Ricks Rendezvous May 15-19 2013 in Hampton TN.

This years Annual ADV Rally was held in Hampton TN at the Black Bear Resort. Sadly for me I had to work that Thursday but I had Friday off to head up and to enjoy the weekend. With the bike loaded up Wednesday night. Thursday as soon as I got off work I hit the road. After a 3 hour ride I come into Boone NC just east of base camp. quick bite to eat and I'm gone. About 45 minutes later I rolled into camp.  According to the GPS I coming in on the main road. After a nice smooth ride down a paved road I hit gravel. At first it wasn't to bad.  About 13 miles of gravel and dirt later. (Did I mention the bike was loaded up.) I found out I came in the back way and there was a much easier way into camp.  Maybe I should have paid more attention to the direction on the website. It said there was a nice paved road coming into camp from the other side of the mountain but no I had to take the back road. Damn GPS. But it was a good practice. The bike did a great job and well it just made me look more bad ass coming in on the dirt road loaded up.

Friday-
Friday morning I wake up at 6:30 am. Why I dunno I wanted to sleep but I'm used to getting up early for work and my mind just decided to wake up whether my body decided to follow or not. After a good morning breakfast. I joined the Big Bike road Ride. for today. We did a crap load of twists and turns, up down left rights and literally all around. One road we took was called The Snake. by the end of Friday I have gained a whole new level of respect for my large bike and how well it handled on the tight corners. Scrapping pegs and all the GSA took it like a champ and rolled through all the corners beautifully. Running the K60 scout dual sport tires 50/50 tread. I was hesitant on how well they would do. But I'll be honest these tires have performed beautifully no matter what I've thrown at them. Next set I may get them again.

Saturday-
Today was the Bike Bike off road ride. Now what I mean by Big bike. I'm referring to big bikes 650cc or bigger. All the little dirt bikes went on their rides where my bike is just to big and or to heavy. For the Big Bike off road ride our leader had a preset route we were going to try. But due to the weather rolling in and all the rain the group made some changes to the course. After a short delay we hit the road and road for about 6-7 hours of mostly gravel and dirt roads. One second we are in TN and then out of no where we pop out into another small town in VA. make a few random turns that almost look like driveways or dead end streets and boom we're in NC. One one trail we were on it for about an hour and we stop and gather at a nice over look of the mountains. We are all sitting there and chatting about how adventurous we are and how much fun we are all having. Then out of no where a Buick driven by an old man and his wife in the passenger seat just drives on by us. As you pry assume we all didn't feel so adventurous anymore. But we were still having a good time. After a few more hours of riding and my GPS loosing us in some of the hills and valleys we finally made it home with no casualties just in time for beer o'clock.

Sunday was an easy day. everyone started packing up and slowly headed back to the real world. To make the weekend last a little longer we took a dirt road called old hwy 105 south for about 18 miles. It entailed very steep inclines and descents  fog was thick but made the road that much more challenging. Once we hit pavement we took a few more detours and stopped at Childress Vineyards for lunch. Not to exciting but the food was hot and very good.


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Here some pictures.

Headed to Basecamp Thurday

Headed into Basecamp

Friday ride gathering for a day of twisties

Just finished the snake and didn't even know it.

Maggie Valley

Some kid having a blast on his GSA

That's the trail head we were going to take. 

Do you see it???

Some back roads. 

Yes that is a ninja 250 with knobbies on it ridden by a female.

Saken falling a sleep at 8pm. 

Lovely couple from OHIO. With matching his and hers GSA's

Over view of Base Camp

Gathering up for a day of dirt rides. 

Group two. for those riding 2 up

me. If only you could see my smile. 

another group headed out

Some really fun cool road. 

More country roads 

Sunday Headed home. I told you it was foggy

Thats a cliff going straight down the mountain. 

More fog Sunday Morning.. 

That little light is Saken on his Triumph Explorer. 

Update on the BILT Explorer Helmet.

