Brammo Blog : New Computer, New Bike. Same Old Me. Sorry.

29 08 2012

Blog 38: And the Slow Down begins. Today’s blog is mostly a “clip show” rerun. Sorry again.

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So I had the lovely green Enertia Legacy bike for 10 months and 4800 miles of riding. Good Times. Fun Times. But she is now back with Brammo in Ashland (and they are likely thinking, “Jesus, what the heck did he do to this bike?” I did ride her fairly hard and took her off road more than they probably thought I would).

We will do a little remembrance…an “Oscar” show farewell:

(no Yo Yo Ma on single cello, no stark piano playing, not even the great Brother IZ playing Over the Rainbow on ukelele)

This tribute get Miss You by the Stones playing in the background.

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Day one. The first ride.

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Walter White’s house…Breaking Bad tour

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Bike getting muddy. She rode in all weather. Sun, Rain, Snow and from 9 degrees to 104.

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Getting Muddy…mostly me this time.

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Silverton, CO. Where old met new.

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Part of the “Park Where I Want” series. Inside the bar at Ska Brewing, Durango, CO.

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Fake Paris. Las Vegas, NV

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Opening up 17 Mile Drive to Electric Motorcycles. Hopefully more to come.

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Hoover Dam. Dam good times. Thanks E.

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More off-roading at Camp Scoot 2012.

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She was great. I miss her already. But I now have a new bike to learn and enjoy. The new bike will go twice as far, opening up more trips and travels. I plan to do quite a few day trips. Sandia Crest: Madrid and the Mine Shaft Tavern: Tinkertown: A nice ride down along the Rio to Los Lunas when the Cottonwood leaves are turning gold. All trips I couldn’t do on the true city commuter Enertia Legacy.

But the Blog, for a while, will slow down. Probably a post a week. I have been posting 3 to 4 times a week lately as I had 10 months of stories, experiences and photos to share of my time with the Enertia. It will take a while to build up the same amount of photos and experiences on the Enertia Plus (though the Grand Canyon was a GREAT start).

I know it will be tough, but please don’t despair too much when the blog posts decrease to a mere weekly release. If overly depressed, please seek professional care. Or drink heavily. Or both. It’s what I do. 🙂

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I do want to paint the “Boomerangs”. I love the black, but she needs a bit of flash…color…style. So I ask you, my many many readers….ha….I just snorted when I typed that…Which do you prefer?

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Standard: All Black

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Black with green metallic fleck on the Boomerangs.

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Black with blue metallic fleck on the Boomerangs.

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The Green paint would come from this:

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***

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Do I have permission to paint those boomerangs? Well I am following the school of…..1) I don’t not have permission 2) I wasn’t told I couldn’t paint them and 3) it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. And I’m lazy…so who knows when or if it will ever get done.

I do know I need to put a couple of hundred miles on the bike before I can give her a proper review. I thought she would simply be an Enertia with twice the range. But there are quite a few differences between the Enertia and the Plus. Some small, some actually quite big. Give me a couple of weeks and a review will appear.

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Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness: visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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***notice i did not give a poll option of “Do it and your a dead man, Gavin. Love Adrian.”

Opps…almost forgot the New Computer part. I bought a new MacBook Pro. Love it. Just wanted to put up a photo here…not sure how it relates to Brammo Blog… 🙂

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Eric Bostrom doing a wheelie on a Brammo Empulse. I hear he did this wheelie while going 60 mph.


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Brammo Blog : 17 Mile Drive.

1 08 2012

Blog 27: Where I wait on Fed Ex, build a 3D sign for the Marketing tent, ride 17 Mile Drive and then have a tasty Coronarita. Fun.

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Ok, I will quote Protomech here:

God-like powers activate!

Yes, I have my MOJO back, BABY! Who says “NO” to Gavin? NOBODY. Let’s see how Thor feels about this:

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Come on, Thor, you can smile better than that

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Much better…though pretty creepy.

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But I’m getting ahead of myself (as usual). The day did not start with my God-Like powers in full effect. My day started with waiting and an ugly ugly orange Gremlin.

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It was in Kingman, Arizona (about 400 miles from home) that I realized I didn’t have my helmet cam. Way too far to turn back. But I really wanted that cam to record our ride on 17 Mile Drive (that was approved by the Pebble Beach’s Executive Team some time earlier. I had been keeping that info secret). So my wife was sending it by Fed Ex, and I was pacing like a panther waiting for it to arrive. Front Desk to Room to Front Desk to walk around the parking lot to Room to Front Desk. I knew that the Brammo Team was getting to Laguna Seca at 8 am to start setting up and I wanted to get there ASAP. It was now 10am and no FED EX.

