Archive for July, 2026

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History Repeats, With Variations

Thursday, July 30th, 2026


Jungle up on Skyline Drive down by Canon City.

Willie and Jungle are very good friends of ours and we know them as a direct result of my setting up this website. I put a “Colorado Motorcycle Rentals and Tours” page on the site and Willie was running a motorcycle tour company. She saw the site and contacted me to ask to be included on that page. I was happy to do so.

I can’t remember if we talked or emailed but she told me that if I was ever up in Eagle I should stop by, and if I needed a place to spend the night they would be happy to put me up. Some time later I had plans to attend a rally that was going on at Avon so I figured I’d take her up on the offer. I called and she said they were going to be gone at that time but no matter, I could stay there anyway and she would let the lady taking care of their cats know to expect me.

We had never met and she invited me to stay at their home without them there. Anyone who knows Willie and Jungle will know that this is pure Willie and Jungle. I thought it was a little strange but I took advantage of the offer. Some time later we did meet in person and have since become fast friends.

So anyway, on my way to Eagle that day I ran into stopped traffic up on Vail Pass. There were other riders also going to the rally so at one point another rider and I decided to just take the shoulder and move up to the front of the stoppage. It was illegal then but we were willing to chance it. As we cruised along some riders called out to us to say it was a bad idea (“$300 fine!”) but others joined us. We got away with it. The delay was caused by a truck on fire.

Well, on Sunday Judy and I were heading over to Eagle to spend a couple days with Willie and Jungle. Just by chance, shortly before we planned to leave home, I saw an item about I-70 being closed due to a fire in the westbound tunnel. A truck on fire. Oh gosh, should we take an alternate route? Digging further we couldn’t find anything and eventually figured out that this was just one of those phantom news items that somehow reappears years later. Who knows why. So we would take I-70 after all. (We were in the car, not on the bike.)

Still wary, we got to the tunnel and no problem. Cruising on, though, as we got near Copper Mountain, there were road signs warning of a delay on Vail Pass. We didn’t want to go all the way south to Buena Vista, then up through Leadville and back to the interstate at Minturn so we decided we’d just take it as it came.

Well, it was a long stop. More than an hour. And it occurred to me that this was the perfect time to be on a motorcycle. Traffic was at a complete stop and it was a wide road with plenty of space between lanes. Shouldn’t we be seeing motorcycles lane-splitting past us? But the whole time we sat there there was not a single one. We finally started moving again, slowly, and then–yes, then–sure enough, here comes a couple on a bike splitting along through all these moving vehicles. Totally illegal. Oh well, we hope you don’t have any unplanned encounters.

We got near the bottom of Vail Pass and what do you suppose was causing the delay? A truck on fire. Not in the tunnel as the phantom article I saw said, but a truck on fire just the same. And very near where that other truck was on fire all those years ago. I think that pass is just high enough to make your brakes burn about the time you get to the bottom if you’re not using your brakes and gears correctly. In this case it was clear the fire started at the rear wheels and spread into the trailer.

Just to tie things up, as we were headed home on Tuesday we once again ran into a delay on Vail Pass. This time it was road construction; they’re rebuilding the road and adding new lanes. This time the delay was only 20 minutes. But we’re sitting there and once again I’m thinking this is a perfect opportunity for a motorcycle. Where are they? And then one did come along. Filtering right up the middle past all these stopped vehicles, just like the law says. Good for you!

Biker Quote for Today

I have discovered biker paradise. It is called the Great Smoky Mountains.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, Motorcycle legislation | No Comments »

‘I’ve Never Been On That Road’

Monday, July 27th, 2026


In the shade on the deck at the Switchback Smokehouse, which was not open.

Those were exactly the words I wanted to hear when I finally lead this RMMRC ride I’ve been intending to lead for two years now. And I was rewarded. Nice.

That’s right, I finally did it. I was going to do it last year, and I set out to pre-ride the route but got hit by a drunk driver, which totally altered all my plans for the next several months. I figured now was the time, at last.

We met up at the farm that is run by Denver Botanic Gardens out along Deer Creek Canyon Road. I was concerned that I might get only one person showing up, and then that one person canceled out, but ultimately three others signed up and a fourth just showed up, so there were five of us. Three of us had brought communicators but only Dave and I were able to connect; Bruce was the odd man out. Some day we may figure these things out.

As hot as it has been, this day was supposed to be at least a little cooler. I considered setting the time for 10 a.m. but went with 9 because that would be cooler. That was a good choice. The ride across town was actually cool to chilly. Very nice.

We headed up Deer Creek Canyon, then took a left onto Deer Creek Road, which climbs and becomes High Grade Road and then Pleasant Park Road. I knew all these guys had been on those stretches, but it was the next turn that would be different. We got near Conifer and then turned right onto Oehlmann Park Road. The road goes up and over a big hill that is covered with mountain homes. How these people get up and down in the winter I don’t understand because the roads are steep and twisty. But that makes it a really nice motorcycle run. Along the way Dave asked me what road this was and I knew I’d scored a new road with him.

Down the other side to South Turkey Creek Road, a right toward Tiny Town, then a left under US 285 and up North Turkey Creek Road. Then a right onto the next new road: High Drive. Later it was Tom who told me he had been on all these roads until we turned onto High Drive. A new one for him. Yes! Score.

This was another road through areas full of mountain homes and then down the other side it becomes Stanley Park Road, then Little Cub Creek Road. And it was along here that we came to the area I had checked out a couple weeks ago to make sure the flooding that hit that area in late June had been cleaned up. Before we reached the place where I had stopped and turned around we passed through a construction zone with one lane only that suggested if I had kept going earlier I might have encountered flood damage much worse than what I did see. Wow.

So we got to Evergreen, turned east on Bear Creek Road and cruised down to Kittredge, where I was planning lunch. We got to the Switchback Smokehouse and it was not open, but the sign said they opened at 11. It was 10:30, and they have a nice, shaded deck out by the creek so we figured we could wait. We sat and talked but as time passed I was perplexed. There did not seem to be any signs of activity inside and the chairs were still stacked upside down on the tables. Not what you expect when a restaurant is about to open.

Finally it was past 11 and I went to the door again and this time I noticed what I did not notice before: It was Tuesday and they are not open on Tuesday. Now, I had checked this specifically when I first planned out this route and this stop but that was two years ago. Apparently they have changed their days of operation in the interim. No matter. We had a pleasant stop and we just cruised on down to Morrison and got lunch there.

From Morrison we all went separate ways so we didn’t even bother leaving the restaurant as a group. And then it was blazing hot getting back across town. So glad I decided to start at 9 and not 10.

Biker Quote for Today

100 reasons not to date a biker: 93. Shiny things and loud noises get our blood pumping.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, motorcycle clubs, Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Riders Club | No Comments »

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 | 1 Comment »

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 | 1 Comment »

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