IMS Motorcycle Show 2011

It was about two weeks ago (Perhaps a few days more, who's counting?) some friends and I went to the Chicago IMS motorcycle show. In case you were wondering, I wasn't actually going to the bike show this year. I've been the last couple of years, don't need to buy anything, and have this long bike trip I'm planning which is taking up not enough of my time.

But one of my friends had never been, and didn't want to go alone, and offered to drive. So off we went.

Triumph was back this year, which was pretty nice. Unfortunately I don't seem to have many pictures of the place. Only my phone pictures have turned up on my computer, which I freely admit I don't understand but can't do anything about. What pictures I do have are mostly of Blue, my Limited Edition Star Wars Build-a-bear, sitting on motorcycles.
Blue sitting on the new Yamaha Super Tenere, which is a pretty nice bike. I took more pictures, but ultimately I am disappointed the non-super Tenere (lighter and with a smaller motor) isn't making the crossing. Europe gets all the cool stuff.

My friend (Deb) was looking for a new helmet, and that took up much of our time. The show is a good place to try things on and ask for opinions. It didn't take long before she discarded the helmets she had researched before arriving and started looking at new models, finally settling on the HJC RPS-10. She had to order the pattern she wanted, but I hear she is very happy with it.

Blue tried out a lot of bikes






The pink bunny is Shine, who travels with Deb sometimes. I guess bunnies don't know much about bikes, or Blue was trying to impress her. I saw him talking motorcycles with her some.


After Deb had her helmet and we sat on a few more bikes it was 9pm and time to head home. I was tired and I think I slept some of the way. Yay for not driving.

Okay, I might be back

I need to start this again, and do a better job at it as I am about to take off on my motorcycle to travel as much of the world as I can. I have been planning this for a couple years, but keeping a blog has been pretty far down on my list of things to do.

Among other things, where the blog is going to be is something of a question. I also have a website address, painonpatrol.com, but there isn't anything there. I am still working out how to put something there. I hear Wordpress is nice, but the set up page made me feel old and non-computer-savvy.

But this is about motorcycles, so that is what I should be talking about. I was going to ride my sr250but manages to damage the engine so badly that it would be cheaper to buy another one. The catch is I had decided early on I would not buy another motorcycle, restricting my choices to bikes I already owned.

With the 250 out of the equation I was left with my 1981 XS1100H and my 2007 Ural Patrol. The patrol is the popular favorite, but I worry about it's operational cost. It gets crappy gas mileage and goes through tires quickly. Yes, it is set up correctly, it doesn't go through tires any faster than any other Ural.


It does go everywhere though.

Right now I am taking the Patrol (A bike I've names Despair, in keeping with my cheerly naming theme), and am planning a longish ride to the Overland Expo in April to make sure I will be okay with what Despair brings to the table. The trip actually worries me, which is odd. The thought of taking the xs11 is soothing. Still, have to give it a try, living for a year or 4 on a bike the extra space might be nice.

I am planning on at least one post a week, so let see how that goes.

A Weekend of Riding Part One

June 5th was the 10th Annual Soup Run. Or, at least, it was the 10th. I get the annual thing screwed up sometimes.

Since I need to improve my endurance on the sr250, I decided I would ride that bike, and find a few other things to do. Port Washington, Wisconsin was having a Pirate Fest, with pirate attacks on the harbor, live music and fireworks, so that was my second destination for Saturday.

Saturday's forecast was for rain, but the sun was shining when I rolled the bike out of the garage to ride to the Soup Run.



I was packing a spare gas can and a few different pairs of gloves (for when it rained later). I also had a few personal items, in case I opted not to come home, though in the end I would.

The ride north was as boring as it is every year. I keep meaning to find a better way, but my natural desire to sleep as late as I can gets it the way, every year. I did have one small problem on the ride. Since I was running a bit late I was speeding a little (More on that later), which was causing a little more vibration than what is completely normal. This caused the pin holding my right sidecover to break (again, technically). I managed to hang onto the sidecover and the pin, though need to come up with a better repair plan.



When I got into the area, there were a large number of bike, all headed in the same direction. Most were of the large displacement v-twin variety, but other large displacement bikes were also there. They were all very large.

There's an sr250 in this picture, can you find it?



There was a pretty good turn out, though there were definitely fewer bikes than in years past.















Of course it is the Soup Run, so I went and got some soup.



After the soup there was some standing around and solving the worlds problems. Or at least complaining about them. I looked at more bikes. I did find a couple other 250s, a rebel and this thing -

Of course, I know the rider and the bike, and MP3. Pretty cool ride.

Everyone seemed to pick up and leave around 230pm or so, but I opted to stay longer. You know, until it started to really rain.



It was time to go, there were fireworks in the offing. So I hoped on the bike and headed east. I managed to avoid the rain, for the most part, until I actually reached Pirate Fest, and then it started to pour.

