2018 Colorado Rally, July 12-16

[Bonz]

Thanks Bob, great to hear Bohn is coming!

A friend of mine had a K1600GT the first year they came out, I rode it a good bit and that engine is incredible. The handling is like it's on rails in that it stays exactly on line when you lean into a corner. At gas station parking lot speed, that bike was about as stable as it gets, low speed manuverability is awesome.

[Sebastian_99]

I guess that “busy” means that business is good. That is a good thing for you and family! I look foCounty road 41.7, weston, forwad to seeing you again. The bike is good to go? Last year you had it pretty dialed-in (except for my hose job suggestions with the octy).

I literally just walked out of the garage after fixing a few things on my bike. The gaskets for the petcocks failed so I squared that away and I had to fix the wires on the vacuum advance becuase they finally let go. Once the kids go down I’m gonna take it for a quick spin (likely by your house Sid, haha).

Busy means business has been good for sure. I’ve booked over half a million in sales this year so the commission checks are getting pretty decent sized. I’m starting to consider adding another bike to the garage. I was originally thinking a Ural but after a bunch of research I think I’m gonna bag that idea and look for a true dual sport.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Thanks Bob, great to hear Bohn is coming!

A friend of mine had a K1600GT the first year they came out, I rode it a good bit and that engine is incredible. The handling is like it's on rails in that it stays exactly on line when you lean into a corner. At gas station parking lot speed, that bike was about as stable as it gets, low speed manuverability is awesome.

Yes, they're good bikes. Another buddy of mine bought one the same day I bought mine. I went with him in the morning, he went with me in the afternoon. April 25th, 2012. That was a really good day!

Glad to hear you got your ZRX running good again! I sure was looking forward to riding with you again! That would've been another really good day.
Oh well, hopefully next year, for sure!! Only thing... my son just got engaged, and says sometime next year for his wedding. That'll be my luck, again.

[Bonz]

Removed front and rear wheels from the ZRX today, putting some new rubber on it for the heart of the riding season coming up. I’m still running the same rubber on the ZRX as I had last summer for the rally. Wore down the rest of the front Pirelli Angel GT and the rear Shinko 005 advance is down to 1mm after just under 5000 miles. I chose the 005 because it is a very sticky tire (for about $90) and knew it would wear down during the remaining time the front was on there then change both at the same time. Had a puncture that a plug didn’t reliably seal, needed to prematurely retire the rear Pirelli Angel GT early last summer.

I’m going with a set of Dunlop Roadsmart 3 sport touring tires. Picked them up last fall when there was a $100 rebate per pair. There is a $75 rebate per pair right now going through June 30.

Otherwise anyone who needs sport touring rubber before the rally, the Pirelli Angel GT is a fantastic tire and I can highly recommend them. Spend a few more bucks and get the GT version for the rear it will give you a decent bit more tread life based on what my buddy with his R1200RT gets for mileage. They ride very nice and have wonderful handling characteristics and grip especially in the wet very well if you get caught out in the rain.

[XJOK2PLAY]

A majority of C14 owners say the Angel GT's their tire of choice, too.
I haven't tried them yet, though.

I've always ran the Michelin PR2.
But, Michelin has stopped making them in the sizes I need.
I tried a set of PR4GT's. Good tires, but WAY over-priced.
But they marketed that tire saying they'd get 20% more tread life than the previous PR's. This was to justify why they cost $150/set more, I guess.
Mine got 30% less, in spite of how easy I was on them. So, won't be wasting anymore $$ on those.

Right now, I've got a set of PR2's on. Last ones, I guess. Shame. Great tires, best bang for the buck.

Already have my next set waiting... Avon Storm 3D XM.
Been told they're good, and the price was right.

[Bonz]

Can’t believe it’s just over a month and we’ll be rallying again!

Yeah, the Angel GT is a flat-out awesome tire. Going to take the ZRX wheels to the shop first thing when they open tomorrow and the service manager is going to do them quickly while I wait before they get busy.

Been reading reviews about the Dunlop Roadsmart 3 now that they have been around for a year or so and tire life compared to the other top sport touring tires is coming up better. Looking forward to running them and comparing to the Angel GT’s when they were new.

[Jerry]

Coming back from my Park County lot yesterday, decided to drop down through Leadville and over Independence Pass. Gorgeous ride this time of year. Spring melt has all the seasonal streams running and with snow on mountain tops and blue sky in background scenery was terrific. Pitkin County (Aspen side of pass) has repaved several stretches and repainted the lines on these and other areas.

Road construction in Aspen, Hwy 82, not difficult to get though but was slow even on a Monday. (I had taken the day off to have a long weekend.) Fuel cost in the $3.10 range for regular.

Golden Burro café is still going strong in Leadville.

I don't know if the ride itinerary has been set, but coming up from Buena Vista, over Indy Pass into Aspen, then north up through Glenwood Springs to I-70 East, get off at Minturn and back down through Leadville back to Buena Vista would be a terrific, although long, ride. (Or go east from Glenwood Springs over Vail Pass then take the road south to Leadville and into Buena Vista.) In any case this would show off some of Colorado's best mountain riding roads.

[Bonz]

Like that idea for a ride, I'm coaching basketball camp at the Air Force Academy until the last week of June, then I'll be able to get out there and spend a few days riding and have the routes for you guys well before you start coming out this way. Last year I was able to get out riding before I started coaching basketball and post up the route sooner.

[motoman]

Coming back from my Park County lot yesterday, decided to drop down through Leadville and over Independence Pass. Gorgeous ride this time of year. Spring melt has all the seasonal streams running and with snow on mountain tops and blue sky in background scenery was terrific. Pitkin County (Aspen side of pass) has repaved several stretches and repainted the lines on these and other areas.

Road construction in Aspen, Hwy 82, not difficult to get though but was slow even on a Monday. (I had taken the day off to have a long weekend.) Fuel cost in the $3.10 range for regular.

Golden Burro café is still going strong in Leadville.

I don't know if the ride itinerary has been set, but coming up from Buena Vista, over Indy Pass into Aspen, then north up through Glenwood Springs to I-70 East, get off at Minturn and back down through Leadville back to Buena Vista would be a terrific, although long, ride. (Or go east from Glenwood Springs over Vail Pass then take the road south to Leadville and into Buena Vista.) In any case this would show off some of Colorado's best mountain riding roads.

OMG....the Burro. 3 WAY better places to eat there than THAT...lol. Excellent riding choices Jerry....over Independence right into Aspen and back up I-70 to Minturn for the return IS the best riding choice....Aspen at the Hickory House is awesome and inexpensive for lunch stop.....WAY,WAY good,,,, and plenty served,,,some may even have to have a 'doggy bag' for the what they have left-over. Been there, done that MAY a time!

[Bonz]

Hey guys, got the Rally t-shirt design and a mock-up ready to share. Going to be yellow main color with black Print. Figured I do a tribute to the Navy bike colors this year, and maybe do t-shirt colors in tributes to the other Bob Jones bikes in the future years. Yellow seems more practical as a main color than black because it won't be so hot wearing it in the sun, despite the Navy bike being more of main color black with yellow.

How in the world do I share a picture nowadays in a post? Maybe email it to one of you guys that has it set up to do that and someone could post it?

Or, Jerry could I send it to you and you post it on the rally page?

For potential viewing if it gets on the rally page, the link is in my signature.

Thx!

[Jerry]

Or, Jerry could I send it to you and you post it on the rally page?

I can do both...post it in this thread and include it on the rally page as well, including price info, sizes, etc.

If you have more than one design I can post it as a poll (separate thread) and have people vote on the design of their choice.

[Bonz]

Text Jerry! Post it up and let's go with it. It keeps the mountain theme and starts the series of honoring the Bob Jones bikes with the colors.

[Bonz]

T-shirts, order now!

Hey guys the T-shirt mock up should be on the Rally website soon via Jerry and Jerry is going to post it up here. It’s yellow sport fabric (wicking, dri-fit, what ever you want to call it) with black design/print and a great design continuing with the Colorado mountain theme (“Middle of the Mountains” rally name) and I think everyone’s going to approve. Main design on the back with the rally name and location and XS11 chest patch logo on the front.

Yellow/black is in reference to the Bob Jones Navy bike. Goal is to offer shirts each year moving forward using the predominant colors of his different bikes. Yeah, I know yellow isn’t the main color of the bike, but black is a hot color shirt to wear in the sun, yellow not so much.

I’d need to have the orders from you guys by next Tuesday, June 19th. That gives you tomorrow, the weekend, Monday and Tuesday to get ‘er done.

PLEASE send me a PM to order, even if you have posted in the thread already.

PayPal as friends and family is the preferred method at the time you place your order. Pricing based on 24 shirts which was easily met last year.

$15 for short sleeve
$19 for long sleeve

+$2 for XXL
+$3 for XXXL

PayPal to hbonser611@gmail.com

Thanks much!

[skids]

Road construction in Aspen, Hwy 82, not difficult to get though but was slow even on a Monday. (I had taken the day off to have a long weekend.)

I don't know if the ride itinerary has been set, but coming up from Buena Vista, over Indy Pass into Aspen, then north up through Glenwood Springs to I-70 East, get off at Minturn and back down through Leadville back to Buena Vista would be a terrific, although long, ride. (Or go east from Glenwood Springs over Vail Pass then take the road south to Leadville and into Buena Vista.) In any case this would show off some of Colorado's best mountain riding roads.

Sounds good as long as we avoid Breckenridge. That town is bad for stop and go and would likely split the riders at lights. I like to minimize super-slab riding for leisure riding.

[Bonz]

From Aspen to Glenwood Springs is a nice ride then we go through Glenwood Canyon on I 70, turn off at Minturn before Vail. Not much Interstate but it's good interstate in the mountains.