1st Guzzi ride of 2016 - a few pics

[ohiorider]

It rained really hard for much of last night, clearing lots of road salt, but this morning didn't look promising...actuall y a NE Ohio grey sky.  Remarkably by 2pm, the sky was a mix of large clouds and bright sky.  So, without a lot of preparation, on went the jacket, decided to ride in the lace up boots I'd been wearing.  Only 40 miles, most of it spent riding close to home, in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  Temps in the high 50s.  Hope you snowbound guys enjoy the pics.  And I promise you, there'll be payback for this!  Coming tomorrow!


          The Octagon shelter in the National Park.  Built prior to Park opening most likely by CCC or WPA in 1930s



                   The blue and white vintage Pure sign goes well with the sky



      This little museum features Ohio & Erie Canal artifacts.  1 : 1 scale section of old canal boat stern inside



               Brandywine Golf Course water hazard.  Private course within the National Park





    I've lived here since 1992 and by then the station had been refreshed but remains non-operational

[NC Steve]

        

[nick949]

Very nice Bob  That bike looks really good in black.

Nick

[bpreynolds]

 

[Markcarovilli]

Bob

Way to go....all familiar places.

So now do you need to change oil since it will be parked for the rest of the winter 

Mark

[ohiorider]

Mark,

Naah!  That bike will be back on the road in a few weeks.  But thanks for the reminder ..... got to mail order a case of 10w60!

[WitchCityGuzzi]

We've been blessed with a really mild winter this year for a change. At this time last year, we had about 60 inches of snow on the ground on our way to 110 inches or so. This year, no snow on the ground and temperatures in the 50's and 60's. Heaven.

I've been riding all winter so far. The Stelvio is in for a much needed full suspension upgrade, so I've had the opportunity to re-bond with the Ballabio. Man, I love that thing. It's been a great commuting week with it.

[ohiorider]

We've been blessed with a really mild winter this year for a change. At this time last year, we had about 60 inches of snow on the ground on our way to 110 inches or so. This year, no snow on the ground and temperatures in the 50's and 60's. Heaven.

I've been riding all winter so far. The Stelvio is in for a much needed full suspension upgrade, so I've had the opportunity to re-bond with the Ballabio. Man, I love that thing. It's been a great commuting week with it.

Absolutely beautiful machine!

[Sheepdog]

We've had a mild winter here in Waldheim, too...even milder than normal. I've managed a 60 mile cruise just about every weekend this winter.

[WitchCityGuzzi]

Absolutely beautiful machine!

Thanks. I've put about 70,000 miles on it and and all its has ever required is fluid changes, tire changes , and a clutch at 55,000. Its the most reliable motorcycle I've ever owned.

[ohiorider]

I'm having similar success with the b&w 1200 Sport.  Slightly over 62,000 miles, she runs strong as ever, shifts beautifully, handles nicely.  I think a set of new Michelins are in the works, come springtime, along with a new oil pressure sensor, and I'll be good to go for riding season #7

[Mile High Guzzi]

Bob, as Peter Egan wrote, "Ride Hard, ride short".....I squeeze in many 40 mile rides when I can....or even shorter.....and love the last MD garage photo, that is a good "man-cave print" to put on the wall.

[drums4money]

Nice wheels, fellas. . . I'm green with envious rage.
Mild winter, but we've still got a coating of gravel on the roads that's keeping them nice & treacherous. 
Sadly, I'll keep them in the garage for a little while longer.

[ohiorider]

Mile High, here's my wall hanger.  I found it on a website devoted to the history of my home town, Charleston, West Virginia.

This particular station pic is like a time machine to me.  It was located only a short block from our home, and was as local as a gas station could be.  Owned by a gent by the name of "Buss Totten."  It's been colorized, of course, which makes it even more like I remember it, from the time I was barely old enough to see thru the windshield on my dad's '48 Chrysler Windsor!  As I got into bicycling, Buss and his staff were there to help me patch punctures.  Can't tell you how many times once I got a driver's license I used the tire pump, with the crank to set pressure, and a bell that rang, telling you it was still pumping. Of course, at age 16, I ran a lot of hi-test through the family car, which by that time was a 1959 Buick Invicta 4 dr hardtop.  Poor old pop couldn't help but wonder why his gas (and tire) mileage had gone to hell.  I couldn't resist the family 'charge account.'  And that huge 4400 pound car, with its 401 cubic inch engine (called a Wildcat 440, for its torque rating) was tough on gas and tires, especially when it was frequently drag-raced against my buddy's (dad's) 1959 Olds 88.  Hydramatic vs Triple Turbine Dynaflo!


This is probably a pre-WW2 pic, or taken shortly after the war, when there were very few new cars available