Trains ... who doesn't like Trains?
Especially the ole Steamers, right ... Locomotives
... "LOCO" when used as an adjective means crazy
... "MOTIVE" comes from the latin word "motivus", meaning motion or moving.
Makes one wonder who named a Steam-powered train engine a Locomotive, a "crazy motion" or a "crazy mover" ... interesting, eh?
Moving on with our MMRR theme, anyone remember what MMRR means? M&M's Railroad? Good guess, for sure ... but no, it means:
"My Most Recent Ride" ...
Let us hear from YOU on your Most Recent Ride, email your report to us at: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com If you send a photo, send it as an attachment to your email and remember, it must be horizontal format to work well here on the ThumperGarage. Share your Thumper fun with us, it's what we do...
***************** Snowflakes are in season right now? **********************************************************
Hi Jack #000
When I sent you my last letter, I did not know you owned a Royal Enfield Himalayan. I guess I missed the memo. It has been on my list since it was announced. Did you trade your R.E. Continental GT535?
Sorry, I do not have an MMRR for you. Too dang cold up here in the northland. But I will attach a picture from my one of my last rides in November when I just danced along the county line between Anoka and Isanti for about 50 miles. This was taken beside the rail station in Bethel, Minnesota.
(SEE PHOTO ABOVE - Husqvarna Svartpilen 701)
1
The Puig windscreen that I wrote about finally made it across the pond. It only took a few minutes to install, then I rolled the Husky out for a couple of pictures. Yep, there's snow on the ground.
Lastly, you asked if you could use my letter in a future Thumper News. You might have to edit it a bit and strip out a few lines, but otherwise go ahead and use what you can.
Your northland friend;
Rob Fisher #5186 - MINNESOTA
(Reply) ... Hi ya, Rob! Your machine is a sweet ride, yes! I have tagged your article for TN#143, our next issue, but I just couldn't resist using this photo here on the ThumperGarage. Those things are SO radical and I hear that their performance is spectacular as well. We look forward to reading your account in the Summer edition of Thumper News!
And, yes, I did make the plunge for a 2021 Himalayan. We are currently just getting acquainted so after that happens or at least part of it happens, I'll be sharing with you all my input on the Himalayan's output.
Oh yeah, no ... I didn't trade the Continental, just scooted it over a tad to make room for its cousin. The Continental is under its winter-wraps, the Himalayan isn't so lucky. Stay warm, thump when you can, Rob! - #000.
*************************************************************************************
Hi Jack:
Good to see you've become one of the enlightened ones and bought a RE
Himalayan. Nice bike. You'll like it.
I have a legally purchased 2018 shop manual in pdf for a Himmy. I offer you a copy if you would like. Just let me know.
No riding here in the frozen north. It's -10 as I write this on
Friday morning. Our predicted highs for the next few days are:
Friday (today) -1, Saturday 0, Sunday -6, and Monday -3. Burrrrrrrrr!
Not ideal motorcycling weather.
I know it's cold in Thumperville as well. Spring is on its way.
Lloyd #5224 - South Dakota
Lloyd, thanks for your comments! Yeah, I did get a Himalayan ... and you are correct as well about the current weather! -17 just down the road yesterday morning, I couldn't make myself look to see what our low was ... too low!
Drippin' faucets, blazin' furnace, and cold and snow. Not my cup of tea!
As for the shop manual, I have a 2021 owners manual and a pdf version of the R.E. service manual, but where does it say how to adjust the valves or even do an oil change? Maybe, as I said last week, I need to look closer? Does your manual have a procedure for one or both of these tasks? I hate to feel my way along, that's a good way to do something wrong, it seems to me, but I may have to ... and I did google it and sure enough, it's there, so that may be my last resort. Right now, my last resort might be in Arizona, Florida, or Hawaii (grin) ! - #000.
**************************************************************************************
Hi '000'
My T shirt came this afternoon.
Thank you !!!!
It may be awhile before I can put it on.
It's 18 degrees on my back porch !!!!!!!!!!!
