Ride Report - Galena Illinois (Picture Heavy)

Britt · 05-17-2008, 09:24 AM

I hope you folks don't mind another ride report from me, but I wanted to share some nice pics I took along the way. My VFR ran like a dream, and survived the trip with 2 nails in the rear tire! I saw a dark red 6th gen with bags on Route 20 out near Galena, so if it was someone here, say hi!

I left nice and early to try and beat traffic.

It was a bright and very sunny morning - I was glad I was riding west.

Chasing my shadow on Route 20 near Hampshire, Il.

I stopped just off Route 20 for a drink.

Route 20 west of Rockford.

Traffic was moving along well.

I took a great road called Stagecoach Trail when I got to Lena, Il.

Stagecoach Trail went through a tiny town called Warren.

Stagecoach Trail west of Warren.

Nice trees in front of a tiny house near Apple River.

Stagecoach Trail heading west again.

The Galena History Museum.

Downtown Galena's flood gates on Main St.

Riding down Main St.

The buildings in the downtown area are built on higher and higher ground.

I stopped at this mansion for a break and noticed that I had a couple of new friends along for a ride.

Since I had 2 nails in my rear tire I decided it was best to turn around and head for home. This is Route 20 east of Galena. I'm approaching a lookout tower.

This is the view from the tower area (I didn't climb it this time).

I stopped to add some air to my tire. It had lost 6 psi so far.

Route 84 headed south towards Savannah.

Mississippi Palasades State Park is a beautiful place.

Route 84 approaching Route 64.

Messing with the camera at speed on an empty Route 64.

Nuclear power plant cooling towers off in the distance in Byron, Il.

Crossing the Rock River in Byron, Il.

The Fox River in St. Charles, Il.

I got home by 2:45 and covered 338 miles - many of those with 2 nails in my rear tire.

I pulled the nails from the tire at home, and it went flat in about 20 seconds.

Joey_Dude · 05-17-2008, 09:37 AM

Wow, very nice! I'm almost inspired to pay a visit to some family up in Ohio as an excuse to check out those sights.

Those "messing with the camera" shots are really awesome. I hope you at least have some safety leash tied to the camera! I might do that too sometime but only if I can wrap the straps around my arm in case of a drop.

R.W. · 05-17-2008, 09:41 AM

Great ride report, I always like seeing pictures from different parts of the country

reg71 · 05-17-2008, 09:48 AM

great pics. I can't believe how new your bike looks. It would be awesome to find a 5g in the kind of condition... It'd be just like getting a brand new model of the best generation of VFR! (had to get that plug in there for the 5th gen)

Britt · 05-17-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reg71

great pics. I can't believe how new your bike looks. It would be awesome to find a 5g in the kind of condition... It'd be just like getting a brand new model of the best generation of VFR! (had to get that plug in there for the 5th gen)

I bought it this year with only 5800 miles on it, so it's practically new. I went over it with my polisher and a couple of 3M products and the paint is like a mirror. It is garage kept, but I want to get a stretch cover for it while at work so the sun doesn't fade things...

I am really happy with my decision to buy the 5th gen after going back and forth (5th vs 6th gen) for months!

Tori · 05-17-2008, 10:36 AM

Neat ride report....... I used to live in Peoria,..... so alot of that is familiar.

Thanks for sharing. !

mello dude · 05-17-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reg71

great pics. I can't believe how new your bike looks. It would be awesome to find a 5g in the kind of condition... It'd be just like getting a brand new model of the best generation of VFR! (had to get that plug in there for the 5th gen)

It still blows me away how many low mile 5th gens I still see out there.

MD

mello dude · 05-17-2008, 11:27 AM

Britt, nice pix. Just curious - what camera where you using? Too bad about the nails in the Dunlop...

MD

Britt · 05-17-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mello dude

Britt, nice pix. Just curious - what camera where you using? Too bad about the nails in the Dunlop...

MD

These were taken with my wife's Canon A530. It's been a great camera and takes some really nice pictures. It fits in the left side pocket of my tank bag so I can grab it fairly easily (after pulling my left glove off). A handful of the pics were adjusted in Photoshop, but most of them are just as they came off the camera.

I have a new Dunlop on order and should be here next week. I've been riding since 1994 and have never had a puncture in a motorcycle tire. Hopefully after this I'll go another 14 years, but I'll still carry my plug/CO2 kit!

zilla · 07-23-2008, 05:01 PM

Stagecoach is a great road. If you ever get back this way, ( I live in Freeport), When you get to Scales Mound, head south on Elizabeth Rd. That's another excellent road to ride.

Just did the ride Last Monday.