There were two positives that came out of waiting…well positives might be overstating it. One, Brammo needed fishing line and scissors. Since I was just waiting around I stopped my pacing and went out shopping. The sad thing is that I now know where the Walmart is in Salinas, Ca. I had hoped to go the whole trip without going into a Walmart, and here it is less than 24 hours in town and already searching one out. Two, across the street was a crazy ugly orange Gremlin. The first car my brother and I shared was a 1974 Gremlin. Gawd that was a love/hate relationship (with the car, not my brother). Just a horrid horrid car, but still “a car“. And it had a bench seat, which is nice when you’re 16.

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Just an awful car in sooooo many ways. Yet I will always love it dearly.

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So, fishing line and scissors in hand, I headed off from Salinas toward Monterey.  I never once saw the sun in Salinas. Foggy, cloudy, damp…Yes. Sun…No. The whole, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Salinas.” I dressed for New Mexico summer, not a London spring.

It’s at this point that I’m going to go all“Pulp Fiction“ non-linear style. Because I want to cover 17 Mile Drive before I talk about Laguna Seca. Heck, maybe I should cover Laguna Seca tomorrow? So we skip ahead…

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17 Mile Drive: The Ride.

Background. 17 Mile Drive is a lovely bit of road between Monterey and Carmel that runs through Pebble Beach. It follows along the coast and heads inland through some beautiful trees and fun twisty roads. It is a guarded community with private roads and certain rules.

http://www.pebblebeach.com/activities/explore-the-monterey-peninsula/17-mile-drive

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From the website:

Special note should be made of the highlighted area. There is some confusion of when the last non-resident motorcycle riders have been allow on 17 Mile Drive:

Some say 1992, some say 1972…either way, many many years have passed since the last time. At least a generation.

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I knew Brammo would be staying very very close to 17 Mile Drive and I really wanted to ride that road. I knew we would be on CLEAN, QUIET vehicles. And I knew that electric motorcycles would be the absolute best way to enjoy 17 Mile Drive, while still respecting the environment and people living there. So I emailed to Pebble Beach’s public relations executive. And he was absolutely GREAT. A couldn’t ask for better communication nor a more positive attitude. I was a bit shocked, surprised and extremely happy. I expected a “No”, or a “We would like to, but” or no answer at all. Instead they asked for some background and information and then asked some more questions. They actually contemplated, thought it through and decided to try it and see.  Thanks so much Mr. Pierce.

Some background is here:

http://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=1350.0

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But enough of that: Photos is what this blog is all about.

Bikes charging up at Laguna Seca before The Ride. We had approval for 5 bikes, 5 riders. 1 rider had to cancel, so 4 bikes went.

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The ride was sent up for us to hit the gate at 5 pm. The downside is that the Brammo team had been working so hard getting set up that they started thinking maybe they should just skip the ride. I, and I think they too, were glad they didn’t bail. But you’ll have to ask them.

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Our destination

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A screen capture from video of us at the gate. The security team was expecting us and SUPER NICE.

They asked about the bikes (where are they made, how fast do they go, etc) and didn’t charge us to enter.

Mr. Pierce, they were great. Give them a raise 🙂

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and

Adrian Stewart asking if it was alright for Sarah to ride…forgetting my powers. Nobody says NO to me.

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First Stop is Point Joe and asking strangers to take our photo.

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4 bikes, 5 riders. Our GANG took over 17 Mile Drive.

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leaving Point Joe

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Second Stop…the Famous Lone Cypress. Adam and Sarah posing.

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The Lone Cypress is the official logo of Pebble Beach.

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heading toward the Lone Cypress

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parking at the Lone Cypress

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It is a wonderful drive. And I am so happy to have ridden it with other riders.  Go Team Brammo! 🙂 I hope Pebble Beach finds a way to allow more riders on this lovely roadway.

I did get a few comments already on-line that I thought I would share with you:

“Well done Gavin. It’s great to see that:
a) the folks at Pebble Beach are not doing blanket rejection of motorcycles.
b) Gavin was able to effect real change by asking nicely.

The “Electric = more roads open to motorcyclists” argument has also been made “loud and clear” with things like dirt bike tracks in cities. There’s no way that people would put up with those bikes with ICE’s, but no problem with electrics.”

