The Summer's-end ride of RickCoMatic

Well, folks ... I fired-up the Custom Max a little before Noon. Had my route map tucked into my sleeve and was ready to go. Launched at 1145 Hrs. Took the out-of-town warm-up nice-and-easy. Stopped for gas and chewing gum. Rode easy out to the Interstate ramp getting settled-in and ready for some road time.
Traffic was thin. Lunchtime. Interstate traffic moving fast, though. Hung the turn on the ramp real nice and wristed-it to get into the flow. Nice flow ... 80. The Max leaped into action. Six thousand revs and running like the Atomic Clock.
Started thinking miles rather than minutes; because the traffic was breezing, and at this cruising speed I'd be up-North way ahead of schedule. OK ... we're ahead of schedule. Roll with it. I'm sure that with the oil cooler assist I added to my Max; the bike could run 80 mph all day and night without worrying about an overheat.
Out of Massachusetts and heading into the North Country was sweet. Clean; fresh air! The Max was humming like an old Bulova Accutron watch. Now I was part of this machine. In two-part harmony we found our spot in the fast-moving traffic and headed for the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

I got to experience "That noise" that a lot of Max owners hear and worry about. The noise kicks-in at around 55-hundred and diminishes just above 6-grand. My take on this phenomenon is "Resonant Harmonics." A symphony of everything rotating and hitting at about the same frequency.
Seems like everything attains the same frequency in that rpm window. Tires, valve train, cam chain, and the exhaust note are all momentarily in phase. The resultant harmony of components on the same frequency lets you hear the bike growl. Enjoy it!

Cooled-out, 750-cruising, with aux oil-cooler helping shed some heat was great! The bike just purred. I have never ridden a bike with this kind of smooth power, even with my big butt weighing it down. After about an hour or so ... I was in that trance called "Cruise-mode." Miles of highway ahead; lots of highway behind me ... watching the odometer clicking-off how far we've been. It was great fun! With the SlipStreamer Hellfire screen knocking-down the blast in the face and chest; it was arm-chair-cruising supreme, for the author of -- The Old School Method!!!

New Hampshire has great road. Route 4 and 16 heading into the foot-hills were ribbons of smooth blacktop that let the bike glide over the earth without a bump. The turns were all clean and the bike-vacation folks started showing-up, here and there.
So quiet. At cruise, with the load and power all even ... I bet I could hear a stereo if the bike was rigged for sound. Honestly. Doing a recent exhaust flange goop-job made her so quiet I wondered why anyone would want straight pipes, when the alternative is to be able to hear yourself think.
Before I knew it I was approaching Loon Mountain. I stopped at the Mobil "On the Run" for gas and caffeine. Good call. There's no gas once you hit the 32-mile "Kancamangus Highway" that splits the White Mountains range and gets you to over to Interstate 93.
Made the left and started the uphill leg of the Kancamangus Highway! No problem. I didn't need to do a lot of shifting. The grade was just right for staying in cruise. Suddenly, there was a line of cars stopped, with a huge RV leading the parade. No way I'm crawling across "The Kank" behind this elephant.
I took the "Full Motorcycle Option" and inched right up passed everyone to the front of the pack. The guy handling the flag for a small road crew clean-up looked at me and smiled.
He'd of done the same thing, I guess.
The Kancamangus Highway was all mine. Nothing in front of me. Zip. Lead dog!
I had intended to do a little photo-journal on the way across "The Kank" ... but, clear sailing on the mountain pass road was too much of a joy for the bald-headed, fat-guy who missed all this joy-riding last year when my daughter's wedding and family matters grounded me!
I played fighter pilot. Just me. Goggles and scarf; riding the roof of the doghouse!
I wanted to see how quick I could do the 32-miles of Mountain Pass.
But, I didn't want to scratch the bike ... or, me!

The bike cruises. It also takes you through the twisties with confidence. I wanted to do a couple knee-dragging-turns; but there's no telling what might be coming the other way. With the crowd well back, and crawling behind some guys rolling mansion; I stopped-off at the highest elevation rest and scenic stop. Just a brief little picture-snapping stop to grab a shot or two for the days record and to prove to folks that I actually do ride the bikes I restore.

I hit 93 South before the afternoon going-home-from-work traffic clogged things up. That far up in New Hampshire; coming out of the Mountains and heading home; is just about all downhill.
Traffic -- what little of it there was; was moving at light-speed. I followed an 18-wheeler doing 85. Exotic cars were nailing-it, heading down the Interstate ... like every one of them had speed detection stealth capability.
Three, two-wheeled, high-tech, plastic-wrapped bullets whooshed by like I was standing still! That became my invitation to wind-out the Max and see what she'd do.
I got the speedo up to the pin on the face of the speedometer.
I got the bike up to 86 or 87 on the tach! In 5th!!! And, wish I had 6th!

I have done my summer ride. I needed it; bad! It won't be too long before I'm riding up there again. This time to peep at the leaves and bid riding season farewell.
Then, I'll just have to go down to the shop ... clean, tweak and pimp for next season!

Happy XJ Riding,

Rick Massey
RickCoMatic

 

Nice writeup Rick. Makes it all worthwhile doesn't it.

You almost make the ride sound better than sex.

 

:? end of riding season ?????/ whats that ?????? :?
I live just a little south of you in PA, and I ride thru Dec. As long as there isnt snow or ice on the roads, its riding season. Last yr, I had my bike out on Jan 1st. If it gets chilly, put warmer clothes on. Wait, I bought my xj in January a few yrs ago, maybe thats why the cold doesnt bother it that much.

 

man feels like I was right there with you..thats great you got me a little envious when you wrote of the performance end of it...im still experincing some probs , but im riding till winter then ill get serious about it..well sounds like a hec of ride rick nice going...

 

Good story , i empathize with the definition of good? weather though too , a cupla times i have had to slide the hands off the ends of the handlebars as i could not open them [yes even out here] , i thoughroly enjoyed it once feeling came back all over.....

 

I almost needed a cigarette after reading that writeup.

 

Well, ... thank you very much for the kind words. I think I had as much fun writing about that day and a half as I did doing the ride. I wanted the reader involved with me, especially on the ascent of Mt. Equinox.

This Summer's plans are still penciled-in, subject to change, but I'm thinking about getting the New England XJ-er's together for a ride up the World Famous Mount Washington Auto Road.

I haven't been in contact with the Mount Washington (New Hampshire) people yet, to see what events are scheduled for the Season.
I know they have a few things to do to let you loose on the road to the World Famous Summit and Weather Station.

In sure they will have something or a reduced rate for a group to go from Ground Level to the Top of that nearly 6,000 Ft Mountain ... up the road with NO Guardrails.

Thanks again for your especially nice comment after reading about last Summer's get-away.
I'll try and make the next adventure as exciting as the last one.

Rick