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HispanicSlammer

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  1. HispanicSlammer
    I ride this 500 mile loop at least once a year, it usually takes about 12 hours to complete lunch included with some of the most spectacular scenery that Colorado has to offer. Not to mention some great twisties along the way. I ride the first half of it so often I did not bother to stop for pictures and that included Monarch Pass which is for the most part a great mountain pass on a motorcycle. I usually take hwy 50 west all the way to Gunnison and then turn off at Hwy 92 for the best road in Colorado IMHO the Black Canyon Of The Gunnison. Yea I have posted it many times before and taken video lots of times, yesterday included but only for a short section since my video with Dan Last year has become the definitive hwy 92 video, I put the camera on the helmet for that part to try to get some shots of the canyon below but I move my neck around like a bird so I cut most of it out of the final video and for some reason my second camera was cutting out a bit on that section.

    Dillon Pinnacles Blue Mesa Reservoir highway 50

    Highway 92 At Blue Mesa Damn

    Highway 92 Black Canyon

    Highway 92 from where I just came

    my vfr800 The San Juan's in the background

    Black Canyon hwy 92 hangs off like a shelf

    Long Way Down 2000 feet below is the Gunnison River
    I usually stop in Crawford for lunch, where the Maddog café used to be - since closed but there was a sign on the place I usually go the boardwalk café that said it was closed on Tuesdays (shoot I was hungry) but fortunately the Branding Iron was open for lunch and I was in for a surprise, to date the best Bacon Cheeseburger I have had in the USA was at the Eagle Café in Mount Judea Arkansas but I now think the Branding Iron has taken that Title - however twice I have tried the Eagle Café and twice its been awesome so perhaps I need a second trip to make sure - all I know is the Branding Iron uses 100% Colorado Beef, sign says so right on the door! Crawford is a sleepy little place nestled in the foothills of the mountains - lots of farms in the area where you can get all sorts of goods, beef or course, pistachios, apples, wheat, Barely (Coors uses allot of grain from here), and the like. There were other motorcyclist out on this loop today as I pulled in 4 other bikes pulled out and there where a couple of FJR's from Idaho out front too, a husband and wife out touring Colorado - I will be up there next month on my way to Canada!!

    I think I found my new Favorite Burger 100 percent Colorado Beef - Crawford Colorado

    Crawford Colorado I pulled in just as 4 bikes pulled out
    I took a short cut through some farm country to Panioa, another nice little town north of Crawford, the place was bustling with activity, its off the main road so I was sure they where mostly locals - lots of kids out in the sun on summer break, seems like a great place to grow up! I was soon on Hwy 133 heading for Sommerset an old coal mining town, shooting the easy sweepers around 70 or so, just cruising. I pass through town then resumed my speed when all of a sudden I can feel a wasp stinging me in my stomach, damn thing got me 3 times before I could open my stich to let it out. Lucky for me cause I slowed down quite a bit while this was going on a state trooper passed me on the next turn, me rubbing my tummy where the wasp got me going EXACTLY the speed limit. That wasp saved me a ticket!! I decided to pull off and put some creme on it. Seems I always get nailed by a wasp or a bee in this area and so I carry some medicated creme now cause it seems inevitable that I am going to get stung or bit by something.

    North Fork Gunnison River Keebler Pass - dirt road to Crested Butte

    Marcellina Mountain at Keebler Pass

    North Fork Gunnison River looking back at Somerset
    I then put the cameras back up and turned them on for the twisties along the Panoia State Park, they are nice and tight along here and for some reason there where a row of cars going up the road to McClure pass I just passed them one by one, and using my new found philosophy of "don't force it" opportunities to pass legally just seemed to crop up, a dotted line just long enough for me to get around and stuff a tight right hander and still give the car a wide berth! No finger wagging cagers passing me today! Wasps and Cagers be damned this was a ride for the books and it was going great, no rain, no cops save the wasp guy and no idiots in the way.

    Chair Mountain From McClure Pass

    Chair Mountain zoomed in

    McClure Pass Hwy 133 at Marble

    McClure Pass Hwy 133

    Elk Mountain

    McClure Pass Hwy 133

    Redstone You can go horseback riding here

    Redstone Coke Ovens Chair Mountain in the background

    Zoomed out

    Redstone
    NO IDIOTS SO FAR - That was until I was up until I got to Aspen, the leg home. The traffic in Aspen was awful as usual and it stayed that way almost all the way to Independence pass, where I ran into the back of a long line of cars stopped for an accident, it was a pretty bad one the whole front end of a Jeep Liberty was smashed up, this is the third time I had seen a bad accident on this pass so I don't rail it anymore too many idiots cant stay in their own lane on the tight bumpy twisties here, two weeks ago I had to adjust my line three times cause cagers had crossed the line into my lane! so I took it easy when all of a sudden gravel everywhere! - some time since two weeks ago they had chip sealed the western part of the pass and had yet to sweep it off - this went on for miles with 10 or so cars in front of me all going about 25mph my bike was running at 245 degrees! I was just about to pull off and let the bike cool off when the chip seal stopped and there was some open road, I passed a whole bunch at a time - again legally and easily and got the bike moving enough to cool her off! going down the other side it was one lane again, this time asphalt paving on the other side! Now it had cooled down to 180 since I was going down and just coasting down!

    Independence Pass two weeks from my last ride down it

    Lackawanna Gulch at Independence Pass
    I was in cruise mode from here on out, it was already 6pm and the critters where out and about coming out from the bush after hiding from the hot sun all day I had spotted a few deer on the side of the road so I slowed things down some. Stopping in Buena Vista I decided to check out Quincy's for a Fillet Mignon, but the place was packed to the gills and there were people standing outside, I guess I will have to wait till next time. Thats all they serve there so it must be good, my friend Craig says its wonderful.
    The MAP
    [map=AARTsJq2pIfAsk3yqFX8Kb32ic8k0bxQfQ]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=9625108885702190974,38.800480,-104.822280%3B5066384881114405528,38.703640,-107.608740%3B9244847327359666910,38.964239,-107.338613%3B13689259641919423694,39.129160,-107.283820%3B10826179235940960323,39.178990,-107.241930%3B18393276206533680966,39.095500,-106.545367%3B4205475245268540213,38.859180,-104.867940&saddr=CO-115+S+%4038.800480,+-104.822280&daddr=Dogwood+Ave+%4038.703640,+-107.608740+to:CO-133+%4038.964239,+-107.338613+to:CO-133+%4039.129160,+-107.283820+to:CO-133+%4039.178990,+-107.241930+to:Unknown+road+%4039.095500,+-106.545367+to:38.826871,-104.837036&mra=dme&mrcr=5&mrsp=6&sz=8&doflg=ptm&sll=38.861098,-106.54541&sspn=2.386705,5.668945&ie=UTF8&z=8[/map]
    THE VIDEO

    :media: The Big Colorado Loop Video - 8 minutes wmv format high resolution - music by New Order
    attached are the gps tracks from my zumo
  2. HispanicSlammer
    Spent Last Night working on the bike
    So Baileyrock was kind enough to remove the Ohlins Shock off the Old Girl and send it to me a few weeks back, I had hopes that it would fit since it seemed it mounted the same as the older 5th and 6th Gen bikes. The only concern was clearance and if it needed to be modded for length? To my surprise the OEM shock is the same free length and size as the 5th Gen Ohlins I had on the old girl. It was a simple bolt up job! I only had to remove the slip on to get to the linkage. Boy they beefed up the linkage triangles for the 1200 thats for sure its almost 40% thicker! Thanks BR for doing all that tear down work on the old girl.

    The Ohlins off the Old Girl YES its the same size!!

    Ohlins Install Where to put the remote reservoir?

    This is the only place I could find to mount the reservoir - the hose was a bit long too
    Now for the Farkles, I have always been a fan of heated grips but I did not want to used my Hot Grips controller on this bike - seemed too big and clunky to use (I will offer it free btw in the pay it forward section if anybody wants it). So I found of all things a cruiser website that had a one button 4 position led controller that mounts to the handle bar by replaceing the main clamp. It required me to drill the bar though to thread the wires into there but I found I was into a solid section of the bar where the hollow end is pressed on. so I drilled 3 shallow holes and then made a sort of wire trench with the dremel and fished the wires in there. I put the bars on the clamp and tried to see if it was weakend by the drilling - nope solid still no issues since it was a small hole into solid aluminum.

    Heated Grip controller 4 heat settings marked with an led display on the right handlebar

    Symtec Heat Deamon - Heated grips and controller
    I like the clean look of the new controller and the one button touch on the fly, the led can be turned down too for night time riding so it does not blast you by holding the button longer.
    I have always liked the brake light modulators I had before so I bought a new signal dynamics XP back off brake light modulator. Also I wanted to be seen better in the day (after being ran off the road in my own damn lane!) I thought I would geek it up and get a signal dynamics diamond Headlight modulator too. both purchased at motorycycle superstore.

    Installing Signal Dynamics Headlight Modulator I want to be seen - no more hillbillys not noticing me in my own lane!

    Ran out of wire taps doing it the old fashioned way - good thing is all the wires are in one place on the left side under the fairing
    I found a nice little autcom mount piece for the loose connector that I previously let hang off the seat from the old girl, this secures it better and can be removed from the holder

    Autocom connector secured with a plastic holder now
    I did not take pictures of the brake light install I was well into it before I decided to post this up. I had already installed a signal dynamics led voltmeter too that I did not post either. used the same wires as the headlight tied into the horn. The headlight mod can be controlled by the horn too.
    Source: Veefalo Mods
  3. HispanicSlammer
    Stator cover Repair - Cleaned up the etched in dirt with a power tool and a wire brush attachment
    I have started a laundry list of items that I need to fix on the bike! First of which was a paint job, but getting motivated to do it has not be a priority as of late. I guess I am more of a plan it type of guy. I have been putting off some pain in the arse repairs for years now. I snapped off an exhaust stud years ago and have not gotten around to fixing it. This year I am going to do it. I finally took off the Stator cover this week to find out where it was leaking oil, found a nice crack in the side of the cover, a small hairline crack. I immediately ordered a new one. It has some road salt damage - it merely looked dirty but on close inspection it was etched right into the pot metal aluminum, looked like dirt but it was not scrubbing off.
    I was thinking I was just going to throw it away with a cracked casing but decided to try this fluxless brazing rod repair I saw at a motorcycle show years ago, I bought it hook line and sinker and paid $50 bucks for the rods. So far I have never been lucky with repairing anything with it. This time though I prepped the cover with a wire brush mounted on a power buffer and went to town cleaning up and scrapping off the etched in dirt. I cleaned it up till is shined! Then I took a die grinder bit and V'd out the crack in the aluminum. At first I thought it was damage from a crash this summer but I think it was from over tightening or miss aligning the case and I cracked it when I tightended the bolts.

