Thank You That Came Out to the Midwest Valk Ride-In

[TAZ]

I want to Thank Everyone that came out to Prairie du Chien for yet another Most Excellent Time.  This year we had the best weather possible I think for the rides and after hour get togethers.  I tell ya it just doesn't get any better than that.  We had a Super group of folks from all around who made alot of new friends for sure.  The rides in the coulee's and hollow's and high on the ridges were perfect and what is there to say about the ride on 95 to Hanson's Hold Up, now that was one sweet biker road hands down.  We hit Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin in our rides and every mile was totally enjoyable and very scenic to say the least.  The success of this ride every year is by you coming out and having a great time and we get ur done every year so Thanks and See Ya Next Year and bring on the Newbies....the more the merrier!

Thanks Again!

TAZ

[cookiedough]

Glad you all had a good time in the Prairie du Chien area.  In the next few weeks or so when you have time, send us all a few pics of the area even though I have been there, not on the cycle though, 100's of times.  It's only about 1 1/2 hours from where I live and the weather was nice around here all weekend until about 5-6 p.m. on Sunday when it started to rain, but no heavy downpours.  We really need the rain here in WI since we really haven't had any decent rainfalls for well over 3 weeks now. Hopefully next year my knee will feel better and I don't have family commitments tying me up so that I can at least drive there for a Saturday ride at least and head back home since only 1 1/2 hours away.  Take care!

[Cholla]

Great job TAZ!  I think we hit the best selection of roads ever for the Ride-In!  Met some great new friends, and saw many of my old ones!  Turnboy & PDC Jim were great "blockers" also, cudos to them!  Trainmaster did a fine job of keeping the sheep in line 

Thanks Again!

[cookiedough]

dah, I guess I'm a little slow for my first posting.  I should have looked down at the next posting of all the pics in the Prairie du Chien area ride.  Great pics and great weather.

[NITRO]

Cookiedough-- where do you live in WI? Throughout the riding season I end up all over the state at some point. TAZ is typically lurking around the dairy state as well.

Thanks again to you, TAZ, for putting everything together. And you're right, Cholla, John and Jim were indispensable as blockers! What an intimidating job with all of those cagers bearing down on you.

[TAZ]

Yes Sir Prairie Dog Tracker,   them two boys are for sure the best blockers we have, jumping out in front of traffic, putting their live on the line as we blow by them stop signs and keeping everyone together...and also the "Trainmaster" Ken for keeping the end of the line moving along so the big bad wolf doesn't eat them up.  That is a huge part of the ride is that and all the CB folks like Mikey and others that communicate between each other to keep the line moving or not moving and when something happens in between where we need to hold up or call for help.  Great Job All, really appreciate it!

[cookiedough]

I live in southern WI just south of Madison WI 30 miles closer to Monroe WI.  I was thinking of stopping over to Prairie du Chien just for Saturday to ride some, but my inner knee has badly torn ligaments in it from this past June and is still a little gimpy, although now able to ride shorter distances without my knee bothering me too much.  June and July were totally off limits being just able to walk and not even 40 years old yet, but very close.  It is a pisser getting older/fatter/and uglier.  I use to own a 1984 Honda Magna before I sold it (kick myself in the _ss everytime I think of that great bike and selling it), had kids/family, and wife made me sell that bike, so bought a fishing boat instead.  Now, the fishing boat sits a lot more than it should since kids ages 8 and 11 have no patients for relaxing in the boat catching fish and chilling.   They have to be playing their video games to be amused nowadays.  Saw the 01' Valkyrie Interstate at a local Honda dealer on consignment and at first did not care for it since it was very dirty and not properly cleaned, etc. from an older gentleman unable to handle or ride it anymore and had been sitting in his shed a few years not being ridden.  It ran sort of rough the first few times out, but thanks to this website's information, last year I changed the spark plugs (dirty and carbon deposits for only 15K miles and probably original plugs), used Amsoil synthetic oil with K&N oil filter, cleaned it up which took forever (still not perfect) and the 6 exhaust pipes going back to the muffler are blued a lot for only 15K (still not done the blueaway stuff to take the blueing off the pipes since heard from website this stuff eats chrome if scrubbed a lot), and put a ton of seafoam and mystery marvel oil in the gas tank 4-5 tanks in a row which helped a lot. Now, it runs pretty good, but still not 100% perfect with a slight knock (like a backfire) coming from the engine's right side that I can feel sometimes resonating to my right foot on my hwy. pegs when letting off the gas entirely going 60-65 mph.  My next thing to check is the air filter/vacuum lines, etc. under the gas tank but have yet ran the gas tank down to reserve recently and found a nice weekend to have the wife hold up the tank while I disconnect the fuel lines. I have a new K&N air filter I bought clearanced for 65 bucks from a local Honda dealer to replace probably the original stock Honda air filter still in it from 2001.  Also, need to replace the poor handling and crappy worn down Dunlop D206 tires with 4-5 years of very little use and undecided on either Metzelers ME880's, Dunlop Elite III, or Avons.  Anyways, sorry to ramble - take care.

[NITRO]

I live in southern WI just south of Madison WI 30 miles closer to Monroe WI.  I was thinking of stopping over to Prairie du Chien just for Saturday to ride some, but my inner knee has badly torn ligaments in it from this past June and is still a little gimpy, although now able to ride shorter distances without my knee bothering me too much.  June and July were totally off limits being just able to walk and not even 40 years old yet, but very close.  It is a pisser getting older/fatter/and uglier.  I use to own a 1984 Honda Magna before I sold it (kick myself in the _ss everytime I think of that great bike and selling it), had kids/family, and wife made me sell that bike, so bought a fishing boat instead.  Now, the fishing boat sits a lot more than it should since kids ages 8 and 11 have no patients for relaxing in the boat catching fish and chilling.   They have to be playing their video games to be amused nowadays.  Saw the 01' Valkyrie Interstate at a local Honda dealer on consignment and at first did not care for it since it was very dirty and not properly cleaned, etc. from an older gentleman unable to handle or ride it anymore and had been sitting in his shed a few years not being ridden.  It ran sort of rough the first few times out, but thanks to this website's information, last year I changed the spark plugs (dirty and carbon deposits for only 15K miles and probably original plugs), used Amsoil synthetic oil with K&N oil filter, cleaned it up which took forever (still not perfect) and the 6 exhaust pipes going back to the muffler are blued a lot for only 15K (still not done the blueaway stuff to take the blueing off the pipes since heard from website this stuff eats chrome if scrubbed a lot), and put a ton of seafoam and mystery marvel oil in the gas tank 4-5 tanks in a row which helped a lot. Now, it runs pretty good, but still not 100% perfect with a slight knock (like a backfire) coming from the engine's right side that I can feel sometimes resonating to my right foot on my hwy. pegs when letting off the gas entirely going 60-65 mph.  My next thing to check is the air filter/vacuum lines, etc. under the gas tank but have yet ran the gas tank down to reserve recently and found a nice weekend to have the wife hold up the tank while I disconnect the fuel lines. I have a new K&N air filter I bought clearanced for 65 bucks from a local Honda dealer to replace probably the original stock Honda air filter still in it from 2001.  Also, need to replace the poor handling and crappy worn down Dunlop D206 tires with 4-5 years of very little use and undecided on either Metzelers ME880's, Dunlop Elite III, or Avons.  Anyways, sorry to ramble - take care.

Monroe area? You'll definitely have to make it to one of our get togethers, then! The whole area around there is great riding! I have a brother in Monroe-- if I'm in the area, I'll let you know. Either way, when you're feeling up to a full day or two of riding, you'll have to get together with some of the group. You'll learn all sorts of good things.

Oh, and as far as tires go, I would stay away from the Metzlers. I had two sets and my last rear wore out with only 6,700 miles on it (no burn outs, etc. ever). Currently have an E3 with about 6K on it and looks to have 3/4 of the tread left. Also grips just as well as the Metz as far as I can tell.

[cookiedough]

thanks for the tip on tires.  I was leaning on getting the Dunlop elite III's since the goldwings use them and one Honda dealer stated he had good luck handling and decent mileage.  The other dealer I was going to go see liked the Metzeler ME880's and they were a little cheaper to put on and cost wise, but more good comments are for the Dunlops over the Metzelers by far.  I might wait until next year since I couldn't ride for 2 months straight in June and July and haven't put that many miles on the bike this year unfortunately and not doing the bike justice.  I better do it next year though since last changed in 2005 at 8K miles from previous owner and I would think 5 years of sitting on a bike is not good for it (or me either if I have a blowout)  even with only 8.5K on the tires.  Bad me!!!

[TAZ]

WELL heck your down in our country, you have to come for a ride with the Chicago guys and the Wisconsin guys that love to ride.  We can help you with your fixin up stuff for sure.  The carb jets are probably messed up and need to be takin out and cleaned for sure.  The tires need changing probably got some dry rot too.  Tires are open, everyone likes something different. I myself and alot of others love the Avons but the elite 3 some like and the metz so its your choice.  don't forget that you can put on a car tire on the back and alot of guys love them so check all your choices before settling on a certain tire.  The K&N filter is the way to go, leave the pre filter off, those filters will last for years, just get the re-charge kit and every other year follow the instructions on cleaning it and your good.  The Seafoam and MM oil will fix most things but when the slow jet is plugged you have to get it out and really clean it, not real hard to do either.  Find someone that works on honda bikes that is not a dealer if you can and they should be able to do it easily with not alot of cost that a dealer would charge.

wish ya good luck and get in touch as we ride southwest Wisconsin all the time and got a fall color ride coming up heading towards LaCrosse or south of there towards Baraboo area.

[MP]

Great Ride, TAZ, other than Walt's mishap.
Got home OK,

  2,079 miles door to door!

MP