From: Greg Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 21:19:42 -0500 Message-ID: Reply-To: Greg Sender: Honda Sabre and Magna Motorcycle Owners Subject: '01 SMEGMA thoughts To: SABMAG@MITVMA.MIT.EDU LMs, Sorry... no pics this time. I was using a loaned GPZ by the host (thanks Richard!) since I caged it with the family. As usual I dropped them off in Silver Spring and headed out towards Bethesda Fri before rush hour traffic. Upon arriving I met the WV boys and the Mikes from the NE. Additional 'maggots were arriving throughout the late afternoon and evening. RW and Carl were going to organize a Fri evening ride to check out the Pentagon (Never Forget!) damage... but due to the light rain/drizzle it was decided to just eat pizza and drink beverages. I hope everyone had an opportunity to place something in the hat. Later that evening, most folks went out clubbing and to watch Jeff play some blues. Any video footage? Me and a few others stayed back. Considering Sat looked to be a beautiful day... I wanted to be well rested in riding a borrowed and new to me bike. Sat morning RW had the coffee flowing and picked up Crispy Cremes and bagels for us. Burp. Later Carl (not the new one) took a contingent out for gas somewhere along Wisconson. Unfortunately Wisconson is not called Wisconson near where RW lives so I never caught up with his group that was gassing up and on their way to the Pentagon... so I returned to RW's place. ONCE we finally got started... Jeremy had his incident with the minivan. This kind of put a damper on the rest of us and it also reminded me to take it easy... especially being on a borrowed bike. We got to Pooles a litte late for the McDonald's breakfast menu... so RW was determined to find something in the dumpster. He was serious. His 'stich was quite gross upon his return. :-) What happened next is still a bit unclear to me... but I was involved. You all might have read about RW's Bandit drop in the McDonald's parking lot. He had a little help. While everyone was gearing up and preparing for a departure... I was returning to the GPZ. As I walked in front of RW on his Bandit, I didn't realize he was ready to MOVE on the bike. As RW (and the bike) was moving... his brake lever somehow wedged itself in the cuff of my glove causing the Bandit's front wheel to lock up immediately. This happened while RW was attempting to make a turn. Before I could even react... the bike was going down on its left side... thus tossing RW to the ground. Damage assessment to RW was none. Damage to the Bandit however resulted in a scuffed tank and rear panel. :-( The ride up to High Rock was a bit easier this time as we didn't continue on Gambrill Park Rd where the payment ended (which back in '99 took a bunch of us on a boulder ladden rut infested trail). We did however still rode on trails so to speak. Arriving up at High Rock we witnessed Carl #2 grab too much front brake and immediately drop his V45 Magna on the rocks. Whoops. Later, some anal BMW rider took exception to Nasty Girl Ed passing him on the double yellow up to High Rock. I guess he (the BMW rider) doesn't know what courtesy is as I allowed a number of riders to pass me in tight turns/roads by moving over far to the right and waving them forward. I noticed others in our group didn't catch my cue. Please make a note of this. Coming down from High Rock we got STUCK in Thurmond that seemed to have the whole town involved in a garage/yard sale. I don't know how the nuthammers handled this delay. :-) Stopping for late lunch... I tore off from the group to return to Silver Spring and retrieve my camera. Unfortunately by the time I returned to Bethesda it was too late/dark to take any decent pics. Another fire was made in the middle of RW's backyard where much BS'ing continued. RW had brats and burgers available for the masses. Gulp! Speaking of food, Phil showed up just about the time the food was ready. I hear he's good at that. :-) I bid adieu to everyone about 0100 or so. I was beat and felt the need to sleep in the next morning. I returned Sun morning around 1000 or so with my family (Lynn, Greg Jr. and Betsi) so that they could meet some of the biker scum I ride/socialize with. :-) My kids loved the pond in RW's backyard. They didn't seem too impressed with the number of bikes. They must be used to the number of bikes in my garage(s). :-) The WV boys were loading up their bikes into the back of a rental truck. The purpose of this exercise was two-fold. One, Jeremy needed to get his wrecked bike home. Secondly, the other WV boys were rain wusses and didn't want to get wet. :-) Seriously though, the huge truck that Jeremy rented was the smallest he could get on short notice so he offered to take the rest of his buds (and bikes) back. As the rest of the riders were ready to leave... RW took them on another tour to the Pentagon (Never Forget!) before heading on their way home. SPECIAL thanks to Richard and Patty for putting up with us once again. They are stellar hosts. RW, thanks for the loan of your GPZ. It was a fun bike to ride. If I have to return the favor... you'll have to settle for a V65 Sabre or Magna. :-) Also, thanks to Carl (#1) for leading the sight seeing group. :-) Regards, Greg Terpin == Chicago 'burbs mailto: v65@sabmag.org http://www.enteract.com/~nyamuk/sabmag '84 VF750F - '85 ZX900 (parts) - '85 ZL900 Eliminator a few V65 Magnas/Sabres, V30 Magnas and Nighthawk 700Ss USMC: "pain and sweat is just weakness leaving the body"