Kawasaki Concours Forum

Riding => Rides and Stories => Topic started by: wildnphx on December 31, 2012, 10:34:43 AM

Title: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on December 31, 2012, 10:34:43 AM
My buddy invited to go along on his annual snow ride from Phoenix to Flagstaff.  The ride up was great but (a little cold out at 24 degrees) the ride home was crazy.  The Concours did an awesome job though and never detected any slippage of course I never got on the gas or brakes during certain sections of the road.  Here is a video showing the worst part of the ride...  and yes I am crazy. :)

http://youtu.be/MKW41mxUrVE (http://youtu.be/MKW41mxUrVE)


Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: ZG on December 31, 2012, 10:46:38 AM
 :o
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: Summit670 on December 31, 2012, 12:17:21 PM
Yes, that's crazy!!   Wow!

I don't know if they salt the icy roads down there but make sure you wash the bike asap when you get done because the water spray from the road contains salt.
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on December 31, 2012, 12:34:53 PM
Yes, that's crazy!!   Wow!

I don't know if they salt the icy roads down there but make sure you wash the bike asap when you get done because the water spray from the road contains salt.

Very good point...  I caught a viscious cold and been in the bed for the last two days but I suppose I need to get my drugged up self out there and wash the salt off. 
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: Elfmaze on December 31, 2012, 03:42:07 PM
wow,  yeah ice and motorcycles are not friends.  Have had some gnarly rides up in CT before I bought a car. would never be trucking along that fast,  lol
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: Daytona_Mike on December 31, 2012, 08:27:16 PM
I remember getting caught in snowstorms on my CB750 many moons ago.  Going that fast wasn't the problem.
It was the up and down steep hills that made it fun.
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: Conrad on January 01, 2013, 06:43:53 AM
I just showed that vid to my wife. She said, 'what is that guy, stupid or something?'   :o

Sorry about that.  ;)
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: DeansZG on January 01, 2013, 07:55:02 AM

  Nice vid!  If you hadn't said where the localle was, I'd be willing to bet you filmed that in northern Michigan! I couldn't help but notice how similar the landscape was when we drove thru Williams on our way to the south rim last year.  I kept looking for the sleds / sled tracks off to the side. ;D
 As for the "crazy" comments...... mmmmm.....  didn't notice anything out of the ordinary for us north country riders!  Nothing better than a clear day to get the bike out in the "crisp" air to shake off those mid-winter blues after the bike's been parked for a couple of weeks!
 Yes, there may be snow on the highway, however, as the video shows, & what most of us snow riders know, there is traction on packed snow. It's that ice that's the problem.  ::)

Oh... +1 to rinsing off the bike too!
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: Gsun on January 01, 2013, 11:21:00 AM
While that is not something I would not do, it is good to get out! I rode when it had snowed but no snow on the road last year and did not wash the bike off. Some aluminum parts started to corrode. I started a thread about it and it was suggested that after washing it off, to use a protectant. I bought a can of Boeshield and coated all the parts. It seems like good stuff.
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on January 01, 2013, 05:42:47 PM
  Nice vid!  If you hadn't said where the localle was, I'd be willing to bet you filmed that in northern Michigan! I couldn't help but notice how similar the landscape was when we drove thru Williams on our way to the south rim last year.  I kept looking for the sleds / sled tracks off to the side. ;D
 As for the "crazy" comments...... mmmmm.....  didn't notice anything out of the ordinary for us north country riders!  Nothing better than a clear day to get the bike out in the "crisp" air to shake off those mid-winter blues after the bike's been parked for a couple of weeks!
 Yes, there may be snow on the highway, however, as the video shows, & what most of us snow riders know, there is traction on packed snow. It's that ice that's the problem.  ::)

Oh... +1 to rinsing off the bike too!

Funny you mention Northern Michigan... I'm originally from Petoskey and graduated from HS in Traverse City.  I miss Snowmobiling so much living in Phoenix....  :(
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: Elfmaze on January 01, 2013, 05:46:03 PM
Funny you mention Northern Michigan... I'm originally from Petoskey and graduated from HS in Traverse City.  I miss Snowmobiling so much living in Phoenix....  :(

My friend and his whole family is from Petoskey.  do you know any Mollerings?
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on January 01, 2013, 05:49:22 PM
I just showed that vid to my wife. She said, 'what is that guy, stupid or something?'   :o

Sorry about that.  ;)

LOL....   Tell your wife I'm not just stupid but "Crazy" stupid :) 

You only live once though so I figure I might as well enjoy it and I am not afraid of going down...  I was geared up and I figured if I were to go down at least the snow would be softer then the pavement :)

I never felt any slippage though and my buddy on his Multistrada in front of me said his traction control never kicked in once.
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on January 01, 2013, 06:03:30 PM
My friend and his whole family is from Petoskey.  do you know any Mollerings?

Nope don't recognize it, My mom's family name is Daniel and Marquardt....  Most of them still live there.

Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: stevewfl on January 06, 2013, 08:25:41 PM
My buddy invited to go along on his annual snow ride from Phoenix to Flagstaff.  The ride up was great but (a little cold out at 24 degrees) the ride home was crazy.  The Concours did an awesome job though and never detected any slippage of course I never got on the gas or brakes during certain sections of the road.  Here is a video showing the worst part of the ride...  and yes I am crazy. :)

http://youtu.be/MKW41mxUrVE (http://youtu.be/MKW41mxUrVE)

NICE!   (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif)
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: just gone on January 07, 2013, 01:44:41 AM
...I'm not just stupid but "Crazy" stupid :) 

Sorry, I'm not buying it, you maybe wild in phoenix, but not crazy stupid.
Now your buddy on the other hand, he does this annually, and he goes out front and leads
the way? Now that is Crazy stupid.
If you had said no, would he have gone anyway? (yeah, he would have.) I rest my case.
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on January 09, 2013, 06:50:22 PM
Sorry, I'm not buying it, you maybe wild in phoenix, but not crazy stupid.
Now your buddy on the other hand, he does this annually, and he goes out front and leads
the way? Now that is Crazy stupid.
If you had said no, would he have gone anyway? (yeah, he would have.) I rest my case.

lol, you got a point :)
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: AZ-ZG on February 12, 2013, 10:00:58 PM
You fixed your crashed Concours?
Got a new one?
Looks like a good time, miss Arizona!
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: AZ-ZG on February 12, 2013, 10:07:44 PM
Is that 260 out of Camp Verde, EB towards SR87?
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on February 14, 2013, 02:49:27 PM
You fixed your crashed Concours?
Got a new one?
Looks like a good time, miss Arizona!

No and No, I did not fix and I did not get a new one just a nice check from the Insurance company and I have a few scratches on the side of it :)  Gives it a little Character :)
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: wildnphx on February 14, 2013, 02:51:40 PM
Is that 260 out of Camp Verde, EB towards SR87?
Your very close...  That is acctually Lake Mary road across to SR87 then down through Pine/Strawberry/Payson...  Awesome ride :)
Title: Re: Annual snow ride
Post by: AZ-ZG on February 21, 2013, 06:37:07 PM
Pretty gnarly coming down off the Rim?   :o

Judging from the pics I've seen, frozen accumulation in Scottsdale(WTF), you're gonna have an opportunity to do it again!  :)