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“Wow, my image of Pebble Beach just skyrocketed!

As a motorcyclist, I used to think their excuses for banning bikes were just that, excuses.  But if they are open-minded enough to let EV bikes out there, then I’ll man up and be open-minded about Pebble Beach too.

I honestly never thought they would let you guys do it, Gavin.  I certainly was proven wrong in a big way!!  Good work”

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I sent those messages directly to Pebble Beach and they were very appreciative.

This is great, Gavin. Thank you for sending these thoughts and sentiments along. They will go a long way in reviewing this policy moving forward.

And wouldn’t it be great if electric bikes opened up new places to ride, open up new thoughts on what a motorcycle is, what a motorcycle can be.

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Laguna Seca will have to wait for tomorrow’s blog.

Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness: visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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Bonus 17 Mile Drive videos:

from security gate to Point Joe

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leaving the Lone Cypress

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following the other bikes after I had made a wrong turn.

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Brammo Blog : bonus coverage…

24 07 2012

Blog 23…kinda

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As much as I love my iPad, I am horrid at blogging with it. At least the way I want to blog.

So I am adding a few photos and videos here, but don’t expect it to look nice or behave well with others…the blog has taken the social network to an anti-social place…Plus the internet absolutely sucks in my room…slow and painful, like the hangnail scene in Black Swan, but, without hyperbole, a billion times worse

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I have trust issues where I am in Vegas…I couldn’t do this at the Venetian, but then I probably wouldn’t have too either.

20120724-223212.jpg

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Holy Moley, driving the strip sounds fun…but the reality is like having Capt. Hook give you a prostate exam, but, without hyperbole, a billion times worse.
9 miles in 1 1/2 hours…a part of my soul died…but it could have been heat stroke.

I did go from end to end…and will redo it at 7am…I imagine the traffic will be much much less…jeez I hope so.

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20120724-223943.jpg

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I did some video…will look through it, but likely will get better stuff with less traffic.

In the meantime….a random collection of recent stuff.

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Hooligan!!

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Peek a boo…following my brother to Hotel Parq Central and taking a look at myself in the back window.

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A long video–10 minutes—of driving from Knob Hill to Hotel Parq Central and back through Knob Hill…at sunset.

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And have a few more…but will spare you…for now…

Have a great evening…

Gavin


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Brammo Blog: Supporting the Three Day Weekend…but also Getting Ready for LAGUNA SECA.

20 07 2012

Blog 20.  A busy weekend coming up…followed by a CRAZY BUSY week next week.

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Friday is my official Non-Blog, Blog Day. So short and semi-sweet (and why is semi-sweet chocolate so sour? Or is it just me?)

Tonight…Not much riding. Will meet the wife and daughters for dinner and then hitting the 7:40 XD showing of The Dark Knight**. The Enertia does get a bit of attention at the Movie Parking lot. Last time I came out to a guy…wait let me rephrase that: Last time, as I was leaving the theater, a guy was taking photos of the bike and when I got on and turned the Enertia on, he said, “Hey, turn off the headlight, I’m taking a picture.” Rude, but I turned off the light so he could get his photo.

Tomorrow is Summerfest… http://rt66central.com/rt66summerfest.html

I’ll be there from 1:30 to about 5:30…showing off the Enertia and giving out some brochures…

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I would stay longer, but I “came into” a couple of Club House tickets to the Isotopes game Saturday night (thanks Haze) and my wife loves going to the games. And there are fireworks after the game, which is cool. Plus going to the Isotopes games is about the only time my wife will ride with me on the Enertia. Parking is soooooo much better on the bike than by car.  But mostly I can’t miss a chance to have D ride with me.

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We don’t actually park “here”…we park CLOSER.  🙂

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So Saturday is booked solid.

Sunday is a mildly down day. If things are quiet I hope to do a bit of filming. Maybe in Tijeras, definitely redoing the Hotel Parq Central through Knob Hill video that I lost the other day. (see Blog 19).

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But the real news is NEXT WEEK…because…

I am going to SECA. I am going to SECA. I am going to SECA.

(sung in Conga Line cadence– like this:)

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I’ve been practicing loading and unloading the Enertia by myself.

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Super Stoked about that…though the 1000 mile drive in a CAGE is not my favorite thing. But when I get there it will be fun. A lot of work, but fun.

