Archive for July, 2026

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The Ride Home From Cheyenne

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

Heading home from Cheyenne after test riding the Yamaha Tracer 9 I did not want to backtrack, nor did I want to take I-25. No problem, US 85 runs between Cheyenne and Denver, just to the east of I-25. That would be my route.


This was my route home. (Courtesy of Google Maps.)

It was wide open at first and a nice ride but I knew I would be hitting several towns along the way, just as I had hit several on the way up the day before on US 287. I would just take it as it came.

By the time I got to Greeley I was already locked in on the theme for this whole ride: This is the industrial heartland of Colorado. A big part of that industry is agriculture, but it’s still industry. Plus, these days, there is drilling and fracking and all of this oil and gas work going on. Everywhere. This is not scenic Colorado.

That’s OK. I’m kind of a Tom Waits kind of guy; I like to immerse myself in the grittier sides of life now and then. It helps keep things real.

Greeley turned out not to be any kind of issue. They have a bypass and I just cruised right around the town. I might have made it a point to go through just to see how things are changing but I was really more interested in getting home. It was already getting hot.

From Greeley it was Evans, LaSalle, Gilcrest, and then Platteville. Time to stop, stretch my legs, and get a bite to eat. Feeling adventurous–and not particularly interested in most of the other stuff this convenience store had–I opted for some rolled up mystery tubes of some kind of food that were rolling on a griddle. And you know what? They actually tasted pretty darn good. I don’t know what they were, and who knows what food value they had, but I liked them.

While I was standing outside eating a young guy going in asked, “Does your bike go fast?” “Fast enough,” was my reply. He grinned.

And the whole time I was standing there I watched truck after truck after truck going by.

From Platteville it was Fort Lupton, then Brighton, and into the metro area. Lots of traffic signals. Very hot when sitting still. Now I really wanted to get home.

Not enough to take the interstate so I went into Commerce City and then down through Denver on city streets. Again, more stop and go, more heat. I just want to get home. And finally I was home. I’m heading for the shower.

Biker Quote for Today

Biker by birth, rebel by choice.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides | No Comments »

Test Riding The Yamaha Tracer 9

Monday, July 20th, 2026


This is the Tracer 9 I test rode in Cheyenne.

The notice about the Yamaha demo days event at Cheyenne Motorsports said you would be allowed two test rides per day. I was there specifically to test ride the Tracer 9 so I figured I wanted to ride it twice. Not sure how many people there would be and how many would be interested in the Tracer, I made it a point to be the first to arrive in the morning. That was not hard considering that my motel was just a block away.

There weren’t many people there right away so I asked if it might be possible to get in more than two rides. Maybe. Depends on the crowd.

We got lined up for the first ride. It wasn’t going to be very long–just 9 miles, they said. And this being Cheyenne, they said they found the only two curves anywhere near. Fine. It is what it is.

We started to pull out and I immediately stalled the bike. OK. This clutch is a bit different than what I’m used to. Gonna need to experiment. It turned out I just need to roll on the throttle a little before I start releasing the clutch. The kind of thing that becomes second nature after awhile.

Looking at the bike beforehand I had wondered if the reach to the grips was a bit far. Would I need or want risers? When I bought my Concours that was the very first thing I did and it made all the difference in the world. But in this case, as soon as we headed out I could see that the reach was just about perfect. No mods needed here.

Unlike any bike I’ve had before, this one has a screen instead of an instrument cluster. How readable is that screen in bright sunlight? It turns out, they seem to have solved that glare issue. Even in direct sunlight the screen is totally readable. Nice.

I’m used to riding my V-Strom and it is designed for you to stand up while riding. That means the pegs are down pretty low. That is not the case with the Tracer. How quickly might it become uncomfortable riding with my legs not extended? What can I do about it? Speaking with the dealer later I said I want highway pegs and he said he was sure they can be had. Looking further I found that I would probably need to put a case guard on and then put the highway pegs on it. That’s exactly what I had done with my CB750 Custom and my V-Strom so I’m fine with that. Plus, it’s nice to have the extra protection for the engine.

