By Fjroamer on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 12:08 am:

Just a thot...

While weather (and weekend forecast) is still favorable. A chance to match faces/ bikes/ names.
Wenatchee looks to be fairly central. Wenatchee Yamaha could be a meeting point, 11am-12noon or so?

The owner (Cary Condotta) has been a most avid and supportive person, owning & managing more than a few stores over the years and is now running for office in his district as a state rep..

A run north up Hwy 2 up Pine Canyon, to Waterville, across the plateau and down the serpentine McNiel Canyon to Chelan, rolling back to Wenatchee and dissipating to our points of origin...?

Saturday is proposed because the dealership would be open and Hwy 2 return on Sunday is always a "proctological nuisance"

If more than a few are interested, I will commit and make Cary aware of our arrival. 

By Billl on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 03:08 am:

Saturday, September 14th at 11:00 to 12:00AM it is! I was at Wenatchee Yamaha when I first got my FJR and went in to see if they had oil filters. They didn't so I came back out and there was a crowd around my bike. It turned out to be the first one they had seen. They are a bunch of good people. I'll see you there.

Bill L.  

By Sharp on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 - 06:31 am:

---

Quote:

If more than a few are interested, I will commit

---

By Fjroamer on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 12:04 am:

Ahhh, the camera-man!

This is great news!The mtn. passes, the rivers, the canyons, serpentine ribbons of tarmac, all to be recorded!

The Plan..., bookmark, print out, refer to frequently, remember!!!

Those fr. western Wa.: meet in Monroe at Buzz Inn for bkfst. between 8am and 9am Sat. 14th. Ready to roll out at 9am. Take either Hwy 2 or 522 into Monroe and head east,past 2 lites (the first being at the 522 fwy exit). Buzz Inn is on right, across fr. Schucks Auto and just before Exxon.

Some others may choose to go Snoqualmie/ Blewitt pass route and if so..., will look to meet at Condottas Yamaha sometime between 11am and noon.

Condottas is right off Hwy 2 as you enter Wenatchee fr. the west in an industrial park on north side of road. (you'll see it if you pass it-like I did )

Hoping more than a handful will show!  

By Sharp on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 07:13 am:

By Johnx on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 03:48 pm:

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUU!!!!
You guys are killing me!!If I had a bike I would be there!
Is it true what they say:
"Life starts with the push of the starter button"
Thats if you have one!
I hope everyone rides safe and has a great time-

John X - X man 

By Cascadefj on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 07:40 pm:

Now how did I miss such an obvious Yamaha dealership last weekend? Went right by it. I think I will miss this weekend ride though. Have a chance to combine pleasure with business and biking with my pillion. Ya'll have fun and keep the rubber side down. BTW does anyone know anything about the Badger Mtn. Road out of Wenatchee up towards Waterville. Look interesting on the map, but was not able to check it out. So many roads, so little time.
Rich 

By Billl on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 12:27 am:

Hi CascadeFJ,
The road that you are referring to is Hwy 2 east and is a fine road, sweeping turns up the canyon, good pavement...until Waterville. Then you can set your cruise control on 110 and take a nap cause there aren't any more turns, ever!
I just went up to BC/Idaho borders on Hwy 20 and Hwy 25 and Hwy 21 last Tuesday. I would love to take Hwy 20 from Newport, WA on the Idaho border all the way to Anacortes, WA in the San Juans. That has to be the longest and best highway in the Pacific Northwest. It would be a 500 mile ride and most of it would be "sublime"! It may have to be a two-day'er cause I live in the middle of the route. Maybe next week...

Bill L. 

By Fjroamer on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 02:52 am:

I could be wrong here but I believe Hwy 2 heads up the Columbia a few miles and then heads up thru Pine Canyon up to Waterville.
Badger Mtn. Rd starts right up out of Wenatchee, being a different road altogether. We'll know soon enough however!

Called Condotta's and they're all eager to have some of us drop in. They'll be contacting their 5 purchasers to make them aware, and hopefully show up

People coming from the west side should be getting home before dark if that's a concern. Round trip fr. Monroe is a little shy of 350 miles, comfortably back there by 6p.m.. Mostly depends on #, lgth. of photo shoots  

By Cascadefj on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 05:43 am:

Hwy 2 is indeed a fine road. The one I was referring to is a much smaller road on my map, grey on the state map and squiggly thin red on my topos. I couldn't see it going into (shudder) gravel at any point on the map, but then my eyes aren't what they used to be. 

By Billl on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 06:49 pm:

Yeah, Rich. I've got some really cool software (Microsoft Streets and Trips) that shows the roads that I think you are looking at. There is a Badger Mountain Rd. that runs all the way from East Wenatchee to Waterville that could work. It runs right next to "Chipmunk Trail Rd. Yeah, really!
I love exploring off on roads like that. Sometimes you win and sometimes you hit a dead end into a crazy man's driveway! I have found many favorites like that.

Bill L. 

By Fjroamer on Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 01:55 am:

Well....what to do???

Bill, looks like you're the only "for sure" on this endeavor. I have an opportunity to head down to St. Helens on a "sporting ride" with some old cycling acquaintances tomorrow and if this (Wenatchee run) is gonna be a "wash" from the Wet-siders, I'll reconsider!

I'll check postings tommorow morn. @ 7am to see who, if anyone is showing. If it doesn't work..., then maybe some other time 

By Sharp on Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 07:54 am:

You better be at breakfast! I'll be in Monroe at 8 and I better find you there too.

"One's a wash, two's a group ride." 