So awhile back I purchased the new BILT Explorer Helmet from Cycle Gear. At first it was great. It fit very well didn't seem to heavy and at highway speeds the visor didn't seem to be in the way unless I turned my head at an angle into the wind. So here I am a few months later and I'm on Helmet number 3. Lucky number 3. So here is what I've experienced. On my first helmet the chin strap started to come apart. the fabric was just falling apart literally.  Not sure why. It was the show model on the shelve so that could be it. So I took it back and got a new one fresh out of the Box. Helmet 2. Color flat black I had this for a few months. All seemed well didn't have any issues for a while. But after awhile my helmet started needing more maintenance than my bike. The screws that hold the visor to the helmet were all loose. Had to super glue the screws in place to keep from coming apart. Just getting them tight wasn't enough they kept working loose. There are two on the back of the helmet an three up front on the main visor part. The three on the main visor hold down a end visor piece that seemed more as a looks function because it could have been easily built in to make a one piece visor. After the three screws were glued I noticed an annoying vibration at highway speeds again. Felt around and the end visor piece was loose again. the screws pulled through it. YAY right. So carefully removing the piece I super glued that back on too. Super Glue seems to be a popular tool with the helmet repair. A few weeks went by and no repairs. but one day in the garage I noticed the rubber seal around bottom of the helmet was peeling off. Took a closer look. It barely had glue holding it. Just enough but not enough. So once again super glue to the rescue. Then one day I got caught in a rain storm. No biggie. but why is there water on the wrong side of the clear plastic see through visor. hmm. Got home and inspected. seems the seal was worn and water found the sweet spot. Also found on the lower side by the front beak the rubber had a small tear. Also the inside pads became very worn. I know the pads will break down over time but I've had my last helmet almost 3 years and the pads aren't nearly as worn down as these were in only a few months. So now to helmet 3. Just got in only had it a week. And guess what new colors. YAY. So I upgraded to the HI-VIZ color. Very Bright which I like.

So since Cycle gear has a 5 year warranty at this rate I'll have a new helmet every 6 months until I get one that stops falling apart. For a $200 helmet It's already paying for it self. If you ride every so often maybe to the store and back or one long trip a year. This helmet will pry never break down. But I ride all year and in all conditions. For that I just purchased the Shoei Hornet DS Hornet. No drop down internal shade which by the way I really like. So there are my thoughts.

New Paint Job and upgrades 4-22-13

Well Finally almost finished with the bike. Here's the new awesome Paint job. Called Lava Orange. Originally found on the F800.

4-21-13 Riding the back roads of Virginia

So on Saturday I got bored and really wanted to go for a ride. But I had to get my services done. So I stayed up late and went over the bike. Changed the oil, Adjusted Valves, checked things over. Was going to change the FD fluid but when I went to grab the fluid I was out. So the FD will have to wait. Come Sunday morning I woke up bright and early and hit the road. Oh did I mention I was to eager to try out my new GPS. Just throwing a route together last minute just taking as many back roads as I could I'm off. Ended up near Lexington VA. Where I found a place called "The Natural Bridge". Which is a naturally made bridge. Your see in the picture below. Kinda cool actually. While I was there I also took a tour of the caverns that go 34 stories deep. I'm sure it goes deeper but we weren't allowed. I was going to do a ZOO safari but motorcycles aren't allowed. From what they say. The water hippo's don't like them. As I'm riding around. I came across Foamhenge. Kinda cool but different. I guess if we can't travel overseas then we'll make our own cheap version in the states ha ha. Well here are some photo's I'm tired of typing.

FoamHenge in VA. Just south of Lexington VA. 

Such a great View

Back roads in VA somewhere

The long lonely Highway

Back roads of VA

Took a dirt road off the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Back roads off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Natural Bridge VA

FoamHenge VA

The Mystery hole

Natural Bridge Caverns

I went Shopping....Christmas in April 2013

So as many know who may either know me or follow me on Facebook or on here. I was in a very minor accident about a month ago. So with all that spare time and boring from not being able to ride I went shopping. And you thought those words were dangerous when your girlfriend or wife says those words. After looking through forums and seeing what is actually useful and what I could justify. I clicked the "check out" button's and awaited the UPS man. Here's what I've upgraded.

New Hornet DS by Shoei Helmet because well is safety first.

From Touratech USA

• Front Fork Bump Stop 
• Fuel Rail Guards
• heavy Duty Aluminum Skid Plate
• Brake and Clutch Reservoir Guards
• Garmin Zumo 660 and Locking Mount from Touratech

From Wunderlich 

• Fancy Oil Cooler Guard 
• Lever guard for the Final Drive 

From Twisted Throttle

• Fuse Block and wiring harness

From AltRider

• Potentiometer Guard 

From Clearwater 

• Krista's LED lights which are badass 

From ADV Design.

• Panniers Organizers. Not big but they help with the little stuff.

So far I have them all Installed besides the Krista's and fuse block. I'm awaiting the fuel tank to become less full so I can remove it. I;m going to wire up everything so it looks factory. No shortcuts. besides I like when everything looks like it belongs. 

Christmas in April

Krista's From ClearWater

(currently not yet installed, Still awaiting fuse block in the mail)

Fuel Rail Guards and Potentiometer Guard

Brake Reservoir Guard

Steering bump Stop 

Clutch Reservoir Guard

Lever Guard for the FD

Oil Cooler Guard

Upgraded Skid Plate. 

Stock skid Plate on the left

New Touratech Aluminum Skid Plate on the Right. 

Garmin Zumo 660 With the Touratech Locking Mount.