2019 Retrospective - The Year in Review

[tribal]

2018 was a memorable year as I traded my 2008 HD 1200cc Sportster backup bike for a used 2015 R3 Roadster, then sorted out my electrical issues with the 2005 R3 and got my butt back in the saddle on a regular basis after a 3 year dry spell.

I rode to the Americade Rally, Adirondacks, and Dragons Tail but mostly around Western NY.

I also started customizing the new Rocket (now dubbed Black Mamba) soon after I bought it and am almost finished. The mods are chronicled here:

In 2019 I amped things up:​

March: Shipped Tribal R3 to Florida and rode 3 weeks and 2,700 miles. Left it in Orlando.

April-May: Local rides on Black Mamba R3R.

May: R3R 4 day 800 mile trip to Washington DC to attend Rolling Thunder Veterans run with 1.2 Million bikes.

June: R3R Week long 1,200 mile trip to Triumph Vermont Bennington Bash and NY Americade Rally + ADKs.

June: Flew to Florida for a R3 2 week 3,000 mile ride to NC for RAA East and Blue Ridge Parkway to NY.

July: R3 4 day 1,000 mile trip across ADK Mountains to attend HS reunion.

August: R3 5 day 1,200 mile loop across ADK Mountains, Vt. Green Mountains, Mass & NH.

September: R3 3 day 380 mile trip to Toronto to see The HU Band and sightsee.

October-November: R3 35 day "I'm Not Ready for Winter Southern Comfort Tour"
12 State 7,100 mile run to Texas Big Bend Park, RAA West & Three Twisted Sisters, over to Florida
for Daytona Biketoberfest, down to Key West Birthday Fantasy Fest run, west through the
Everglades, up the Gulf Coast to Venice, back to Orlando, and several mid-Florida day loops.

I left it in Orlando for a possible 2020 winter escape.

I racked up around 19,000 miles between the two Rockets - an excellent year.

Florida March Madness loops:

2019 - Both Rockets:

2005 Triumph Rocket 15 year odyssey :

 

[Dr.D]

Dang King Tribal, you da man.

I pushed my Rocket over the 200 hp mark and did a little riding.

 

[WyldCFH]

I don't see Alaska in there bro! Just sayin...

Otherwise very impressive and commendable riding

 

[Tripps]

If you're down here before March, hit me up, I'm only a few hours from Orlando, and I have a friend there I want to see

 

[tribal]

I don't see Alaska in there bro! Just sayin...

Otherwise very impressive and commendable riding

Not yet but I’ll get there.

Step one was to get my MC license so I can get in/out of Canada and that’s done.

No excuses now! LoL

Step two is to plan a route and I’ve been watching Utube videos to get inspiration.

My friend Frank has done the “Lower 48 Plus One” all on Triumphs but I’d like to accomplish it on the same Triumph.

He did Alaska 2 times on his 2004 Rocket towing a trailer with his Rocket Dogs. A
Shih Tzu
(not ****zu !) and a black lab. It’s a custom built set up with a Vetter fairing.

My primary concerns are some roads aren’t paved, the long distance between gas stations and accommodations in remote areas.

I prefer to travel lite and this does not appeal to me:

Here is Frank's travel setup for his Rocket Dogs (you may have seen him around the North east or open road):

 

[Bigjaype]

A 4 star Zu....that's a special kind of dog right there!

 

[tribal]

Here are my primary excuses for not riding more in 2019:

1. Removed sunken hot tub on porch, built subfloor and installed new carpet.
2. Stained my entire two-story house by myself.
3. Stained the deck x two coats.
4. Sanded and epoxied front entryway.
5. Pressure Washed flagstone walkways and resealed x 3 coats.
6. Stripped basement floor, acid etched, and epoxied x 3 coats of Rust-Oleum.
7. Pressure Washed & tarred driveway x two coats.
8. Cleaned all the windows, inside & out.
9. Replaced lattice around porch.
10. Golfed a lot.
11. Rode in a few charity fundraisers where they didn't even go 100 miles.
12. Researched, ordered and installed stuff on bikes and autos.
13. Wasted some good riding time cleaning bikes and cars and doing yard maintenance.
14. Attended and participated in numerous cruise nights.
15. Painted rental property garage.
16. Attended several concerts.
17. Sleeping, eating, and taking too many afternoon naps.

I have also loaned my Triumph Rocket to Santa and his elves refitted it with a new
Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25-T Engine generating 51,200 pounds of thrust.​

 

[budman]

now that's what I call living..congrats on all those endeavors..

 

[mexican]

2019, i worked

 

[TRIIICK]

I don't remember anything I did in 2018.. 2019 was the busiest year for my business too. Enjoy making memories of touring the country. I will always treasure the four time I went cross country on the bikes, one of the best times of my life. Now that I'm in my late 60's I've become a weekend worrier. I leave my house in Plymouth head to Hyannis Cape Cod for lunch then stop in Brewster for coffee and continue on to Province town and back home again. It's about a 200 mile trek.Once or twice a year I'll do a 4 or 5 day trip.