I do get the privileged of helping Brammo set up their area on Thursday morning and do odds and ends with them on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then help take down the set up on Sunday night…Hey, wait a minute…that sounds vaguely like WORK.

And it will be…I will get dirty and it will be hot and nasty down in the pit area…and LOUD with all the gas bikes. But it will be fun and a great experience. And hopefully I don’t lose a finger or two. But if I do, I plan to wear them around my neck like The Onion Knight.

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If you get to Laguna Seca next weekend:  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday-from 8am to 6pm-I will be at one of the two circled areas 🙂

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Well a lot more at “S” or the Pit/Paddock area. The Beer Garden will have to wait for the end of the day…and then only 1 as I am riding the Enertia from Salinas to Seca and back each day. And I imagine that the cops will be out in force with all the event goers and tourist. Seca draws 100,000 people over the 3 day event.

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I will keep the blog running during all of next week. Updating the travel and the TXXGP racing news. But till then…Have a great weekend everybody.

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Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness:  visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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ps…next week is the StreetFest…but you don’t have to wait till then to buy a raffle ticket to win a Scooter or Fixie…Buy one NOW!…or buy many.

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**I really don’t want to write anything about, nor even thing about, what happened at the midnight showing of The Dark Night up in Colorado. Horrible. Horrible. My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones.


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Brammo Blog : Scooters, Baseball Bats and Strangely Dressed People. I feel like we were filming The Warriors Part 2.

18 07 2012

Blog 18: “Scooter Boys” clink clink clink “Scooter Girls” clink clink clink “Come out and Plaaayyyy”

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(ok, I’m just gonna come out and admit that is the most disturbing photoshop I’ve ever done)

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Saturday was the Show and Shine. Sunday was a Scooter Ride with the Pharaohs…or a few of them.

It was a ride from Joe’s Place near campus to some batting cages in the South Valley. And it was a great time. I haven’t really played any baseball since I was nine and in Little League, but I do remember how to swing a bat (I’ve watched The Warriors about a dozen times just to work on my swing) and I have fair eye/hand coordination. So I, of course, rocked the batting cage. And was the only one to try the Fastball cage. And I’m very HUMBLE too, just like Wilber. (hmmm, Wilber will be my next photoshop project.)

But I’m getting ahead of myself…We met at Joe’s Place:

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They look like they are getting ready to “slack”…

Hi Lisa…it kinda looks like your giving your bike a prostate exam.

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The only other fun thing at Joe’s, before heading to the batting cages, is that we met Nester. Well actually we met Nester’s scar (I want to write a story called Nester’s Scar). Now by funny coincidence in the last 2 weeks I have seen 2 people wearing Mummy Mayhem t-shirts that I don’t know. One in Durango and the other on Sunday at Joe’s Place. (**Mummy Mayhem is a Scooter ride in Phoenix.) Now it isn’t a crime to wear a Mummy Mayhem t-shirt and for me not to know you, but I had yelled out in Durango, “Hey, Mummy Mayhem!” to the one guy and got a blank stare in return. So I know he got the shirt from a friend or flea market or by rolling a drunk scooter guy, but that he hadn’t been on the ride and gotten it “legit”. And I suspected the same at Joe’s Place. So I yell out, “Hey, Mummy Mayhem!” Cuz I tend to repeat myself like that. So, after I tended to repeat myself like that, I followed up with, “So have you been on the ride?” And he admitted that he hadn’t and that he bought the shirt at a used clothing store. He quickly added,”I am a scooter rider, or at least I was until I got hit by a car and had my hip replaced.” And then, right in Joe’s Place, he showed us the scar. And it was impressive. Impressive enough that I pulled out the iPhone and asked, “Nice scar, mind if I take a picture?” And so, since I have an electric motorcycle that has given me god-like powers where nobody can say no to me,** he said, “Sure.” And so here it is…

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(and I can’t believe I just wrote all that just to show you Nestor’s Scar)

**see Blog 11 for more on my God-like power..but really, within 10 seconds of meeting Nestor I got him to drop his pants and take a photo…I am unstoppable!!

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The Batting Cages

I didnt bring my helmet cam, so I couldn’t take video of the ride from Joe’s to the Cages. Which is too bad as our ride leader forgot his turn signal doesn’t work and made one quick, unannounced turn that made that portion of the ride kinda interesting. I’ll leave it at that. Nobody fell and no scars. So no harm, no foul.

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We were a small, but energetic group. Or eclectic group…one or the other.

