The 2017 Smoky Mountain Dogwood Rally

Thank you Gary, time is something we are all running out of. My wife is my best friend and I have to be here for her when she needs me. She would have worked something out if I had been hardheaded enough to have left for the weekend......she's that kind of person.

There will be other events.....I made a lot of plans to be sure I made this one...but it wasn't meant to be. I just don't want to wake up one day and wish I had done more with the time I have......cause I know my clock is ticking.

I already have reservations (for months) for the XS11 rally........I'll be on the XS for that one, maybe I'll just leave the darn thing packed.

Take care and I hope to get to shake your hand in person one day.......your friend in NC, Gordon
 
Weather is looking good for Saturday. What time is kickstands up on Saturday Marty?
 
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Good times Good times. The 650 ran without a hiccup. Every time I get on that thing I'm reminded why it's is such a great bike. Lot's of torque, a great sound and decent handling. The limitations are hard shifting, a sometimes impossible neutral, middling brakes and an awful seat. All to be addressed as time and money permit.
Thanks to Marty for putting everything together. A great ride on Saturday.
Oh, and I am the guy on the far right in the 2nd picture.
Jim
 
@ Hoop how is your bike running? Was the wire swap the golden ticket?

Grizld1 you could probably answer that also. Jus wondering. . . I have a scraped knuckle invested. Albeit a small scrape and little time. :laugh:
 
Sunday is a wash, but some showed up as early as Wednesday and were treated to glorious weather. The rally was a success. Nobody got hurt, nobody crashed, and nobody broke down. (mostly) I don't think anyone even got their feelings hurt, although, with this bunch, I can't be sure. I made it to the house last night just minutes ahead of the thunder boomers and downpour.
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@ ThatXS650Guy is the far right in the second the same as the far right in the third?

I wish you all would learn how to stage bikes for a group shot, everything behind Chaves is buried. How we gonna see if Dicks carbs are leaking? :umm:
 
Yes, a comment was made at the scene about our poor staging ability. On scene, it was done amid grumbling. It's like herding cats. We departed on time, and made lunch on time. Chicken Little was afraid the sky was falling, so no one wanted to see Anna Ruby Falls. Or maybe I should get it through my head that nobody cares to look at the sights. We all like hanging out and chatting at fuel stops. Whatever. It was a great time spent with great friends. We've been doing this rally since 2002.
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No XS650's were hurt at this rally. I'll put more photos on the Society FB page and on the Smoky Mountain Dogwood Rally page. Many of the attendees are not members or active on this forum.
 
VERY cool - looks like you guys had a fabulous time!

Next year - CHoHW. :mad:

Cheers,

Pete
 
Dan, you'll never let me live down that sticking float valve at Ozark 2, will you? I know it won't stop you from tweaking my nose (Gary's already twisted it permanently out of shape, so go ahead, I can take it), but when I got home I found where the debris had come from. I'd installed one of those round clear plastic inline filters with a paper element inside on the right carb, and the damn thing had broken up internally, floating little bits of plastic and garf down the fuel line. The sintered filters pass more crap than I like, but with the space available, routing, etc., I haven't yet found a good alternative.

There was plenty of bad in us dudes, 2M--bad backs, bad bladders, bad knees, bad hips, bad hearing, and yes, bad, sore asses! All the bad that comes with age was in that pack of riders.
 
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