Anacortes Oyster Run '08

[gosupes]

I missed it last year but for some reason, the weather always cooperates for this rally. This year I am riding with a couple of HD buddies. I know, I know. Friends don't let friends ride Hardleys. But what are you gonna do. Thought I would post some ride info and some pics and maybe some video to follow. I know as the weather gets worse, I like looking back at some of the rides others have posted. It helps to get me through the winter. This is a great ride up near the San Juan Islands near Victoria Canada. I am meeting one buddy at the ferry terminal and meeting the others at the rally. There is usually about 4000 bikes of every make and model. Mileage one way is only about 60 miles from the ferry dock but takes almost 2 hours due to some very twisty and scenic roads. Weather is expected to be low 70's and mostly sunny. For those of you you who served in the Navy, maybe you spent some time at Whidbey NAS. We will be riding just past the base. Check the web site link below, there are a lot of user photos that have been uploaded, some pretty good. I also linked a map to give you an idea of the route. I know I am the only ZL rider within 100 miles of here, so I am going there to represent all my ZL brothers and sisters. There is a good chance I will have the only ZL there. Hope everyone has a good weekend and check back Tuesday or so and I will get some pics up.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=mukilteo&daddr=47.98027,-122.364349+to:WA-20+to:anacortes&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3BFR5C4wIdQlWx-A%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=11&via=1,2&sll=47.934747,-122.233887&sspn=0.213916,0.439453&ie=UTF8&ll=48.346666,-122.531891&spn=0.212206,0.700378&z=11

www.oysterrun.org

[gosupes]

Some pics from todays ride. About 6000 bikes for a one day event.
first two are waiting in the line for the ferry. Next three are deception pass bridge. The islands in the distance on pic 4 are the San Juan Islands.

[gosupes]

more pics, just getting into town at about noon.

[gosupes]

more still, I'm the mug on the right and a couple of, ahem, Harley riders.

[gosupes]

more...

yes those are longhorn steer horns on the front of the bike. In pic 5, how much Crown do you have to drink to make a bike cover?

[gosupes]

more...

a couple of nitro drag bikes. From what they said, about 6.6 seconds in the quarter.

pics 3 and 4. Yes that's a v-max with dual front wheels. Guy hand built it, his own design. Notice the servo actuated caliper on the steering link. He said he was working on some software control for panic stops that would actuate the caliper under certain circumstances. Wheels travel independant, you could lean it all the way over. Also, no nosedive when braking. The whole bike sat straight down under hard braking.

and what rally would be complete without a yahoo doing a donut on a harley

[gosupes]

and lastly, the beer garden with some long haired hippie dancing.

Overall a good day. Left the house at 7:30am and got home about 7:00pm and just a hair over 140 miles.

[wuputt]

Looks like a good time brother! Thanks for sharing the pics.

So, how many Eliminators did you see?

[gosupes]

I was the only one. Seen everything from one off customs, harleys of every flavor, one b-king, lots of sport bikes, naked ducati's, the 3 wheeled v-max, just about everything.

[Waynan]

Looks like it was a great event...

[gosupes]

One thing I forgot to mention was the number of Harleys that were broken down along the side of the road on the way home. I am guessing probably 20 to 30 bikes having problems, then whoever they were riding with had stopped also. Not one Japanese or European bike, no Victory or Buells. Just Harleys. My buddy that I was riding with mentioned that he had never spun the rear tire on his Harley. I was thinking to myself, that's because it can't.

[kawboy]

My buddy that I was riding with mentioned that he had never spun the rear tire on his Harley. I was thinking to myself, that's because it can't.

Yeah, 800 lbs, 60 hp, probably not ;-)

[Breeze]

Some pics from todays ride. About 6000 bikes for a one day event.
first two are waiting in the line for the ferry. Next three are deception pass bridge. The islands in the distance on pic 4 are the San Juan Islands.

Those pictures of Deception pass and Anacortes are making me home-sick. I currently live outside of St. Louis, but I grew up in South Seattle and remember going out there plenty of times! Thanks for the photos.

[gosupes]

Those pictures of Deception pass and Anacortes are making me home-sick. I currently live outside of St. Louis, but I grew up in South Seattle and remember going out there plenty of times! Thanks for the photos.What part of the south end? In Seattle or one of the burbs?

