7.16.2016

[4324] Hard not to take the bike out again considering it's so beautiful outside! [4372]

7.15.2016

[4292] Amanda and I took a quick cruise tonight around the lake to look at our future lake house ;) [4324]

7.3.2016

[4145] I had no route in mind when I rolled out today, I just knew that I have been neglecting the bike and with weather as beautiful as it can be in Minnesota during the summer time it was absolutely paramount that I get my ass on the bike and ride.  I started out south towards Belle Plain via Chaska but then cut back through Henderson on my way to Gaylord.  From there I headed north and east and made my way all the way up to Delano.  One of the towns I cruised through was Arlington which proudly presents a memorial in the park highlighting the service of American soldiers.  Since the stars and stripes were on full display I thought it would make a cool backdrop for a photo opportunity.[4292]

6.28.2016

[4063] Tonight after work Chris and I cruised down to Henderson for cruise night.  After we found a place to park we grabbed some corn dogs and a cold one.  The weather was absolutely perfect and that was reflected in the amount of cars, bikes, and people that were there. [4145]

6.19.2016

[3921] Amanda, her sister and her dad decided to participate in the Annandale Flea Market this morning so I took a cruise west to scope things out.  Afterwards I stopped in Otsego because my cousin was having his graduation open house.  When I wrapped up there I came back down 494 and decided I'd take the long way around the lake back home. [4063]

6.17.2016

[3387] Today I decided that it had been too long since I was last on the bike and I need a little cruise to get the weekend started.  I didn't go too far, just around the lake and back but it was needed. [3921]

6.5.2016

[3783] Today I took a spin around the lake and then went and met my brother at Panera in Maple Grove.  After we caught up I headed out and took the back way home.  The floorboards are excellent.  I can't wait to get the windshield and get that dialed in.  [3887]

5.31.2016
[3782] Today I took delivery on my new Cobra swept floorboards.  The instructions said, "installs in minutes" well, I proved them wrong!  There were a couple of snags with the install plus being so low to the ground and being bent over in a precarious position doesn't equal easy access to the bolts.  Needless to say there were a few expletives and some sweat from the time I started until when I finished.  I had to take the bike around the block to make sure that everything worked and the boards felt secure.  Shakedown successful, now I need a nice day for a real road test. [3783]

5.29.2016

[3533] Today I took 35 on the WI side down to WingDam Saloon & Grill for a bite to eat.  Stayed on 35 the whole way there and back.  Cut back into MN at Prescott.  The floorboards should be here Tuesday night, that should make a big difference. [3782]

5.22.2016

[3313] Today I headed over to Wisconsin to ride up and down 35.  The road runs alongside the Mississippi river and is a popular route for people looking for a scenic cruise.  I made it down to Alma around lunch time so I grabbed a burger at the Pier 4 Cafe and then circled back up towards Prescott but made a slight detour north on the St. Croix Trail road eventually making my way back to 494 via 61.  Overall the bike is still running great.  I've noticed that with extended rides this bike lacks a few bits which I will be addressing in the coming weeks. [3533]

5.17.2016

[3221] Tonight my cousin Chris and I headed down to Henderson for the first "Classic Car Roll In" of 2016.  Henderson is a sleepy town but in the summer time becomes a destination for both bikers and car enthusiasts alike.  The main drag turns into a mini car show each Tuesday night in the summer and it draws a decent crowd.  The weather was nice going down but cooler on the way back. [3313]

5.15.2016

[3168] Today Kate was in town from California so she wanted to take a quick spin on the bike.  We headed out west on 7 and made a short loop.  After the family headed out Amanda and I decided it was too nice of a night not to hop on a cruise around the lake.  The temps are still mild and the sun was shining so it made for a nice ride.  [3221]

5.8.2016

[3121] Happy Mother's Day.  Today I spent about 6.5 hours in and out of a car with my in laws going to garage/yard sales across eastern MN and western WI.  Needless to say when I got home tonight I was more than ready to hop of the bike and put a few miles on the odometer.  I took the usual lake roads and made my way north to Maple Plain.  At one point I stopped for a photo op at Old Channel Bay [below].  From there I snaked down a few back roads south to Pioneer Trail just west of Chaska High School.  Then I cruised back on Pioneer to 101 and back home. [3168]

5.7.2016

[3082] The batwing fairing was causing some buffeting at higher speeds and the wind was moving correctly over me so I removed that before I rode tonight.  It was easily removable, disconnect the power cord, 4 bolts, and then the mounting hardware and I was all set.  Before we headed out I went to the gas station to fill up and already I noticed a big difference in the steering and wind.  Not to mention the bike looks much better without the clutter up front. When I got back Amanda and I went to Lowes to grab some wall plates. After that we headed to BWW's for some wings. We took Vicksburg south and met up with Shoreline and saw the sun set over the lake. [3121]

5.5.2016

[3015] Tonight after work I took the bike out and around the west side of town. [3082]

4.23.2016

[2965] Today Amanda and I decided to take a cruise around the lake. First we had to drive by Paisley Park, again, to check on the memorials for Prince. This was the first time I used the stereo system so of course I synced my phone and blasted his greatest hits as we rode. Purple Rain was on full blast as we rolled by the scene. After that we made our way west and then north eventually looping back through the main drags around the shores of Lake Minnetonka. [3015]

4.16.2016

[2804] My cousin Chris and I met up around 10:30. We headed south to Henderson and stopped in town for lunch. After we grabbed a bite we continued south towards La Sueur and then Kasota. From there we made our way north and west eventually ending up in Gaylord. We gassed up and then headed back to Henderson via 19. The weather was great except for some heavy side wind in the open farmland areas. [2965]

4.15.2016

*New format update. I will be opening all posts with the mileage when I begin my ride and then I will close my posts with the mileage at the end of the ride.

[2748] The bike has been staring me down for far to long now and the weather was finally agreeable. I took a ride out west and then snaked back through the lake on my way back home. I noticed a few minor discomforts during my ride, some of which will just be adjusting to the bike, and then some others that may require new parts altogether. I'm not planning on making drastic changes just a few updates that would help with comfort. [2804]

4.3.2016

#BackInTheSaddle.  Today I purchased a 2007 Honda VTX 1800F spec-1.  I bought it from the original owner who had picked it up as a carryover in 2010.  He had only put 2,650 miles on the bike and the condition shows that.  He also added a few upgrades such as a batwing style fairing from Reckless, Rinehart racing exhaust, Vikingbags hard saddles, and a backrest.  The weather was great today so I took it out for a spin and then rode 2 up once Amanda got home.  I'm still getting used to the foot forward position of the controls compared to the F6B but so far no issues with my back which is great.  The odometer now shows 2748 so I almost knocked out 100 miles in day one.  Here is what it looks like: