So gang, went on a spectacular ride yesterday and wanted to share the journey, be warned I tend to ramble a bit so bear with me haha.
Met at Pops’ place in Johnstown, CO around 1pm yesterday, gorgeous shining blue sky with plenty of sun and fairly warm in the mid to high 80’s, we get all suited up and do our pre-flight checks and I stash a couple of habanos in my leather 3 finger cigar case and stuff that inside my breast pocket on my summer riding jacket. We take off, grab some gas and get ready to stretch our bikes legs! I was on the KZ440 and Pops was on his 1979 SR650 (God that is a sweet bike!), filled up and headed into the mountains and foothills. Started making our way up to Horsetooth Reservoir and up along the twisting, rising road that moves along its banks and over the dams, absolutely gorgeous views and fun fun road really getting into the twisties and starting to get much more comfortable with entry speed and really leaning into the corners and throttling out of them. Was cruising about 30 mph on a slow section overtop of the dam itself when a Yellow Jacket flew up and landed on top of my thigh (read, did not run into it it flew and landed on me), walked around for a few seconds then the little bastard stung me! Luckily didn’t freak out or flail but man did that hurt like a mother, couldn’t pull over for a few minutes but leg started swelling up a bit and burned like crazy. Finally got to a pulloff and had to pull the jeans off (that was embarrassing to be de-pantsed on the side of the highway lol) and got the stinger out and then continued our ride. Went over the backside and past Horsetooth and then made our way up and into Rist Canyon. Part way up we found a little dirt pull off and stopped, went down to the brooke a few yards away, pulled out the habanos (Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No. 2 that I gave to Pops, and a Saint Luis Rey that I had, each had a few years of rest on them). Had an outstanding smoke, and nice little break and then headed back down the Rist Canyon, backside of Horsetooth and up over the dam again and then went down in front of Carter Lake.
Pops pulled over suddenly near Carter Lake, thought something was wrong but no... he surprised me and told me to hop on the SR650. GOOD LORD, I have been in a lot of amazing machines over the years. Rolls Royce’s Lambo’s, Ferrari’s, Porsche’s, Pierce Arrow’s, 1920‘s nad 30‘s Cadillac V-12‘s, Race Cars, Drag Cars etc..... I have never been on something like that though. It was smoother than any engine I have known, and just pulled and pulled and pulled and never gave up. AND WHAT A NOISE wow oh wow oh wow, I am a convert and believer for life now! Wasn’t quite as agile or nimble or low center of gravity as the KZ440 (to be expected of course), but still was incredibly maneuverable as y’all know. Gotta say I am sold and I know that I will be buying a KZ650 or 750 next spring/summer and that will be the bike that is mine with my name on the title, blown away and amazed by that bike WOW! Well stayed on the SR for about 10 min, then switched back to the KZ440 and back home to Johnstown! All in all, was a bout a 4 hr ride and just shy of 100 miles through some of the prettiest country in the USA and fantastic weather, it was so rewarding getting some confidence in the twisties and really starting to learn to lay it down deep into those corners and how to exit and enter safely and not get in over my head. Perfect roads, perfect day and perfect riding and cigar buddy
Thanks for listening to me ramble gang, was such an experience that I just wanted to share with those that had an appetite for it!
Irish