tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90726182012-02-16T06:55:51.722-05:00view of life and the world from a motorcycle seat...stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.comBlogger3131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-66200995291974237982012-02-05T13:21:00.002-05:002012-02-05T13:21:54.472-05:00

bike's been at twin specialties getting the last repairs from the crash last year. obviously more cosmetic than anything else. i could have let it go, but dealing with the insurance company was such a beeeyotch i decided to press the issue. should be getting the bike back this coming week. can't wait to get back on the road again, encouraging the wife to get on the back and pursue some

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com01911 Sego Ct, Raleigh, NC 27616, USA35.8512299 -78.601531235.8496209 -78.60399869999999 35.8528389 -78.5990637tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-3940120298252671252012-01-29T15:00:00.000-05:002012-01-29T15:06:09.729-05:00

signed up for the waffle house grand tour. here's my progress...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-38718588165299216212012-01-27T07:36:00.000-05:002012-01-27T07:36:37.423-05:00

headed to the easyriders bike show in charlotte this weekend… compared to previous years, looks like attendance and vendors were down. although it could have been due to it being sunday. there was still plenty to see and check out… top on my list this year was to see mushu suzie from widowmaker cdr. as always, i wasn’t disappointed… there’s something about a stripped down industrial design that

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com23rd/ Convention Center Station, Charlotte, NC 28202, USA35.223625 -80.84323135.2220035 -80.8456985 35.2252465 -80.84076350000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-59680415955644794852012-01-01T13:51:00.000-05:002012-01-02T14:55:10.616-05:00

yikes!! i knew i didn’t put many miles on the bike last year, but didn’t realize it was just over 2500 miles… had some extenuating circumstances that didn’t lend themselves to riding as much as i normally would have liked. i’m not complaining, though. and in hindsight, i didn’t really miss the riding because my attention was turned to more important things. now it looks like things are back on

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-51377990655094278512012-01-01T09:44:00.000-05:002012-01-02T14:48:09.473-05:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-86465600194040800862011-07-30T16:06:00.001-04:002012-01-02T13:39:57.154-05:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-61365049538874725922011-07-02T11:47:00.001-04:002011-07-02T11:49:21.115-04:00

having a wonderful lunch with my awesome wife. first stop on my smoke chasing quest...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Short Sugar's Bar-B-Q, 2215 Riverside Drive, Danville, VA, United States36.594668 -79.40609tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-21410103603609438122011-07-02T11:20:00.001-04:002011-07-02T11:21:07.448-04:00

great day for a ride with my wife...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Thunder Road Harley Davidson, 4960 Riverside Drive, Danville, VA, United States36.592928 -79.463775tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-67140112730197432812011-06-26T08:06:00.001-04:002011-06-26T08:06:31.157-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Sizzlin Steak Or Eggs, 1602 North Sandhills Boulevard, Aberdeen, NC, United States35.153038 -79.416325tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-43634911480449760052011-06-26T07:29:00.001-04:002011-06-26T07:29:03.247-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-77074179331433826682011-06-25T20:16:00.001-04:002011-06-25T20:16:12.515-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-21763571170092520552011-06-25T18:34:00.001-04:002011-06-25T18:34:58.045-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-47351513647825248582011-06-25T16:34:00.001-04:002011-06-25T16:34:12.205-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-487942502457776162011-06-25T15:48:00.001-04:002011-06-25T15:48:19.387-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-79511965924275823622011-06-25T14:34:00.001-04:002011-06-25T14:34:39.960-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-81011258194128412992011-06-25T14:29:00.001-04:002011-06-25T14:29:33.375-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-42069636014535702242011-06-25T14:19:00.001-04:002011-06-25T14:19:29.716-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-59083413929674162102011-06-25T12:22:00.001-04:002011-06-25T12:22:51.643-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Rockingham Dragway, 2153 U.S. 1, North Carolina, United States34.978535 -79.614368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-50264032213112569082011-06-14T21:13:00.001-04:002011-06-15T07:06:59.306-04:00

Will flying motorcycle soon be a reality?

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-19708401714941543022011-05-29T12:20:00.002-04:002011-06-01T11:04:11.725-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Vietnam War Veteran's Memorial, Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C., DC, United States38.890937 -77.047853tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-25454576218897015322011-05-29T12:17:00.002-04:002011-06-01T11:03:12.797-04:00

 

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-42158960744872478672011-05-29T10:53:00.002-04:002011-06-01T11:02:11.222-04:00

1960 apparently...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-10044713531422100692011-05-29T10:18:00.002-04:002011-06-01T10:59:53.386-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Department of State, 2201 C Street Northwest, Washington D.C., DC, United States38.896164 -77.051666tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-60203568829030424742011-05-29T09:11:00.002-04:002011-06-01T10:58:32.888-04:00

on the side of 66....

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-39712679677880934092011-05-29T08:34:00.004-04:002011-06-01T10:56:21.201-04:00

for rolling thunder...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-43051927772951323632011-05-28T09:04:00.001-04:002011-05-28T09:04:18.846-04:00

riding again...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Patriot Harley-Davidson, 9739 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA, United States38.863587 -77.281024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-62457722372521445392011-05-02T11:32:00.001-04:002011-05-02T11:32:10.462-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0CCS Equipment Sales, 5428 Nc 96 Hwy W, Youngsville, NC, United States36.040524 -78.494224tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-27928157292932098942011-05-02T09:27:00.001-04:002011-05-02T09:27:50.431-04:00

if you live in north carolina and you to choose whether or not you wear a helmet, now is the time to take action… house bill 392, permitting motorcyclists and passengers 18 and older to decide if they want to wear a helmet, was introduced march 17 and referred to the house transportation committee. the crossover date for the bill is may 12. in an effort to help this happen, if you’re a north

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-37490427612516163532011-04-15T21:44:00.001-04:002011-04-15T21:59:56.158-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-89574191507028667762011-04-02T22:12:00.001-04:002011-04-02T22:12:27.819-04:00

senator amy klobuchar recently introduced legislation, senate amendment 264, co-sponsored by senator jon tester, that would exempt youth off-highway vehicles from the consumer product safety improvement act (cpsia) of 2008. call your senators and let them know you support sa 264. of course the american motorcyclist association is going to make this extremely easy for you. go to this form, enter

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-8166850213002642822011-03-04T15:27:00.001-05:002011-03-04T15:27:42.181-05:00

on the heels of my last post and according to a rome news-tribune article, it looks like georgia is serious about setting up the motorcycle-only checkpoints. according to the article they have the budget to run six one-day checkpoints. about the only piece of good news to come out of this is the announcements of the date, times and locations for the first checkpoint: wednesday, march 9, 8am-

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-56249650825169190772011-02-22T21:12:00.000-05:002011-02-22T21:13:00.254-05:00

with the daytona 500 behind us, we can start the countdown to bike week starting next weekend. are you planning on riding down there?? for once, the better option may be to trailer your bike!! that or detour around georgia through alabama to get there. why?? because georgia is planning to use some federal funds to set up motorcycle-only checkpoints during bike week. according to this action alert

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-45556745931443814412011-02-19T17:28:00.002-05:002011-02-21T10:22:56.529-05:00

sat down for dinner tonight (heart-shaped burgers handmade by my wonderful wife) to personalized place cards made by my daughter. yes, i shoulda been onna ride today... maybe tomorrow.

