A great day for a ride in So. California

Sunny, mild. Really the perfect day for a lazy ride through the twisties. Unfortunately, the SD was not cooperating.

Everything started (pun intended) out fine. Oafboy and I planned to finally meet for a trip through so local canyons. After talking to Oafboy yesterday evening, I received a call from another rider (a KTM 690 SMC rider) who wanted to hit the twisties as well. So, I proposed we meet locally then ride off the meet with Oafboy and his crew.

Frankly, I had my doubts that we could pull this off. Two separate rendezvous in two locations 50 miles apart - nah. Frankly, I never expected the 690 owner to show. But, he surprised me and was there with bells on. He actually beat me to the first rendezvous - a gas station.

So, I pulled in. He didn't recognize me because I had the KTM and he'd never seen it. (He was expecting the GSXR).

After attempting to communicate for a few second over the din of the SD, I thumbed the bike off.

We talked for a little while. I announced I needed some gas before we got on the road, then thumbed the starter. Nothing but a sickening click. I tried again - a click, then flashing dash lights and a cycle through the start up procedure - click.

Dead - as a doornail.

So, after finding that my "24 hour" AMA roadside protection was worthless, I called a friend with a pick up to haul the SD to the dealer. And there it sits.

Sorry Oafboy. I planned to surprise you with another KTM rider, but the SD had other plans. Maybe next time.

I guess it could have been worse. The bike could have crapped out in the middle of nowhere on the 150 or the 33. At least it had the courtesy to die at a Chevron station a block away from the 101.

The worst part of the ordeal was watching the Harley riders ride by.

The HARLEY thing WOULD suck, luck of the Irish ,next time.,,

Rode up 150/33 yesterday. Got down to 43f to my surprise. Couldn't feel my hands so I turned back. Almost made it to pine MFN

that always sucks, hapeened to me last weekend in fact though i limped home.
i always stop to help (and it will probably be the death of me someday). have helped a couple of Harley dudes and even rode with them to the next exit. one time i stopped to help a Harley guy and his "Lady" who was pushing the bike for him i swear, while he steered it!! they were were taking turns apparently. i rode 10mile back home to get a gas can filled it and brought it back. the dude was so happy because he didnt think i was coming back that he jammed $50.00 into my tank bag. i told him it wasnt necessary, code of the road and all, but he insisted. nice gesture, everyone was happy... especially his 'old lady'

We had a pretty good ride. There were quite a few cars up there who for some reason didn't want pull over which is annoying. It was cold, that's where the grip warmers come in handy though. I might have seen you Fast. Were you with another SD one of whom had a passenger?
We should be riding this weekend also not sure what day yet, but I'll put a post in the rides and meets section.

hopefully its nothing major and you can get it back soon.

Heated grips in So. Cal.

I actually grew up on in Pennsylvania. I attended college at Penn State. I even rode some enduros in the snow. The cold never seemed to bother me. Except . . ..

The most miserable day I remember at PSU was when the temps were somewhere below zero with some pretty strong winds. When I blinked, my eye lids would freeze together. I had to take my gloves off to unfreeze my lids. I've never had that happen since, and I've spent a week in Juneau AK where the high temp never exceeded -7F and the winds would hit 70 mph in town. Go figure.

The grips are more about the comfort that the cold.