There's not been a post in a while just about a ride, so here's one. Since I ride daily to and fro work and whatever else I may need to get done that I don't have haul something, I don't need to look forward to the weekend ride. I came across two riding a motorcycle, moving rather cautiously on Friday and thought he was new to riding and decided to take the misses for an evening ride. My guess was correct when I was able to stop and talk with them for a minute. As we went our separate ways I thought that this is such a great escape and said a prayer they would have many happy miles together. Back to my Saturday ride. It was calling for rain but at the moment the sky was clear and I check NOAA on the internet to see what was approaching. I could see a heavy band of rain heading straight for us and decided I could get some things from the hardware and head out on a ride before it hit. When I got to the hardware store there was a long line, so by the time I got home the rain was already here. When it slack off a little after  a few minutes I got on the Vision and headed out south, knowing more rain was coming and my yard work would be abandoned. I went south because I figured it would be open skies and by the time I need to be home the storms would be gone.  

I took a nice ride down VA RT35 that runs to Courtland, Va and then on RT58 over to Franklin, about a 55 miles. Very mild twisties and very little traffic it felt good just to ride with no particular thing to do. I did not see many bikes on the road and there was truck traffic from those heading to the paper mill in Franklin. I listen to the CB and heard truckers talking about a horrific accident on I95 around Richmond. My wife was headed to S.C. to take the granders home after staying for a week and was glad she had headed south instead of north. I could see the looming darkness of the storm in my rear views and was glad to be out and about and not stuck in the house while it was raining. I’m still in awe after months of riding of how this is a perfect fit for me and how the timing was right in line for making this purchase. I could have rode a lot further, but I was under time constraints to get back and take my stepson to work by 4pm. I’ve never been to Franklin, Va before, but it makes history every few years. The main part of the old town was built literally down in a bottom by the Blackwater River. This will cause heavy flooding, literally submerging this part of town on at least two recent occasions. One was with Hurricane Floyd, and another time when just heavy rains came fast. They quickly rebuild and it’s back to normal in no time. I stopped at Arby’s to have a famous roast beef sandwich and then headed back home. As I was leaving Franklin, I had notice the sky was darkened and pondered if the storm had moved south along with me. It looked unavoidable to return home without getting wet and debated as to whether I should put on the Toggs. I decided to go as long as I could without putting them on and headed on out. Fortunately the band of rain was narrow as I headed back north and it was only moderately heavy. All in all, I probably had a good six miles of rain as I cut across the band. Apparently, the storm direction changed on me and had swept across instead of following a path over the house as I had thought. That meant it had only rained a few minutes at the house and I was out riding instead of doing much need yard work. Oh, well, yard work is for those who don’t ride anyway.

I tried to pay careful attention to the rider “envelop” while the rain was coming down, and found it to be ideal around 62mph. At this speed it seems the force field is fully engaged and minimal rain sweeps over the tall windshield with it fully raised. I didn’t experience any hydroplaning at this speed, but felt it was near the threshold, so that poses a dilemma on the back highways such as RT35. On the interstate, the road is built, to my understanding, to minimize hydroplaning, so it may be less of a concern. On a back road such as RT35, two problems exist, one the speed limit is 55 and two, they are not hydroplaning friendly. So I found myself in that narrow field of keeping the force field engaged and keeping from breaking traction. I wondered if I got pulled for speeding, that I could explain to the officer that it was Victory’s fault for not lowering the limit on the force field. I mostly took a few extra rain drops to the face in return for staying on the highway. I also mused myself in that every time there was lightning my iPod would emit static, and this might be a reason for another “fix”. I don’t think I’ll report that to Polaris when I complain about the force field activation range needing to be lowered.

Finally the weather broke and the road was quickly drying. I came to one curve where the road was still wet and felt a little give when I hit that portion, but the Vision still clung tight to the road. On the over all trip I saw a few head jerks to get another look, but not as many as when I first got the Vision. I’m kinda figuring that this bike has been out now going on 9 months and folks have starting seeing them more or reading about them. I had a trucker tell me once I got back onto I95 that it looks like a modern chopper made for touring. Another guy at a stop light asked me a few questions. How comfortable is it, and how does it ride, very and great was my reply. He just shook his head north/south and moved on. I’m looking forward to a few organized rides this year. One, the commanding general of Fort Lee rides, and he’s having a farewell ride on the 26^th. A high school friend’s wife is throwing him a surprise birthday party on the 19^th and he rides a chopper. And then there is Rolling Thunder the end of May. Thanks for reading, I’m no PBR, but I think reading about other’s rides helps those who are looking, decide to invest in a Vision.

varyder,

This was such a Vision-Rider story. Who else would leave the rain gear off just to see how long they could last!? I have this video in my head of you slowing down and speeding up in the rain until you find that perfect force field, 62 mph. Hilarious.