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-76305093444190700422011-02-02T21:59:00.001-05:002011-02-02T21:59:03.274-05:00

ever wonder where the time is going?? time just seems to be flying lately. i realized it’s already february when i went to pay some bills this morning. which reminded me i needed to flip my waffle house and bike calendars over to february. this month the waffle house calendar is giving me a free sausage biscuit. i ran out of time to use the free coupon for bert’s chili last month. i’ll be sure

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-60936532037942625932011-01-26T23:04:00.001-05:002011-01-26T23:04:37.714-05:00

that’s the phrase my father-in-law responds with when someone is complaining about something. when he first said it to me i figured it was his polite way of telling me to stop whining. but knowing my father-in-law, he’d just tell you to stop whining. what he is really doing is reminding us that we should be appreciative. now i resist the urge to immediately complain about something and i look at

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-56337968119304222552011-01-11T06:07:00.018-05:002011-01-27T14:45:37.834-05:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-81181612548576206532011-01-03T21:12:00.001-05:002011-01-03T21:12:10.014-05:00

took the first ride of the year today. not the usual beginning-of-the-year lake loop that i’ve traditionally taken. today’s was just a short ride. today’s ride had several purposes. first, and most importantly, was just to get out and ride again. the sun was finally shining and the temps were in the 40s – perfect for a nice january ride. second reason for today’s ride was to test the new nolan

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-88942485055182554032011-01-01T20:19:00.001-05:002011-01-01T20:19:58.094-05:00

starting a new year with 41073 miles on the bike… although i didn’t put as many miles on the bike towards the end of the year it was still a good year of riding. in addition to the usual trips around the lake and to the smoke out, i got in a trip to milwaukee as well as another saddle sore 1000. this year i’m looking forward to the normal rides as well as spending a couple days at myrtle beach,

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-68235371201696962042010-12-15T22:59:00.001-05:002010-12-15T22:59:57.231-05:00

the latest issue of american motorcyclist (the magazine of the ama), with the motorcyclist of the year on the cover, arrived this past weekend. when i initially saw the cover my instinct was to cancel my subscription/membership to the ama. the ama states the motorcyclist of the year is “designed to highlight the person (or people) who has had the most profound impact on the world of motorcycling

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-32840207584330454212010-11-05T18:19:00.001-04:002010-11-05T18:19:59.500-04:00

to start getting more involved…

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-35760356734359920822010-09-24T10:26:00.001-04:002010-09-24T10:26:48.579-04:00

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-57259160941782810192010-09-24T07:59:00.001-04:002010-09-24T07:59:59.635-04:00

the ray price capital city bikefest starts today!!

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-69760605931034125182010-09-15T23:33:00.002-04:002010-09-15T23:36:16.717-04:00

getting ready to take a trip on the blue ridge parkway with my father-in-law at the end of the month. we’ve been talking about riding the parkway for a while and now it’s time to make it happen…the past week or so i’ve been trying to figure out the details – when we’re going , how far we’ll travel each day, where we’ll stop overnight and other rides we might be able to fit in during our journey.

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-35543734392474226472010-09-07T22:09:00.002-04:002010-09-09T17:57:01.421-04:00

my neighbor called yesterday wondering if my wife wanted to go shopping with his wife. my wife loved the idea. i thanked my neighbor by asking him if he wanted to go on a motorcycle ride with my son and me…i’ve talked to my neighbor about the property my in-laws have up at the lake and he’s taken his boat into their cove. but this was an opportunity to show him my in-laws property. but the ride

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-30158884835141943292010-08-13T12:39:00.001-04:002010-08-13T18:36:29.097-04:00

according to the voter guide in the post below some of my legislators won't be getting my vote!! American Motorcyclist Association - Take an active role in the upcoming elections!

