7th Annual MOR aka "Men Only Ride" 2014

2014 marks the 7th Annual MOR (or Old Guys Rule Ride).  This year like so many, two riders braved the mid November temperatures and winds while returning to St. Charles, IL after a one year hiatus (last year we chose Rock Falls, IL).

This year was a little special as not only did it take place Sunday/Monday (rather than the typical Saturday/Sunday) but the Green Bay Packers were playing the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football!  It should be noted that the game was being played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and we were headed into Bear Country Illinois to spread the Cheesehead Love we have for the Green and Gold!

The two of us left Watertown around 10:30 Sunday morning.  Original plan was to leave by 10, but after a stop at the local gas station I forgot my coffee cup and I ride NOWHERE without my cup of hot coffee.  A quick return home and we were good to go.

RavenStone Castle is a MUST SEE if you are in the area of Harvard, IL.  Simply take Highway 14 out of Lake Geneva (you owe it to yourself to ride the eastern and southern shores of Lake Geneva) south to Harvard then on the south end of Harvard turn west (right) on Highway 23.  The Castle is less than a mile on your left.  RavenStone is a B&B Stop.  We have stopped every year after "C" first discovered it and a must stop in 2015 for a Couples Only Stay.  The photo to the left is from our 2010 MOR to St. Charles and my 2008 Honda Goldwing GL1800 with Navigation & ABS.  Our new motorcycle is a 2014 Honda Goldwing GL1800 with the Comfort/Audio Package.

We were disappointed that the road leading to the Castle was blocked by a chain link, so we were not able to inquire about rooms for 2015 Couples Ride.  Check out their link above, prices are not cheap, but then again how many times do you get to spend the night in a Castle?

After leaving we rode to Woodstock and BBQ King Smokehouse for lunch.  I found this little Smokehouse on the web. After a very nice lunch with Chad, Rhonnie, JJ, Carin, Wayne, Ann, Tim and Marc in North Carolina at a Smokehouse, this was not a difficult decision.  The BBQ we had during our ride in the Smoky's this summer was "perfect"!  This one was excellent too.

I ordered the sampler plate which included; BBQ/Smoked Chicken, Pork, Beef Brisket, Ham, Ribs and was their special for the day.  It was well worth it and a must-stop if in Woodstock, IL for lunch or dinner.  After lunch, a mile and a half down the street we were at Woodstock Harley-Davidson.  This is one of the largest dealers in Illinois.  We talked to a salesman about Rentals and Harley-Davidson's Riding Academy (of course)!  Saw the new 2015 HD Road Glide CVO Ultra, nice…..no real nice!  Don't tell Cathy that I'm thinking about it (only $40,000).  Thinking is one thing, buying is another and it will NOT be coming home with me (anytime soon)!  Since Veteran's Day was in 2 days, though it should be everyday, I snapped a photo for my friend Chad and all the Marines who have served and are currently serving.  Thanks again to all of you who were in the Armed Forces and your service to not only America, but each and everyone of us!  Your time spent away from home, family, loved ones is much appreciated.  To others that paid the ultimate price, we will never forget your act of bravery and staring the enemy right in the eye, never wavering.  Your Mission here on earth has been paid, may you rest in peace knowing we ARE better because of YOU!

Once on our way we finally found a little sunshine and it felt good!  Temperatures were in the upper 40's, but the heated accessories on "The Wing" were very nice (seat, grips and floor vents).  After about an hour of riding, as we entered St. Charles, IL we decided to head over to Fox River Harley-Davidson.  Once there, we took a few practice runs on the Range in back of the dealership.  After passes at clutch control, quick stops, swerves and slow tight turns we rode towards Country Inn and Suites.

Before getting to the hotel, we saw that downtown St. Charles at the old Arcada Theater they were advertising the Packer vs Bear Sunday Night Game!  There was also a few Bear Fans out front in all their glory!  Well not to be outdone, we thought we would show some sportsman-like conduct and show them who is the BETTER Team since the obviously are confused.  We found out that the Game would be shown on the large 44' movie screen inside later.  Interesting, but since we will be in Packer Jersey's later, thought differently about watching it with a room full of angry Bears, hungry for a win (especially since they rarely see any)!

We were disappointed once we checked into Country Inn & Suites that they didn't have the 24/7 warm baked cookies (found out later they ran out of cookie dough) and the hot tub was closed!  After a few drinks we headed over to Olive Gardens (across the parking lot) by foot and had dinner.  For those of you that watched the Game, WOW what a game!!  Rodgers throws for 6 TD's in the first half and almost 7 for the game!  Packers went on to provide a whoop ass on the Bears 55-14!  Smokin' Jay again showed his inability to play at a professional level.

Monday morning was less windier though the temperatures started in the low 40's, but worked their way up to……59 degrees!!  We hit sun as we entered Wisconsin!  Before that though we left St. Charles, IL from Main Street north onto Highway 31 along the Fox River to Elgin to see the Trolley Museum, another must see stop.  Turning back the clocks to a time Trollies were used to transport large numbers of people.  This has always been a favorite stop.  The architectural design of some of the homes and businesses is a wonder.  Continuing on Highway 31 to Algonquin, IL then west on Highway 14 to Crystal Lake, IL (wasn't this the site of the Movie Jason)?  This Route took us back into Woodstock and then Harvard.  We later hooked up with Highway 67 in Wisconsin from Highway 14 and rode it into Fontana and Williams Bay stopping in Dousman at Deb's Diner for some Comfort Food.  Their special was Meatloaf, with "real" Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.  It was really good and a must stop if you want something special that is not your typical fast-food restaurant!

Another MOR in the books as they say!  Our 7th Annual and 6th one done with just two riders.  This year's journey took us to a few new stops; BBQ King Smokehouse and Deb's Diner.  In all, we logged just under 300 miles.

Starting to think about next year's rides already!  Hopefully this winter will be quick, spring early and warmer temperatures will prevail.  Three motorcycles this year; 2011 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Limited (approx 5800 miles), 2006 Yamaha FJR (approx 3,000 miles) and now back to only one, the Honda Goldwing (approx 900 miles).  Stay healthy this winter!  God willing, let us meet on the road again in 2015 and see where it leads us.

Not My 1st Rodeo! Back In The Saddle Again!!

In September 2010 after returning from the Tomahawk Fall Color Rally with my 2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide (made into an Ultra Road Glide), I decided it was time to return to a Goldwing!  Not my first Goldwing either.  I had purchased my brother-in-laws 1984 Honda Goldwing Interstate back in the early 90's.  This Pearl Siren Blue was a well balanced Touring Machine!  It's 1200cc 4-cylinder motor cranked out about 94 horsepower and 77.4 ft lbs of torque.  After about a year or so and having two very young children at home, like so many riders, it was sold.

After several years had passed and owning a half dozen Harley-Davidson's, it was spending the weekend with a few police officers and their Goldwings at Tomahawk that got me thinking again!  You see, unlike my wonderful wife of 33 (soon to be) years, I get bored with motorcycles!  I have owned a Yamaha 750cc Virago, 1993 Heritage Softail Classic, 2000 Electra Glide Standard, 2000 Electra Glide Ultra Classic, 2008 Ultra Classic, 2008 Road Glide and next a 2008 Challenger Brown Metallic (Titanium) Honda Golding.  I purchased the 08 'Wing from a dealer in Wildwood, Florida by the name of Lucky U Cycles.  I later flew down and rode my newest motorcycle home.

After owning the 2008 Titanium Goldwing with Navigation Package, I succumbed to peer pressure at the local Harley-Davidson dealer and traded the Goldwing in (after 6 months and 3,000 miles) for a 2011 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Limited.  The Limited was a great motorcycle, but as luck would have it, I tasted a rocket this summer, a 2006 Yamaha FJR 1300!  Wow, what a motorcycle!  Liquid cooled, shaft drive, ABS and linked brakes, electric windscreen, fixed fairing and nearly 150 horsepower!  I owned this bike for the summer and added closed to 3,000 miles on it while the Harley Limited sat in the garage.  A trip to Tennessee to ride the Tail of the Dragon got me thinking of the Goldwing again!  You see, I looked at the GL1800 as an FJR on steroids!  

Upon returning home, the FJR was sold with intentions of buying a new (leftover) 2013 next spring and keep the Harley Limited as strictly a Touring Motorcycle for my wife and me.  Thinking more about having two motorcycles I started "really" looking into a new/used Goldwing.  This late in the season no one was willing to give me what I thought my Harley was worth.  Well almost no one!  On the way to Marshfield one weekend, we passed a Powersports Store just south of Wisconsin Rapids called Country Powersports.  A quick stop I saw they had a 2012 Goldwing on consignment and a new 2014 solid black with Audio/Comfort Package.  My hopes were diminished when I found out they would not take my Limited on trade for the consignment 2012.  The next day I called and spoke with John the owner of Country Powersports.  After a brief conversation he asked me to send photos of our Limited.  Within 30 minutes I had sent him several photos and later that day he got back to me with an offer of $16,000 for our Limited (28,000 miles) and he would take $2,000 off the 2014 Goldwing having Audio/Comfort Package (MSRP $23,999).  On Monday, I was able to get John to throw in an additional 3 year unlimited mileage warranty!  Our NEW Wing is under warranty until October 2020 again with unlimited mileage!  Five days later I was at their front door with our Limited and later rode our new 2014 Honda Goldwing home!

It's been almost 3 weeks since we purchased the Goldwing and back to one motorcycle.  But what a motorcycle it is; over 1800cc, just a tad under 112 cubic inch, around 118 horsepower and 125 foot pounds of torque, this plus;

• Fixed Mounted Fairing
• Reverse Gear
• Shaft-Drive
• Linked Brakes
• 6.6 Gallon Gas Tank
• Adjustable Windscreen
• Center Stand
• Adjustable Clutch and Brake Levers
• Liquid Cooled 6-cylinder engine
• Heated Grips
• Heated Driver Seat & Heated Passenger Seat/Back Rest
• Heated Floor Vents

Don't have many friends that ride Goldwings, but those that do love them!  They ride a 1994 GL1500 SE Trike, 2008 GL1800 with Navigation and a 2012 GL1800 Audio/Comfort.  So do I miss owning a Harley-Davidson?  I would be lying if I said NO!  Of course I miss owning a Harley, I live in Wisconsin and about 55 miles west of the Motor Company and Museum.  But I got a taste of the Yamaha FJR with all the power and ease of maneuverability and decided to get back onto a Goldwing.  I can't wait for the next ride to The Smoky Mountains and carving through the Dragon's Tail conquering that Beast once again.  This time it won't be on a Harley, or Yamaha but on a huge, heavy, Touring motorcycle that has all the likeness of a smaller motorcycle.

If you don't like Goldwings, I bet it's because you never rode one!  Don't make a rash decision without knowing the facts.  You are correct when you say, it's not American Made.  Well it was up until 2010 when Honda moved their Ohio Plant to Japan.  I wonder how much of these "American Made" motorcycles are actually made here in America.

Keep in mind, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride!" and "You ride Safe, Sober, Straight and Skilled".