One of my riding buddies shared this movie of a motorcycle ride on Chief Joseph Highway in Cody, WY… incredible!
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Tag Archives: motorcycle
The Ride Around Lake Michigan
On July 1, 2011, I met two friends (David Dillon and Joel Hamernick) at the McDonald’s restaurant on the Chicago Skyway. The sky was overcast and rain predicted, and dangerous heat warnings issued for later in the day. We set off and soon ran into some real rain which was rather heavy at times and lasted until we got well into Michigan. We got wet.
Here is a map of our route.
Map of Motorcycle Ride Around Lake Michigan
Things cleared up past Holland, and we eventually dried out. Our fist night/destination was Petosky, Michigan. The second day we rode over the Mackinaw Bidge into the UP, and ended up at Munising, MI. for the second night. The third day we rode through the UP into Northern Wisconsin, and ended up at Green Bay for the night. The final day was an easy ride back into Chicago.
We found some wonderful roads in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Here is a photo taken by Joel (while riding) of Me and David riding through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park… on the Best Road Ever!
Best Road Ever - Through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park
The Machine!
Randy's 2008 Triumph Bonneville "Black"
Triumph Motorcycle Gang!
The official Triumph Motorcycle Gang has begun!
Dale Craft and his 2009 Triumph America
Saturday, May 29, 2010 my friend Dale Craft and I visited the Triumph Demo Ride day at Motor Cycle Center in Villa Park, Illinois. We signed up for the first demo ride of the day, and left the parking lot with a group at 9:30 AM, Dale riding a 2010 Triumph America, and me riding a 2010 Triumph Thunderbird.
When we returned 45 minutes later, Dale and I met with John Acton of MCC, and took a look at a 2009 Triumph America they still had in stock. Another hour later, it was Dale’s. Funny thing is, it is black, just like my 2008 Triumph Bonneville.
So, yesterday on Sunday, May 30, 2010, we took a 1.5 hour ride together, ending at the Brown Cow in Forest Park. As we sat enjoying our milk shakes, we jokingly established the Triumph Motorcycle Gang… the founding first 2 members! To join, you must ride a black Triumph! 
Our maiden run:
West on Chicago Ave. in Oak Park, through River Forest to 1st Ave. South on 1st to I-55 heading West. We exited at Mannheim/45 going South. We took the Archer Ave exit and followed Route 171 north through a number of towns. At Joliet Road we headed west again over to Mannheim, north through LaGrange to Cermak/22nd, then East to 1st Ave. Then we headed North to Roosevelt Rd, east to Des Plaines Ave, North into Forest Park. At Madison we headed East into the business district and parked across the street from the Brown Cow!
2008 Triumph Bonneville – Black
Around 1968-69, two guys in my old neighborhood returned from Viet Nam and purchased two British Triumph Bonneville motorcycles. I have vivid memories of them doing “wheelies” down the street in front of our house! I thought those were the coolest motorcycles I had ever seen and I dreamed of someday owning one. It’s funny how a childhood impression or memory can pop back to the surface later in life. I have no idea why this memory was so ingrained in me or made such an impression. It just did… and captured my imagination.
Last Saturday I went out riding on my Honda cb650, and returned home with a brand new 2008 Triumph Bonneville Black… a virtual copy of the two bikes from my childhood memory. This purchase was not planned – it just happened. Some may say that it was an impulse purchase or that I fulfilled a subconscious dream. I prefer to think that I made a rational decision based upon all the facts! Maybe I delude myself!
The reality was that the Honda was aging (1981 model), needed a growing number of major repairs, and even if they were completed, the bike would never be a very reliable mode of daily transportation. 4 carbs that all need to be in perfect sync is no easy task to maintain. On the other hand, the British Triumph Bonneville (made famous by actor Steve McQueen) was redesigned and retooled in the early 2000′s using modern engineering and manufacturing methods and has made a comeback as one the the most reliable, efficient and sought after motorcycles available today.
Now I can take longer trips with friends without worrying so much about a breakdown or repair. I can have more confidence in the machine responding to my braking and handling commands as I navigate through city streets and highways. I can also enjoy increased performance both with added horsepower and acceleration, as well as with fuel efficiency and economy (around 40 MPG on average). The 2008 model features a larger gas tank (4+ gallons) for an increased range of 160-200 miles.
This bike is an incredible joy to ride. I find that I am now watching the weather reports daily!
I’m a Biker!
I am now officially a “biker” (as in motorcycle owner and rider). I had been contemplating and talking about getting a motorcycle earlier this year when gas was at an all time high. A co-worker heard me and said he had a motorcycle sitting in his garage he was thinking about selling. We talked and made an agreement. It wasn’t running at the time, so he brought it over in a trailer. I replaced the dead battery and tried to fix the charging system. It took a couple more months to get it running well with help from the mechanics over at Motoworks Chicago. It is now running very well… thanks Johnny!
It also took me a few weeks to get all the title and license transfers done, taking the written and riding tests for an “M” license at the Secretary of State. I also had to buy all my safety gear: helmet, gloves, jacket, pants, saddle bags, bungie net, and I already had the boots!
So, I am finally a fully legal biker with all the recommended safety items. Last week I rode it to work a couple days. I plan to get in a few more times as the weather permits. It’s a really nice size bike. Not too big, and not too small. Easy to handle, quick, and not overly loud nor vibrating too much.
Over the winter I plan to get a tear in the seat fixed, and potentially to replace head gaskets that leak oil ever so slowly. I may also replace the exhaust system.
Loads of fun!