Pirate fest was something of a disappointment. Most of the vendors were closed, the pirate ship was tied to the dock looking damp, and everyone was hiding in tents. I was hoping for some food, but there wasn't anything that looked good, and the sit-down restaurants were packed.




I went for a walk down the beach, which looked pretty cool despite the rain.


It was on this walk that I heard they were thinking about canceling the fireworks. I decided I didn't want to wait for a couple hours in the rain (With no food, sadly), only to have the fireworks canceled, and then ride home in the dark and rain. So I got back on the bike and headed home.

The ride home was all interstate, but I kept the speeds down and it was actually pleasant. I got home around 830. There were plans to meet for coffee in the morning, and I had heard of a new cafe not far away.

Wisconsin Newest Museum

The day was bright and sunny, and the temps were expected to reach all the way into the twenties, so of course it was a great day for a ride.

The Ural started right up, and I headed south to meet a few friends before heading to the grand opening of the Motorider Wisconsin Motorcycle Museum.

There were a lot of bikes out, but the display was a bit...underdeveloped. Rows which had to be negotiated with care about bumping into something. Hard to manage with a helmet over my shoulder, but I am too nervous about my lid to leave it laying around.


The beemer really caught my eye.


The museum is actually attached to the Motorider shop, which will service every make and model, and is open seven days a week. A nice touch for a motorcycle shop. The owner showed us around and even took us in back to show the bikes not on display.


Actually there was food delivered for the Grand Opening, and that was set up in the shop area. So the 'private tour' wasn't all that private, though seeing the Owner's passion about the collection (Most of which is his personally), and motorcycling in general was worth it.



The museum website is www.wisconsinmotorcyclemuseum.com, and it is worth a hour or three of your time if you find yourself in South East Wisconsin.

Winter and stuff

There was a rumor of a sledding party today at the lakefront, actually on a really big hill that I thought would be good for a few pictures. And carnage, lets face it I was looking for some crashes.

I was disappointed though, as no one actually showed up. Or, if they did, they didn't stand out from the family who was already there sledding when I got there.

Still, it was a nice day, for being on a motorcycle in Wisconsin in December. So I took the chance for a Ural photo op -


Okay, I actually took about 10 pictures here, but this one turned out really well. My 'regular' camera didn't survive my recent move, so I've been limited to my phone camera. 3.2 mega pixals, with a LED flash. Its not bad, really, but I do need to replace it. I can, actually, with a free gift catalogue from work...which I lost somewhere in my house. All well.

After bumming around at the lakefront I headed inland to meet my mom for a Christmas lunch. She got me a rather cool book, and I got her a gift card, loving son that I am.

I did some shopping after that, nothing too major. I'm sure I'll mention it again later.

Breakfast

Sunday I rode all the way (okay, not really far) to Johnny V's Classic
Cafe, near the state fairgrounds in West Allis. Located in a strip mall,
it has a sort of charm. Neon signs and an attempt to conjour the classic
diner feel. They don't quite pull it off, but the food is good and I
enjoyed the company I was meeting.

After breakfast, and some virtual tire kicking (I was the only one to
ride, despite the incredibly mild weather) most of the group headed to
the local Harbor Freight, where a motorcycle lift was on sale. I stayed
a bit longer to discuss the Motorcycle Accident Management program
gaining local momentum. It is currently very HD orientated, causing some
non HD groups to shy away. One of my breakfast-mates is involved in the
program but unable to become a lead instructor, though I would be if I
was interested. I'll have to look into it.

After that I headed to Harbor Freight just in time to load 381lbs of
lift onto the back of a truck. Timing, it seems, is everything. That
done, a small caravan headed off to the destination to unload, while the
other half of the group wandered out of the store, wondering where
everyone went. A brief conversation revealed none of us had the correct
phone numbers to get the destination address, so with shrugs we headed
our separate ways.
--andrewpain

Choices

Its hard to know what bike to take when I want to go somewhere, the downside of having more than one bike I suppose.

I would like to do a big ride, like all of the Americas, and write a book, keep a blog (maybe even with video), and have people give me money for it. Would be nice, I know.

I have the Ural, most expensive bike I own to ride around, but everyone loves the ural. It attracts attention in ways no other bike does. Even dirty.

Adultery, my sr250 is the cheapest bike I have. Light too. Riders would be impressed with it, maybe, but I don't know about anyone else.

Then there is the xs11s. Cheaper to run than the Ural, more powerful than the 250. But I don't know if even riders would care too much about those. Of course, those are my favorite bikes.

Hard choices.

I need to be better.

Its easy to say you're going to do better at writing, better at keeping up a blog, better and life in general. But the actual details, the daily grind of it is something else entirely.

