Hi ... FSSNOC Club Members,
I just returned from my third trip to the southwest desert this year. Usually I'm home this time of year. Attached is a photo (above) of me in the desert near Ridgecrest, California.
Oh, sadly my riding buddy, Bruce, FSSNOC #5392, fell off his KTM and broke his left leg on this trip. Where Bruce broke his leg was in a place that a 4X4 could not reach. So we carefully put him back on his KTM Thumper, shifted the transmission in second gear, then pointed him in the direction of the staging area. Bruce had a long careful ride back to his van. This is going to mess up our Spring riding.
Alan Smith (FSSNOC #5286) California
Wow, bet that was a painful ride! Sorry to hear of Bruce's misfortune, good thing he wasn't riding alone, huh... Get well soon, Bruce! And thanks for the update and the awesome photo, Alan... #000.
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Winter Greetings, FSSNOC Friends ...
"Woke up this morning feeling fine, fine, fine" ... to a white layer of snow here in ThumperVille. I could say that it is almost as deep as the salt that was put on yesterday, but I'll resist, guess that salt or brine or whatever it is does make for safer driving and I should probably concentrate on that, huh?
It is amazing that everything is connected to everything, case in point, that same snow caused wife Carrie to leave early on her commute to work. No problem there for me, right? Wrong. Each morning she customarily makes us a smoothie out of fresh fruits and greens, it's a great way to make green spinach taste like strawberries! Anyway, this morning's change of schedule didn't allow her time to get that little chore done. So, here I am, updating the club website and munching on a couple of microwave sliders from White Castle, drinking a 10 ounce bottle of orange juice, and waiting for the coffee to perk.
Not much going on, and that's a good thing sometimes. The hard-working FSSNOC staff, me (grin) has been working of late on the upcoming Issue #139 of Thumper News. Progress is being made, you'll be happy to know. And, it is a very interesting issue, thanks to all who contributed time and effort to their articles, stories, etc. - much appreciated, all! If you, Dear FSSNOC Member, have a report on a new product, a story of a recent ride or trip on your Single, whatever ... please e-mail or snail-mail it to the club, we'd love to read it and likely pass it on to our membership via this website and/or ole Thumper News. It's what clubs do...
An update on the torn and twisted Kawasaki KLX250 that was featured on the big screen here last week: Kerry, FSSNOC #4543 - Arizona, after a few visits to the Doctor and, of course, multiple tests, is pronounced good to go and "just take it easy for a month or so" ... and Kerry says that suits him to a tee! He plans to get back on a bike today. Best Wishes, Kerry! - #000.
Oh, man! My battery is going dead ... be right back!
(...sounds of a heavy wooden bar-stool sliding on hardwood floor, tipping and hitting said floor with a "BANG"! ... footsteps running across the room, rubber soles squealing in protest, footsteps running back accompanied by elevated heart rate and breathing ... then comes a related sigh of relief as the charger is plugged-in and the computer screen blinks ... and comes back on! Life is good...)
Okay, continuing on here ... disaster averted, and I now have at my disposal my cup of coffee and the remains of a hapless brownie left on the counter from yesterday. I know, not exactly the stuff a person is supposed to eat at 6:00AM, but hey, I figure my body doesn't know what time it is, I don't wear a watch, never have ... got one for my 8th grade graduation, and another for Christmas several years ago, never wore either one.
Some folks comment as to how I can be on time at an engagement? Uhhhh, yeah, it has been known to happen, being a few minutes late. It's really an advantage, sort of ... I've noted that no one remembers or cares who was first to arrive but everyone knows and notes who was late.
This leads me to another case in point, a few years ago we had a ThumperCafe in Arizona, this time just off I-17, as I recall. The name of the location escapes me now but I do recall that we were well into my "Thanks for coming" dissertation to our group when the door creaks open and in walks Rex Chaney, FSSNOC #4536 - Arizona, a big smile on his face. I also remember the awesome Thumper that he showed-up with... do you remember this, Rex? See, it can pay to be late, eh?
Be sure to check out the other pages on this site, go to the masthead above to navigate ... more good stuff there for your perusal.
Sign-On a friend to our club, Wear our club gear, Ride your Thumper, Visit this site each week, Invite your motorcycling friends to do likewise, no password needed.
