The "TACO WAGON" has arrived

oosik · Feb 11, 2019

The heated steering wheel on the PW is really nice. However - the heated grips on the BMW motorcycle are a lot more than just nice. They have brought me home in relative comfort several times. It's nice to have warm grips as you make that last dash home in a freezing cold rain. Previously, I've got so cold riding the Harley - I start an uncontrolled shaking. Goes well beyond uncomfortable - down right dangerous.

Jstpssng · Feb 11, 2019

^^^
My snowsled has the heated grips also. At the end of the day when I've soaked all of my gloves and am freezing my tail off on the way out of the woods, it's some nice to have that little bit of warmth. Sometimes the steam even starts rolling off my wet mittens.

oosik · Feb 11, 2019

It's nice because "hot hands" will have a positive impact on your entire upper body. Another nice item on the BMW. There are forward mounted "brush guards" on each grip. They are there to deflect branches, limbs etc. However - I've found that properly positioned they also deflect the cold winds and freezing rains off your gloved hands. Deflection of cold winds & rain + heated grips have come in handy quite often.

In the spring - I'm often out riding while others are wistfully gazing out their windows. However - man, do I ever know cold.

deerefan · Feb 11, 2019

oosik said:
It's nice because "hot hands" will have a positive impact on your entire upper body. Another nice item on the BMW. There are forward mounted "brush guards" on each grip. They are there to deflect branches, limbs etc. However - I've found that properly positioned they also deflect the cold winds and freezing rains off your gloved hands. Deflection of cold winds & rain + heated grips have come in handy quite often.

In the spring - I'm often out riding while others are wistfully gazing out their windows. However - man, do I ever know cold.

I do know much about motorcycle, but a fellow I worked with had a bmw sport bike (crotch rocket). It was an absolute rocket. Lift the front wheel and not come down until over 100.

oosik · Feb 11, 2019

Been riding for over 55 years. Never gone down. I gave up "riding the wheel" long ago. I'm just as happy that the acceleration is adequate to completely uncompress the front suspension. However - I still want that front wheel on the asphalt.

Jstpssng · Feb 11, 2019

I had that old 450 Honda and wanted to go see my parents one weekend. I knew that it was cold, but was about 2/3 of the way to their house when it started snowing. Luckily it wasn't sticking... I've ridden short distances in snow a few times but never 35 miles.
On the ride back Sunday night I froze my tail off; finally got home and was getting ready to jump into the shower until the hot water ran out when an older neighbor knocked on the door. She'd had a flat tire a few miles away and had nobody to help her... it turned out that she had a trunk full of old tires and I had to keep running to the service station with tires strapped onto the bike, trying to find one that was any good... I finally got her going but at least messing with the tire got me warmed up.

oosik · Feb 11, 2019

There is a fantastic round trip for a spring motorcycle ride going north. It's just the right length - about 285 miles. It goes over a mountain pass called - Flowery Trail Road. In the late spring there are flowers. It goes over the mountain from Newport to Tiger.

So my riding buddy and I are going this way and it's EARLY spring. The snow berms along side the road are getting bigger and deeper the further up the "Trail" we go. So far the asphalt is only wet. God - it was cold but neither of us wanted to turn tail and go back the way we came. The last half mile was at about ten MPH and we were both dragging our feet. This was the first time and the last time I ever rode a Harley in the snow. It wasn't quite as bad as I had envisioned. But believe me - my breathing and eye blinks were in definite rhythm with the thumping of the Harley engine. NOTHING out of synch for that last half mile. Never so glad to break over the top and get back on wet asphalt.

oosik · Feb 11, 2019

Well - it's close to 8pm and, once again, it's snowing heavily. Glad I plowed this morning. The Taco Wagon sits out in a big stall in the carport. Looking out at all this accumulating snow. Wondering what in the H*LL it got into here. It was never like this down in Saltillo.

oosik · Feb 17, 2019

Since my last post on 2/11, I think we have had two or three days without some amount of snow. I haven't gone anywhere in the PW. Every time I take the ATV down to get the mail - the county still hasn't plowed their road. What a mess - a foot of snow with ruts, grooves & tracks leading everywhere. I have no fear of my driving in the snow. It's that YAHOO who is on his first ride in the snow. We have plenty, over here on the DRY side, who become idiots when the snow falls.

However - every day, for an hour or more. Out there - learning, practicing, getting better. The electronics & features aren't such a mystery anymore.

I've become somewhat addicted to playing music while I learn the other features. It's kind of nice to be able to dial up - the Statlers, Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Hank Williams,Jr & Willie Nelson. There may even be some who remember - Peter, Paul & Mary( Puff the Magic Dragon ).

The GPS system was easy. It's made by Garmin. Just like the Garmin Nav V on my cycle or my hand held Garmin. I've got the new Apple iPhone XR paired up and can now make a hands free call using the buttons on the PW.

There just aren't a lot of NEW places to go and see in this weather. Even if the county has their roads plowed - the side roads to the "places of adventure" are still unplowed.

I have enough adventure learning all the new stuff on the PW and keeping my driveway plowed. Besides - none of the adventure is going anywhere. It will still be there when conditions improve.

BTW - I keep a Deltron Battery Tender on the PW. That way there is no need to start the truck as I play with all the do-dads.

I checked this evening - there is 17" to 18" of snow out in my yard.