Just Ride.

[Jim]

Someone pointed out the other day that we don't have a thread dedicated to sharing our rides. We have a "What did you do to your XS today" thread. We have one dedicated to "Justa joke." We even have the "Great 2M barbecue hunt" dedicated to finding great BBQ... but nothing for the everyday ordinary ride... or the epic one for that matter. Well, now we do.

Take some pics... shoot a video. Test ride around the block? Day trip? Cross country with friends? Found your Eldorado? Put it up here. I'm pretty sure pics are allowed.

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old—
This knight so bold—
And o’er his heart a shadow—
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow—
‘Shadow,’ said he,
‘Where can it be—
This land of Eldorado?’

‘Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,’
The shade replied,—
‘If you seek for Eldorado!’

Edgar Allen Poe.

Like Gailey, most of us are getting--
a little long in the tooth.
Go for a ride... chase your youth....
Just...ride.

 

[MaxPete]

Well put Jim - very well put indeed!

Pete

 

[Mailman]

A Link to many of THE Mailman's MOST EXCELLENT ride threads.
Me and Elvis.........riding with the king.


Nope, not that Elvis......this one.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve decided to name my bike. I never have done that before, but I figured if I was ever going to do that, this is THE ONE.

So Elvis was in need of a proper road trip. I built this bike to ride and so I shall, as beautiful as it is, I hope to use it up before I’m all used up!

This morning was beautiful out, 70 degrees and sunny with a few fluffy white clouds, a perfect day for riding.
I was thinking about the ride as I was suiting up this morning, Elvis was patiently chuffing away.
Today I’m heading for Lake Pleasant regional park. As I was riding onto the property I couldn’t help notice how the hillsides were covered with native Palo Verde trees in bloom, there were also thousands of Saguaro cactus.

When I arrived at the lake, I was pleasantly surprised to see the the lake was full. It has been a very long time since that has happened. In fact almost all the Arizona lakes are full, due to heavy winter rain and snow fall. We have been in such an extended drought here it’s a big relief to see water in the lakes again.

There is a floating Marina with a restaurant out there.

Turkey vultures were thick above the lake today, riding thermals coming off of the cliff faces.

I was really hoping to photograph some sailboats on the water today but no joy. Nothing but fishermen and pontoon boats and jet skis.

They have camp grounds and picnic ramadas and a very nice visitor center where you can learn the history of the lake and the dams construction and the history of the native Americans that once populated this region and also all about the native wildlife. It’s very nice and free to the public.

A birds eye view of the dam, which is a modern earthen dam, which is surprising complex in its construction.

Well I’ve explored every road and camp ground and the visitors center and with that , it’s time to leave.

75 miles of some pretty hard riding and it never missed a beat!
Elvis, old buddy.......I think you and I are gonna be good friends!
Later Bob ( and Elvis)

 

[650Skull]

Yea i made that suggestion in mailman's restoration thread.

Honestly a thread is not going to do anything..............it needs to have its own dedicated forum, like, The Garage, The Lounge, The Clubhouse, The laboratory..........The Ride..........Hell the laboratory as lost its use and that could be converted as it's basically a wast of space and doesn't get used as it was intended........Been some great rides posted in the past that have been lost to archives, especially James's...............

A thread will end up being a thousand pages long and rides will become lost within it, that's why it needs to be a dedicated forum.

Maybe make this into a Poll to get the lay of the land................

 

[Jim]

Maybe make this into a Poll to get the lay of the land................

Done.

 

[Jim]

Thanks for kickin' it off in good fashion Bob.... excellent pics!!
Another day like that and you can have another look at your oil.

 

[Mailman]

Thanks Jim! We’re winding down to the last good riding days here. We caught a break with a weather front moving through the state, bringing the temps down to unusually low. We’ve already hit 100 degrees this year.
I’m happy I had the opportunity to at least get one really good ride in.

 

[xjwmx]

You want to see something funny? I goggled the above park to try and find camping fees and this is the picture that came up. I think the crawler sometimes associates the wrong picture.

