Ride Report

Went to Mena,Ar with a couple guys from work on Wednesday and Thursday. We
stayed down in Mena at the Sun Country Inn because the lodge on the mountain
was full up. They said they are booked for months. Its real nice up there
right now as the leaves are bright red and yellow all over the mountain. The
senic highway didnt have many motorcycle riders on it but did have alot of
seniors driving there cars. They were all up there looking at the colors and
stopping taking alot of pictures. I guess since it was during the weekdays,
most riders were at work. I took my Ninja250cc bike up there since the guys
I went up with had a Ninja 600cc and the other had a Yamaha 600cc crotch
rocket. I had to show them boys that 250cc sports bike could school them in
the corners. That bike is good to 100 mph but after that, its about topped
out.
We mostly stayed on the Talimena Highway but we did make a run over to
Wister Okla and a few other towns. We just kinda make a big ole circle from
Mena and made our way back to the Talahena side. We made about a 300 mile
run on Wednesday. The two I was with were hurting by the end of the day from
riding those crotch rockets that far. They were kinda pissed at me because I
told them it was about a 50 mile ride or so but I wanted to see them in
pain. Both of them guys are about 10 to 15 years younger than me and they
were crying about there necks and backs hurting. I laughed at em. The
mountain was great. We rode really hard and fast from one side to the other
about four times on Wednesday. We didnt do much of anything else on
Wednesday but ride hard, eat a couple times and took alot of pictures
becuase that was those two guys first time up there. We got back to the
motel about 7pm and it was dark by that time. I think the temp during the
day was about 76 degrees but at night it got pretty cool.
Thursday was pretty good. The morning was pretty cool and we decided to
sleep in a little and let it warm up before we hit the Talamena Highway. We
decided to stay on the senic highway all day and take alot more pictures and
hang out up at the lodge and go thru the animal deal up there and ride that
little train and just chill. We agreed to stick to the speed limits and just
sight see. That lasted until the first set of twisties. Those guys blew by
me like I was sitting still. I caught up with them about 2 miles up the road
as they had to slow way down for the real aggressive corners and I dont. We
rode all the way to the end and rode into Talahena because every run they
had to get gas. There tanks would only take them about 120 miles. THIS IS
WHERE IT GETS GOOD. We were down at the bottom of the Talahena side at the
park office. This was going to be our last run back to Mena before we loaded
up to head home. We agreed that we would stay at the speed limit again. This
time for real..yea right..first set of twisties and BOOM...we hit it hard.
We stopped at the second or third senic look out and I made a comment to
them about slowing down like we talked about. They laughed at me that time
and I told them to go ahead but I was going to ride my ride and stop and
take pictures and I would meet them in Mena. They slowed down to about 65 in
a 55. We rounded a corner and there was the law. A federal officer pulled us
over for speeding. He asked for all our license and insurance. I gave him
mine and the guy on the Yamaha gave him his. The guy on the Ninja600 gave
him his but no insurance. The officer asked him about his insurance and he
told him he left it in the motel room. Then he told the officer that
actually it was his car insurance and it covered him in whatever he drives.
The officer informed him that he was wrong and that he was required to have
motorcycle insurance. The officer walked back to his truck and he comes back
a few minutes later and told him that his license was suspended. The boy
asked him what for (played dumb) and the officer said he would try to find
out. After about 30 minutes he came back and said that he couldnt give him
the details but gave him a number to call and he went back to his truck. He
came back out a few minutes later and asked the boy whos bike that is. He
told him it was his and the officer said the plates on the bike dont match
the registration and the registration wasnt in his name. He told him that he
just bought the bike and hadnt done the title work.
The officer called me over to the truck and asked me what the deal was. I
guess since I was the only one that was honest with him and didnt studder or
fumble my words he figured he could trust me. I gave him the full story on
the bike since I knew all about it. I told him I couldnt tell him anything
about his license but I knew he didnt have insurance and I knew he didnt
have the bike in his name. The officer said he was going to write us all
tickets for 65 in a 55 and that my friend would be going to jail for his
suspened license and his bike would be impounded. I was like..awwwwwww man
you dont want to do that. Well after about a two hour stop, I talked him out
of giving us the tickets and taking my friend to jail but he did impound his
bike. So now he is in a big ole mess and his bike is in the pound in
Talahena,Ok and he lives in Carrollton,Tx.
What a way to end a perfect two days of riding.
Questions??? lol

Redshad

 

sounds like a great riding time. as for your friend, he's just learned
a great lesson in life we learn as kids in the bathroom:

"the job ain't over until the paperwork is done"

 

Knowing the area you were in, you did have a good two days of riding.. It's
hard to find anyplace to top those beautiful mountains this time of year..