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-84928072130707988612010-08-12T21:57:00.001-04:002010-08-12T21:57:01.989-04:00

got a package in the mail today containing certificates and a patch for the ss1000 i completed back in july… i was pretty excited to get it today as i didn’t expect them quite so soon. i don’t know if the certification process is quicker once your a member but it was definitely a nice surprise. now to start planning a bun burner (1500 miles in thirty-six hours) and a bun burner gold (1500 miles

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-13593021569950660062010-08-04T21:07:00.001-04:002010-08-04T21:07:07.323-04:00

took the bike to ray price last week for the 40k service… a smaller service this time. the usual fluid change and general inspection of the bike. i did manage to get new spark plugs too. i have an extended service plan with ray price which is due to expire next month. the service plan has really been a good deal for me. when i got the bike i didn’t know anything about maintenance. over the years

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-14420938844944690982010-07-15T23:09:00.001-04:002010-07-15T23:09:15.186-04:00

had a couple extra minutes today so i decided to put the registration sticker on the bike. being the lazy efficient person i am i decided i would just wipe the old sticker with a towel and apply the new sticker. a short-lived idea due to the reflective license plate mounting bolts covering the sticker. reaching between the license plate and the the tour-pac i quickly realized i wouldn’t be able

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-37207349072113034922010-07-05T10:04:00.001-04:002010-07-05T10:09:15.077-04:00

completed another ss1000 saturday… took off about five thirty in the morning. a little later than i had originally planned – was too busy sleeping. but i’d rather get a little more sleep, wake up refreshed and start late than start out tired. first stop was sheetz in youngsviile to document my start location and time. then it was off to richmond. the ride up there was chilly in spite of the

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-53006265901336839562010-07-02T21:13:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.316-04:00

was heading back from the smoke out last weekend when the shift lever shaft stripped. luckily i was close to home and could temporarily fix it by tightening the screw on the backside of the shaft. i took the bike to ray price tuesday to have the shaft replaced. i asked them to also check the front brakes and do an inspection. when the bike’s dropped off the tech looks over the bike. he noticed

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-43808946822228304382010-05-27T23:49:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.318-04:00

just got back from one of the best trips i’ve ever been on… the scenery, the friendship, the laughs, the ride. and being able to share it all with my wife… it couldn’t have been any better. we left out of here last wednesday, making our first stop for gas where i realized i had forgotten the key to my motorcycle. so we returned home to pick it up and make another attempt at leaving. we were

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-48428801637984477562010-05-27T20:43:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.320-04:00

picked up the bike today from ray price after having it serviced… it didn’t as take too long since my last service to rack up the miles. the trip to milwaukee helped that out. not much done at this service – usual oil and filter change. they even changed the air filter for me. best of all, the bike got cleaned. not as clean as i would have done. but i can’t complain since i didn’t have to do it.

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-68847560575445668032010-05-22T23:58:00.002-04:002010-08-04T20:22:41.432-04:00

had an amazing trip to milwaukee with my wife... packing up tonight to start our journey home tomorrow. it'll be nice to get home again.

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-92055577194116975072010-05-20T22:42:00.002-04:002010-08-04T20:22:09.137-04:00

left indianapolis this morning and made it to milwaukee - with a detour through chicago's lake shore drive...a pic of the bikes before heading out this morning...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-9127607476646040052010-05-18T20:59:00.000-04:002010-05-19T06:07:55.574-04:00

for the past week or so we’ve been checking the weather up in milwaukee. the forecasts predict temps in the upper sixties/lower seventies – about twenty degrees cooler than here… getting ready to pack today i realized we should probably be less concerned with the highs and focus more on how *cold* it might be getting.  it’s always easier to dress warmed and shed some layers than get cold and

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-47906703756377172852010-05-16T20:28:00.001-04:002010-05-16T20:52:14.677-04:00

wanted to go for a ride with my wife yesterday to test out the new bars… she was in a cleaning mood and suggested i clean the bike instead. my first thought was why would i want to clean the bike *before* heading out on a big trip?? since i figured if i went for a ride my wife wouldn’t be going with me i decided to follow her advice and clean the bike. not necessarily a bad thing but not top on

