Cruising into Portsmouth

As promised - video proof!

Assault on Reason

I think the first picture explains the blog title just fine.

There were three main goals I had for Lizzy this season.
1)Get some more riding experience
2)Get her past inspection
3)Ride into Portsmouth, with hubby, on the weekend and park with all the bikers in front of a favorite local coffee shop. (Its quite the biker hangout)

Gabe named the ride "Assault on Reason" because it was a little nutty of an idea. But we did it folks. #3 is officially under my belt and I am positively glowing with pride. Read on.
We started with a *slightly* illegal trip over a pedestrian bridge to avoid the highway. I mean, really, there is no way with two-up.
Got some nice Fall riding in near the Pease Airport. Gabe and I both did the fist shake near the runway in our best Top Gun impression. Take that Tom Cruise.

Then we rode into Portsmouth (video posting to follow).
I ejected Gabe and parked next to some huge Harleys in front of the coffee shop and oodles of on lookers. People laughed. But whatever! At least I made an effort to get rid of my helmet hair and look good for the crowds.


Yummy Mocha and sweets - only made sweeter because I was looking at Lizzy and all the other bike porn that was rolling past.

When it was time to head out, I decided to intimidate these guys with the roar of my single. Yeah baby!
Gabe and I decided it was time to clear out of Portsmouth and head over to Newcastle for some island riding.
We got heckled by a cop! Yeah this is the guy. Right before going over the first of two "death bridges" Check the surface at the bottom of the picture. Terrifying! And two-up. I am glad Gabe and I have so much tandem bike riding experience under our belts. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. Of course he was saying "Oh My God!" the entire time...
But we basked in the seacoast glory - if not the sun. It was mega cold.

On the way home, we ran into a Goldwing Gang. We are of the same Honda ilk, so I felt a strong kinship, all the while having a Sesame Street Moment.... sing it with me....

One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just does not belong....

All and all, great day! Thanks Gabe for making it happen. You're da bestest!

It's not cheating, Lizzy - really

A colleague at work brought in his mid 60s BMW with a sidecar and I couldn't resist the temptation to go for a ride. I mean, its a sidecar! Freaking awesome. It was slightly terrifying being that low to the ground, going at a good clip. I can't believe people race these things.

What was really awesome is just how much bystanders light up when they see the thing. It must be cool to own something that makes people happy just by being...

Anyway I got to drive the beast. It needs serious manhandling to make turns. But I have to admit it is nice that there is no way to dump the thing.


The problem is that when I tried to ride Lizzy soon after this fun excursion - she totally misbehaved! I was trying to go fast ~50mph and she lost power suddenly and then could only maintain 35mph or so on the way home --- she kept hesitating (kind of like choking). I was kind of freaked and a little bummed.

I am thinking something is funk with the spark advance mechanism since this only happens at high RPM but I dunno. I have one other idea to check.

The season is coming to an end, and I really don't want to go out on a bad note. I don't know who told her about the BMW, but they need to remember ...

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Going Tandem

Looking back, we should have taken a picture. Really, 'cause you are not going to believe this.

Gabriel and I decided to go get ice cream on Lizzy. Together. We finally procured two helmets and we were totally legal. Keeping with our modus operandi - - "It might not be a good idea, but it will make a memory" we set out. Most of the 4 mile trip to sugary satisfaction was on back roads. The last mile, not so much. We had to get onto a road with a 45mph speed limit.

We both had to get into a severe tuck to make it up to 45, but we did it. Gabe was yelping at me the whole time. I think he was both really nervous with me at the helm, and a little amazed at how much you **feel** 45mph on a bike. Especially on my bike.




Chowing down on two cones, he fired questions at me - working up to the one that was first and foremost on his mind. 'So, um, is the vibration, um, good for you?'

Um, no.

I didn't add that I am saving myself for a Ducati. Sorry Lizzy, a girl has to aim high.

We made it back home and I wanted to continue going along the river on a pleasure cruise together. I mean, we just had a really fun trip; we laughed a lot and we were on a motorcycle *together*. Why not prolong the experience?

Because Lizzy's vibe made Gabe's butt itch too much.

Just when you are riding high, feelin the groove and that cosmic connection with your bike, your world, your man - hubby yells something in your helmet that solidly yanks you back to Earth.

And makes you laugh your ass off.

Inspected!

I have been asking around, to see who would be a good person to take Lizzy to for an 'inspection'. Someone who would 'understand' older bikes. Several folks directed me to Morrison Cycle in Madbury. I called him up, to see if he was 'receptive' to looking at older bikes. Here is an example of our conversation...
-----------
Sam: So I hear you are a good person to bring older bikes to...

Morrison: Age is irrelevant.

Sam: Ok *nervous chuckle*

Morrison: What kind of bike is it?

Sam: It's a 1973 Honda cb125s - a tiny little thing...

Morrison: Size is irrelevant.

Sam: I will come by tomorrow *gulp*
------------

According to this guy, age is irrelevant and size is irrelevant - men of the world rejoice! Anyway, I thought I was seriously screwed, and that this hard ass New Englander would never let me pass. But .... I ***did****!!!
It was actually painless, until it was time to leave. Lizzy wouldn't kick over. After 7 tries, Morrison comes out and asks if this was "normal". I told him no, that she should have started right up. I felt like I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Inspected indeed. But guess what!? I *really* wanted to crawl under something when he suggested I turn the key on. Yeah. I am one smooth operator.

In conclusion, it always helps to turn the motorcycle on. But embarrassment be damned, I am legal baby!