what did Gary Buy???

RobS · Sep 22, 2003

Sweet Gary! Hey, I was close with the limo picture. What you've got there is definitely a two wheeled luxury limo /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MossRoad · Sep 22, 2003

Here it is!!! 

Oh, heck! I thought for sure it was going to be mining equipment /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Nice bike!

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

Here's a picture of the same color bike which shows the blue/purple flip flop paint (which usually doesn't show in photographs).

After compression for posting here it's not quite as dramatic, but look at the fairing just below the windshield and on the front fender for the purple. I guess that makes my bike "Blurple". /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

For those of you not familiar with the Honda GL1800 Goldwing touring bike, it's 1832cc's of power with 5 speeds plus reverse with a top speed somewhere in excess of 130mph. On top of all of this, it has an incredibly comfortable ride and handles like a sport bike (you can actually scrape your foot pegs when you lean into a corner /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif ).

It has all the basics for a motorcycle like CB radio and a 6-disc CD changer. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I don't even have it set up yet and I'm already planning my first Iron Butt ride on her. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RobS · Sep 22, 2003

For those of you not familiar with the Honda GL1800 Goldwing touring bike, it's 1832cc's of power with 5 speeds plus reverse with a top speed somewhere in excess of 130mph. On top of all of this, it had an incredibly comfortable ride and handles like a sport bike (you can actually scrape your foot pegs when you lean into a corner. 

Yeah, but how big a brush hog will it pull? No HST? Turfs? I see you didn't get the loader. How many times do you have to hear everyone say how handy the loader is?

(Great looking bike) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PitbullMidwest · Sep 22, 2003

Since you ended up with the Goldwing should we assume your son has a new girlfriend? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Previous thread

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

Closest to the pin.

Mark in NH was undoubtedly the closest guess as he not only guessed "motorcycle" but even had the make and model as well. His guess was the same bike "triked" by an aftermarket vendor. The trike conversion kit in a box from one source is around $5000 with having one done with all the options you can load on probably approaches $10,000. I haven't actually priced one out because I can still get by on two wheels. Now, by the time I'm ready to replace this one, though... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

"Since you ended up with the Goldwing should we assume your son has a new girlfriend?" 

Uhhh... no...

I just opted to get what I wanted. After all, girlfriends come and go, but a bike is a commitment. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (If you see her, don't quote me on that, OK?) /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I haven't even told them about it. I figure I'll just surprise them and ride it up to Milwaukee some weekend. I'd offer to go riding with her Dad while there, but I'd have to add a governor to mine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

In the category of "I wish you were right"

The winner is RobS with his guess of a semi tractor towing/recovery truck. Since those can approach the quarter million dollar mark on the price tag, I'd also like to thank Rob for his confidence in my finances. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Expect a PM giving you my banker's phone number so you can convince him. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

In the category of "Maybe next time" we have a tie.

Henro and Fivestring each guessed I'd bought a Unimog. RobS also liked the idea.

I like the idea, too. Maybe next time... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Mark_in_NH · Sep 22, 2003

Gary,
The Goldwing trike that I posted the picture of was listed at $29,000 on the website. I also posted a link to the web page that I "borrowed" the picture from.
I like your choice much better, it sure is a beautiful blue !!
Good luck, have fun and ride safe.
Ok, so did I win anything ????

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

Mark,

Thank you for your kind words and wishes. I sincerely appreciate it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As to your prize for "closest to the pin," I think the contest organizer/moderator (Henro) would be the one to ask about that. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

AMP762 · Sep 22, 2003

Gary,how could you call it an iron butt ride on a two wheel limo like that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Henro · Sep 23, 2003

As to your prize for "closest to the pin," I think the contest organizer/moderator (Henro) would be the one to ask about that. 

Boy I'm glad he didn't ask! I'm not sure I have an answer... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Maybe a ride on the back of that nice machine if Gary ever installs a third seat??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 23, 2003

Well, it's still a ride covering 1,000 miles in just 24 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

When you think about it, that would be covering a fair amount of ground in a car, much less on a motorcycle, in 24 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Factor in that I'll only have a six gallon tank which translates into a safe range of about two hundred miles between fuel stops so there are more of those than you'd make in a car.

