Wed. Nov. 12 to US58

[Bob]

Gixxerkevin, Broz, and I met up with Yarbi and Lee at the Kickin Chickn in Wilkesboro for an early lunch. Lets just say that the Kickin Chickn is now the Frickin Chickn as far as lunch stops go.

From there we headed up NC16 all the way to US58. Marc K was right--the Xmas tree guys are out in full force! But the roads were clear, no snowmelt crud to be seen, and the new smooth asphalt on US58 was really nice. About 1/2 way to Damascus, the skies darkened up ahead and a continuous line of tree-skimming clouds spreading precip across our path could be seen. Did I say it was also rather chilly? We reversed course and then took 194 down thru West Jefferson and NC16 down the mountain and home. A fun day with good company and possibly the last time we'll see those roads that clear of crud for a while to come.

I took 1 pic--Broz lusting after Kevin's squid machine. Later, he acted on his primordial urges and mounted the beast, disappearing off in the distance leaving only the sonic boom behind.

[Gixxer Kevin]

You can't keep the inner hooligan in too long. The gixxer looked like a moped under Broz!

[LeeDavis]

It was the new stuff ride. Bob had his Sena setup working good and Don had a shiny new GS with many cool bells and whistles. Oh, I loved the chicken - their hot sauce is the real deal!

[Yarbi]

Yep a great day. Lots of fun and great company. You should have come a long Brick. And yes the chicken was great.

[Broz]

Kevin Thanks for letting me borrow the rocketship! That was AWESOME!
Broz

[Yarbi]

Hey Kevin did you get that bike yet?

[007]

Kevin Thanks for letting me borrow the rocketship! That was AWESOME!
Broz

^^^Circus bear riding a bicycle.

Then again, that is how I feel on the VFR...

[Gixxer Kevin]

Going to look at the Gs Friday. Gonna ride down to see what they will give me for the super squid on trade.

[Gixxer Kevin]

If you notice Broz is still taller than I am sitting on that bike!

[Bob]

Going to look at the Gs Friday. Gonna ride down to see what they will give me for the super squid on trade.

Take your checkbook! Don't come back without it!!

[Gixxer Kevin]

I'll probably need a cosign on the loan Bob so meet me there ok?

[Bob]

I'll probably need a cosign on the loan Bob so meet me there ok?

Hah! KBB says the gixxer is worth $6580 on trade and $9395 on retail. I'd try and split the diff with them.

[Gixxer Kevin]

That's about what I paid for it. Plus the custom asphalt engraving from our last ride should make it even better!

[Bob]

...the custom asphalt engraving from our last ride should make it even better!

Why, that bikes never been down! Ridden to church and back once a week by a mild mannered...................hooligan.

[Gixxer Kevin]

Adult ridden lol!!!!

[Bob]

Going to look at the Gs Friday. Gonna ride down to see what they will give me for the super squid on trade.

You should talk in terms of "Out The Door" (OTD) pricing. Watch out for exhorbitant "doc fees"--they love to add $300 or so to the invoice, so keep it OTD.

Trading will save you some $$$ on taxes--you only pay tax on the difference between your trade in and the new bike.

[Ed]

If I had the scratch, I'd talk to you about taking that Thou... well- although if I did have the scratch, I'd have already spent it on another Hayabusa

Good luck with the transaction, either way!

[007]

Bunch of hooligans. Make me think about trading in the K12S for a new R1200RT so I am forced to ride sensibly.

[Brick]

Hmmm... Bob wants to barf because of the chicken and the rest of you loved it?!?!
Why y'all wanna get the old Man's bike = a BMW???

[007]

Hmmm... Bob wants to barf because of the chicken and the rest of you loved it?!?!
Why y'all wanna get the old Man's bike = a BMW???

After riding the 2009 R1200RTP loaner, I have come to appreciate absolute comfort behind an enormous fairing, heated/electric everything, minimal farkling needed, storage galore. The new RT has dynamic suspension, which may make it the only touring bike that won't end up with pegs ground to dust. With only 2 cylinders to maintain, I don't think I would want to tour the US on anything else unless Honda builds a worthy V4 successor to the old ST1300 or the abomination that was the VFR1200.

[Bob]

Hmmm... Bob wants to barf because of the chicken and the rest of you loved it?!?!

Well if you get the one thing on the menu that the waitress pushes (1/2 chicken and 1 side) it's "OK", not really all THAT bad. Lee and Don liked it. I didn't love it. But then Kevin ordered breaded chicken tenders and what he got was something akin to Chicken McNuggets with 50% breading on them. Pre-cooked/frozen junk food crap. Believe me, I know about this stuff, we sold garbage like that to the foodservice industry (public schools systems!!) along with good stuff too.

So I feel that a place that has the word "Chicken" in their name could do a lot better than that, and no way would I order anything else on the menu except their main "signature dish". Which strangely enough, is an intact 1/2 chicken thats been breaded and deep fried, and then smothered with hot sauce so the breading is soggy and falling off.

I won't be returning.

[Bob]

After riding the 2009 R1200RTP loaner, I have come to appreciate absolute comfort behind an enormous fairing, heated/electric everything, minimal farkling needed, storage galore. The new RT has dynamic suspension, which may make it the only touring bike that won't end up with pegs ground to dust. With only 2 cylinders to maintain, I don't think I would want to tour the US on anything else unless Honda builds a worthy V4 successor to the old ST1300 or the abomination that was the VFR1200.

The RT is an extremely refined sport-touring machine, with the emphasis slightly biased towards the "touring" part. I have owned 2 of them. I recently test rode the '14 RT and it is, as you guessed, even more refined than the previous years with a superbly composed ride. Nothing would beat it for booking it x-country in my opinion.

And no, brick, it ain't the kool-aid talking, its just the truth.