The End Is Here.........

[Qship]

To my riding season.
Went out for a short ride today(it was a balmy +6 Celsius) to warm the oil in preparation for changing.
Just have to position it in the back corner of the shed and stand it upright with a wooden stand I built for this purpose, then remove the battery and cover.
A sad day indeed........

 

[hemibee]

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

And now for some good news. Summers coming again, ( well you've got to think positive haven't you.)

 

[Rocky]

yes, I went through that ritual a few weeks ago too.
And yes, it will be summer again.......in about eight months

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

8 Months !!!!

 

[Qship]

yes, I went through that ritual a few weeks ago too.

I copied your theme of "The End is Near I Fear my Dear"

MAD, we can usually get out in April with some nice days and May the weather improves greatly.

Think I got it stored just in time. Calling for heavy rain changing to freezing rain and snow tomorrow. We're getting it ALL tomorrow.

 

[XKnight]

I love living in South Texas. 50s is considered cold for daytime winter temps. Plenty of 70+ degree days coming. Summer is sometimes too hot to ride though.

 

[Rocky]

As Qship said, we can usually ride by April so only about five months to go.

 

[DaveH]

Weather isn't too bad down here in South Wales, just nasty overnight frosts, some cold cloudless days and periods of endless days of wind and rain. Too awful for "leisure" riding, and my old bones & joints have suffered 50 odd years of riding in all British weather conditions. A couple of years ago, I decided that I would forgo the "pleasures" of winter riding and look forward to the signs of better weather before remounting the trusty Triumph. The new chemical porridge that the gritters spread on the roads, in winter, is no friend of any motorcycle finish and I will protect the Tiger's by keeping it in the garage (SORN, here we come!)

 

[Rocky]

The weather throughout November into December has been exceptionally mild and bikes are still out on the roads. I guess I packed it in too early
But you never know about these things and I don't really regret calling it quits.
The weather can suddenly turn very cold and then I would still have to winterize the bikes and put them away.
I prefer to do that when the temps are fairly mild.
Like DaveH, we had a few days of black ice and road salt was spread. That's nasty stuff on bikes.

 

[Qship]

10 Celsius here today. Saw a guy out on his Harley getting in that last ride. If it wasn't such a PITA to get the bike out and de-winterize it, I might have been tempted too. Best to leave it where it was. A lot of sand on the roads and some residual salt from the snow we've had.

 

[Rocky]

10 Celsius here today. Saw a guy out on his Harley getting in that last ride. If it wasn't such a PITA to get the bike out and de-winterize it, I might have been tempted too. Best to leave it where it was. A lot of sand on the roads and some residual salt from the snow we've had.

Same here.
It's just too much trouble to de-winterize a bike for a short ride and then have to do it all over again.
The gas tanks are empty; the batteries are out; the engines have fresh oil, and each bike is shoved back in it's winter hibernation place in my basement.
Some of my buddies are posting pics on Facebook of their "winter" rides, but I'm not envious.
When summer comes I can ride any day I want while they're slaving away earning a living

 

[DaveH]

Agree with you there Rocky - retirement has advantages but, mostly, it's not how old you are but how old you feel. Some winter mornings, I feel like Methusala, but it soon wears off (and I only feel 100 - just joking, I think!!!) Swapped emails with someone that I haven't seen in years - he has just sold all his bikes as he hasn't enjoyed riding for the last few years. He promised himself that he would pack it in before his 60th birthday - "and he has done it with some months to spare." Linda & I have decided that we will stop riding abroad (continental Europe, that is) when I reach 70, but willl continue in the UK until I (or the Insurance Company) call it quits.

 

[Rocky]

Well, I just turned 78 last weekend and have no plans to give it up for a long time yet.
When I was 70 I was riding through the deserts and Andes Mountains of South America for three weeks, so unless health or other circumstances dictate otherwise, don't use 70 as a bench mark.
I have been blessed with good health, strength and stamina. My reactions and reflexes are as good as ever so I still have confidence in myself behind the bars.
A much younger friend of mine just sold all his bikes and small plane because he was having too much anxiety about the risks.
Once you lose that confidence in yourself then I suppose it's time to give it up.
I hope that never happens to me, but I also think (hope) I will have enough good sense to know when to quit.
I was quite sad to hear this about him since he has been a rider for decades and a pilot for about ten years.
He loved both sports, but it is what it is I guess.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Here Here

 

[DaveH]

That's the way to go, Rocky, keep on going until you feel that you have gone far enough! My only worry is my reaction time - the roads are so full of traffic, in the UK, and everyone seems to be in a hurry. The North American Continent (outside major cities) and parts of Europe (Spain & France, come to mind) have much less traffic densities than us and deliver a much pleasanter riding experience, so the age at which you want to stop riding is more advanced. Am I paranoid, or are they all out to get me?

 

[Rocky]

Even though I live in a relatively small city of just over half a million, the traffic every day seems to get worse and worse - or is it the drivers who are getting worse and worse.
This province has just less than one million in population so it's not hard to find empty country roads and wide open spaces to ride.
But until I'm clear of the city traffic (20-25 minutes) my head is on a swivel and so far (knock on wood) I haven't had any incidents or near misses in 23 years.
The cagers here seem to give bikes an even break, but I still don't trust anybody and proceed with caution. There are plenty of aggressive idiots out there behind the wheel.
I don't ride during rush hours unless I'm leaving town for the day when traffic is going the other way. Same thing when coming home.
I don't think you're paranoid DaveH. Common sense and self preservation will tell you when to stop. At a certain point it's just not worth it anymore.

 

[DaveH]

Yes, I agree with you about the traffic - for the last 12 years of work, I was driving 13 miles in the opposite direction to the majority of commuters (from a city of nearly 200,000 to a small village up the South Wales Eastern Valley.) We live on the outskirts, so, like you, we can get away from congestion in 3 miles and be in the middle of nowhere in 20. It's nice to be retired and have the luxury of picking your riding times - the seaside is only 30 miles one way or 45 the other, so a pleasant stroll on the promenade is just a short ride away. 50 miles north and we are in the wild mountains of Wales. Self preservation (don't know about common sense - it's a non politically correct phrase in GB) has already influenced us to buy

 

[DaveH]

armoured jackets and trousers, boots with steel sole shanks, and Helite TT Airvests. The pc hiccupped there, don't know why, but that is technology! Nice to hear your opinions, a voice other than the one in your head. Keep on rocking!

 

[triumph david]

After reading your post i feel lucky, i live outside (in the country) of a town of about 25,000, soon as i get out of my driveway i am in the country. Don't have to worry about winterizing my bike because i can almost ride everyday of the year. One of the things i am bothered with is i am so used to the scenery and so tired of seeing the sane thing all the time that i bitch to much, things could be worse.