I know I am doing good things, but they are not the things I want to be doing. And I get scared and distracted looking at that first step to go from where I am to where I want to be. Its a higher, loftier place, and the fall would be much worse from there. Or even along the way.

Fear is not the way life should be led, though it very often is. Its easy to be afraid, easy to find a reason not to go or do. Easy and comfortable to stay where its warm and safe, with a cat on your lap and a warm cup of cocoa. Its possible you, I, don't even notice the fear anymore.

But its there, curled around the leg of the coffee table and chair, holding us in place. Holding me in place. I know its there, even as I sit comfortable, full and content.

But you can't live in fear.

Hick ups and stumbles

I didn't get my writing done yesterday. I did have time, but just didn't do it. Felt bad, but after thinking about it today decided to still only do 30minutes instead of "catching up." A good decision, I think.

After work I went to two wheel Tuesday, popularly called TwT. A collection of different ridersa and their bikes at a culvers on the NW side of town. The crowd was small, probably because it was in the 50s and overcast. Despite it being June we still seem to be stuck in April. I guess that's better than January, but still.

Good weekend. I've managed to get writing done, though while I am keeping the writing prompts I think I will work on the Nano novel from last year. I might also work on another story idea I've got in my head. I will also accept outline writing, but not research. I should be spending my 30 minutes writing.

I spent most of today out. Breakfest in wautoma for Debs birthday. Others came too, which was nice of them since the weather was singularly crappy. After breakfest was ice cream at Milty Wilty, also good. The weather would've been nice in March, but this is June and I was disappointed. On the way home from ice cream I saw hints of blue sky, but it didn't last and milwaukee was cold. Warm tea and my furnace helped with my chill, but I still can't help but wonder where summer is.

iI

New year in June?

I was going to do a better job at writing and blogging this year, and while I started off well, I have faded in the last few months.

There have been other things going on, of course. I injured my ankle at a fencing meet, which meant I couldn't fence. That seems to take a lot of the vis out of my life when it happens, just as when I can't ride for some reason.

I've also been on 2 long motorcycle trips, which should've been excellent blogging oppurtunties, but both of which I let slip by. That is pretty unforgivable on my part, and I must do better.

But, I am officially returned to fencing June 1, and have committed myself to writing every day (30 minutes is my current target, something I can even sneak in at work), and with that I plan to spend a few minutes on my blog as well.

Oh, and I'll try not to complain about Twilight, either. Okay?

Stupid Groundhog

So that little furry Phil (who actually didn't look very little) called for more winter, and the temps promptly dropped. I'm not saying it's his fault, but if he and I ever meet there are going to be words.

Of course, historically Phil is only right a little over a their of the time. And this up coming weekend is supposed to be very mice (I work, of course). So perhaps I shouldn't be so though on the guy. Or at least consider him more like a celeb than a weatherman. I mean, it's not like he really gets to look for his shadow and return to his little hut. Some guys in formal wear just hold him, and pretend to listen to what he says.

So really I should blame the guys in formal wear.

Wisconsin Closed Fencing Meet was today, I didn't start well, but ended up fencing well. Serious mental failure caused me to be knocked out in the epee DE, but other than that I am okay with how I did. Could've done better in foil, but the DE I lost was a good bout, so I don't have any complaints.

Thought about pulling Suffering's carbs, but am sore an a bit tired, and decided to read instead. Noted the vikings lost their game today, which is good. I don't really like them.

Have to work tomorrow. Seems like it's been a long time since I was there, so I guess that's okay. Not looking forward to it, exactly, but not dreading it either. Yet, anyway. Tomorrow is another day.

New Year, time to try again

Well, I combined all my blogs into this one, so now I just have to update it more than 3 times a year. Perhaps that is a good resolution? Time will tell.

It is mid winter, and I still don't have a car. The Ural, with knobbie tires and a big windshield is doing very well, better than last year with the smaller windshield and road tires. I am a little concerned the tires won't last the winter, but seem to be doing well so far. I'm not planning on going to mexico on them or anything.

This is also the time of year for me to thinking about this year's road trips. It looks like I am going to Orlando twice in spring. During March for a training (Paid for by work, and they pay me on top of it), and again in May, to see a space shuttle launch (Again on work's tab, but they aren't going to pay me while I'm gone. Well, I have vacation time). Other than that, where to go?

And I am going to (try) to focus more on writing this year. I say that every year. This blog will, I hope, be part of that. Time will tell on that one, of course.

Oh, and I'm fencing again. And horrible out of shape. I weigh around 200 pounds, which I know doesn't sound that bad, but I should and want to be about 185. Fencing is hard but I am being less than consistant practise than I should be and it shows in the results. Next meet is in 2 days, and I am much less ready than I would like. There is little I can do about that now.

So, I guess that is it for now. Lets hope for another post soon, huh?

