Bob Jones Rally 2010?

[skippy344]

I guess I'll drop my $.02. As one of the riders who is always at the back of the pack, I can say that I felt like I was spending the whole ride catching up. When I got to the next stop, everyone was ready to go, and off they went. By the time I came out of the restroom, they were loaded up and all I saw was smoke and tail lights. Never got to talk about that segment, take pictures, or just hang with my XS11 buddies.

I never really got the sense of comradery. When we did the "Wayne TeXSive" rallies, I definitely had a sense of comradery. We were all part of the experience and experienced it together, in an awesome XS11 line. When 8 to 12 XS11s pull into a parking lot, and line up, its pretty damn cool. But when they straggle in 2sies and 3sies, and the first group is ready to pull out, well, its just another ride with others who happen to be out on bikes.

I have been riding for 30+ years, and I can shred, but I don't want to on a rally. I thought it was about riding as a group, meaning all together. The Arkansas rallies ended up being 3 rallies. Shredders, speeders, and folks like me.

An accident at every rally should tell people something. It should not be about who is fastest. There are tracks for that. Racing on the open roads is really not safe, and is just asking for trouble. And I'm sorry, but folks try to keep up, for many reasons. That can put a rider at risk, if they have to speed, outside of their riding ability or comfort, just to catch the group, or not get lost. What happens if one of htese 30+ year old bikes has a mechanical failure, and needs help. The shredders will never know, get tired of waiting at the next stop and just take off.

Like it or not, we are riding 30+ year old bikes, not 2009 R1s. Sorry, that's the reality. Just because these bikes were the fastest bikes for their times, doesn't mean we need to prove it 30+ years later. I am 45 years old, and I can have just as much fun at 60MPH, with a group of XS11s in parade formation, as I can riding with my bride down a Texas country road. I don't need to do it at 90+MPH, on a 30+ year old motorcycle.

That's why we just don't participate anymore. I thought Arkansas was some of the best, prettiest riding I have done, and will probably do it 100 more times, with my bride, but I do not have an interest, anymore, shredding at 108MPH to be part of the "group."

Too bad really, because the Talimena Trail is just about the most beautiful, technically challenging, fun ride we have done outside of Texas.

I have already been told, by others on this site, that I should just quit whining, ride at the speed I'm comfortable with, and deal with it. OK, got the message. I took care of it.

[Ivan]

It never was about who was the fastest.

I can't see where blaming the "speeders" and "shredders" for the accidents is proper. Its up to each to ride within their limitations. No one but the guy with his hands on the bars is to blame for how he rides.

[Wildkat]

Wow Greg...
I'm awfully sorry you feel that way... I really enjoy riding with you and I hope to get a chance to enjoy riding with Lynda one of these days soon too... I haven't even seen her new ride...

As the one who rides sweep on many of the rides posted in this section... and especially on the three where riders have gone down... and more specifically when Lee was killed... The leaders were doing a really great job of keeping their speed down and trying to keep the group together.
We had a fairly large group and the accordian affect was inevitable, so there were some gaps... but not the leaders' fault...
The accident certainly wasn't anything but that... an accident... not due to trying to keep up with the pack, but rather an unfortunate turn that Lee, for some reason, couldn't maneuver...

On the twisties, I never could see more than a rider or two ahead of me because of the twists... and I assume the leaders couldn't see more than a bike or two behind them... so it was hard to tell if a rider went down... but they seem to figure it out fairly quickly...

I may not be remembering correctly... but I always felt like the leaders waited at the turns for those in the back to catch up before heading out again... and then at the fuel stops, waited until everyone had a chance to rest a bit before mounting up... I never felt rushed... but that could just be me...

At any rate... I hope that you and your lovely bride will consider coming up to the MoM this year... and if you can't make it... maybe we can get together for a ride at another time...

