2 wheels, 33 hours, 860 miles, 6 pelicans and a ticket

[nostatic]

Back in one piece. Subject pretty much tells it all. Left at 9:30am Wednesday heading north, got to my motel at 5:00pm (Travelodge near SFO), showered, changed, back on the bike into downtown SF, arrive at Harringtons at 6:00pm. Hang out with pelicans until about 10:30pm, back on the bike to the motel. Sleep, back on the bike at 9:30am this morning heading south. Got a ticket at 1:07pm ouside of Paso Robles...nice enough guy. Clocked me at 95, wrote me up for 85 in a 70 zone. Traffic was horrible around Santa Barbara (lane split), then again near Oxnard (lane split), then again in Thousand Oaks (lane split). It looked like it was going to be that way all the way into LA so I bailed at Las Virgenes and headed over the hills to Malibu...it was wicked hot inland. Got to PCH and made the familiar drive back home in relative comfort except for my butt and my right hand (which I'm icing right now).

Not something I'd do every day. Or even again unless I had a bike with more fairing and a better long distance position. But what the hell, you only live once and you're dead a long, long, long time...

[widebody911]

Very "Olsen-esque" pose - nice.

[bryanthompson]

That's what you look like?! I expected more hair and chubby cheeks!

[red-beard]

I was at least expecting a horn

[nostatic]

The gray spot on the top of my head hides the horn well.

Oh, you were talking about the honky horn...never mind.

And before someone accuses me of trying for style-points (or lack of style points) the bandana is for function...soak it down when hot, and it keeps bugs off the neck. I had to clean my visor at pretty much every stop...that's what happens when you ride at high speeds through agricultural areas. That was actually taken this morning when it was still wicked cold (frickin' bay area). In that case, still dry and helped to keep my neck warm. An hour later I was baking in 100+ degree temps. I told the CHP officer that's why I had to go 95...to keep cool. He didn't buy it

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
That's what you look like?! I expected more hair and chubby cheeks!

I had a different expectation, too...

[Porsche virgin]

"you only live once and you're dead a long, long, long time..."

Great quote!

[speeder]

Cool, yeah, that doesn't look like a touring bike.

It's good to appreciate the difference; at least you didn't set out on a 3000 mile ride before this discovery. Part of me would still like to go cross-country on a bike, but there are just too many deer in the U.S. now. Scares the poop out of me in a car at night in rural areas, a bike is inconceivable. I like to go fast through rural areas.

Were you seeing the sights on the way up, or is that how long it takes on the 101 the whole way? My record for the 5 freeway is ~5 hours one way. (In a car at night). Glad that you made it back safely, I was thinking about you and the heat. Little toasty through the central valley? Good thing you didn't take the 5.

[motion]

Cool ride, Todd! Props to you for having the guts to blast up there for such a short time. I made the ride round trip on my BMW last weekend for the MotoGP race. Sometimes it's better to bypass the super-slab and take your time on 101 and 1. A few hours extra in the saddle, but well worth it And next time, get a Back-A-Line riding belt. Makes a BIG difference.

[tabs]

Paso Robles is famous for tickets.....Last time I was up that way I had a CHP tail me for 15 miles.....they will even get off and use frontage roads to clock U....

[JavaBrewer]

Man that's alot of miles in 24 hours on a naked bike! Well you do have the custom lip but still...

Looks like you packed for a couple nights with all that stuff strapped down. I was picturing the early biker look with just a bedroll over the headlight(s). You must be a "high maintenance" guy Todd So how accurate is your speedometer? On the freeway I ride an indicated 100 but suspect it's more like 80 and change.

[nostatic]

according to my gps, i hit 107. speedo said 113.

gps is scary...

[84porsche]

Originally posted by nostatic
according to my gps, i hit 107. speedo said 113.

gps is scary...

With this you can probably knock your ticket down another 5 miles per hour if you fight it. I just bought a GPS and curious about its accuracy. But besides that if you feel like traffic school, I will be stuck there on August 6th, all day.

[nostatic]

he only wrote me up for 85, clocked at 95. I'll do traffic school online. Did it a few years back that way...was done in about 45 minutes. No way I'll ever sit in a classroom again...

[widebody911]

Originally posted by nostatic
he only wrote me up for 85, clocked at 95. I'll do traffic school online. Did it a few years back that way...was done in about 45 minutes. No way I'll ever sit in a classroom again...

But the pound of flesh the extract @ 85 is probably the same or similar as @ 95.

If everyone suddenly drove so they wouldn't get tickets, think of the ensuing economic collapse!

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by nostatic
And before someone accuses me of trying for style-points (or lack of style points) the bandana is for function...soak it down when hot, and it keeps bugs off the neck. I had to clean my visor at pretty much every stop...that's what happens when you ride at high speeds through agricultural areas. I told the CHP officer that's why I had to go 95...to keep cool. He didn't buy it

When I ride in the summer on long trips I wear a blue jean jacket. Absolutely soak it with water at each fuel stop and it does an excellent job of helping with the heat.

I cannot wear leather during the summer, and stick with gore-tex on the short rides. Still here there are about 2 months a year its just too damm hot to ride unless its a 4 in the morning.

Joe A

[cool_chick]

You rock Todd.

Damn I still can't believe you did that on that bike!

[juanbenae]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
That's what you look like?! I expected more hair and chubby cheeks!

bry, seems you expect all of us california guys to look like bob from bob's big boy. not all of us can look good in a too tight pair of red striped overalls.

nice work stiatic.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

How come everyone else is living my dream? Nostatic, Verburg, jeez.

[speeder]

Originally posted by cool_chick
You rock Todd.

Damn I still can't believe you did that on that bike!

Are you kidding? He would have pedaled there on his kid's Big Wheel to see you, Baby.