FSSNOC members are invited to contribute to this site by e-mailing your comments, photo, etc. to: FSSNOC@thumpers.yahoo.com (though you likely can't just click on it here for some unknown reason... copy it down, you can do it.)
When you get done here, step over to the History Page, next door down the hall, I'll see you there... #000
..... Scroll clear to the bottom to read about this site, otherwise, everything below this line is from an earlier post........................................................................................................
I don't "bounce" as good as I used to...
Had a little incident yesterday and tore the forks off of the KLX. I'm not really "injured" but my right knee and left shoulder are sore as heck, and the rest of me is not far behind. Don't think I'll be up for riding 400 miles on Wednesday. We'll see but the old body is telling me not to count on it!
Kerry AZ, FSSNOC #4543
OK, a little expansion on the above original message:
Gorgeous day on Feb 1 ...
Took the KLX out for a little ride. Ended up on Perkinsville road, from Jerome to the elusive Perkinsville. I hadn't been up there since last summer so I was riding gently to make sure the road wasn't too muddy or icy. There was a little of each but generally road was fine. Came up on what was a hard left turn and a very blind corner. I was traveling slowly because, again, I didn't know what the road conditions would be like. I was standing and going about 20-25mph in the right third of the road.
Suddenly a Polaris four seat side-by-side appeared coming the other way; going 40-45mph and pretty centered on the road. He saw me and sharply turned his front wheels to his right as I tried to get around him to my right. He was, unfortunately, going so fast his sharp turn just caused his front end to wash out more to his left. I almost cleared him and I believe we collided my front wheel to his left front wheel.
Next thing I'm aware of is pushing myself off the ground and then realizing that I wasn't quite ready for that. I went to my knees and put my helmeted head on the ground. First words out of my mouth were "You were going way too fast!" Which he, of course denied - but which the driver of a pickup he had passed affirmed.
Anyway, a CT scan and X-Rays later seems nothing is broken, no ligaments torn. They even said my brain was "normal" (no snide comments there, #000). Got some floating bone chips in the right knee.
Material damage. One ruined Shoei GT-Air helmet. Front forks were torn off of the bike. Insurance guy said the frame was "crushed" behind the steering stem. Bike is totaled. I'm just really glad I'm pretty much okay, hope to get back on a bike this week!
Man O Man O Man! I've been to Stonehenge in England and Carhenge in Nebraska ... but this is literally "BIKEhenge!" Wow ... so glad that you escaped bad harm personally, could have been nasty! We did miss seeing you there at the ThumperCafe #50 ... you've been a "regular" over the years, thanks you very much! My caption for your bike photo is: "BEEN THERE, BENT THAT" - #000.
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https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/inside-janus-motorcycles
Ken Conrad - FSSNOC #4800 - Montana
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Hi Jack (000),
It is hard to believe that our FSSNOC Thumper Meet (Feb 5th) in Earp, California last week is behind us already. After waiting so long, it came and went so fast. It was great to see old friends and new ones.
I agree, Alan ... time speeds up at a ThumperCafe, for sure! - #000.
At the luncheon, I heard some good stories of fellow FSSNOC members traveling though some very cold weather to reach Earp, California. Thanks goodness for pick-up trucks and trailers! Even for us West Coast attendees, it was a very cold trip trucking our bikes. Fellow FSSNOC member Bruce and I showed up early so we could do a little extra riding in the warm desert.
Prior to leaving for the event, I waxed on and on about not wanting to truck my bike to a ThumperCafe ... but I gotta tell you, more than once I was glad to be in that Pickup cab instead of on the seat of my Thumper! For example, driving across I-40 all through New Mexico and Arizona we had a steady cross wind from the South at 40 mph with gusts of 60mph pelting our vehicle with wayward tumbleweeds, sometimes as big as a Gold Wing! We witnessed one Semi that had just blown over on its side, jamming the driver-side of the cab into the roadside dirt berm. Police cars were coming with red/blue lights and sirens but we never heard if the driver made it or not. - #000
In the photo you posted late last week on your FSSNOC web site, I think I know where it was taken. It looks like the ghost town of Swansea is in the valley below. I was at the same location a few hours earlier. Jack, those shadows in your photo sure look long! I hear you like night riding on dirt roads/trails at night. I bet you did not know it gets cold in the desert at night in February.
