Pauly

In Blitzkrieg?

And I'm gonna be sedated...

That looks really good, Kent.

Shh...

Would have been, had I not overslept. Looks like lunch in Ohio, today.

..bump for a lunch ride to WV?

Rode about 300 miles today. I took 62 & 310 to Pickerington to visit my siblings. Temps were decent for December 23. I wore my textile suit with the quilted liner installed, my cool weather A-stars Stormrider gloves and Web boots with jeans and long sleeves underneath. No electric clothing and ran the grip heat on the low setting... was pretty comfortable most of the day. I think a heated vest would be more than sufficient to be quite comfortable. The roads were clean, except for one patch in the shade just as you turn right on 62 where it meets 83, in Millersburg. I hit that patch straight up and on the gas... like a big fucking dumbass. I have no idea how I did not high side. The backend shot left, then right, then left, then right... I really thought I was going to be thrown. Once I finished fishtailing across Lake 62, and hit dry pavement, the bike immediately stopped convulsing and just shot forward like a bullet. It was as composed as a preacher's wife in church... like nothing even happened. Meanwhile, I sucked my shorts up my asshole like they were a line of coke. That had me on high alert for a few miles. I almost hit a golf cart that decided to "jay walk" right in front of me. Luckily, I was only doing about 35 mph, because he caught me off guard. Nevertheless, I reacted with an immediate lever smash and the front end didn't even chirp. Not a dive, shimmy, slam... nothing. The bike just stopped. I had no idea the ABS took over until I saw the feedback on the BMW app that recorded my ride. Funny thing? Not a peep about my short stint on the ice was shown. Weird. Anyway... it was a nice trip to become better acquainted with the bike. With the exception of walking it backward down my brother's drive, I never noticed the weight of this bike. Even then it wasn't bad. I was just favoring my right leg, as it took a good smack from the engine guard during my little Icecapade. 100 mph feels like 50 on the Hyper. The highway is not a problem for this thing. It could use a little more windscreen, but I felt zero buffeting all day. It was just louder than I prefer. I was even able to ride through town at 35-45 with my visor up and I was comfortable. Cruise is good. The TFT dash is incredibly intuitive. My biggest hurdle will be learning the buttons for riding in the dark. Lots of buttons...

I am off all week. I will fly home tomorrow. Who wants to join me?

Paying taxes is Patriotic!

It's barely less shitty than Iron Pony's webstore. Get on it, pal.

Your momma sure does care about your schoolin', boy!

What has 9 arms and sucks?

I used a portable CB radio for road trips when I was a brand new adult. I liked having access to "bear reports" and listening to truckers yuck it up. Now that Waze is a thing, the CB is sort of obsolete. My phone will play music and alert me to any police, traffic slow downs, necessary reroutes, etc. The CB just can't compete. I don't really speed in my car, as the actual time saved versus liability is inconsequential. There is little reason to use the CB, especially when I would just be mother-fucking the truckers not staying in the right lane where their slow asses belong.

It had nothing to do with the Voyager, minus luggage space...which I contemplated a rack like you bought for the Wing. Then, I contemplated a Wing before remembering you had to buy a rear rack to make up for the lack of stowage...which put me right back to square one. Thanks for nothing. The GS was more of a "work truck" upgrade. I wanted something capable of hauling 75 lbs worth of tools, clothes and my hammock, stove and camping whatnots. I see quite a few service trips ending as camping trips next season. The Whale is a permanent fixture and will be for some time. It rolled 80k miles this season. Clearly, I enjoy riding it. I just may not throw 10k a season on it and that probably isn't a bad thing. Jim knows the Whale loves me more. I am not putting HippoHands on my snob hauler, but your Strom does look Boss as fuck.

I need knobblies before that happens.

I will offroad this bike, eventually. My main reason for buying it was three-fold: 1. The Whale is boring. 2. The GS is not. 3. I can almost afford it.

You say redundant like it is a bad thing? I already dropped it. Had to call in for reinforcements to get it back up. Then I watched a YouTube video and realized I was lifting it wrong. Live and learn.

Everyone knows the 2018 BMW R1200 GS Adventure is the only bike capable of such feats.

I still have never been to Thurman's.

Wolfs Ridge was called out by my SIL. Also, Brewdog.

I haven't leveled-up in gear. I hope to put more miles on the GS next year than the Cruze, but I will need to invest in a quality touring suit. My Joe Rocket is nice for day romps, but it falls short for practical touring.

I-80 in the rain and fog is bad enough in the car. Between the 18-wheelers playing "slowest up the hill" and the PA drivers having zero clue how to operate an accelerator, I would have been on high alert all day.

I took the Cruze due to the weather. A 7 hour commute in constant rain was not remotely appealing. Oh, well... The handguards are sweet and definitely going to make a difference.

Installed Givi handguard extensions for the GS. The only other mod has been a handlebar riser, which was absolutely necessary for my short arms. Taking it to NJ tomorrow for work and coming home sometime Wednesday. I will bring my electric liner for the ride home. Forecast is calling for snow and high of 30 for Wednesday. Fancy Beemer, don't fail me now.