Keep the rubber side down

Been too long since I was really blogging. I am trying to suppliment my income with online stuff, Associated content and other freelance writing. I do enjoy writing. AC is getting my medical content, it helps to keep my EMT knowledge sharp. My goal is one a day, and today I didn't do one. So tomorrow I have to do two. I suck.

I am also trying to finish my Nano 2007 novel. I have gone over my notes and cleaned them up. And I have downloaded yWriter, a free bit of novel writing software. I am still learning my way around ti, but it seems like it will keep my brain focused and on track.

I an also researching my first non-fiction novel, a history of Wisconsin, mainly it is an excuse to ride the rustic roads on the Ural. I am looking forward to it, but the weather is not cooperating. I have to think about the touring bike too, Misery is getting new shock and anew handlebars. But do I need three bikes anymore?

Time will have to tell. I will pass it on.

Holy coldness

I rode the ural to chicago tonight, for an 8am service appointment
tomorrow morning. It was -2 degrees. It usually takes me 1 1/2 to 2
hours, and tonight took 4, becuase I had to stop 3 more times to warm
up.

That was dam cold.

No pictures cuz I just wanted to get into my hotel room and crank the
heat.
--xspain

More snow

More snow, and frezzing cold. 6 degrees according to weather
underground, which sucks. I hope is warms up a little before thursday,
but it probably won't.

Regardless I have to ride down to chicago for my service appointment. I
made a hotel reservation so I don't have to get up at 530am, and I will
have to ride around a bit before I go. I am still 150km short of what I
need before the service, but I'm hoping I'll be close enough.

And I have a date tomorrow. Nervous.
Andy

Snow

Was out for a ride, and while I was in the gym it snow. Looked pretty
bad out of the windows, but didn't really stick to the ground.

I didn't think anything of the snow on the bike, while I snapped these
photos, but when I tried to brush it off turns out there was ice under
there. Some of the controls were actually stuck.

Still got the bike started, and home with no problems. Urals rock.
--xspain

--xspain

I had to work until 6pm today, but until then I was on the ambulance and noticed that the roads sure seemed to be okay. My company sponsors two bowling teams, and Tuesdays are the night they, er, play I guess. I had not gone to watch for a while (They are not very good, it is funny to see), and it felt like forever since I had been out for a ride. I actually don't know when I rode last, and don't want to think about it.

Walking home I saw the wet tire marks on the road, and know that the temps were cold enough for ice to form. I had said at the start of this winter I would not go riding when conditions were potentially dangerous, unless I had too. Then I decided I had to go for a ride, just for sanity sake. Heather was at work, so she couldn't object, so I put on my stuff sent her a text saying I was off, and headed out to the bike.


The alley looked like, well, packed snow over ice actually. I walked back and forth a few times, working out the best route. Typically, I then didn't take it.



The (sorta) pristine snow in front of the garage. Remember this for later.



Bike running, mostly warmed up. I am as ready as I can be, I guess.

As a confession, I am a bit of a gamer geek. Not computer games, Role-playing games (Like dungeon and dragons), and other sort of table games. One company, whose I have not played for a while due to lack of somewhere to play, recently opened a store near here, and I had a spur of the moment urge to go and visit. It was farther than bowling, but I was already going out.

The ride was...fine. I didn't fall over, which is always good. The road condition varied a lot, but was generally okay, 2 days after a snowfall.



Parking lot at the game store. It was very icy, but the Beemer dealt with it well.

After going in, saying hi, and watching some playing (Important to scope out a place to play before actually going there too. Game places are like bars, some you just don't want to be in.), I decided to head to the bowling alley. While I took the interstate to the store, this would be surface streets. There were some patches that could have been icy, but I either avoided them or just lucked out.



The bowling alley parking lot. Looks like fun, huh?



The Beemer at the bowling alley. I found a spot that was not iced in. My fellow employees were surprised to see me, but got over it and bought me sodas. Both teams lost. I was going to order a pizza, but never got the chance. Bowling alleys seem to have the best pizza.

The ride home was fine, and my trust in the Beemer grew. Last winter I had much worse tires, and I think these new ones are working out better (Marathon on the back, Lasertec on the front). The ride back into the alley was fine, though the rear did slip out a little as I was turning in. I was a little nervous because a truck had been following me, and I wasn't sure he was turning onto the alley as well.

My next surprise was a complete inability to get the Beemer back into the garage.


Don't they always look like they are about to fall over? There is a small ridge right at the edge of my garage, and I had all kinds of issues trying to get the bike over it. Worse, the parking spot is narrow, and I had to start over once because it was not lined up right.



I did get it in, however. And take a look at the snow in front of the garage now....



Nice and matted down.

All in all, it was a good ride, since I didn't crash. Played more with the heated gear too, but the temps (in the 20s) were not that cold compared to the clothes I was wearing. I need to be aware of the electric heat and dress lighter. Live and learn.