You are right on! From our vantage point in last weeks photo, we were delighted to see buildings or what could be buildings way down in the valley and what a beautiful scene that valley was ... Wow! It, those buildings, as you know, is an old mining area from the very early 1900's. We, like the desert greenhorns that we are, poked around all the mine shafts, the smelter, the various buildings, etc, taking photos and discussing what we were seeing ... and to your point, we got there at 5:02PM as that is the time of our first photo and according to our last photo, we were slowly leaving at 5:52 ... sunset was about 6PM and we were maybe 45 miles out in the very rugged desert.
I did find a very rusty but intact can of salmon, the contents long gone, eaten by a hungry miner, no doubt. The lid was bent back, the loose "T" shaped key was still there, circled multiple times by the metal strip of tin that opened the can back in those days ... I did put it back, but it was cool to find tangible evidence of human beings there prior to us... (grin)
And, yes ... it does cool off in the desert, rather dramatically when the sun goes home! We were still maybe 35 miles or so from our motel in Parker when that happened ... as we rode by headlight, the beam would shine ahead down the trail but it was difficult to see the baseball to small cantaloupe size rocks in the trail immediately in front of the bike, until one would launch the bike absolutely sideways!
We were so excited and we were having so much fun, we simply ignored the cold and kept on Thumpin' until we could see the lights of Parker, at least we hoped it was Parker! All is well that turns out well, as it is said. That was Tuesday, the day before our event ... and we must be slow learners as it happened a couple more times before we headed for Kansas.
I did see Jay on Tuesday morning, the following. I inquired what he did on Monday, his first day home? He laughed and replied, " I got up and did a couple of things ... then I went back to bed!! I can relate, I slept in until noon myself! All that fun wears a guy out... - #000
Okay, I have to ask, what was the most popular Thumper at Earp, California? The KTM motorcycles made a good showing this time. I might have had the oldest Thumper attending with my 2004 KTM 525.
I suspect you are correct about your 2004 KTM ... and there were three KTM there, but also three Suzuki and three Kawasaki as well ... the most popular model of Thumper present was a tie: two Kawasaki KLR650s and two BMW F650s ... nineteen bikes in all, twenty-one attendees from 9 different states. And, as you say, it was truly a blessing to see everyone, old friends and new friends alike! THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!! - #000.
Alan Smith (5286) California
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Hope you had a great time at the ThumperCafe' #50 in California ...
... and that you & Jay made it back to Kansas safe & sound. Sorry that Carol & I couldn't be there---but riding bikes back & forth across the country in Jan. & Feb. sounded a bit risky, weather-wise. And we're not quite ready to trailer our bikes yet. But I guess we're not too far away from that strategy, either, anymore.
Hi Joe and Carol ... yeah, I know your pain about hauling, but... well, see my comments in the previous post. - and Jay and I did make it home. We, like Alan and Bruce, did hang around until I ran out of money, but we did almost 600 miles of desert riding, much of which included the week-old tracks of the famous PARKER 425 Off-Road Car, Truck, and Buggy Race ... the biggest such event in North America, as we were told ... Jay said this about his experience after I remarked to him that we should go do a little dirt, " ... A TRIAL BY FIRE!" ... #000
I have been reducing The Gilmore Fleet. We had 28 bikes and that was just too many to maintain. Sold 14 over the past 2.5 months and still have 5 or 6 to go.
That's amazing! I can't imagine... - #000
Including 3 Thumpers. Here's a link to the 2 Honda GB500's we have for sale. You may remember them from the ThumperCafe' in Alabama last August.
Plus, they're getting their "15 minutes of Fame" (actually more like 60 days' worth) on the FSSNOC calendar.
Here's a link to my ad on Cycle Trader: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1990-Honda-GB+500-5011331939
If the link doesn't work, just "Search within 10 miles of ZIP 21766" and you'll find them (and a few others, too!) I don't have our 2007 BMW F650GS advertised yet---we're using it as a "Bad weather bike" this winter. Probably try to sell it in April or May.
Any idea re: the dates & locations for the rest of the 2020 ThumperCafe's?