    Outer crack repaired grinded away excess flux material and sanded smooth

    flux-less rod brazed inside the crack struck it like a match on the hot aluminum pot metal till it filled the crack under a blue acetylene flame
    I hit it with an aceytelene torch and brased in the flux rod and IT WORKED! I had brazed the inside and the outside and repaired the case! Wow now I have a new one comming and I think I am going to paint this one white when its time to paint. I grinded off the excess and sanded it smooth - left the inside as is.
    Still not motivated to taken on the broken studs though, I had tried getting it out before with no luck, I am afraid to drill and use an easy out since I have heard of eazy outs snapping off. My hardend drill bits did not even make a dent! I now have a drill doctor so I can at least keep then sharp, that thing works too! I might have to take it to a machine shop but boy that would be a nightmare, taking off the head? I might try an eazy out but just not too keen on snapping one of those off. I read somwhere on the forum that there was a new freeze and release product out that works miricles I might try that first!
    SO much work to do, take off the headers, drill away for hours, paint prep all the plastics, use paint remover on the tank then prep it for paint, do the valves again!
    I did already get my taxes back and decided my stich was getting a bit worn, I have no real leather gear at all and I like to do trackdays. I have always thought leather was expensive and my wieght fluctuates too much to spend that much but I took the plunge. I bought a new AEROSTICH TRANSIT SUIT the waterproof gortex leather suit they started selling last year. I also bought some real sport bike boots too waterproof Vertigo Mega (wide sizes) Gore-Tex Boots - I will post a review of both when they come. I looked around in my closet and well there is some old gear I dont use anymore - sombody will use them besides me, another big guy like me needs gear at cheap prices so I put them in the classifieds section and later on ebay if they dont move.

    Aerostich Transit suit

    Vertigo Mega (wide sizes) Gore-Tex Boots
    Lots of work to do!
  4. HispanicSlammer
    Hwy 50 Ride with video
    A buddy of mine from work bought a brand new Bandit 1250 a couple of months ago, he has been comparing magazine articles and specs for over a year and every time having something disparaging to say about the vfr, displacements too low, no torque, quarter mile times. Anybody can read an article and make comparisons on paper, and as an engineer hes good at it, but how do you quantify reliability, or suspension, handling, all around good marks on a chart? So me and Craig decided to take him into the mountains for a 200 mile ride, just a bit of tight stuff but mostly sweepers where it is said "the Bandit rocks" as put it by "Mr Dude" other wise known as our friend Mark. He can talk, talk is what he is good at - and hear it you must cause it don't stop - Dude. However nothing talks like taking the walk! HEH
    So we met Mr Dude in Penrose and slowly headed up Hwy 50 to the Arkansas River Canyon and let it loose a bit. I had just replaced my fork seal and fork oil and made a few adjustments so I was feeling it out, no out and out full blast. As such Mr Dude still got a lesson on the vfr and its abilities. What can I say after a year of hearing about how inferior my bike is it was time to take a tally - real time! All I can say is Mr Dude was converted from dismissive to respectful of the vfr, calling it "A real sport bike" and in his own words - no coaching. Don't get me wrong we were not out to embarrass Mr Dude, just show him there is more to Motorcycling than what some Magazine has to say!

    Two vfrs waiting on a Bandit Penrose Colorado

    Sangre De Christo Mountains 40 miles away

    Downtown Salida Sunny blue skies and a good lunch and a snowcapped Mount Princeton

    Lunch at the 1st Street Café The owner herself served us then we got an unexpected surprise
    After riding through Salida we stopped for lunch downtown and had a good meal, a bit more expensive than I was expecting (might not visit again) but it was good none the less. The lady serving us was very good - cause as it turned out she owns the place. I could see her pictures on the wall with all sorts of celebrities, and locals. It is a very Homey restaurant I liked it! Just a bit on the pricey side.
    It was after lunch we met a lady who was telling us about her son, he too owns a vfr, and rides it all over the place. We asked her where she was from, somewhere back south, she told us about how her boy had taken a trip to Colorado and was a bit disappointed with the place, the guys he rode with where intimidating or something some such thing - he didn't like em I gathered. Then she started talking more about him and I realized it was us (those evil Colorado bastards) and I started laughing and asked her if her son was named Kevin. Then all of a sudden she realized it was us too - heh that was funny! I know it was our very own KPerham whom was her son. We talked some more and I asked her for her picture, and we parted ways - as friends she was a nice lady.

    Kperhams mom Met her in Salida - she was having lunch at the café in Salida small world

    The Royal Gorge Bridge as seen from Hwy 9

    Mark relaxing at the top of Skyline drive

    Canon City from above Skyline Drive

    Hwy 50 along Skyline Drive

    Stultz Tanner Trail a great dirt bike trail just across the valley from Canon City climbs 7k feet for what seems like forever
    We took off up to Johnson's Village along hwy 285, I told the guys to slow down cause for 5 years I drove that way to get home and I know its Cop city for those 12 miles, but no Mr Dude took off (he was on Craig's bike and Craig on his) and of course I caught site of Brake lights cause sure enough the place was crawling with cops - Like I said it would be! He must have slowed down enough cause we were not stopped, after passing 2 Sheriff and 2 State Troopers. It was nice to turn off on hwy 24 and get away from the fuzz as it where. There the road is pretty much strait and we all opened it up a bit, and to my surprise the Bandit wasn't pulling away!! Wow its got 400 more cc's why wha whe why?? I guess its because the vfr is a good bike, like I know it is! It was fun going fast for a while, then we turned at Hartsel and I just decided to whip it up some more on the tighter turns and I was gone. Whew that was fun but I did not have enough rebound damping cause I was getting all kinds of chatter in the forks, I had to stop and crank it a few clicks to get it to settle down. It wasn't long before we where in Canon City again and I took the guys up Skyline Drive for some fun and a rest Mr Dude had to go home and be a domestic Dad so we said goodbye and Craig and I turned back up Hwy 9 and went over to Guffy for a drink and some snack. Adding another 100 miles to the day on High Park Road into Woodland Park and on home down Ute Pass.


    :media: VFRD Rides Hwy 50 video - high resolution wmv 5 minutes runtime and music by Peter Gabriel
    The Map
    [map=AARTsJqtdztj9i2J3kMs3giW4b4utQT-hw]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=18086752673308926071,38.435390,-105.023940%3B2304405068511368783,38.456538,-105.250283%3B1004940598312102110,38.535369,-105.990338%3B11052650537941785435,39.021161,-105.799748&saddr=CO-115+%4038.435390,+-105.023940&daddr=Skyline+Dr+%4038.456538,+-105.250283+to:E+1st+St+%4038.535369,+-105.990338+to:US-24+%4039.021161,+-105.799748+to:38.456277,-105.251083&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=11&sll=38.459503,-105.182419&sspn=0.311313,0.749817&ie=UTF8&ll=38.668356,-105.751648&spn=1.241617,2.999268&t=p&z=9[/map]
  5. HispanicSlammer
    Every Fathers day my friend Reddog (Bill) gets a kitchen pass from his wife to take off on a ride, and each year I usually go along. This year I completely forgot about it, until he mentioned it the night before in PM to me. I was at work so I did the mental checklist, bike works - check, oil changed - check, tires - uh oh! I had spanked pilot powers on and needed to change them first. I had a good set (made in Spain - read the home page is your pilot powers are made in France)!!! So I got off work at 7am, got home - put on my tire changer and slapped on some new tires, called Bill and said I was going to be late perhaps we could meet at Texas Creek instead of where he lives? He agrees but I misjudged how long it would take me to clean up and get ready and showed up in Texas Creek a good 45 minutes later than I told him! Hes a forgiving guy and let me slide - actually he figured I wouldn't be there at that time anyway knowing I screwed up. He took his time pulled into the cafe and ordered breakfast waiting for me to show up - he had gotten there only about 10 minutes earlier than I.

    Texas Creek Café A lovely home style joint right along side the Arkansas River hwy 50

    VFRS rendezvous with Reddog at Texas Creek
    Texas Creek is a mecca for outdoor activities, the BLM runs a huge trail system just north of the park where you can Jeep, ATV, hike or motorcycle up to about 11,000 to the top of Table Mountain. Then the Arkansas river runs along hwy 50 where you can river raft on the rapids, or fish. Hwy 50 at Texas Creek is full of fun sweepers - we call it Texas Creek International Raceway. If your outdoorsy Texas Creek is a great weekend getaway.
    here is a link to the BLM pamphlet on Texas Creek
    http://www.co.blm.gov/recweb/documents/TexasCrkBroch.pdf

    Texas Creek BLM Area Directly to the north of the café the BLM manages an off-road park with several trails winding up and down the mountains in the area, there is rafting in the Arkansas River as well. Its an outdoor playground for sure.
    I ordered breakfast and we watched all the Harley's pass by, Bill was itching for some homemade Coconut Cream pie, I having sampled the Dutch Apple pie before on another trip and wasn't interested in the pies. So I stepped out to take the pictures above - don't get me wrong the food at the café is wonderful, breakfast is awesome, the bacon is like some farmer just cut a fresh hunk off a pig! However the pies are a bit disappointing. He come out smirking being a bit disspapointed in the pie. We rolled out around 11am and headed up Monarch pass. Ever since last year the pass has been repaved smooth on the sunny side and its just awesome to ride, I got in a good clean pass on some cages and just took off down the mountain. Bill was not so lucky when I passed a pickup pulled out to follow me and then thought better of it and so he got stuck behind a few cages till the next strait, by then I was gone! I waited for him at the bottom, having almost caught up to me - hes fast.
    We decided just to gas up in Gunnison and go do a "There and back again" ride up to the Black Canyon hwy 92. It is a lot of slab to get there but the wait is worth it, I consider it to be the best road in Colorado but each year they seem to muck up the road with tar snakes, last year they chip sealed it, this year it was stable and quite grippy but they allow Cows to Graze along the side of the road on the South End, they were eating the grass along standing right on the road and of course we had to slow way down - not knowing what they might do as we pass. The cows were here and there, laying on the road, pissed me off, first time I ever saw livestock on the road before, being as busy as it was this weekend they could have moved them to other grazing spots?? Oh well it was only one mile of 25 that they were in the road.

    This is where you end up if you happen to blow a turn
    Bill lead the first run and I followed close by, having gotten a bit faster over the last two years I was glad to be able to keep up with him for once! He usually smokes my ass after the first good turn. He always wants to do the Black Canyon on Fathers day but he says he can never get into a good rhythm on the on the canyon road. Unless its raining - 2003 he just blasted it in the rain and left me way behind. I have come to love the dipping hairpins and the sweeping hidden turns, I know it quite well and know where to slow down cause of the ever present gravel. One particular turn the road rises sharply and dives off to the right where there is a hidden drive to a camping site. There is always gravel in the middle of the road right at the top and I know exactly where it is. Bill knows it is there somewhere but always forgets where and blows right into that turn, which of course destroys his confidence in the road for a mile or so. Heh I know its coming so I always slow down - not Bill - full steam ahead and OH S**%T!

    The route
    We thought we would ride to the end of the canyon and play it by ear. There we would figure out if we should make a loop out of the ride or just go back once we reached the end. I was getting sick of being pelted by wasps, damn they hit hard at 70mph so I wanted to carry on with the loop - must have been a thousand of them along the way. Bill wasn't happy with that run he did and wanted to do it again he decided to let me lead the way back, he SAID he was going to take it easy and just sight see it this time and let me go. I took off and sure enough he was right behind me - so much for sight seeing!! This pass we both felt much more at ease and just cranked it over turn after turn. Stopping once for a few pictures of the San Juan mountains in the distance.

    Blue Mesa Reservoir

    Blue Mesa Damn Gunnison River Below

    Bluff at Blue Mesa

    San Juan Mountain Range off in the distance

    San Juan's zoomed out
    Like I said before Bill always rides on Fathers day since 2003 we have hooked up for a ride, the first year we did Rocky Mountain National Park but later that year we discovered the Black Canyon and have come back ever since.
    Fathers day rides from the past

    Fathers day 2003 Rocky Mountain National Park

    Fathers day 2004 Black Canyon

    Fathers day 2005 Black Canyon
    2006 I did not go cause I went to Miller Motor sports Park instead to go to the AMA races there, but this year we had another great ride. On the way back we stopped in Salida and enjoyed the local scenery -[perverts] heh however we are invisible since we are over 40. Then back on the bikes, where Bill was supposed to peel off and home via High Park Road, with me going back hwy 50. Right about 10 miles past Salida we encountered a fairly fast Harley rider cruising about 80mph and doing the turns around 65mph, the easy sweepers there - he was going fast enough for us at the time, passing cars along the way.
    He was going fast enough for a while until Bill got sick of how slow he was going in the turns and passed him, so did I. He though he could keep up with us as we cruised the slabby parts around 80mph. We would pass the cages in formation and this guy would wrap it up and get awful close to me after passing the cars, like he couldn't slow down or something - he was making me nervous. We went like that for a good 20 miles then we both dropped him in some tighter turns around Cotopaxi leaving him a good mile off - basically not slowing down for the turns. But of course there is more slab to Texas Creek and he caught up to us again and he was soon getting too close to me again. We started to pass a line of cars and the dude went before me and luckily I saw him and pulled back into line - I let him get between us, had I gone he would have plowed right into me he was so close - having had enough of that shit I just passed him and Bill at the same time and took off.
    Bill saw what I was doing and followed but I had the hammer down now and was pretty much wanting to drop this clown all together. Which we did - gone we were just gone. No more HD jerk to make things difficult I really sort of enjoyed that part, it was the good part of Texas Creek International Raceway anyways and we always wick it up there. I decided I needed some more turns cause that was exiting so I followed Bill up High Park Road too and we tore up the tight ones there too. But here I noticed my voltage light was blinking red - OH NO my RR must be going out! Sure enough - I had noticed it on the last ride when my engine was running hot. I just put it on last year??? OH YEA I PUT 30k miles on last year - DUH!! I unplugged a head light and the volt meter showed green again, but it would drop to red when idling at stop lights. I anticipated this and ordered a new RR which is sitting in my garage, time to install it now!
    A FEW old VIDEOS of our Fathersday rides
    :media: Black Canyon Loop
    :media: Fathersday 2005 Black Canyon
    :media: Fathersday 2004 Cotchetopa Canyon
    Streets and Trips file
  6. HispanicSlammer
    Colorado Highway 92 a NEW VIDEO - riding with Motoman
    Riding Hwy 92 to the North rim of the Black Canyon is one of my favorite rides in Colorado. It is 30 miles of some of the best sweepers and scenery the Western Slope has to offer. I rode it 3 times this summer - this video below being one of the times. It was actually on the route we took (Motoman, Dan) and I took on our way to Laguna Seca this last July. Traversing Colorado on Highway 50 into Utah, Hwy 92 shoots off to the North West around Gunnison, we rode it and then turned around and did it again the other way then continued on west on Hwy 50 again. I was wary of my bike being so loaded down - fully dressed with Givi bags stuffed with riding goodies and a cooler inside full of drinks for the long hot road through the Nevada Desert. It was a bit wobbly and I wasn't sure if I was gonna be able to go the speed I normally go with all that stuff. Dan was equally as loaded down, only he had on a cumbersome backpack as well.
    The initial sprint north up the highway was a feeling out venture, and then we filmed the way back, being much more comfortable with the load on the bikes. We were able to lean it over with confidence in the tighter turns. I was beginning to feel good about the side bags and not noticing the extra weight so much. It wasn't until I was all the way in Monterey Bay - Cannery row that I got the sense of just how much weight I was carrying until I sat on MR. RC45 Larry had parked at out in front of Bubba Gump Shrimp on the Row. His bike felt like a feather!

    Dumbass cam
    THE MAP

    Full Size

    http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/videos/491/1236355822_hwy92.wmv.flv
    This video was supposed to be a test video to see how my double viosport camera setup would work. About a third of the way through there were a couple of riders taking our picture on one of the scenic turnouts. Then half way we had some wild company on the side of the road that raised the alarm a bit, you can see for yourself when you watch the video. I soldiered two camera wires into one and made a flip switch on my mini tankbag to change shots mid ride. I liked the way it came out - however since then the soldier has came apart, and I am working on a more rugged version. 72 MB wmv format - no sound, I shrink wrapped the mic on accident and it did not pick up much sound, so I added music, and worked some editing magic on the transitions. I hope you enjoy it.
  7. HispanicSlammer

    Busted!

    By HispanicSlammer,

    http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/videos/491/1236587658_busted.wmv.flv


    Come take a ride with me up the Central City Parkway and watch me get rewarded for doing it. This last summer I rode to Rist Canyon and well rode all over tarnation and back not really knowing where I was gonna end up, just that I was gonna ride and I was gonna ride all day long! Seems that all summer long when I took the vfr out for a day ride I ended up getting busted by the cops! My luck seemed to have run out in that regard and this day was no exception. This was just before high noon and I had just turned off Interstate 70 to head to Central City on the "Central City Parkway" its a 4 lane freeway for about 6 miles where it ends up at the top of the mountain in - you guessed it. This video actually continues on the Peak To Peak highway where I met a wonderful LEO who wasnt pulling punches on that day!


    Full Size


    A = Central City Parkway
    B = Busted Flat - feeling nearly faded as my stich!
  8. HispanicSlammer
    Independence Pass New Video
    Mr Dude calls me last Monday and says "hey Dude lets go riding" - I say "meet me in Penrose around 10:30 - how long can you ride for?" Dude says " one O'Clock" ???? I was thinking well that should get us about 50 miles? Maybe he was mistaken? So I take off for Penrose around 9:30 and meet Mark in Penrose at 10:50 - he says he underestimated the ride time from Pueblo West to Penrose. Ok off we went - strait into Cannon City on Hwy 50 - its packed, Dude decides lets short cut into the side streets - just as the traffic jam recedes and we end up behind all the same cars again out of town. Heh - well here comes my lecture on "DON'T FORCE IT" but maybe another time! I take the lead and turn off on Hwy 9 toward Hartsel. Mr Dude says "hey Dude I had to stop gotta take a Leak" so he heads up the hill behind the buildings, but the shop keeper comes out and he has to detour behind another building, she follows him and so he goes around another building - suffice it to say he walks for a while to find a place to go! HEH I am laughing about his marathon trip to the bushes when he comes back. I say "now I gotta go" and walk into the store and use their restroom, buy a drink so as not to freeload on services and come out washed and everything - again "DON'T FORCE IT"!
    Now we have some open road between us and hwy 24 so we make a couple of top speed runs, his Bandit has me on top speed, its a 1250 after all but surprisingly the vfr hangs in there, Mr Dude is still somewhat of a new rider so his forays into speed consist of top speed runs on strait roads yet. Add a tight turn and some rain and I am stopping to see where he is in my mirrors. Mark is a good guy, kind hearted and fun to ride with. Everything is still new and he never seen most of the places I take him so its pretty cool - I like showing people around Colorado.
    Anyways I decided we should top up in Buena Vista where gas is $4 a gallon instead of $5 in Aspen and we head for Twin Lakes, where it rain has started to spit a bit on Hwy 24 up to the turn off, so far the roads have been easy sweepers you can take at 80mph - but Independence pass is bumpy and tight in places it is so narrow its only one lane wide. So I decide to put the bike in scenic mode and enjoy the scenery I hope you do to!!

    Twin Lakes

    Mt Elbert 14433 from Twin Lakes

    Wildflowers

    Wildflowers
    THE MAP
    [map=AARTsJr_FQGEaAHg5iMqdC3aVLhveokyog]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=1830566667506800369,38.441420,-105.023940%3B1759674402003979697,38.744770,-105.528220%3B3654820069581009807,39.023420,-105.813960%3B9580343057048383265,38.838380,-106.130810%3B6404037643053820741,39.081850,-106.383440%3B1787465083701773634,39.187330,-106.815330&saddr=CO-115+%4038.441420,+-105.023940&daddr=CR-102%2FCR-59%2FMain+St+%4038.744770,+-105.528220+to:US-24+%4039.023420,+-105.813960+to:US-24+%4038.838380,+-106.130810+to:CO-82+%4039.081850,+-106.383440+to:CO-82%2FE+Cooper+Ave+%4039.187330,+-106.815330&mra=cc&dirflg=h&sll=39.18224,-106.750031&sspn=0.593986,1.417236&ie=UTF8&ll=38.882481,-105.875244&spn=2.385988,5.668945&t=p&z=8[/map]
    Once we start up the Pass the scenery does not disappoint, there is still snow on the peaks and along the road in places, I made a snowball and pelted Mark as he was looking over the side.

    Twin Lakes La Plata Peak

    Mountain boy park My bike in the foreground

    Lackawanna Gulch Mount Champion

    Casco Peak

    La Plata Peak

    Independence Peak

    Aspen Groves all these trees are of the same root system making them one giant organism

    Mr Dude and his Bandit 1250 stopped for a drink

    Independence Ghost Town a historical stop on the way to Aspen

    Independence Pass at the Summit looking east toward Mt Elbert

    Independence Pass at the summit Looking West from the Road

    Independence Pass from the summit looking west

    Ski Gondolas In Aspen

    Lunch Stop Aspen awesome sandwiches

    Pikes Peak as seen from Guffy Heights

    I know not much story this time around but the pictures speak for themselves, I did however make a new video, here is the you tube version and the high resolution wmv below.
    THE VIDEO

    high resolution wmv, music by Pat Metheny Quartet this is not a knee dragger vid its about the scenery.
  9. HispanicSlammer
    Skyline Drive Ryan and Jason above Canon City
    I have been riding with a guy from work lately a young fellow who recently purchased a used CBR 600 - that was in need of some work. He was riding it with a race take off front tire and a decent Bridgestone rear. I dont often ride with guys who ride other bikes but Ryan seemed like he had the natural ability to ride well. Which after 3 rides he does. I took him along on my annual 500 mile ride to the Black Canyon a few months back and he did well, keeping in pace with my Buddy LDSRIDER. The two of them kept together and Reddog and I took off ahead waiting up at key places, then riding together in the slab.Its worked well, Ryan came over to my place and we fited a new tire on last month, new chain and set his sag correctly since I rode it I could tell it was set up all wrong. Sombody had dropped the forks in the triple clamps and it made it a bear to turn. Fighting that for 500 miles must have been a PITA so I loosened the clamps and slid the forks back into stock postion. It made a world of difference and the next ride - there he was right behind me in the tight stuff, he never showed me a wheel but he was taking up an awful lot of my rear view mirror this time around. Of course it was raining and there was all kinds of crap on the roads from heavy rains but still much much better! Monday he calls me up - says there are 3 of them going to Bishops Castle for a ride. Right off the bat There is Ryan out of gear and no gloves - appearantly hes not prepared for a day ride, thinking they were just going around town. I guess with Ryan ATGATT has not settled in yet as the mode of transport for bikes. So we take off, tennis shoes and no gloves, long sleeve tee. And of course I take it easy. Its all guys from work I know, Dave (out of work at the moment from Atmel after a layoff) and Jason who works right next to me all night across the tunnel in photo, and Ryan a diffusion tech who works on furnaces and FSI cleaners. Me I work in etch as a work flow coordinator just like Jason is in Photo. We all ride, but I think I take it more seriously then the rest. I come to find out this is the longest ride Jason has ever done! A lousy 250 mile ride! Hes decked out in his Honda Jacket, Shoei Helmet (a nice one), and TENNIS SHOES. Darned squids - I mention to Ryan he might want to grab some work gloves at the Gas station in Florence at least! I think I talked him into getting a Roadcrafter suit from Aerostich, like the one I wear. He likes how easy it is to get on and off and that its also your rain gear!

    Bishops Castle l-r Dave, Ryan, and Jason in white.
    I had to yell Jason about 4 times cause he talks so much he could not hear me - hes always talking, even at work!Yea thats a Hysong behind that CBR 650 V twin Dave rides - sounded great with the carbon fiber Two Brothers can.Dave had to go back home at this point since he had chores to do at home and was supposed to be back at noon, I looked at my clock and it was 11:30! Heh I think your late man! So he left the group and the rest of us carried on. We rode over to Texas Creek to get a burger only to find out it was closed, so I said lets get some Tacos in Cannon City - only to find out the Taco place was closed too! So at last we went to the Mission, a mexican joint and had some lunch. It was alright but not as good as the Taco joint, sad to see it was closed forever! It is different riding with new guys - especially ones who dont ride all the time, and who think that 250 miles is a long ride! It is a different mind set, I felt like I was just getting warmed up, and these guys are just about done! Wrist hurts, butt hurts, yada yada yada, I know Ryan can take it but Dave and Jason - nope! I kept trying to tell the guys to at least wear BOOTS. Me I just had some fun, I took off on the good stuff of course, the twisty parts - I let them know I was going to first, and to ride at thier own pace cause. I would wait on the straits for them when there was no place to lean over - which I did. I had a good time though, just riding slow I can look at scenery too ya know. We had to stop a moment and take it in cause well we were talking too much about work! Ryan was staying way back this time cause he had no darned gear!
    Jason who was on non stop jabber would have to be prodded to put his helmet on cause it was time to go, he crackes me up - like a stream of conscienceness, all the time 24 hr Jason live! He even talked when he had his helmet on and I had my earplugs in, I just nodded yes and reved up the v-4! Funny guy very funny guy. On the last leg home I rode sweep and they gave me a lesson on how to pass, which I wont be taking next term, I think I am going to drop that class! Scary stuff! I dont like-a-da-traffic-a-so-much.I am hoping Dave gets a call back from Atmel and comes back to work - it seems the sales crisis has abated a bit and are hiring back 100 people who got laid off. I am pulling for ya Dave! It is a good thing we can go for a ride and just have some fun for a day.
  10. HispanicSlammer
    The S Curves On The Green Horn Highway Bishops Castle Run
    I tried to get a ride together to do this run as a group ride, slipping clutches, and bad planning on my part forced it to become a solo run. I hopped on the Veefalo and headed south. I have always loved the Greenhorn Hwy and its fast sweepers and the big S turn shown in the teaser above, its a staple ride for me and about a 4 hour run if I want to do it there and back. I kept seeing this ST1300 all day long. I stopped in Flornece to gas up and as I was pulling out there he was on a red ST1300. I waved and headed for Bishops Castle, then after taking a rest at the castle I set up my camera for the videobelow and sure enough the ST pulled in as I was leaving.
    http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/videos/491/biships2010.mp4
    I ended up heading into Westcliff and the long way around to Walsenburg. From there a short hop over to La Veta and again I set up my camera and low and behold who showed up behind me - that ST again. He stayed pretty close behind me all the way up Cucharas Pass and rode that ST like a pro! Good rider whoever he was! He waved as he went by at the top of the pass. Me I was just gonna turn around and get some lunch at the Dog Bar in Cuchara, CO; but not before running the pass a few more times.
    http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/videos/491/cucharas.mp4

    Showing off the Leo Vince

    Veefalo

    Veefalo at the intersection of Cordova Pass and Cucharas Pass

    Teddys Peak At the turn off for Cordova Pass

    Sangre De Christo Range

    Crestone Needle Veefalo in the Foreground

    MOOO MOOO Silver Park Colorado
    all in all about 350 miles total - I spent about 2 hours at the dog bar talking with the locals and having a good time.
    Google Map
  11. HispanicSlammer
    First you begin by leaving the day before the Fourth of July weekend which in of itself is idiotic, then you forget to check the weather forecast (not that it mattered since It was raining everywhere) then you pick a place to camp that has the worst weather off all. Not a bad plan if your looking to make your riding adventure a joke. I did that and found I was scratching my head wondering "why in the world are all these RV's out and about" I had never seen so much traffic on hwy 50 going to Salida. It was crazy I was able to enjoy a little bit of the road to Texas Creek but "wow its crazy out here to day" Then I stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Poncha Springs and the waiter said have a happy Forth Of July - DOH no wonder. I had been on this 18 day forced vacation from work and completely lost track of time, I did not even know what day it was or what! I mean I got lost in the fray and just wanted to go visit my sister in Santa Fe since I had nothing better to do than go riding. I thought I would go ride over to Durango but I slapped the whole trip together so off the cuff I did not even leave till noon. I figured I would take my tent and go camping on top of Grand Mesa for the night then head down to Montrose and ride the Million Dollar Highway.
    I have been on the Million Dollar Highway 30 or so times but only twice have I done it going south, this time I was going to do it going south on the vfr. OK good plan so far, except there are all these damn tourist on the road on a Thursday? What gives then I get the news from the waiter OH Yea I haven't looked at a watch or a calendar in ages all I knew was that it was Thursday and I don't have to be back to work till the 8th. OK time to go riding. I noticed the afternoon clouds had rolled in on the mountains by this time and I was in for some rain. All the way up Monarch Pass and back down it rained on me and ruined what ever chance I had to rail the turns. OH well I will be on the Black Canyon soon enough and I could rail the whole way up Hwy 92 on the way to Cedaredge. Yea right.
    I noticed a lot of black clouds when I made it to Gunnison and thought well I cant even pass cars with all this traffic on hwy 50 - a car coming every second it seemed made passing slow movers a real job. I was crawling along behind the rest of the slomos heading west when I noticed the clouds seemed to be darkest right over the Black Canyon. I thought for sure I was gonna get more rain when I made it too hwy 92. So I pulled off and put on my rain gloves. Hwy 50 is all sweepers and at times it fun but mostly its slab, scenic slab but slab. I was ready to lean the bike over for a change since Monarch Pass was a bust and the fast stuff at Texas Creek was congested with RV's . No sooner than 100 yards after the turnoff at hwy 92 did the rain come and it was pouring, and there was a row of RV's heading up the hill too? Oh Jeez no way - I can ride pretty good in the rain and so I took off up the hill and passed the RV's the first opportunity and low and behold the road was clear of traffic after that however any chance or railing would have to be held in check cause the rain was just pouring hard. I still passed everything but at a much more conservative pace than I was going to ride. I couldn't see anything cause the clouds were hanging so low that stopping for pictures was a bust too. Oh well I enjoy riding in the rain sometimes, but boy it was cold my hands were starting to cramp up cause the rain was like ice water.
    It only took about 40 minutes to get past the last good turn on hwy 92 then what do you know the rain slowed to an even drizzle, the road was still wet and it turned to slab again. I road into the bread basket of the western slope and headed for Cedaredge on my way to the Grand Mesa then the sky opened up and really started pounding me. I rode past a nice looking motel and in an instant I scrapped any plans I had to go camping and opted for a dry room with a hot shower.

    Cedaredge Lodge Very friendly owners made me feel at home
    The folks who owned the place came out and greeted me, and couple who transplanted from Florida and really fixed the place up, they built a huge patio added a hot tub and they even invited me to BBQ with them out on the patio for dinner. The rain really started pouring then and when I got to my room I was so soaked I just stood in the warm shower for what seemed like ages warming up. Rain in Colorado is refreshing for about 10 minutes then it just gets freaking cold, especially in the mountains. It usually drops the temperature about 20 degrees from 70F to 50F in an instant. I got out of the shower and vegged out on the bed for a half an hour and went outside to explore the place I figured they gave up on the BBQ with rain so I rode down to the café a mile down the road and had a wonderful pork chop dinner that was on special. If nothing the accommodations and the food was good! Stuffed and still cold I fell asleep before the sun was even down.
    The next morning it looked to be still cloudy out and cold. At least the rain had stopped

    Cedaredge Lodge they insisted I park under the carport

    Cedaredge Lodge a creek ran along the backyard where they had a nice little porch over it with a hot tub

    sit out on the coverd patio
    I just headed back south and forgot about the Grand Mesa, over to Delta and Montrose. Hwy 550 is boring here and boy there was all that traffic again, crossing Montrose was a pill since its always slow going in there. The road takes you to Ouray - its 2 lanes for a bit out of Montrose then it starts to gently wind around farms and into the mountains. I was just about to merge into the one lane when a Porche with Arizona plates stuffs himself in the left lane and cuts me off from merging - the guy driving gives me this smart ass smirk and he takes off since he has a "sports car" I was just cruising since well the road sucks here and I ride "the pace" all the time. As soon as the road started to have curves in it I was not far behind, and he was passing people rather easily, but one section I was passing cars too and was right behind him. He was still in the left lane and passing very slowly so slowly in fact I was running out of room to get back over. So as soon as he started to merge I gunned it and went past him too.
    Then it was on - racing with a Porche I guess - I must have touched a nerve cause the guy was right on my six for the next 10 miles when the passing was easy. Then when in Ouray we were crawling 25mph in town for what seemed like ages I had planned on stopping for pictures however I was embroiled in a passing battle with this Porche now and no way was he going to get around me again to give me another smirk like he did the first time. More childishness I guess on my part but I have to admit it was the most fun I had the whole trip. Up the hill and onto the Million Dollar Highway there were all kinds of cars, RV's and SUV's all over the road. The passing was a snap since the road is bit scary to tourist since the turns are sharp and there is no guard rail - the way down is pretty far and deadly if you screw up. I was passing 2 at a time and hitting the turns at full lean. That is untill I ran up behind a Pickup truck pulling an ATV in a trailer, this guy was so afraid he was driving into the oncomeing lane? He was at least a 1/4 of the way into the oncomming lane the whole time? IN BLIND CURVES? Anybody comming the other way had to jamn it over into the inches of shoulder just to avoid this asshole? I managed to get past him and flip him the bird as I got past, he even came into me a bit as I passed - on a section of dotted line? Mr Porche managed to follow and stay close, all the way up to the first pass, there are 2 tight switchbacks and we both got around the traffic to hit them clean and I was all the way leaned over into the first one, the Porche was 10 feet behind me. I flicked it right to hit the next turn then left and way way over I was scrapping my boot, and the Porche fell behind a bit till I was a good hundred yards ahead in the switchback and as soon as the road straitened he was right behind me again. (wow OK this guy cant drive I guess cause he should have railed those turns!!).
    It was not long before we where starting on the tight switchbacks and loops of Red mountain pass, again in the tighter turns he fell back then where was a long strait and 4 cars and big RV was holding them up. I passed all four cars at once and then had to wait a couple of turns to get around the RV and the Porche just must have gave up there cause as soon as I got around the RV I was gone and never saw that Porche again. Oh well it was fun while it lasted and well I wish I could have seen his face when I got around those last 4 cars right before the tight stuff came up again.
    I had to take it easy after Silverton cause there were Bicyclist on the road, hundreds of them riding to Durango. I was on my way to Durango to have some lunch, a place I know well. I graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango and lived there for five years, I absolutely love that place. I like to go back and visit even though all my professors have all retired and I don't know anybody there anymore I still love to go there.

