Preston Juvenal

13219 Blossomheath Lane

Dallas, TX 75240

Honda Sport Touring Association

October 2006 Texas Newsletter

www.txhsta.com

NORTH TEXAS DIRECTOR DIALOGUE – Preston Juvenal

This is it, riding season is upon us! The weather’s cooling, colors are changing and wheels are rolling! My old (1994) Beemer is coming back together after some extensive service at 9OK and I’m about ready to roll….I’m also busy collecting some great door prizes for the Texas Hill Country Rally first weekend in November…how’s a FREE TRACK DAY sound to ya? How about some FREE TIRES? That’s just the start of some great stuff that’ll make a terrific rally even better. Put this one on your list if it’s not already there, then come down and dodge the deer with us on some of the best roads that the Kerrville area has to offer.

Up north here, Charlie Woods is starting our Sunday rides again this month and Jim Poulos is doing some member rides out of Denton. You have no excuse, put those wheels in motion and we’ll see ya out there. PJ

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY 2006

The dates for the rally are November 3-5, 2006. For more information check these links!! http://www.geocities.com/jfpoulos/THC2006.html

The location is the Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Resort.
2033 Sidney Baker,Kerrville, Texas (I-10 and Hwy 16). For hotel information click on this link: Y.O. Ranch Hotel

For hotel reservations, call toll free at 1-877-967-3767. Be sure to tell them you're with HSTA, for the $64.00 rate per room.

Contact: Tim & Teresa Vipond

Registration will be in the hotel lobby as follows: Friday: 4:00PM to 8:00PMand Saturday: 7:30 AMto 9:00 AM. Rally fees are $30.00 for members, $25.00 for member of household,(includes banquet dinner) and $20.00 for extra banquet tickets. Rally fees, and dinner for joining new members, FREE!

All information for the event will be provided for you in your registration package.

Come and have a great time!! Contact: Tim & Teresa Vipond tvipond@houston.rr.com

Member Activities of Note…..

Dave and Connie Schluter recently shared this via email…. Dave writes “Back in May we went to the BMW sponsored track day at Cresson, we had a blast. On the last session Connie came into her own. After the session we all were up by the clubhouse and the instructors was giving Connie high five's and going on about her riding. I said something about her passing me towards the end of the session, her reply "OH, Honey I didn’t pass you, I lapped you."

I honestly must say that I was in awe. Check out her track pictures. http://davcon.smugmug.com

Europe on $250 per day…..And worth every Euro

By Russ Weik

Europe is a tremendous adventure by motorcycle.  The panoramas, history, and mix of cultures will engage you like nothing else in the states.  I will explain the preparation and planning needed to have a successful trip.  In a subsequent article I will talk about the roads.

For your first trip to Europe, I highly recommend an organized tour, or going with someone who has been. At the end of the guided tour, most companies will extend use of the motorcycle for some personal exploring.  Do it!  I have rented from Edelweiss, Beaches and on this trip Mototouring, (in Milan, Italy, mototouring.com).  Each has provided excellent service.  You should contact a local European motorcycle dealership for a recommendation.

Eligio and Eliana of Motortouring were extremely valuable with their help arranging hotels, suggesting routes, and reading weather patterns.  They thoroughly enjoy motorcycle touring and their enthusiasm is infectious.

I thought they were going to lock the doors and go with us.  Most of Europe seems partial to August for vacationing (they call it holiday).  Try to avoid this time if possible.  Most hotels and B&B's indicated that it is difficult to accommodate this demand.  On a previous August trip, some camp grounds became so crowded, that we could not move the motorcycles until many others had left.  Europeans accept living closer together than Americans do.

