Qlink XF200

With the funds from my recently sold XS2, I bought this 2008 Qlink XF200 from an old (I mean really old) motorcycle buddy. It has a Suzuki DR200 engine in it and was geared very low (I immediately put a bigger countershaft sprocket on it).  A fellow RiderCoach and I put it through the paces on the BRC range and it will be a very nice demo bike. I think it looks pretty nice too. Time will tell if the Tiawanese quality holds out to be better than the Chinese.

My Son’s new 2009 Kawasaki ER6N

My oldest son, Patrick, in Texas, just sent me these pictures of his new motorcycle!

Sold my XS2 today

Someone in Phoenix is going to turn it into a tracker! He also got all my XS2 spares and now I have so much more room on my side of the garage now! I’m gonna miss that bike, it will never be forgotten!

04-02-09 Ride Report (208 miles)

John & I left at 9am this morning heading east on the 94 to Lyons Valley Road, took it all the way to the 8, which we headed eastwards to Buckman Springs Road, where we got on the Old Hiway 80 and then we found a trail between Jacuma and Ocotillo (just south of In-Ko-Pah) that was too much fun! Found a couple old gold mines back there, but we were more interested in riding:

The DR650 performed flawlessly. It was like riding my DR350 with much more power! Riding on the roads, freeway, or trails, it just purred along, no straining of the engine; instant power and it feels so light!

I know, the bike is only 3 days old, but the owners manual says not to use more than 1/2 throttle and I never needed more than that for all I did today. Went 208 miles and averaged 54 mile per gallon.  After this trail ride, we went to Acorn Casino and had lunch, then to Sunrise highway, but we stopped to get pictures of the Border fence and windmill generator farm:

John just emailed me the GPS map of our ride today:

No more pictures, but we did explore another trail close to the Laguna Mountain CDF station on Sunrise Hiway. We then proceeded on to Julian and then west to home through Ramona. Great day!

No April Fool’s Joke!

Today, California sales taxes went up at least 1%, and in some locales, even more. (San Diego is now 8.75%) I wish it were a joke, but it is not. I hope the plan works, whatever it really is.

The good thing is, for motorcycle riders who have completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course (BRC) and/or the Experienced Rider Couse (ERC) can get discounts at most motorcycle dealers/retailers. (Cycle Gear gives a 10% discount). Just show your completion card. If your dealer/retailer (or even insurance company) does not give a discount, leave and go somewhere that does!