    Molas Pass

    Molas Pass

    Molas Pass

    Durango Colorado

    Downtown Durango

    Downtown Durango Oldtymers my favorite lunch stop in Durango

    Panhead Chopper with whitewalls Kick start and green paint

    Durango Circa 1910
    Leaving Durango I headed east on HWY 160 to Pagosa Springs, I never advise anybody go that way for anything and this trip proved it. The traffic out of Durango was strangled up with construction and it did not let up till Bayfield a good 30 minutes of BS traffic. It is always like that I was kicking myself for not heading east and just going to NM strait away and taking hwy 64 across. No I just endured the traffic to Bayfield, then it cleared up a bit but here is where the cops come, cops everywhere. It has always been crawling with cops, two different sheriffs, town cops and state patrol, it crawls with LEO"s what was I thinking? The Pagosa Springs is a nightmare of slow traffic. Its all sprawled out for 10 miles and crawling along at 30 miles per hour it takes forever to get out of that place. I have never liked Pagosa Springs much, first it stinks like Sulfur then the sprawl goes on and on all the way to Durango hwy 160 just sucks, thats all it just sucks. The good thing is I got off hwy 160 here and headed to Chama and out of Colorado. The road is not very challenging or twisty but its much less traffic. I just cruised all the way to Santa Fe on hwy 64, well almost its pretty much a strait shot into Santa Fe once you get to Espanola.
    My sister was waiting at her new house, they were building a fence and they just had a stone patio built, I spent 3 days there and tickle torchured my niece and nephew for days while they were fighting with each other - kids will be kids. I enjoyed it, the bbq's the fireworks. Spending time with sis too.

    The road to Chimayo New Mexico

    The Road to Chimayo

    Santuario De Chimayo

    Santuario De Chimayo
    Well anyway I thought for my ride home I would head to Taos on the back roads at Penasco and then cut across to Angel Fire, Yea right more Sabotage. As soon as the mountains closed in on the road I passed a car and fell in behind an Oklahoman on a V-strom. He was really shaky in the turns and so I backed off a bit and then we got stuck behind traffic. Two cops were coming the other way and flashed up with their lights? I was annoyed at that since we were barely going the speed limit as it was behind this traffic. Then it was clear why - chip seal, one lane traffic for 5 miles and we where stuck in a pile up that was half a mile long. OH I was dying now, 25mph all the way to Agua Fria for another 20 miles?? It was a nightmare, I so so much wished I had not turned north at Penasco and just continued east to Mora instead. The traffic was going so slow I had to feather my clutch to keep from knocking into the car in front of us. V-strom seemed to handle the loose chip better than me. The worse part was when the bike started to over heat, the temp gage started to flash 250f!! for about a minutes but there was no place to pull off, then the road opened up a bit and we were going 35 mph and it cooled back down. I need to replace my radiator cap I suspect it not holding pressure. I have replaced the coolant and the thermostat, its got to be a bad cap.
    Oh man that took forever and it sucked A%^%$. As soon as the road got out of the mountains and onto the valley plains along the lake at Eagles nest folks were getting passed 5 at a time, me and the V-strom - then I passed him too cause he was slow too. he had to get gas anyway and I kept going past the lake, into town and up the hill to Cimmaron Canyon. There was brand new pavement and the turns are great there, I wasn't counting on umpteen million campers in the canyon though and deer ever where. Once again I had to slow down cause people and deer were all around walking on the road side? OHH (*&(*&(*&(&^*&^*&^*&^*&^$#$$()(
    Ok fine then it started raining again when the camp sites where long gone and I was on the high speed sweepers, the brand new pavement was gone and the old tar snakes from hell were there in the rain, time to slow down again after a few slips from the rear tire. No railing that either?
    Out of Cimmaron Canyon the rain stopped and then it started blow wind at 30mph gusts all the way to Raton I was leaned over just to keep the bike strait. This trip was starting to look like a complete bust for what it was. The in Raton the rain came again and still windy - yup as soon as I hit Raton pass into Colorado the rain started pouring again.

    Interstate 70 at Raton it was raining hard on the pass
    I rolled into Colorado in the hard rain all the way down Raton Pass where it stopped in Trinidad and they had more construction going on there - one lane with all the familiar turns off blocked off from the overpass. The interstate is pretty much one large overpass in Trinidad above the town all they across town, and it was being worked on so they diverted the traffic to the other side and there was no place to get off. I was at 180 miles on my tank and calculated I had 2 bars left on the tank, I have made it 240 miles several times with no problems. So I figured I could ride to Walsenburg and fill up there, 25 miles north.
    I rolled past one gas station I don't like at 190 miles, It filthy and I needed to use a bathroom - I don't like dirty filthy bathrooms. Then with about 5 miles to go I ran out of freaking gas! First time ever I had run out of gas on my vfr, 118k miles and now I run out of gas?

    Doh out of gas
    There was a frontage road on the east side so I took off my suit and started hoofing it when a guy on a Yamaha Vstar pulled off and asked me if that was my bike on the side of the road, I told him about running out of gas and he offered to go get some for me if I did not mind waiting, wow on the interstate a motorcyclist named Brandon comes to my rescue! Brandon your a lifesaver man you saved me a 10 mile hike! I gave him some cash and off he went!

    Brandon to the rescue I told you I would make you famous
    He comes back with some gas and the vfr starts right up, I tried to give him some cash for his trouble but he refused it saying "no just help out the next guy" which I do anyway. What comes around goes around folks and this day it was payback. Thanks Brandon I really appreciate your help.
    It was around 6:30 when I rolled into Walsenburg to fill up the rest of the way, the clerk said "oh your the guy who ran out of gas" yup! I decided I needed to get in some twisties no matter what so I pulled off the interstate at Colorado City and headed up the Greenhorn Hwy to Bishops Castle, it was fun for about 5 turns, which I did not rail cause I know of some deer trails there that are always full of deer. Sure enough my caution was warranted I saw a couple of deer feeding on the side of the road the next turn, then down to Lake Isabel I picked up the pace all the way to Bishops Castle at my normal pace, ran the good stuff to Bigalow Divide then wouldn't you know - it started raining on me again! JEBUS I cant catch a break!! I had to slow it down cause the chip seal is all scrapped off and its slick tar patches and tar snakes the rest of the way, in the rain its slick. Oh well - a bad day riding is better than a good day off work. The moral of the story is, I still love to ride no matter what!!

    Full Size

    Full Size

    Full Size
  12. HispanicSlammer
    SRAC Pikes Peak Supercross Penrose Stadium
    This is the third time I have attended this event and each time I have had a lot of fun watching the races with my buddies. Dan, Craig, Mark and a few others from work. We make our way to the Penrose Equestrian Center where they hold the Pikes Peak Or 'Bust' rodeo and watch some close in racing. Literally feet from the stands, you can get roosted if your not careful. Its much closer in than an AMA event - not as talented as say James Stewart or our very own Andrew Short from Colorado - but fun none the less. Craig has been racing a local motocross series of amatures called We-Beracin and he met a young kid out on the trail named Kyle Summers, along with his dad. They talked for a while and promptly left Craig in the dust, it was funny to see this kid racing out there at Penrose, currently 7th in points in the SRAC standings

    Kyle Summers one of the pro racers Craig met him out on the trail

    pitbike racing

    amature getting air

    unknown pro getting air
    We kept running into folks from work, seems it was a good event to get away and enjoy yourself away from work this weekend. Good Stuff. In the final Kyle tried to block pass the number one plate Travis Bannister and lost the front end in the hairpin, he lost 2 postions and had to fight his way back to third. Banister ran away with the race after 3 laps - running the whoops like they where speedbumps, he won easily.

  13. HispanicSlammer
    Two guys from work Motorcycle enthusiast
    My old boss Nate had just been recently reassigned to my shift again after working days for a year, and we got together to go for a little dual sport ride. Half forest service roads and half pavement. Nate invited another one of the guys a supervisor from day shift and the three of us headed out up Rampart Range Road for some teeth chattering washboard dirt road riding. Mostly easy to moderate riding, some sections definitly unimproved but nothing we couldnt handle. I have been on some much more challenging trail than this but it was a bit hairy in spots.
    Heading up Rampart Range is like jumping stait into cold water - right away its a climb and washboard rained out tight curves (by sportbike standards anyway) - not so much for a dirt bike, its an easy road lots of cars. We decided to keep Monolo between us since he said his bike had cut out on him on the way to the Starbucks where we met. Whatever it was must have shook out on Rampart range cause he never had an issue again. Nate said that he was very impressed riding behind the big beemer cause it seems like its just riding along a paved road, while his DR350 was sliding and bucking in the washboard turns.
    Me too the piggy was bouncing around since I had the suspension set up for street riding mostly but not so bad. I am not a fast dirt bike rider by any means, not at all. You can say I am really slow, but I usually dont get stuck, just plug along at my own pace. I was not riding so fast keeping Monolo in my mirror but I could barely make out Nates headlight so I focused on Monolos bike.
    I was gassing it hard on the wash board parts to smooth out the 4 inch ruts and ride over the top of them when a deer popped out right in front of me and thought better of it and backed back into the bushes, I just about pissed myself on that one! I put a larger front brake disc on this thing a year ago cause the brake was weak and now its pretty good but not THAT good! Then a few more turns and some kids on a red neon were power sliding into a turn on the way down right into me so I headed for the very edge of the road and they missed me by a few feet. Nate said they were completely sideways when they went by him like rally racers or somthing. Woodland park kids out on the road. I was using alot of the road up till then but decided I was getting close too close to town to be doing that anymore.
    Then up in Woodland Park we topped up the DR cause his tank is small and headed for Painted rocks, another easy but steeper road. This one has some challenges mostly long sand bars in the bowls of the road, deep ones that you just have to keep it steady on, the Piggy is built for that stuff but I am not! I hate how the front end goes loose in the deep sand! I climbed a steep hill and looked in my mirror and no Monolo? Oh shoot I hope sombody did not go down in that sand back there, nope Monolos licence plate came off! Nate broke out a zip tie and all was good! Then a bit more pavement at Westcreek to Deckers and we went right by a couple of cops who where sitting there with radar pointing at us. I was going 50 indicated on a 45 mph road, we all went by and no cops followed us. Man lots of police presence on CO 67 from Westcreek and past Deckers at the foot of Horse Power Hill. I counted 3! Lots of cops for a backroad to not very much - I must admit the road has gotten busier with more traffic this year then I have seen before. In any case I know where they are patrolling now.
     
     
    Google Map
     
     
     
     
    We stopped at Deckers and had a break the DR seat was staring to wear on Nate, I then told them that the easy parts were over and now it was gonna get into more moderate roads, unimproved passes and a few water crossings, you know the brochure GS picture type water crossings. Off we went and I got lost once and missed the turn for Stony Creek Pass, so we ended up by Cheeseman lake which is completely closed off now, no access at all? OK so we turned of and this was the longest section of the day all the way to Wellington lake it was unimproved and narrow, deep ruts but still a road. I was suprised Monolo handled it in stride and the big bike was doing very well. I am impressed too! good bike! Still easy by trail bike standards but now its a jeep road, a car could do it but very slow! I mean we passed a camper with a 4x4 camping on the side, if he can make it - all dirt no rocks. Then I knew I was on the right road when the first water crossing came up, a puddle really about a foot deep. We all went through it well - then about 10 minutes later the second one and this time Monolo hit a rock in the creek and he must have shifted his bike into neutral cause it stalled on the way out of the creek. He started it back up and off we went, I think the guys were liking this part the best! Challenging but not too crazy! Fun mostly, and then the road got easy again and went on into some very nice scenery the Aspens are already yellowing up in the mountains, a few weeks and they will be bare! Luch at the cut throat was good but they have a problem with flies that I found disgusting. I dont like flies in resturants especially that many! Food was great though as usual. Then we decided to just take pavement all the way back cause the ride was going on longer than expected, and I got to supermoto some tight curves on the way from Pine Junction to Pine! fun stuff at 70 mph! All and all a good ride!