 

[59Tebo]

Wow, Duke! The only thing more amazing than the scenery on your ride is the horse you rode on!

 

[Mailman]

You want to see something funny? I goggled the above park to try and find camping fees and this is the picture that came up. I think the crawler sometimes associates the wrong picture.

View attachment 140712

Wow! They ought to put that right on the cover of their brochure!
“ If you’re ever near the lake, drop on in!”

Wow, Duke! The only thing more amazing than the scenery on your ride is the horse you rode on!

Thanks Tebo! I likes my horse!

 

[MrBultaco]

Great idea Jim...and Bob, I see you are gathering some calendar pics too.

 

[MadeThatMyself]

I like this thread idea. And I also like that there is apparently a BBQ thread I need to check out. I've been working on a little search for good BBQ myself...

 

[peanut]

Great pictures Bob .......that sure is a nice bike

Interesting to see how riding conditions vary to extreme around the World even in the same hemisphere at any one time .
We are only just coming into a period where its dry and warm enough to even think about going out for a long ride .It rarely gets too hot over here to ride but we sure make up for it with rain lol

Great idea for a new forum board Jim ...looking forward to seeing some videos ,. I miss those excellent round the block rides vids of nightflyer

 

[ExSquid]

Fly-Boy, Squid here.
Are you a fan of "The Glass Prism"?
Just to let you know, I got the SH figured out. First, the carbs NEEDED to be adjusted. Then when I couldn't get the right one going, I tested the Green XS Performance coil. 14.5k ohms on the secondary. 0.0 on the primary. FOUND IT! I'm glad I didn't let my ex-wife toss all my bike stuff. Put the original coil back in after testing it. The SH purrs like the raggedy XS it is.
I'm very glad I found this sight. The tech section is great. My timing is dead nuts on. The carb floats were 27mm left, 12mm right. Why in God's name do I let anyone else fiddle with my stuff? Because I just retired and my tools were in transit.

 

[Jim]

Are you a fan of "The Glass Prism"?

Hey swabby,
Never heard of 'em. Interesting idea.... Poe set to psychedelic music. I'll check 'em out.
Glad you're gettin' your bike sorted.

 

[650Skull]

http://www.xs650.com/threads/what-have-you-done-to-your-xs-today.32082/page-271#post-593859

 

[GLJ]

Got enough miles to do the first oil change. Took it for a short ride to get the engine warmed up before changing oil. Rode North of town to local park along the Rock River. Place called Lowell Park. President Reagan lifeguarded there. I think he was credited with over 20 saves. Took a few pics of the bike and park. If you are wondering Reagan always considered Dixon his hometown. All of his school years were in Dixon. He was born in Tampico IL. Tampico is basically an intersection of 2 country roads. No swimming aloud at Lowell Park any more, they do have a couple of boat launches.

Hard to see. In the red circle is a wild turkey. The kind you eat not drink.

 

[Mailman]

Got enough miles to do the first oil change. Took it for a short ride to get the engine warmed up before changing oil. Rode North of town to local park along the Rock River. Place called Lowell Park. President Reagan lifeguarded there. I think he was credited with over 20 saves. Took a few pics of the bike and park. If you are wondering Reagan always considered Dixon his hometown. All of his school years were in Dixon. He was born in Tampico IL. Tampico is basically an intersection of 2 country roads. No swimming aloud at Lowell Park any more, they do have a couple of boat launches.
View attachment 140946
View attachment 140947
View attachment 140948
View attachment 140950
Hard to see. In the red circle is a wild turkey. The kind you eat not drink.
View attachment 140949

Nice! Great to see you out enjoying your nice bike. That is a beautiful lake , it all looks so lush and green and cool, nothing at all the hot , rocky landscape around where I live. Great photos, thanks for posting!

 

[GLJ]

Thanks.
Seems a little odd to be riding through places that I rode the very same bike through 40+ years ago.

That is a beautiful lake

Not a lake a river.

 

[gggGary]

CafePhil called; lets do lunch! only took 175 miles to get'r done!

I featured and stickied this thread so it doesn't get lost.