Oh yeah, a couple of ideas but nothing firmed up as I write you here. My suggestion would be to figure on an early August/September time window. I know where it'd be fun to go, but upon my phone call to the potential host parties, they said the approach dirt road is of question, especially if it were to rain even a quarter of an inch the night before, we wouldn't be able to transverse the 13 miles of dirt (not to be confused with gravel) on any kind of two wheeler, "even cars and pickups struggle"... I read that when you order a Buffalo burger there, they go out and slay a buffalo, dress it down, cut it up, and cook it while you wait ... now that's a fresh product!
Never fear, Joe ... the extensive staff here at FSSNOC never quits working... - #000
P.S. We did miss you and you did miss out on a very collectable "California" FSSNOC commemorative sticker! (grin) ...
Keep the rubber side down!
Joe Gilmore #661 - Maryland
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Oklahoma Bike Show
Presented by Jeff Williams Promotions
Feb 22-23, 2020 at the Pavilion - Oklahoma City State Fair Park
Saturday 10 am-6pm -|- Sunday 9 am - 4 pm
816-228-5811 or 816-456-4415
jwswapmeet.com
Thanks to Edward Glendinning, FSSNOC #4052 - Oklahoma!
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Don't miss out ... there is a special treat this week somewhere in the other pages of this site ... don't go home without seeing it, okay? - #000
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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 THUMPER GARAGE. 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 THUMPER GARAGE 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 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 THUMPER GARAGE posting so be sure to tune back in then... (Address-phone number-email address is below... **)
We encourage you to join our club: Complete the application found elsewhere on this site (click on "more" above) and mail it to us with $40 dues for a 12 month membership or save a few bucks by sending $75 for a 24 month membership. Include your shirt size so we can gift you a FREE club t-shirt if this is your initial membership.
A subscription to THUMPER NEWS magazine, mailed to your mailbox, is included in your membership as well.
Our U.S. POSTAL address is: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks 67504-1809.
To call our club, phone 620-663-1869 or you may send an E-mail: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
NOTICE: Please understand that your E-mail will likely 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 and FSSNOC,INC. All included content in Thumper News or The Thumper Garage is solely for entertainment, not advise....
THE CLUB STORE ... CLICK ON 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 cotton 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 THUMPER GARAGE. 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
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I just returned from my third trip to the southwest desert this year. Usually I'm home this time of year. Attached is a photo (above) of me in the desert near Ridgecrest, California.
Oh, sadly my riding buddy, Bruce, FSSNOC #5392, fell off his KTM and broke his left leg on this trip. Where Bruce broke his leg was in a place that a 4X4 could not reach. So we carefully put him back on his KTM Thumper, shifted the transmission in second gear, then pointed him in the direction of the staging area. Bruce had a long careful ride back to his van. This is going to mess up our Spring riding.
Alan Smith (FSSNOC #5286) California
Wow, bet that was a painful ride! Sorry to hear of Bruce's misfortune, good thing he wasn't riding alone, huh... Get well soon, Bruce! And thanks for the update and the awesome photo, Alan... #000.
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Winter Greetings, FSSNOC Friends ...
"Woke up this morning feeling fine, fine, fine" ... to a white layer of snow here in ThumperVille. I could say that it is almost as deep as the salt that was put on yesterday, but I'll resist, guess that salt or brine or whatever it is does make for safer driving and I should probably concentrate on that, huh?
It is amazing that everything is connected to everything, case in point, that same snow caused wife Carrie to leave early on her commute to work. No problem there for me, right? Wrong. Each morning she customarily makes us a smoothie out of fresh fruits and greens, it's a great way to make green spinach taste like strawberries! Anyway, this morning's change of schedule didn't allow her time to get that little chore done. So, here I am, updating the club website and munching on a couple of microwave sliders from White Castle, drinking a 10 ounce bottle of orange juice, and waiting for the coffee to perk.
Not much going on, and that's a good thing sometimes. The hard-working FSSNOC staff, me (grin) has been working of late on the upcoming Issue #139 of Thumper News. Progress is being made, you'll be happy to know. And, it is a very interesting issue, thanks to all who contributed time and effort to their articles, stories, etc. - much appreciated, all! If you, Dear FSSNOC Member, have a report on a new product, a story of a recent ride or trip on your Single, whatever ... please e-mail or snail-mail it to the club, we'd love to read it and likely pass it on to our membership via this website and/or ole Thumper News. It's what clubs do...
