Cooter, you are wise beyond your years!

Although my head injuries during my military service has put most of my past in shadows, beyond my grasp, I have bright spots illuminated of riding my H1 and H2 and drag racing my Z1R and commuting from Monterey to San Jose in the pouring down rain, wearing a 3-piece suit under a rain suit, dress shoes under my desk, rain boots under the table after changing, and riding in western Europe on a ZX11.

Seems that other than the girls (but not all of them) my motorcycling experiences are the majority of what I can remember.

Every one of us wakes up one day and realizes we can't do what we used to be able to do, no matter what we do to try to avoid it, or pretend it won't happen.

May you have many great adventures Cooter, so that when you reach that point, you know you made good of your best years.

And then keep on riding!

Well, leaving tomorrow morning with mc to ride to Hudson Valley area, NY. They are going to take a 1.5 hour walking tour of West Point, and we will visit OCC for yucks. I'm going to see if I can make Senior mad.....

Anyway, I can't walk for 15 minutes, much less 1.5 hours, and I still remember West Point (at least, the buildings and layout) like I was still there. I can't tell you what happened in each of the 4 years, but I can tell you where it happened. LOL.

Anyway, coming back we may take one one of the turnpikes for a while, so I purchased an EZ-PASS. I was wondering where to put it, so I did a search at the COG forum and found one poster who had put it inside the right side-case, on the upper front inner surface. So it ends up facing the same as if on a windshield, and the side-case doesn't interfere with it anymore than glass does. He says it works every time without fail. With the added benefit it is very well protected inside the side-case.

Going to pack today, going VERY light just because I'm tired of over-packing.

I know walking limits are a bitch, but maybe the tour would jog some memories. Pissing off Sr. would be fun!

Please piss off Sr. you will be my hero!!

I thought Sr. was ALWAYS pissed off?

Mad

I told him his bikes were nice art but nobody would ever ride one coast to coast, and he turned red, but didn't yell.

I was disappointed, but decided to keep the peace.

Pictures of West Point are in the Ride Report section. FYI, no the Civil War Memorial is not leaning like the Tower of Pisa, I was zoom a little and the camera was cocked, and although I reoriented it on Photobucket, for some reason the server is giving the edited picture.

* Last updated by: privateer on 9/25/2012 @ 4:39 AM *

privateer; why wouldn't you want to ride cross country on a bike that gets 20 mpg., and has a 3 gallon tank? You're going to have to get off that often to get some feeling back anyway.

@alg8er - You are just being facetious right? Its a rhetorical question, right, right? LOL.

Well, turning it into more of an old man's bike. Put one of the new CalSci Wide XL screens on, the thing is quite tall and wide. Just means the XM stereo in my helmet speakers will sound even better.

Well, next round of mods coming.

Galfer is making me a complete ss braided kit, gold sheath (line) with black hardware, ABS style (which is totally different from non-ABS due to the ABS pump being connected to the calipers, not the master cylinder).

They are also doing clutch hose and rear brake hose.

And a guy who makes replace rear racks (the stock one is flimsy plastic) is making me 4" handlebar extensions so Galfer is making the brake line from the master cylinder in front down to the ABS pump pipe A +4" and the clutch hose +4" too.

Got to get it all done before I retire in June 2014 and counting on the VA to give me enough back pay to pay the bike off too. Actually I will probably get much more than needed, but they sure are taking their time.

Pictures will be in the pictures section when its done, but I don't expect to have all the parts until late March and I need Twigg Cycle to install the stuff because I can't wrench anymore unless its an emergency.

Sometime in mid-Summer I will put on new PR3 tires using my tire changer (will be first use of it).

I will most likely have Traxxion install an AK20 cartridge kit and Penske 8983 shock toward the end of the summer. Dan told me they would set them up for my weight (omg they make springs that strong?) and I can ride around in the mountains nearby after they install, and come back for tweaking of the suspension setup.

And of course, I get a nice discount for being a COG member. :)

I got the Galfer custom ABS lines, with the line from the master / lever down to the ABS pump connector being +4".

The rest is stock, and bolts in just like OEM. Got gold sheathing and black hardware.

Also go the rear hose, and they put the clamps that bolt to the swingarm on it as shipped.

And the +4" clutch hose.

I can reroute the throttle cables a little, they don't need to be made longer like I did on my ZX14.

In a week I'll pay Phil (Phil's Racks, big C14 oem plastic rack replacement we all get) for the handlebar extensions he made me (4") and then when the weather warms, I'll take the bike to Twigg Cycle, get the hoses put on, and when I get it home, I'll put the extensions on myself because I don't have to bend over or get on my knees (what knees?) to do that.

I espect the change in seating position combined with the flatness of the Baldwin GT saddle and the big CalSci wide XL windshield, the bike will be a joy to go on long trips with.

EDIT: can't spell

* Last updated by: privateer on 2/22/2013 @ 4:30 AM *

Going to get Twigg Cycles to put the Galfer lines and Phil's handlebar extensions on next month.