Work with the rental agency to chose the correct bike for your style and route plan,  dependability is essential.  I chose an R1100RT, which was comfortable on the Autostrada/autobahn but wrong for the Alps.  My close friend, Jim, chose the R1150GS, which was much better in the mountains. The agencies offer a wide choice of motorcycles.  Take your "A" riding game but try to contain your riding to 70%.  This is no place for mistakes.  The

Edelweiss brochure says "This tour has steep mountain passes, tight switch backs and on coming traffic, think about it."

I investigated several different methods to get my bike to Europe. None were easy nor cost justifiable.  American insurance is a huge obstacle. For anything under a month, just rent it.

The European Union uses the Euro dollar as common currency.  This alleviates the old problem of carrying multiple currencies and made purchasing much easier. Switzerland has not joined the EU and continues to use their own currency. It's interesting that they will take Euros but give you change in francs. Yeah, I didn't want them either.  Visa is the most accepted card, followed by MasterCard, then American Express. All have recently begun to charge an additional 3% on European charges. ATMs are easy to find and you need your pin and billing zip code.  24 hours before you go, call the customer service center of your credit card to alert

them of your trip or they will block charges.

The hotels will need your passport to confirm their guest list with the "Hotel Police."  I think this had something to do with cash sales and the resulting tax consequences.  We had no difficulties retrieving the passports when we needed them.  Do not leave the hotel without it.  Do not expect to have yours stamped at every border crossing.  Motorcycles get a wave-through frequently.  If you are smuggling something, it cannot be much and digging for your passport ties up their time for real criminals.

Contact your cell phone service for international compatibility (GSM). Calls this year are still $1 per minute.  Calling cards are available at better rates but provide less flexibility.  Italy is seven times zones ahead of CST, so calls home will be at unusual hours.  A country code will have to be added before the regular area code.  Consult your provider for a country

list and instructions for dialing.  Internet services are plentiful and varied in their charges.

We found the best rates at local libraries.  Keyboards can be a challenge because many do not conform to the standard USA qwerty display and use European symbols.

You can find KFC, Micky D's, Burger Kings, and Taco Bells and occasionally you will yearn for some of these.  One of my favorites is buying a beir (beer) at McDonald's anytime, any day.  Truly a "Happy meal."

European food is wonderful.  Fewer preservatives and much of it grown with natural fertilizer.  Enjoy the richness but allow your digestive system time to adjust to the change.  All the hotels (except France) included a continental breakfast.  Not your American sticky bun and coffee but nearly a full buffet with ham, sausages, eggs, breads, cheeses, yogurt, cereals, and fruits, a breakfast persons paradise.   Meals in a restaurant are considered an event and can easily take two hours.  There will be several courses, each of which would have been a full meal to me. There is plenty to share with a companion and sharing is not frowned upon.

Obtaining ice in a drink was strange. Ice means ice cream in most countries.  Once past that obstacle, they feel they are selling you a watered-down drink by adding ice cubes.  Three cubes is the standard amount and six if you have communicated lots of ice.

If you can remember any of your college French or German, here is the time to use it.  They appreciate the effort, however poorly, of communicating in their language.  They are use to people who speak other languages.  Try to learn the local words for please and thank you as quickly as possible (BTW: stretching out the right foot is a motorcyclist thank you after a pass.). We survived many situations where none of us spoke a common language. Pointing and stick figure drawings worked very well.  In many cases it is as simple as selecting a different word.  Wash salon is their version of a Laundromat, fabric can be a rag.

Pack clothing as if you were going to Colorado. Eligio helped us read the weather patterns.  As any mountainous area, the higher you go the colder and worse the weather will be, but it can also change for the better just over the next pass (or through a tunnel).  Be prepared to spend a day in the wet to get to the good stuff.  Traversing a mountain pass maybe necessary to reach a destination for the evening, but wet switchbacks can be a challenge.  Be flexible about your destination city.

One very noticeable observation by a dietitian in our party was the lack of obese people.  America has grown to accept "fatness", pun intended. Europe's culture accepts walking and bicycling as normal daily movement. Nude statues and paintings that have honored the human form for thousands of years will surround you.  Speedos on men are common, don't gag.

