2008 XS 30th anniversary, Idaho Aug 15-20

[wa407mpp]

I will be unable to make the get together this weekend. On the way to work this morning I hit Prom's armadillo and rolled my bike. I wasn't hurt but my bike will need some major work before I can ride it again, the bike itself is fine, but the fairing was crushed and the guards bent, and yes they do work, they saved me some major engine damage. It shouldn't take me to long to get it going, after I rode it home I stopped at the bike shop and picked up another fairing and then after work I striped the old junk and started replacing it with new junk, but the Vetter fairing I picked up doesn't have a headlight so I will have to find one before i can ride it anywhere. I'll tell one thing, having you bike tumble over you at 50 mph is not a good way to start your day. When I got back home with the bike, I again, thanked my wife for the new armored Tourmaster jacket she bought me for father's day.

[ratbyk]

Sorry to hear Steve. Not a very nice birthday present but a great fathers day gift. Heal fast and get the bike ride-able again. XS11's are awfully tough bikes.

[prometheus578]

sorry to hear that, steve.

the hell with denny.... i think i'll just hold a cripple's rally for us at my place.
just got back into town. i may show up... depends if i can drive a stick or not.

[wa407mpp]

Except for my pride, I'm not ready hurt just a sore shoulder were the bike hit me on it's way over, I must be getting slow I used to be better at getting out of the way.

[John]

Armadillos...in Washington? Now there's something I thought I'd never hear!

[jkorn]

You guys are goig to have killer weather

It is suppose to rain all weekend here in the Chicago area.

Have a great time, wish I was there.

Jeff

[johnboi71]

I might make it down tonight for the food I have a bit more work to do the XS(fork oil, fix sticking tach) so I may not run it down, but it would be nice to talk trash again, even if I can't make the run
I think I remeber how to get to your place Denny, we'll see.
Kurt, can't you borrow a Vespa since they don't require you to shift

[prometheus578]

brother took me shopping yesterday.
bought two six packs of Steinlager and Tecate just in case.
shall see today if i can drive my son's truck.
i hope to make it out there

[horst]

having fun ?

No posts from Denny's place .... must be having a great time !

Weather improved is an understatement ... over here in Victoria it's damn hot ! .... not too often we can say that

Hope you're all having a great time there and hoist one for all who could not make it ..... good night.

[Dennyz]

Great gathering, great ride.

Jason Riley, Mike Homes, Ken Daniels, Jeremy Sells, Kurt (Prom) and myself made the attendee list.

Ken was waiting for me when I got home on Friday at around 4:30. He had just arrived and found the beer. Jason and Mike rolled in around dark. Jeremy showed around midnight. We discussed and drank until 1:30am. We decide to make the run up to the north west corner of the country (Heah Bay) and back in the morning.

By 7:30am we were crawling toward the coffee pot. Put down some breakfast and rolled out by 9:30am. The plan was to ride up and back track to Olympia because of heavy road work (1 lane) on US101 down Hoods Canal.

Gassed up a Steam Boat Island, took US101 to the cutoff (Little Creek Casino) over to SR 8 and into Aberdeen.

By 11:00am it was already in the 80s. It was hot in Aberdeen. Traffic was light up the coast on US101. It is a rather remote area from the major metro areas, so law enforcement is sparse. We motored right a long. We went in and out of sections where the temperature was in the high 80s, then all of a sudden drop to the 60s from the off shore breeze. Sweating one minute, freezing the next. Still a great ride.

Had lunch in Forks. At lunch we decide to continue around the peninsula (rather than back tracking) and across the Hoods Canal bridge. 20 miles out of Neah Bay it was approaching 3:00pm and we had a long way to go. The road deteriorates from there, so we turned around and headed east.

During our discussion period the night before (early morning) Ken told us of a great road that is not traveled much, SR112 to Port Angeles. Wow, what a road. 40 miles of twisties along the northern coast and forest. We blasted that road good. No traffic to speak of and corners ranging from 15mph hair pins to 40mph sweepers. Fantastic run.

By the time we reach Port Angeles, the miles, the late night, and major road carving was taking its toll. We were still 130+ miles from home. Stopped at a coffee shop to revive the brain and blasted the slab back to Oly where the cold beers were waiting. Jason and Mike split off in Tacoma and headed home.

About the time the BBQ started Kurt showed up. He's hurt'n, but always a good addition to a gathering. We finished the evening with BBQ ribs, beer and riding stories. Ken brought out some of his "shine" to help easy the road sores. Jeremy put us into a transcendental state with his playing of my Digerydo just before bed time.

Kurt head home before it got too late. Ken and Jeremy headed in opposite directions this morning.

Great weather, great ride, great friend, great bikes. It doesn't get any better than that.

We are looking forward to the run around the PNW in August. We have pretty much come to the conclusion that the August ride will not and should not be over planned. We have a route, a starting place, and an ending day. Everything else we will make up as we go. We will try to post to the list where we are and will be on what day. It will be a true adventure.

Anyone that is seriously interested in make the whole route should expect to have to camp once in a while. We will be going through some pretty remote areas. It would be nice to see some riders local to the areas as we pass through. Join us for lunch, dinner, camp fires and/or day runs.

See you on the road!

[wa407mpp]

It sounds like you all had a great time, I go to Neah Bay for work quite often, but never found time to ride my bike out there. As for myself I spent my day at Bent Bikes in Lynwood, searching for replacement parts. I think I found everything I needed, except for the bike to fairing plug and wires, if I have to I will improvise until I find one. If some of you local guys have never been to Bent Bikes, go, if just to look, on saturdays the place smells like overheated credit cards.

[wa407mpp]

Bask on the road again.

I just thought I'd let you all know, the bike is fixed and I'm back on the road again. One thing I found while I was straighting the saddle bag mounts was the left rear air shock had lost its spring retainers and the spring was hanging loose, so I made another trip to the crash site and found them lying in the dirt, and then went to Les Schwabbs and had them pressed back on. How's that for luck? How hard do you have to land to shed those anyway?

[jkorn]

Sounds like you guys had a great time. I am still stranded back here in the midwest. Lots of heat and T-storms.

RE August. Just wanted to confrim the dates.

I'm still a go.

Jeff

[KenClark]

strong maybe on the "ride"

I've been reading along for a while and would love to ride for a few days if I can sort out the issues I am having with my Special. It has been parked for 3 years (what a shame!).

Spending a week so far changing all the fluids, dismantling sections of it for a deep de-rusting, polishing and waxing. I originally pulled the head 2 years ago to lap the valves and cleaned the carbs, the valves were ok but the carbs were a mess. Things came up and it sat there till last week.

I got everything together and started it yesterday. I remember always having concerns of high heat but I don't recall the valve covers getting as hot as they were after letting it idle for just under 5 minutes,,, wow, they got hot.

I checked the oil delivery to the top end and it is certainly getting there, good pressure and flow going in, I think I may be over analyzing it as usual.

Anyway, I can (If the gas $ can be scraped up) meet at Dennys' house and ride till we reach highway 90 in Montana on the morning of the 5th day (if I am reading the schedule correctly) then head West back to the Seattle area.

Ken

[sidrider]

P.NW. Rally

Hi All Do you know what day you will be at number 13 spot on your map?
I will be in John Day Or. the 15-17 of Aug.
If the timing is right would like to ride a
ways with you on my way back to Arizona

Sid





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79 XS Standard
95 750 Nighthawk
96 DR 650
79 V50 Moto Guzzi
83 Goldwing