An update on the torn and twisted Kawasaki KLX250 that was featured on the big screen here last week: Kerry, FSSNOC #4543 - Arizona, after a few visits to the Doctor and, of course, multiple tests, is pronounced good to go and "just take it easy for a month or so" ... and Kerry says that suits him to a tee! He plans to get back on a bike today. Best Wishes, Kerry! - #000.
Oh, man! My battery is going dead ... be right back!
(...sounds of a heavy wooden bar-stool sliding on hardwood floor, tipping and hitting said floor with a "BANG"! ... footsteps running across the room, rubber soles squealing in protest, footsteps running back accompanied by elevated heart rate and breathing ... then comes a related sigh of relief as the charger is plugged-in and the computer screen blinks ... and comes back on! Life is good...)
Okay, continuing on here ... disaster averted, and I now have at my disposal my cup of coffee and the remains of a hapless brownie left on the counter from yesterday. I know, not exactly the stuff a person is supposed to eat at 6:00AM, but hey, I figure my body doesn't know what time it is, I don't wear a watch, never have ... got one for my 8th grade graduation, and another for Christmas several years ago, never wore either one.
Some folks comment as to how I can be on time at an engagement? Uhhhh, yeah, it has been known to happen, being a few minutes late. It's really an advantage, sort of ... I've noted that no one remembers or cares who was first to arrive but everyone knows and notes who was late.
This leads me to another case in point, a few years ago we had a ThumperCafe in Arizona, this time just off I-17, as I recall. The name of the location escapes me now but I do recall that we were well into my "Thanks for coming" dissertation to our group when the door creaks open and in walks Rex Chaney, FSSNOC #4536 - Arizona, a big smile on his face. I also remember the awesome Thumper that he showed-up with... do you remember this, Rex? See, it can pay to be late, eh?
Be sure to check out the other pages on this site, go to the masthead above to navigate ... more good stuff there for your perusal.
Sign-On a friend to our club, Wear our club gear, Ride your Thumper, Visit this site each week, Invite your motorcycling friends to do likewise, no password needed.
FSSNOC members are invited to contribute to this site by e-mailing your comments, photo, etc. to: FSSNOC@thumpers.yahoo.com (though you likely can't just click on it here for some unknown reason... copy it down, you can do it.)
When you get done here, step over to the History Page, next door down the hall, I'll see you there... #000
..... Scroll clear to the bottom to read about this site, otherwise, everything below this line is from an earlier post........................................................................................................
I don't "bounce" as good as I used to...
Had a little incident yesterday and tore the forks off of the KLX. I'm not really "injured" but my right knee and left shoulder are sore as heck, and the rest of me is not far behind. Don't think I'll be up for riding 400 miles on Wednesday. We'll see but the old body is telling me not to count on it!
Kerry AZ, FSSNOC #4543
OK, a little expansion on the above original message:
Gorgeous day on Feb 1 ...
Took the KLX out for a little ride. Ended up on Perkinsville road, from Jerome to the elusive Perkinsville. I hadn't been up there since last summer so I was riding gently to make sure the road wasn't too muddy or icy. There was a little of each but generally road was fine. Came up on what was a hard left turn and a very blind corner. I was traveling slowly because, again, I didn't know what the road conditions would be like. I was standing and going about 20-25mph in the right third of the road.
Suddenly a Polaris four seat side-by-side appeared coming the other way; going 40-45mph and pretty centered on the road. He saw me and sharply turned his front wheels to his right as I tried to get around him to my right. He was, unfortunately, going so fast his sharp turn just caused his front end to wash out more to his left. I almost cleared him and I believe we collided my front wheel to his left front wheel.
Next thing I'm aware of is pushing myself off the ground and then realizing that I wasn't quite ready for that. I went to my knees and put my helmeted head on the ground. First words out of my mouth were "You were going way too fast!" Which he, of course denied - but which the driver of a pickup he had passed affirmed.
Anyway, a CT scan and X-Rays later seems nothing is broken, no ligaments torn. They even said my brain was "normal" (no snide comments there, #000). Got some floating bone chips in the right knee.
