Another short ride report:
Well, this might have been longer with more pics, but what started out as a windy afternoon turned into full out 30mph or more very frequent gusts, almost sustained really. Due to the high winds and impending rain I decided to cut it shorter than I would have liked.
A nice sunny day, a bit windy and I was itching to ride after doing the honey do list all morning. There is no better way to follow up gardening and yard work than a nice ride I am coming to find.
Pre ride inspection done, choke full out, depress starter button, and...nothing. She really is a little cold blooded this bike. A few cranks later and we're warming up. I guess at the choke setting and warm up engine speed (tach is coming thanks to Mr.Bill) and listen to her pulse until I sense the we're ready.
Got the new windscreen on and looking forward to trying it out, thanks go to JordanA for that purchaseSo I ride around a while, didn't go far today, didn't plan on it really do to the threat of rain, but I meander through our town and stay local. I decide to hit a couple of the main thoroughfares around here to practice riding in heavier traffic with the goal of getting myself ready to start commuting to and from work (hopefully soon). Remember that wind I mentioned earlier? Well, heavy wind and congested roads proved to be a little surprise!
Wind be damned I am going to enjoy this short ride today, so I exit the main, heavily traveled roads and opt for some more meandering. Once off the big roads I run across a group of bikes and ride with them for a little bit. I have come to find, it seams, that there is camaraderie among those who doesn't ride a harley around here, the harley riders are a complete other story though. What the heck is up with those guys? No wave, no nod, nothing but a scowl. And if you talk to them, nothing but a cold shoulder, or worse. I am sure there are nice folks that ride the Milwaukee brand, but they aren't around here. Are they all mad because they still owe $20K on their bikes, or are they just better than everyone else? I don't like to pass judgment normally, but in this case I feel justified.
Enough of that rant, sorry...
So after a nice little group ride with some unknown riders I turned off to head towards home. I'm riding through a neighborhood I've driven through at least 100 times when I notice a side road not previously noticed.
It was a little less of a road and a little more of a trail, but I figured I'd throw caution to the wind for a little bit.
Turns out that while the cb450sc is certainly no dual sport, it handled itself pretty well. The standard riding/peg position worked well for standing up and slowly riding down the "road", it even made it through this:
I have had better moments of clarity than this, but it was fun nonetheless. The trail ended up not really going anywhere other than a dried up creek bed under a bridge that I actually drive over all the time.
Hey look! I made back through the sugar sand! I'm well on my way to adventure riding with 450!
(not practical or likely, but it's fun to pretend).
So, not wanting to try my luck any more, and with the wind really whipping around some more, I headed home. One of these days I am going to go on a longer ride to some more interesting and less local place(s). Until then...
A couple of thoughts for today:
1. Black leather is
when it is 85 deg and the sun is full out. The protection is nice, but the lack of breathing kinda sucks...
2. 30 mph + wind is interesting to ride in when your not used to it...
3. A nighthawk based dual sport would be pretty cool...
4. A windscreen make a LOT of difference in comfort...
5. above windscreen makes that black leather even hotter in the full 85 deg sun...
6. I think my forks need rebuilt/oils seals replaced as the right one won't hold air and appears to be leaking oil.
7. I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow so I could ride or fix the forks.
