Key West Winter Ride Feb 2014

[jetmechmarty]

Where I'm sitting, Snowmageddon II has begun. Snow is falling heavily and everything is blanketed in white. Stay in Florida!

[MPittma100]

Winter Ride

Where I'm sitting, Snowmageddon II has begun. Snow is falling heavily and everything is blanketed in white. Stay in Florida!

Weather is supposed to be possibly worse here than 2 weeks ago due to predicted ice accumulations downing trees and power lines.

Heading/riding south seems to cure all of these winter woes.

Glad you guys are having fun and good weather. Be safe.

[DGXSER]

In the middle of this winter form he!! this is both torture and fun to read about. Considering I spent Friday night in a "rustic" cabin with a boy scout troop, a 6' X 6' fire place filled with flames and hot enough coals you could barely stand with in 3 feet of it, and yet twenty feet away it was below freezing. And then to see those beautiful roads and scenery, yep, torture.

I need to put those photos on the big screen TV and sit back with a Mojito or Margarita or ten!

[MaximPhil]

More pictures please
Phil

[JeffH]

Arrived key west

XSives just saying "hey" from Key West. We made it.

Had a great ride today down the Keys. Viewed a magnificent sunset from Mallory Square then over to A&B Lobster House (actually downstairs its Alphonzo's) for great dinner. Took the obligatory after dinner stroll to see the Duval Street oddities.

Was mid-80's, sorry. We are having fun. Back to Florida City tomorrow then out to explore the Everglades Park and ride out to Flamingo.

I think we picked a real good week to be riding in South Florida. Almost 11pm and sitting outside in short sleeves listening to the band. Not bad
More later.

Jeff & the XSives

[MaximPhil]

XSives just saying "hey" from Key West. We made it.

Had a great ride today down the Keys. Viewed a magnificent sunset from Mallory Square then over to A&B Lobster House (actually downstairs its Alphonzo's) for great dinner. Took the obligatory after dinner stroll to see the Duval Street oddities.

Was mid-80's, sorry. We are having fun. Back to Florida City tomorrow then out to explore the Everglades Park and ride out to Flamingo.

I think we picked a real good week to be riding in South Florida. Almost 11pm and sitting outside in short sleeves listening to the band. Not bad
More later.

Jeff & the XSives

Jeff & the XSives sounds like a good name for a Band
Phil

[Brent]

Home from FL, snowed in?!?

Short report, short trip.
I rode my HD road king & met Jeff in Dublin GA. Freezing Cold, but dry when I left Lilburn Ga. I wore my warm winter mits, down vest, bacalava hood, and wool scarf. Comfy enough. That warmest stuff came off when I met Jeff at noon and stayed packed for rest of trip. As previously bpictured, I rode Jeff's bike for a ways in South GA. His Work on carbs and suspensijon is evident!.. Power is responsive and smooth throught rpm range. Ride is good, settled and stable. Jeff has reason to be proud of his save & return to roadworthy with that XS.

Saturday afternoon at Daytona Beach - Light rain sprinkles on & off, but warm. Ted& Don rode to Carl's speed shop. Carl is HD enthusiast, holding many national speed records from the last century. He had never seen my HD and I believe he was sceptical of my mileage claims. He wanted to see my mileage, by picture or in person before he gave me any more free advice. He did come out into the range to see it. His work has been for top speed, & fast quarter miles, rather than long distance or high mileage. He had some good ideas re:. valve shims adjustment, oil baffle for GSXers, etc.

I returned home, leaving Daytona Beach aboiut 0830 Sunday morning. I was making prtetty good time untill I stopped in Jackson, GA At Fresh air BBQ. A relatively new rider, new to area, asked me if I knew any good roads nearby.
Answering THAT took a while, but was quicker & clearer with a map. I still made good time, arriving about 4:30 pm 450 miles in 8 hrs. Mostly interstate.

Monday afternoon - Riding XS from home to Stone Mountain HD to buy new rear sprocket for drive belt. OK weather. Governor declared State of Emergency at noon Monday. (Snow & Ice coming in Wednesday am) Two Women shot in Kroger on HWY 20 in Lawrenceville, soon after emergency declared.

