Featured Rideout Worth The Wait! Finally, The Inaugural Ride On My New Non- Triumph

Way back on May 2nd I traded the two Harley-Davidsons I owned at the time for a new 2020 Street Glide Special. Yesterday, after 148 days (but who's counting?) of patiently rehabbing from a bicycle accident and admiring my new bike as it waited patiently for me in the garage, I rode it for the first time! It was glorious and I felt great--much better than I thought I'd feel after not riding a big touring bike for over eight months.



We've been doing a Sunday group ride with a small group of friends the past several weeks but I've ridden my Triumph Speed Triple RS exclusively. I started riding that bike back on August 1st. Speedy is lighter than my Street Glide, the clutch pull is lighter, and I could use the quick shifter if my hand tired during a ride. So I was lucky to be able to start riding nearly two months ago thanks to Speedy's characteristics. But I knew I wasn't yet ready for this "big boy"--until yesterday. Mr. Sandi suggested that he ride my Speed Triple so that we could swap bikes if I felt at any point like I needed to finish the ride on a smaller bike. I think he had an ulterior motive in there as well since he loves riding my Triumph.



We decided to do a familiar route and have breakfast at the halfway point. So we rode up to the town of Oracle which is about 35 miles from our house and we had a lovely breakfast at the Oracle Patio Cafe. Some of you will recognize this place as I've posted photos from this venue before. It was a gorgeous sunny day with very comfortable temperatures, particularly during the first half of the ride. I was so excited and happy to finally be riding my "new" four-month-old bike that I smiled and laughed in my helmet nearly all the way there.



I was amazed and, honestly, somewhat relieved by how comfortable I felt riding this bike for the first time. It's very similar to one of the bikes I traded, a 2017 Road Glide Special. The two bikes are essentially the same except for different fairing styles and different handlebars. Mr. Sandi also has a Street Glide and having ridden my Road Glide while I was on the "injured reserve list", he predicted that I would like the Street Glide better. The jury is still out because I think the Road Glide fairing may be better at cutting through the wind at highway speeds. But I have to say I think Mr. Sandi's prediction will stand. The faring on my new bike is more compact and sits closer to the rider and consequently that somehow makes the whole bike seem smaller and lighter. I guess I'll have to just start putting in the miles to see if that prediction stands. Tough work but somebody's gotta do it.



As we approached the Oracle Patio Cafe we saw three old-school kick start choppers outside the restaurant. Soon after the owners came out and we chatted a bit. There are inevitably motorcycles parked outside this restaurant on Sunday mornings but usually none as "cool" as these. But while they were cool looking, they didn't strike me as being very cool to ride! Or to start...two of the three had a time of it to get their bikes running. Good exercise, though, I guess!





The food and coffee is terrific at the Oracle Patio Cafe. It's like a little "foodie haven" in the middle of a rural Arizona town far off the beaten path. They have a small market on the premises, too. Part of the Cafe's COVID protocol is to serve everything on and in disposal plates and cups and with plastic silverware. \We often sit on the patio out back but today had the front patio all to ourselves at the one little two-top table available in that location. The indoor seating is a delight--the Cafe used to be a house and has lots of small rooms--but another part of their COVID protocol is outdoor seating only. Here's Mr. Sandi scoping out the menu.



Today I had a simple breakfast of bacon, eggs, potatoes, and fruit. Mr. Sandi tried something new today at the recommendation of our server--corned beef hash. He loved it and was willing to share a taste with me. Delicious! In fact, Mr. Sandi liked his meal so much that he was halfway through it before I could get my iPhone out for a photo!





I went in to pay our bill and chat a bit with the cashier. It's always fun to see what baked goodies they have for sale and we typically take something home for the next day. Today I bought a couple of the rice crispy bars. There was a new display on the wall with earrings for sale made by an artist from Oaxaca MX. The earrings are unique in that they are made of items from the desert including some that are made from rattlesnake bones!



My thread conclusion is in the next post........

 

Here is a closer shot of the earrings along with information about the artist. Check out the sign in the top right hand corner of the photo. Especially you two, @Bad Billy and @dilligaf!




The ride home was a bit toasty but I was so darned happy I barely noticed. Altogether we rode about 75 miles today and I was pretty pooped and ready to hit the garage during the last five miles or so. I'm getting back into the riding routines groove which I refer to as "procedural memory" (a psychologist jargon thingy). So I didn't think to zero out my trip odometer until we were about five miles up the road at the start of the ride. I was pretty excited and proud to do 75 miles on this inaugural Street Glide ride today. My first post-accident rideout on my Speed Triple on August 1st was only about 35 miles. But I have been getting out on my Triumph regularly so I think that has helped with my riding fitness.


Here's my big orange machine tucked safely and happily back in our garage. I'm starting to feel almost normal and like a motorcyclist again! Later in the day I celebrated my big day back in the touring bike saddle with a Boulevardier cocktail. Cheers!





There's always something to learn in this life. For me in 2020 Aristotle said it well.....

 

Thanks, B! Wow, so your mom lives in Catalina?! We ride through there regularly! What a truly small world we live in.

 

Thanks, JtC! I am truly pleased with my new bike....and with my ability to now ride it.

Yes, the American Southwest is amazing and provides incredibly beautiful and diverse riding--from the lows of Death Valley to the highs of Colorado mountain passes, from Utah's surreal Bonneville Salt Flats and New Mexico's White Sands to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. From rural ranching communities to the glitz of Las Vegas. And so much more! I know that quite a few forum members have ridden parts of the American Southwest and shared some of their adventures. Might be a fun thread actually!

 

And speaking of the great southwest, @JtC, have you done your AZ Lost Dutchman State Park trip yet?

 

Cool! You can post pics and stories of your Lost Dutchman adventures on the "What you doing with your non-Triumph". Hint, hint....

 

Thanks, Billy! I am definitely looking forward to TAKING one of our epic road trips in 2021. None to be had this year for a number of reasons.

Yes, pie is a definite solution to many if not most of life's difficulties and woes. Maybe you just haven't had enough yet to fix that bad back, eh? This cafe definitely believes in the power of pie!!

 

Yes, that AZ Highway 60 Globe to Show Low is an awesome ride, JtC! The Salt River Canyon portion is stunning and reminds me of a miniature Grand Canyon. We generally try to take that route any time we're riding up into the White Mountains or continuing on to Springerville on our way to northern New Mexico. Not the quickest route but one of the best!

 

Thanks, Don! Yes, we are blessed with an abundance of terrific food here in southern Arizona, that’s for sure.