11.7.2014

I took the Wing for (probably) its final voyage this season.  It was a balmy 44 degrees so I needed to bundle up.  I headed over to the Mobil station that sells the 91 non-ethanol fuel [pictured below].  I want to make sure that the gas holds up through the winter so in addition to topping off the tank I added stabil to make sure that there are no issues in the tank.  After I get my battery tender back from my mom I should be good through the cold season.  I'm already looking forward to next year when the weather breaks and I can get back on and pile on more miles!

10.26.2014

Amanda and I took a spin through the three mile drive in the Arboretum.  Afterwards we swung through Perkins to grab lunch.  Then we went out to Webster to visit cousin Nathan and wish him a happy birthday and check out the progress on his barn.  The ride home was all slab and boring but the weather continues to be gorgeous so it is hard to complain.

10.25.2014

I cruised over to the Average Joe Car Show at the Ramada in Bloomington before heading to the Trutnau's open house.  Afterwards I headed home via crosstown.  

10.24.2014

Rode into work again today.  I feel like I need to take advantage of this awesome fall weather!

10.22.2014

Rode into work today.  Parked in the LaSalle ramp, super convenient considering I'm a block away.  After tightening the qwikvalve there was no leaking after the oil change which is good.  It was super cold coming in this morning but the ride home was comfortable.  It looks like I will still have a few more good days of riding and then the temps are starting to get low enough to make riding uncomfortable.

10.20.2014

I changed the oil tonight @ 8033 on the odometer.  I ended up using the Bosch 3323 filter and filled her up with a jug of Rotella T6 per the recommendation of the forum members.  Since the oil is well priced, synthetic, and JASO certified the forum members rave about it.  The process was fairly simple but instead of replacing the drain plug I installed the Fumoto valve so that future oil changes will be even easier.  I had to maneuver the valve into place which took a little finagling but I was able to get it after just a couple attempts.  I cycled the motor a couple of times to make sure and check for leaks and since I didn't see anything drip out I decided to take a little road test.  Just a couple miles up and down the block and then back to the shed.  I threw an old piece of cardboard underneath it after parking it just to double check it as it rests overnight.  More to come tomorrow...hopefully there won't be any oil on the cardboard!

10.19.2014

Today was a picturesque fall day.  We headed out towards Wisconsin this morning around 10.  The weather was still brisk because the sun hadn't come out yet.  By the time we hit 35 in Prescott the sun was shining and the weather warmed to a lovely temp.  We headed down to Pepin and grabbed a bite to eat at the Harbor View Cafe.  After lunch we doubled back and made our way back to Bloomington to stop at Amanda's parents house.  The colors on the trees were fantastic and made for a great backdrop for the ride.  I hit 8000 so I'll need to change the oil before my next ride.

10.18.2014

Back on the saddle!  Wow, it feels like it has been forever since I hit the road and put some miles on the six.  I was out in San Fran two weeks ago celebrating my second anniversary and then when I got home I ended up getting pretty sick and it has taken until now to get back into riding shape.  Luckily we are having a relatively nice October.  Weather is holding in the 50s and 60s and while those temps don't seem that warm the bike's heated grips and taller windshield are making it bearable.  I just blasted out toward Minnetrista and spent some time on some back county roads, made my way south through St. Boni and then picked up 7 and headed home.  I stopped and filled up at the Mobil on Excelsior so that I could get some 91 octane without ethanol.  I want to make sure that I have quality gas and a proper amount of fuel stabilizer when I store the bike over the winter and that'll start with having nice fuel in the lines.  It's a good thing the prices have come down somewhat because that stuff isn't cheap - I filled up @ $4.45/gal where regular 87 was at $2.84/gal.  Beats clogging up the fuel system!