Thump Thump - Three Fenders, FSSNOC #0162 - Oklahoma
Yeah, I know, Three Fenders!
It is SO cold here that when I licked the kickstarter on my Thumper, my tongue stuck to it! OUCH! - #000
*************************************************************************************
Jack,
Let you know, Feb 16 2021 at 7:15 PM MST, USPS delivered my newsletter, TN142. (Thanks for the heads-up, Kim! - #000)
An aside, I am still waiting for my BMW club magazine ( granted it is not 1st class).
Kim #5422 - Montana
That's a funny one, Kim! Ha! Ha! Thumper News IS mailed First Class ... we are always thinking of you, Kim ... it's what we do here at FSSNOC ...the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club.
*************************************************************************************
If you'd care to ride along, let's ride over to the HISTORY PAGE ------>
And, don't forget ... touch base with another FSSNOC member this week, by phone, by text, by email, or ... whatever. Make sure that he or she has these important dates penciled-in on their FSSNOC Thumper Calendar:
August 21- August 29, 2021
... that's our WOO, pronounced like "too", only with a "W"!
Yes, WOO or W.O.O. - Window Of Opportunity - WOO!
Say it with me as you read it, say it aloud, be animated, say it with anticipation and enthusiasm, get OUT of that chair ...
"W O O !"
Okay, Okay, - calm down, Yer gonna wake the neighbors... (grin)
As the date nears, we hope to get together somewhere, somehow, sometime during that date span. Don't be caught with your knickers down, mark those dates now, we'll make plans later as the time nears and we can better see the ways of the world...
**************************************************************************************
Anything below this line is from an earlier update ... on to the History Page
**************************************************************************************
M
M
R
R ... My Most Recent Ride begins...
W O W ! ! !
Not just one, but two very nice Himalayans. It's a great bike! I love mine.
Glad to see you have succumbed to its charms, #000. Kind of secretive though, as you hadn't mentioned getting one that I remember.
What's the story behind it?
Could you post another picture showing off its paint better?
I'm attaching a picture (above) of Mine on its Most Recent Ride (alas, last November) looking for Road 37, in the hills north of Omaha. - Steve Oakman, FSSNOC #5266 - Nebraska
P.S. Roundel courtesy of Ken Conrad, FSSNOC #4800, he's always looking out for me.
REPLY: Hey, Steve, where ya' been, maybe stuck in a snow drift? You know me, I'm a little shy, I hesitate to talk about myself ... but, yeah, I now have a Himalayan ... in Lake Blue. Do you have a shop manual? Does your owners manual show how to change the oil? And, yeah, I can google it ... but I've owned (purchased) more than 200 motorcycles in my life, biggest percentage were new, never have I had one that didn't tell me how to change the oil! Do I have pages missing or is it brain matter missing?
As for that roundel, if that is it on the left front, that looks like a TARGET to me. Only the Vlad would send a friend a FREE TARGET to affix to his motorcycle! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh, sorry...
Single (as in Four-Stroke Single?) digit temps here in ThumperVille of late. It's so cold that my refrigerator in the garage is wearing my parka! I've been busy with Thumper News, getting it ready to go into the mail. Today was postage and label day ... still not done, hope to finish tomorrow in time to at least get it to the Post Office. For the record, I absolutely LOVE the cover, wait until you see it, and even better, wait until you read it!
Oh yeah, the story behind the Himalayan, my purchase of ... is that my Yamaha WR250R doesn't fare so well when it is loaded down for a journey with camping gear. Much like a race horse doesn't pull a horse-drawn plow very well, the edgy, high strung Yamaha gets a little spooky when the weight bias is up high and behind the axle!
This Himalayan is sort of like a young and willing draft horse, "Load me up and let's go!", it said to me the other day. I'm thinking of putting a decal of the United States on one the silver metal cases, then check off the states as I ride through, see how long it takes me to get to all the lower 48.