How was the ride? Really nice. I like this bike. It has tons of acceleration and good brakes. The handling is very light and easy. We got to the two curves they spoke of but there was a slow-going truck in front of us so we didn’t get to take it at any kind of speed. But the bike felt good.

We got back and now there were more people showing up. Could I get on the Tracer again right away? No one else had signed up for it so I did. Great.

Riding it again was a very good thing. For one, I was by now acquainted with the clutch and I had no issue with that. We also had a chance to hit some higher speeds and the engine got a chance to show me what it can do. Let’s just say it can do a whole lot more than the engine on my V-Strom. And we were able to hit those two curves with a bit more speed. Very smooth. I like this bike. I may just have to buy one.

Biker Quote for Today

You might be a Yuppie biker if your boots cost more than you spend on gas in two months.

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Posted in Suzuki motorcycles, V-Strom, Yamaha motorcycles | No Comments »

I’m Convinced I Want A Bigger Bike

Thursday, July 16th, 2026


A stop on the recent Utah trip.

I’m down to only one motorcycle now and it’s the smallest one I have ever owned. This Suzuki V-Strom is a 650cc machine and it has done very well by me. That said, this recent trip to Utah convinced me that having something just a bit bigger and more powerful is desirable.

On the way out we blasted across Colorado on I-70 and the guys up front were running about 10 miles per hour above the limit. The limit is 75. So my V-Strom was working hard. I kept up, there’s never any issue about that. But it was working.

Then we got into Utah and the speed limit went up to 80. So we were doing 90. Or more. Now that little 650 was working hard. But I was keeping up.

Later in this trip we climbed some pretty high mountains, often on some particularly steep roads. That was when I really felt it. There were a couple times when I wasn’t sure we were going to keep up. I had to shift way down low to get the oomph to make those climbs. That was when it really gelled in my head that yes, I do want a bigger bike.

Not a lot bigger. I really don’t miss my old Concours. It was 1000cc and it weighed a whole lot. It had the power to carry that weight and on the highway it cruised just as smooth as glass. It was a nice highway bike. But oh man, at slow speeds in a parking lot you better not let it lean too far or there’s nothing on this planet that you can do to keep it from dropping.

So I’ve looked around a bit in recent years and I have identified the Yamaha Tracer 9 as just about the ideal bike. It’s 800cc and weighs around 450 pounds. That’s almost exactly the same as my V-Strom. The Connie weighed 600 pounds.

Weight is not the only thing; there’s also handling. But weight influences handling, particularly at very slow speeds. I’ve mentioned before how when the RMMRC went on a New Mexico/Arizona trip a few years ago I watched all these other guys wrestling their big machines around these tight curves, and meanwhile, on my V-Strom, I was dancing.

But I hate the idea of buying a motorcycle without having ridden one at least once. Last summer I heard that the Yamaha dealer in Cheyenne was hosting a demo days event. I had it on my calendar and a sure thing. Then, a drunk driver altered all my plans for the summer.

There was no Cheyenne demo days event listed on the Yamaha site this year but there was one set for Boise. OK, that would mean a road trip. That works. But then we ended up going to Alaska at that same time. We got home and I looked again, thinking I might need to go on a long trip. But apparently these events get added during the summer. And it turned out there was a demo days at a Denver dealership . . . the day we left for Alaska. Dang!

But then, oh my gosh, there it was: Cheyenne. The very next week. I’m going. And that’s the answer to the question you may have had, why was he going to Cheyenne?

Biker Quote for Today

I couldn’t find the right man, so I settled for a motorcycle. I’ve never been so happy.

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Posted in Kawasaki, motorcycle clubs, Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Riders Club, Suzuki motorcycles, V-Strom, Yamaha motorcycles | No Comments »

An Easy-Going Ride To Cheyenne

Monday, July 13th, 2026


Wyoming 210 heading east from Laramie to Cheyenne.

