2025 Review, 2026 Plans - How about you?

[Bulldog9]

It's hard to believe that 2025 is winding down. Was my first year of retirement, and I had all kinds of MC plans. Hit several goals, missed others. I'll keep this mostly limited to Motorcycle Topics.

Hits:
1- FEB- Guzzi Tech Day gathering at John Wells house. Great gathering of local Guzzistas. (FEB)
2- APR- Fly and Ride to purchase the 2012 Norge and then a ride down to Key West and up the West Coast of Florida and back to Virginia (2800 miles)
3- APR- Purchased RV - Thor Omni built on F550 4x4 Chassis - Managed 6 trips and 7500 miles.
4- MAY- 2025 Mutton Run: Traced through VA, WV, KY, MO, ARK, TN. AL, GA, NC, not a single moment of Super Slab, ALSO made my first trip to the Barber MC Museum........ Amazing.... (3300 miles on Stornello TT)
5- JUN- Finalized 944 Rebuild with new Suspension and then 500 miles in the BLue Ridge to sort out.
6- JUL-  Took 4 Generations to the Mecum Auction in PA. Dad/Son In law/Grandson, stayed in RV and had a blast... Also saw the NYC Fireworks for the first time in 40 Years. STILL THE BEST!
7- JUL- Hosted my FIRST MC Gathering prior to Guzzi's in the Blue Ridge
8- AUG- Attended Guzzi's in the Blue Ridge (950 miles on 1200 Sport)
9- AUG- Attended 944 Fest- First 944 rally. Planned 4 days, but was only able to manage a pass through on one day.
10- SEP- Attended the Vintage Yamaha Rally (750 miles in a car due to long time riding buddy recovering from RC surgery) Will ride next year.
11- OCT - Drove the NATCHEZ Trace in the RV on my way to COTA. Stopped to see several Army Buddies, my Son, Brother, and other friends. Hope to do the Natchez Trace on 2 wheels in 2026. Toted the Stornello on the back as a proof of concept. Discovered I need to hit the gym again if I want to load and unload unassisted. (RV 4200 miles)

Other Notables:
- Attended at least 10 Cars and Coffee/Bikes and Breakfast Events.
- Joined CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association) and CVMA the Combat Vets Motorcycle Associations - Never joined a group like this, will be interesting to see how they are.
- Started the teardown for a PRE-SALE refresh of my 1978 Yamaha XS 750.
- Lots of Day Trips and local riding
- Total Refresh of the New Norge. Deep Cleaning, Service, Repaired wiring, installed Power Ports, TPMS, aux lighting, Knight Pegs, mounted Mistral Can and CAT eliminator with Beetle Map, new Windscreen, body repair and toning down pinstriping.
- Got the band together, the first time all my motorcycles have been in ONE location in 15 years.

MISSES:
1- Missed one of 3 potential Moto Guzzi Demos in my driving area
2- Missed every Guzzi lunch
3- Only Rode the Convert ONCE.............
4- Never got my act together to sell the Breva 750, 1200 Sport and XS 750.
5- Missed my 15K miles on 2 wheels, best figure was 9800 all tolled.
6- Failed to keep my Guzzi Doormat on my side of the bed 

2026 GOALS (so far) MOST IMPORTANT is more time with Family, spoiling, quality time, helping out. I missed so much time with my family since 911, this is my primary goal and priority. I'll be fitting in all my MC/Car stuff around them.
1- PURGE - Now that I have all my junk in 1 location, it's time to catalog and sell ALL my unneeded and excess Motorcycle and Car Parts
2- Sell the Breva 750, 1200 Sport, and XS750
3- Attend THREE Moto Guzzi Rally's and the Vintage Yamaha Rally. Hope to link a rally to a longer tour of up to at least 1 month, hit goal of 15K MC miles.
4- RV Trips: 1-Finger lakes with Wife, 2-Grandkids to Bush Gardens and Chincoteague, 3-Frequent Weekend Trips to Wineries and Events (with Stornello toted)
5- North East MC Trip through NJ/NY/CONN/MA/NH (may try to link in a Rally)
6- Rent and Ride a Motorcycle in Japan
7- Attend more MC/Car events
8- More riding with Friends

OK, too many words, too few pictures. Here are a few highlights.

[Tkelly]

Do they ride on the left in Japan?I just watched a bicycle ride across Japan where he rode on the left.I would like to tour Ireland except for that issue.

[Bulldog9]

Do they ride on the left in Japan?I just watched a bicycle ride across Japan where he rode on the left.I would like to tour Ireland except for that issue.

I think so.... My wife is going to link up with her relatives. It will be a challenge, but I think FAR less than in a car. I heard an audible snap in my brain when driving for the first time in Ireland and approached a 4 lane rotary/traffic circle, driving on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road, shifting with the wrong hand. Blew my mind...... I think it would be much easier on a motorcycle, only have to manage wrong side of road....... And by wrong, I mean DIFFERENT or OPPOSED, not proper or correct..... (you're welcome Dan, that should head off a complaint...... unless of course this additional comment triggers someone )

[Moparnut72]

Yes they drive on the wrong side of the road in Japan. That is why the gas filler is on the right side of a lot of Japanese cars. Not much sense in doing two different stampings, or at least I thought that's why. I had a D50 in the 70's, the gas tank filler on the right side drove me nuts until I got used to it. I was always going in the wrong direction from the rest of the traffic in the gas pump lines. BTW when did you sleep?
kk

[faffi]

Bulldog9, my goals and preferences are far removed from yours - partly because I do not have a lot of goals

One could perhaps say that it is a goal of mine not to join any clubs or gatherings of any kind, and if so this year was another success.

I failed to reach my goal of 5k miles and ended up with just 2k. Still no regrets, as getting the old cabin we took over from mother in law had priority. Less fun was not being able to get my Virago up and running once again, this time because the single carb conversion does not allow fitment of the fuel tank. Well, there is always next year.

Motorcycle related goals for 2026:
- Fix the carb issue with the Virago, fit the front end from the XV1000SE (Euro version of the Virago 920 Midnight Special, but with the fork and twin disc brake from the 1982 Virago 920) and ride it. Provided it runs good again, I will...
- sell the Roamer.
- Fix the XT600Z Tenere
- Sell the 650 Deauville in parts or as project
- Clear out all the various parts that have gathered over the decades to free up space
- Sort the shed next to the cabin so I can do woodworking inside, plus park the XT there.
- Ride 5k miles

[Tkelly]

Riding roundabouts in Sicily on the right side of the road was all the excitement I need ,trying it on the left would be borderline suicidal for me.

[YellowDuck]

1. Get the Matris cartridges installed in the forks of my V7 Stone 850 (already have Shock Factory rear)
2. Otherwise leave the Guzzi the F**k alone except for maintenance and cleaning.  It's pretty much perfect anyway.
3. At least three track days on my Ducati Sport Classic.
4. Another multi-day motorcycle tour with my brother.  It's basically the only time we spend together all year.

[orionengnr]

Added a 2016 Stelvio to the garage in November, after being Guzzi-less for about three years. Flew up to Cedar Rapids IA and rode her home to DFW TX November 14/15, 2025.
Looking to take the "new kid" to the Tail of The Dragon in May, it will be my second Guzzi trip and my sixth Dragon trip.

[TN Mark]

Bulldog9, it looks like you’ve won life’s lottery. Congratulations to you sir. Well done, well done indeed.

[guzzisteve]

Stay Alive & ride & don't die!!!

[Bob Wegman]

I don't have any cast in stone plans , mainly because I am a lousy planner.  My daughter has offered me a spot in her garage in California to store a motorcycle, so I would have something to ride when visiting.  That has a chance of turning into a cross country trip. I am hoping to assemble a couple project bikes that have been apart forever too.  Praying for a healthy year.

[Bulldog9]

I don't have any cast in stone plans , mainly because I am a lousy planner.  My daughter has offered me a spot in her garage in California to store a motorcycle, so I would have something to ride when visiting.  That has a chance of turning into a cross country trip. I am hoping to assemble a couple project bikes that have been apart forever too.  Praying for a healthy year.

Bob, give me a heads up................ Could be a fun ride. I'll likely take the Norge, then Go North up the Coast and cross back across Canada.

Also, we are still planning a 2 week RV trip around the Finger Lakes and will tote the Stornello.

[Shorty]

We try to get to West Virginia every year. It is my happy place. We also go to the Florida Panhandle every year, and keep working our way east to explore ther Forgotten Coast. She's been bugging me about lighthouses, so there may be our first venture out to the PNW in the works,  to do part of the Coast Road. And, we've been getting the itch to go explore Utah, as well. We have a big beautiful country to explore, even in a minivan. 

[Huzo]

With the “wrong side of the road thing…”
My Norge has 100,000 km on the right hand side and 120,000 km on the left hand side. Doesn’t seem to matter to her at all…

[Bulldog9]

With the “wrong side of the road thing…”
My Norge has 100,000 km on the right hand side and 120,000 km on the left hand side. Doesn’t seem to matter to her at all…

Well, when all the animals on your continent want to kill you, your seasons are out of sync and your toilets flush in the wrong direction, I guess anything is possible......