As I rode the Himalayan one day, thinking of this, I recalled that in 2007 I had purchased a new DR650 Suzuki, mid-year. Come November, actually October 31, I headed for Broadus, Montana. Yeah, I know, who does that at that time of the year? Answer ... NO one! Anyway, the forecast said two days of south wind, then two days of north wind ... I thought, perfect! A tailwind both ways!! I'm in...
Next morning, I rode out ... a nip in the air already. I got maybe 10 miles out and I was considering turning around, good sense was tapping me on the shoulder. About that time, I passed an intersection, at which sat a Pickup pulling a big RV, across the front of the fancy house trailer, read MONTANA ... it was the model. To me, it was all the confirmation I needed, I headed north, enjoying the prevalent south (tail) winds.
Somewhere north of the Kansas border, I lost my tail wind. Oh well, I grinned, and soldiered on ... another 100 miles or so I hit a wall. YEAH, a real wall! A wall of frigid air, direct from the North Pole, and yes, now a headwind. It was then that I realized that in my hastily unplanned exit, I had failed to bring my windbreaker liner for my jacket. I began to shiver...
About a hundred fifty miles out of Broadus, I hit rain, no ... ice droplets ... and bad, bad wind! I stopped to put on my rainsuit, thankfully I hadn't left it at home! It was blowing SO hard, I feared for the DR, that it would tip over in the wet, rainy, icy, wind gusts ... I reasoned that I would have to keep my foot on the sidestand to keep it from blowing over while I struggled to put on my already wet suit ... finally, I was able to remount and continued on.
The DR would pull top gear into that ferocious wind but every once in awhile, it would drop a shot, not the most pleasant thing right now! I realized that it was because I had the throttle turned-on too far for running into that wind, so I dropped down a gear and all was well, well ... not well, but at least it stopped missing out.
When I pulled into Broadus, the only thing showing any life was a one-bulb gas station-grocery-whatever establishment, one might call it a C-store, but it wasn't fancy or modern like that ... I gassed up and ran inside, purchased a hot chocolate, and drank it down as I puddled the already filthy floor. As I drank, I noticed that I was shaking so badly the brown hot chocolate had white caps!
I rode south ... ahhh, cold, miserable, but with a tail wind ... but alas, it wasn't too be ... the wind changed back around to the south, another headwind, but I loved it, at least it wasn't too many miles before I was able to quit shaking from the cold.
Eons later, so it seemed, I arrived back at the house, safe and sound. So why did I partake of a trip like that in that particular season, one might inquire?
As I arrived home, the DR650 turned 6-months "old" ... my goal, my sole reason for going, was to pickup a couple of states I hadn't ridden in yet on the new DR. Montana made my 36th state ridden to and in on the DR in the first 6 months of ownership. Was it worth it? Of course... #000
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Hello, Jack - I didn't hear anything from my message in December..thought I'd try again.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Gary Benson
Colorado Springs, CO
FSSNOC Member since 1991
REPLY: Yo, Gary, FSSNOC #1741 - Colorado ... I replied back to you here on our website as per our return email to you, but didn't hear anything until now. Tonight, as I updated this site, I attempted to call you at your house phone number but no one would answer when they picked it up ... anyway, if you see this, sure, we'd be happy to help any way we can, SRX-6s for sale are pretty few and far between now days, so somebody would probably grab it up, let us know... #000
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hi Jack (000),
Interesting the new improved KLR 650 is back. I’m glad it has returned.
I guess the big question is would I buy one? No
The reasons I would not buy one:
I already have one, 2007 with less than 40,000-miles on it.
It is paid for!
My suspension is already dialed in for my riding style.
The suspension is lowered for my needs.
My Doohickey is already installed. Does the new improved KLR need it?
My Thermo-Bob is already installed.
I have special sprocket gearing
The old California registration is cheaper than a new one.
Insurance is cheaper.
My KLR is already scratched up. It would take a while to scratch up the new KLR.
If my current KLR’s motor blew up, bike stolen, or destroyed in an accident that might be a different story.
