HiMile14
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posted December 11, 2006 08:27 PM
 Edited By: HiMile14 on 11 Dec 2006 20:35
Winter Vacation & 2006 Review
Well I did not get a chance to send you all a Christmas card, but maybe these pics will make up for it.
Some know last month I made tracks for Connecticut (wife's home town) for Thanksgiving. The wife says you and Mike can take a bike ride when you get there...OK with a handle Himile how could I turn that down. So I loaded the 14 into the truck and up we went. I did scratch the hell out of the fender but that was a small price to pay....Right. Besides how cold can it get in late November?
The Monday before Thanksgiving it was Sunny but Cold. The High was going to be 42 (Florida-boy sort of forgot how much colder a couple 1000 feet can make the ride).
Well the first pic is of me making it to the Conn/Mass border.
I'd never been to Mass before so it was a small achievement. We talked about just going to Mass and NY then play it by ear.
How cool do I look in front of a sign? Interesting how that "Bridge Freezes before Road " sign will get a special note when riding in the 30's.
I thought New York was beautiful and I must admit the roads were great. I loved the way this road seemed to just roll with the hills. We both felt good so off to Vermont we went.
Even though the hills/Mountains were bare it was still beautiful. Oh look Snow... Some of you may think, "Big Deal" but I thought it was pretty cool....and dam right COLD.
You may note that in every picture the ZX is running. This Florida-boy's way of trying to keep warm. It only lasted maybe a mile or so (Never seen the temp gauge fall as fast as it did this day) but how I enjoyed that mile.
You know of all the states I've ridden this year Vermont is in the top 3. I like the people who seem very laid-back. I can't complain about the views either some of the best riding of the year for sure. I wish I would have taken more pictures but I have to say it was starting to get cold and I did not like getting out of the warmth of the ZX.
Finally made it to New Hampshire shortly after night fall and dam I thought it was cold before AGH NOPE. Nothing like riding in the Mid 20's, I even bought glove heaters that really did not seem to make much difference. I make it a point to stop every 30 miles to warm up. Pretty sure I had a minor frost bite on the back of my hands but again a small price to pay.....HE-HE.
Mike was a trooper, most people don't like riding as I ride but he did very very well. He talked me into staying through Friday and we will give Maine and Rhode Island a shot. The high Friday was expected to be 60 and it was a GO, Until Friday. He woke up with Major back problems, but felt he could make it to Rhode Island.
That was all he could do this day. Still I had traveled about 550 miles on the ZX and in 2 days that's not bad. For the record this year the ZX-14 covered 23 states and DC, I guess the ZX also rode over NJ and Delaware (in the back of a truck) but to me that does not count.
There were two (Red and Black ) ZX-14 riders in the Delaware area that lost their line looking in the back of the truck. If they read this I was waving, My wife woke me up just as you all passed us, I was asleep in the back of the truck. Just kidding about losing the line although I did lose them pretty quick ;^).
Hey all I know I don't always fit your performance skills, having said that I hope I don't bore you with my trip reports. Think of me as the schmuck-o who thinks his ZX-14 is a Goldwing...because I really do.
There is one thing I've got to point out. It seems that there have been a couple of small crashes with the ZX-14, but for the most part the past year our nearly 200 HP beauty has not been a major problem with Johnny Law. Incredible how the people who own a motorcycle this powerful just seem to know how to keep them tame. I hate Government's who believe they are saving us from our self. Thanks Euro-crates for keeping us within 300 Kms.
After my Nebraska trip you'd figure I might fix the clock on my camera, well you figured wrong.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All.
Rob
16,470 miles
  
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Tool man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
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posted December 11, 2006 09:39 PM
Rob U R the hi mile man. I am at 8500 and I thought I was doing ok. WoW
Merry X-mas
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stevewfl
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posted December 11, 2006 10:03 PM
Great pics. It looks cold as CHIT up there!
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ZX14 gone!
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HiMile14
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posted December 12, 2006 04:48 AM
quote:
Rob U R the hi mile man. I am at 8500 and I thought I was doing ok. WoW
Merry X-mas
Toolman, at the risk of sounding like I'm bragging, since I bought the ZX I've also put 4000 miles on the VFR. YTD I've put 9,905 on the VFR and well 16,495 miles on the 14. Shooting for 27,000 miles for the year.
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted December 12, 2006 08:09 AM
great post! thanks!
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted December 12, 2006 09:30 AM
The first 2 pics look like rte 8 after it becomes a secondary road and following rte 22 to 20 in NY will get ya to Lebanon Valley Dragway.Nice pictures and a nice ride.I'm getting to old for riding in that weather.
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Tool man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
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posted December 12, 2006 10:07 AM
quote:
quote:
Rob U R the hi mile man. I am at 8500 and I thought I was doing ok. WoW
Merry X-mas
Toolman, at the risk of sounding like I'm bragging, since I bought the ZX I've also put 4000 miles on the VFR. YTD I've put 9,905 on the VFR and well 16,495 miles on the 14. Shooting for 27,000 miles for the year.
Get a job! :P
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princesskiwi
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MISTRESS of SMACK
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posted December 12, 2006 10:44 AM
I really enjoyed your pictures and story - is this going to be an annual trip?
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HiMile14
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posted December 12, 2006 01:45 PM
quote:
The first 2 pics look like rte 8 after it becomes a secondary road and following rte 22 to 20 in NY will get ya to Lebanon Valley Dragway.Nice pictures and a nice ride.I'm getting to old for riding in that weather.
aliveagain, yes that's it. Real nice ride and seriously the roads were great even by Florida standards.
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HiMile14
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Posts: 424
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posted December 12, 2006 01:55 PM
[quote
Get a job! :P
You know I'm working full time, I just prefer to take the bike over the Truck. I work out 5 days a week 25 miles round trip and weekends to work 33 miles round trip this is the ZX-14 chore.
The VFR takes me to work M,T,TH,F 33 miles a day.
Wednesday I like to relax by riding out into the country maybe 100 miles or so, most of the time on the ZX-14.
Then repeat 50 times a year - a hurricane or really bad weather.
Rob
PS my 2002 truck has 48,000 miles on it.
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HiMile14
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Posts: 424
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posted December 12, 2006 02:12 PM
quote:
I really enjoyed your pictures and story - is this going to be an annual trip?
I don't think so, once in a life time trip. I know you should never say never but as beautiful as the pictures are, it was a little too cold for this Florida-boy.
The trip was somewhat a surprise. The wife really wanted to go north and bringing bike was more of a carrot at the end of a fishing line in order to get me to go.
But OK yea I would do it again.
Mike suggested next year (if there were to be a next year) we would head to the great white north.
Personally I think Maine in August sounds better ;^ ).
Rob
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princesskiwi
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posted December 13, 2006 07:01 PM
Maine in August sounds amazing....
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