....At the place where it's known nationwide for 318 curves in 11 miles!!! Whew, Deals Gap on a Monday where the temps are 60, not a cloud in the sky and fast clear roads. All total, counting the both ways ride, I managed 636+ curves in 22 miles today. I started off slow trying to get used to this big sportbike. I stayed down low and didn't get in a hurry. I had several more experienced riders come up on me, but I still didn't let it affect me to cause me into a competition. The ride down was nice, but sort of nervy thinking about the dough I just laid out for this bike and I didn't want it to end up in the trees somewhere. I got to the tail and stopped into a little bike shop that sold t-shirts. Okay, everyone knows how I can't resist a good t- shirt...and yes, I bought one. I was talking with the guy there and told him how I was being cautious with this bike trying to get used to it's size. He told me that even though it seems big, if I'd relax with it and let it do it's job, I'd be quite impressed with the results. Since he had a Dyno, I paid the fee and had this bike dyno'd. Peak was 178hp, a net gain of about 30 over stock. I left there and debated whether I should go my 210 mile loop that I started out doing, or perhaps just going back through the route I just came down. I thought long and hard, and tiredness won out causing me to go back up through the Dragon. I came up to Deals Gap (whatever you call it) motorcycle store/restaurant/motel and stopped in. I was still needing a screw and washers for the throttlemeister and the guy at the Dyno said this place was a dealer. I went in and asked for the screw and after they found what I was looking for, they tossed it in "no charge". Nice people. I saw a decal of the Deals Gap ride, and I bought one. It's now tattoo'd to my helmet! I went to the restaurant and ate a good burger/fries/soda, and it was back out to the bike. After a short photo-op, I hopped (more like climbed sorely) back on the Bird and headed back north. I thought about what the guy told me, and I tried it. With the curves being right to left and back right, I just upshifted and let the bike work it. I still wasn't even close to the speeds some of these guys were (still thinking about my "investment" ending up in a tree somewhere), but I wasn't having grandma coming up behind me blowing her horn. I was at double the posted and taking switchbacks and 20mph hard curves at about 60mph. This bike was rivetted to the pavement out there. I don't know how much faster this bike would've gone without slipping, but I knew it was doing well with what I needed. It's weird to see a bunch who rides hard on the public street as they do here at the Dragon, and the people along the route are very biker friendly. They don't seem to have some sort of hatred against motorcyclists because the way they ride. They sorta encourage it....weird, huh? All in all, it was a good ride of somewhere in the 180 mile range. Now, one thing to note, as hard as I was on the gas conservation, I rode the entire day with only filling up at the very start from the hotel. The fuel light never came on and I filled up with just over 4 gallons and about 2 gallons left in the tank. I stopped into the Autozone here to pick up some Meguiers Detailer, and now it's an evening with cleaning this Bird back up. I hope everyone had a good day too. I've got a couple pics from the day... Brian
