- Joined
- Nov 7, 2004
- Messages
- 17,431
- Reaction score
- 5,579
- Location
- Sun Lakes & Show Low, Arizona
- First Name
- Brian
Hi everyone! I've been interested in Long Distance riding ever since I met my first IBR rider outside my Best Buy store in Houston one night. He told me a little bit about the IBA and I was hooked at that point, and I didn't even have a bike yet.
My first bike was a new 1978 Kawasaki KZ650 that I purchased in Tucson when I was still very young and dumb. One of the first mods I did to it was to add a Vetter fairing and go riding around southern Arizona. A few months later I loaded it in the back of one of our Circuit City semis and I rode with the driver to our warehouse in Los Angeles. We unloaded it at the dock, and at about 1 in the morning I was riding it in East L.A. (I told you I was young and dumb) looking for a freeway to take me to Las Vegas.
Once I found the freeway I was on my way, but since this was Easter weekend and there was snow on the ground I was VERY much unprepared for the weather and I was FREEZING. Somewhere around Barstow (with snow on the ground) I found a motel and tucked myself in for a few hours of warmth.
The next morning I awoke and headed on in to Vegas, spending the day and night there. The following morning I headed back home to Tucson. After crossing into Arizona there was a long flat stretch of Hwy 93 and after sailing along at 105 mph for a few miles I glanced down and noticed my oil light was on! Clutch in, engine off, and I coasted to a stop on the side of the highway. I checked the oil level and it was fine, yet the oil light persisted. I started the bike, and began riding slowly along the highway, then faster and faster. No funny noises, no increase in engine temps, so I crossed my fingers and headed for home.
I made it without a problem and when I got it to the shop it turned out to just be a bad ground that caused the oil light to illuminate.
It was only 700 miles, and it was done over the period of 2 days, but it was the spark that lit my desire to pound out the miles.
My first bike was a new 1978 Kawasaki KZ650 that I purchased in Tucson when I was still very young and dumb. One of the first mods I did to it was to add a Vetter fairing and go riding around southern Arizona. A few months later I loaded it in the back of one of our Circuit City semis and I rode with the driver to our warehouse in Los Angeles. We unloaded it at the dock, and at about 1 in the morning I was riding it in East L.A. (I told you I was young and dumb) looking for a freeway to take me to Las Vegas.
Once I found the freeway I was on my way, but since this was Easter weekend and there was snow on the ground I was VERY much unprepared for the weather and I was FREEZING. Somewhere around Barstow (with snow on the ground) I found a motel and tucked myself in for a few hours of warmth.
The next morning I awoke and headed on in to Vegas, spending the day and night there. The following morning I headed back home to Tucson. After crossing into Arizona there was a long flat stretch of Hwy 93 and after sailing along at 105 mph for a few miles I glanced down and noticed my oil light was on! Clutch in, engine off, and I coasted to a stop on the side of the highway. I checked the oil level and it was fine, yet the oil light persisted. I started the bike, and began riding slowly along the highway, then faster and faster. No funny noises, no increase in engine temps, so I crossed my fingers and headed for home.
I made it without a problem and when I got it to the shop it turned out to just be a bad ground that caused the oil light to illuminate.
It was only 700 miles, and it was done over the period of 2 days, but it was the spark that lit my desire to pound out the miles.
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