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Ok, I’m going with eclectic.

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Yeah, probably not energetic.

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At this point I stopped taking pictures as I was too busy timing my swing to the pitching machine….(photo by Beth)

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Very happy I did all those steriods before batting practice…really paid off. (photo by Beth)

ps. Riding gloves are not a substitute for batting gloves. I have the blister to prove it.

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So we spent an hour or so at the cages and decided to ride back to The Blackbird. And I was really sad that I forgot my helmet cam…but then I remembered I have an iPhone that shoots video…and a bike with no clutch….soooooooooo…Video Time.

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Crossing the Rio Grande River. I really need to do this video correctly some day.

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I am doing Sweeper duty again. Better to  film the group.

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Love this…the Low-riders where whistling and giving thumbs up to the scooter riders…Respect.
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And finally we end up at The Blackbird.
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Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness: visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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Reminder: Saturday is the StreetFest…but you don’t have to wait till then to buy a raffle ticket to win a Scooter or Fixie…Buy one NOW!…or buy many.

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ps….and I did park there:


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Brammo Blog : Coffee is for Closers…not sure how that fits, but I’ll make it some how.

16 07 2012

Blog 16: Riddle me this, when does 3rd place feel like 1st?

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When you didn’t even know you were in a contest….

 

Background. I went to a local “Show and Shine”. I know the person putting it on and I thought I would hang out, look at some bikes, chat a bit about their bikes and then chat a bit about the Enertia and just have a nice mellow time….yada yada yada…

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And yes I brought along the Enertia, but I didn’t think I/it was in the contest. Basically I thought it was a Scooter and RUCKSTAR Show and Shine (they had some beautiful and crazy Ruckus mods…images coming up)…So I was surprised when the Judges yelled out, “And 3rd place in Best in Show is the Electric Motorcycle, because we think it’s cool and unique.” I was, “What? Sweet.”

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I love that scooter badge soooo much

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Considering how nice the modified bikes were at the show, and that the Enertia is a 2-year-old stock Brammo motorcycle, well I was happy and surprised. I do remember that Richard, the guy running the show**, at one point said to me, “Gavin, we decided that since your bike has a chain that it is a motorcycle.” Me, “Umm, Ok?” Not sure at the time why he told me that. Now I know it was because they were deciding if they were going to include the Enertia in the Show.

**He was not a judge.

So that was nice. But more about the Show and Shine.

They had a wide variety of bikes (more Ruckus’s/Ruckii than I’ve seen around town, but I found out that the local Ruckus group was a co-sponsor of the Show and Shine and had bikes coming from a “sister” group in Portland), and a nice turn out. But the 2 main highlights for me: The heavily Modded Ruckstars…and LIVE Pin-striping. Nothing like adding an artist doing some pin-striping on a bike that makes me happy.

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The pin-striping area…everybody was staying in the shade as much as possible.

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Seems like it was a lost art for a while. Making a nice come back, at least locally.

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But people don’t come here to see pinstriping…they come to see some bikes. (ok, not sure what constitutes “people”…but I like to tell myself “people” come here…and if being delusional is wrong, I don’t want to be right.)

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One of these things in not like the others….

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3 crazy modded Ruckii…all local…Nice guys too. I snuck my bike into the photo…and a nice dune buggy too.

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Every Ruckus was different. Pipes, shocks, wheels, handlebars…so many variations.

Here could be Brammo’s Anti-Scooter.

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Gotta love the Spree…1976 I think and less than 1000 miles….I told the owner that if it ever goes “missing”, don’t check my garage.

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We did go on a little ride down Rio Grande Blvd (stupid Lavender Festival slowed us down…who the hell puts on a Lavender Festival? Who the hell GOES to a Lavender Festival?**)

**http://www.lavenderinthevillage.com/   it is real!!!

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I will put up video of the ride tomorrow…so you too can see the wonders of the Lavender Festival.

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 A couple of helmet photos…why? because…

Scary Clown=Crazy good helmet.

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Icon Carbon Helmet…I included this for 2 reasons: Icon is a sponsor with Brammo for the TTXGP racing circuit…and this helmet looks quite a bit like the one SteveO Atlas is wearing while he races for IconBrammo…and I plan to bug them at Laguna Seca to make me one too…:)

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I want that helmet!!! Except in my size…SteveO is a little dude. And I have a huge Irish head, so I doubt he wears my XL size helmet.

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And finally, a couple of photos from the Scooter Shop that allowed ScootNM to take up their parking lot on a Saturday morning.