    Nate and Monolo Monolo has never done a dual sport ride before

    Thats me in front of Pikes Peak I look like a dork

    Our rides GS1250 XR650 DR350
  14. HispanicSlammer
    The second installment The Rally
    Kevin attached his hard bags the night before in anticipation of an early start out of Nashville, and as usual I was groggy and not ready. We did the usual pin the tail on the donkey route out of Nashville from his house and I was totally turned around and confused as to which way was which. It looked like late afternoon to me and we where heading west, but the clock indicated 8am and so it had to be east - I know one thing it was I-40 cause the sign said so. With us was Dutch and it was a trio of VFRS on the way to Franklin, 3 gps units and none of us was sure about the route. Kevin stopped at the Cracker barrel and we all gassed up at the Shell right next door, I had to replace a blown fuse (the start of my troubles as the Hispanic-Flasher)

    :media: Texasmac 2008 video high resolution wmv format, music by Suzanne Vega

    I was having issues, leaving my keys in hidden places I was holding up the works, searching the ground, my suit and everywhere I finally found them behind a fold up display on the table where we ate breakfast. Kevin had us off the Interstate as soon as he possibly could and onto some rolling Tennessee hills, his route was a pleasant one and of course I had no clue where we where save for the purple line on my Zumo telling me (go here)!!

    Old and New Rock Island State Park

    Dutch snapped this one
    We rode sweepers, hills, tight back roads and stinky slabby roads to nowhere it seemed till at last it was lunch time at the Town Square Café in Tellico Plains - the food was good but boy my drink was nothing but ice! We where soon assaulting the Cherehola Skyway and at Baileyrock pace, or rather Baileyrock 3/4 pace? I don't know all I know is that my tires were sticking and I wasn't being dropped for once!
    I was loving it, as it all ended too soon, for a 60mile road it seems to be over all too soon. I hate the part where it gets tight and gravelly I just cruised through that and let BR take off, as I am some 2000 miles from home and not taking stupid chances on a shitty road. Whya Bend road was more of the same, we ended up catching up with some other guys on their way to Franklin from the entrance to the Natahala State park there. They fell in behind us as we headed up the mountain, more gravel more bumpy tight stuff I wasn't liking it at all, however coming down the mountain was different it was CLEAN and so I upped the pace!


    Aimlessly snapping photos Tinyminds and Dutchinterceptor

    Watch out man with a camera Dbs05 and Sochiro
    The Franklin Motel seemed like a great place to hold a rally, lots of space for trailers and a great open area to mingle with other riders, chairs everywhere, as long as the weather was good it was perfect. Married2apetbuilt was grilling burgers and dogs! Beer too - this is a wet county!
    The Next morning we all met for a drill about safety (hmm some of us listened) and I took my group up hwy 28 for the long route, and boy it was a good day of riding. Just the right length and lots of good roads. Up the Cherehola again I scrapped my boot on the first hard right hander and freaked myself out a bit. I was intermediate to fast group, though some of the guys thought incorrectly it was on the slower spectrum. I took it easy for the most part, and hammered it in the turns somewhat, at least on the Chrerehola (Trace and the guys where playing musical chairs as to who was going to follow me) Every time I looked in the mirror I saw a different bike! It was a bit unnerving but they had to sort out who was faster among them so that the line was evenly distributed, Dutch was my sweeper.
    Trace finally worked out he should follow since he had the pace on his RC51 and he did follow ( a bit close at times and it cost him ) so there were lessens to be learned there. Overall it was a good day to ride, some of the guys got tired and asked to stop, but I tried to keep the stops between the more difficult roads and gas stops, the highlights where the Cherehola, blood mountain and GA 344 wow that was something, After that I slowed it way down for Warwoman road cause that is not a forgiving road and it was late with critters sighted it was best to concentrate on being smooth and not go so fast. Of course this meant some cages would be a hazard, passing a pickup truck near Highlands turned out to be a disaster later cause he took a short cut and ended up in front of us again. Famous last words Trace "oh we will have to just pass him again" 10 minutes later he would suffer a broken clavicle and a busted up bike trying not to rear end me as I thought better about re-passing that same pickup truck on the short strait out of Highlands, he turned on his flashers and then turned into a right hand driveway - I had no idea wtf the guy was doing so I hit the brakes and settled in behind him - thats when I heard a whooshing sound and looked back to see an RC51 on the pavement. I started to panic but then realized Trace was already up and sitting on the side of the road, I got off my bike and Dutch and I picked up the bike and got it off the road. Minimal damage really it was a slow speed crash, Dutch pulled out a vise grip and fastened a make shift footpeg so Trace could ride it back to the hotel! I don't know how he did it but he rode that thing back 10 miles, and took off before we could all get gathered up to follow behind him. Dutch and I had to really push it to catch up to him 5 miles down the road. I don't know where he found the strength to turn the darned thing, good thing it is a lite bike!!
    The next day it rained.....as many of you know so it was sort of every man for himself if you want to ride. I fell in with Earthshake, Steven, and Baileyrock for a ride to Warwoman road and back, we took it fast and then the rain fell, Earthshake took us over to hwy 7 to Cashiers and we rode another loop into the NC mountains. The Pilotroad2 where great in the rain. Then we had that funny lunch at the diner on the hill with the Canadian guys - a group of 20 of us overwhelmed the waitress, she had her pea shooter on overload trying to shoot down our orders, and freaking out cause there was nobody there to man the Shake Machine! OH NO! I forgive her cause my lunch was scrumptious! Good stuff even if it took and hour, I am on vacation here so who cares I have time!

    The rain comes Earthshake and Baileyrock

    Balieyrock pays respect

    Fog in Franklin Sunday moring everybody prepares to head home
    It seemed it was over before it really got started, I took some video of the Friday ride but it was mostly boring stuff, so I mixed it in with some photos everybody shared on the "official" photo thread and made a collection video
  15. HispanicSlammer
    OMG I am in deep now everytime I take somthing off I find somthing else wrong
    I keep delving into this bike deeper and deeper and finding all sorts of problems, I know my rear brake has been dragging so I decided to get some new parts and rebuild it. It was a mess, the rubber seals were hard as rocks, and the bellows covering the slider pins were torn and the pins were covered in caked on brake dust not sliding at all.

    rear brake rebuild replaced the seals, pads, bleeders, cleaned up and polished the pistons

    One rebuilt rear brake caliper high temp grease on the sliders, new bolts, new pads, new bleeders, new seals.
    I just about got that done and decided to check the swing arm and it was slightly loose when moving side to side and indication that the bearing are shot. So I took it off too, found about 4 inches of caked on oily dirt on the top and side of the swing arm it was just a mess. When I took the axle out I noticed it was in awful shape partially rusted and I think it was the issue since it looked worn where the spacers fit. I run my fingers across the needle bearings and if felt like it was full of grime, the other bearing on the other side seemed fit though. I ordered new bearings, new axle and new spacers cause I am not sure where that play was comming from, along with new dust seals. I have no idea how I am going to get the needle bearings out? Or press in new ones? I dont have the right tools for that.

    Swing arm removed she had a little play in the pivot axle!
    Some good news I got my wheels and hub back from the powder coater and they look great!

    Powdercoated hub it was looking rather dull so I had it done too

    Wheels just back from the powder coater Spectrum Powder Works here in Colorado Springs - loving how they look
    I got bored with getting greasy so I cleaned up and took a nap, I dont have the parts in yet to start putting it back together and I still have to get that darned broken header stud out! I ordered new studs and a carbide drill bit since my bits dont seem to be able to get the job done, I really dont want to take the head off and take it to a machine shop to get that stud out - hopefully that drill bit will do the job! I had to keep my parts orgainized so I put the little washers, seals, bolts, nuts, connectors and what nots into little baggies seperated by what they came off of. I did manage to get the stator back in and put the new stator cover on with a gasket - should not leak I treated it with a thin coat of yamabond 5 and let it dry like it says to do on the tube. Lots of work left to do its takeing nearly all my free time off work, but I enjoy it!

    filling in sratches and holes with poly flex slowly getting the PITA job done of repairing plastics
    RECAP OF WORK DONE AND WORK LEFT TO DO
    fork rebuild - new seals new oil done inspect head bearings - done bought new wheels - stripped and powdercoated - installed new bearings and dust seals done replaced stator cover - reinstalled inspected and tested stator new gaskets repaired oil leak done removed old accessory wires - rework heated seat with a new heat troller, reroute wires in a common conduit. find a better spot for the pc-usb rework the autovox unit installed two powerlets center post for the garmin zumo, and rear kit for my heated vest - wired up a side plug adaptor Yet to do
    repair broken header studs install new header gaskets replace bearings in the ecentric and swing arm pivot axles degrease that unit replace the crappy plastic chain gaurd and hugger reupolster my seat with new leather or leather like matierial replace worn foam in the seat finish repairs to the plastics complete paint stripping on the tank sand and prime the plastics and paint replace the fuel filter since I have the pump removed PAINT THE BIKE GET IT BACK TOGETHER CORRECTLY
  16. HispanicSlammer
    Tank with graphics and white stripe
    So I put the color on today, sanded the color smooth, then applied graphics and shot the clear coat. 2 coats of clear is what the instuctions called for. I had a ton of color left over, so I put it back into the can. It not catalyzed so it should keep for touch ups and whatnot. Well whatnot for sure as in redo! I am going to redo the left fairing and the front fender.
    I was in the shed almost done with the clear coat when all of a sudden a huge gust of wind lifted the left panel off the hook I had hung it on and down she went, still wet and all with clear coat and it scratched up and picked up every bit of dirt and weed known to man! I was quietly screaming in my mask some of the most foul language ever spoken on the face of the earth. Its amazing how well the mask can..well "mask" your screams. I was hot, then I just resigned to the fact that I would probably go broke if I had to do this for a living cause wow its a lot of work!

    paint 002.jpg

    paint 003.jpg

    paint 005.jpg
    I had my spray gun set up at 20psi - twice what the thing said to do to get better atomization but still I ended up with orange peel all over the clear coat. I tried adjusting the gun for less clear and more air but still it came out all orange peel. So now I get to wet sand some and polish with rubbing compound - more work! I sort of anticipated I would get orange peel cause I am a complete novice to this so well there you have it. My paint project had some setbacks and a redo - oh well its all part of being a motorcyclist enthusiast, spent more then I should have on tools, paint, and well next time I will probably just find a pro and have it done. I got paint everywhere in the shed, on the floor. I ran out of mixing cans so I used a plastic cup only to find out the reducer ate right through it and spilled white paint all over the floor of the shed, another episode of foul language in the mask. Lucky I was already done with that color. It dont look so bad for a first timer, I have seen much worse. The tape I masked off the stripes with was automotive paint tape but it came up in places and the line is not perfect. The tank lines are a little off but not too bad, heh eyeball job I suppose I need glasses!
  17. HispanicSlammer
    The Crags on Pikes Peak
    Whenever I need a ride and just dont want to be out all day I usually take a ride down to Lake Isabel on the Green Horn Highway. I make a big loop out of if. Head south on hwy 115 over to Florence - past the supermax prison up to McKenzi Junction and down the Greenhorn Highway to Lake Isabel. I usually dont stop at Bishops Castle anymore seen that enough times, but its a great stop if you have never been, you can get your fear of hieghts all boiled up if you dont mind climbing on rickety rocky wrought iron structures.