I needed to go up to Cheyenne but there was no way I wanted to take the interstate. I-25 was certainly the most direct way. I live about 1 mile from the highway and it takes you straight up to Cheyenne, less than a mile from my destination. Nope. Not gonna happen.

Instead, I figured I would cruise out to the west side of town and take Colorado 93 up from Morrison, to Golden, and on to Boulder. Then I’d head to Longmont, catch US 287 north to Laramie, and then cut east on a short stretch of I-80 and the rest of the way in on Wyoming 210. Much better, but a lot slower. Hey, I’m in no hurry. I just want to get out for a nice ride.

It has been blazing hot lately, and it was when I headed out on the V-Strom on Thursday. But we’ve also had a lot of smoke from forest fires further west and that smoke, while making the air hazardous to breathe, does provide some relief from the heat. You don’t have that blistering sun beating down on you. So it was a hot ride across town but a bit nicer along the foothills.

I got through Golden and up to the turn-off up Eldorado Canyon, just south of Boulder, and turned east to pick up Cherryvale Road to continue north. I wanted the bypass around Boulder and then the Longmont Diagonal up to Longmont. But I must have missed a turn somewhere. Doesn’t matter, as long as I take roads going either east or north they’re all heading in my direction. What this wandering did though was to add a lot of slow travel in the heat. There’s a reason I try to avoid Boulder County and this is a big part of it.

Coming into Longmont I knew I could skirt around the more congested parts of town but I intentionally wanted to go straight to 287 because I had not been this way recently and wanted to see the changes. There is so much development and redevelopment going on up and I’m curious. And what I saw confirms that Longmont more and more seems like a place it could be really nice to live. Not that I have any intention of moving. But a very nice smaller town.

Once I finally got through Longmont I was able to pick up speed a bit. Meanwhile, the sky ahead was looking decidedly wet. Bring it on. As long as it doesn’t come down too hard I won’t even stop to put on my rain suit. And I did get a bit wet as I got close to Loveland. I got through Loveland surprisingly quickly and then on to Fort Collins. Even Fort Collins was less of a traffic jam than Longmont and going out of town I needed a break.

I stopped for gas–not that I needed it but it’s a reason to stop–and spotted an ice cream shop right next door. Score! I had been thinking about an ice cream stop. I enjoyed the air conditioning and the ice cream, then looked out to see that it was actually pouring rain. OK, I guess I’m in no hurry.

The rain didn’t last that long and I went out and now had to decide what gear I needed. I knew the roads would be wet and even if it didn’t rain any more I could still end up with wet, dirty pants. But I decided against pants. I did put on my rain jacket, just in case I did run into actual rain. Somewhat to my surprise those were both good decisions.

Yes, at first my pants legs got a bit damp but soon the road was drying out and that was that. Meanwhile, the rain had cooled things off enough that the extra warmth and wind-breaking quality of the jacket was appreciated. It was actually a little chilly.

Then it was a direct cruise up to Laramie. I stopped again to stretch and have a bit to eat and what a difference Wyoming was. It was a good bit cooler than Colorado and no smoke in the air.

Heading east out of Laramie you have little choice but the interstate but in just a few miles you can get off onto the two lane. I took the exit, crossed over the highway, and then came to a T intersection. Going left seemed to go straight north, while going right was headed east. Easy choice. Until I went about half a mile, crossed a small bridge, and found nothing but gravel on the other side. What the hey?

I turned around and went back, then consulted the map. It turned out the road that appeared to go due north only did so for a very short distance and then it bent east. This was my road. And what a nice road! Not mountains but hills and a much nicer transit to Cheyenne than the interstate would have been. Time to find my hotel.

Biker Quote for Today

A true biker knows that life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, motorcycle touring, Suzuki motorcycles, V-Strom | No Comments »

Your Results May Vary–Particularly Based On Speed

Thursday, July 9th, 2026


Even I-70 has some gorgeous spots in Utah.