Women don't mind an appreciative glance but do not like a stare. Both sexes are comfortable with their original designs.  We came upon the infamous "fashion" police in Europe.  Some cathedrals require sleeves on shirts and shorts below the knees.  When in Rome, do as the Romans.

Take some type of American trinkets to give to friends you make.  Well received were Disney Land figurines and Texas bandanas.  I also gave a couple Deals Gap t-shirts to some special people.  Bikers know about this road, however, I think they would be disappointed to ride it based on their hometown roads.

Europe is an expensive vacation.  But if you have ridden Colorado, California, West Virginia, and Tennessee then you need to expand your experience.  We have all taken photos of scenic vistas, and then tried to explain to friends how much better being there actually was.  I cannot

explain the deep rewarding feeling you will bring home from this trip. But, I can guarantee you will wish you had gone ten years earlier.  I am looking forward to another trip in 2009.  I hope you are planning to go soon.   Russ

STAR ’06 Picture Links

Harry Hemstreet, HSTA Colorado State Director
http://hemstreet.smugmug.com/gallery/1605368

Denise Dickenson, Oklahoma HSTA http://members.cox.net/okhsta/
State Director and Webmaster
Here are a few that I took while playing in those great mountains.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/myhawk96/album?.dir=/fe43&.src=ph&.tok=phfOCFFBL3lgU2tW

Preston’s pictures from STAR ’06 (Apologize upfront for lack of description)

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pjonbike/album?.dir=a19e&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

New Member Welcome- Please welcome these new HSTA members. Give ‘em a call and invite them for coffee or a ride!

Terry Hodges of Waxahacie 972-938-3388 rides an ST1300 and a KLR650.
Robert McHam of Bellaire 713-664-6232 rides an ST1100.

Newsletter Help Send us sumpin’…..and for those that already have, THANKS

Taken any neat trips lately? Planning any neat trips? Buy a new bike? Got a new goody we should know about? Got a funny photo? Have a good tip? Want to buy or sell something? Heck, we’ll even promote your business if it’s MC related in some way. Please email either tvipond@houston.rr.com or pjuvenal@comcast.netwith any information you would like to have put in this newsletter.

Upcoming HSTA Rallies

Denise Dickerson does such a nice job, why reinvent the wheel, here’s the list…

http://members.cox.net/okhsta/2006_tentative_hsta_national_eve.htm

Want to go for a ride in the Houston area?

Please note, the rules have changed…… http://www.txhsta.com/Rules.html

Crab Cake Thursday (CCT) "Just For Fun" motorcycle event in Houston...

We have a group of about 15+ HSTA sports/sports-touring motorcycle enthusiasts (Dan Barineau, Dave and Linda Beverly, Dan Duncavage, Mike Gilliland, Dave and Tonie Gorham, Tim and Julie Haas, Doug and B.B. Harris, Bob Lacy, Linz Leard, Dave Melendez, Herb Miner, Grant Threat, Mary Jane and I) that have been gathering on the third Thursday of every month for seafood and cold beverages at Noah's Ark seafood grill and pub in Bacliff, Texas starting around 6:00 p.m. Bacliff is just south of Kemah off Highway 146, and Noah's Ark is located right on the water. We generally sit outside right next to the motorcycles and enjoy the seascape, tech talk and standard HSTA b.s.'ing. I've attached a map for the geographically challenged.

Please feel free to pass the word to your fellow enthusiasts. Owning or riding a motorcycle to this event is obviously not required. Thanks, Robert A. "Dog" Maddocks HSTA (832) 330-7337

robert.a.maddocks@nasa.gov

Every Saturday and Sunday morning meet with the East Fort Bend Riders Club at the Taco Cabana located 5850 State Highway6 in Missouri City, at 8:00on every Saturday and Sunday. This is a S-L-O-W cruiser ride for a few hours for lunch someplace different each time.