Material damage. One ruined Shoei GT-Air helmet. Front forks were torn off of the bike. Insurance guy said the frame was "crushed" behind the steering stem. Bike is totaled. I'm just really glad I'm pretty much okay, hope to get back on a bike this week!
Man O Man O Man! I've been to Stonehenge in England and Carhenge in Nebraska ... but this is literally "BIKEhenge!" Wow ... so glad that you escaped bad harm personally, could have been nasty! We did miss seeing you there at the ThumperCafe #50 ... you've been a "regular" over the years, thanks you very much! My caption for your bike photo is: "BEEN THERE, BENT THAT" - #000.
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https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/inside-janus-motorcycles
Ken Conrad - FSSNOC #4800 - Montana
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Hi Jack (000),
It is hard to believe that our FSSNOC Thumper Meet (Feb 5th) in Earp, California last week is behind us already. After waiting so long, it came and went so fast. It was great to see old friends and new ones.
I agree, Alan ... time speeds up at a ThumperCafe, for sure! - #000.
At the luncheon, I heard some good stories of fellow FSSNOC members traveling though some very cold weather to reach Earp, California. Thanks goodness for pick-up trucks and trailers! Even for us West Coast attendees, it was a very cold trip trucking our bikes. Fellow FSSNOC member Bruce and I showed up early so we could do a little extra riding in the warm desert.
Prior to leaving for the event, I waxed on and on about not wanting to truck my bike to a ThumperCafe ... but I gotta tell you, more than once I was glad to be in that Pickup cab instead of on the seat of my Thumper! For example, driving across I-40 all through New Mexico and Arizona we had a steady cross wind from the South at 40 mph with gusts of 60mph pelting our vehicle with wayward tumbleweeds, sometimes as big as a Gold Wing! We witnessed one Semi that had just blown over on its side, jamming the driver-side of the cab into the roadside dirt berm. Police cars were coming with red/blue lights and sirens but we never heard if the driver made it or not. - #000
In the photo you posted late last week on your FSSNOC web site, I think I know where it was taken. It looks like the ghost town of Swansea is in the valley below. I was at the same location a few hours earlier. Jack, those shadows in your photo sure look long! I hear you like night riding on dirt roads/trails at night. I bet you did not know it gets cold in the desert at night in February.
You are right on! From our vantage point in last weeks photo, we were delighted to see buildings or what could be buildings way down in the valley and what a beautiful scene that valley was ... Wow! It, those buildings, as you know, is an old mining area from the very early 1900's. We, like the desert greenhorns that we are, poked around all the mine shafts, the smelter, the various buildings, etc, taking photos and discussing what we were seeing ... and to your point, we got there at 5:02PM as that is the time of our first photo and according to our last photo, we were slowly leaving at 5:52 ... sunset was about 6PM and we were maybe 45 miles out in the very rugged desert.
I did find a very rusty but intact can of salmon, the contents long gone, eaten by a hungry miner, no doubt. The lid was bent back, the loose "T" shaped key was still there, circled multiple times by the metal strip of tin that opened the can back in those days ... I did put it back, but it was cool to find tangible evidence of human beings there prior to us... (grin)
And, yes ... it does cool off in the desert, rather dramatically when the sun goes home! We were still maybe 35 miles or so from our motel in Parker when that happened ... as we rode by headlight, the beam would shine ahead down the trail but it was difficult to see the baseball to small cantaloupe size rocks in the trail immediately in front of the bike, until one would launch the bike absolutely sideways!
We were so excited and we were having so much fun, we simply ignored the cold and kept on Thumpin' until we could see the lights of Parker, at least we hoped it was Parker! All is well that turns out well, as it is said. That was Tuesday, the day before our event ... and we must be slow learners as it happened a couple more times before we headed for Kansas.
I did see Jay on Tuesday morning, the following. I inquired what he did on Monday, his first day home? He laughed and replied, " I got up and did a couple of things ... then I went back to bed!! I can relate, I slept in until noon myself! All that fun wears a guy out... - #000
Okay, I have to ask, what was the most popular Thumper at Earp, California? The KTM motorcycles made a good showing this time. I might have had the oldest Thumper attending with my 2004 KTM 525.
