Family Rides

This year we said that we were going to ride more often on day trips as a fam.  Last Sunday (we've had lousy weather for weeks) I convinced the fam to ride to church.  Not more than five miles from the house it began to rain.  We pulled over and suited up.  We then hit SR528 (called B-line or Beachline: runs from Orlando to the Cocoa beach area).  The rain started coming down harder.  Soon we had to come to a complete stop as a car had spun out in front of us and blocked the entire road.  By this point it is dumping on us.  When we exited onto the next highway another car was crashed into a pole.  We pulled over at the next exit and called from the underneath the overpass.  We then proceeded on the secondary roads to church.  The road the church was on was under construction and so we were driving on pure mud from the depaving of the road.  A car hit a large puddle and drenched me, my bike, and my son in mud!  We arrived at church wet even through our suits.  It was raining so hard the rain was hitting my neck and wicking down my shirt.  Someone asked me, "What do bikers do when it rains?"  I replied, "Get wet!"

Anyway, my family was a great sport and no one complained.  I felt sorry for my wife and daughter, they had flat ironed their hair and it just frizzed out from the wet.  Still, no complaints. Needless to say, we did not go for an extended ride after church.  We did go to a birthday party but then rode home.

I recently heard a story of a guy who asked a girl to marry him, but she said that she only would if he promised to get rid of his motorcycle.  Now I love my wife greater than anything, but I have to say that had she asked me to give up riding I'd have given her up instead.  I think that guy should have told his miss priss to hit the road!  Not because he loves his mc more than her, but because it is part of who he is.  Part of her is drawn to him precisely because of this edginess.  Now she wants to change and 'domesticate' him.  As a therapist in training (I'm in year 5 of a 3 year program), I smell trouble on the horizon for these two.  Don't ask me to give up riding, it's part of who I am.  If you don't want a rider, look for different guy.  I don't understand women that find a man and then try to make them into what they want.  I have an awesome family and feel very blessed that they share in my love of the open road.  I'm truly a lucky guy!!

Below:  A pic of the fam at fuel stop on a drier/happier day.

New 1200Rex

So here is my new ride. 2001 ZRX 1200R. Great bike. One that I have wanted for years. It has loads of power and a "I was going how fast officer?" streetable torque curve. It's a brilliant motorcycle.

Mods I have added:
 - Corbin seat (bought used in great condition)
 - Throttlemeister cruise
- T-rex racing frame sliders
- (most importantly!) Akrapovic bolt on!
- also have a set Givi bags, but am waiting for the hardware to install (backordered from Germany)

 It will be a iron butt cruise ready bike when all is said and done. Hopefully we can pull an iron butt off this summer/fall. We'll have to see. I love the bike. It will crush most SS off the line and is more my 'old man' style. Sadly I'm realizing I'm getting too old for the classic crotch rocket style. :(