Triumphrat

R100Pilot · 08-30-2006

Hmm... Summer's almost over, and while for some o' y'all that means thinkin' about how you're gonna store your scooter, it only gets better down here on accounta things start to get more comfortable for ridin' (we may have 11 curves in 317 miles, but we can ride on 'em all year long :nana: )

To start with, Cycle World has a 12-page cover story on nekkid bikes comin' up in their October issue (should be on stands in the next week or so). Of course, I expect them to drool over the KTM and Ducati, but I do see a Speed Triple and a Tuono in there. Be interesting to see what they think (even if they're wrong).

Of course, the month gets started with Labor Day Weekend, and for the first time in a LONG time, the band has time off! Tropical Storm Ernesto should suck all the bad weather off with it, so it should be a great weekend for riding. In addition to the RAT breakfast ride Sunday morning, I'm thinkin' about tryin' to talk The Flaming Redhead into hoppin' on her Bonnie America and heading for the Marianna caverns (yes, there are caverns in Florida). A nice li'l hour and a half or so scoot from here.

Toward the end of the month, the band has a Saturday night off, and instead of the usual breakfast ride, the RAT pack is doing their Annual Almost Apalachicola run down the coast. Probably heading to St. George Island, which is one of the last places on the coast to Go Condo. However, a good chunk of the isle is a state park, and probably one of the last places you can actually walk along an unspoiled, undeveloped beach in Florida. Great riding on the coast to get there, and great scenery once you're there. It's a day-long affair, so I dunno if I'll take the S3 or the Beemer. Hmm...

And lastly, if'n Limey gets his Squid Pipes an' likes 'em, maybe he'll FINALLY sell me them old TORS and I can slap those on before the Apalach ride. Ideally, he'll wash 'em first.

Sorry - no tech content. I'm just happy to finally have some time for ridin' (August was busy and except for a couple of bike nights, all the ridin' was strickly fer business)

StoneTriple · 08-30-2006

Quote:

On 2006-08-30 08:17, R100Pilot wrote:

It's not nice to post pictures like that when some of us are at work all day, with our bikes on the 11th floor of the parking garage.
:wink:

R100Pilot · 08-30-2006

Could be worse...

It really is beautiful. The end of the island in the aerial picture is the state park, and they go outta their way to make sure it stays that the way nature intended. Unfortunately, the area off in the distance is getting ugly. Five years ago, it was all old beach houses, a couple of bars and restaurants. Now, there's one restaurant left on the beach, and the owner's talkin' about sellin' the property for a couple million to some condo developer.

My boss actually owns land there, bought it years ago when it was dirt cheap, and had planned to build a house when she retires, but since the rich folks have found it, the county realized what was happening and jacked up property taxe rates so high that while the land is paid for, she still can't afford to keep it.

bluesjeans · 08-30-2006

Yea.. lots to look forward to in September, like.. Miss September..! :-)

Curmudgeon · 08-30-2006

Quote:

On 2006-08-30 08:17, R100Pilot wrote:

To start with, Cycle World has a 12-page cover story on nekkid bikes comin' up in their October issue (should be on stands in the next week or so). Of course, I expect them to drool over the KTM and Ducati, but I do see a Speed Triple and a Tuono in there. Be interesting to see what they think (even if they're wrong).

I have a few hundred miles on my brother's KTM 950 Supermoto. I'll bet on the it winning the best bike for real world sport riding in this comparison. The engine is plenty strong and it's absolutly magical in the twisties!

Don't get me wrong; the S3 is a better all around bike because it's much more comfortable, but that KTM is a great bike for short rides on windy roads.

cheapbastard · 08-30-2006

awww geez R100, I thought you were implying that you were look'n forward to getting your ass up here to NC and hang'n with the cheap one! :-D I guess I'll go cry now.

R100Pilot · 08-30-2006

Man, I grew up in Florida - I'm allergic to snow!

Butchster · 08-30-2006

Quote:

On 2006-08-30 11:16, R100Pilot wrote:
Man, I grew up in Florida - I'm allergic to snow!

Man, I grew up in Montana and I'm allergic to tropical storms.

I have a 4x4 ATV that's a blast in the mountains with alittle snow. I enjoy it since there's nobody up there and no bugs

R100Pilot · 08-30-2006

I like tropical storms. They keep the tourists away :-D

Hairball · 08-30-2006

I'm a 3rd generation Florida native, I was 36 before I saw my first snow in N.C.
My brother lives in Pensacola, We are scheduling a ride up to St Georges island, I hear it is nice.

That KTM 950 has been callin me, I have a 05-S3 and a 04 KTM 625 Supermoto.

I ride the supermoto 75% of the time, It is a 100 pounds lighter, and hopping a curb to park in the grass under a tree is part of the bikes charm.
But being a BIG single cylinder thumper makes the 625 vibrate... a-lot!

I have ridden both bikes at Jennings, I am 2 seconds faster on the supermoto, Even though the S3 will blow away KTM in the straights, Jennings is a 14 turn track.

I could probably get a better times on the supermoto if I quit riding old school "hanging off"

So I have enough experience on both the S3 and a supermoto to reduce to one bike in the stable that covers it all... The KTM 950 Supewrmoto... in black!

The KTM 950 seems like the perfect blend of the S3 and the KTM 625 thumper