Alan Smith (5286) California
P.S. The local weather has been great! In the 70s (F) in the afternoon. Sure there is a little frost on the cars in the early mornings. Just wait a little and the rest of the day is great riding weather.
Alan ... (REPLY) ... All valid points, yes. But validity usually goes by the wayside when it comes to wanting to buy a new motorcycle. I can always make it make sense somehow...
And, send some of that good weather to ThumperVille!! - #000
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hi Jack, the one owner Urasaki went to a new home. (KLR with a Ural sidecar - FYI - #000)
I passed on FSSNOC info, the award from Burke's Garden FSSNOC event, and TN from 2010 featuring the Urasaki. Thanks for posting.
Charlie, FSSNOC #2810 - Virginia
Kawasaki 250 Super Sherpa rider
REPLY: You may have sold the KLR, but you still have a remarkable Thumper in that Super Sherpa. Those are just the basic Thumper, all the best and none of the rest ... an amazingly capable 250cc machine, IMHO.
Save the date window: August 21 thru August 29, 2021 ... if the world allows such a thing at that time, hopefully we can gather somewhere... We'll know more as the date nears, meantime, pencil it in ... so you'll have the opportunity to show up on your Super Sherpa. See ya' up the road- #000.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnyRa79EA0&ab_channel=OUTRUN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYjPtl-ZosQ&ab_channel=OUTRUN
I know, I know ... the above links have to do with some "other" stuff ... but ... it is WINTERTIME DELUXE, so read them if you like ... or not. THANK YOU, KEN CONRAD, FSSNOC #4800, up there in snowy Montana! - #000.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There are MORE pages within the confines of this website. Search them out and enjoy...
################################################################################################
(Website Details and Instructions: )
Hello Thumper Enthusiasts...
I'm Jack Robinson (FSSNOC #000), your club Director.
It is an honor to introduce you to the THUMPERGARAGE. This mini-venue is in addition to our legendary hard copy THUMPER NEWS quarterly magazine. After enjoying this page, please visit our other pages on this site. Go to the masthead above to make it happen...
You are encouraged to "thump" by the THUMPERGARAGE weekly. This is a FREE site for you and your friends.
Members may contact us anytime 24/7 with comments, conversation, stories, or questions via a mailed letter, a phone call/text or an e-mail. When you E-mail, please give us your first name, your FSSNOC member number, and your state. You'll receive a courtesy confirmation E-mail back.
Our actual response to your E-mail will generally be posted on the following Thursday's THUMPERGARAGE update so be sure to tune back in then... (Address-phone number-email address is below... **)
We also encourage you to join our club:
Complete the application found elsewhere on this site (click on "more" above) and mail it to us with $100.00 dues for a 12 month USA membership, WE MAIL ONLY TO USA ADDRESSES. Include your shirt size so we may gift you a FREE club t-shirt if this is your initial membership.
A subscription to THUMPER NEWS magazine, mailed to your mailbox (NOW BY FIRST CLASS), is included in your membership as well.
U.S. POSTAL address is: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks 67504-1809.
To call OR text our club, phone 620-663-1869. If no answer, leave a message as these are spam times.
You may send an E-mail: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
NOTICE: Please understand that your E-mail may be reproduced on this site. Any/all subject matter and information submitted may be used in-part or edited and will become the property of the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club (FSSNOC,INC.). All included content in Thumper News or Thumper Garage is solely for entertainment, not advise....
THE CLUB STORE ... GO VISIT IT WHEN YOU ARE DONE HERE?
The Autumn season means awesome riding for many areas ... time to get some new club gear, eh? Order yourself a bright new yellow and black club cap, a couple t-shirts, and at least one sweatshirt to wear under your riding gear. Remember, every day is FSSNOC gear day. Tell the world about our club ... Thanks!
*************************************************************************************************************************
YOU'VE JUST VISITED THE THUMPERGARAGE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE "MORE" ON THE MASTHEAD ABOVE ... AND CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS SITE.
PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB (FSSNOC) TODAY ...Thank You! - Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Especially the ole Steamers, right ... Locomotives
... "LOCO" when used as an adjective means crazy
... "MOTIVE" comes from the latin word "motivus", meaning motion or moving.
Makes one wonder who named a Steam-powered train engine a Locomotive, a "crazy motion" or a "crazy mover" ... interesting, eh?
Moving on with our MMRR theme, anyone remember what MMRR means? M&M's Railroad? Good guess, for sure ... but no, it means:
"My Most Recent Ride" ...
Let us hear from YOU on your Most Recent Ride, email your report to us at: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com If you send a photo, send it as an attachment to your email and remember, it must be horizontal format to work well here on the ThumperGarage. Share your Thumper fun with us, it's what we do...
***************** Snowflakes are in season right now? **********************************************************
Hi Jack #000
When I sent you my last letter, I did not know you owned a Royal Enfield Himalayan. I guess I missed the memo. It has been on my list since it was announced. Did you trade your R.E. Continental GT535?
Sorry, I do not have an MMRR for you. Too dang cold up here in the northland. But I will attach a picture from my one of my last rides in November when I just danced along the county line between Anoka and Isanti for about 50 miles. This was taken beside the rail station in Bethel, Minnesota.
(SEE PHOTO ABOVE - Husqvarna Svartpilen 701)
1
The Puig windscreen that I wrote about finally made it across the pond. It only took a few minutes to install, then I rolled the Husky out for a couple of pictures. Yep, there's snow on the ground.
Lastly, you asked if you could use my letter in a future Thumper News. You might have to edit it a bit and strip out a few lines, but otherwise go ahead and use what you can.
Your northland friend;
Rob Fisher #5186 - MINNESOTA
(Reply) ... Hi ya, Rob! Your machine is a sweet ride, yes! I have tagged your article for TN#143, our next issue, but I just couldn't resist using this photo here on the ThumperGarage. Those things are SO radical and I hear that their performance is spectacular as well. We look forward to reading your account in the Summer edition of Thumper News!
And, yes, I did make the plunge for a 2021 Himalayan. We are currently just getting acquainted so after that happens or at least part of it happens, I'll be sharing with you all my input on the Himalayan's output.
Oh yeah, no ... I didn't trade the Continental, just scooted it over a tad to make room for its cousin. The Continental is under its winter-wraps, the Himalayan isn't so lucky. Stay warm, thump when you can, Rob! - #000.
*************************************************************************************
Hi Jack:
Good to see you've become one of the enlightened ones and bought a RE
Himalayan. Nice bike. You'll like it.
I have a legally purchased 2018 shop manual in pdf for a Himmy. I offer you a copy if you would like. Just let me know.
No riding here in the frozen north. It's -10 as I write this on
Friday morning. Our predicted highs for the next few days are:
Friday (today) -1, Saturday 0, Sunday -6, and Monday -3. Burrrrrrrrr!
Not ideal motorcycling weather.
I know it's cold in Thumperville as well. Spring is on its way.
Lloyd #5224 - South Dakota
Lloyd, thanks for your comments! Yeah, I did get a Himalayan ... and you are correct as well about the current weather! -17 just down the road yesterday morning, I couldn't make myself look to see what our low was ... too low!
Drippin' faucets, blazin' furnace, and cold and snow. Not my cup of tea!
As for the shop manual, I have a 2021 owners manual and a pdf version of the R.E. service manual, but where does it say how to adjust the valves or even do an oil change? Maybe, as I said last week, I need to look closer? Does your manual have a procedure for one or both of these tasks? I hate to feel my way along, that's a good way to do something wrong, it seems to me, but I may have to ... and I did google it and sure enough, it's there, so that may be my last resort. Right now, my last resort might be in Arizona, Florida, or Hawaii (grin) ! - #000.
**************************************************************************************
Hi '000'
My T shirt came this afternoon.
Thank you !!!!
It may be awhile before I can put it on.
It's 18 degrees on my back porch !!!!!!!!!!!