Tues - Just above freezing 36. I broke & repaired rope on my emergency generator (Darn ethanol, global warming...I could hyjack & sidetrack my own report...better not get started...) Then I rode my XS to Lawrenceville, for a few more groceries...No trouble for me. Most bread gone, but plenty of other stuff. Not my favorite riding weather, but short trip and not too wet.

Wednesday Awoke to Thin layer of ice covering everything. Some limbs breaking in my back yard (imagine loud & long CRAAAack...thud sound), Sleet falling, and Thankfully bouncing off power lines & limbs. over 50,000
GA power customers with no electricity. At my house,about 1/8 inch of ice followed by 1/2 inch of sleet. Bad roads, impassable, Power crews using chains. roads mostly deserted. 1500 flights cancelled at Atlanta airport.

Snowed in. Stranded, but I am home. Cabin fever beginning. PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome) sensitivity increasing. Steady drone of weather reports (mostly the Chicken Little Channel) predicting doom...pictures of ice cycles... It has been a half day already. and temps predicted below freezing for another whole day. I do not know if I can stand it; SO Bad that I am wishing for straight roads, with palm trees, wet or dry.
Winter storm warning here untill 1pm Thursday. After that watch out for thick layer of salt on Interstates from Macon to ATL to Augusta.

Sorry I missed my South FL XSive friends.
May the iguanas stay in the trees over head,
Happy motoring,

[MaximPhil]

Hi Brent,
Nice ride report. Glad yu made it back before the ice arrived.
Now you are home. Turn off the weather channel and cook up some comfort food. Find a good book or a movie on Tv and enjoy Home.
Phil

[BA80]

Brent's home is on a motorcycle. You don't put 200,000 miles on a bike in 10 - 12 years and only ride it part time if your a home body.

[MaximPhil]

Brent's home is on a motorcycle. You don't put 200,000 miles on a bike in 10 - 12 years and only ride it part time if your a home body.

hi Greg,
I know. I was just trying to guide him through the slippery ice section
Staying in doors it sometimes the wiser choice when the weather out side is unsuitable for 2 wheel travel.
Phil

[earl G]

i can feel that warm air, yes, looking out my window at a foot of snow.

sad that i missed this years ride..... had to buy a car.

enjoy the ride my friends

i must go shovel now.

[thumperjsa]

Key West Go Pro video

A compilation of pics from my GoPro on the ride. This is a bit of the rough cut version. First attempt to do this.http://youtu.be/d1aeW4tbS1w

When I get a chance I'll clean it up and set the timing better so it isn't so jittery.

[bikerphil]

Made it home @ 3pm Wed, had a great ride, great seeing everybody again, thanks to everyone, special thanks to Jeff for all his efforts making this trip possible.

[JeffH]

There's Always Next Year, 2015 Winter Ride

This post from back on October 27th turned out to be pretty accurate based on all the latest storms and nasty weather.

Key West: A good ride to maybe think about doing next year if you can swing it.

For those up in snow country, this might be an enticement. Get a trailer, split expenses with somebody and come on down.
For those in the south or especially in Florida, please join the parade if you can.

Jeff

[JeffH]

Here are a few more Trip Pics.
Had a nice time and the weather was unusually nice. Not too hot, not too cool and loads of sun.
A few bike pics then some scenery stuff just for fun.

The XS11's on the Ride. Cobia, JSA and BikerPhil + missing Jeff.


Jonathan leading the group up US1 followed by Cobia


Key West, Mallory Square before the Sunset


Mallory Square Sunset Photo Op, cameras clicking


Party Cruise boat positioning for Sunset viewing


Sunset from Mallory Square


Famous Key West Mallory Square Sunset


Evening sunset ride across Everglade National Park from Flamingo (real tip of FLA) back to Florida City


Messing with the Alligator


Everglade City: Ted & Heather loading up after lunch at the 130+ year old Rod & Gun Club


That's it. A few pics.

Jeff