The Very Big Weekend
September 19, 2024
The last few years my brother, Bill, would drive down from his home near Rochester, NY and do an event in the area with me. Each year we have increased the days we ride and this year that number was three times. The biggest surprise this year was the bike Bill trailered down. In the past it was a 1986 Honda Shadow 1100cc with a V-Twin engine that he acquired from a neighbor. When he pulled into the driveway with his trailer this time I was surprised to see a 1984 Honda V65 Sabre 1100cc strapped down. For those uninitiated with motorcycle history the V65 was a beast in its day. It was able to smoke rear tires at a moment's notice and blast through 1/4 miles in 11 seconds at 120 mph. Even today it's impressive with a big V-4 engine and and looks to match.
Since the Sabre was Bill's summer project and hadn't been ridden a lot yet he was interested in getting some seat time. The roads around here are an excellent test track and I mapped out a route in my head that would work. Off we went for a brief 41 mile, Day 1, spin that would test all the components of his bike. Suffice it to say we came back smiling and Bill noted, "These are the kind of roads you dream about."
The next day, Saturday, rain was in the forecast for the afternoon so we got an early start for another ride. This one clocked in at 72 miles and ventured further north into Dutchess County on another group of excellent routes. Even with some mist in the air the roads were still dry and while cloudy out the weather was good. Bill's new acquisition was running better all the time and he was smiling more with every mile.
Day 3 was the reason he came. There's an event that starts in Kingston, NY that attracts a large group of attendees and it is really worth doing. This year there were roughly 218 registered entrants and the line of motorcycles stretched out pretty long on the highway. The route goes through many pretty and challenging roads in the Catskill Mountains and you are never bored at the handlebars. Bill and I were together and we were riding at a relaxed pace behind large bagger style motorcycles with no trouble. As always the ride was pleasant and the scenery excellent. It stretched out for a little over 60 miles and before long we were at the end. There was an excellent barbecue there with tables and cold drinks and we sat among other riders hashing out the trip.
After satisfying our appetites we struck off for home enjoying the sunshine and scenic trip. We added another 110 miles for the weekend total racking up 223 miles of excellent riding. Bill was very happy with his new ride and we had added more great memories to the Good Times Together book. After each time we stepped back into the house our wives would smile knowingly at the banter we exchanged about the rides. They know us only too well and that we were very happy campers after each ride. Next year can't come soon enough.
Since the Sabre was Bill's summer project and hadn't been ridden a lot yet he was interested in getting some seat time. The roads around here are an excellent test track and I mapped out a route in my head that would work. Off we went for a brief 41 mile, Day 1, spin that would test all the components of his bike. Suffice it to say we came back smiling and Bill noted, "These are the kind of roads you dream about."
The next day, Saturday, rain was in the forecast for the afternoon so we got an early start for another ride. This one clocked in at 72 miles and ventured further north into Dutchess County on another group of excellent routes. Even with some mist in the air the roads were still dry and while cloudy out the weather was good. Bill's new acquisition was running better all the time and he was smiling more with every mile.
Day 3 was the reason he came. There's an event that starts in Kingston, NY that attracts a large group of attendees and it is really worth doing. This year there were roughly 218 registered entrants and the line of motorcycles stretched out pretty long on the highway. The route goes through many pretty and challenging roads in the Catskill Mountains and you are never bored at the handlebars. Bill and I were together and we were riding at a relaxed pace behind large bagger style motorcycles with no trouble. As always the ride was pleasant and the scenery excellent. It stretched out for a little over 60 miles and before long we were at the end. There was an excellent barbecue there with tables and cold drinks and we sat among other riders hashing out the trip.
After satisfying our appetites we struck off for home enjoying the sunshine and scenic trip. We added another 110 miles for the weekend total racking up 223 miles of excellent riding. Bill was very happy with his new ride and we had added more great memories to the Good Times Together book. After each time we stepped back into the house our wives would smile knowingly at the banter we exchanged about the rides. They know us only too well and that we were very happy campers after each ride. Next year can't come soon enough.
Posted by Jim Zeiser.
If you wish to comment my e-mail address is h1500e@hotmail.com. I'd like to hear anything-good or bad-that anyone would like to say. As they said in college, we're all lifelong learners.
