Where did you ride today?

Just HAD to get out for a ride. But lots to do today including going out to eat at a semi-fancy restaurant since it was my birthday. Also took the Cavalier, Charley, to the groomer, reinstalled the stair railing, removed the baby rabbits from one of my wife's BIG outdoor planter pots (still don't know how the mama bunny was able to get up to that one). Rode about 30 miles today.

Parts just came in at the dealer that I ordered but won't be picking those up until Saturday... so that will be another 40+ miles. So I'll then be doing the first oil/filter change on my Vulcan S early next week.
 
Rode to the Kawasaki dealer to pick up a few parts. I had ordered some axle nut cotter pins that were in. There was also a warranty part, a rear brake light switch, that I was told had arrived for me. I found that the rear brake light would stick ON sometimes and discovered it was due to a "catch" or detent that shouldn't be there in the rear brake light switch. I had adjusted it out of spec so I would have to push the rear brake harder to make the light turn on. But since I almost always use both front and rear brakes together I wasn't worried too much about it. Still, because it is a "new" bike I had the dealer order the switch. Turns out they ordered the front switch and not the rear switch. So that will be another ride when they correct their mistake. I don't mind too much since it is no charge to me (warranty) AND it's another ride.

Rode 47.6 miles today. That was planned to bring me right up to as close to 600 miles as I could get. That put me at 599 on the odometer... but likely JUST under 600 based on where I was when it turned over to that last mile. My odometer does not show tenths but it's still close enough to show Kawasaki I was right on time for the break-in oil/filter change. So I did that also this afternoon. Dumped out the factory break-in oil and mutilated the factory filter getting it off. They always seem to use an impact drill to install those at the factory. Stabbed a long screw driver through the old filter and still had a hard time to get it to move at all. The new filters I am using are HiFloFiltro HF303RC. One of the items Kawasaki officially named as a cross to the factory branded one. Being a Ninja engine it does use a racing filter. It has an O-ring seal and a nut on the end and the manual for the filter says the nut is only for removal as expected... but the instructions also state that if needed the nut CAN be used to install as long as torque is not higher than 32 ft lbs. Not to worry since torque per the bike owner manual is 12.9 ft lbs so I did use the nut. The nut on these filters are welded with a very wide flange to spread the torque when tightening so I felt OK doing that. Normally I wouldn't, but there was no way I was going to use my hands to get the filter anywhere close to that tight. Though it likely wouldn't drip even if I didn't get it to official torque. An no flutes on these filters so the only other way is to use a strap wrench.

Now I am ready to go on longer trips to go camping. I simply didn't want to take off on a trip and have to change the oil and filter while on the road. So now I have 7000 miles to the next regular service on the schedule. :giggle-2x:

edit: Took me 29 days to put the first 599 miles on the new bike. Actually only 570 miles of those are mine since there were 29 miles on the bike when I first looked at it.
 
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Since tomorrow is Memorial Day and there is family coming for a cook out on the grill... AND since it is expected to have a chance of rain... I went for a ride today. Rode to the Veteran's Cemetery. There were flags set up all along the highway all the way there for several miles. But only from the south, not from the north. Rode just over 37 miles. This pic is facing north.
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The last bar on the gas gauge was flashing for several miles the last time I rode so I first stopped to fill up. I really didn't need to. MPG has been hovering around 52 MPG every time I fill up. Based on how much I put in I still had a gallon left in the tank. I could have gone another 52 miles before I was on fumes. I figure 192 miles per tank isn't bad. I usually like to stop for a break after 160-170 miles anyway... and top off the tank and get a drink of water.

The Ave MPG display on the dash consistently shows just over 55 MPG so it's actually closer than any other bike I've had that shows mileage.

Oh, and as suspected the odometer flipped over to 600 miles in less than .25 miles from my home.
 
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Took the ST to the gym this morning, walked the dogs with the Mrs. after, then rode my Heritage Softail over to my parent's house. Dad is 90, a combat vet of the Korean War. Both of my grandfathers and my father in law were all World War Two combat vets. I have two Purple Hearts, and a Bronze Star from them. Dad is the only one left. When he rode, it was a Harley. Both grandfathers rode Indians. So I gave the ST13 a break after its morning ride.
 
Got out for a ride today. South of the metro area. Rode 61 miles. Clouds were getting thicker and thicker and the sky was looking darker and darker all the way around and a light rain started 10 minutes after I pulled back into the garage.

This was just past the half way point...
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Rode up to Echo Lake again and then down to Idaho Springs on the V-Strom. 35 miles of some of the finest tight twisties and sweepers one could ask for. And that does not count the other twisties getting to the starting point. A bit chilly and overcast so there was little to no traffic the whole way. See my post 3741 May 13 in this thread for pictures as I like to ride up there frequently.

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I only stopped to take a picture for guys like you. I don't usually stop when I'm riding unless I need to take a break or get gas... or at a stop sign or stop light, etc. I ride more than I report here but don't usually take pictures along the way. Having too much fun moving down the road to stop and interrupt that fun just for a photo... unless there's a significant photo op there.
 
ChucksKLRST said:
Today I needed to make one of my famous German Bakery Runs to Wimberger's Old World Bakery, down in Colorado Springs. So it was a good time to show the new bike (Honda NT1100D) how to get there and ride some of my favorite roads down by Deckers on the way home. Total trip 168 miles. It also gave me a chance to get familiar with the Dual Clutch Transmission on the bike and figure out how to work through the Auto mode and the manual mode and the combination of the two. Here are some pictures I took along the way.




Leaving the garage for our maiden voyage to the German Bakery in the Colorado Springs.

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Along the way with Pikes Peak in the background


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Pikes Peak snow covered in snow


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At the German Bakery on Botts Street Colorado Springs.

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The Goods


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A rustic burger and beer place at Sprucewood Colorado.

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Click to expand...
Wow, that blue is gorgeous!!
 
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