I'm always up for Talihina!
(and I don't shred... more like a slow grating)

and one of my daughters wants to start doing some long rides with me so I'll be going slower than normal
(no comments Guys)
lol

[trbig]

I don't understand where you are coming from either, Greg. I've never seen a leader at a rally ride more than 5-10 over the speed limit, except a small portion of HWY 123 last year, which you weren't at, and a small portion at the Bob Jones rally where I took off with Cody for a few miles, but waited at a turn. On straight boring roads, it's usually 5 over or so, and on curvy roads, I've always tried to go the speed limit and stay steady to help keep from the accordian effect.. which is going to happen anyway. You get people in the middle that slow way down for the curve and get left behind, then gun it like hell to catch up.. which exacerbates things the further back you are.

I've never seen a stop on a rally that lasted less than 45 minutes. I don't know what to say if you can't fuel up, use the restroom and chat a bit in that length of time. Most of the people are there to ride a bit, but you seem to want a rally where you just stand around and talk most of the time. My feelings are that you can do that at the end of the rally.

I guess my question to you is.. how do you make it work? You have people there that can't negotiate a curve any faster than the posted warning speed for a loaded semi. Do you force the more advanced riders to ride at your parade pace and bore them to tears, or do you want to push the slower riders to ride faster than they should be? As a rally leader, you to try to have everyone have as good a time as possible, and especially at Talimena, that's why I had always ended the official rally in Mena, Arkansas, so you could ride back at YOUR pace, not whatever mine was.

You try to have everyone have a good time. People that want to ride in a parade pace, can. People that want to at least ride the speed limit.. can. That means you'll have two groups, but I've never seen where the lead group didn't wait for the slower group at a stop or turn.

Nobody goes out to try to prove these bikes will keep up with an R1 that I know of except my dumb azz on occasion. I miss you guys and your friendship and would love to see you and Lynda again, but as far as riding goes, it sounds like you'd be happier at a Harley rally where they don't/can't turn and ride 10 under no matter how many cars pile up behind them. I don't think it matters anymore for Talihina or the Bob Jones rallies though, because the ones involved with those are done with them.

Probably a bit more than my 2 cents' worth, but there it is.


Tod

[XS1100 Newbie]

I kinda understand where Greg is coming from. I ride with my Son's friends, but if the girls aren't going to keep the pace down, i ride by myself. This is a group of mostly young guys with crotch rockets that like the twisties. I see at least 4 or5 go down every year. Some bad, some not so bad. I have had the experience of finally catching up, and then before i could pee, they want to go. Our group last summer of XS11'S was not like this however. I don't try to keep up if i feel the group is moving to fast and dangerous, but the jawing at the stops, i like. The XSer's are the only ones that know what it is like to ride these bikes, so pointers at the stops on things that someone saw are helpful. I also am one that likes to see the country i am riding through, so speed is not an important thing. To each his own.
Bob

[skippy344]

Kat,

Lynda has been doing really well! We try to go out every day the weather doesn't suck. She has been out for up to 4 hour Jaunts, and is doing well, with "Rosie."

So, a ride with you guys is not our of the question! But, I may have to travel for work, the week of the 19th through the 23rd of April, so we probably won't make the MOM. Too bad too, because I am so tired of Scorpion, I'm ready to part her out!

The Kaw makes it really hard to spend time fixing Scorpion... LOL

Here are before and after pics of "Whole Lotta Rosie."

The day I "rode" her home:



And how she looks today, although I have lowered the rear by 1.5"



Tod,

I miss you too. I really like your friendship. Not interested in a tit-for-tat about the rides. Just expressing how I feel. I don't mean to pass judgement, that was not my intent. I'm sorry if I hurt anybody's feelings.

It is not my call on how the rallies are handled. Like I said, I got the message.

But Lynda and I will make it up to Hurst, soon, count on it!

[Montreux_Blue]

Too bad really, because the Talimena Trail is just about the most beautiful, technically challenging, fun ride we have done outside of Texas.

I know you mention outside of Texas but have you tried out Kerrville, TX? Not as scenic but very challenging. Or even Big Bend National Park, I've never been there yet.

[skippy344]

Texas Hill Country

Hey Montreux,

Oh my YES! We have done the 3 sisters! Oh, that didn't sound right...

Yes, RR 335,336, and 337 are some of the best, technical, scenic and beautiful routes I have ridden! We stay in Kerrvile and venture out from there.

We have climbed to the top of Enchanted Rock, in the Enchanted Park ouside of Fredericksburg.

We have covered much of the Hill Country, and it is just as beautiful as the last time.

We have not made it out to Big Bend yet, but as SWMBO gets more time in the saddle, we will make it out there. I'll put up a ride report when we do.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Skippy,

Just wanted to commend you on Rosie & the way she's turned out.

She's a beauty! Well done! Great work.

That's one to be proud of there. Congrats.

Bob

[skippy344]

Hey Bob,

Thanks! It was a labor of love. I hate to see a bike neglected.

And I know that the bike wasn't worth $500, but it still deserved to be the best it could be. And that's what I did.

Sure, I could have bought SWMBO a $3000 bike, and she would have been fine, but she wanted a bike that looked like Scorpion, but was smaller and easier for her to handle. She was also scared of Scorpion's power, so I thought the 650 Maxim was a good fit.

Well, let me tell you, after I got Rosie, tuned and tweaked, boy howdy, can she fly! That Seca class engine really screams!

A coworker was going to Japan for 6 months and had to jettison all his stuff, so I scooped her up and did the restoration.

Of course, I did the same to Scorpion too, but she was not in as bad of shape.

So, bottom line, I buy old bikes, that aren't worth the metal they are made of, spend way too much money to restore them to better than new condition and enjoy them.

But thank you for your gracious compliments, and praise. Kinda justifies what I spent to get her right!

I don't smoke or drink, so this is my vice!

[XJOK2PLAY]

Skippy,

I wish the world had more guys like you!

Just imagine how many more 11's/ 650's, etc. would be restored and back on the road in that kind of condition!

That Maxim sure turned out sweet!

If a guy can choose his vices, to me, sounds like ya made a solid choice.

Ride Safe. and long live the XS.
Regards,
Bob

[skippy344]

Thanks, man.

Just doin' my part, I guess.

Yeah, I got lucky this time around. I gotta SWMBO that really gets me and gets the whole motorcycle thing.

Maybe we'll see eachother sometime. If you can make one of the MOMs, or one of the XSive rallies, they're pretty cool.

[cowboybob998]

ride ?

Yall gona have this ride or not ?
Could not make the one last year did not have the XS up and runing, still dont, but bought another bike, 86 Yamaha Venture 1300, are they alowed, lol
still looking for a cheep parts bike for the XS, the XS is gona be my street mo go getter bar hooping night mare, "varooomba" no baffels. bird dog for the guys that still drink, I leave the bar and get the cops to go after me, leave them alone, lol
Any way hope yall have this run

[sheridanredneck]

Ya'll guys make me feel stupid! I'm new to motorcycles, i had a '81 kawa 440 ltd, rode it for bout 6 mos., but it was too small , i'm 6' 2"! So what does my dumb ass do, i find a clean '81 xs1100, it runs but carbs need work & it may be more than i can handle ridin too! What do ya'll guys recommend to me, keep n ride it or sell or trade it for sumthin smaller! help appreciated! Would enjoy meetin some of ya'll Texas guys!

[DGXSER]

Sheridan, what part of Texas are you in? It does just happen to be the biggest state in the lower 48 ya' know.

See a thread in this same section titled MOM 2010. IT is a big group meeting at two of the members house to have a group fixathon. It is in Hurst Texas. If your clsoe enough, reply to that thread and bring your machine along for a look see and help with repairs by some of the best minds and wrenches in the land.