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-16723777610977330402010-05-12T22:55:00.001-04:002010-05-12T22:55:39.557-04:00

picked up the comfort profile saddlebag guards today from shelton’s… installation was easy and went smoothly. the longest part was running out to pick up a torque wrench. normally i would just tighten the bolts until i thought there were tight enough. on something like this, i figured it was well worth the time and few extra dollars to make surer it was right. after i i had one side installed my

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-11904164307059758472010-05-09T21:51:00.001-04:002010-05-12T22:37:22.511-04:00

my wife and i have taken a couple rides latest in preparation for a trip we’re taking to milwaukee later this month. since she hasn’t been on a trip this long, we thought it would be a good idea to have her get some miles on the bike… we also got her a new seat from mustang seats which we thought might make the trip more comfortable. the old seat, which is wider, was pushing her legs into the

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-87544628193779092192010-04-27T22:26:00.001-04:002010-04-27T22:26:58.931-04:00

took a ride to work the other week – to annapolis!!! it was nice to get out for a longer ride in decent weather. i headed out on sunday after a quick turn around from returning from the beach. as fast as i was unpacking from the beach, i was repacking for the ride. i could have taken a little more time but i wanted to get on the road and to my destination before it got too late. repacking in a

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-70539098783509931252010-03-26T20:01:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.322-04:00

took the bike in to ray price this week to have it serviced… i can’t believe it’s been so long since my last service. only twenty five hundred miles in six months. sad… (I do plan on making up for it over the next several months, though.) i was actually looking more forward to having it cleaned than the service itself… it’s been a while since it’s been cleaned – since the last service!!

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-42750420720788116972010-03-15T21:33:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.324-04:00

saturday started with a stop at bikers boulevard with father-in-law. he’s rebuilding a couple bikes with the help of son and wanted to check out some parts – specifically an electronic ignition… within minutes they were showing him the exact part he needed. we were perusing the store, about to leave, when one of the guys chased us down to talk to father-in-law about his shovelhead. before i knew

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-4041419629348421892010-03-03T20:49:00.001-05:002010-08-12T21:50:21.867-04:00

got an e-mail today informing me i’m now officially a member of the iba… wooooohooooo!!!! You are receiving this e-mail because of your application for a ride certification.  This note is to let you know that your ride has been approved and although your ride documents may take a few more weeks to arrive,  your membership has also been approved and entered into the Iron

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-38833857602254844832010-03-03T20:39:00.001-05:002010-03-03T20:39:50.355-05:00

came across this today…

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-6184572425391764922010-02-24T21:22:00.001-05:002010-08-04T20:19:33.328-04:00

finally took another ride!!! hard to believe it’s only the second ride i’ve taken this year… i blame that mostly on the weather; although other commitments have played a part. this ride held the promise of warmer weather – in the fifties. definitely better than my last ride… the problem was that was afternoon temps. and i was leaving at five in the morning. with temps in the twenties. in

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-52052879999387277872010-01-02T22:04:00.016-05:002011-01-27T14:44:39.205-05:00

wow!!! we’re already in 2010!!! routes: ------ 01/02/2010 - lake loop - nc and va ------ 02/20/2010 - just a ride - marion, nc ------ 03/13/2010 - ridin' with my wife - henderson, nc ------ 04/11-14/2010 - ride to work - annapolis, md ------ 05/19-24/2010 - weekend ride - milwaukee, wi ------ 05/28-31/2010 - rolling thunder - washington, dc ------ 06/26-27/2010 - smoke out -

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-51249018039103576542010-01-02T21:58:00.001-05:002010-08-04T20:19:33.331-04:00

took the first drive of the year today… wasn’t really planning to, but my wife suggested i head out for a ride. it looked nice outside, blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds. it didn’t take much to convince me to go. i had originally planned a trip through oxford to danville, looping south back through oxford and back home. i wasn’t out long when i realize it was a bit chillier than i

