Discussion
Spent the last week in Colorado Springs for Pikes Peak Hill Climb as crew member for the KEM Audi S1 Quattro team, I get to turn on/off the Go Pro's which is about the best I am able to manage (mechanically speaking).
Any-hoo, some absolutely stunning scenery on offer. Rented a BMW GS thingy to explore a bit...
Any-hoo, some absolutely stunning scenery on offer. Rented a BMW GS thingy to explore a bit...
Edited by redback911 on Sunday 24th June 04:57
( catch up soon mate .)Howdy y'all...
The GS was a lot of fun. The CoG felt a bit weird at first, especially compared to the Hyper but the panniers were full of gear for a 3-day ride. I put the bike in dynamic mode and it handled the tarmac and dirt roads with ease. I thought the engine was a bit lazy, I kept having to drop a few gears for rapid overtakes. RIding in Colorado was great, the terrain is sublime, and roads are well maintained. The only issue I had really was the fact you cannot "split lanes" (filter in traffic or at lights), you will get ticketed if a cop sees you doing this, worse case (as happened three weeks ago in Denver), an irate driver will follow you home and shoot you, your wife and your two kids, becouse you did not filter correctly. True story.
The rental was a bit pricey, I rented from a large adventure company in Denver and it worked out at $750 USD for 3-days. That included some gear, but even so it was double the cost of a Dodge Challenger (V8 Hemi with 400 BHP) I rented for a week.
PPIHC Was great. You can get full access to pits and paddock, and can setup along the 20km course in some great locations. its broadcasted live and it must be fun to listen to the commentary on the radio and then watch the bikes and cars power past.
Its taking time for 2018 vids to appear on YouTube but here is helicopter footage of previous KTM run up the mountain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJIu2lfeX8c
The video gives you a good idea of the balls required to ride quickly up the course, but if you drive or ride up the mountain yourself you really get a true appreciation of just how mental it actually is.
The GS was a lot of fun. The CoG felt a bit weird at first, especially compared to the Hyper but the panniers were full of gear for a 3-day ride. I put the bike in dynamic mode and it handled the tarmac and dirt roads with ease. I thought the engine was a bit lazy, I kept having to drop a few gears for rapid overtakes. RIding in Colorado was great, the terrain is sublime, and roads are well maintained. The only issue I had really was the fact you cannot "split lanes" (filter in traffic or at lights), you will get ticketed if a cop sees you doing this, worse case (as happened three weeks ago in Denver), an irate driver will follow you home and shoot you, your wife and your two kids, becouse you did not filter correctly. True story.
The rental was a bit pricey, I rented from a large adventure company in Denver and it worked out at $750 USD for 3-days. That included some gear, but even so it was double the cost of a Dodge Challenger (V8 Hemi with 400 BHP) I rented for a week.
PPIHC Was great. You can get full access to pits and paddock, and can setup along the 20km course in some great locations. its broadcasted live and it must be fun to listen to the commentary on the radio and then watch the bikes and cars power past.
Its taking time for 2018 vids to appear on YouTube but here is helicopter footage of previous KTM run up the mountain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJIu2lfeX8c
The video gives you a good idea of the balls required to ride quickly up the course, but if you drive or ride up the mountain yourself you really get a true appreciation of just how mental it actually is.
redback911 said:
Howdy y'all...
k. The only issue I had really was the fact you cannot "split lanes" (filter in traffic or at lights), you will get ticketed if a cop sees you doing this, worse case (as happened three weeks ago in Denver), an irate driver will follow you home and shoot you, your wife and your two kids, becouse you did not filter correctly. True story.
I rented a street glide in Iowa years ago (and a convertible Camaro GT k. The only issue I had really was the fact you cannot "split lanes" (filter in traffic or at lights), you will get ticketed if a cop sees you doing this, worse case (as happened three weeks ago in Denver), an irate driver will follow you home and shoot you, your wife and your two kids, becouse you did not filter correctly. True story.
). Pulled out of the dealership and immediately started filtering. I kid you not within about 30 seconds a couple of f
ken lunatics in a mustang were shouting and swearing at me and chasing me through the traffic. This caused me to a) st my pants and b) filter even more and even faster in order to get away. Ran red lights, the lot. Yes, that poor Street Glide had a very small period of grace before getting thrashed like a red-headed step son as I made my escape. All whilst wearing a baseball cap instead of a helmet. I laugh about it now but... 
308mate said:
I rented a street glide in Iowa years ago (and a convertible Camaro GT ). Pulled out of the dealership and immediately started filtering. I kid you not within about 30 seconds a couple of fken lunatics in a mustang were shouting and swearing at me and chasing me through the traffic. This caused me to a) st my pants and b) filter even more and even faster in order to get away. Ran red lights, the lot. Yes, that poor Street Glide had a very small period of grace before getting thrashed like a red-headed step son as I made my escape. All whilst wearing a baseball cap instead of a helmet. I laugh about it now but...
Hah, exactly. There seems to be some pent-up road rage within car drivers I guess. Typically might not spill out as you never know what the other guy is carrying, but bikes are an easy target. Unless... ). Pulled out of the dealership and immediately started filtering. I kid you not within about 30 seconds a couple of fken lunatics in a mustang were shouting and swearing at me and chasing me through the traffic. This caused me to a) st my pants and b) filter even more and even faster in order to get away. Ran red lights, the lot. Yes, that poor Street Glide had a very small period of grace before getting thrashed like a red-headed step son as I made my escape. All whilst wearing a baseball cap instead of a helmet. I laugh about it now but... 
Colorado is an "open carry" state, so this is entirely legal.
Gavia said:
Sounds like an awesome trip, shame the photos have all got a tank in them though 
Panzer Tank ;-)I was there on business a few weeks ago. Lovely place (Colorado Springs) and the nearby mountains and roads looked like superb places to ride.
I was joined by someone who came for a meeting (for one day), who rode up from New Mexico, 700 miles in one day and he left following the meeting the next morning. Good effort I thought within 24 hrs.
Would love to do something similar to your trip though
I was joined by someone who came for a meeting (for one day), who rode up from New Mexico, 700 miles in one day and he left following the meeting the next morning. Good effort I thought within 24 hrs.
Would love to do something similar to your trip though
redback911 said:
308mate said:
I rented a street glide in Iowa years ago (and a convertible Camaro GT ). Pulled out of the dealership and immediately started filtering. I kid you not within about 30 seconds a couple of fken lunatics in a mustang were shouting and swearing at me and chasing me through the traffic. This caused me to a) st my pants and b) filter even more and even faster in order to get away. Ran red lights, the lot. Yes, that poor Street Glide had a very small period of grace before getting thrashed like a red-headed step son as I made my escape. All whilst wearing a baseball cap instead of a helmet. I laugh about it now but...
Hah, exactly. There seems to be some pent-up road rage within car drivers I guess. Typically might not spill out as you never know what the other guy is carrying, but bikes are an easy target. Unless... ). Pulled out of the dealership and immediately started filtering. I kid you not within about 30 seconds a couple of fken lunatics in a mustang were shouting and swearing at me and chasing me through the traffic. This caused me to a) st my pants and b) filter even more and even faster in order to get away. Ran red lights, the lot. Yes, that poor Street Glide had a very small period of grace before getting thrashed like a red-headed step son as I made my escape. All whilst wearing a baseball cap instead of a helmet. I laugh about it now but... Colorado is an "open carry" state, so this is entirely legal.
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