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05-17-2008, 09:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Last Online: Today 06:15 PM Location: Westmont, IL - Find Me! My Ride: 2001 VFR View my Photo Gallery Posts: 181 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Ride Report - Galena Illinois (Picture Heavy) I hope you folks don't mind another ride report from me, but I wanted to share some nice pics I took along the way. My VFR ran like a dream, and survived the trip with 2 nails in the rear tire! I saw a dark red 6th gen with bags on Route 20 out near Galena, so if it was someone here, say hi! I left nice and early to try and beat traffic. It was a bright and very sunny morning - I was glad I was riding west. Chasing my shadow on Route 20 near Hampshire, Il. I stopped just off Route 20 for a drink. Route 20 west of Rockford. Traffic was moving along well. I took a great road called Stagecoach Trail when I got to Lena, Il. Stagecoach Trail went through a tiny town called Warren. Stagecoach Trail west of Warren. Nice trees in front of a tiny house near Apple River. Stagecoach Trail heading west again. The Galena History Museum. Downtown Galena's flood gates on Main St. Riding down Main St. The buildings in the downtown area are built on higher and higher ground. I stopped at this mansion for a break and noticed that I had a couple of new friends along for a ride. Since I had 2 nails in my rear tire I decided it was best to turn around and head for home. This is Route 20 east of Galena. I'm approaching a lookout tower. This is the view from the tower area (I didn't climb it this time). I stopped to add some air to my tire. It had lost 6 psi so far. Route 84 headed south towards Savannah. Mississippi Palasades State Park is a beautiful place. Route 84 approaching Route 64. Messing with the camera at speed on an empty Route 64. Nuclear power plant cooling towers off in the distance in Byron, Il. Crossing the Rock River in Byron, Il. The Fox River in St. Charles, Il. I got home by 2:45 and covered 338 miles - many of those with 2 nails in my rear tire. I pulled the nails from the tire at home, and it went flat in about 20 seconds. __________________ 2001 VFR Corbin Seat, Heli Bars, Givi Smoked Touring Windshield, SOS Priority Plus Taillight Modulator, Blue Sea 5025 Fuse Panel, Symtec Grip Heaters, Stebel Nautilus Air Horn, Throttlemeister, Garmin Nuvi 200 w/ Ram Tank Mount, BLS Peg Lowering Blocks "If you have a pulse, these four gear-driven cams pushing 16 valves at 10,500 RPM will quicken it." Tim Carrithers, Motorcyclist Magazine - June 2006 Last edited by Britt; 05-19-2008 at 12:44 PM.

05-17-2008, 09:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
R.W. Uber Guru Join Date: Jul 2006 Last Online: Yesterday 10:17 PM Location: Russian River CA - Find Me! My Ride: 99 VFR View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,156 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Great ride report, I always like seeing pictures from different parts of the country __________________ Member- 5G Brotherhood Life begins at 45 degrees

05-17-2008, 09:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
reg71 Squidleyous Maximus Join Date: Feb 2006 Last Online: Yesterday 10:27 AM Location: Central Coast, CA - Find Me! My Ride: 1998 VFR 800, 2003 YZ 450 F, 1990 Suzuki DR 100 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 4,377 Thanks: 2 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	great pics. I can't believe how new your bike looks. It would be awesome to find a 5g in the kind of condition... It'd be just like getting a brand new model of the best generation of VFR! (had to get that plug in there for the 5th gen) __________________ _____________________________________________________ Reg71 - Central Coast, CA 98 VFR 800 - 5G Brotherhood

05-17-2008, 11:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
mello dude ProGeek Wackjob Anomoly Join Date: Jan 2006 Last Online: Today 02:29 PM Location: Southwest Ohio - Find Me! My Ride: '98VFR800 and '99 Valkyrie - one to go fast, one to go slow, not necessarily in that order. View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,787 Thanks: 10 Thanked 35 Times in 32 Posts	Britt, nice pix. Just curious - what camera where you using? Too bad about the nails in the Dunlop... MD __________________ Member 5th Gen Brotherhood http://vfrworld.com/forums/fifth-gen...llos-mods.html http://vfrworld.com/forums/brake-tir...ceptor-ss.html <----------- Why Be Normal? ----------->

05-17-2008, 09:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Joey_Dude Professional Po-Po Runner Join Date: Oct 2007 Last Online: Today 05:31 PM Location: North Georgia - Find Me! My Ride: '99 VFR800 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 602 Thanks: 13 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Wow, very nice! I'm almost inspired to pay a visit to some family up in Ohio as an excuse to check out those sights. Those "messing with the camera" shots are really awesome. I hope you at least have some safety leash tied to the camera! I might do that too sometime but only if I can wrap the straps around my arm in case of a drop.

05-17-2008, 10:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tori Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Last Online: 11-27-2008 11:22 PM Location: Grover Beach, CA. - Find Me! My Ride: 2003 VFR800, 2001 CBR-F4i 1984 50hp Wetbike 1987 60hp Wetbike View my Photo Gallery Posts: 488 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Neat ride report....... I used to live in Peoria,..... so alot of that is familiar. Thanks for sharing. !

07-23-2008, 05:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
zilla Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Last Online: 11-30-2008 07:26 PM Location: Illinois My Ride: 1992 VFR750 1991 DR350 1991 GS500 1979 GS850 1974 TX650 1972 R75/5 1972 Triumph 650 project Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Stagecoach is a great road. If you ever get back this way, ( I live in Freeport), When you get to Scales Mound, head south on Elizabeth Rd. That's another excellent road to ride. Just did the ride Last Monday.

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