Today was a good day.
The weather was perfect. About 68* when I left on the 950 Supermoto. 78* later in the day.
I took a ride up to my parents place to help split wood, about 40 miles.
I took the back roads and soaked in the scenery.
I normally dislike fall because it means shortly thereafter winter is here and that brings an end to the riding season.
Today, though, was all right. The trees were colorful, a few leaves fallen to the road. Not a cloud to be seen.
Spent the day splitting wood on the hydraulic splitter they borrowed and it made short work of many logs.
I wanted to leave for home maybe 6:30 or so I could ride home with some daylight. The temperature also drops a lot after the sun goes down.
I ended up on the road by 7:00 and for whatever reason it was a
glorious ride home.
Days like today are locked away in the memory banks with all the other “most awesome riding” days.
The air was cool and I had my heated grips going strong. My Held Phantoms have enough venting that my hands get cold easily, even with the Barkbuster hand guards.
I knew there was a good chance I'd be riding at or after dark and brought a clear shield with me. I was glad I did.
The first 2/3 of the ride home is pretty much straight south. I caught the red light at the exit of my parents neighborhood and was glad I did, and that I was first to the light. Actually, I was alone at the light save for some oncoming traffic that wanted to make a left across my lane of travel.
I love this intersection because there's a big hump right in the middle of it that makes for an easy wheelie
The light turned green and I let out the clutch while rolling on.
I got moving and got the engine to the sweet spot just in time. I rolled over the hump, added some more throttle and. . .
yep, there it goes. KTM's built in front tire saving feature. I carried the front for just a couple of seconds and let it down with a short shift to second.
That's one.
I kept on heading south, through the small town by the lake and shortly after I was in what I would call “the country.”
I'm rolling along in 6th gear, cruising at maybe 70mph or so. The cadence of the LC8 twin unchanging as I take it all in.
There's not a cloud or star in the sky yet. On my left the moon shines like a headlight. Dark slowly consumes the landscape. On my right the deep orange burn of the sun glows over the tree line. Day is giving up ground to night minute by minute.
I continue on. Cornfields on either side of the road.
The smell of woodsmoke is in my helmet as I drop down into a small valley. The temperature drops noticeably until I make my way back up the other side.
I turn off this main road in favor of a more “back” road route.
I worry about deer but put that thought out of my head.
I am riding faster than I should be for the level of darkness I'm in. I know the road well though, and continue on to dodge piles of gravel that have been in place all summer and some clumps of mud that have fallen off some farmer's tractor.
I near the end of this road and am fairly near my home town. There are some sweet corners down there and I am fast approaching them.
Should I? It is dark after all. The decision is made for me.
Tail lights ahead of me.
Damn.
Just then. . .
the bike speaks to me. The bike tempts me like that nutty ex girlfriend. That nutty ex that's too good.
And too
bad. . .
She's calling to me. Telling me we should and that it will be good.
I slow down.
Her voice is still there. Whispering right in my ear.
The bike expects this. Expects to be ridden hard. Needs it.
I've payed out quite a bit of slack to that car in front. . .
The voice is quite convincing. She's saying all the right things. . .
I cave.
I roll off the throttle and back on in an instant while at the same time I gave the shifter a quick stab down a gear, and then another gear. I snap off 2 quick clutchless down shifts and slide forward on the seat.
My exhaust thunders. I bet the people that live here love that
The bike flicks from a hard left lean to a hard right as I crush corner after corner. I am giving her all she expected and more.
I make my way to the outskirts of town and end up behind that same car again. Well, truck actually. I think he's going to make a left at the “T” intersection. I have the chance to work around him a different way.
I make a hard, full on supermoto style, leg out and bike down left that leads to a 90* right that gets eaten up the same way.
I rocket down the road and just get to the redlight as I see his headlights coming the other way on my right.
A quick wave of sadness at the thought of him making the light despite my efforts.
He gets a yellow before he's close enough to blow it and comes to a stop.
I grin, make my left and give it a fist full of throttle in first.
The front wheel rips off the ground and I carry it till I hit the rev limiter. I'm into second before it hits the ground and I'm down the road like I was fired out of a cannon.
That's two.
There are some train tracks ahead and I have no trouble crossing them at 70.
A car is coming the other way and I see them slow waaaaaaaay down to tip toe over the tracks.
Pussy.
I thunder past them and end up at Spring street. I make a left and right away I'm heading uphill, making my way up Spring Street bridge.
Should I?
She calls to me again. She wants more.
Who am I to say no? What kind of person would I be to deny this bike it's destiny.
I click to second and find that sweet spot again. I linger there just a moment then gas it and back off.
As the front end rebounds I hammer the throttle. The front
jumps off the ground and I carry it a looooong way, modulating the throttle to keep the front where it is. The bars wiggle a little. Disconnected from the ground they have no effect.
There's a car or truck coming the other way.
I hope it's not a cop. If it is, it's likely a State Trooper as there are very few local cops here. Small town.
It's a mini van. I roar past them on one wheel setting it down at the peak of the bridge. I wonder what they're thinking about what they just saw.
Probably wishing they weren't stuck in a cage.
That's three.
I make my way home and into my driveway. Seconds later the garage door is opening.
My wife loves me
She must have heard me come home. Well, the whole neighborhood heard me come home
The moon is nearly full and bright as can be in the sky. I pull off my helmet, remove my earbuds I listen to music with and take in the sound of an angry twin at idle in my garage.
I give the throttle a couple aggressive twists just to hear those pipes bark.
I click off the key.
Silence.
