[Motorcycling] Having more fun...

[George Fazio]

Well, I haven't been on any real long rides again yet.  It has been 
mostly short rides and the occasional trip into work.
Doug and I might be running up to Scranton the weekend of 7/12 if the 
weather cooperates. 

I did get all the new parts on the bike, and I'm itching for a decent 
ride to test it out.  I was on-call this week, but I managed to get a 
couple short rides in.  Today, Sunday 7/6, I said F-it and took the bike 
out down towards the office.  I looked up a friend/co-worker, Dan, to 
see what he was up too.  We ended up chatting for awhile and did a 
short, but some-what spirited, ride - well, as spirited as you can get 
on Ridge Pike.  Dan asked if I was trying to keep him on his toes.  No 
Dan, you can continue to be the one with the screw loose ... I'm just in 
it for the fun ;-).  I took 73 all the way out to the end and headed for 
home when we split up in Collegeville.

The new handlebars and grips are definitely making a difference.  Maybe 
it's my imagination, but I feel more in control of the bike and the 
twisties are just a little bit more fun.  The oil cooler is still 
growing on me.  I think it was the right thing to do, but it's a little 
bulkier than I expected.  The rest of the stuff was miscellaneous odds 
and ends.  They relocated the front turn signals down to the forks, took 
off the rear pegs, and put a chrome cover on the voltage regulator to 
match it up with the oil cooler.  I got a little adventurous on Saturday 
and picked up new foot pegs, a shifter peg, and a bake pedal pad.  
They're chrome with rubber in a "diamond plate" pattern.  I did the 
installation myself and it looks OK.

I was warned before buying the bike, but it's definitely a work in 
progress.  I think the next purchase will be a half or 3/4 helmet and 
glasses.  But, I'm thinking about doing the Screaming Eagle mufflers and 
maybe a K&N air filter kit.  I was reading the forums, and most people 
says the Screaming Eagle mufflers are a little throatier, but not "scare 
the children" loud.  Since they're 49 state legal and I've been informed 
that I can't have loud pipes, they should fit the bill.

I'm also thinking about getting all the controls in chrome and the 
cables in stainless steel braid.  Also on the list is doing something 
with the wheels.  I'm thinking about doing a Fat Bob/Fat Boy style wheel 
in the back, but I haven't decided on the front yet.  I could leave it, 
or I could put a wheel on - just not sure yet.  I have some other ideas 
too, but one thing at a time ... I could easily go broke if I don't 
remember that.

Anyway, see you on the road...

George