Key West Rally Feb 2015

[MaximPhil]

Thanks Jeff,
Keep those pictures and tag lines coming.
Phil

[BillyRok]

PHEW!! You had me worried for a second Jeff when I first saw that pic of Brent. With an 8 am posting time and all that smoke swirling around his head, I was sure his mustache had caught fire...was waiting for a video of somebody putting it out! Nice bike Brent, you guys stay safe and have fun. Always good to see guys riding this time of year, gives us poor slobs up North hope.

[madmax-im]

Nice riding guys...please stay safe with all the Fla blue hairs out there...one of these years i'm gonna do this ride...

[XJOK2PLAY]

Hey guys!
Looks like you all are having a great time! Wish I coulda been there!

Looks like it's gonna be a multi-mile year in store for me and the C14 this year, though. I got to ride about 200 miles yesterday with a friend. Temp was 75 here!

I recognized the outline of Brent's head in the cloud of smoke, right away...no problem. Lol...

Ride Safe, and hopefully I'll see you guys down the road, real soon.
Bob

[JeffH]

Florida City

Having a good ride & good eats. Not much time to post pics between Riding & Eating & Talking
Too many distractions (if you call those distractions)

Phil & Jonathan XS11 Escort into Florida City



Arrived Motel in Florida City by sunset as planned


Didn't get a pic of Gary yet. He was at Florida City last evening when we arrived. He will ride with us for 3 days.

Jeff

[JeffH]

Little Duck Key

Stopped for nice picnic lunch. Southern end of 7 Mile Bridge on Little Duck Key.

Atlantic Ocean side. A little T-Storm brewing in the distance to the southeast. Balmy 75 degrees


Never seen this many boats out (both fishing & goofing off) down here throughout the Fla Keys.
Economy is really booming. Mostly NO VACANCY signs on the 250+ beach motels we passed on the way down.

the Key West XSives

[JeffH]

Arrived

Arrived in Key West


Its always a great ride down the Florida Keys, especially on a motorcycle.

Its really an awesome ride. Viewing Gulf of Mexico on one side of the road, Atlantic Ocean on the other. This year we even hit high tide heading south which was great and more scenic than normal.

the Key West XSives


I've ridden 1,236 miles so far from Atlanta.
Since direct its 840 miles that must mean 396 miles of curves and "back road" factor?
Extra tank + of gas was worth it i think?


Jeff

[JeffH]

Key West Sunset

Sunset from Mallory Square in Key West

A few pictures from Mallory Square. It wasn't the greatest most picturesque sunset we've seen over the years, but not bad.
(Since we have the bikes parked at Spanish Gardens there were NO parking tickets like in 2008). Gary reminded me of that story last night!


Premium seats awaiting Sunset



Cheap seats awaiting sunset from Mallory Square




Watch out for the messy birds



No "Green Flash" this time


Ride and Destination never disappoints


Jeff

[JeffH]

Proverb

Old XSive Proverb say: Do it yourself and it will be done correctly.


Well, I was busy in December and had Honda put on new E3's. Front tire had very low psi when I was ready to ride to FLA. Thought it was because of new bead, or cold weather, or sitting a month or all the above. Before leaving home I aired up to 40 as normal. Down here psi low again. ?? why They didn't put in new valve stems. Of course the old one had a slow leak so I couldn't keep proper psi. Had to get a new front valve stem. Found place down here, a Quick In-Out and was happy to pay the $75 bucks. ouch. I have the old cracked valve stem to show Atlanta Honda. btw: the bike rides & handles real good even with very low psi. Don't need to go faster than 45-55 mph in the Keys anyways. New E3 front tire didn't wear too much running soft.

Jeff

[MPittma100]

Key West

Nice pictures Jeff. Sounds like you guys are having a good time (except for the $2.00 valve stem that should have been replaced). I'm going to have to make this trip at least once.

[Brent]

seeking the open road

I am home from central FL portion of Keys ride. Could not make it all the way to Key West this year. Rode with group 2 days around Ocala & Silver springs. Really nice routes, weather etc. Good to see & ride with Ted & Heather, Don, Stewart, & Jeff again. Great weather, no rain, no freezing, this year. Back roads through GA returning Sunday made for nice ride with little or no traffic most of the way (except thru Macon & near Atlanta.) Riding buddy Stewart & I arrived home just before dark Sunday night.

Fun to see photos of friends riding & enjoying South FL & keys; best riding in the country on Ground hog day. - Another wonderful road trip.

[bikerphil]

Made it home safe at 5 PM, great seeing everyone again and a great trip. Good to meet you GaryC.

[JeffH]

2015 Key West Rally Bike Ratings


Japanese Category Bikes
> XS1100 - 100% reliable, no issues
> GL1800 Wing - one front tire valve stem needed


Non-Japanese Category Bikes


Harley starter gear puked its parts. New All Balls gear did the fix.
A parking lot fix. Always great to be able to do a parking lot fix.


the Key West XSive riders

[thumperjsa]

It certainly was a great ride. Good seeing Gary C after all these years. Riding up 29 together it was sad to split directions once we got to 75. But we all had fun including learning how a Honda can ride with 10 PSI and a Harley can puke out a starter.

Looking forward to the next ride together. Hopefully that will be later this year at XS SE.

[JeffH]

A few more Key West Rally Pics

Old US1 - very narrow two lane through the Keys. Quite a dangerous highway
with windy crosswinds




Waiting for somebody to make a mistake in the Everglades



Hey Earl, here is your Colada. I had to drink it all.



Everglade City lunch & gas



Jeff