Yesterday we set out on our first real ride on our new bike. We'd picked the bike up the day before Christmas, but hadn't really had the chance to take her out and blow the stink off, if you know what I mean. Christmas, weather, I'd had an aching cold, a trip to the San Deigo zoo, everything seemed to be getting in the way.

Well, we decided to go yesterday, and when we woke up, it was raining cats and dogs, and a wind storm to boot. Now, the windstorm was no big deal, but it's not every day that it rains like that in Yuma...

Well, we'd resigned ourselves to the fact that it wasn't going to happen, and before you know it, by about 3PM the weather had cleared and we decided to go.

It was a moderate temperature, about 55 degrees, maybe 60, but that feels a bit chilly when you're the warm blooded types that live in the desert. We opted for chaps, leather jackets, boots, gloves, and full face helmets. We elected not to go with thermals or long underwear though. No sense in ruining the first ride by arriving back at the garage like two frozen popsicles after an hour or so of being blown around.

We piled on the bike and took off. Kelly didn't much care where we went, so I decided to head north up US-95 towards a little town called Quartzite; I had never heard of Quartzite prior to looking at Mapquest just prior to walking out the door. My only plan was to ride about an hour north, stop for a cup of joe, and be home by 6, plenty of time to catch the 7 o'clock show down at the theater.

Well, we set out, our daughter taking quick pics for nostalgia. At this point, I still only had about 25 miles on the bike, so I was still in the break in period where you are not supposed to keep a steady speed. So we're tooling up the road, I'm varying my speed between 50 and 70 (we were the only ones on the road), alternating between 4th and 5th gear. My wife's no dummy, and I know she's probably wondering what this idiot sitting in front of her is doing.

I figure I'll fill her in, so I look over my shoulder and yell at her, "I can't keep a constant speed until we hit 50 miles!" Well, I heard her yell something back...but I couldn't hear what she said.

HMMMM. If I can't hear her...she proabably can't hear me. Oh well, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Up and down between 4th and 5th gear, 50 and 70. Kind of annoying actually. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I pulled over and told her why I couldn't keep a constant speed...

Her answer, "OK." (Now don't I fell foolish)

Well, we finally got through 50 miles on the bike and now I can go a little faster. I still varied the speed some but not nearly as much as before. As we continued north I saw a sign for a town that would be about 60 miles from Yuma. 60 miles came and went...and still no town. Might have been that one dirt road about 8 miles back, who knows.

Quartzite is only another 30 up the road, what the heck? We'll keep going. 80 miles into our journey we pull into Quartzite, small town, complete with a McDonalds, right there at the interesection of I-10 and US-95 in Arizona. Lots of RV's, swap meets, and little restaurants. Not much else. We rode through the town at about 25, looking at the looks, and smelling the smells. I decided for quick fuel stop and we decided to head straight back.

It was beautiful on the way back, for those that have been in the desert and seen a sunset, its something you don't soon forget. Radient colors splash the sky, all over a scenic mountain backdrop. Awesome view as we rolled through on the desert floor. I must say, the trip back was a little shorter than the one up. Once the sun sets in the desert, well, it starts to get chilly. I kind of turned a little harder with the right hand and got the bike a scootin'.

My wife was pretty cold when we got back, we made it to the movie, but it was nearly bed time before she was entirely thawed out!

All in all

 

Good for you Mac. Sounds like a great putt! That's the direction Nancy and I head out for when it gets cold here in "Preskitt". We head South when it's cold and North when it's hot. Hoping to get a few hundred miles this weekened before the next storm hits. We got smacked pretty hard up this way with the last one.

 

Glad y'all enjoyed the first ride. y'know it wouldn't have taken so long for your sweetie to thaw out if'n you'd a snuggled a bit, maybe a light kiss on the neck, ...

 

Pilot,

Its sounds like you are really going to enjoy that bike. That is the way all first rides should be. I broke my bike in on the way home. Kinda had to. The next day i had my first real ride planned. I went to a harley drag race in maryland.(MRI racetrack.) From Woodbridge VA it was a short hop but i still had a eye awaking experience. I was going down some road in maryland when a jeep 4x4's front tire blew out next to me. He swerved in my lane without looking, I locked the rear tire up while going about 60.Rookie mystake. I recovered nicely though and the man finally saw me. He waited for me to go by and i rode on with my heart going 160 beats per minute. I did this with only my learners permit as a license. That is the only scare i have had and the only one i want. You learn quick to expect the unexpected.

Be careful and enjoy,
Have a good new year with alot af great riding,

David

 

or you get hurt - or dead.

[sm=icon_guiness.gif] Happy New Year! [sm=icon_guiness.gif]

and ride safe!

 

Mac,

Sounds like a great ride. Now where's that pic for nostalgia?

 

 

You can see that grin though the helmet too. Very nice.

 

Ha Mac,

You had better be careful, after a couple of nice long rides, my wife asked me to buy her a Sportster......... For the time being, I have convinced her that riding on the back of my bike would be a lot more enjoyable for her. but every time that we go into our local Harley shop, the first thing that she does is sits on a Sportster.

 

If she wants a Sportster...I'm screwed.

I'll just keep tellin' her that I want her on the back so she can a-hold on and give me some-a-lovin'!!