Norton ride at Hansen Dam, Nov 1, 2015

[Thruxton71]

http://socalnorton.com/wp/calendar/

Winter is Coming!! This ride could send you over the edge.. Norton John?? Fix that header pipe yet??

[xbacksideslider]

No, I haven't but I will be there on the KTM or the Honda.

Is Tetge going to ride his new super shaker?

[Tetge]

No, I haven't but I will be there on the KTM or the Honda.

Is Tetge going to ride his new super shaker?

You should ride your weak, slow, pitiful, KTM, as at least it is a single cylinder European bike. As for me? I am not sure yet as variables such as weather and whether Tim will be there, and what he will be riding, etc., all can enter into the picture. It is still a fair jaunt over to the dam from where I live on the big shaker. And, I would have to pump up its tyres tomorrow if I want to ride Sunday, as well as clean the lousy face shield on my helmet. I looked at a new face shield, but it was really expensive, so I figured I'd just get a ne helmet soon as my Snell rating will not work for drag racing after 2015.

So, who knows about Sunday as it is still a long way off in dog years?

[Tetge]

We decided to leave at 9:30 as it appeared that it was going to be a zoo with more bikes than ever. We rolled out to Acton and ate Mexican food and soft drinks before it got crowded. I looked for Slider as I left, but, he was socializing, and, in any case, I followed my brother on his Velocette, so our pace would have been too slow for Slider as we never sped at all. That said, my brother appeared to be in a hurry compared to most times we have ridden, but, perhaps it was because he was riding his really strong running 500 cc Endurance, which rolls right along? Even then, some dude on a Harley chopper held my brother off on Little T and, of course, I did not attempt to get by the dude, since I was just following along and smelling the roses.

But, it was a glorious riding day, although I missed the fact that the time changed and fell back an hour, which robbed me of an extra hour's sleep. But, at least I got to the dam in plenty of time. And, I didn't even run out of fuel, which I was not sure about since the low fuel light came on. But, it supposedly holds 3.7 gallons and I only put 3.25 in it and got 47.5 mpg, so it would go about 175 miles before sputtering to a stop. I went 155 miles so I still had 20 miles worth left.

Now I have had a riding fix, and, it was sort of relaxing to just thump around near the speed limit and not to use the brakes much, etc., as opposed to riding with the crazed mugs and being in full on race mode the entire ride.

[jhwalker]

Yes, that is the proper riding style for a gentleman in his 70's.

[Tetge]

Yes, that is the proper riding style for a gentleman in his 70's.

For once we agree completely. I also discovered some nice things about the KTM since I was not struggling to keep some manic pace and I had time to relax and just cruise along. The KTM really requires precise, yet relaxed and easy, inputs to work properly. When I say this, I am comparing it to the DR-Z, which, in contrast, needed to be man handled at times. Part of this may be that the KTM carries its weight fairly low and it is much easier to turn than the DR-Z with its off road height and its top heavy weight distribution. Both bikes weigh almost exactly the same but the KTM feels 50 pounds lighter. Also, I was listening to the way my brother rides his big Velocette single, which has a great exhaust note, and, he was shifting down a lot as he approached corners, and then snicking it up into top gear before he completely exited the corners. I started to mimic his style and the KTM responded quite well as it is a genuine big single, it appears.

So, to my surprise, it was a very nice ride, even though canyon mugs would never have been able to maintain such a languid pace. They might have tried, but at some point they would have slammed down a gear or two and sped off into the distance at mug pace, never to be seen again. But, for the calm and relaxed, a perfect motorcycle riding day in Southern California was, and is, still a thing of beauty. Can you say, Zen?

And, the KTM felt even better after a couple of soda pops at the Mexican restaurant.

[xbacksideslider]

A fine day. Missed Tim. Rode with Sandy and Jim and some of their friends the KTM was its usual solid self

[xbacksideslider]

Sr Walker, for you sir.

[jhwalker]

Sr Walker, for you sir.

gracias

[xbacksideslider]

http://www.triumphtalk.com/threads/36th ... ost-236896

Great link, write up with pics