not have to include details, just dates and locations, all the details that drum up even more participation can come later. It is just for planning purposes. Just remember, as someone posted, there weren't many locals at the Homecoming this year. Well a lot of that had to do with family and career constraints that could have been avoided had more time been provided for planning. Isn't that the reason you are all discussing next years gatherings now? | ||
| Sandblast |
I never get to go to Wisconsin because of time and money constraints- and I bet there are a lot of people like me out here. But Colorado is something I could do. So for purely selfish reasons I say Colorado would be awesome. And seriously- have you guys ever looked at a topographical map of the U.S. before? Could somebody that has one post it? That might encourage the East Coast Badwebbers to come visit. | ||
| Mikej |
Daves, Thanks for the loan offer, but unless an electrician is holding the loaned flashlight I may still be in trouble. Sandblast, This is what I found with a quick search, imagelinked to http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/topo/img/litlusa.gif  | ||
| Sandblast |
Thanks Mike, that about covers it! | ||
| BadS1 |
Bill thanks for summing it up.I'm a independent business owner and run another.I don't punch a time clock nor do I have 2-4 weeks of vacation coming to me yearly.I plan my time according to number one how is my Biz doing... ok to let me go this year??considering my family what they need or want? Dyna theres alot of people that have put these sliders and pucks on there XB's and it wasn't just track days.Its called just day to day riding.And then oooopp's the frame is dented that I don't want to send to my insurance and either does anyone else.As far as being afraid I don't no about anyone else but I'm not its a controled enviroment just like you said ride how fast you want to.Me the dates just haven't worked in my favor.Matter of fact my bike hasn't even left the garage in a couple weeks.....that suck's. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Nashville sounds pretty good too to a southern girl !!! Key word is "sounds". We can ride in a thousand neat places. The cool thing about this is going to be the chance to ride during the day and listen to a variety of Buell musicians and celeb Buell riders jam through the night. BUELLJAM- The Rally to FREE DAVE GESS | ||
| Outrider |
The Rally to FREE DAVE GESS In as much as I know where the "Free Dave Gess" slogan started (at least the version from a few weeks back) I am beginning to wonder if this is actually a collection for his retirement fund.  Just kidding Dave...Just kidding. | ||
| Gravedigger |
Tripper post this on the KCMOB section. "If we can have it in Arkansas, the KC Central Brag Club would surely play host!" I can't speak highly enough of the set up at www.ironhorsestables.com. take a look at thier website. Book it early enough and we could have the entire site to ourselves. I do like the suggestions for Nashville and Colorado. |