9.26.2014

Tonight Amanda and I took a trip down south to Minnesota's largest candy store in Jordan [pictured below].  They had any candy item you could ever think of.  After we picked out a few favorites we hit the road and headed to Belle Plain to grab breakfast for dinner at Emma Krumbee's.  Jake and Julie wanted to meet up for a cocktail so we told them to meet us at Maynard's patio.  We took the long way back since we wanted more seat time given the amazing weather and beautiful sunset.  Overall we logged about 95 miles.  I'm just under 8K on the odometer so I will most likely be changing the oil after the next trip or two.

9.20.2014

I rode up to Duluth today with a few members from the Target Motorcycle Club (TMC).  We met at the Holiday station off of county road 2 in Forest Lake at 9am.  I got there a little early so I swung by McD's for a little breakfast sandwich [picture 1].  Al and Misty were the only two that made it out so it was a small crew today.  Kickstands were up at 9:30 and we headed north on 35 to Sandstone.  We stopped for a quick stretch and topped off gas at the Victory station [picture 2] before heading northbound via 23 - note the new luggage rack holding my helmet.  The weather was beautiful and the sun was shining when we rolled through Duluth to our lunch destination Vitta Pizza.  Each of us got a Tomasso per the recommendation of the woman working the counter.  After our delicious lunch we headed back over to where we parked [picture 3] suited up and headed over to Aerostich [picture 4] because when in Rome, if you know what I mean.  I've seen all of their gear via the catalog but it was interesting to see the shop up close and in person.  After sifting through some super nice, albeit very expensive gear we saddled up and headed home the same way we came in.  Al decided to stop one more time about 1/2 way home at Banning Junction to stretch and gas up.  When we got back to town we went our own ways and I was lucky to make it home when I did because about 10 minutes after I got home it started pouring rain!  Total trip was 360 miles :)

  

9.13.2014

Brrr!  Its cold out there.  I decided no matter the temp as long as it was dry this weekend I was going to get on the six and make it happen.  I started my ride at about 8:45 this morning and headed out west and south ending up in Henderson via the scenic route.  Since I didn't want to spend all morning on county roads I wanted to see how the highway felt at speed with air temps in the high 40s low 50s.  The bike performed flawlessly and felt very comfortable between 70-85 mph.  The air temp didn't bother me too much except the wind around my legs was cool.  It is also worth mentioning that without the heated grips my hands would be icicles.  That being said my gloves are nothing to write home about - a gauntlet style glove with more insulation would have been better suited for the colder temps.  Gear...you gotta have the right gear, it makes all the difference!  I met Amanda for lunch at Wallys [parking lot picture below] a pretty regular occurrence on Saturdays [meal pictured below].

9.8.2014

With this streak of beautiful weather it is hard to resist another cruise.  Amanda and I headed down a similar path as I took yesterday down through Carver and hitting up some of the more fun roads in that neck of the woods.  We doubled back on the same roads up to 41 through Chaska to Excelsior and decided to stop in to Maynards for dinner.  Here are a couple pics of the bike at Maynards...there are usually more bikes out there but I guess everyone was out riding!

9.7.2014

Today I met with a few members of All Saints Lutheran and took an afternoon cruise.  The first sunday of each month the group gets together for a medium paced ride with some sort of casual food destination in mind.  Today we rode down to the Norwood Young America area and got some ice cream from Bongards Creamery.  Apparently their cheese curds are great but I didn't have any way of keeping them from melting on the cruise home so I had to pass.  It was an eclectic mix of motors, we had three japanese bikes and two british.  A single cylinder Royal Enfield, a Triumph Thunderbird 900 triple, an inline four Yamaha FJR1300, and then two Wings - a 1500 flat six and then my 1800 flat six.  Here are a couple pictures of us at Bongards:

9.6.2014

Another beautiful day which meant I need to pile on the miles while there is still sun and no snow on the ground.  I turned over 7K today which means I'm about a grand out before the recommended oil change but I don't think I'll hit that before the end of the riding season.  Regardless I've got my oil and filter ready to go before I put it away for the winter.

9.5.2014

I took the 6 into work today - parked at the LaSalle ramp which is much closer to the new office and makes for an easy walk.  The weather was cool on the way in, somewhere in the low 60s.  On the way home it wasn't much warmer.

9.1.2014

Labor day cruisin.  I spent about an hour and a half out in the far west metro, St. Boni, Waconia, Mound, etc.  I didn't have a destination or a sense of where I wanted to go - it was more or less just a "lets see where the road takes me" kind of spin.  I saw a ton of other bikes and a bunch of vettes but nothing out of the ordinary.  The weather today is beautiful, mid 70's partly cloudy with a slight breeze.  The bike was good.  I have been trying to dial in the tire pressure but my gauges read 2-4 lbs off from one another so I might need to get a new gauge to get a more accurate reading.  I'm trying the manual recommended 38/40 but some of the forums are saying to run 40/40 cold to reduce cupping on the front tire...I've only got 7K on the bike and front tire so I think as long as I keep it close I should be fine.

8.24.2014

I cruised over to St. Paul via crosstown today.  I was checking out a bike that may have been worth buying to flip in the spring but it turns out it was a classic case of craigslist.  The pictures were probably taken the day it rolled off the showroom floor.  It was a decent excuse to put some more miles on the 6 though.  The sun was shining and my arms are definitely showing it right now but all is good.

8.20.2014

Rode into work today...that's it. :)

Ok, I lied that wasn't it.  It was just too nice of a night not to hop on and take it around town.  I had to pump up the tires a little bit and once I got around 40 lbs front and rear I could really feel the difference in the way the bike handled.  Now thats all...

8.17.2014

With the threat of rain and thunderstorms in the early afternoon I wanted to make sure and get some seat time this morning.  I headed down south to Webster to check in on the progress of my cousin's "barn."  Any excuse to get the six on the road is fine by me.  The clouds were thick and the sunshine was non existent with air temps in the mid 70's with relatively high humidity.  The screen's vent proved to be an asset once again at highway speeds.  I had a chance to lay back and kick out as far as I could with the Rivco pegs.  I think that they will be nice to have on long hauls simply to change up my footing but they are definitely not a long term solution for making the six into a true cruiser.

8.16.2014

I finally got around to installing the windshield that I traded for on the F6B forum.  I scored a clear Honda tall screen with a vent.  The install was relatively easy, only involving two 10mm bolts on both sides of the front fascia inside the side mirror cavities and then three 8mm bolts that hold down the screen.  I would say it took about 20 minutes total.  The screen looks nice although it does take away a little bit from the bagger attitude.  I would say that in this case function wins out over form considering the stock shield really isn't good for anything.  I took it out on 7 and then headed to 41, then doubled back on 5 to 101.  The shield does great at higher speeds and I can hear the radio even better now.  Having the vent also comes in handy if I want to move air over the top or have some cool me off.  For now I think that wraps up all the mods to the bike for the summer.  To date I've installed the passenger backrest riser, the Rivco flip out pegs, and now this windshield [all which you can see in the pictures below].

8.13.2014

I got the Rivco flip out pegs today and installed them right away.  It took about 10-15 minutes from start to stop and it was very simple.  I can't wait to try them out on the night cruise tonight!

Update - Amanda and I took a cruise around the lake tonight.  The weather was beautiful and it was easily one of the nicest nights of the summer.  As far as the pegs go [pictured below] they are well made and carry a good aesthetic, however, they are a little too high up on the bike and not far enough forward.  I like them for the option of stretching out on a long straight but they are not going to offer the comfort of say a Kury swingwings or ergos.

8.12.2014

I took the six into work today.  Afterwards I sailed down to Southdale AMC to meet my buddy Jake [pictured below] to watch TMNT.  The movie definitely brought me back to my younger years - KOWABUNGA!  Driving home in the dark proved to be quite enjoyable since the temps are in high 60's.  I love the cool fall like temps and I know the six will too.  One last update before I sign off - I got the windscreen I traded for from Ed on the F6B forum.  It is the taller OEM windscreen with the manual vent.  I cannot wait to put that on along with the Rivco flip out pegs which should be here tomorrow or Thursday!  I'll post the photos once I've got everything bolted on.

8.7.2014

I took the two wheeler in to work this morning and there were no envelopes in the pay box.  I called the helpline and they were somewhat helpful after I suggested that I write my license plate number on my check and that way they can verify the information without me having to wait around for an attendant.  Hopefully my bike is still there when I head out today!

Update...the bike was there :)

8.6.2014

I cruised over to my mom's place tonight and we grabbed a bite to eat.  Nothing special on the ride but I am excited because I'm swapping windscreens with a forum member.  He wanted a smaller dark tinted shield and he has a OEM tall screen that I'd like.  Hopefully that makes its way up here in one piece from FL.  More updates to come after I get that installed.  

8.3.2014

Took a spin up to Nowthen this morning to visit my friend Corey and his family.  It was about 45 minutes from doorstep to doorstep.  I shot up 494/94 to 101 and then took 12 to the town.  The bike really felt smooth this morning and really feels at home around 65-70 mph.  I'm looking forward to testing out the Rivco flip out pegs because I'd really like to stretch my legs out on the straight roads.  I'm also considering a Klock Werks screen because of the increase wind at higher speeds.  The weather was nice when I was moving along but stopped at lights I was getting pretty warm.  I've been considering a new brain bucket but I really like the full faced helmets and not sure a modular would be my style or if a 3/4 or half helmet would feel the same.  If anyone has recommendations on a nice touring helmet that would cut down on internal wind noise and/or offers more breathability feel free to drop me an email - mhohag@gmail.com.

8.1.2014

Happy birthday Kate!  I'm not sure if you are reading these posts or not but if you are, I hope you are having a wonderful day.  Just another commuter day for me.  I have found a home over in Ramp B next to a gaggle of BMW's.  This weekend looks promising so hopefully I get some seat time.

7.31.2014

First time I forgot to post up on the day of my ride.  I just took the bike into work and back, no adventures - just commuting.  I e-mailed a guy on the F6B forum regarding Rivco flip out pegs and when he is available I'm going to go check those out.  I think that'll be the next upgrade on the bike.

7.27.2014

West on 7 out to about Lester Prairie and back.  I needed some solo seat time and didn't have a plan in mind so thought that short trip would suffice.  The temp was considerably nicer today but the wind was pushing back today.  No other news to report.

7.26.2014

HOT, HUMID!  Today is close to 90 and the humidity makes it feel like a sauna.  Wife and I blasted over to b-town for a roast beef sandwich after a good amount of yard work this morning.  Afterwards we stopped over at each of our parents' houses to grab a couple goodies and we were on our way back.  Quick stop over to Costco for more go juice and then headed home.  I got the backrest riser from Ultimate Seats installed last night and even on our short trip today Amanda said it made all the difference.  I was perusing the F6B forums last night and I've got a couple ideas for more accessories in the near future so I'll be posting up some more pics once those are ordered and installed.

7.19.2014

Happy birthday to my beautiful wife Amanda!  For her birthday she wanted to take a cruise down to Winona for a drive down memory lane, or, at the very least lunch at her favorite spot - Great Hunan.  Before we got there we needed to make a pit stop at the Holiday in Hastings [pictured below].  The drive was very nice, although not as scenic as the Wisconsin side 61 still offers nice views of the river.  When we got to Winona we headed right to Hunan [pictured below].  It was nice to see that even after all these years we can still go in and get the lunch special and walk out totally full for about $15 bucks.  That included a $.75 refill on my diet Coke since a refill doesn't come with the special.  After blasting through town and taking a quick walk around campus we headed up to the bluffs to get a better view of the city and check out the new houses being built up there.  It is amazing that after only after a mile and a half up the road you are at Gavin Heights Park overlooking the entire town.  Of course we had to try and recreate the selfie (before that was a word) from years ago[pictured below - note that was almost 10 years ago!].  All in all it was a nice trip, we logged 293 miles and the bike averaged about 39 MPG which is great for riding two up.  The adjustment on the pre-load seemed to make a difference so I'll have to send a thank you to the member on the F6B forum for the advice on that setting.  Until next time...

7.18.2014

Took the two wheeler to work today.  Parked in the normal spot next to the usual suspects.  No big news on the way in or on the way home.  I tried my new waterless cleaner on the bike after adjusting the pre-load when I got home.  I was very impressed with the product.  I'm curious to see how it holds up.  Amanda and I are heading to Winona, MN tomorrow for a birthday lunch run/trip to memory lane.  The weather looks good so we should be good to set sail early tomorrow.

7.13.2014

...and the Germans win.  After the World Cup viewing party left it was on the two wheeler to enjoy this beautiful day.  Amanda and I took a ride up to 55 and then headed out towards Loretto.  We came back down on 19 and made our way around Lake Minnetonka.  We stopped for a quick picture on the north side of Stubbs Bay [pictured below].  It was a quick but needed ride, I can't believe that I haven't been on the bike since the 4th.  With the MLB All-Star game in town the traffic is expected to be a nightmare Monday and Tuesday so I'm thinking that I'll take the bike into work so I can take advantage of the diamond lane, of course that will all depend on the weather.  The bike is still running great but there are probably a few add ons in the future - stay tuned!

7.4.2014

America's birthday and I could not have ordered a better day.  Amanda and I headed to Pepin Wisconsin for a lunch at Harbor View Cafe.  We took 35 on the Wisconsin side so we could get a scenic view of the Mississippi.  On the way home we stopped in Red Wing, MN to see the boot outlet store and grab some candy for the family.  I'm going to let the pictures tell the story today so here we go...

1. F6B in "launch position"

2. Amanda, co-pilot, rockin the American flag shades

3. Parked outside of Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, WI

4. Amanda's lunch

5. Selfie on the pier with Old Glory in the background

6. Stopped in at the Red Wing outlet and took a picture next to the worlds largest boot

**Update**
Amanda and I [pictured below] took the bike over to see the air show and fireworks at Commons Park in Excelsior tonight.  The place was an absolute zoo but luckily we were able to find a prime spot since we didn't need as much room to park.  The air show was actually really cool, there were some sky divers and some vintage planes toolin' around.  The fireworks were about on par with most of the shows I've seen over the years but the people watching was pretty spectacular.  Getting out of dodge was a real pain.  There was bumper to bumper gridlock with no signs of hope.  I pulled up the maps app on my phone and we were able to divert through some roads that were "blocked off."  It felt like we had about as much seat time coming home from the fireworks as we did from our trip to Pepin and back.  No complaints about any of the riding though.  As far as the bike goes it handled everything today with ease.  The one thing I did notice tonight though is the controls on the handlebar are not lit so navigating with my thumb to change the radio or high/low beams or turn signal can be clumsy - it would be great if they were backlit.  It looks like it may rain the rest of the weekend but I sure hope it doesn't because I already want to get back on the saddle.

6.30.14

Last day of June and another beautiful night.  Amanda and I got some yard work done and as a reward to myself I had to take a cool down cruise.  I thought I was just going to take a quick spin but the F6B just eats up the miles with ease so I ended up going through Excelsior via Smithtown, south to Chaska, looped up through Chanhassen and then met up 101 at 5 and headed home.  I've been reading up on some of the suspension set ups and I think once I get some time later this week I'm going to try and dial that in.  Night started rolling in as I was heading home so I didn't stop and take any shots on the road but this is what the spaceship looks like lit up at night...

6.29.14

Back in the saddle again.  The weather has been uncooperative lately and that coupled with my work schedule and wedding yesterday has really been putting a damper on my motorbiking.  Fortunately the weather was absolutely perfect today so Amanda and I took our "usual" spin around the Lake Minnetonka area.  I started off on 5 heading west out towards Victoria and then headed north to St. Boni.  I backtracked through Minnetrista and then we spun around the lake.  I'm just about to clock 1k miles on the year so I'm a little behind where I thought I would be for this time of the year but that will change with our July 4th day trip and the other small trips we have planned.  

