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.

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.