We all know that when you go really fast your gas mileage suffers. How much does it suffer? Seldom have I had as good a chance to test this as when I did this Utah ride with other RMMRC members in May.

I was, of course, on my 2006 Suzuki V-Strom 650, the only bike I own these days. That bike theoretically holds 5.8 gallons. In normal use I tend to get around 45 miles to the gallon, though there have been plenty of times when I have averaged well over 50.

That said, keep in mind that I’m not much of a go-fast guy. On my own on a 65 mph highway I’ll tend to cruise between 60 and 70. I’m in no hurry. I’m out to enjoy myself, not to burn up miles.

It was a little different on this trip. Tom was leading and while he has never struck me as much of a go-fast guy either, for whatever reason, he chose to go quite fast this day. Maybe he just figures if he is forced to take the interstate he might as well go fast and make that part of the trip as quick as possible.

Through Colorado west out of Denver the speed limit on the interstate is nominally 75, although there are stretches, such as through Glenwood Canyon, where the limit is considerably lower. So we blasted along much of the time at 85. Sometimes 90. Of course we did go slower where appropriate.

My 650cc bike can handle 85-90 mph. It’s working but I can keep up. And so I did. But here are the numbers.

The distance from Morrison, where I filled up, to Grand Junction is about 235 miles. With 5.8 gallons, and averaging 45 miles per gallon, that should–and normally does–carry me about 260 miles. Getting to Grand Junction should have been no big deal. But we were in Debeque Canyon and I could see that it was not going to happen.

I passed word up to Tom that I needed to stop for gas and we did stop, in Palisade. How much gas did my bike take? The receipt shows I put in 5.3 gallons. I would not have made it to our planned gas stop on the west side of Junction.

The funny thing, though, is that my decrease in gas mileage turned out not to be anywhere near as great as I expected. In fact, as I sat down to write this I was planning something spelling out a big drop in gas mileage but when I hit the calculator I was surprised at just how small a difference it made. Maybe speed shaved 3 miles per gallon off my gas mileage. I was expecting a lot more.

That’s what happens when you work with facts: you have an expectation and sometimes it bears out and sometimes you are just wrong. Well now I know.

Biker Quote for Today

100 reasons not to date a biker: 81. You’ll have to spend a bunch of money on a jacket, riding boots, helmet, and gloves. If we break up, at least you have a Halloween outfit.

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I’ve Looked At Clouds

Monday, July 6th, 2026


I searched and searched for a photo that even came close to what I saw and this was the best I could find. But it’s still nothing like it. (Photo by antoine de Barquin on Unsplash.)


One thing about clouds is that they are always utterly unique. One thing about riding motorcycles is that you are not in a box with a limited field of vision, you are out there to see it all, all around you.

That was the situation on the first day of our recent Utah trip, just about the time we crossed from Colorado into Utah. The sky was incredible. If I had been alone I would have stopped and shot a photo. That’s one of the problems in traveling with a group. I can’t count the number of pictures I have missed because I was with other people and for me to stop means for the whole group to stop.

Here’s what I wrote in my journal that evening: “Coming into Utah there were some incredible clouds like I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. A sky full of individual cotton balls, tinted purple and blue and white, patches of blue sky poking through, and the rest of the sky all kinds of mixed shades.”

And it’s so utterly impermanent. Five minutes later the sky didn’t look at all like it had before.

What this really emphasized for me is that I really need to put my GoPro camera to work more often. If I had had that set up not only would I have captured some shots of this incredible sky, I would also have gotten some pretty fabulous shots of the bikes ahead of me going through some terrific country. I always get lessons on these rides; too bad I rarely remember them when it’s time to prepare for the next trip.

Biker Quote for Today

Travel as much as you can, as often as you can, and as far as you can. Life was not meant to be lived in just one place.

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Posted in motorcycle touring | No Comments »

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