[Breeze]

I lived in Seattle when I went to UW, but I grew up in Des Moines and Kent. I worked at Kent Kawasaki from 1990 to 1995 in the old location. I actually bought my ZL in '92 after seeing one brought in for service. The first time I saw one I new I had to have one.

[gosupes]

Small world. I went to HS and tech school in Renton and know Kent all too well. Had a good friend just down the road from Kentridge and met many a ho at the Adlib Tavern. Even got my first speeding ticket in Kent on Central Ave coming home from the valley drive in. Mom still lives in Kent in Meridian Valley CC. Used to love the swap meet at the old drive in in Des Moines. It was a different town back then, if you haven't been back in a while, you might not recognize some areas.

[Morir]

A neighbour of mine usually goes down for this ride every year, and had invited me to go...then cancelled after his wife insisted that his neice's wedding in Calgary that weekend was of greater importance. Go figure. I will definately put it on my calendar for this year, maybe I could tag along with you, if you don't mind, and there will be 2 ZL's? I'm in Vancouver, BC... Great photos, btw; looks like it was a good day.

[rkerg]

Hey Morir,

I am not sure, but I think you are the one who sent me a ZL900 license plate frame last year. Sound familiar?

[Morir]

Hey Morir,

I am not sure, but I think you are the one who sent me a ZL900 license plate frame last year. Sound familiar?

Yeah, that's me. I'm using mine(frame)as a picture frame...my licence plate is too large to fit. I was going to cut it down to fit, but discovered there is a pretty hefty fine for that. go figure! How's the bike running? I had them do a valve job on mine over the winter, put the stock pipes on from Ebay, and new rubber all around. Picking it up April 4th.

[rkerg]

Yeah, that's me. I'm using mine(frame)as a picture frame...my licence plate is too large to fit. I was going to cut it down to fit, but discovered there is a pretty hefty fine for that. go figure! How's the bike running? I had them do a valve job on mine over the winter, put the stock pipes on from Ebay, and new rubber all around. Picking it up April 4th.

Well, my bike is running fine. I took it out for a short ride yesterday. After two weeks of rain the sun has come back. Had to change the water pump last month, but now its all good again. Really looking forward to spring and some good riding weather. Speaking of weather, whats the weather up in the great north like.

[Morir]

Well, my bike is running fine. I took it out for a short ride yesterday. After two weeks of rain the sun has come back. Had to change the water pump last month, but now its all good again. Really looking forward to spring and some good riding weather. Speaking of weather, whats the weather up in the great north like.

Weather to day is like NORTH! We woke up to snow this morning...very un seasonal. I've usually mowed my lawn 2 or three times by March... I am going to pick up some new tires On Saturday, but it doesn't seem like there's a hurry to put them on! The water pump on my bike was seeping a bit when I bought it, so I put a new one on then.....

[rkerg]

what tires are you getting?

[Morir]

what tires are you getting?

Not sure yet. I want to up-size from what I have now.. go to a 170/80 15 on the back, and a 100/90 on the front. I want to get something with some grip, and good in the rain(it rains a lot here). I'm not too worried about long wear; I'll replace them for rubber breakdown long before they are worn out... I don't put that many miles on in a season. The tires that are on it now have plenty of tread, but are about 8 or 9 years old.....What size tires do you run? I basically want to have the largest tires on it I can get, without modification.

[rkerg]

I am running the Pirelli MT-66. the same sizes as you mentioned. I like the tires, but I couldn't tell you how they handle in rain because in the summer it doesn't rain here.
I am glad that you signed up for this forum. It is pretty much Eliminators 24/7 so whenever I run into another ZL owner on another Kawi forum I tell them about this place.

[gosupes]

A neighbour of mine usually goes down for this ride every year, and had invited me to go...then cancelled after his wife insisted that his neice's wedding in Calgary that weekend was of greater importance. Go figure. I will definately put it on my calendar for this year, maybe I could tag along with you, if you don't mind, and there will be 2 ZL's? I'm in Vancouver, BC... Great photos, btw; looks like it was a good day.
Weather permitting I will be going again. We could meet up around Mt Vernon which is about 45 - 60 minutes south of the border, that would probably be the easiest. Get some buddies together and make a day of it. Or come down Saturday and find a cheap hotel. Didn't know we had a member from Vancouver. I've had some good times up there back when I was single. Great town. Anyway, pencil it in and we will talk more when the time gets near.