Well... they aren't really that big, but given that some of them have been riding for over 40 years, I say I was in very good company!

It all started when I reached out to the local community and asked for someone to help me better my cornering skills. I got a few pieces of advice but no takers. So today, not really feeling like going out alone I hopped on my bike and went to a local BMW/Triumph dealership to perhaps get a test ride on the 675. I get there and BOOM... I see a few guys from the local bike forum. They recognize me and offer to go riding with them. I simply could not refuse! It was exactly what I was hoping to accomplish that day.

So.. me and 3 other guys went on what ended up being a 4 hour ride. One of the first roads we took was just plain scary! Bumpy. Gravel everywhere. Up. Down. No double yellow. All kinds of not pretty. As you can tell.. I survived! The roads that followed weren't too bad and I generally enjoyed myself... and bettered my cornering skills while at it.

Here are a few pics one of the guys took of me in action. 8) (All credit to Mehran, who rocks!):

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2456/a00mp2.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6186/a07wt5.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1213/a3cx3.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3299/a04rs3.jpg

Oh, and I met our very own Dave in the parking lot across from Alice's. He recognized the bike. :thinking Imagine? Granted, his black 599 was the first 599 I've seen up there. Go Dave!

Nice Alex feels great to ride with friends dont it?

Hey cut those friggin UFO lights off the back of that thing would yah :shock: J/K



God I wish spring would stop teasing me here in PA/MD now I have 5 inches of snow again when just last week I was riding :cry: WTF!!!

Hey cut those friggin UFO lights off the back of that thing would yah :shock:

:lol: If I get around to making changes to it, the "UFO lights" will be the first to go. I promise! I serously hate them myself... I just don't thave the funds nor the time to deal with them.

Looks like an awesome time. So what did you learn and what can
you pass on to us??

Hey cut those friggin UFO lights off the back of that thing would yah :shock:

:lol: If I get around to making changes to it, the "UFO lights" will be the first to go. I promise! I serously hate them myself... I just don't thave the funds nor the time to deal with them.

I think he's talking about the reflectors, not the blinkers. If that's the case, just take your license plate off and use a saw to cut just under the plate mounting bracket. The plastic cuts like butter will make HUGE difference on the look of the bike. And best of all, it's free and will take all of 5 minutes. :thumbsup

Looks like an awesome time. So what did you learn and what can you pass on to us??

The problem: trouble with left turns... diagnosed as me not transfering enough body weight to the left as I turn.

The solution: make a conscious effort to transfer your weight to the left. "Try aligning you head with the mirror."

I did and I think it worked. Lots of practice to get that to become second nature.