Thump Thump - Three Fenders, FSSNOC #0162 - Oklahoma
Yeah, I know, Three Fenders!
It is SO cold here that when I licked the kickstarter on my Thumper, my tongue stuck to it! OUCH! - #000
*************************************************************************************
Jack,
Let you know, Feb 16 2021 at 7:15 PM MST, USPS delivered my newsletter, TN142. (Thanks for the heads-up, Kim! - #000)
An aside, I am still waiting for my BMW club magazine ( granted it is not 1st class).
Kim #5422 - Montana
That's a funny one, Kim! Ha! Ha! Thumper News IS mailed First Class ... we are always thinking of you, Kim ... it's what we do here at FSSNOC ...the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club.
*************************************************************************************
If you'd care to ride along, let's ride over to the HISTORY PAGE ------>
And, don't forget ... touch base with another FSSNOC member this week, by phone, by text, by email, or ... whatever. Make sure that he or she has these important dates penciled-in on their FSSNOC Thumper Calendar:
August 21- August 29, 2021
... that's our WOO, pronounced like "too", only with a "W"!
Yes, WOO or W.O.O. - Window Of Opportunity - WOO!
Say it with me as you read it, say it aloud, be animated, say it with anticipation and enthusiasm, get OUT of that chair ...
"W O O !"
Okay, Okay, - calm down, Yer gonna wake the neighbors... (grin)
As the date nears, we hope to get together somewhere, somehow, sometime during that date span. Don't be caught with your knickers down, mark those dates now, we'll make plans later as the time nears and we can better see the ways of the world...
**************************************************************************************
Anything below this line is from an earlier update ... on to the History Page
**************************************************************************************
M
M
R
R ... My Most Recent Ride begins...
W O W ! ! !
Not just one, but two very nice Himalayans. It's a great bike! I love mine.
Glad to see you have succumbed to its charms, #000. Kind of secretive though, as you hadn't mentioned getting one that I remember.
What's the story behind it?
Could you post another picture showing off its paint better?
I'm attaching a picture (above) of Mine on its Most Recent Ride (alas, last November) looking for Road 37, in the hills north of Omaha. - Steve Oakman, FSSNOC #5266 - Nebraska
P.S. Roundel courtesy of Ken Conrad, FSSNOC #4800, he's always looking out for me.
REPLY: Hey, Steve, where ya' been, maybe stuck in a snow drift? You know me, I'm a little shy, I hesitate to talk about myself ... but, yeah, I now have a Himalayan ... in Lake Blue. Do you have a shop manual? Does your owners manual show how to change the oil? And, yeah, I can google it ... but I've owned (purchased) more than 200 motorcycles in my life, biggest percentage were new, never have I had one that didn't tell me how to change the oil! Do I have pages missing or is it brain matter missing?
As for that roundel, if that is it on the left front, that looks like a TARGET to me. Only the Vlad would send a friend a FREE TARGET to affix to his motorcycle! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh, sorry...
Single (as in Four-Stroke Single?) digit temps here in ThumperVille of late. It's so cold that my refrigerator in the garage is wearing my parka! I've been busy with Thumper News, getting it ready to go into the mail. Today was postage and label day ... still not done, hope to finish tomorrow in time to at least get it to the Post Office. For the record, I absolutely LOVE the cover, wait until you see it, and even better, wait until you read it!
Oh yeah, the story behind the Himalayan, my purchase of ... is that my Yamaha WR250R doesn't fare so well when it is loaded down for a journey with camping gear. Much like a race horse doesn't pull a horse-drawn plow very well, the edgy, high strung Yamaha gets a little spooky when the weight bias is up high and behind the axle!
This Himalayan is sort of like a young and willing draft horse, "Load me up and let's go!", it said to me the other day. I'm thinking of putting a decal of the United States on one the silver metal cases, then check off the states as I ride through, see how long it takes me to get to all the lower 48.