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That is one nice Cushman

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And the world needs more happy neon bears hawking wheel alinements**…Look how happy that bear is!! I want him to be my friend and make my car drive straight.

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**what is the proper spelling? Alinements? Alignments?

Tomorrow, Video from the Ride…and more….maybe…:)

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Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness:  visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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 ps…next week is the StreetFest…but you don’t have to wait till then to buy a raffle ticket to win a Scooter or Fixie…Buy one NOW!…or buy many.

 

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pss…yeah, never did work in the title…too lazy to change it. or did I? Perhaps it is just a mystery…yeah, mystery is the route I’m going.


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Brammo Blog : Still supporting the 3 day weekend…but I can’t resist a Friday the 13th Blog.

13 07 2012

Blog 15…If I was smart I would have saved blog 13 for today…but, sadly and truthfully, i ain’t s.m.r.t.

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Normally Friday is an off day for the world famous Brammo Blog, but then all my days are “off” days. But today is Friday the 13th! I love this day.


So today we do a little mash-up blog and cover a number of bases.

First….

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Jason doing what Jason does best…but now in Stealth Mode.

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Jason is thinking…”If I had the Plus version of this fantastic bike  I could do some stabbing twice as far.”

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2nd…Rides and Camping and “Festing”…

There is ScootNM to talk about…and Summerfest…and Camp Scoot (though that is next month, so it can wait for it’s own Blog)

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Tomorrow is a get together and a showing-off  of the various rides…followed by a group ride…I am on-call all this week and next, but will try and make as much of this as I can.

http://www.scootnm.com/

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Summerfest looks fun….But this is what I’m going for:

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Hanging out and showing off the ride…two things I love to do.

http://rt66central.com/rt66summerfest.html

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And finally some Crazy Blog called the “Wall Street Journal”, whatever that is, tells us that Brammo plans to raise 1 Billion Dollars!!!

http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2012/07/13/the-daily-start-up-electric-motorcycle-maker-brammo-aiming-at-1b-ipo/

and all I can say to that is….

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Gotta Run…the weekend calls.

Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness:  visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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ps…Saw this sign near work…I WILL PARK THERE next week…Bet on it.

after all, I don’t even have an “OTORCYCLE”

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Pss…Breaking News…

Finally a reason to go to Walmart…because it is no longer a Walmart…


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Brammo Blog: Old Review…by an Old Reviewer

12 07 2012

Blog 14: Dang I am toooooo busy….leave me alone….

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Alright, the above comment to not to you, my imaginary readers, but to my Boss who seems to think I should be working and not blogging…so 20th century. Plus, hello, blogging IS work….hella hard work too.

That said, sigh, no time to do much on the old Brammo Blog today…plus typing in my Creature from the Black Lagoon hands** is really really hard.

(**see yesterday’s post. nuff said. nuff said doesn’t really work there, but I’ve always wanted to type that and feel like Stan Lee…and it worked…I now feel like an 89 year old man…dammit).

So today I am posting a link to the Review I did of the Brammo Enertia…with a bit of follow up. Yes I am lazy….I have learned to deal with it, so will you 🙂

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So that was some time ago….yesterday my Odometer clicked over 4500 miles. Hmmmm, clicked is the wrong word for an LCD speedo…gah, now I have Speedo images in my head…If I ever find the person who designed and sold the speedo…slow and painful…slow and painful…

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See, I have no idea what is happening here, but Speedos = OMG I HATE THIS.

Luckily the Enertia can make everything better….

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It’s like the old Red Stripe Beer commercials…

“You are very very UGLY…Here, put this Enertia in front of you…You are still very very UGLY, but now I am looking at the bike and not you.”

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But, as is all too often the case, I’ve gotten off subject.

Back to the Enertia Review.

I hope it didn’t bore you too much. I can add a couple of details.

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OK, I’m not going to win the Iron Butt contest, but over 4000 miles on a commuter bike in 8 plus months isn’t too shabby.

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 I am many many more miles into my “test” drive.  I have not had any “down” time.  I have had a service code warning come up on the display. There is good and bad with that.

1) The Bad: I had a service warning. I did not know what that meant, but it looked serious. Otherwise, the bike rode and acted fine (can a bike “act”? Well I guess if what we call Kristen Stewart does “acting”, then sure, a bike can act too).***

2) The Good: I emailed Brammo service and got an immediate response. They told me it is a voltage warning. They also told me it was safe and ok to keep riding. And they told me they would fly out from LA to Albuquerque to fix it! Great service…of course I told them that if it was OK to drive, that they didn’t need to fly out as I would see them at Laguna Seca and they could fix it then. But I was impressed with the offer.

