Summer cruising

No exhibition driving or anything crazy here, just good old fashion Summer cruising from Stanley Park to Porteau Cove via the famous Sea-to-Sky highway!

2011 - my autox rookie season video

5 events season...

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.

Autox event #4 this year

Attended the 4th out of 5 scheduled autox event of my rookie season.  Autox rain or shine and on this day, it was autox from rain to shine!

Since attending the previous rookie series event back in April, I turned my focus to motorcycle riding (learning, taking road test, going on rides, etc.) instead of attending as many other autox events as available.  The result was clear, my so-so autox skills stay put while others improve :D  The positive I take away is that I did not become a worse autox driver due to inactivity ;) and it was still fun driving at autox.

This autox box hasn't been used for almost 5 months!

Why does it always rain on my autox day?!?

The never to-scale course map, makes walking the course that much more important!

Sun finally came out!

My highest g-loads run of the day

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