6.21.2014

Today I took the dirty bird to a few local shops.  I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a new set of mitts but I just haven't found a nice pair that suit my needs.  Unfortunately after bouncing from shop to shop this morning I came up empty handed...pun intended.  For lunch I stopped for a bite to eat at my favorite roast beef joint - Wally's.  Wally's is a local favorite located in my hometown of Bloomington.  While I was scootin' through town I noticed that there were still road closures because of the rain storms from two nights ago.  The picture below is of France Ave. between 98th and 90th.  I also grabbed some gas at Bobby and Steve's before I headed home [also pictured below].  I'm just under 1000 miles on the year and counting.

6.20.2014

I was going to ride in to work today but when I saw the roads were still wet from the monsoon we got yesterday and the sun still wasn't shining I didn't feel enthusiastic about the forecast.  Missed opportunity.  The sun came out mid morning and cleared everything up.  Lesson learned.  I made up for it by meeting my brother tonight at JC's in Maple Grove.  It is a little bar on the north side of the metro and is about halfway between me and him.  I left the house a little early to get more seat time and ended up at the Cabela's in Rogers [pictured below].  If you are an outdoor enthusiast this is a store that you need to see.  This was also my first legit night ride on the way home.  I was really impressed with the fog lights, they made plenty of extra light.  I am thinking about a few mods/updates to the bike and one would be an HID upgrade...but for now I'll stick with stock.

6.16.2014

I officially participated in the annual International Motorcycle & Scooter Ride to Work Day.  The weather was great this morning but things started looking ugly at about 2PM.  I hot tailed it out of there and was able to make it home before the downpour began.  Two bikes that I haven't ridden before that I'd like to just happened to be parked next to me.  A new BMW R1200R and a Ducati Diavel Carbon.  Both bikes looked great but the Diavel looked downright mean just parked there.  Hopefully there will be a demo event sometime, or, if someone wants to swap bikes for a day maybe I'll have a shot at one.  I'm still diggin' the F6B, it is definitely the ultimate bagger.  I'm somewhere around 750 miles and counting so far this year.

6.15.2014

Happy Father's Day.  The day started off wet and the weather wasn't looking good by mid morning.  Luckily by about noon that all changed so you better believe I got some time in on the two wheeler.  I just putted around some of the south metro suburbs.  I also jetted around some of the freeways and looped through downtown.  I took a quick pic of the bike outside of Target Field - home of the Minnesota Twins and host of the 2014 All Star game [pictured below].

6.13.2014

Happy Friday the 13th!.  The weather was beautiful and I was able to get out of work a little early so since I planned ahead and rode in [pictured below] I decided to take the long way home.  From downtown I took 394 west to 494 south, met highway 7 and headed west to 44 in Minnetrista.  I took 44 north to 110 then headed west on 110 to 92.  From there I headed north until that met up with 15 and headed east through Mound, Spring Park, and then eventually through Excelsior since I met up with 19 to 7.  There were some cool picture opportunities with some cows and some old buildings out west but I was moving along at a good clip so I didn't want break my momentum.  Wind noise was especially apparent on my ride today so at one point before I really got going I put some ear plugs in.  I use the disposable orange 3M plugs that expand once you've inserted them in your ear.  They are a great way to cut down on the wind noise but I wish that I didn't have to wear them.  I also scraped a peg for the first time today.  I was turning right off of a highway to the frontage road and it was a nice tight turn so I thought I'd test my lean angle and lets just say I found my "scraping point." =)  On the way home I noticed a very yellow C7 [sort of pictured below] by a service station parking lot so I decided to stop for a look.  Just as I was pulling up the guy walked out of the storefront, jumped in and before I could really say, "hey, I dig your car" he was out of there.  But I was able to snap a quick pic as he was backing out.  If there is one thing that I like almost as much as motorcycles its Corvettes.  I know that the newest generation has got some purists up in arms but it is hard to deny that they are really a stunning car.  I hope that someone I know ends up getting one and that I would be lucky enough to drive it.  So if anyone out there internetland can hook me up that would be great.  Weatherman is calling for scattered t-storms all weekend so this might be it for the next 2 days...until then, keep it between the ditches!

