1st YEAR OF RIDING ALMOST DONE

[Dave.TX]

On September 1st I will have my 1st year of riding (street) under my belt. In that time I will have accumulated about 15,000 miles and none of it will have been commuting to/from work but all of it for pleasure. I tell you what, it's been all pleasurable!

My greatest thanks to my favorite forum would go to TWT. Also big thanks to the group that meets in Austin for lunch at Billy's every week.

When I first started I picked up a used 2008 Yamaha FZ6 from Lone Star BMW/Triumph in Austin. After logging about 9,000 miles from Sept 2011 to April 2012 (when I sold it) I picked up a used 2008 BMW K1200GT from Lone Star. I'm at about the 6,000 mile mark on it now.

What I've found is the motorcycle community to be one large family and for the most part it doesn't matter what you ride just as long as you ride.

Scott and his minions do a good job at running this forum. I appreciate all the work that goes into it and I would encourage you, if you already haven't, to donate a little for their efforts for the upkeep of TWT

I look forward to another year and many more of happy riding, exploring Texas and beyond, meeting new people and gaining new friendships.

Happy trails!

DAVE

[Thrasherg]

You need to plan a trip to Seattle, so we can show you some good old Texas hospitality up north!! Congrats on the 1 year marker (Hope I haven't jinxed you!!).

Gary

[Dave.TX]

Thanks! I'm thinking of riding to San Diego (where I grew up) so's I can go riding with some folks I know in the mountains. Until I get a decent seat (Bill Mayer, etc) I won't be making any long, long distance runs. Never been to Washington State, southern Oregon is the closest I've been (Crater Lake and Grants Pass).

[Daytrader]

It's fun, ain't it.
Proud to know you, sir.

[tshelfer]

Accident stats are heavily stacked toward the first week, first month, first quarter of riding. If you've done a year and 15K and kept the bike off the ground, you've done well.

[Dave.TX]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

Accident stats are heavily stacked toward the first week, first month, first quarter of riding. If you've done a year and 15K and kept the bike off the ground, you've done well.

I sure hope so. I ride defensively (and sometimes offensively when no one is around).

John, you and I need to go riding soon. I'll be available this coming Sun/Mon.

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by Dave.TX

I sure hope so. I ride defensively (and sometimes offensively when no one is around).

John, you and I need to go riding soon. I'll be available this coming Sun/Mon.

You've also done a great job riding two up with your gal! Kudos......Super Dave!

[cdc]

You look older than a one year old . . . .and already riding a big BMW!
Happy Anniversary -

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by Thrasherg

You need to plan a trip to Seattle, so we can show you some good old Texas hospitality up north!! Congrats on the 1 year marker (Hope I haven't jinxed you!!).

Gary

NOTHING good in Seattle...(aside from some beautiful scenery if you like climbing mountains. I climbed Mt. Elenor and Mt. Washington.)
just spent aprox 10 years up in that area......
Lets just say i am glad to be back in my home state of TEXAS!
Life is much less stressful here in the south. I even converted my gf of 6 years to a Texan... She is from WA and when we went back for a visit, after 2 days she said she wanted to get back home to Austin ASAP.

[vc_slim]

Hope you can get out for a ride to celebrate the day Dave. I'm looking forward to some more sightseeing and pie runs with you in the very near future.

[Thrasherg]

Originally Posted by shanedman

NOTHING good in Seattle...(aside from some beautiful scenery if you like climbing mountains. I climbed Mt. Elenor and Mt. Washington.)
just spent aprox 10 years up in that area......
Lets just say i am glad to be back in my home state of TEXAS!
Life is much less stressful here in the south. I even converted my gf of 6 years to a Texan... She is from WA and when we went back for a visit, after 2 days she said she wanted to get back home to Austin ASAP.

Dusty, I have to agree with you.. We moved here 8 months ago from Texas (for work reasons) and whilst it is pretty, its bloody cold & wet. We will stay here a few more years and then will try my hardest to get back to Texas!! Both of my daughters are French but lived in Texas for 7 years and they prefer Texas over Seattle.. We will make the most of it here, I like that I can go skiing every weekend of the winter, and there are parks for the dirt bike and for 8 weeks of the year (They call it summer here) I can ride my road bike in some amazing scenery, but it doesn't compare to Texas (IMO).

Gary

Gary

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by Thrasherg

Dusty, I have to agree with you.. We moved here 8 months ago from Texas (for work reasons) and whilst it is pretty, its bloody cold & wet. We will stay here a few more years and then will try my hardest to get back to Texas!! Both of my daughters are French but lived in Texas for 7 years and they prefer Texas over Seattle.. We will make the most of it here, I like that I can go skiing every weekend of the winter, and there are parks for the dirt bike and for 8 weeks of the year (They call it summer here) I can ride my road bike in some amazing scenery, but it doesn't compare to Texas (IMO).

Gary

Gary

Dang G, I think you need a Moto Guzzi, some rain tires and a set of red suspenders.....

[Dave.TX]

Well, no offense, but if I could I'd move back to San Diego. The politics in CA are what drove me away and I don't see myself moving back there. Texas just ain't San Diego. Even after almost 12 years I still miss riding the Imperial Sand Dunes, the mountains and the beaches.

Austin is too much like Sacramento/San Francisco. There are plenty of cool places in Texas that I've been to and have yet to go to, though. And if I didn't come to TX I wouldn't have met Melody nor gotten onto TWT. Great benefits there.

Being a cop I guess I could go anywhere and get a job (except Camden, NJ, where they're eliminating the police dept) but I have 8+ years here so am not ready to give that up. Can retire in 12 years if I wanted. We'll see what the future holds.

BTW, September 1st is the day I bought the Yamaha. I'll be going with Melody to Grapevine and visiting my aunt & uncle (we'll be caging it) that day. Will have to ride either Sunday or Monday.

[Gravel Guy]

Van Halen - Diver Down - Happy Trails - YouTube

Van Halen - Diver Down - Happy Trails - YouTube

[shanedman]

The longer Im on this forum, and the more i ride.....

(i have to admit i have been on almost every day since joining.... helps to talk to like minded individuals)

...the more i want more bikes.... not to sell my one i have and get a replacement, but to buy more... each with a different purpose... lol

The problem of being broke...... One day perhaps.... one day

[Dave.TX]

Well, Dusty, a lot of us can only afford one bike. If I didn't also have a truck payment I could swing another one and I'd seriously consider a Tiger 800 XC.

Until the day comes I'm stuck with one. As you get to know folks here you'll find out that most of us tend to buy one, sell it, buy another one, sell it, buy another one... etc. I've been riding a year and am on #2. I figured out after getting #1 that my riding style fit a sport tourer better so when the opportunity arose I made the change.

I'm finding out I just don't like heavy bikes. This one is almost 200 pounds heavier than the previous one. It's fine most of the time but I still like hitting the twisties and the Yamaha was better suited for it. Not that this one can't, it's just different. I feel less confident in turns. When I have Melody riding with me and total weight is approaching 950 or so it's a lot different than by myself at about 650 with the Yamaha. There's where two bikes would come in handy, nay, three bikes. Touring, sport and dual sport. That's where I'd like to be.

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by Dave.TX

There's where two bikes would come in handy, nay, three bikes. Touring, sport and dual sport. That's where I'd like to be.

Thats kinda where i was going with my comment...
-Touring for some distance rides, specially since my fam/hometown is a 4-5 hr drive from here in Austin.
-Sport cuz i tend to be more fond of them for looks and riding style.
-dual would be cool too... love to be able to go "everywhere"

[wbrisett]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

Accident stats are heavily stacked toward the first week, first month, first quarter of riding.

Also reentry riders, like myself, who took a few years off (10 in my case).

Wayne

[wbrisett]

Originally Posted by Dave.TX

Well, Dusty, a lot of us can only afford one bike. If I didn't also have a truck payment I could swing another one and I'd seriously consider a Tiger 800 XC.

Well, if you ever want to be tempted, just look at the pre-owned section at LS right now. I just happen to know the previous owner of that under 3K mile loaded XC.

[Sov]

Originally Posted by Dave.TX

That's where two bikes would come in handy, nay, three bikes. Touring, sport and dual sport.

Who on earth would want to have a touring, a dual-sport, and a sport bike.

I wish it just stopped there. It would also be nice to have a race/track bike, a dirt bike, and a vintage/project bike in the stable.

I completely agree about bike weight; I much prefer lighter weight bikes for the riding I do right now. But... heavier bikes sure do handle interstate speeds and 2-up well.