Week 26 - New Years Day
This is VicToRia's twenty-sixth week home, and it's time for some more riding.
This is VicToRia's twenty-sixth week home, and it's time for some more riding.
We planned to meet at the Rock Store at 9 am. I decided to get there a little earlier to get some coffee and check out the Rock Store scene before everyone else arrived. I'm particularlly found of V-Twins and spoted an Aprillia RS250 Race Replica before the others arrived. It was a very sweet looking bike and I loved the little dual pipes on the side.
The rest of the guys arrived almost at the same time, 9:10, a little late but it was cool . . it gave me time to finish my coffee and look around. Jim (YodaDada) rolled up on his sweet '02 Silver FZ-1. His buddy (and now mine), Darren, arrived on his 2-stroke RZ350. Jim (aka DayGlo) arrived on his '00 Blue ZR-7.
Shortly after they arrived, a Yellow Aprillia Falco (another V-Twin) and the Ducati 999 I saw last week also rolled up. The guys elected me
to play the lead rider duties despite me knowing that Darren would be quick on his RZ350 in the canyons. I recommended the ride we just did last week:
Mulholland Hwy to Latigo Cyn Rd., down Latigo Cyn Rd. to PCH, PCH to Neptune's Net, from Neptune's Net up Yerba Buena Rd., Yerba Buena Rd. to Decker Cyn Rd., Decker Cyn Rd. to Mulholland Hwy
and Mulholland Hwy back to the Rock Store for lunch.
I started as the lead rider but once we started hitting some decent twisties on Mulholland, Darren ripped by me. It wasn't just the small size of the RZ350 that helped him go by me, he's a good rider. I guess it helps to have a Dad that owns a motorcycle shop. Anyway, We carved our way up Mulholland to Latigo Canyon. Jim (aka DayGlo) followed me and Jim (aka YodaDada) brought up the rear. Everything was pretty uneventful and we made our way to Neptune's Net in no time.
We stopped and rested at Neptune's Net and took some more pictures. It was a beautiful day and it was really starting to show. The morning started out a bit cool but it quickly warmed up to the upper 60s. After a small break we headed up Yerba Buena. Again, I started as lead rider but again Darren passed me after we got into the really twisty stuff. Things were going well but the cager traffic was starting to pick up.
We carved our way all the way up Yerba Buena Rd. in the same order we went down Latigo Cyn. Rd. Once we got to the intersection of Yerba Buena Rd. and Decker Cyn. Rd we had to stop for Jim (aka DayGlo). He had touched down his shifter in a turn and needed to bend it back up. This was actually a little foreshadowing. Once we got on Decker Cyn Rd. we got stuck behind a Corvette that thought he was as fast as our bikes. He was pushing so hard to stay in front of us that he crossed over the double yellow several times. I was worried that a rider coming down Decker Cyn was going to be the victim of this guys over zealous driving.
We eventually reached Mulholland Hwy, I thought without incident, and the corvette stayed on Decker Canyon. I was thrilled until I looked back to see how far back Jim & Jim were. I couldn't see them at all and I had seen Jim (aka DayGlo) in my mirrors almost the whole way up Yerba Buena. I thought he was right behind me, especially since we got stuck behind the corvette. I was just thinking that we should turn around and find them when Darren saw them. He gave me the turn around signal and off we went. Jim (aka DayGlo) had touched down parts again in a turn but this time the bike low-sided. Jim (aka YodaDada) was there helping him, as well as another rider.
Jim (aka DayGlo) was okay and didn't sustain any real damage to himself and his ZR-7's damage was only cosmetic. Jim (aka YodaDada) said it was "the most graceful low-side I've ever seen". The ZR-7 was a bit flooded but started up and we headed to the Rock Store. Darren took lead rider duites and I brought up the rear to make sure Jim's ZR-7 was actually okay.
Along the way I spotted another Super Hawk. I instantly recognized the rider/bike once I got close enough. It was Jeff (aka CaffineRacer). He was the man who introduced me to the best Super Hawk mailing list on-line: RunLevelZero. We all road the rest of the way down Mulholland to the Rock Store together. Once we got there I chatted with Jeff for a bit when C-Dub (aka WrenchWhore) came by. I excused myself to get some more pictures and then some lunch with Jim, Darrin and Jim.
The day was an absolute blast. My round trip was about 110 miles, most of which was on twisty canyon roads. Jim (aka DayGlo) was okay and in fact when I left at about 1:30pm the other three were planning on making one more run on another canyon road near the Rock Store. I'm sure I'll find out how it went later.
Jim (DayGlo) was gracious enough to give me an update on what happened on the rest of their ride. He writes:
"Stan, after you left we headed down to Stunt Road -- slowly, caught behind a pair of of Classic Club type cars that couldn't go more than about 35
mph,it seemed -- then stopped at the lookout where I realized I'd need some gas pretty soon. That in mind, we went back down Stunt to Mulholland and
continued east toward the Valley to the nearest gas station. After that, I split off to the freeway to head home and Jim (YodaDada) and Darren
went the other way."
Jim (DayGlo) also informed me than other than the cosmetic damage to the alternator cover and engine guard, his ZR-7 is work pefectly.