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Hi Everyone,

Notice: I like to tell stories with lots of detail, some interesting, some maybe not so interesting!

You may have seen my recent post announcing that I finally have a "T". I don't have it yet. It will ship from Minnesota on or soon after 08/13 and arrive in Cali around 08/24. I currently have a '99 Shadow ACE- not a Tourer. It has been my faithful companion for 28,000 miles since I bought it new in 1999. I named it Thunder and even wrote a poem about it!

About two years ago I took it to a performance shop to have them "dyno tune" it. My goal was simply to tune out the flat spot that occurs when rolling on the throttle at freeway speed. Here's where I'll make this part of the long story short: After three trips to the shop, 3 months of messing with it and almost $800.00 (!!!) Thunder runs like crap! It sputters and backfires, hardly holds speed on the freeway and is down to about 24mpg! It vibrates more than ever. Even before I had it "tuned" it vibrated like a paint shaker.

My primary source of riding enjoyment has been long distance riding (not Iron Butt long, but more like 1000 miles in 3-4 days all over Norcal.) Old Thunder did fine but I longed for a smoother ride. I have ridden a friend's late model Gold Wing a few hundred miles. It was really nice under way. It was smooth and fast! It rides smaller than it looks. However, I just don't have $21,000+ to spend on a new bike. And, much as I like the 'Wing, it just isn't me.

I've know about the fundamental difference between my VT1100D2 and the VT1100T for a long time. That is- the T has a dual pin crank which results in very smooth running and about ten more horsepower than the ACE. Also, the T has the perfect (for me) riding position. It's just like my ACE. Thunder, with its stock bars, foot pegs and Mustang seat is 500 miles a day comfortable. Of course, I'm not telling you anything new.

The T I bought has non-stock handlebars the previous owner preferred. The stock takeoff bars come with the bike. I'll install the stock bars right away. My ACE has progressive suspension front and rear, Superbrace, stainless steel brake lines, highway pegs, super loud horn with a custom bracket I fabricated, Mustang seat, a trip odometer I adapted from a bicycle, compass, clock, and more! I'll swap over all that stuff and hit the road!

I'll sell the ACE, fully disclosing that it needs some work to run right, for whatever I can get.

My first trip on the T will be one of my favorite rides that I have gone on before. Check out a California map if you want to ride along. I live in Oakland, which is just across the awesome Bay Bridge from San Francisco. The western part of our Bay Bridge is really two separate suspension bridges anchored by a man made solid steel and concrete "island" in between them. The Bay Bridge was built with WPA money during the great depression. (The famous Golden Gate Bridge was also built during the depression but was privately financed.) The eastern span of the Bay Bridge is being replaced for seismic strength. It will be one of the only "cable stay suspension" bridges in the world! But, I digress.

I will ride from home in the Oakland hills a few miles northeast to the town of Hercules. Hercules marks the start of State Highway 4. Highway 4 runs from Hercules, on the east side of San Francisco Bay, due east almost to Nevada. It is pretty straight as it heads across the San Joaquin Valley (pronounced walk'- een) into the Sierra Nevada foothills. It climbs and winds through Gold Country towns like Copperopolis and Angel's Camp and eventually rises to 8730 feet over Ebbetts Pass ending in the town of Markleeville. Markleeville is famous for an annual 100-mile bicycle ride called the Markleeville Death Ride. It's a death ride because of all the hills the riders have to climb. Yikes!

I'll stretch my legs in town and head west back to the Bay Area, primarily on Highway 88. Highway 88 is a mountain road with 55-65 mph speeds. Very nice!