Let’s officially introduce ourselves

Let’s officially introduce ourselves, you a Kawasaki Concours C14 with 1352 cc’s and a nice blend of power, performance, technology and set-up to tour. Myself a motorcycle enthusiast who has a respect for power and a desire for performance while touring and enjoying the ride. I think we’re going to get along quite well if I say so myself.

Well I did it and bought the bike I have dreamed about for some time now, I picked her up on Thursday and even though we put a few miles on it was a brief introduction. Today it was time to share what we both love to do, she taught me a few things and I introduced her to the area. I think I have been introduced to motorcycle euphoria!

This morning was overcast and occasionally a sprinkle of rain but I loaded up, geared up and grabbed the camera. The first order of business was to head to my local seaside coffee shop and show her where we’ll be relaxing before and after our rides. Pointing the fenders toward Aquidneck Island we cruised some local roads past local vineyards, beaches and plenty of ocean views. Occasionally there was a brief rain shower and I shared the road with no one, passing by a local farm as you see in the picture I wasn’t the only turkey enjoying this start of the day.

I lost the wave, I passed a few riders on cruisers while heading for fuel and I dropped my arm to wave but they just cruised on by. In my mind I’m saying “guys hey I’m one of you “ but unfortunately at cruising speed they just wrote me off a sport bike rider and not all riders have them same mentality of its not what you ride but that you ride. I also noticed when fueling up that I attract some people that may not have come over to me when I was leathered up and on my cruiser, “Hey that’s a nice machine you have there”, “I bet that thing moves”, “Not a great day for a ride but that thing sure looks like it keeps you dry”.  Even the gentleman in a nice fancy suit up at the farm stand looking for a New York Times made his way over. Does what you ride have that much of an impact on how people perceive you? I never noticed and no matter what I’m riding or wearing when the helmets off I’m over to say hello.

After my jaunt on Aquidneck Island I decided to make my way toward Sakonnet Point. This is a very nice area of Rhode Island rich in history, typical and quaint New England towns, more farms, more views of the ocean and more vineyards and really nice roadside stands where you can buy anything from fresh seafood, locally grown produce and delicious pies. I love the long tree covered roads with the occasional sweeper turn and if you know where you are going there is the short twisty roads just to break things up.

I showed her what I like to do and she definitely showed me she enjoys it and can handle just about anything I can offer and subliminally begging me for more.

This is the start of a great relationship!!!!!

Kawasaki Concours Owners Group – www.cog-online.org

It has been a good run -

Well the time has come to get a new bike and most riders would be jumping out of the skin for a new ride. I am very anxious but at the same time I feel a little anxiety knowing my trusty ride will have a new home and rider. After all we have been through so much, like the time I came face to face with a tropical storm that never lost its punch on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Or the time we shared an expensive ride home 130 miles on a tow truck because of a rear tire blow-out and she kept me steady and safe from 70mph to the breakdown lane. We honored our fallen service members all over New England whether it was in the bitter cold or in the blistering heat. There was no rain, wind or snow flakes for that matter that would keep us home to ride in honor with the PGR. I always repeat the saying you meet the nicest people on a Honda but it was actually the Honda that introduced me to the nicest people.

I know she’ll treat her next rider right as she has done for me but at the same time she’ll be missed. I’m loving the idea of the new bike but will it have the same personality as this one? It’s like getting a second puppy, will I love the new puppy as much as my old hound?

Well tonight we bonded as I polished her up from one end to the other and did our usually coffee run, probably our last Sunday night coffee run but I have over 40,000 miles of memories…..

The new bike will be in the stable on Thursday and its not only a great looking bike its a rocket with wheels.  My new bike will give me everything I hoped for, great looking lines, ability to load it for a road trip, power if needed and great handling… The new bike is an 09 Kawasaki Concours 14 – its a deep red could even be a burgundy but it looks sweet.  The bike is an 09 and when this line was introduced in 08 it was voted motorcycle of the year.. The Concours has been around for a long time and has a long history of sport touring but the new look in 08 looks great!!!!

Now with that said when I decided I was getting a new bike I was on the hunt for an ST1300. I couldn’t find one locally and without getting something I really didn’t want which was a very used bike I started looking at other sport touring bikes which is when this bike caught my eye… I don’t think I will be disappointed in my choice

Nipmuck Waterkip – Action Packed Fun

Now if you’re like me you don’t think of snowmobiles in 80 degree temperatures, well I don’t think like that any longer. This past Sunday a couple of riding friends from Two Wheel New England got together to attend an event sponsored by the Nipmuck Trail Riders in Union, CT. Typical of our gatherings they usually start at a local coffee shop and on this day we had two meeting locations to accommodate some of the riders from the West Bay. The roads traveled were some that we have motored down in previous rides so no need to go into great detail other than to say this section of CT offers roads that never seem to grow old.

The water skip is actually a competitive event offering trophies in quarter mile drags, ovals, jumps and figure eights. The admission price is recession proof, yes they do not charge to get in and I saw many families and folks who had brought their own coolers. The atmosphere was festive, supercharged with energy and even family / kid friendly.

The machines seemed to be fitted with a buoy, a small removable gas tank and from what I can tell their seats and possibly some electronics removed. All the riders must wear a helmet and life jacket and there are two pontoon boats with winches available to remove the water logged sleds from the pond.  I’ve been told after being swamped riders can drain, clean and dry their rides to get back into the action in less than 20 minutes. The riders are lined up along the beach and when the rope drops across the start / finish line all hell breaks loose with mixture of a screaming engine, flying sand and let the spray of white water begin. In our group there were a few racing enthusiasts but judging by Greg’s face who doesn’t follow racing, if you enjoy anything with a motor mixed with some excitement you have to check this out. Those touring the New England area the Nipmuck web site states this event is held the first Sunday of every July & August and surely not to be missed.

http://nipmucktrailriders.com/events.html