Sure hate to hear about the let down, just before it was time for you to
come home.. I've encountered some of those feds up there in the park, in
the past.. Never had a ticket .. but, those guys sure take their jobs
seriously.. <grin>

Damn.. wish I'd been up to that ride.. Take care Redshad.. damned good ride
report..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

And...it's good to hear from you, Bill.

 

Whooo.. Hoooo.. thanks a lot Waco.. Hell.. everybody knows that I'm to
tough and ornery to keep me corralled for long.. That ol' Green Vulcan is
getting restless from being under the cover for this long.. <grin> When I
try to start it again, there'll probably be some kind of evil dust coming
out the pipes.. Heaven forbid..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Just like it's owner!

 

I'll be back up to speed in a few weeks.. LOL..

He's back home, again for a little bit..

How have you been doing ?

Bill Walker
Irving

 

‘‘Redshad submits a nice Trip Report for us’’ --Went to
Mena,Ar with a couple guys from work on Wednesday and Thursday. We
stayed down in Mena at the Sun Country Inn because the lodge on the
mountain was full up. They said they are booked for months. Its real
nice up there right now as the leaves are bright red and yellow all over
the mountain. SNIP!!

‘‘Redshad, I snipped some, but read it all, and enjoyed it. I
have ridden that ride many times, but never like you described it. Hell,
you guys 'raced' that mountain range over to Talihena,OK. Ya'll zoomed
it, where we always cruise'ed that wonderful ride’’ I didnt know
that a Ninja 250cc, would run that fast, you said top out at a 100mph,
buddy, I didnt know that. Ya'll did trailor the bikes over there, right?
That young friend of yours was lucky to have an older feller,you, with
him to talk the Ark. Leo into being nice! The young man was lucky, he
didnt go to the jailhouse. But he will haveta go get the Bike someday,
and it cost about 15 bucks aday in the pound, I imagine.
Good report, we needed it! BJAY

 

‘‘Redshad,Damn.. wish I'd been up to that ride.. Take care
Redshad.. damned good ride report..’’ Bill Walker!

‘‘And...it's good to hear from you, Bill.’’
( Wakko)

‘‘Bill, me two! it is good to read you again on here. Hope you are
better. Now, by God, this group will get back to normal, heck, it was
about to dry up.’’ <G> (regards, BJAY

 

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it.. I haven't been riding for the past

 

''Redshad submits a nice Trip Report for us'' --Went to
Mena,Ar with a couple guys from work on Wednesday and Thursday. We
stayed down in Mena at the Sun Country Inn because the lodge on the
mountain was full up. They said they are booked for months. Its real
nice up there right now as the leaves are bright red and yellow all over
the mountain. SNIP!!

''Redshad, I snipped some, but read it all, and enjoyed it. I
have ridden that ride many times, but never like you described it. Hell,
you guys 'raced' that mountain range over to Talihena,OK. Ya'll zoomed
it, where we always cruise'ed that wonderful ride'' I didnt know
that a Ninja 250cc, would run that fast, you said top out at a 100mph,
buddy, I didnt know that. Ya'll did trailor the bikes over there, right?
That young friend of yours was lucky to have an older feller,you, with
him to talk the Ark. Leo into being nice! The young man was lucky, he
didnt go to the jailhouse. But he will haveta go get the Bike someday,
and it cost about 15 bucks aday in the pound, I imagine.
Good report, we needed it! BJAY

Yea we raced it mostly. I did however ride it at a slower pace one time.
Normally when we go up there, its hauling ass all the time. Yea we trailered
up there. Something about just riding for hours on the freeway just doesnt
do it for me. When we get close to the mountains, i will unload and ride if
i have someone to drive the truck for me. That trailer is worth its weight
in gold to me. I know im a whimp..lol..We also went up there last Saturday
and Sunday. We stayed at Lake Wister Okla. I met up with a guy in Commerce
Texas and i did ride with him over to the lake and my son followed with my
ninja 250 on the trailer.
The ninja 250cc will run just a little faster than 100 if your going
downhill or you change the front sproket. I dont know what they are going to
charge him for the wrecker fees and storage fees. He wasnt able to get his
drivers license deal straightned out today so the bill is climbing. He has
to get his license, the bike insured and the title in his name before he can
even get the bike back. From what i understand, he cant get it put in his
name or get insurance on it until he gets a motorcycle license. Hes got his
work cut out for him. I offered to buy the bike for 3 grand but he didnt
want to sell. I bet i wait long enough and i will end up with it

Redshad