3) The Ugly…see the above speedo picture…shudder

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Other than that…I have a new chain. I HIGHLY recommend an O-Chain over the stock chain (I think all new Brammo bikes will have O-chains). It is insanely better. So far, no stretching of the chain and easy upkeep with less maintenance and cleaning. Do it now if you have the older chain.

Two up riding…doable on the Enertia…but I wouldn’t do it too often nor too fast. But it worked great in the Pride Parade.

These foot pegs work, but will move a bit. I’ll look for more permanent solutions when I get my bike. Unless I get an Empulse 🙂 That already seats 2.

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We don’t do a lot of 2 up riding, but would love it for the trips to the Albuquerque Isotopes games. You can park much quicker and closer on a motorcycle. Because I park where I want. 🙂

And yes, our local Baseball team is named after a Simpson’s Episode…One reason I love our town.

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Till next time….

Gavin

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For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness:  visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

***Ok…I wondered if I could turn the Enertia into the highest paid Actress in Hollywood.

Then I realized, I didn’t need the dead eyes, just the open fish mouth…boom, instant millions per movie….

(original image from here: http://onemansblog.com/2011/01/01/video-review-brammo-enertia-electric-motorcycle/)


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Brammo Blog : Going Back to Cali, Cali, Cali…

11 07 2012

Blog Lucky 13:  LAGUNA freakin’ SECA!!!

Yes!….I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali / I’m going back to Cali.. hmm, Yes I do think so!

Ok, so I’m no LL Cool J. Actually I’m paler and lamer than Vanilla Ice. Sigh.

I am just barely cool enough to be allowed into The Red Bull U.S Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. And if you are wondering what that is:

http://www.mazdaraceway.com/red-bull-us-grand-prix

It will be thousands and thousands of people, vendors, LOUD motorcycles going insanely fast, Quiet motorcycles going very very fast also…and one dude that is paler and lamer than Vanilla Ice (actually I bet there will be many people paler and lamer than Vanilla Ice there…but that is a whole other topic.)

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Received in mail yesterday! 3 day pass and a Paddock Pass…which allows me down in the staging area.

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Monterey, California, where Laguna Seca is located, is just LOVELY. One of the prettiest places on Earth. It is also hella expensive, especially during the week of Seca. Which is why I’m staying in Salinas.

I think Salinas’ official slogan is something like this:

Salinas, the Superfluous Nipple of Monterey, but close and affordable.

I will have a grand time no matter what! “Why is that”, you ask? Because I am an invited guest of Adrian Stewart, head of marketing for Brammo Motorcycles. What that means is….well I’m not sure. I do know that I get to “help” out at Seca. But that is broad and scarily vague.  He did say I would be a VIP, but again, I have no idea what that gets me. Drinks? Respect? Helping with bike set-up and take down. Or a broom to clean the Pit area?

Pit Monkey would be cool. I would totally be down for that. But the chances of somebody losing a finger is increased greatly by having me handle anything other than a broom. And Brammo’s rider has already lost part of his finger…

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SteveO at the Brammo Empulse Release event, a few days after the high side crash at Infineon.

Either the pain meds are kicking in, or he is practicing his “American History X” stare.

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But back on topic…Laguna Seca should be a blast. I have a lot planned and it will be a “dense” week. No jokes about how all MY weeks are dense.

I will be driving the truck out with the Enertia on-board so I will have that fun little machine to ride around. The Enertia will be perfect for riding from Salinas to the Race Track and back. And for some short rides around Monterey too.

+++Leaving on the 24th… Is it too soon to pack up the truck?

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The Plan: Drive from Albuquerque to Needles, CA and spend the night…because everybody needs to spend at least one night in Needles. That way you will always be thankful for the  place you live. Next day, drive the heck away from Needles as fast as I can. Get to Salinas and then wonder why the heck I was trying to get to Salinas so fast.

Then I have a “day off”…which means a day in Monterey. That will be when I understand why I was driving so fast, because I do love me some Monterey. Will try and get in an early morning Sea Kayaking trip. Then some time at the amazing Monterey Aquarium. And then a little group ride around Monterey with some other Electric Motorcycle riders.

