Today was the first Thursday in October, so that means motorcycles at Dulono’s Pizza. We’ve had amazing weather this past week, and today was no exception. It was in the low 40s this morning, but by 5pm it was 75F with a beautifully clear blue sky. Perfect riding weather!
Click here for the full Flickr album (47 photos).
There were lots of bikes in attendance.
I’d guess close to a thousand. Five parking lots were filled with bikes.
I had a good time drooling on bikes and catching up with friends.
This guy had a cool bike rack on his KTM
Very happy dog in a custom sidecar attached to a BMW R1150GS. The rear tires are from an old VW bug.
Cool scooter sidecars:
Interesting lights.
The art bikes showed up, as usual, after it was dark:
A Freddie Krueger, a Minnesota Vikings, and a pumpkin motorcycle.
It was a fun night. One rider was hurt a few blocks away. I’m not sure what happened, but there were a lot of emergency vehicles including am ambulance. The motorcycle was facing into traffic and the rider was laying the sidewalk. Not good.
I also heard a guy try to do a stoppie/endo (hard braking to lift the rear wheel up). He held it for a fraction of a second before he fell over sideways with the bike landing on him in front of a huge crowd. He got up with only his pride inured. His sportbike needed some help however.
Tonight was the most shenanigans I’ve seen this year.
It will be interesting to see how the crowd has thinned out by next month.
Click here for the full Flickr album (47 photos).
Really nice pictures of some beautiful bikes. But a thousand bikes!? Wow, that's incredible.
ReplyDeleteRichard
RichardM: Thanks! First Thursday typically gets 1000 bikes during good weather in the summer. Minnesota ranked #7 in the country in 2007 for motorcycle ownership with roughly 215,000 motorcycles. I doubt that has gone down. We've been in the top 10 awhile. With the metro area having a few million people and motorcycles are roughly 1% of traffic, a thousand is very doable.
ReplyDeleteMy source: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs06/xls/mv1.xls
Thanks for throwing in some pics of scooter/sidecars. My wee chariot is technically a motorcycle, but its size (101cc), its automatic clutch, and it being made by a company more known for its scooters than bikes means it usally gets lumped w/ scooters. I figure with a sidecar I might be able to get it up to 20mph.....downhill LOL. But....
ReplyDeleteIt has been really great weather here as well. I'm seeing more bikes on my commutes than I have all summer.
~Keith
That was a huge gathering! The St. Bernard looked happy-what a way to travel. Moto tricks, especially in front of crowds--not my cup of tea. Must have been neat to "drool" over those bikes.
ReplyDeleteKeith:
ReplyDeleteI always like seeing a sidecar scooter and thought you would too. Those were small vespa's so not very powerful either. You'd be fine on city streets. Yes, awesome weather. It was 85F yesterday. I really enjoyed riding around on my scooter.
Sharon:
The St. Bernard was a drool machine this week! He is such a calm dog too. I've seen him a few times now. I like watching moto tricks, but stunting on an open, public road is dumb.
Dear Chris:
ReplyDeleteI find nothing to be as exciting as a gathering of motorcycles. Especially when the bikes are as diverse and unique as the ones in your pictures. I liked the scooter sidecars, and the sidecar for the (GS) with the dog in it.
I regret that there was at least one serious accident -- but considering the number of bikes assembled for this event (1000 plus) -- the statistic is to be expected. I cannot imagine why someone would risk injury and expense torturing a rig through a stoppie.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Dear Jack: I'd have to agree, a large group of motorcycles is exciting! If I'm lucky, I'll get to ride the GS with the dog in it before the snow flies!
ReplyDeleteThe wannabe stunter was probably showing off for the ladies. I think the H2-era Riepe can relate. ;)
Cool man. Gotta say I'm more into the old stuff and the sidecars than the light kits, but they are pretty cool too. Keith mentioned this site when he saw I was looking for some winter gear. I'm sure I don't need it nearly as much as you in Minnesnowda. (Born and raised in MN - 23 years there, I love that place) He was right, your site was worth checking out. Good luck staying warm, and keep safe when the white stuff flies.
ReplyDeleteBrady
Behind Bars - Motorcycles and Life
Brady: Thanks and welcome! I like unique bikes - things I don't see often.
ReplyDeleteCheck out my previous post for winter gear ideas.
Any particular winter gear you're looking for?
Now that I have my sidecar working well, I'm eager for some snow! :) Riding on the frozen lakes is very fun!