2009 March 28 - Demo Days

2009 March 28 - Demo Days - Cycle Specialties in Modesto

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Today is the Modesto Triumph/BMW dealership's Triumph Demo Day. Eric, Pdub, Daniel and Jess drive down at 7:30AM to be the first in line to sign up for their favorite bikes to ride.

All would take two test rides on two different bikes.

Since my 1997 BMW R850R is due for a major service, I phone Pdub to see if I can get a ride home after leaving my R850R at Cycle Specialties for them to service. It turns out that I can. So I get a later start and arrive just in time to have lunch, hot dogs, salad, chips, cookies and soft drinks. I leave home around 11:15 and get to the dealership near Noon. I am not taking any test rides.
Cycle Specialties Web Site

Triumph USA has a traveling van loaded with a bunch of demo bikes for people to take group test rides.
The Triumph van and test bikes lined up

Here is the 2009 Bonneville

Cycle Specialties has been a long time BMW motorcycle dealer. They added Piaggio and Vespa scooters a few years ago. They added Triumph in mid 2008 and have just started flooring a lot of Triumphs after moving to their new and much larger store location in November of 2008.
Jimmy the owner's son at the computer

Free food - you know that is where the Rats are.
Jess and Pdub chowing down

Bill, Karen and Ralph - fellow members of my Central California BMW Riders Club


Daniel, Pdub, Jess and Eric with the Triumph van in the background

Now between their first and second test rides the four drove a few blocks to the Ducati dealership to test ride Ducati's. There was that debacle that happened the day of the NCTRF trip to Modesto to view various motorcycles. The test rider after Pdub totaled a new Duke. Now the dealership is again offering test rides.

By the time that I get there Pdub and Jess have already had two Triumph test rides. Eric and Daniel are scheduled at 1:00 PM for their second Triumph test rides.
Eric and Daniel displaying their wrist bands which have the time and bike for test rides


John W, the owner of the dealership is cooking the hot dogs

As Eric and Daniel get ready for their second test ride Jess decides to have seconds or perhaps thirds on the hot dogs.

Pdub is skipping the buns now

Now Jess is skipping the buns

Here is Gale the sales manager sitting at his desk

While Eric and Daniel are on their second test ride. Pdub drives Jess and me to visit the local Kawasaki/Honda and the Suzuki dealerships.
Jess trying on a helmet at the Suzuki dealer

Eric and Daniel returning from their test ride quickly grab a drink or a dog

We are now ready to leave and because of my age I am allowed to ride "shot gun".
Five in a Honda Civic head back to Stockton and Elk Grove. It is just a 40 minute or so drive to my home. Then the rest can sit more comfortably on their ride home.

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2009 March 21 - Planning Meeting

2009 March 21 - Planning Meeting

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We just set up two Rides today. April 18th is the Sausage Feed. First Ride will be led by Pdub. It will be a River Roads Ride starting in West Sacramento. The date is Saturday, May 16, 2009.

The second Ride will be lead by Phil and is the Downieville Ride. It will be on Saturday, June 20, 2009.

Later Rides will be decided at the Sausage Feed. But one will be in the Foothills to the south of Hwy 50 and include lunch at a Winery Deli near Mt Aukum. Another Foothill Ride will be to the north of Hwy 50.

The weather looked like rain sometime during the afternoon. So I chose to drive my little Corolla.Notice the cows grazing just before the houses start. This is north bound on I-5 at the south end of Elk Grove

The front of Bonn Lair.

Pdub heading into our Sitting Room.

A partial list of the brews available.

This is the view as you enter from the front door.

Dart room is in the back just before the rear exit.

This is the Sitting Room where we held our Meeting. Pdub was the first one there he also drove. I arrived just as two wild turkeys were walking down the middle of J Street right in front of the Bonn Lair. By the time I got the camera out the turkeys were too far away to see in the photo.

Pdub ordering lunch and drinks. It was a bit after one and I was hungry.


A live band plays at the Bonn Lair on Saturdays from 1 to 4 PM.

Jess and Eric arrive riding their Triumphs.

Les arrives riding an older Honda Shadow 750 from Stockton.

Tom arrives at his usual time. This time he has an excuse. He started out on his bike and went home to get his car.

Our two Triumphs from the NorCal Triumph Riders and Friends.


Pdub just finished eating his free breakfast at Ikea, so ordered mash and gravy. I on the other hand got the Shepard's Pie. It was very good but a bit light on the meat.

Eric and Jess each got a Scotch Egg. Both were disappointed that the sausage was very bland.
They also had the Banger sandwich smoothered in grilled onions and a burger. The best was the Banger sandwich.

What is left of the Banger sandwich.

Tom eating a piece of a Scotch Egg.

My smoking area in the back. It was covered which was good when the rain started.

Heading out after our meeting.

I picked up a rider in the bar, who today was riding a 250 Aprilia scooter. He is behind Tom.

The Triumphs are parked in front of the 24 hour Barber Shop/Massage Parlour.

Pdub is carrying the new mirrors for the Legend. I think Eric is checking to see if he has enough money for a Massage.



I say my good byes and head over to Café Rolle to pick up a sandwich for dinner. Today I picked up a duck paté sandwich.


One last Sacramento stop at the Japanese bakery to pick up dessert.

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