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The End of the 2011 Riding Seasion

Comtemplating next years rides, and maybe some off season upgrades

As I am writing this I am sitting in my living room without power. I am one of more than a million people in the same circumstance after the earliest snow storm since the Civil War rolled through the New England area. While I understand that western Massachusetts and points north got about 2 feet, here south of Boston we only got about 4 or 5 inches. But even with the relatively small amount of snow fall, power is out all over the region because it was very wet and heavy, bringing down tree limbs in massive numbers.

Trying to sleep last night was interesting in that every few minutes we could hear the cracking of limbs all around our home. Luckily nothing hit our house—although they came pretty close to my wife’s car.

While out cleaning things up I started thinking about the end of the riding season. Usually I keep the bike on the road through November and into December to the first snow fall, but this year the first snow has come much too early. Hopefully this October storm will prove to be an anomaly and I can get in at least a few more weeks before having to winterize the bike, but we will just have to take it as it comes.

No matter what happens this has been a great year of riding! I have been able to travel through 20 different states and make several new friends along the way. Wayne, Barry and I are still talking about our trip.

As winter is approaching it is time to start thinking about some off season upgrades and next season’s adventures. I have already started on the upgrades by purchasing some new pipes (Victory’s Stage 1 Level 2 slip-ons) a fuel processor and an idle air value from Lloydz.com. These upgrades should make the bike sound a little better, giving it a deeper rumble without being obnoxious, improve throttle response, increase horse-power and improve fuel mileage. At some point I would like to replace my stock cams with Lloydz high-performance cams which should improve horsepower even more--maybe in the spring?

Another upgrade I would like to make is to the stereo system. Victory is now offering Kicker coaxial speakers as a drop in replacement for the stock units. I would also like to add an amp. I am looking at the Rockford Fosgate Punch PBR300X4 which has a small footprint and provides 300 total watts (75 per channel). I have had no problem hearing my stock stereo at highway speeds, but I would like to improve the sound quality.

Then of course it is time to start planning next year’s adventures. I have started looking into a Nova Scotia excursion as well as one to the Finger Lake’s in upstate New York. Since Nova Scotia is in Canada and our government now sees all of us as potential threats, I have started working on getting my passport—which is turning out to be a little bit of an ordeal. The birth certificate that I have had for more than 50 years is no longer good enough (even though it has the original signatures etc…). I now need the "long form" with an official seal. I guess the only thing you do not need the long form for is to be president…huh?

As you can tell I am not a fan ok our new "security state." Ok, off my soap box.

I have to write the county in which I was born and request a long form copy. I am hoping they can find it since I was born on an Air Force base that since has been decommissioned…we shall see what happens…I am sure it will all work out.

I was able to get some help in planning the Nova Scotia trip from one my new friends, Brenden, who lives in Halifax. He was kind enough to give me some great insights into his province. I am looking forward to riding Cabot’s Trail and meeting all of the good people from Nova Scotia. This should be a great trip.

The Finger Lake’s excursion will be done over a long weekend, most likely in Late June. I have visited the Finger Lakes on one other occasion—for a bicycle ride around Lake Keuka. This time I will use my big boy bike and plan on a touring the wineries around both Lake Keuka and Cayuga.

A couple of other trips under consideration are to the 2012 VMC (Victory Motorcycle Club) meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas or the AVR (American Victory Rally) in Spirit Lake, IA. This year’s the VMC meet is at the end of the summer, on Labor Day weekend. This is not the best time for those of us traveling from the North East as school is back in session and the weather can be a bit chancy on the return trip. This is the time of year we usually get hit with the remnants of a hurricane or two, as was true this year with hurricane Irene.

The AVR is generally a couple of weeks earlier just after Sturgis, so timing is better for that trip. In addition myself, and my riding buddies have not been to the AVR, so it could be chance to meet a new crop of fellow Victory enthusiasts.

Add to that a full schedule with the Mass Bay Victory Riders and 2012 looks to be another great year of riding!

-—Craig Allen Ripley