Flood Run

Anyone in the southern half of MN. going on the "flood run" Today? Im in Owatonna and will be heading over to the Mississippi from Redwing down to Hudson and back up. If i see another XJ'er i will be sure to say hi.

 

I've been on it a few times in the past and it wasn't all that good of a ride. I mean the roads are good and it's one of my favorite places to ride - but - there were usually to many bikes and the ride was slow, unsafe and hectic to say the least. Too many inexperienced riders, to many jerks who did burnouts at the stop signs, and too many people who tailgated me while riding. There was even a few that passed us on the shoulder of the rode.
So I guess I'll pass on todays ride. When I rode with my group (4-5 bikes) we took other roads that same day to stay out of the main run. I think you may get wet later in the day by the forcast? Hope not. Have fun and maybe we'll ride together some time in the future. >PD<

 

Ya, this is my first flood run ride. the other 3 i ride with did it last year and said it was unreal the amount of bikes. In one town along the river, they said it took them about 45 minutes to go 2 miles through town.

 

And it seemed like it took about a half hour to get thru every intersection with a stop sign, until one of the guys just pulled out and took it apon himself tostop cross traffic and waved all the riders thru. I think it was poorly organized.
When we go on our Toys For Tots run up here, we have riders stop cross traffic so we can ride thru all the stop signs, to keep the ride safer and the flow of bikes moving better.
I've got to the point to where I don't like the big rides anymore, just because of all the bikes involved. It seems there are getting to be more accidents every year and just too many jerks that don't respect other riders. I mean, I do like going on rides that are for a good cause, don't get me wrong. But it's getting so I don't like gambling with safety to do it anymore.
I like going on our own little group rides alot better. We have a short briefing to keep everybody on the same page before we head out. Everybody rides at their own pace and if some of us go too fast, we always wait for the others to catch up to us. It's just more relaxing and I'm able to sight-see along the way. You can't do that when there's too many jerks to look out for.
*Let's get a bunch together soon and go down along the St. Croix (Stillwater, Wabasha, Winona, etc.) and come back on the Wisconsin side maybe? That seems to be a nice one day ride.
I come down from St. Cloud, so I get a good full day ride in. We have been meeting at the McDonalds on Dodd road and 110 in Mendota Heights, so that's another 90 miles for me just to meet with the others.

 

It turned out to be a nice day. Made it up to 75 degrees by the time we arrived at Maiden Rock. First time ridding with all 4 of these guys as a group. It was way to fast for me. These guys have no respect for other drivers. They tailgated cars and then passed on both sides to get around. This went on all day. They put there boots on the ground doing 60mph. so that the guys behind them get a nasty burning rubber smell to inhale. What a waste of 200.00 boots! Thru the twisties where it is a suggested 35mph corner, they averaged 65mph. Im now debating weather i will be ridding in June down to St. Louis with them. Anyway we are all alive and no one got hurt that i could tell. Heres some pics.

 

DaveXJ,
I'm glad the weather held out for ya! It turned out to be a pretty nice day after all.
Like I mentioned before, there are alot of jerks on that run, that's why I don't care to be part of it anymore.
We're organizing a ride soon and your welcome to join us if you'd like. Let us know when your available and any ideas on where to go, where you'd like to stop to eat, etc. (you know the area better) And once we figure out who's all riding, we can agree on a central location to meet up then. >PD<

 

Sounds good. Do you ride solo or bring the wife/girlfriend? Reason i ask is, my wife has only rode with me 2 miles in town and is terrified of the bike. I have since made a backrest and she has yet to try it. Im trying to get her to ride with me on a longer trip by this fall. She wants to do it, but is scared sh*tless none the less. Any advise i can give her to make it easier on her?

 

We Ride pretty safe. Tell her we like to take it easy and just have a nice time. We don't take chances. The best part is with the guys we have rode with we all look out for eachother. One guy lost his side cover and we all stopped and looked in the ditch for a half hour. We found it and got him back togeather and off we went. EdinaDad Brought his daughter with and we all had alot of fun.

 

My Yamaha is a solo ride only (no back seat pad anymore) but I do bring her along when I ride my Honda Shadow. I have that all setup for her comfort with floorboards and a large backrest for her. Just let me know if your bringing her along and I can ride my other bike and bring her along too. The gals like to have someone to talk to anyways (thay don't always seem to understand us anyways!) 8O

 

Floorboards? Can i add those to mine? She would love more under her feet.

 

I had a pair of mini floorboards so I just made some short stems to mount them at the right angle for her feet. She really likes them.
There are cheap ones sold from Dennis Kirk or JC Whitney that would work on your bike. You don't want the full size ones. They'd be in the way. The mini floorboards are only 5" long, but still better then pegs.

 

As far as a ride, i would need to know probably 6 weeks in advance. I run sound for a rock band and would have to find a replacement or find a open weekend with no gigs. You guys do sound more like my ridding comfort. I did keep up yesterday, but had the thought of dying alot in the back of my mind.

 

I have also decided on two things that are top on my list after yesterdays ride. Windshield and forward controls would be nice. Im somewhat new to cycling. I had a enduro in high school and this is my first streetbike. I have only logged 1500 miles in the year and a half since ive had it.

 

We don't ride like we're in a race. I always tell everyone to ride at their own pace and if we do get too far ahead, we always wait up for riders to catch up. I like to sight-see when I ride down there anyways, so I don't always go all that fast. I do go fast when I have to (interstate highways) but try to stick to the speed limit mostly.
I second the idea of adding a windshield. I won't ride without one myself. And I have to have forward controls on my bike. I just like that seating position for long rides.

 

We like to ride early and get back around 5 or 6. Don't know when your band plays. Last year when we would go down to Peppin we would be back in plenty of time for dinner.

 

Most gigs are in the Rochester area so that time line would work. Might fall asleep half way thru the gig LOL. So im assuming both of you (MN, and PD) Have rode together? Any others?

 

I take off here when it's still dark out to meet down there most times, but I try to make it home before it gets dark...again! I don't like to plan to be home at any certain time. I just ride till I get to where I end up.

 

There was only four of us who ended up showing up last time, but I believe there was a few more who were interested last year. I rode with Mn-Maxim and EdinaDad and one other guy (can't remember his name right off hand) There's gotta be more who are interested by now.