Star Motorcycle Club Ride (September 1, 2012)

 Early (well 10am) at RideNow, got invited to the Star Motorcycle Club (Concord Chapter) ride. Before the ride, visited a bit, and got this photo of a Suzuki V-Strom DL-1000 Adventure bike; with the added bags on the back, brings the price over $10K. Nice bike, that engine is a classic (also the DL-650 which is a really good value). Adventure bikes are really picking up in sales, and there are a lot of good ones on the market. I read that they are one of the fastest growing parts of motorcycling right now, as sales start to pick up from the big decline of the last few years due to the economy.

 Here is the front part of the ride, which I photographed in Cornelius, NC. We were real close to (but did not stop at) Interstate Cycle which is moving to a new location. They sell Star Motorcycles, as well as Yamaha, and a few other brands. They also sell Victory, and that is a Victory (the blue bike) next to the bike ridden by my friend Phil (who is on the silver Star at the left). I do get a kick out of the Victory bikes, they have some remarkable styling (especially fond of the spaceship like Vision) but as I noted during a test ride (and riding near the guy at the right) clunky transmissions.  

This is at a fuel stop, better view of Phil (in the White Shirt). 9 rode on eight bikes, one couple, 6 guys and 2 women. We covered 101 miles in all, riding a long ride around the massive and very beautiful Lake Norman area. The lake is really impressive, but you will have to check some older posts for views of the lake, cause we did not stop other than this one stop. It was a very sunny and warm day, but a great ride with a fine bunch. Thanks to some extra days off work, I was able to make this ride, often I am on  my way to home from Richmond, VA on Saturdays, but have been here for a few days now. Nice to get my knees in the breeze with a great bunch of people.