By Fjroamer on Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 02:32 pm:

okay....,it's a GO then!!!

See you in Wenatchee Bill 

By Hmarc on Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 03:35 pm:

If I'd known about this a day or two earlier I probably could have made it (I'm in Spokane). But I've got the weekend pretty much booked with projects plus a trackday tomorrow (Sunday) at Spokane Raceway Park. Come on over if you want to try your FJR on the track. My cell phone is (509) 869-4669 if you want to join us... 

By Fjroamer on Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 01:28 am:

uhhh..., sincerest of apologies to those who did get to Wenatchee and may have extended their wait for our arrival.
We started out as a threesome fr. the "wet" side, and shortly into the ride, experienced an unanticipated breakdown. After consultation, we decided to "weather the storm" together and it was a good 1 1/2 hours before we were rolling again. Fate conspired to prevent us from further pursuing the trip. We WILL do this again as the three of us were looking forward to meeting other FJR owners!
Weather was beautiful over here and hopefully we'll get a few more like it and pull this off.

Again, apologies to all  

By Billl on Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 02:23 am:

No problem Mates! Although I was the only one on this group to show, there were three locals there, two with FJR's that were there. We did get a chance to savor a local mom n' pop hambuger stand and then did the famous, "Badger Mountain Road" run to Waterville. Those guys go real fast in that town! The fourth guy on a Kawasaki ZRX1200 was awesome with 100 mph wheelies and stoppies. John, a local mild mannered dentist there picked his FJR up on the rear wheel from a stoplight in Wenatchee and rode for a few hundred feet to the delight of all of the stopped traffic.
Badger Mountain Road does turn into gravel for about 5 miles but otherwise is a fine canyon road. I was not comfortable with the multi-colored pavement though, but I did stay with them the entire day.
Sorry you guys had problems, though. Thanks for setting the ride up FJRoamer.

Bill L. 

By Fjroamer on Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 03:05 am:

Thanks for the report Bill!

We'll hook up for a perhaps little more "sedate" ride, down the road  

By Billl on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 07:14 pm:

Yeah, a more sedate ride would be in order. That was called "racing" last Saturday and it would be just a matter of time before somebody goes down at that speed. Sure it's nice to know that you and/or the bike are capable of going that fast but to sustain it on small country roads is only asking for trouble.

Bill L. 

By Hmarc on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 08:21 pm:

I was doing a "track day" on Sunday, and taking it relatively easy down the straight doing 120mph, when a guy I know (Pat, from Circuit One Suspension) passes me on the right with the front end high in the air. After he's about 100 feet in front of me he puts the wheel back down and leaves a 6-8' black stripe on the track, complete with tiny puff of smoke (just like a jet plane landing).

Pat said the speedo on his GSXR1000 was reading 152mph when he did it.

BTW -- I can drag the footpegs and still not scuff the new BT020 rear tire to the edge... 

By Fjroamer on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 02:08 am:

@ Hmarc.... is that to read "the new BT020 rear tire" or BT020-N ??? I understand they are load rated different with the "Ns" having a stiffer sidewall.
What are you using for suspension settings (street/ track) assuming its still stock parts? 

By Fjroamer on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 02:13 am:

@ Bill... I ponder that frequently. The bike IS a siren!!! I figure I should be old enough now to excercise judicious restraint but there are those occasional moments!  

By Hmarc on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 04:50 pm:

Fjroamer,

I mounted a BT020 "std" rear, not the "N" variant as that isn't available in the USA at this time. I did about 75 miles in anger on the track and IMHO the standard BT020 feels no different than the OEM "N" version. No instability, turns just the same, brakes just he same. I ran as high as 140mph and it was still rock solid.

I didn't have the saddlebags on, of course. And I weigh 158 pounds dry (right out of the shower). 

By Hmarc on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 04:53 pm:

Oh, I forgot to mention. Stock suspension settings (I forget what they are, I checked them 2 months ago when I took delivery but haven't changed them yet).

I meant to take some suspension tuning notes I've collected with me and use the track time to fiddle with the settings. But I forgot.

Next time for sure... 

By Dickmcway on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 01:48 am:

HMarc,
Did you use hard or soft on shock at the track? I''m using hard solo & 2-up. I find a bit more clearance solo on the hard setting so am sticking with that. I'm about 190# fully dressed.

Dick 

By Billl on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 04:31 am:

Marc, I would be interested in finding out where you got your tire. Mine is at the wear marks also. I tried to ride just on the sidewalls but it's tough to hang off the side all day. I will be mounting the tire myself so I will let you guys know how hard it is.
Now, back to the subject matter that FJRoamer has touched upon in "WAITER NO LONGER" thread...
The forcast for Puget Sound is 10% chance of rain through this week. Over here, it's in the high 70's and no chance of rain. How about Sunday at Buzz-In and we try the North Cascade "safe and sane" but fast ride? I might even ride over and meet you there...

Bill L. 

By R1derbike on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 06:08 am:

Heh-heh....a friend of mine and myself used to wheelie our 10-speed bicycles (you can wheelie damn-near anything) across a certain I-40 overpass years ago, much to the delight of a local sheriff, who usually parked at one end to radar traffic.

Gendarmes now frown upon such foolishness for some reason...must be the vehicle (R1).

Outta here...Charles (viper)

'00 RWB R1 #34...'cuz there can only be THE ONE.
'85 ZX900 Ninja...the mutha' of all modern sportbikes.
'03 FJR 1300...'cuz ya' gotta keep HER happy.
Click on link below to see my R1, FJR, and Ninja.
http://www.picturetrail.com/r1derbike/823464