PolygonFla
03-10-2007, 09:36 PM
I went for a nice long ride today. I had intended to ride to the Croom lake recreation area, http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/with_croom_bicycle.htm But I got a late start. Since I went to the ZZTop concert last night and couldn’t drag my sorry self out of bed before 1:00 PM.
Anyway I headed north from St. Pete enjoying my china bike and some twisty back roads. Now that she is broken in and we’ve gotten used to each other I am confident taking her any distance. The bike just purrs along at 60 mph all day and I can push her over 65 when I need to.
I was about half way to my destination when I decided to stop and fill the fuel tank a second time and clean the bugs off the face shield. That was when I decided to change plans because I would have been getting home later than planned and my but was getting a little sore and I didn’t feel any need to push it.
So I altered course and headed back south again but this time I took a more westerly route. I stopped in Tarpon Springs for a late lunch of Greek food. That area is under construction so I went off road for a while to avoid traffic. I was concerned about riding in sugar sand with my super motto style tires, but as long as I keep everything light and smooth she just floated along fine. After merging back in with the traffic I really appreciated the maneuverability in the crowded sponge docks area and being able to park free when the cars where circling looking for a lot with an empty space that they could rent for $5.
After lunch I rode around the bayou then headed over to sunset beach and then a quick tour of Howard Park, http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/06_Howard.htm then it was off to the monkey farm, oops I mean Primate rescue center. http://www.suncoastprimates.org/
I stopped by a friend’s house to offer to let him take the bike for a spin around the block but he declined. He had a Honda CBR many years ago but he hasn’t ridden in at least 15 years. I suspect that he turned down my offer either because he didn’t want to stir the juices and end up wanting a bike of his own or perhaps his wife doesn’t want him riding a bike. Either way I can respect his decision.
From there it was a leisurely ride home.
There where so many bikes out, I felt like royalty waving every few seconds and I NEED A BIGGER FUEL TANK!
I stopped every 60 miles and put $2.00 in the tank. That would top it off, since I am getting 70mpg right now and I would buy about 0.8 gallons. If I push it to 70 or 75 miles before filling up I end up having to flip on the reserve. I don’t like doing that because one day I may forget to return the valve to run. So I have almost exactly 1 usable gallon in my tank.:(
I think I am going to try and fit a Yamaha 4 gallon tank to the bike from a YZ465. We will see if I can make it fit. :lol:
Look foreword to some interesting pictures coming from me soon.
Anyway I headed north from St. Pete enjoying my china bike and some twisty back roads. Now that she is broken in and we’ve gotten used to each other I am confident taking her any distance. The bike just purrs along at 60 mph all day and I can push her over 65 when I need to.
I was about half way to my destination when I decided to stop and fill the fuel tank a second time and clean the bugs off the face shield. That was when I decided to change plans because I would have been getting home later than planned and my but was getting a little sore and I didn’t feel any need to push it.
So I altered course and headed back south again but this time I took a more westerly route. I stopped in Tarpon Springs for a late lunch of Greek food. That area is under construction so I went off road for a while to avoid traffic. I was concerned about riding in sugar sand with my super motto style tires, but as long as I keep everything light and smooth she just floated along fine. After merging back in with the traffic I really appreciated the maneuverability in the crowded sponge docks area and being able to park free when the cars where circling looking for a lot with an empty space that they could rent for $5.
After lunch I rode around the bayou then headed over to sunset beach and then a quick tour of Howard Park, http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/06_Howard.htm then it was off to the monkey farm, oops I mean Primate rescue center. http://www.suncoastprimates.org/
I stopped by a friend’s house to offer to let him take the bike for a spin around the block but he declined. He had a Honda CBR many years ago but he hasn’t ridden in at least 15 years. I suspect that he turned down my offer either because he didn’t want to stir the juices and end up wanting a bike of his own or perhaps his wife doesn’t want him riding a bike. Either way I can respect his decision.
From there it was a leisurely ride home.
There where so many bikes out, I felt like royalty waving every few seconds and I NEED A BIGGER FUEL TANK!
I stopped every 60 miles and put $2.00 in the tank. That would top it off, since I am getting 70mpg right now and I would buy about 0.8 gallons. If I push it to 70 or 75 miles before filling up I end up having to flip on the reserve. I don’t like doing that because one day I may forget to return the valve to run. So I have almost exactly 1 usable gallon in my tank.:(
I think I am going to try and fit a Yamaha 4 gallon tank to the bike from a YZ465. We will see if I can make it fit. :lol:
Look foreword to some interesting pictures coming from me soon.