Every Sunday morning meet with the Texas Sport Bike Association at the Jack in the Box on FM359 in Brookshire just south of I-10. We depart at 8 a.m.. This is a fast pace ride not recommended for slow pokes or beginners. Helmet, jacket, gloves and boots required. You can learn more about TSBA at www.tsba.org.

The remnants of "Bob's Breakfast Club" still meet fairly regularly at Starbucks, Louetta Rd. @ Kuykendahl in far NW Houston on Sunday mornings between 8am & 9am, weather permitting, and meeting a little earlier now that the weather is heating up.

A typical ride takes us on mostly back roads North to Montgomery, along SH149 thru the Sam Houston National Forest to Richards, possibly thru Anderson on to Carlos via FM3090 (famous in these parts) and lunch at either the Yankee Tavern in Carlos or a lunch/brunch back in Montgomery at King's Cafe after riding back thru Anderson and Richards. We ride at a moderately brisk rate and always have full protective gear.

The last Wednesday of the month the HSTA travels to Angleton for Hamburger Wednesday at the Icehouse Bar & Grill, 2016 N. Velasco St Angleton, TX 77515 (979) 849-0084. Bikes start showing up after work and stay well after dark.

Kudos to Lynn Sherrill (South Texas email coordinator) for keeping all there informed. South Texas members who have not received email or snail mail from him, please contact him at marcelle100@kingwoodcable.netwith their email address.

Want to go for a ride in the North Texas area?

Please note, the rules have changed…… http://www.txhsta.com/Rules.html

Sunday Rides- Charlie Wood and Wilbert Simpson lead a typically brisk paced 300 mile day through some of the more scenic and rural areas of north central Texas. Every 2nd and 4th Sunday we meet in Arlington for breakfast, then head out for points south and beyond. We have numerous routes that we ride, but are known to explore new roads. We always find a good place to eat. Best way to know when and where: get on Charlie’s email list charlie-wood@sbcglobal.net or call him (817) 467-6042. A reminder is sent out about mid-week along with a planned route of the ride. We welcome all who want to ride, members and nonmembers, invite a friend.

Saturday Rides – Jim Poulos, Jamo1935@aol.comcoordinates Saturday Rides from the DFW Metroplex area. Watch your email for notification…..

Classifieds and Local Member Opportunities

We’ve sold all kinds of MC stuff for HSTA members all over the US, send us your ad!

This one is getting a lot of press….no idea if it’s still for sale, let’s hope not:

$10,000 06' Suzuki GSXR 1000 Farmington, UT 84025 - Aug 7, 2006

2006 Suzuki 1000. This bike is perfect! It has 1000 miles and has had its 500 mile dealer service. (Expensive) It's been adult ridden; all wheels have always been on the ground. I use it as a cruiser/commuter. I'm selling it because it was purchased without proper consent of a loving wife. Apparently "do whatever the hell you want" doesn't mean what I thought. Call me, Steve. (801)867-8292

For Sale: I disassembled a 1997 ST1100, red, and used it in an experimental bike. I some all of the plastic and some sub assemblies for sale. Donald Conley, Amarillo, Texas 806 376 5853, 622 2311. emailat djconley@arn.net

Double your OEM oil change mileage interval with AMSOIL 100% synthetic motorcycle oil! 10W40 #MCF-QT is $8.60 a quart. 20W50 #MCV-QT is $9.10 a quart. 75W90 synthetic gear lube for shaft drives #SVG-QT is $10.80 a quart. Or with $10 membership get 20-30% off these and all other AMSOIL items. Plus tax and shipping. To order, visit my website at www.lubedealer.com/TimVipond or call me at 281-565-0580. Your bike should run cooler, get better gas mileage, shift better and last longer!