One thing that has helped since these began has been pay-at-the-pump stations but it still takes just as long to get something to drink and eat as well as answer nature's calls.

Having to slow down or stop for an accident or just rush hour traffic around a larger city can make the difference between finishing in time or not. Planning not only the route but the timing of where you'll be at those times is crucial to success.

All the planning in the world can't substitute for good luck sometimes, either. An unexpected heavy thunderstorm or an accident blocking traffic for a couple hours or more is something you can't make up for. Something so simple as a flat tire and you're out of the running.

I think it'll be something to try just to see if I can pull it off or not. It'll be something to celebrate my upcoming fiftieth birthday in June. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I went spelunking for my twentieth, did a parachute jump for my thirtieth and went rappelling down the side of a building for my fortieth.

The SO and I were talking about these things all having a degree of danger in them and requiring a certain degree of bravery. She thought something a bit more tame like maybe a stroll down the aisle would be good for my fiftieth. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I'm not nearly THAT brave. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bird · Sep 23, 2003

( Well, it's still a ride covering 1,000 miles in just 24 hours. )

Where is that Iron Butt ride? I don't think I'd want to do that now, but a few years ago, I might have. I never rode quite that far, but did make three 800 mile rides in about 18 hours each time in no particular hurry. First time, when I was 46, on the Gold Wing Aspencade pulling a trailer from southwest Dallas to near Atlanta, GA, (then on to Quantico the next day), a very enjoyable trip. Then I rode my R80RT BMW to Colorado Springs one day. That was a nice trip, too, but a couple of days later, enroute back to Dallas, I made a side trip up Pike's Peak and then back to Dallas; over 300 miles of it in a terrific thunderstorm, went through one little town very slowly with water depth over the footpeg, and out in the open in the Texas Panhandle when you're the tallest thing in sight and lots of thunder and lightning; not enjoyable at all. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 23, 2003

Bird,

The Iron Butt Association has a website that will tell you a lot about the group and has some interesting stories from riders as well. The actual rules can be found here. As with many things, they look worse than they are. Basically they're looking for witness statements, time stamped gas reciepts and a log from your ride.

You can establish your own route and time to do this or go on an organized ride. I'm going to go with setting my own route just so I can check weather, etc., and plan accordingly. The rides can be straight line or circular in nature starting and ending in the same city. This is the same for the Saddlesore 1,000 (1,000 miles in 24 hours), Bun Burner 1500 (1500 miles in 36 hours) or the Bun Burner Gold (1500 miles in 24 hours).

If that's not enough, the have longer rides, too. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Without checking I remember one that circumnavigates the Great Lakes in five days and what is probably the ultimate Iron Butt ride called the Forty-Eight plus One. That ride covers each of the 48 contiguous states plus Alaska in 22 days! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I don't have the ability to take that much time away from work but I thought that since you were retired it might be right up your alley. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Sep 23, 2003

Interesting website, Gary, but I don't believe I'd care to ride just for "endurance". But I did enjoy riding the bikes instead of driving a car for transportation. A former co-worker and his wife rode their Gold Wing to Alaska in 1984 or '85. He had a birthday (number 65) in Alaska, and said they just really enjoyed the trip. My wife flew to D.C. and rode back to Dallas with me, and rode on short trips around here, but she really didn't care for motorcycles, so I'm afraid there's no way she'd have ridden to Alaska with me. And on our way back on our last trip to Alaska (in the truck with a fifth wheel) we encountered a big, husky lady from Michigan on a full dress Harley with her little 15 year old nephew on behind. They, too, were on their way back south and she said she couldn't ride any farther because of back trouble, so we gave them a ride to the next town. She thought that after a day or two of rest in a motel, she'd be able to ride again, but the little nephew had had a rock hit the face shield on his helmet and shatter it (in spite of the full fairing on the bike) and said he'd had enough; that he was going to call his parents to let him fly back to Michigan. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Golfgar4 · Sep 23, 2003

Nice bike Gary!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

But where's the cup holder and the coffee maker?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Sep 23, 2003

( where's the cup holder and the coffee maker )

Garry, I think you have to buy the cup holder separately. I mounted mine on the left handlebar. Never did figure out a way for a coffee maker; just had to stop frequently to refill the cup from the Thermos in the saddlebag. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif