First ride into work
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 193
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First ride into work
Just rode the bike into work for the first time. It's 20 to 25 miles one way, 95% freeway.
Put my leather on, stuck my laptop in my backpack and off I went.
I was glad I wore my jacket; it was pretty cool out there. It was a great morning for a ride though, traffic was light, sun was out, road was dry, and I gave myself 50 minutes to get in even though I can normally do it in under 30 minutes with my car.
One spot in the road had me worried about taking the bike to work. For some reason there are two bumps in the road, fairly significant, right after one another. My guess would be 2-4 inches high and separated by about a foot. It looks like they are caused by compression in the road from the heat, but most likely because the road workers were drunk that day. The placement of the bumps makes them more troublesome, as they are about 1/4 mile before my exit, at the exact spot people begin braking.
I faded back a good 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front of me, double-tapped the brakes to get the attention of the dude behind me, stood up a bit on the forward controls, and breezed over those bumps as if they were two pencils in the road. The sportys’ suspension keeps surprising me how rider-friendly it is.
Pulling into downtown was another worry. Folks drive insane around here. Lots of cars, lots of people trying to get to work, and the courthouse is around the corner. I was a bit nervous getting onto Jefferson Blvd. but the light traffic made the experience a confidence booster. The SEII pipes rumbling off the high rise buildings sounded spectacular, too.
Overall it was a very fun trip. I'm looking forward to brining it back home this afternoon.
Put my leather on, stuck my laptop in my backpack and off I went.
I was glad I wore my jacket; it was pretty cool out there. It was a great morning for a ride though, traffic was light, sun was out, road was dry, and I gave myself 50 minutes to get in even though I can normally do it in under 30 minutes with my car.
One spot in the road had me worried about taking the bike to work. For some reason there are two bumps in the road, fairly significant, right after one another. My guess would be 2-4 inches high and separated by about a foot. It looks like they are caused by compression in the road from the heat, but most likely because the road workers were drunk that day. The placement of the bumps makes them more troublesome, as they are about 1/4 mile before my exit, at the exact spot people begin braking.
I faded back a good 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front of me, double-tapped the brakes to get the attention of the dude behind me, stood up a bit on the forward controls, and breezed over those bumps as if they were two pencils in the road. The sportys’ suspension keeps surprising me how rider-friendly it is.
Pulling into downtown was another worry. Folks drive insane around here. Lots of cars, lots of people trying to get to work, and the courthouse is around the corner. I was a bit nervous getting onto Jefferson Blvd. but the light traffic made the experience a confidence booster. The SEII pipes rumbling off the high rise buildings sounded spectacular, too.
Overall it was a very fun trip. I'm looking forward to brining it back home this afternoon.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 2
From: SouthEast Michigan
RE: First ride into work
Glad you enjoyed it. My ride to work consists of riding through a county owned park that is 14 miles long. It is difficult at best to make my turn out of the park towards work. Beautiful ride, though. If I don't feel like working on any particular day, makeing the ride eases the pain.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
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RE: First ride into work
hehehe
Turning into work the first time isn't hard. I get to show off my bike to all my co-workers, drive around the ren-cen, filling the downtown detroit air with a harley rumble.
And, probably most importantly, I realized I need a windscreen of some kind, so I need money, and the place for money is that right turn at the driveway just up ahead....
I may not be able to take that right turn next time though.
Turning into work the first time isn't hard. I get to show off my bike to all my co-workers, drive around the ren-cen, filling the downtown detroit air with a harley rumble.
And, probably most importantly, I realized I need a windscreen of some kind, so I need money, and the place for money is that right turn at the driveway just up ahead....
I may not be able to take that right turn next time though.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: First ride into work
ORIGINAL: Arctic Badger
And, probably most importantly, I realized I need a windscreen of some kind, so I need money, and the place for money is that right turn at the driveway just up ahead....
And, probably most importantly, I realized I need a windscreen of some kind, so I need money, and the place for money is that right turn at the driveway just up ahead....
I've put over 500,000 miles on the Harley's I've owned (average around 20,000 miles a year for 33+ years), and none of them have had a windshield. If the wind wasn't trying to knock me off the bike, or bugs and birds weren't trying to knock me out, I'd feel lost. [sm=biker.gif]
Actually, I have ridden bikes with windshield, and it is a pleasant change of pace. In fact, I've been tempted to get one of those "quick disconnect" windshields. Maybe someday....
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: Detroit Mi. area
RE: First ride into work
I too have been riding to work on my 06 883. It sure make the ride to and from a lot more interesting. Where are you in the Detroit area? I live here as well. Downriver. On Grosse Ile. My travel to work is about 30 miles. Out to Farmington Hills. I work the midnight shift and travel Telegraph. Steady 45-50 and I can make most, if not all, of the lights.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 853
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RE: First ride into work
yea, the first ride to work always is kinda sweet when you get to show the bike off. you'll love the ride home even more, probably take much longer too...stay safe and enjoy the ride.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
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RE: First ride into work
I ride to work almost every day but it's only 1 and 1/2 miles.I used to have a Suzuki 450 with rusty pipes.When I got my new 06 883 low I told people to come out and see my new pipes.I told them it mad3e it look like a whole different bike.They came out laughed and agreed it did look like a different bike the color even changed.Lol.