As I rode the Himalayan one day, thinking of this, I recalled that in 2007 I had purchased a new DR650 Suzuki, mid-year. Come November, actually October 31, I headed for Broadus, Montana. Yeah, I know, who does that at that time of the year? Answer ... NO one! Anyway, the forecast said two days of south wind, then two days of north wind ... I thought, perfect! A tailwind both ways!! I'm in...
Next morning, I rode out ... a nip in the air already. I got maybe 10 miles out and I was considering turning around, good sense was tapping me on the shoulder. About that time, I passed an intersection, at which sat a Pickup pulling a big RV, across the front of the fancy house trailer, read MONTANA ... it was the model. To me, it was all the confirmation I needed, I headed north, enjoying the prevalent south (tail) winds.
Somewhere north of the Kansas border, I lost my tail wind. Oh well, I grinned, and soldiered on ... another 100 miles or so I hit a wall. YEAH, a real wall! A wall of frigid air, direct from the North Pole, and yes, now a headwind. It was then that I realized that in my hastily unplanned exit, I had failed to bring my windbreaker liner for my jacket. I began to shiver...
About a hundred fifty miles out of Broadus, I hit rain, no ... ice droplets ... and bad, bad wind! I stopped to put on my rainsuit, thankfully I hadn't left it at home! It was blowing SO hard, I feared for the DR, that it would tip over in the wet, rainy, icy, wind gusts ... I reasoned that I would have to keep my foot on the sidestand to keep it from blowing over while I struggled to put on my already wet suit ... finally, I was able to remount and continued on.
The DR would pull top gear into that ferocious wind but every once in awhile, it would drop a shot, not the most pleasant thing right now! I realized that it was because I had the throttle turned-on too far for running into that wind, so I dropped down a gear and all was well, well ... not well, but at least it stopped missing out.
When I pulled into Broadus, the only thing showing any life was a one-bulb gas station-grocery-whatever establishment, one might call it a C-store, but it wasn't fancy or modern like that ... I gassed up and ran inside, purchased a hot chocolate, and drank it down as I puddled the already filthy floor. As I drank, I noticed that I was shaking so badly the brown hot chocolate had white caps!
I rode south ... ahhh, cold, miserable, but with a tail wind ... but alas, it wasn't too be ... the wind changed back around to the south, another headwind, but I loved it, at least it wasn't too many miles before I was able to quit shaking from the cold.
Eons later, so it seemed, I arrived back at the house, safe and sound. So why did I partake of a trip like that in that particular season, one might inquire?
As I arrived home, the DR650 turned 6-months "old" ... my goal, my sole reason for going, was to pickup a couple of states I hadn't ridden in yet on the new DR. Montana made my 36th state ridden to and in on the DR in the first 6 months of ownership. Was it worth it? Of course... #000
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Hello, Jack - I didn't hear anything from my message in December..thought I'd try again.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Gary Benson
Colorado Springs, CO
FSSNOC Member since 1991
REPLY: Yo, Gary, FSSNOC #1741 - Colorado ... I replied back to you here on our website as per our return email to you, but didn't hear anything until now. Tonight, as I updated this site, I attempted to call you at your house phone number but no one would answer when they picked it up ... anyway, if you see this, sure, we'd be happy to help any way we can, SRX-6s for sale are pretty few and far between now days, so somebody would probably grab it up, let us know... #000
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hi Jack (000),
Interesting the new improved KLR 650 is back. I’m glad it has returned.
I guess the big question is would I buy one? No
The reasons I would not buy one:
I already have one, 2007 with less than 40,000-miles on it.
It is paid for!
My suspension is already dialed in for my riding style.
The suspension is lowered for my needs.
My Doohickey is already installed. Does the new improved KLR need it?
My Thermo-Bob is already installed.
I have special sprocket gearing
The old California registration is cheaper than a new one.
Insurance is cheaper.
My KLR is already scratched up. It would take a while to scratch up the new KLR.
If my current KLR’s motor blew up, bike stolen, or destroyed in an accident that might be a different story.
