Upgrading!!!

Just picked up my 2nd bike over the weekend!!!  Keeping my 1st bike for a little bit long as I have some plan to make good use of it still ;)

6+ months have passed!?!

So it's actually been over 6 months since my last entry here about storing my bike.  Well, surprise surprise that I was neglecting this blog...... blogging isn't exactly the happening thing anymore especially I post on facebook and via twitter right from the phone :p  At least my tweets show up on the sidebar here ;)

Anyway, my riding season #2 actually already started back in April.  Haven't had longer rides yet this year but rode about half a dozen times including taking the bike to get an oil change after the Winter storage.  Here are couple onboard videos on that day.

Not to worry, there is nothing crazy or illegal like reaching 300km/h on highway :p

 

 

I also rode to an autox event in early June where I co-drove a friend's NC Miata / MX-5 and also the brand new Scion FR-S courtesy of Scion Canada and VCMC (the club I autox with).  Here are the vids of my autoxing that day too!

Another step in Winter storage preparation

After getting the fuel prepared with stabilizer couple weeks ago, I took another step today towards my first motorcycle Winter storage.  Took the battery out and hook it up with Battery Tender Jr :)  next step: give it a wash and put the cover on then say "see you in several months" (hopefully as few months as possible).

This is really it for my 2011 riding

Just as I thought I already had my final ride of 2011, there was still one bright and sunny Sunday morning allowing me a bonus ride! With the insurance on my Ninja 250R expiring in couple days, this has got to be it of my first riding season. It is time to prepare for storage months.

It has been a wonderful 5-month riding experience from never having been on a motorcycle at the beginning of the course to now with 2000+ km of riding on my very own motorcycle :) The upcoming rainy seasons will be dark and will feel long at times, but that will only make welcoming the next riding season that much better!

Spent more time riding than taking photos!  Just a quick snapshot at a short stopover.

End of the bonus ride.  Topping up with zero-ethanol stuff ready for some Stabil soon.

Riding to kick off holidays

The 2nd last day of September turned out to be a nice Summer-like day. It was also the 1st day of some days off, what better way to kick that off with a nice ride before my rookie riding season draws to an end!

A shot that says "I was here"

One just for the view

End of the ride: topping it up with zero-ethanol gas, readying for storing soon.

Another sunny September Sunday perfect for riding

Visited another new spot in my first year of riding, another water front location at a nearby suburb area.

 

 

Destination Squamish: ride (on Wed) & drive (on Sat)

This Wednesday I have put together a string of "firsts" on my bike as I joined in on a group ride:

• first midweek ride (other than few times of short commute)
• first evening ride INTO night ride (had to change from dark smoke to clear visor!)
• first Sea-to-Sky ride

Here are couple fairly bad photos at the destination rest point. I rushed the shots as I was trying to embark on my solo ride into the night towards home soonest possible :p

Overall, it was a great ride!  The group was friendly and I was able to ride at a good pace in my comfort zone along several others without feeling hassled.  The roads offered great elevation changes and twisties; scenery was amazing although I made sure I kept my eyes on the road!  I am also very pleased with how I handled the ride back as it really got dark.  Riding at night is a very different experience, awareness kicked into overdrive, that is quite a rush in itself :D

As I enjoyed the roads and scenery from Wednesday so much, I just had to drive my wife there in my S2000. So tonight we went on an evening-into-night cruise, this time there are better photos!

Returning to where it all started... for my riding days.

As I am still trying to not yet repeat any full route I have gone on, I found myself riding on some highway stretches that lead me back to where it all started for my riding days.  The wonderful Pacific Riding School where I learned my skills as a safe and confident rider :D

PRS is a great riding school!!

A class in session at the lot across the street

No, I did NOT help my Ninja with any free gas :D

Great ride on a hot Summer day!

It was apparently the hottest day so far this Summer reaching 30C in parts of the city. I spent much of the 130km riding on highways with nice sweeping curves and open roads, thoroughly enjoyed the warm wind. Part of the ride led me to a popular local beach packed with people and cars circling to find parking spots - no such problem for a motorcycle, easily parked it and took some photos :)

After today's ride, I can honestly say that riding on a hot day like today really does not get as hot and sweaty as one might expect.  The key is to put some considerations in the routes and avoid stop-n-go, heavily congested traffic.  I always ride with all my protective gears (textile jacket and over-pants, gloves, boots and of course helmet :p) and just wear different top, jeans or shorts under depending on temperature range.  I seriously have not broken a sweat on my bike!  In fact, I have to make sure I zip my jacket up fully so that I don't end up getting a cough from the wind while traveling at speed.

Looking over to beautiful downtown skyline - NO WAY that I would ride there on a hot day like today!

2-part ride

After couple of fairly busy weekends, managed to fit in a short but fun 2-part ride this Sunday afternoon :D

Part 1
Took to the nearby highway and bridge crossings.  I think I "invented" a fun little route taking me to less traveled areas, complete with sweeping curves on wide open highway ramps and quiet main roads (not busy on Sundays!) with modest twists.

Part 2
On the return leg, swung over to pick up some items for the pantry.  This small tank bag can be a handy grocery bag too! 

Just sauces and stuff for the pantry

Another 100km on another perfect riding day!

I came across a site last night with some good local routes suggestions, it was perfect timing as I was hoping to get another ride in but didn't want to repeat any route done so far.  The route I did today combines some familiar roads that are not often traveled and some places I know of but have almost never even driven out to.  Riding is truly allowing me to explore some cool places not too far from home!

Today's route was mostly around water front and away from inner city traffic, so heat was not a problem at all.

The very reflective building across the river is the airport.

It has stopped completely on the track but wait was not long at all and there was ocean breeze.

My Ninja is becoming my own "traveling garden gnome"

Had another good riding day with great weather.  Took my Ninja to couple more landmark places around my city, it is quickly becoming my very own "traveling garden gnome" :D  Highly doubt it will ever make its way around world's landmark though.

Completing a Sunday hat trick

Thoroughly enjoyed F1 German GP this morning then the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca in the afternoon, wrapped it all up by taking an early evening ride up a local mountain visiting a familiar place.  No I didn't try to imitate Stoner or Lorenzo, I ride sensibly and safely on the roads :D

Each takes 1 parking slot :D

Snapped this earlier this week when I pulled up at a cafe.

Flashback: adjusting shift pedal before taking it on the road

When I got my Ninja 250R rode up to my place by the previous owner, the shift pedal angle was not working for me to safely ride on the road.  I would likely have struggled very badly to get my toe under the shifter and then it would be stuck there!  These are all the before-adjustment pictures.

Here is the YouTube video I found and followed to do the simple but very important personalized adjustment to the shifter angle.  Since then it not only becomes much safer for me to operate the shifter (crucial to riding properly), it totally feels to be MY motorcycle!

Twin Ninja 250Rs

My garage neighbour's and mine, even the same colour!! Have to arrange a group ride!

Another nice Sunday (2011 June 5th) for some good riding!

Rode around not too far from home and overall did about 40km on some fairly quiet open roads with some moderate twisties, even some good elevation changes too :)

One of the checkpoints was a newly developed industrial park area with nice wide open access roads and empty parking lots with brand new asphalt, so here are couple pictures under the sun.

Did some practice "panic" braking in a wide open empty lot (trucks all parked)

Went and did a hang-out at McD for a $1 soft drink