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-8421223689378398042010-01-01T20:13:00.001-05:002010-08-04T20:19:33.333-04:00

that’s the odo reading to start the year. i won’t complain that it’s not as much as i wanted, i did that in the last post… looking forward to putting some time in the saddle this year. in addition to the yearly trek to the smoke out and, hopefully, the easyriders rodeo, i’m planning a couple longer trips. one up to milwaukee for some training and another along the blue ridge parkway with my

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-15293572086879446032009-12-31T17:39:00.001-05:002010-08-04T20:19:33.335-04:00

the past year has been interesting to say the least. didn’t do as much riding as i wanted. it seems i say that every year. i wonder how often or how many miles i’d need to ride in order to feel like i rode as much as i wanted?? some of the journeys i planned didn’t happen. but my biggest goal of the year, the ss1000, did. of course there were several rides with my wife (those are always the best

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-48737365400188480482009-12-28T23:30:00.001-05:002009-12-28T23:30:30.567-05:00

haven’t posted in a while –  haven’t ridden in a while…  this has been the longest stretch of time since i’ve had the bike that i’ve gone without riding… after the ss1000 ride, it seemed i had weekend commitments, holidays, questionable weather, classes. after about a month of not riding, i was getting the itch to get back on the bike. then a family crisis hit and put us into a tailspin for a

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-67968885448179986662009-10-23T08:34:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.337-04:00

got e-mail saying a couple people were riding to daytona. if i was interested, it could be turned into an iron butt ride. i was, so it was… and i completed my first saddlesore 1000 (one thousand miles in twenty four hours) this past weekend. once a couple more e-mails were sent around, it ended up with three of us going. we had two routes picked out, a northern loop and a southern straight shot.

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-47374777043549569202009-09-29T16:47:00.001-04:002009-09-29T16:47:50.717-04:00

took the bike in for the 32,500 mile service this morning. ‘twas a brisk but good ride. nice to be out in the morning, riding in the cool air. something about riding this time of year just seems so refreshing – even if it is in rush-hour traffic. i was going to wait for my bike to be serviced. upon further thinking i decided to drop it off. mainly for two reasons: they’ll wash it – and it

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-87342038585005389102009-09-25T16:59:00.001-04:002009-09-29T16:50:09.501-04:00

looking down fayetteville street...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-39420879786386243962009-09-23T19:04:00.000-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.339-04:00

as a result of the bikesafe nc assessment i talked about in my previous post, i no longer ride my bike… i now drive my bike. before i go further, let me talk about the day… the morning started off with an introduction to the bikesafe program. then led into risk taking, risk awareness and risk mitigation. we’re told what we’re going to learn that day isn’t necessarily the right way or the only

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-77568982690477536762009-07-16T17:23:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.341-04:00

looking forward to tomorrow… going to participate in bikesafe – nc, a program to assess my skills and offer advice on improving… well, probably not so much designed to assess and improve my skills as much as reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities on the highways and make riding safer and more enjoyable. the program was modeled after the bikesafe – london program. apparently the program in

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-77812824653967065772009-07-12T21:00:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.343-04:00

took a ride out to the easyriders rodeo in wilson yesterday… blasting down the highway, enjoying the solitude, thinking about how nice it was to be out riding… even thought about passing up the rodeo just to keep riding. it did cross my mind that if i had the paperwork, i might have turned this into an attempt at the ss1000. probably a good thing i didn’t!!! i arrived and headed toward the

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-19564904690851621432009-07-12T18:33:00.002-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.346-04:00

took an awesome ride last friday. well, technically two fridays ago… couple old roads, couple new roads, nice scenery, wonderful weather. but what made this trip so great was i got to ride with my son. and he was beside me, not on the back!!! day started out with a ride to shelton’s to pick up a buell blast. since it had been a few months since son had been on a bike, we spent a couple hours on

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-3377872611617583112009-07-12T16:09:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.348-04:00

the trip to dc for rolling thunder finally put me over 30k… and looking back at my last service, i haven’t been riding very much - gotta start riding more… took the bike to ray price to have them do the service – a big one this time. in addition to the normal oil/filter change, gaskets and plugs, they also, replaced all the brake pads, mounted a new rear tire, replaced the steering head beams