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A rough estimate of the Route…Haven’t hammered down the exact start and stop.

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Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be spent at the Race Track having–hopefully– some fun. It will be wild. It will be crazy. And those two usually equal fun. That or a week in the hospital. I’m hoping on fun. (I almost wrote, I’m “shooting” on fun. But the last time I was shooting for fun….a week in the hospital.)

+++My sun allergies will make me look similar to this by Sunday…Ok, I don’t have sun allergies, but I still plan to look like this by Sunday.

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Official Slogan of Laguna Seca:**

Looking for something to ride at LAGUNA SECA??

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Why not ride THIS!!!!

**ok, not in the least bit is that the official slogan of Laguna Seca…but it should be.

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Gotta Run…Lots to do…Pack, plan…and can’t forget my riding gear….

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Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness:  visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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Bonus photo…a Rain Jelly**…not the best, but big.

**Rain Jellys are clouds with rain steaming down with distinct ends of the rain.

Like a JellyFish moving across the sky and dragging its tentacles along the ground.


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Brammo Blog : Ride an Electric Motorcycle and be Treated Like a GOD Part Î²

10 07 2012

Blog 12: Durango-Silverton Trip.

Part β. Durango.

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Yesterday we had some lovely photos** of Silverton…and a few photos from Ska Brewing. Today we move to Downtown Durango.

**And if you don’t agree that the photos are lovely, well remember that I now have God-Like powers…and I am immature enough to use them. My inclinations are not aligned with a somewhat pure and gentle God…I would be more like one of the Greek Gods…Overly emotional (angry, sad, joyous…all at the same time), drunk, horny…Come to think of it, the Greek Gods are basically underclassmen at a Frat Party…no wonder all the Fraternities use Greek Letters…He is sooooo totally not going to regret that later in life: “Yeah, I was a douche in college…but I’m cool now.” Ah, NO, not at all.

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But I’ve gotten a bit off track. Durango.

The famous Strater Hotel. Red curb means park here right? Maybe I should take a closer look.

Yep, looks fine to me…I park where I want.

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I didn’t take many photos of Durango as I was doing Helmet Cam video. I still need lots of practice with that helmet video…But here we go:

Again, multiple short clips. Watch some, all or none. Just remember, I’m like Santa…and not just because I watch you while you’re sleeping.

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Since we ended Yesterday’s Blog (that would make a good song title) with Ska Brewing, we start today with a short ride up to Ska.

Nothing too exciting…about 1 minute long. I park where I want, as always.

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Here I practice my “powers” and command a random person to tell me to “Film that Rainbow”

There is a beautiful half Rainbow in the distance…the Helmet Cam doesn’t seem to capture it well, if at all 😦   More of the Rainbow next.

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I point out the Rainbow…still not impressed…It was quite lovely in person. 17 seconds.

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Longer video: 2 minutes. Heading from Ska to Downtown Durango.

Ending up at the Strater Hotel. Thumbs up near the end was to a Marine in full dress uniform and his lovely bride who were crossing the street.

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Random Downtown in the Rain Video: 35 seconds.

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More Downtown in the Rain…this one with a Thank You…Cute family. 33 Seconds.

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Last Downtown in the Rain video: 2 minutes.

I wave to the guys because: The guy standing outside saw the bike and called to the person inside to come out and see it…and I give a thumbs up near the end to a kid pointing at me going by.The drumming sound you hear when I change lanes and come to a stop is me “playing” the “fuel” tank…a habit I do way too much.

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Heading from Downtown to the Durango Brewing Co. 2 minutes.

I park where I want.

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Next morning, heading to Breakfast…Love Carvers…Great Breakfast…and BEER. The Jack Rabbit Ale is damn tasty.

Riding all weekend with the son-in-law, Daniel.

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Before heading home we hit the local Flea Market…really needed some Colorado fleas to add to my collection. Sadly none to be found.

Daniel was looking for a place to park…I saw a nice open red curb right at the entrance to the Flea Market…everybody, “I park where I want.”

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So what have I learned here?

1) I really love both Durango and Silverton. I will be back. Often.

2) This type of filming is damn boring. I think I will keep to still photos for city stuff.

3) I am not giving up on Helmet Cam video, but I am going to save that for mountain riding and more interesting stuff…curves, speed and all that.

A short blog, text wise…I feel a bit boring today.

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Till next time….

Gavin

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For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness:  visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

edit…forgot this photo for the 4th of July…


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