UPDATE:

When Amanda got home the we decided that it was too nice of a night not to take a cruise.  We headed out west and spun around Excelsior and made are way up the "normal" 'round the lake route.

6.10.2014

Back on the two wheeler after a short lived hiatus.  A combination of weather, bad timing, and a weekend in Baltimore for my friend Adam's wedding...let's just say tonight was long overdue!  I took the bike for a little spin after mowing the lawn, a "cool" down cruise if you will.  I headed out east on 7 and looped around the south side of Lake Calhoun.  I stopped off for a quick pic on the turnaround just down the road from Thomas Beach.  Afterwards I jetted due east to Lyndale Avenue and headed south to meet up with 62.  From there I set sail towards the homestead but made a quick stop at the gas station to fuel up and grab a lottery ticket.  I mean with the jackpot north of $250M its worth a shot!

5.30.2014

Rode into work again today.  Temps were in the high 80s and with the sun beating down on the ride home it was a warm one!  I've put on over 500 miles at this point and I finally feel like I am getting used to the handling characteristics of this bike compared to my ST1300.  The low center of gravity, long wheelbase and weight of the bike really make the ride smooth.  The brakes on the bike are fantastic.  Luckily I haven't had to make any emergency stops yet but with the linked braking system it really helps slow this gorilla down, it definitely adds a level of confidence knowing the stopping power is there if I really need it.  I'm picking up the spare windscreens tomorrow and want to give those a try.  In most of the forums and articles I'm reading that riders are swapping out screens and thats really making a big difference with buffeting and wind noise so I'll report back what I find out.  I did a google search on some flip screens and came up with this bike [pictured below].  Obviously there are a few other adds but I really dig the non painted wheels.  The exposed aluminum along with the other shiny covers and bits make for a really clean look.  Throw in a mid level flip clear screen and I would say that the bike pictured below (not mine) is what I would want mine to look like I had a few extra bucks to throw at it.  The forecast this weekend is spotty at best so I might be taking a weekend off...stay tuned.

5.29.2014

Rode in to work today.  I parked at the Minneapolis Parking ramp B motorcycle parking area off of 5th street [pictured below].  It is tucked away near the entrance to the car ramp...I totally missed it the first time through.  I had to loop all the way through the ramp and then back down and in again.  When I was gearing up to head home I was approached by a fellow two wheel enthusiast who told me he really was digging the F6B.  I definitely see the novelty of the bike considering its a newer model but it isn't that far off from an "old man" Goldwing.  Either way I appreciated the compliment and headed home.  Traffic was about the same coming in and going home, nothing too bad just the typical Minnesota merging issues at every exit/onramp that somehow ripples across all lanes - including the diamond lane?!  The temp was a little on the warm side clocking in somewhere in mid 80's with full on sunshine.  I'm still wearing my full face Arai helmet that I've had for the last few riding seasons and it might be time to upgrade something that'll let me breathe a little better and has a cruiser aesthetic.

5.28.2014

Tonight I took a spin through Minnesota's capital city.  St. Paul is an interesting city full of all kinds of sights but two of my favorites are the Xcel Energy Center and the Cathedral of St. Paul.  The "X" as it is affectionately known is home to the Minnesota Wild and host to lots of great concerts [pictured below].  Not too far away is the Cathedral of St. Paul [also pictured below]. I've only been inside it twice, once when I was confirmed there along with my catholic brethren, and then again for my sisters confirmation a few years later.  The size and architecture of the building are amazing and I thought it would make for a nice backdrop for the Death Star (working on nicknames for the bike, obviously paying homage to Star Wars with that one...although now that I just thought about that the Death Star was destroyed by the Jedi so I might have to work on something else, or, I suppose just avoid Jedi...).  Ok, I've harnessed my inner geek for now.  I blasted over there on crosstown (62) and then made my way up West 7th to Snelling.  My intention was to swing by my buddy Brian's place just north of the Highland Park area but when I rolled up to his house I noticed that he had texted me to meet him over at The Nook.  Brian and his wife went over there for dinner and he wanted to see the bike so I trekked down a few blocks to Hamline right across for Cretin Derham Hall.  After we chatted for a while we went outside where he got a good look at the bike and then it was back on the bike for a blast through the outskirts of downtown St. Paul.  Eventually I snaked my way back down 35E to west 7th and then back west on 62 back home.  The weather was a little warm on the ride over but had cooled to perfect cruising temps by the ride back.

5.25.2014

I just got back from a solo mission in the west metro.  I headed out west on 7, made my way up 19 (oak) towards Lord Fletchers.  After meeting up with North Shore Drive I made my way back through Navarre and stopped at the Holiday Station for gas.  As soon as I pulled up a man and a woman stopped over to check out the bike.  He was blown away by the F6B.  He really like the blacked out look and thought it looked really sinister.  He asked how big the motor was and couldn't believe that they've bumped up to 1800.  He mentioned that he had a 1200 which would mean his was an 83-87 before the 1500 was released.  He said that he used to take regular trips out to California and that he loved the bike.  He was a nice guy but his wife was a real treat, each time he would finish talking she would point out some other nice part on the bike and then ask if there was room in the saddlebags for a spare.  For example, "oooo that back seat looks nice...is there room in the back for a spare?" and "the radio looks nice...is there room in the back for a spare?"  Thankfully I was topped off and getting my helmet on after just a few minutes so we said our goodbyes and parted ways.  Instead of just meeting up with 7 and heading home I decided to extend the trip a little farther so I cruised down Smithtown Road off of 19 and snaked my way down to 5, came back up 41 to 7 and then headed home.  The picture below is at the Lake Virginia public launch off of Smithtown Road.

5.23.2014

Back to back gorgeous days which means more time on the bike.  Tonight Amanda and I rode over to Edina to grab a bite to eat at our favorite, PF Changs [picture below].  After dinner we stopped at Crate & Barrel to get a wedding gift for Jake & Michelle.  Since we were already at the Galleria we had to check out the new David Yurman store.  Luckily I didn't drop a paycheck while we were there but we got some "ideas" since the sales staff was insistent that we both try on everything in each showcase.  The sun was starting its ascent so we decided to hit the road so we could do the usual lake cruise before settling in to catch up on Game of Thrones.  I'm trying harder to train myself to take more pictures on these rides because I like when blogs have pictures so hopefully whoever reads this enjoys it as well!  The pictures below are from Lafayette Bay and then Old Channel Bay by Locke Point on Lake Minnetonka.  I'm at 360 miles on the year and counting...

5.22.2014

Today I took the bike into work for the second time this season.  I parked in the LaSalle ramp next to a nice looking Ducati and two away from a yellow Wing [pictured below].  After work I headed home to pick up Amanda to head to the first PT on the Patio at The Lookout bar in Maple Grove.  We hit some major traffic heading north of 494 so we decided to get off the highway at scoot down some side streets.  We exited at 6 and then met up with Vicksburg and just set sail north.  Lucky enough for us Vicksburg turns into West Fish Lake Road which runs right into Weaver Lake Road which is where we were going to exit off of 94.  There was a great turnout for the event and I was able to catch up with a few friends of mine that I don't get to see as often anymore - [picture of me and my good friend Corey below].  After the PT on the Patio show wrapped and we said our goodbyes it was back on the bike.  Since the weather was so nice we decided to take 101 all the way back home to extend our ride some more.