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-74478071417740419092009-07-12T14:53:00.007-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.350-04:00

finally changed up the routine of watching everyone head out for rolling thunder by actually participating this year…it was a moving and amazing event. the masses of people, the number of motorcycles, the sites and sounds are unforgettable. unfortunately it doesn’t seem the same can be said of the pow/mia’s from the viet nam war.the events recapped in pictures:pre-ride festivitiesgathering at a

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-60983176197477530522009-07-12T11:12:00.002-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.352-04:00

catching up on some old stuff – i can’t believe i let this one go so long… rode up to the washington area towards the end of may to attend my first rolling thunder, subject of my next post. patriot h-d holds their open house the day before… a quick recap of the event in pictures…

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com038.8639507, -77.28063938.8639507 -77.280639tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-66824152484770861722009-07-11T15:26:00.003-04:002009-07-12T12:23:32.601-04:00

if it's barstool races, it's got to be the easyriders rodeo. fresh from wilson, nc...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0Wilson, NC, USA35.69989540686514 -77.9322481155395535.69553890686514 -77.93954361553955 35.70425190686514 -77.92495261553955tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-33306766383344828732009-06-30T19:13:00.000-04:002009-06-30T21:11:19.314-04:00

left over from last nights’ ride it gives a new meaning to bug eyes!!!

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-45689193839771847192009-06-29T23:32:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.354-04:00

the way the day was shaping up, it was looking more and more like i was going to have to make a late night run in order to rack up any miles for million mile monday. and sure enough, the sun was setting as i was starting my journey. i didn’t really have a route in mind. and since it was much later than i expected, i made it a shorter ride. and to make things a little more interesting, i wanted

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-25100874070241936842009-06-29T08:32:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.356-04:00

million mile monday is finally here. today, hog members worldwide will try to rack up five million miles. i had planned on doing my part by getting out early and racking up a few miles… unfortunately, the day has already started to spin out of control. although an evening ride may be the ticket…

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-690778185748587832009-06-24T22:04:00.001-04:002009-06-24T22:04:11.701-04:00

seems as soon as son got up this morning, he was talking/asking about going for a ride. unfortunately i was booked all day with meetings and couldn’t slip away - even for a little bit. so he had be patient all day – an almost impossible task for a six year-old who’s just been exposed to the joys of riding… after work, the wife and i are sitting on the front porch, sharing the events of our day.

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-29840219711847598622009-06-23T23:15:00.001-04:002009-06-24T07:18:58.217-04:00

took the little one on his first ride today. i’m not sure who was more excited, me or him. i do know his mom was a wreck, she definitely wasn’t ready for it… since it was his first ride, i didn’t want to go too far, and definitely not in traffic. so we took a quick spin around the ‘hood. when we got back, i shut the bike off and all he could say was, “dad, i’ve been trying to tell you i want to

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-59123575963158065942009-06-15T15:58:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.358-04:00

. . . to john q public’s comment on my earlier post… i would have just responded in the comments, but i think this deserves more than being obscured in post comments… from facts and figures page on for car drivers site (emphasis added): Cell Phones A University of Utah study, "A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver, found that "…the impairments associated with using a

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-43397819463150703942009-06-15T11:35:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.360-04:00

    even though i work from home, i rode to work today… normally i would take the bike around the block in the spirit of the day. but this morning, i picked up my bike from the dealership, so i really did get to ride to work…

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-25052669894026334602009-06-14T11:41:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.362-04:00

was downtown yesterday, heading home, in the far left of three lanes of traffic. cruising thirty-five, the speed limit. i’m even with the rear tire of an suv in the center lane when the knucklehead (i don’t think i was that kind at the time) decides he needs to make a left turn. yes, a left turn from the center. i quickly hit the brakes and move as far to the left as i can. i would have gotten

