re: US Diaries || My Short Motorcycle Rides to Relive! Refresh!

Approved!

Wonderful DK saar! And a belated happy wala bud day too.

Re: US Diaries || My Short Motorcycle Rides to Relive! Refresh!

Thanks Divya Sharan :-)

was held up in work so delay in post - btw thanks for approving the thread

Re: US Diaries || My Short Motorcycle Rides to Relive! Refresh!

Being Sportster :-)

Post my Ride back in October last year – my instincts were hitching me to ride as the weather is getting warmer and sustainable. On a pleasant da – I booked up an Harley Sportster for a short ride since that’s the only one available near my place. Took it for a quick spin to get used for handing and reached back home. Excitement at home, I would say in my apartment itself since nobody rides a motorcycle here leave alone renting – so It was Motorcycle Ride time for the kids of my friends and neighbors. Once that is complete and rode to nearby small lake which is inside a Forest reserve place. Ride was awesome amidst the trees and with no gps couldn’t figure out the lake but had a good ride and captured some pictures in my iPhone and rolled the bike back to Harley showroom as my rental time logged off.



Regrouped myself for a Group Ride on an FZ:

On a good Saturday – I got linked up with a local motorcycle group and was doing a ride with other bikers. Group ride was properly organized and with the lead taking us through the local county road with scenic views of the Delaware river and farms. No big write up since – We started in morning from meet up point and rode through the circuit with a fuel stop and ended up in a Diner for Lunch. Post Lunch we started back home. Some Photos to taken during the trip – need to get hold on a Gopro since the views awesome but can’t stop for photos L unlike in india where we can stop in roadside and click pictures – miss this part of the ride.
P.s very less photos were taken during the above rides... the next one has more photos - will bring it up in next instalment. Meanwhile some more pics when I visited a motorcycle showroom...

Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

My Italian Affair

As the Summer is reaching its peak giving couple of months of good weather to ride, was planning to do a weekend ride. Was telling my colleagues about the rides I did and the one am planning to Mount Washington auto Road which is approx 600kms from where I stay – plan started couple of months before. This interested them too and 2 of them applied for their license and got them J which gives a company and also responsibility of taking care of them since they are riding for first time in US.

Ok Now – its becomes more real deal… I can’t have them ride 1000+ kms over a weekend – so cut down my plan and figured out a state park reserve nearby. We decided on doing the loop of Bear Mountain State park where the roads flows into the state park with good 2 lane roads with less traffic. Fixed the ride for a Saturday after checking the weather conditions which seemed pretty ok for the ride. Now it is time to book the bikes – the nearest one from our homes is the Harley and booked a Sportster and Switchback for them. I was yet to book a bike and was going through the web for any other bikes nearby other than Harley please – stumbled upon Ducati Multistrada which was available from one dealer. Immediately called them and enquired about the bike - had a conversation for 20 mins, it’s almost like a interview where he was asking me what is my riding experience, what bikes I have ridden, have I ridden a motorcycle of this breed – blah blah , I somehow convinced him stating I have been touring in India and also have ridden Supersports and likes in United States. With bikes booked for all us – its waiting time for Friday to come.

It was Friday, started early from office and my friends picked the motorcycles after finishing up their paperwork, while I went another dealer to pick my Ducati MS which was standing there tall with an elegant aggressive look – ready to ride. It was a pain to ride the bike in the traffic for next half an hour and once I reached the highway it was a breeze with the horsepower in control. Set the Mode to Touring which made the motorcycle more controllable. Took in the Friday evening so that I can have them ride in a group and also it helped my friends to get used to the Harley style of riding. went over the group riding signals and other things which are important during the ride. We decided 6.30am as the start time so that we can hit back home before 4pm. Came back home Friday night - prepped for next day’s ride. We don’t have GPS so went through the routes with Google maps and registered the exit points and roads to take in a notepad and mobile. Kept the alarm for 5am and slept.

But the anxiety didn’t allow me a proper sleep and I was awake by 4am itself… Looked at the routes again as once we enter the state park – mobile signals are weak and by 6.30 got ready – geared up and went to friend’s apartment where he was saddling up. Awesome weather for our ride and In next 5 minutes my friend was leading with me following him, cruised at good speed and reached our first meeting point – Rockefeller Viewpoint. This view point is in Jersey at the edge of Hudson river giving the view of the Newyork at the other end. Spent some 15 minutes as a break and clicked some pictures.


Started from there on the Highway – for next 40 miles it was cool ride as the wind chill was pleasant and less traffic we soon reached the State park with a single break at visitor center to check the map. We had lot of time to ride around and had a short discussion on which one to take first – fixed up on Perkins Memorial Drive as a first. Perkins Drive was a nice uphill drive, reaching to the top gave a wonderful view of the Hudson river and Bear Mountain valley. Lot of bikers have come up that early as here is US people ride relax and starting time is mostly post 9am. We relaxed there around for some time and clicking some pictures of the surroundings. Had some short conversation with fellow bikers and there was a company for MS – it was a brand new Ducati Corse 899 :-D. After spending a decent time – we took a downhill scenic route to check out the other views from different view point possible. View were astonishing and good. Couldn’t capture much as we had only our phones to click and the magnificent view were done justice with them.


After checking out the view points, we rode downhill to the Seven Lake Drive. We mostly rode along the scenic roads and didn’t venture into the lakes as there is parking charge and we cant leave the bike outside the check –gate. We stopped for break and took couple of pictures and checked our route back home. From there on it was a one shot ride back home - to be exact went directly to restaurant for lunch and fueled our growling stomach. From there rode to the dealer and returned MS as my date ended. Ducati Multistrada was an ultimate machine and a different breed from ones which I have ridden before. those horses under the fuel tank wants to be unleashed and that will be planned upon on another ride... until signing off... keep riding - Be Safe.

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Wow! What a start to the day!

Thanks for sharing [MENTION=12405]bikerfas[/MENTION]. Now my wait to ride this weekend just got very long (if you know what I mean )

--
Cheers,
KMK

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

As always, your pics, are as natural as it can get. Amazing ride done there

P.S: from the Pics, did Hudson River and Bear mountain remind you of Aliyar Dam and Valparai/Upper bhavani ?

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Thanks kilometerkiller another 24 hours for weekend dude... get ready to ride

Thanks Phani Exactly said - the Hudson river and Bear mountain view reminded me of the Aliyar stretch and that small hamlet was like the one from Meghamalai where Sai and Deepak looking over the lake.

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Mind blowing pictures, I must say!
Keep on postin', mate! I am darn sure that this is gonna make a good day-starter for many.

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Superb pics and narration. Feeling jealous!

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

nice!

The good old simple travelogue and pictures

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Thank you Sunilji

Thanks Chaosaddict

Thank you Krishna More to come in upcoming weeks - since got only couple of months of riding weather here.

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Ducati looks so hot!!

Nice travelogue. Ride safe.

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Thanks buddy

Re: Italian Date at Bear Mountain State park via Seven Lakes Drive

Catchy thread Name, "US Diaries". What a perfect combination! Super Roads and Super Bikes! My wishlist. Awesome Pics There. Thanks for this Thread!