    Lake Isabel

    village at Lake Isabel
    I know the road well enough to ride it at a brisk pace 80-to ungodly stupid fast, at least when I am the only one on the road. Its usually has its share of tourist so you have to slow down. I stopped and got some drink and food in Florence and was enjoying a nice stop at Lake Isabel when a group of Pueblo tourist where out and about in an SUV, they stopped and one of the old folks got out and greeted me with a folksy hello. He told me he was with his wife and his cousin and her Husband - He is a Honda owner too of the Goldwing sort - motorcylists are motorcyclist and usually we all have somthing in common to talk about - even if hes 40 years my Senior and a good deal slower. I told him to take the dirt road to Beula and enjoy the Wet Mountains from there, somewhere he had never been. Visiting cousins in Pueblo they come from Grand Junction. He then used the public mens room and took off in thier SUV waving goodby as they went. I took off about 5 minutes later and passed them going my normal pace before they made the turn, pointing to the road they should take.
    Then at McKenzi Junction I decided to make a loop out of the ride and head over to Westcliff and down into Texas Creek, I stopped for a picture of the Sangre De Christos, there is a meadow at the top of the wet mountains that exposes the Sandgres from across the wet valley, its an amazing view that always takes my breath away.

    Sangre De Christo Mountains Co Hwy 96
    at the top the road gets slightly twisty before you get into the wet valley and I was railing it of course, passed a few cars on the way down then turned the corner into the vally I was trying to remember which mountains where which slowing down to take a good look - and I saw in my mirrors a sherrif deputy following me, where he came from I have no Idea but I stayed at my current pace (speed limit) until I stopped at the gas station in Westcliff. I know the cops patrol hwy 96 cause I have been stopped there before, I still dont know where he was when I passed him? He did not light me up with his radar either cause I got no signal, paceing me no doubt by his speedo! I get sick of traffic cops always on my case! You know what I was going slow cause I was approching the town some 5 miles away going the speed limit, leave me alone!
    I did not stay in Westcliff since I dont like being hassled by local cops, hassle me and I wont stop and spend money in your town for lunch! boycott HS style Forget that my lunch money is going to Texas Creek instead.

    Twisty Road Near Texas Creek
    There was a big group of riders - some wearing Apex Sports shirts, so I know they came from Colorado Springs, they where on the other end of the resturant and did not acknowledge me, cruisers on metrics and one beemer. Oh well, one of them finally said hello when I was already to go on my bike after eating my lunch. Well Hello dingleberry! I tried to introduce myself earlier! Oh well no point in being rude so I said hello. Then I dissapered around the first turn and was gone.
    I headed over to hwy 9 and started toward high park road to Cripple Creek. I passed a few cars going up High Park Road, then turned off to get up the mountain to Cripple Creek, saw a sign that said "Loose Gravel" turned the corner and my radar detector started blaring in my ear, another sherrif following a car closely down hill with his radar on. The cop was less than 2 car lengths behind the car? Harrasing cops all day long! I was glad I slowed down for that sign! Never did see any loose gravel? I waited to speed up again thinking the sherrif might turn around and come after me? - you never know about these small town cops! They enjoy it a bit too much. I just decided to look at the pretty aspens in thier fall colors and not rail the turns - the road from Cripple Creek to High Park road is a bit too well traveled these days, very busy with all that gambling traffic from Cripple Creek, people working the casinos, people from Pueblo going to the Casinos its a mess now.
    I dont much care to stop in Cripple Creek so I always turn south there and to rail the 5 miles of turns to Victor. That short road is a hoot! and its a bit scary since you can fall a good 1000 feet down if you miss a turn. past a huge gold mine to Victor you can view some very nice vistas and the fall colors where spectacular.I can usually speed up after I get out of Cripple Creek to Victor, there is a great 5 mile road on the way that is one turn after another. I stopped to take some pictures

    Shelf Road

    Victor Cememtary Road

    Cematary Road Sangre De Christo mountains in the background

    Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle zoom on my camera is good

    Moon rises over Victor
    Victor is not so lucky as Cripple Creek - no gambling and its more run down, the historic town is much quieter. I usually loop around the backside to go see Pikes Peaks southern face

    The Crags on Pikes Peak

    Pikes Peak

    the summit

    Pikes Peak

    CR 81 in Fall The Crags
    The Map

    Full Size
    Attached is the gpx tracks and a google earth path
  18. HispanicSlammer
    Veefalo at Grand Tetons
    I have been planning to do this ride for as long as it has been posted in the major events forum. I had to work though till the last minute, a 12 hour shift 7pm to 7am. I got home and put my stuff away, and laid my head down on the bed for an hour and a half and woke up a little refreshed, enough to ride. I put on my leathers and headed toward Denver. Up hwy 105 at Monument and into Golden I rode my way over to Golden Gate Canyon. Dissapointed that the traffic was so thick I could not really get to the point where I could lean the bike over a bit in the twisties. As soon as I passed one car sombody would pull out and take its place. Geez it was like this all day. On the peak to peak highway I was even less successful, the traffic was murder. I pulled out ran down Left Hand Canyon - and ran into about 200 bicylist cranking petals up the 7% grade, steeper in some places. It took me a good 20 minutes to get to the road at the end I am sure its a good 2 hour ride and a great work out if your a cyclist. I had to negotiate around a few going down too in the twisties.
    At this point I was starting to feel tired so I just rode it at a slow easy pace. On the front range roads I made my way to Stove Prarie road and started to hit some of those sweet curves at the base of the road. As soon as I got the good stuff though more slow cars, oh well I waited and passed as soon as it was safe. Then I turned on the Cache La Poudre and made my way up Cameron Pass. At this point I was dead tired and was passing the slow cars one by one. Miles and miles of cars on this road, weekends on the Cache La Poudre - it gets strangled up with cars.
    I remembered a sneeky turn from years ago that caught me out and I went wide on, it has some long straits then easy sweepers at first then whammo a tight right and your all of a sudden going wide. I remembered where it was and took it easy. I am glad I did cause there were pot holes right at the apex that could really mess you up if you are leaned over.
    I was so tired at this point even a Harley Davidson was outrunning me on the way down the pass. I just stopped and pulled over to take pictures

    Cameron Pass on the way to Waldon Colorado

    Cameron Pass
    I could not find a place to stay at first cause the place I stopped in was full of HD riders comming back from Sturgis, so the lady at the motel told me to go down the road to another place and lucky they had a room. It was cheap too $55 at the round up motel. Its a bit of a dump but the price was right. Cheap on the motel so I walked over to the Antlers Inn and splurged on the Prime Rib, man it was good. Nice place too.

    Full Size
    In the morning I walked over to the Moose Creek Cafe and had breakfast at 6am cause I went to sleep at 6pm the night before, I must have slept 10 hours. Wow one waitress handled 20 people and did it well, I made sure to give her a good tip cause she was excellent. I was surprised to see a bunch of pellets stuck to my bike, then I remembered near Fort Collins I ran through a road that had oiled down the dirt for a few hundred feet, geez a little strech of road and it left pellets all over. SO I tried to wash it off but no quarters for the car wash and no change machine? OK well then on the road then. More to come later
    Ballons in Waldon 7am - 45 degrees out - still cool air perfect balloon weather

    Sheep Mountain Waldon Colorad
  19. HispanicSlammer

    Oregon Days

    By HispanicSlammer,

    Shaniko Oregon Maddog and his y2k 800
    Maddog and I spent a day riding across eastern Oregon on the way to the pacific north west meet, he rides a nice yellow 2000 vfr800 in a well used stich. He told me tales of how he spent an entire summer on that bike touring the usa, living in a tent and enjoying the vagabond motorcyclist life. He can definitly ride it well and seems to be able to accelerate at a pace I cant. Here is some video footage I took out of the Town of Fossil on the way to Antelope, up and over Prindle Pass on the Shaniko-Fossil highway .
     
     

     
     
     
     
    fossil_hd.mp4
  20. HispanicSlammer
    Yep, I am keeping her! I ordered a few items to freshen up the old girl for another great season of motorcycle riding.
    2 sets of ebc hh pads for the front
    1 set of honda pads for the rear complete with anti heat transfer asbestos pad
    2 sets of honda fork seals and dust covers
    2 bottles of race tech US1 fork oil, I tried other 5w oil this stuff seems to work better for my race tech valves
    1 D.I.D. 530VM X'ring Chain & Steel Sprocket Kit - HONDA VFR 800F1 98-01
    1 - Front Sprocket Size: 16
    1 - Rear Sprocket Size: 45
    Synthetic brake fluid - to bleed the brakes and clutch lines
    So I have my work cut out for me come January, also going to remove my Ohlins shock to send out for repairs. Repairing the remote preload, and rebuild the seals change the oil, nitrogen charge. I should get some new plastics too and get my tank painted, rebuild the worn out foam on my seat and have it recovered by a professional ulpolstry shop. I need to have my Kanadian Ken 5th gen rack repaired too, its cracked and needs to be reinforced, great little rack!
  21. HispanicSlammer
    NEW VIDEO riding the sweepers with Motoman
    It is snowing here in Colorado and when the bike is stowed away for the winter months I turn to my dv tapes and start reliving the rides from the season past. This ride was part of my long trip to go see the US MotoGP with my friend Dan (Motoman) we where two days away from home, already we had 350 miles on the day and we had come to the turn off to the Flaming Gorge Uintas Scenic Byway. It had started to rain when we stopped in Manila UT, but we pressed on. Rain in the West is usually a sprinkle here a shower there. Not very often do we just get all day drenching, but it usually rains every day in summer somewhere.

    video preview
    :media: The Flaming Gorge Video High Resolution
    10 minutes wmv - Dan and I started up the pass up and over the plateau and back down to the bridge.
    The Map of the route
    [map=AARTsJraQnUrbLnpvhEPWjcvt66k6FYXfg]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=6571286530006078049,40.949402,-109.711592&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=UT-44+%4040.949402,+-109.711592&daddr=40.908583,-109.435501&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=12&sll=40.927003,-109.436531&sspn=0.11595,0.31929&ie=UTF8&ll=41.197257,-109.497986&spn=0.923778,2.554321&z=9&om=1[/map]
    Low Res YOUTUBE

