Bike night and Ducati MH900e

Well, I finally made it to bike night, I haven’t been since end of May or beginning of June, yea, pathetic since I live so close, but with the traveling and bad weather, it happens.

I rode the 900SS there which I haven’t been on since exactly a month ago, again traveling and bad weather is to blame. This was actually the 5th time on this bike for me.

There were at least 12-14 other Ducs there tonight. But the most amazing Ducati there was the Mike Hailwood 900 Evoluzione. I’ve never seen one in person before, what an amazing piece of machinery.



The MH900e was a limited edition bike sold only over the internet to commemorate Mike Hailwood's 1978 Isle of Man Championship. 2000 were made, about 500 made it to the United States and no more will ever be made.

The powerplant is the venerable 900 desmodue air cooled motor. The bike has a single sided/single shock swingarm made specifically for the bike, and the front has non-adjustable forks. I just wished I brought my digital camera there, the phone camera can’t possibly capture the beauty of this bike, actually no camera can.

Disappointed in Honda shop

I have favorite dealerships that I like to use for all my bikes for service, but since moving last summer I have decided to use a Honda shop that was a bit closer to me out of convenience. I called them on a Friday and wanted to make an appointment for the 30K service on the 954RR. They said they were slow at the moment and to bring the bike in either that day or the next morning, so the next day, Saturday morning I brought the bike there and I just picked it up now…. That was 25 days ago!!!

I was very greatfull when my ride fell through and the guy from the shop was able to give me a ride home, I live only about a mile and a half from there.

Of course I was honest and I told them that I was in no hurry and didn’t need the bike right away, I did want it back before I left for Alaska though. I called three times during the first week and a half and they hadn’t even looked at it.

Each phone call I told them that if they weren’t done before I left on vacation, they would have to keep it until I got back. So I called again the day before flying out to AK and still no action. Then during my vacation I got a voice mail, they had finally looked at my bike and the cam chain tensioner (CCT) needed to be replaced, they needed me to call and approve the work, which I did.

So I’m a bit disappointed. I’m used to making an appointment and getting my bikes back within a few days, usually 2-4, nothing over a week, and most definitely not two weeks. So I just ask, how can they stay in business when all the dealerships I deal with can turn my bikes around in a few days, even the Ducatis.

I rode the bike home, it sounded great. I thought the noises were valves that needed adjustment but apparently it was the CCT. They seemed to look over the bike pretty well and even informed me I needed a new front tire, I think they did a good job but I just can’t get over the 25 days that they kept my bike.

Last day in Anchorage, AK

It was a beautiful day today, sunny and mid 70’s. Mark and I rode down Seward Hwy. to Brown Bear for a bike meet/BBQ, it was mostly cruisers.



Posing with the skeleton man



Mark and I at Brown Bear







Some cool bikes at Brown Bear

Girdwood, AK - Forest Fair

We rode out to Girdwood today to check out the Forest Fair, which features Alaskan artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods and entertainers form all over Alaska.

Then we rode to Portage Lake and after that to bike night.



Entrance to Forest Fair

No Dogs ~ No Politics ~ No Religious Orders



Forest Fair stage



Train full of tourists



Portage Lake, not too many ice bergs this time of the year



Portage Lake from the visitor center side



Portage Lake from the scenic pullout



Bike night

Kayaking Robe Lake, Valdez, AK

Today was a cloudy with a bit of drizzle, the temps were in the 60’s. We took the kayaks out to Robe Lake in Valdez. So far these were the calmest waters that I’ve paddled in.















Valdez







Tonsina (haunted) Lodge, Charlie the ghost wasn't around



Fireweed flowers

After paddling we took of for Anchorage, ran into some nice weather and some rain. Stopped off for dinner at Sheep Mountain Lodge where a bicycle race was starting tomorrow, the Fireweed 400, the lodge was only serving spaghetti and salad, they were already out of salad when we got there, so we had had some vegetarian spaghetti and bread for dinner.



Heading back to Anchorage

Sea kayaking Valdez Bay, AK

Today we took kayaks out on Valdez Bay. The temperature was in the 60’s and it was cloudy, the water was calm.

In the evening we went to pot luck with Mark’s friend and who made an even better Halibut Olympia than the one we had last night at the restaurant, along with fish tacos and some delis his salmon dip.

Road trip to Valdez, AK

Today we drove 320 miles to Valdez to visit one of Mark’s friend and go paddling. The weather was on the cool side and we did encounter some scattered rain on the way in places. The roads going to Valdez is very scenic with tons of curves and good pavement, definitely a great road for a motorcycle ride.

We had dinner at Mike’s Pizza Palace in Valdez, a Greek restaurant. Mark and I both had halibut Olympia for dinner.





Mark throwing rocks





Caribou Creek







Thompson Pass approx. 2700 feet



Off-roading with the minivan









Bridal Vail Falls in Keystone Canyon