Alan Smith (5286) California
P.S. The local weather has been great! In the 70s (F) in the afternoon. Sure there is a little frost on the cars in the early mornings. Just wait a little and the rest of the day is great riding weather.
Alan ... (REPLY) ... All valid points, yes. But validity usually goes by the wayside when it comes to wanting to buy a new motorcycle. I can always make it make sense somehow...
And, send some of that good weather to ThumperVille!! - #000
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Hi Jack, the one owner Urasaki went to a new home. (KLR with a Ural sidecar - FYI - #000)
I passed on FSSNOC info, the award from Burke's Garden FSSNOC event, and TN from 2010 featuring the Urasaki. Thanks for posting.
Charlie, FSSNOC #2810 - Virginia
Kawasaki 250 Super Sherpa rider
REPLY: You may have sold the KLR, but you still have a remarkable Thumper in that Super Sherpa. Those are just the basic Thumper, all the best and none of the rest ... an amazingly capable 250cc machine, IMHO.
Save the date window: August 21 thru August 29, 2021 ... if the world allows such a thing at that time, hopefully we can gather somewhere... We'll know more as the date nears, meantime, pencil it in ... so you'll have the opportunity to show up on your Super Sherpa. See ya' up the road- #000.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnyRa79EA0&ab_channel=OUTRUN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYjPtl-ZosQ&ab_channel=OUTRUN
I know, I know ... the above links have to do with some "other" stuff ... but ... it is WINTERTIME DELUXE, so read them if you like ... or not. THANK YOU, KEN CONRAD, FSSNOC #4800, up there in snowy Montana! - #000.
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There are MORE pages within the confines of this website. Search them out and enjoy...
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(Website Details and Instructions: )
Hello Thumper Enthusiasts...
I'm Jack Robinson (FSSNOC #000), your club Director.
It is an honor to introduce you to the THUMPERGARAGE. This mini-venue is in addition to our legendary hard copy THUMPER NEWS quarterly magazine. After enjoying this page, please visit our other pages on this site. Go to the masthead above to make it happen...
You are encouraged to "thump" by the THUMPERGARAGE weekly. This is a FREE site for you and your friends.
Members may contact us anytime 24/7 with comments, conversation, stories, or questions via a mailed letter, a phone call/text or an e-mail. When you E-mail, please give us your first name, your FSSNOC member number, and your state. You'll receive a courtesy confirmation E-mail back.
Our actual response to your E-mail will generally be posted on the following Thursday's THUMPERGARAGE update so be sure to tune back in then... (Address-phone number-email address is below... **)
We also encourage you to join our club:
Complete the application found elsewhere on this site (click on "more" above) and mail it to us with $100.00 dues for a 12 month USA membership, WE MAIL ONLY TO USA ADDRESSES. Include your shirt size so we may gift you a FREE club t-shirt if this is your initial membership.
A subscription to THUMPER NEWS magazine, mailed to your mailbox (NOW BY FIRST CLASS), is included in your membership as well.
U.S. POSTAL address is: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks 67504-1809.
To call OR text our club, phone 620-663-1869. If no answer, leave a message as these are spam times.
You may send an E-mail: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
NOTICE: Please understand that your E-mail may be reproduced on this site. Any/all subject matter and information submitted may be used in-part or edited and will become the property of the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club (FSSNOC,INC.). All included content in Thumper News or Thumper Garage is solely for entertainment, not advise....
THE CLUB STORE ... GO VISIT IT WHEN YOU ARE DONE HERE?
The Autumn season means awesome riding for many areas ... time to get some new club gear, eh? Order yourself a bright new yellow and black club cap, a couple t-shirts, and at least one sweatshirt to wear under your riding gear. Remember, every day is FSSNOC gear day. Tell the world about our club ... Thanks!
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YOU'VE JUST VISITED THE THUMPERGARAGE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE "MORE" ON THE MASTHEAD ABOVE ... AND CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS SITE.
PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB (FSSNOC) TODAY ...Thank You! - Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director
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