I'm new

[STEPPENWOLF]

Hey, I'm new here. I do a lot of short loop rides these days after work. I have done some longer rides but have to be content with shorter rides these days. I am actually in Dunlap OH,a bit in the country but close to everything. Hey since this is only my second post let me think about giving a real report on rides here in my corner of southwest Ohio. Lots of interesting places around here to ride to.Will try to get a ride report on here soon,and yes it will be from the seat of my'80 SG.

Bill

[STEPPENWOLF]

Well since there aren't many trip reports I am not sure how to do this so I will just start.
I have an '80 SG,I like trains so I make train watching a big part of my rides plus it gives me new places to go instead of the old familiar rides. Tracks are in the country and near rivers and creeks and small towns so they provide a sense of direction.
This particular ride I do about twice a year,not long about 120 miles total.Taking off I just drop down a long hill with a few gentle curves in it to get me to RT.128 in Ross OH which follows The Great Miami River. I head north going pass a lot of cornfields and small farmers stands.Flat where I am at but some nice hills to either side of me.A great mc road but there are a lot of gravel trucks on it during the week. You do get a few views of the river. I usually leave early in the morning so I always stop at a Mickey D's in Hamilton which sits right next to the CSX and Southern mainline where I can sip on my coffee and catch some train action.I always have my camera and scanner with me when following the tracks. This is a busy little train hot spot.
After my coffee I pick up 127 and go north where I start to follow the Southern tracks just outside of town.I soon jump off the main road onto a smooth as silk two lane road,local traffic only,and ride right next to the tracks and Seven Mile creek...riding next to a freight at 60 mph,25 feet away is a rush even if you don't like trains.
But I finally come to my destination,Camden Oh,an old train depot that has been converted into a DQ like ice cream place. They have train pics on the wall,lots of local folks,decent food and it is right next to the tracks:-) When you are inside and a train comes by hold onto your drinks the whole place shakes, nothing like a grain train or intermodal to liven up the day.
Since this is my first trip report and I am half way thru my ride,my 1100 ran like a charm as always,I hear imaginary noises out of the engine now and again:-)But you know how it is you become one with your bike at times and would like it to go on forever...
My two fingers are wore out and my brain is fried so if anybody reads this I might post a little more at a later time.Thanks for reading.

Bill

[TopCatGr58]

More than meets the eye!

Hey there WOLF/Bill,

Yes, it's winter, so not many CURRENT ride reports. However, if you look along the bottom of this Forum's title bar where you see these 2 threads, you'll see a drop down menu choice on HOW FAR BACK to display, and it's default is only 60 days.

I'll bet if you'll click on it, and set it to 1 year, or even BEGINNING, then you'll see lots of examples to pick from!

Okay, you've got a camera. We LOVE photos. Go to the HOW TO Forum, and read up on how to post photos, and then add some to your thread. I'm sure there are more than a few folks who like trains!

Also, go to the MEMBER's FORUM, and then read the sticky about member locator and then do a search, and you'll find several others in your state that you can possibly meet up with!

WELCOME!
T.C.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Many thanks, I thought that was odd that there was only one thread,me and computers don't get along too well:-) I am learning and didn't realize that many people still ride the old 1100...
Great site,seems like a good group of people.
Thanks again for the info........

Bill

[STEPPENWOLF]

Those of you that do some long distance rides,this appiles to any bike ya ride,keep some kind of log book. A diary so to speak. Where did ya stay,weather,road report,what did ya see that day...anything. I wish I had on all of my trips. I just went thru five of the trips where I kept a trip log and I could not remember how much I had forgotten.I took lots of 35mm pics but did not write down where they were:-)I will remember this place or this road.........trust me 20 years later,you will not. On the few road reports I did keep...they bring back memories as to why I still ride today,and still on the same XS11 I bought on May 29 1980.

[prometheus578]

Nice train museum in Helper, Utah. (Was where the railroad kept the "helper" engines to pull the coal trains through the mountains.) Found that place while ghost town huntin' on a trip back from Denver. Never knew Utah was a coal state.
Yeah, I know... you're from Ohio. But Utah and Ohio both start with vowels, so I figger'd I'd mention it, as vowels are important.
Huh?
AHhahahahaha

[Pain]

Originally posted by prometheus578
But Utah and Ohio both start with vowels, so I figger'd I'd mention it, as vowels are important.
Huh?
AHhahahahaha

Someone missed nap time.

I was through Ohio a few years ago on my H. I will have to look around for pics. It was pretty country, I was just head to Columbus for a Con.

I want to go to Cinni, though. Rock and Roll hall Of Fame, and all...

[mike1us]

I just took my 1980 xs 1100 sg out for the first time this year, yesterday. We have had too much snow this year. If it wasn't snowing it was 20 degrees or below. That is too cold for me. As it was yesterday I had my cold weather gear on. It was all of 41 degrees. Then today we had more snow. Spring, where is it? Well I hope it is comming soon.
Well the actual ride was non eventful but it was nice to get out in the wind again. Cruising down the highway at 70, er, 80 .....nice.

Hoping for warmer weather......Soon!

[STEPPENWOLF]

Holly cow I forgot I started this ride,just getting back into the website.From Camden a lot of times I ride to Richmond IN but on this ride I went on to Hueston Woods State Park just out side of Oxford OH,yuppers Miami University...the women....back to bikes:-)the park it self is very nice,swimming, fishing,camping all top notch with a GREAT lodge but with the university soo close if you camp,the GESTOPO is right there,the students kinda get out of hand a bit so the border patrol is there to insure you are in a communist state. Over all it is a nice small lake,roads are smooth nice place to sit back and sip on a cup of coffee while enjoying the sunrise with your eggs and sausage being cooked over the fire ready to be put in a piece of pita bread cut in half with some mayo and salsa......dang it don't get any better. The ride back down to Dunlap(homebase)soo many different ways to go,follow the tracks or stick to the corn fields,this trip I followed the corn fields in to farmer country,it is soo great to see the corn growing tall,soybeans, sunflowers leaning towards the sun,little road side stands selling their home grown goodies,tomatoes,corn,melons etc..geeze...Ohio is such a great place and then I am back home and I wish it could have gone on forever on my trusty XS1100 SG...the tales I could tell.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Hey guys and gals,don't know the rules on here put is it possible to put on a ride report that I may have taken over a four year period and just kinda blend it into one trip? A few out and back trips here in southwest Ohio...instead of several different trips just make it one trip.It might sound like one trip but ..............it would not be factual that it was one ride,would that be ok with ya?
Soo many great ride reports I have read on here, wish I had the time:-)

Bill