Where did you ride today?

[GSXKING]

Got up this morning, intending to ride the 14 to work. Saw it was 1C, and decided not to chance the steep, downhill, off camber hill with a bend in it and always in shade, 200m from our drive. Hopped into the Corolla instead.
Age definitely mellows us!

Roy with age comes wisdom 🙏🙏👍

[Pommeroy]

So they reckon Chris.

[Mr Gee]

Got up this morning, intending to ride the 14 to work. Saw it was 1C, and decided not to chance the steep, downhill, off camber hill with a bend in it and always in shade, 200m from our drive. Hopped into the Corolla instead.
Age definitely mellows us!

Roy with age comes wisdom 🙏🙏👍

Judging by some of things that I've seen done and done myself, lately. I'm not sure, whether I believe that. 

[KiwiCol]

Got up this morning, intending to ride the 14 to work. Saw it was 1C, and decided not to chance the steep, downhill, off camber hill with a bend in it and always in shade, 200m from our drive. Hopped into the Corolla instead.
Age definitely mellows us!

Roy with age comes wisdom 🙏🙏👍

Judging by some of things that I've seen done and done myself, lately. I'm not sure, whether I believe that. 

That just shows we're young at heart . . .   

[Eric GSX1400K3]

  rode about 400km round trip out to Northam via Gidgegannup, Toodyay, York and surrounds.  Great day out, just started to rain as I rolled into the garage at home, so very lucky.

Dis notice how bad both tyres are now, 16000km and both front and rear are scalloped and worn unevenly.  Shopping around for new tyres obviously,  still reckon the Avon's are a go.

[Tony Nitrous]

12 degrees C on the way out, 17 C heading home. Even wrapped up, behind a fairing, and in the sun I just couldn't get warm. Only 260K's (161 miles) and I was ready to get back to my log burner.



I'd had a play with a few settings, quick shifter, other stuff and dropped the tyre pressure, low 40's to mid and high 30's, few other things... made zero difference when I'm cold and aching dreaming about being back in the house.

No sure if it's my age, health, medication or what but I hate this winter.


Digger seems to agree. 

[Eric GSX1400K3]

'Twas but 4deg when I left home at 0700, thermals on under the dri-rider riding pants, winter jacket and gloves on. Toasty warm, heated grips not needed. Came home it was only 16deg, but I had no complaints.  Makes a huge difference if you're comfortable on the bike, i feel for you Tony, and you're in the Sunshine State....

[Tony Nitrous]

'Twas but 4deg when I left home at 0700, thermals on under the dri-rider riding pants, winter jacket and gloves on. Toasty warm, heated grips not needed. Came home it was only 16deg, but I had no complaints.  Makes a huge difference if you're comfortable on the bike, i feel for you Tony, and you're in the Sunshine State....

Always hated the cold.
It was one of the reasons I swapped the UK for Qld.

About 5 or 6 years ago I refused to move to where we are now, I remember saying "I'm not living anywhere again that ever see's a frost... ever!"

Mrs talked me into it with promises of big sheds and early retirement.

It seems to be worse now as I'm getting older and my health isn't what it was.  Some evenings I'm sat next to the log burner and the Mrs go's bed with the window open and the fan on.

I can wear full bike gear, or work out doors all day, or do 5k runs on real hot days with little drama, but single figure temps just make me struggle. 

[KiwiCol]

Cold huh.  My youngest brother lives in Darwin, has done for many years.  I recall him coming to Christchurch a few years back on a more or less non stop flights from Darwin to BNE then straight away from BNE to CHC. He's a smoker, heavy one. Had no smoke since leaving Darwin many hours ago. When he arrives at CHC airport, he's not interested in getting his bag, just wants to go out and have a fag. Opens the outside door, straight into a howling southerly with sleet, "bugger that" he exclaims and comes back inside! He's definitely used to the warmer climate.

[grog]

Agree Tony, every year older more I hate Winter. No way I could survive in a cold climate. Look what it's done to your Cattle dog, one minute eying off kangas, next cuddled up in a blanket like a little Pug. 😁

[grog]

I had a ride on Vulcan 650S, Triumph 1200 Speedmaster, Royal Enfield Super Meteor.All about looking at/trying forward controls. Liked them all, brakes wanting on Kawa & RE. Got back on 14 for home, 20 yrs older,much friendlier bike.

[KiwiCol]

But old blokes ride slow and don't need Moto GP level brakes . . .   I can understand the brakes being found wanting on the RE, but the Kawa surprises me, there no need for them to be like that, Kawa know what it takes to stop a bike well.

[Hooli]

I dunno what you lot have ridden before, but you do need to use more rear brake on cruisers in my experience. The different weight distribution means the rear can do a lot more work without locking up. If I try to ride my HD on just the front brake it's horrible trying to stop as it feels unstable as owt.

I've not ridden one of those Kwaks to comment, it's just me thinking aloud.

[KiwiCol]

I'd say it depends on the machine really.
When I'm braking, (which isn't often) I'm 95% front, very seldom do I give the rear something to do, can't really think of a situation I'd be on the rears, unless I was coming into a corner a bit too hot and needed to settle her a bit.  The main reason I hardly brake is because the engine braking on this bike is staggering, you only need to roll off the throttle and you'll drop 20kph in no time at all. I mostly plan my cornering speeds with the throttle, if I'm braking as well coming in to a corner, I'm pressing on a bit.

[GSXKING]

We're in the start of an El Niño cycle and had a very warm start to winter. I can't think of a cold morning yet, I'm up at 3:45 out the door at 4:25 and at work by 4:50 for 5. I'm talking under 10 degrees C as cold. Normally by 8am it's warmer then midday 20+ degrees. Clear blue skies of late also. Then normally showers on the weekend 🙀🙀🙀.
This Saturday I've declared a rain or shine ride to Cafe Metz at Canungra leaving BP Yatala at 8am for 9am arrival at Cafe. Then discuss the ride home.
The weather forecast is promising and I need the saddle time as our 20th anniversary Christmas in July ride to Tenterfield is on 25/7.
Feel free to join in our rides.