VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:10 am Post subject: Our Anniversary Presents

This July 5 the wife and I celebrate 25 years of marriage. Some of bliss, some of piss and vinegar, and a lot of good memories. But she's my best friend and I love her. Originally we were planning a trip to Italy, then realized we'd be dropping 8-10 grand for about 8 days and after that.... well, it'd just be memories. Along with jetlag and all the hassle of overseas travel.

I've been a biker for years (just got BACK into it last summer though, after a long hiatus) and SHE, currently riding a scooter, is desperate to learn. I tossed out the idea of - instead of blowing that much money on an 8-day trip - why don't we get HER onto a beginner's bike, let me upgrade to what I really want - and then this summer head out for a week or two up through North Ga, Eastern TN and the Blue Ridge Parkway on bikes? Without a moment's hesitation she emphatically said "YES!!!!"

So this weekend I pick up my Yamaha FJR1300 sport tourer. Now, note, I'm buying these bikes used, so we're still coming in WELL under what that trip to Italy would have cost. And we're currently looking at used Honda Rebel 250 bikes for her to get started on. And finally, in the last image, you'll see my '07 Suzuki GS500F currently for sale ($2750) if you, or someone you know is interested.

These are the perks of marrying a gal who grew up on a ranch in Colorado, riding horses and ATVs!

FJR1300:

Honda Rebel 250:

Suzuki GS500F for sale:

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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

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FinMac · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:29 am Post subject: Congratulations!

Congrats to you and the Mrs.

Happy Trails to you both.

Mac
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todd ellis · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:37 pm Post subject:

reaaaaallly awesome! i had a rebel in the early '90s - it's a great little bike, but i can't recommend it for long trips. i rode mine from so. illinois to memphis, and that was plenty!

here's what i CAN recommend:

RT 138 (the old macon HWY) between macon & athens (beautiful, super-easy ride)

GA 76 through the chattahoochie national forest from westminster to blairsville (parts almost as challenging as the tail but WAY prettier)

and of course...

US 129 (even before the tail) topton, NC all the way into TN (cheek puckering)

pictures - or it didn't happen
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Fran McClellan · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:51 pm Post subject:

Congrats to you both!
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Back into the murky lurk from whence I came
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"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon

heyguido · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:01 pm Post subject:

I'm with Todd on the rebel...

That twin is a hard ride for any distance. Might want to see if you can fit her a 350, instead...

Regardless, congrats on the milestone.... And may you have many more happy miles. Inoccent

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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:02 pm Post subject:

Todd, thanks! I'm still so sorry we couldn't hook up on your ride back up from Florida.

Fran, I'm well aware of the highway limitations of a little 250. This is just to get her feet wet. At some point she'll need to bump up to anything from a 400 to a 650.

Years ago, when my last bike was an '86 Yamaha FJ1200 and we lived in Birmingham, I regularly took extended weekend rides up through the Little River Canyon area of NE Alabama (deepest gorge east of the Mississippi), near Ft. Payne, AL, then on up through the Helen, GA, area, then towards the Cades Cove area of Eastern TN. All, definitely, God's country.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:24 pm Post subject:

Congrats Scott! You are inspirational indeed!

melissa eX · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:43 pm Post subject:

What a GREAT idea, Scott!

I seriously thought of getting a Ridley a while back. Automatic. And low to the ground. Helpful for someone who's 5' tall. It felt like a better bike - a better fit - for me than a Sportster, which was the other option. I'm sure I would have dropped that getting out of the driveway. I liked the Ridley

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 6:31 am Post subject:

curse you scott for putting me in "bike mode" at LEAST 2 months early!

melissa - i've seen more than a few women on ridleys ... everything is proportionately smaller & girls seem to like the automatic transmission. seems like a good choice for city riding, though. except the price - almost twice that of a comparable sportster. personally, i see you on a triumph bonneville SE.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

heyguido · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:15 am Post subject:

What Todd just said... A Bonnie lass, indeed. Wink

_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Chuck Davis · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:28 am Post subject:

Congrats! I'm hoping to get Kate onto something more fun than the chinese scooter this year.

Did you check out the Ninja 300? Just a little more umph than the 250 and still a fairly upright riding position.

BTW - Sweet Yamaha!
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:40 am Post subject:

Chuck, thanks for the suggestion; I'll check those out. The wife likes the 'sportster' look of the little Rebel, but I personally lean more towards sport bikes. And I'd really like to see her on something she can at least enjoy on the open road a bit, although we definitely tend to stick to back roads.

As an aside, while in St. Louis a few weeks ago, I finally rode my first Harley, my nephew's '02 softtail. Rode it around St. Louis for a few hours. Comfortable, but a LOT of work to ride. And too LOUD! Good Gawd. At the end of the day I felt like I'd been beating my head against a brick wall all day.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Chuck Davis · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:47 am Post subject:

LOL. I kid my son. who rides a Dyna, that I should ride behind him to gather up the pieces that fall off.

Maybe it's the sport-bike snob in me but, I can't help but think Harleys are more "fashion statement" than motorcycle for most.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
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todd ellis · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:55 am Post subject:

yeah - harleys have kind of become the "male, 50+, i'm sort-of-a-cool-guy" thing. BUT for a long ride (1,000+ miles) i can't think of anything better than an electra glide classic ... maybe a bmw touring bike. for putting around town, i MUCH prefer my suzuki dual-sport ... if i only had longer legs.

ps - scott - you were within 90 minutes from me & didn't call. it hurts my heart. Wink

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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

melissa eX · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 10:40 am Post subject:

Oh boy. This thread has the potential to be more explosive than a P2P thread with Bish on board.

I spent my teen years on the back of Triumph, HD and Norton. (Don & Todd got my number) My ex had a bike shop - built custom bikes, did paint, modifications and serviced - ahem - American made motorcycles. I don't know anyone - in face to face life out of the couple hundred people I know who ride - who doesn't ride HD - though they may also have other bikes - like a Triumph or Indian.

What can I say - I've led a sheltered life.

I'll go away quietly now ....
Devil