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-1453064951630962912009-06-09T17:11:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.365-04:00

…or maybe it’s my past since we’re talking brake and tail lights!! my father-in-law and i took a trip over to custom dynamics to talk to them about led replacement options for the brake and turn signals. the folks at custom dynamics told us know what we needed then proceeded to work up an awesome deal. next thing i know, we’re walking out with a new set of lights – thanks gramps… installation

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-8300128703594184702009-06-03T21:23:00.001-04:002009-06-03T21:23:18.669-04:00

…was the winning number in the 50/50 at the hog meeting tonight… there was anticipation as everyone checked their tickets, waiting for someone to claim the prize. i quickly scan my tickets for the last three numbers – no luck… i’m out another ten bucks. soon no one is claiming the booty… the number is read again – still no winner. some genius in the crowd wonders out loud if the number being

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-33069834489170427372009-05-27T14:12:00.002-04:002009-06-03T21:21:13.907-04:00

just wondering if this will work...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-30923734087507173282009-05-24T12:09:00.001-04:002009-06-03T21:20:45.827-04:00

the masses gathering at the mall...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-84687003497052240022009-05-21T20:02:00.002-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.367-04:00

15 may 2009 it all started friday evening when the guys arrived… actually, it started much earlier with the smoking of the butts. three of them to be exact. not knowing exactly how many people were showing up for the friday night pre-party, we decided to be on the safe side. not a bad thing when it comes to bbq!!! of course the wife and kids were busy prepping thursday night and friday… wife

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-52657086346620614532009-05-16T21:09:00.002-04:002009-06-03T21:21:48.759-04:00

first impressions from the smoke out in rockingham...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-9502545666037546302009-05-13T19:30:00.002-04:002009-06-03T21:22:40.826-04:00

well, let's see if i can figure this thing out...

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-23097269043364516162009-05-05T06:32:00.000-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.369-04:00

still around and riding – just nothing exciting lately. mostly trips around town running errands or meeting friends for lunch… the weather has been awesome lately, so the rides have been even more enjoyable. a couple trips are starting to approach and take shape. the closest being smoke out ten coming up in two weeks… the planning and food gathering has begun. what started out five years ago as

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-55142341685500579412009-05-04T21:06:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.372-04:00

had a nice ride with the wife last week. recall the earlier post when daughter lost wife’s glove. well, the gloves finally came in and we decided to go pick them up. being the knucklehead i am, i start heading out the door with car keys in hand. okay, it was early and i was still mentally asleep. mostly due to the fact that i was faced with another day of work and it would be easier to sleep

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-9182556748490985162009-04-13T20:16:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.374-04:00

participated in the ray price easter basket ride saturday… first time i’ve joined in and it was quite an experience… daughter and i headed out in the morning, starting the morning off right by filling out bellies with bo’s… after that, it was too the dealership to line up for the ride… when we got to the dealership, i was informed by daughter that she needed to spend some of her hard earned

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-87617107119821872002009-04-10T19:58:00.001-04:002009-04-10T21:01:28.662-04:00

or maybe it is… passed by the bike today and noticed the tour-pak covered in pollen… and from the disrupted pollen marks, it appears someone else noticed it before me!! at first i was embarrassed. then i thought what the hell, it’s not going to get washed any time soon!! the best i’ll be able to do is give it a good dusting. wonder if it will all blow off if i go riding??

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072618.post-10110591154270468902009-03-11T18:04:00.001-04:002010-08-04T20:19:33.376-04:00

my daughter had to give a speech at school, telling something about herself that others wouldn't know... It’s a get together, a party, and annual celebration. A time when all my parent’s friends get just about as wasted as they would on New Years, while my brother and I sit back and laugh hysterically. It’s the time I look forward to - our yearly motorcycle party. It’s a type of

stefanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223017378119838603noreply@blogger.com2