Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted January 3 Member Contributer Share Posted January 3 (Disclaimer: you won't learn anything about VFR's in this post. I don't even provide an opinion on motor oil) I was shocked! I knew that 2023 was my worst mileage year in a decade or two. But I had a bunch of reasons: About 10 months ago the surgeons at UCSF repaired the mitral valve in my heart. Surgery and recovery rehab pretty much eliminated riding for the spring. A simmering, ongoing consulting gig of maybe 10 billable hours/month suddenly and unintentionally took over my life starting in July. Ironically--because of my own personnel recommendations--I became the acting head of operations for a regional movie theatre chain. Fortunately I was able to find my permanent replacement in November. And...my wife and I now have a grandson, currently 22 months, and we have pretty much been commuting to our son and DIL's place in San Diego. 😊 Where was I? Oh yeah, I was shocked. Yesterday I took a look at the odometer on the Ducati. I then compared it to last year, and...400 was the difference. 400 effing miles in 2023!! That's pathetic. Even if I generously add in another 400 on the RC-51 that's less than 1000 miles in a year. Wow. So I checked my photos on this laptop, and it was another shock. For the first year in the history of digital photography I had not taken a single bike picture! This was the most recent pic I could find, probably my final ride of 2022, December 23rd: As JZH said in his recent build thread, I really just had a lot of excuses. Unlike Darryl I was physically and legally able to ride by May. If something is important to you, you don't just drop that activity to do other things no matter how important they may also be. I live in one of the great motorcycle riding regions in North America--we can ride pretty much year-round, the roads are fantastic and plentiful, and there's an abundance of natural beauty only a day or two's ride away. And I own two bikes--2017 Multistrada Tour S, 2003 RC-51--that I love, are incredibly reliable, and are really tons of fun to ride. So. Time to get off my ass and behind the bars. Trip planning time! Up to Oregon. A trip through the Sierra, into AZ, the four corners and the Rockies? My favorite Eureka/Yreka/Fortuna loop (aka 299-96-3-36)? San Diego of course. And just hitting the PCH/128/253 etc. when the right day opens up. Anyway, if you're still reading this diatribe you probably understand the self-induced frustration. No excuses in 2024: More to follow... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted January 3 Member Contributer Share Posted January 3 3 minutes ago, St. Stephen said: 400 effing miles in 2023!! That's pathetic. There's no doubt that you're doing it wrong. 😛 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweeper Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 I was just reading about tracking miles for the year. I never do, finding it more important how I feel about it. That being said, I've not been riding enough in my retirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted January 3 Member Contributer Share Posted January 3 Blasphemy! You don't track? That's like not tracking track day expenses! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Bren Posted January 3 Member Contributer Share Posted January 3 I'm not even retired and I don't have enough time to put on more than about 1k a year. 2 kids, a house that I built, and a very, shall we say, selfish/vindictive/physco wife does that to you. The wife bit will be ending soon but not the kids thankfully. 2024 is going to be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweeper Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 2 hours ago, bmart said: Blasphemy! You don't track? That's like not tracking track day expenses! The beauty of my life is that I don't have to track or budget anything. It may not always be that way but for now it is. I did do my first track day back in October at Polecat Training Center. It was an awesome day. Will do again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted January 4 Author Member Contributer Share Posted January 4 1 hour ago, Bren said: I'm not even retired and I don't have enough time to put on more than about 1k a year. 2 kids, a house that I built, and a very, shall we say, selfish/vindictive/physco wife does that to you. The wife bit will be ending soon but not the kids thankfully. 2024 is going to be different. That sucks Bren, hope your 2024 is better. Hang in there! House and two kids for me too, but fortunately not that wife part. Early days we moved for my job and my ratty GS400 got stolen at work, couldn't afford a replacement. After my only four adult years w/o a bike we went out to eat, told her I just had to get another bike (VF of course). She was fine with it. 😊 BTW, she was six months pregnant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Shocking! People have actual lives and can't dedicate endless hours to riding for fun? Blasphemy!! 🙂 I got 6k miles in for 2023. The year before was 5k, but my bike was offline for a few months due to waiting for a new front wheel to arrive. I used to average more like 7-8k, but over the years (except for 2020) I've gotten busier and busier as a musician, in addition to my day job. Being busy some weeknights and most weekends led to fewer rides. I usually try to do 2-3 trips annually, but managed just one this past year. At least it was a good one! If I'm being completely honest, several years ago my annual mileage dropped to about 1,500 for two straight years. I'd gotten busy (work/gigs) and kind of just lost my mojo for riding. I'd been looking at buying another bike on and off for a while, but what was the sense in buying a new (or used) motorcycle if I wasn't even riding it that much? In 2019 I rode more, and even more in 2020 when I had a lot of spare time due to all my musical activities being canceled due to the pandemic. With the established uptick in miles I decided to go ahead and buy my current bike. Hopefully this year I'll at least equal the 6k for 2023. Good on you for already making plans to ride more. Personally, I'm hoping to finally do the trip to Maine I've been wanting to do for the last few years. Probably in late August. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted January 4 Member Contributer Share Posted January 4 18 hours ago, Sweeper said: The beauty of my life is that I don't have to track or budget anything. It may not always be that way but for now it is. I did do my first track day back in October at Polecat Training Center. It was an awesome day. Will do again. I hear ya. I like to track stuff. It puts me at peace...and I hate spending time hunting down little details one at a time! 🙂 Ping me if you want to do some track time. I coach for a few orgs in the south east...until I age out! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 4 Member Contributer Share Posted January 4 Between the 2 Gileras, 2 Hondas, Moto Morini and MV Agusta rode some 24,000km in 2023. 40hrs work per week restrict a bit.. But some 42 days paid vacation per year helps... Plan to ride the same kms this year, tripto the Manx GP already decided upon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted January 4 Member Contributer Share Posted January 4 You get days off? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer mello dude Posted January 4 Member Contributer Share Posted January 4 My mileage is way down too... guessing sub 4k... used to do over 12k easy... gotta pick it up this year... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer vfrcapn Posted January 4 Member Contributer Share Posted January 4 Hope we all get some more seat time this year. My Multi has only seen 6K over the last 3 years. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Duc2V4 Posted January 5 Member Contributer Share Posted January 5 Did I hear my name? Yeah, good times, brain surgery, then suspended license, what a year! although I did get my license reinstated, I did also lose my insurance coverage for next year, seems the under writer does not allow for any license suspensions, for any reason! All good now, in both health and insurance, but don't want to go through any of that again! As far as riding, I haven't been to the track in a couple of years, and it was just about 9 months to the day from my initial seizure to the day I got my license back, so a small bit of time without any riding. Felt like forever though. Once I got my license back, I hopped on the bike as soon as I could, did a couple of commutes to San Diego and a few little trips down the coast and back, so I was able to at least go over the 400 mile mark, but still have not done a "proper" ride yet. I'll definitely be doing some local "twisty" rides soon and hopefully get back to the track to work with the Superbike School again. Just need to get some bike restoration projects completed first, need to get some garage space back. Of course I do sneak out for those little rides but those only comfort me for so long. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Late spring and early fall 2023 cross country rides plus regular commuting use. Safe to say the VFR saw a few miles... plus a pair of drive chains and a few tire sets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 5 Member Contributer Share Posted January 5 On 1/4/2024 at 9:13 PM, bmart said: You get days off? Work - Life Balance Euro Trash Style!!! 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 5 Member Contributer Share Posted January 5 16 hours ago, Duc2V4 said: Did I hear my name? Yeah, good times, brain surgery, then suspended license, what a year! although I did get my license reinstated, I did also lose my insurance coverage for next year, seems the under writer does not allow for any license suspensions, for any reason! All good now, in both health and insurance, but don't want to go through any of that again! As far as riding, I haven't been to the track in a couple of years, and it was just about 9 months to the day from my initial seizure to the day I got my license back, so a small bit of time without any riding. Felt like forever though. Once I got my license back, I hopped on the bike as soon as I could, did a couple of commutes to San Diego and a few little trips down the coast and back, so I was able to at least go over the 400 mile mark, but still have not done a "proper" ride yet. I'll definitely be doing some local "twisty" rides soon and hopefully get back to the track to work with the Superbike School again. Just need to get some bike restoration projects completed first, need to get some garage space back. Of course I do sneak out for those little rides but those only comfort me for so long. There will be a motorcycle for you to ride should you ever come to the Netherlands. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted January 22 Author Member Contributer Share Posted January 22 No sympathy from those of you parked for the winter, but the heavy rains here may back off tomorrow and the RC wants to go out first: 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 23 Member Contributer Share Posted January 23 9 hours ago, St. Stephen said: No sympathy from those of you parked for the winter, but the heavy rains here may back off tomorrow and the RC wants to go out first: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 16 hours ago, St. Stephen said: No sympathy from those of you parked for the winter, but the heavy rains here may back off tomorrow and the RC wants to go out first: I'm counting on the rain this week washing away the massive amounts of salt and brine that were put down. Only reason I've been taking the car these past few days 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Thumbs Posted January 23 Member Contributer Share Posted January 23 Me too, tomorrow is looking good for me 🤞 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted January 24 Author Member Contributer Share Posted January 24 Well, after a few months on the smart charger, in the garage (I have friends who think garages are for cars, go figure), and not moving an inch, the RC of course started immediately, manual fast idle aka choke pulled out. It's a Honda. Barely over 40 miles but far enough to get rid of the moisture in the crankcase, and get my arms and knees used to the sportbike position again. Around here this time of year the back roads that aren't well travelled get a bit of moss or other plant life growing in the middle of the lane where car tires don't go, so I took it easy. Mostly. I moved the odometer! 😀 PCH today just south of Tomales: 7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer vfrcapn Posted January 24 Member Contributer Share Posted January 24 Missing my RC about now… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 25 Member Contributer Share Posted January 25 Nice SC45!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted March 21 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 21 Lots of rain recently but a nice day today before it all returns tomorrow. Did a thorough chain cleaning, adjustment and lube Tuesday so felt like everything was ready and prepped for a 10 day trip! However, this was not a 10 day trip, just 60 miles. I may complain about the rain but spring after an El Nino winter is beautiful here. Sorry it's not a VFR, but...red...V cylinders...motorcycle Squint and you can see the Pacific ocean... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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