2005 DUCATI ST4S RED (Is there really any other color for an Italian motorcycle?) with Silver frame and wheels. ORIGINAL OWNER: I purchased the bike new in 2005.
~18,400 mi. (I’m still riding her occasionally)

UNLIMITED MILEAGE FACTORY WARRANTY continues until end of May 2007

Includes all the standard ST4s unobtanium bits:

* Awesome 996 SuperBike L Twin motor cranks out 121 HP claimed by Ducati
* Titanium nitride coated Showa forks adjustable for preload, compression and rebound.
* Marchesini lightweight cast aluminum wheels
* Ohlins 2-way adjustable rear shock (compression and rebound) with remote preload

Adjuster
*Adjustable handle bars, up and down

* Redesigned seat, better than aftermarket. I initially bought a Sargent, but sold it and

went back to the stocker as it is far more comfortable on long rides.
* Lightweight aluminum swingarm
* Twin exhaust silencers can be raised with hard bags removed for a sportier attitude
* Brembo Gold-line front and rear brakes Steel braided brake and clutch lines.
* Factory installed power socket on left side of bike for heated clothing
* Color-matched, locking hard luggage, with the mounting brackets installed

* Two black ignition keys and one red programming key with owner’s manual and info

* Tool kit and Ducati Kryptonite (new style) U Lock

AFTERMARKET ITEMS INCLUDE:
Grip heater Kimpex elements installed under SuperBike grips with hi/low switch.

New Continental Road Attack Sport Touring Tires (<1,000 miles put on them)

New Carbone Lorraine SBK front brake pads for better stopping power/feel over stock.

Clear vinyl removable (non-adhesive) tank protectors were installed when the bike was new to prevent any wear from knees on the tank.

Clear lens rear turn signals to match stock front signals.

This ST4s has been maintained by the award-winning

ADVANCED MOTORSPORTS DUCATI (AMS).

Maintenance records are included with the motorcycle.

Valves adjusted and belts replaced by AMS at 13,500 miles.

She runs like a Superbike should and that 4 valve 996 motor is the sweetest.
This motorcycle looks like new. She has always been garaged and never dropped or down. Other than a are a few rock chips under the bottom of chin spoiler, which is unavoidable, there was a minor scuff on the right saddlebag where I paddled the bike into a bollard at a gas station, doh! but it has been rubbed out and it’s not really noticeable unless pointed out

REASON I’M SELLING: I’ve got too many bikes and not enough time to ride them all. I know I will miss this Duc as she gets lots of looks everywhere we go and sounds like nothing else on the road.

PRICE: $11,750 which is below average retail in both NADA and Kelly Blue Book

LOCATION/TITLE The bike is located in Helotes, TX the gateway to the Texas Hill Country.

Clear title in hand.

DELIVERY POSSIBLE: Bike may be able to be delivered (trailered) for the cost of fuel to points along the interstate between San Antonio and St. Louis as I am traveling there on September 28 - Oct 1.

FLY N RIDE If you wish to fly into San Antonio, I’ll meet you at the airport with the bike on my trailer. Just put your spare t-shirts in the saddlebags and head out on your dream ride through the Texas Hill Country to your own ultimate two-wheeled destination!

More pictures available upon request.

Contact me directly at wkocal@satx.rr.com

Thanks for looking!

Walt
AMA

HSTA (Honda Sport Touring Association)

The Dan Clark Safety Program

Want to upgrade your helmet? Time for some better riding gear?Taking a M.S.F. or State approved rider education course? The “Dan Clark Safety Fund” may be able to off set some of the cost of these safety items.

The Dan Clark Safety Program

Will reimburse 20 members 50% of the cost of safety equipment and training, up to $100 each item, this year.All you need to do to be eligible for the drawing is send a dated copy of your receipts to:

HSTA V.P.

731 Holbrook Ave.

Lebanon, Ohio 45036-1647

Drawing will be held on January 15, 2007

The 20 winners will be announced at STAR~07

You don’t need to be present to win.