I suspect you are correct about your 2004 KTM ... and there were three KTM there, but also three Suzuki and three Kawasaki as well ... the most popular model of Thumper present was a tie: two Kawasaki KLR650s and two BMW F650s ... nineteen bikes in all, twenty-one attendees from 9 different states. And, as you say, it was truly a blessing to see everyone, old friends and new friends alike! THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!! - #000.
Alan Smith (5286) California
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Hope you had a great time at the ThumperCafe' #50 in California ...
... and that you & Jay made it back to Kansas safe & sound. Sorry that Carol & I couldn't be there---but riding bikes back & forth across the country in Jan. & Feb. sounded a bit risky, weather-wise. And we're not quite ready to trailer our bikes yet. But I guess we're not too far away from that strategy, either, anymore.
Hi Joe and Carol ... yeah, I know your pain about hauling, but... well, see my comments in the previous post. - and Jay and I did make it home. We, like Alan and Bruce, did hang around until I ran out of money, but we did almost 600 miles of desert riding, much of which included the week-old tracks of the famous PARKER 425 Off-Road Car, Truck, and Buggy Race ... the biggest such event in North America, as we were told ... Jay said this about his experience after I remarked to him that we should go do a little dirt, " ... A TRIAL BY FIRE!" ... #000
I have been reducing The Gilmore Fleet. We had 28 bikes and that was just too many to maintain. Sold 14 over the past 2.5 months and still have 5 or 6 to go.
That's amazing! I can't imagine... - #000
Including 3 Thumpers. Here's a link to the 2 Honda GB500's we have for sale. You may remember them from the ThumperCafe' in Alabama last August.
Plus, they're getting their "15 minutes of Fame" (actually more like 60 days' worth) on the FSSNOC calendar.
Here's a link to my ad on Cycle Trader: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1990-Honda-GB+500-5011331939
If the link doesn't work, just "Search within 10 miles of ZIP 21766" and you'll find them (and a few others, too!) I don't have our 2007 BMW F650GS advertised yet---we're using it as a "Bad weather bike" this winter. Probably try to sell it in April or May.
Any idea re: the dates & locations for the rest of the 2020 ThumperCafe's?
Oh yeah, a couple of ideas but nothing firmed up as I write you here. My suggestion would be to figure on an early August/September time window. I know where it'd be fun to go, but upon my phone call to the potential host parties, they said the approach dirt road is of question, especially if it were to rain even a quarter of an inch the night before, we wouldn't be able to transverse the 13 miles of dirt (not to be confused with gravel) on any kind of two wheeler, "even cars and pickups struggle"... I read that when you order a Buffalo burger there, they go out and slay a buffalo, dress it down, cut it up, and cook it while you wait ... now that's a fresh product!
Never fear, Joe ... the extensive staff here at FSSNOC never quits working... - #000
P.S. We did miss you and you did miss out on a very collectable "California" FSSNOC commemorative sticker! (grin) ...
Keep the rubber side down!
Joe Gilmore #661 - Maryland
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Oklahoma Bike Show
Presented by Jeff Williams Promotions
Feb 22-23, 2020 at the Pavilion - Oklahoma City State Fair Park
Saturday 10 am-6pm -|- Sunday 9 am - 4 pm
816-228-5811 or 816-456-4415
jwswapmeet.com
Thanks to Edward Glendinning, FSSNOC #4052 - Oklahoma!
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Don't miss out ... there is a special treat this week somewhere in the other pages of this site ... don't go home without seeing it, okay? - #000
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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 THUMPER GARAGE. 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 THUMPER GARAGE 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 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 THUMPER GARAGE posting so be sure to tune back in then... (Address-phone number-email address is below... **)
We encourage you to join our club: Complete the application found elsewhere on this site (click on "more" above) and mail it to us with $40 dues for a 12 month membership or save a few bucks by sending $75 for a 24 month membership. Include your shirt size so we can gift you a FREE club t-shirt if this is your initial membership.
A subscription to THUMPER NEWS magazine, mailed to your mailbox, is included in your membership as well.
Our U.S. POSTAL address is: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks 67504-1809.
To call our club, phone 620-663-1869 or you may send an E-mail: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
NOTICE: Please understand that your E-mail will likely 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 and FSSNOC,INC. All included content in Thumper News or The Thumper Garage is solely for entertainment, not advise....
THE CLUB STORE ... CLICK ON 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 cotton 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 THUMPER GARAGE. 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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