    Some more pictures from the area


    Flaming Gorge area

    Steinaker State Park 5 miles west of Vernal UT

    vfr bathed in sunset

    Green River Reservoir Flaming Gorge

    Bridge at the Flaming Gorge
  22. HispanicSlammer
    Now that I have throughly test rode my 1998 I have decided I will keep this bike a while. Cheap bastid that I am I find though that I am hating visiting dealerships more and more! Something about the pointy haired pimply faced race-wannabe-kids manning the parts counters out here that makes me cringe at the thought of having to answer the age old question
    SPike "what bike"?
    Me- "1998 vfr 800?
    SPike - "what size is it?"
    That just makes me want to reach across the counter and smack the stupid out of em! That and the way he sort of rolls his eyes when he says "what bike" like he cant be bothered hes got a lot of RAAAAAAAAAASSSSSIIIIINNN to do right after I get my freaking oil filter!!!
    I get the same thing at MacDonald's too "I will have a Big Mac meal with a Dr Pepper please!" and so voice box says back "what do you want to drink?" As if there is only one script in the world and the script must not be interrupted - ever!! The box only does one thing at a time damnit!
    That is why I like Walmart, nobody there knows anything about what I am looking for and they don't care - so I am free to roam the isles and pick the stuff I see off the shelves no rolling eyes cause I don't run a liter bike!!! No stupid jokes like VFR - Very F'ing Retarded! I like Wally for the big 5 quart jobbies of Mobile One! That and its rather cheap - imagine that! Wally is single handedly keeping inflation in check by selling this crap to us at such low low prices you have to ask; who needs pointy haired clerks?! Evil empire and all I know. So in definance I must draw the line at purchaseing the Fram oil filter - just sitting there on the shelf within reach. I can even read the box without having to ask some green haired 19 year old to get it for me - and get this it actually fits the VFR! Yet its a FRAM. That's a bit too cheap for me!
    Wally still got me however, I did get the Black And Decker 1-2 amp smart battery charger! $19 bucks ya cant beat that, my toasted up Battery Tender that died on me Last month actually snickered when I brought it home! Yea Yea you cost three times as much and you don't work buddy shuddup!!
    Now I still have to get that darned oil filter. I know a Fram is probably not going to fall off at the first bump or dump dirty oil all over the cam shaft when it get hot for the first time. Yet I just keep seeing those internet pictures of the cheap ass way they are constructed on the inside - a side by side comparison with cut away photos and all!!! Don't ask me! I don't remember the darned link, I know its in the links database here so look it up yourself~ :warranty:
    So upon finally having decided to keep the vfr I thought! What if I bought a Scott reusable oil filter!?That might do the trick - no more "who makes the vfr?" dumasses to walk through at the counter! Where do they find these kids they crop up like flies! No not this time - I mail ordered it! HEH another pet peeve of mine with dealerships! We don't have that we can order it for ya, be here in a couple of weeks - so I have to waste my time coming back to pick it up three weeks later, wait in line at the counter and all that sh&t during normal buisness hours that I dont keep myself! Naw I will mail order it and get it right to my door thanks! :salesman: SO I DID! I got a reusable Scott oil filter now to go along with my reusable K&N airfilter I got 4 years ago. I guess I really must want to keep the bike now! 83,000 miles is a long test ride!
    If it sounds like I am anti dealership sorry I am to some extent, for I don't care for the experience of going to one! No matter how great they are compared to the other! Buying a bike at one is a trauma for me so I am a bit weary of dealers. I never quite trust them completely! Hell they need to make a buck I know that! Those guys have all those kids to feed, pointy haired racing doesn't pay the bills! Like Josey Wales says "Buzzards gotta eat" - I am just a cheap bastid!
    PS I am still stinging from my XR purchase last year, not looking like such a great deal now a year later! :pissed:
  23. HispanicSlammer
    I have never been on Boreas Pass before, drove or ridden past the entrace at Como several times on the way to College or on a vfr ride. I decided this last August that I would give it a try. Not knowing if it was challenging I figured I would take the Piggy this time. Turned out to be really tame actually since I passed an Accord and several minivans on the way up. The way to Cumo was much more challenging to be honest, taking every dirt road I could find that connected me all the way to Breckenridge. Boreas pass was the old route to Breckenridge by stage coach from Denver and the front range.
    I rode up to Woodland Park by hitting the Pikes Peak highway then splitting off just before getting there and heading northwest to Green Mountain Falls. It is a sleepy little village on the way up Ute Pass about three quarters of the way to Woodland Park from Colorado Springs. Its a nice diversion from the hustle of Hwy 24 and all the highway traffic, you can avoid hwy 24 by about 80% if you turn off at Chipeta Park and stay to the left. In Green Mountain Falls there is a nice lake in the center of the village, and a big Gazebo and fountain highight the park in the middle. Then to the west is a strip of small buisnesses, a local tavern and a great little resturant called "The Pantry" the ham sandwitch has 1/2 inch thick ham and real swiss cheese, and the breakfast is scrumptious. I like to stop there when possible for some lunch.

    Tarryall

    Tarryall

    Tarryall
    I rolled into Cumo to find its mostly closed up, boarded up old buildings so I started my way up Boreas Pass with large rain drops falling all around me, it was a quick summer shower and it did not last long.

    Boreas Mountain Packer Road

    Boreas Mountain

    Wild Flower

    Tarryall from across the valley on Boreas Pass

    Packer road from which I just came
    I was surprised to see so many cars on the pass, its wasnt challenging at all really so I rode it very fast. I passed about 4 minivans and was at the top in less than 5 minutes, seemd all too quick really. There were a ton of folks stopped at the old rail house at the top so I kept on going prefering the solitude of riding than stopping with tourists everywhere.

    Windy Point Boreas Pass

    Breckenridge

    Boreas Mountain Crossed the Continental Divide

    Breckenridge hwy 9 lies below - Hoosier pass is to the left
    I did not stay around Breckenridge only to gas up at the 7-11 and get a snack of some chewing gum to make my ears pop. Sometimes up in high elevation my ears dont equalize like they should. I decided to head up Loveland pass and ride down to Georgetown via I-70 then make my way up Guenella Pass. I had a burger at the "Red Ram" in old Georgetown and well I did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked too. Its a very old 100 year old building and well I can only take so much hippy music from the 70's before I have to get out, I like the Grateful Dead but not that much! I have had a better time there before, I should have waited for lunch - headed up Guenella pass and had a burger in Bailey instead there is a wonderful little diner there called the Trout diner, just a few hundred feet from the Gas Station. Should have but didn't Oh Well I was surprised to see all the work being done on the North side of Guenella pass, there was lots of heavy equipment being used to divert the creek and expand the road, it was practially paved all the way to the top, paved over 70% I would say!

    Guenella Pass strait south of Georgetown once again crossing the Continental Divide
    I headed down the pass and was soon back on gravel road again all the way to Grant at hwy 285, I found myself rubbernecking when I caught a glimps of a large hot dog building just west of Bailey. It was the old hot dog stand I remembered from my youth - Coney Island Colorado‎. It wasnt were I remembered it, they moved it by truck from Connifer to Bailey some 15 miles down the road! "Whoa" I said "whats that doing there?"
    They have the best chili dogs - foot long chili dogs and fries!
    I turned off hwy 285 as soon as I made it to Bailey, saw the trout diner and sighed that I missed out on a good cheeseburger and headed back into the dirt on Wellington Lake road, then I turned off at the Buffalo Creek turnoff sign and was on Hwy 67. The pavement was perfect and I at that moment I wished I could flip a switch and be on my viffer cause boy the road was perfect!

    Pikes Peak Heading down the bowl at hwy 67 to Horsepower Hill

    Pikes Peak in the late afternoon

    Full Size
    A - home
    B - backroads
    C - Tarryall
    D - Packer Road
    E - Boreas Pass
    F - Loveland Pass
    G - Georgetown
    H - Guenella Pass
    I - Wellington Lake Road
  24. HispanicSlammer
    The Road Home Woodland Park
    I spent my Birthday riding around the Hayman Burn area near Cheesman Lake - riding the XR650R on some fireroads, literally fireroads. Its been 6 years since the Hayman fire devastated this area burning a total of 138,000 acres in a week. I can still remember the smoke plume seen from the City - I went for a ride that first day and almost got caught in it, they had several roads closed and it stayed that way all summer.

    burn area

    During the Hayman fire

    fire1.jpg
    I have ridden around the area for along time since but never been to the center of it Cheesman Lake, the place has a lot of visual damage and they dont allow you to do much there but fish.

    Cheeseman Lake
    I took some singletrack to get to Goose Creek Road where most of the fire was.

    Single Track Rampart Range

    Goose Creek Road Lost Wilderness

    Lost Wilderness 6 years after the Hayman Fire

    Hayman burn area Pikes Peak in the background
    I decided to ride up to Wellington Lake and into Bailey for some lunch when it started to rain, I was worried about getting my camera wet there so I took no pictures. Stopping at the Cut Throat diner there for a burger I was sitting next to a young couple when the power went out, they had their daughter with them, a cute redheaded girl who yelped when the lights went out. Appearantly a tornado had touched down on Kenosha Pass and it took out some Powerlines - wow a tornado in the mountains?? First time I had heard of that! They had a police scanner on and I guess there was also a motorcycle accident - bad enough that they requested the flight for life? Being the 4th of July Weekend their where bikes out everywhere. Luckly I was riding on some obscure backroads and single track - no traffic there to speak of except the occational campers out in the woods.
    I made my way over to rampart range, and decided to ride the entire length of it to Woodland park, some 50 miles of twisty windy rough in places mountain dirt road. There were a lot of folks fishing along the Platte River on the way to Rampart Range from Buffalo Creek, tons of them and I saw my buddy baldy cop sitting in his police sherrif pickup, along with another cop in another truck - they both had atv's in the back, they where sitting at the crossroads where hwy 67 and Buffalo Creek road meet, east of Foxton. He was the guy who stopped and lectured me about speeding on horsepower hill last May. Still bald as hell!

    Rampart Range

    Primordial soup bowl

    Rampart Range after the rains

    Rampart Range

    Rampart Range

    Rampart Range
    I have this thing for wild flowers I like to photograph them whenever possible

    Wildflowers

    Wildflowers

    more wildflowers

    red ones

    Columbine Colorado State Flower

    Another Columbine
    attached is the gps track from my zumo
  25. HispanicSlammer
    Texas Creek
    Last Tuesday was the first ride of the year for me, the vfr shod with a new set of sprockets and chain, was rarin to go. I waited for my buddy Craig to show up patiently - my brand new visor, and freshly washed stich, I was ready to go as well. The sun was shining and blue - there was still snow in the hill sides and ice on the yellow strip in the shady parts of the canyon but it was warm enough to enjoy a ride. Our destination was a short trip over to Texas Creek Junction, where Texas Creek meets the Arkansas River and winds its way east.
    Highway 50 intersects Colorado in half and although it is considered southern Colorado it is most definitly the middle. The highway begins in Kansas but it doesnt get interesting until you get to Canon City where you find the Royal Gorge. Then it drops down into the Arkansas River Valley and it gets rather interesting for a good 40 miles to Salida, Texas Creek is roughly half way from Canon City to Salida and the last few miles before you get to Texas Creek is the absolute best part. The Canyon walls are high and the sweepers are fast and furious. Craig and I saw triple digit speed in some of the faster turns, its double lane in some parts so you can get around slow traffic rather easy. It was nice to heat up the tires once again on those great sweepers, I have balled up lots of tires on those turns in the past - usually in the hot summer sun its always hot there in summer.

    Texas Creek a Centry ago
    We had some lunch at this great cafe at the junction, we love to stop there for lunch and home made pie. I had a nice bbq sandwitch and I was admiring the historic pictures on the wall.

    The Destination Lunch at the Texas Creek Cafe

    Warning If your gonna be a turd go lay in the pasture

    The View From the window

    What it looked like a centry ago Trains were the rule of the day back then hauling silver ore from the mountains
    I found my groove much sooner this year than before, after my winter layoff (more winter on the way <_< ) a break from the winter doldrums was a welcome thing! I was expecting to be a bit rusty and slow but - nope not this year, it was like I never got off the bike at all. Perhaps it was because November wasnt that far away, but it sure seemed like an eternity. Man I love my bike
    Here is a satalite map of the best part - triple digit sweepers
    [map=AARTsJorJEljnPDCNQVk7LLwbqt8cMUbMg]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=7552852696277805325,38.445091,-105.525327&saddr=US-50+%4038.445091,+-105.525327&daddr=38.409213,-105.582905&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=13&sll=38.431404,-105.544109&sspn=0.075707,0.187111&ie=UTF8&ll=38.426429,-105.551319&spn=0.075713,0.187111&t=k&z=13[/map]
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