I can't go to the COG Spring Fling the 3rd week of May anymore, anyway, due to a surgery date.

Ok, its end of 2013 and bike is stored for winter.

I missed most of the riding in 2013 due to 4 surgeries, but 2014 will be much much better.

Including the 25th anniversary of COG, celebrated at the 2014 National in Johnson City TN.

Have Ohlins forks and shock coming for her, when the new Pilot Road 4 is available, I'll have her trailers to Twigg Cycle and have them put the forks and shock on, and new PR4 shoes. Probably new brake pads too.

Well, she is getting moved to a much nicer storage unit. I'll have my dealer pick her up to do the forks, shock, tires, and then drop her off at the new unit.

Its almost big enough to put my truck in too, but not quite. I'm waiting for a 20 x 40 to come available just up the road which is the same price as my current one. Then when I go on trips with the bike I can put the truck in there until I get back.

I hope to get some pictures once they are done with her. The new unit is big enough and has overhead lights so it will be a better picture(s).

And I'm having a heck of a time keeping the battery from going dead. There is no electricity in drive up units around here. The new one has overhead lights on a timer, and I could tap the junction box, but I'm not going to because a) its illegal, and b) I don't want to piss them off if they see a big spike in electric usage.

So after my dealer gets done with the install of the forks, shock, tires, 90 degree valve stems, I think I might pull the battery again and take it to my apartment and put it on the tender.

I've got a gas generator in the unit but don't want to leave it run unattended.

Have Ohlins forks and shock coming for her,

Hey, Priv. I discovered that the new Ohlins forks WILL fit the old ZX-14 as well as the 14r. At least that is what Dan Kyle is claiming. Check out your Ohlins thread.

http://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=BA6F8DBC-1372-66AE-3BB69620E9F4EA6E&page=1&&show=0

I'm having a heck of a time keeping the battery from going dead.

Ok, I was under the impression the ZX14R fork tubes were slightly larger outer diameter (OD) but could be wrong.

If they are same diameter and close enough in length and have the correct fender and caliper mounts then there is a new option, and that is good news.

Ohlins suspension on, talk about a huge improvement. Bike feels 100 pounds lighter.

New Pilot Road 4 GT tires on, no opinion yet will have one after I put a couple thousand miles on them.

Since it is lowered, I had my nephew the welder cut 1" off the center stand and hopefully I will be able to muscle it up onto the center stand now. C14 is a bit heavier than the ZX14 / ZX14R.

When they put the new tires on, I had them put 90 degree valve stems on. The C14 has Tire Pressure Monitoring System in each tire, and the valve stem screws into it. So these 90 degree ones are custom made to work with the TPMS.

I have a few more things to get done before riding season, but should be able to do it all.

Also have my TimeOut Deluxe camper trailer now, so when the weather warms up I will ride down to Open Road Outfitters in VA and get Dale to install the hitch and wire up the harness and brake controller (trailer has electric brakes). This camper is going to get a lot of use this year, I have half a dozen camping events scheduled, as far away as TN and GA and some close ones in WV and PA too. I used to love motorcycle camping, but my bad knees and back have made ground tenting just too much trouble and pain. The camper solves this, as I just step up into it, and the table is there, and a bed, and its all easy on my poor beat up knees.

I've lost 110 pounds since a year ago, have 35 to go to be at the weight the Ohlins suspension is set for. Going to go about 40 or 50 under that, so will have to have Kyle Racing send me new fork and shock springs eventually. Though with the trailer, it will be ok because of tongue weight (40 pounds).

Pictures in the picture section soon.

Glad you are getting everything all set up, Priv. Sounds like you are set for adventure.

Most of all I must congratulate on the big weight loss to you! Way to go man! You must feel 10X better. More comfortable,able to do a lot more stuff even if you want to skip on the ground tent LOL!!! Enjoy the bike and the new you.

My new left knee is getting strong, I guess it will be good enough to ride by the end of June.

I need to post some pictures of the Connie. The trailer hitch is on it now, and the electronic brake controller (trailer has electric brakes). I finally got around to putting the TechSpec sharkskin protectors on the side cases to stop boot scratchs, and she is ready to go on trips.

Still needing done, highway pegs, Baker wind wing installation (very nice smoked lexan that runs up along the vent slots in the fairing and let you route engine heat to you in cold weather and kick it around you in summer.

Have a shifter that has ball bearings on the shaft, unlike the OEM which has a bushing. Easy install once I can get down on the floor and get back up.

Leading the mc to Elkins WV on the 12-13 of July. We are going to see the History of American Music show at the American Mountain Theater, ride the Tygart Flyer train (4 hours, buffet lunch served, goes way up into the coal sections of the mountains). So many of the mc are going we have the whole first row of the theater reserved for the show. I'm going to slab it down 81 for an hour or so until we can turn west on VA/WV 50, and follow that in all its twisty glory to Elkins. A bit over 3 hours each way, leaving time for the activities, and getting our rooms at the motel.

glad to hear you are back in riding shape and getting the bike ready for some nice trips.