Rodney's VTX Homecoming Ride
Saturday, July 29, 2006
So last year at this time, near the one year anniversary of owning my 2003 Black Honda VTX 1800c, I was in Marysville, Ohio, lining up with about 6,000 other Honda VTX's for the World Record, One Model of Motorcycle, Ride back to the plant. The very plant that manufactured every one of these VTX's. I was at the Honda Homecoming. It is the manufacturer's annual event where owners can return their machines to where they were born. No, there is no Home Football Team that plays some Patsy small school for an easy win. This was the second time I had attended this event, with a three gap in the middle. It was great to get back together with old friends, and create new friendships.
I was ready to go back, but vacation time was running scarce, so I decided to create my own homecoming, and go back to the place I was more familiar with as home for my bike, the dealership that I bought it from. Normally, that would be a short trip for most us. Even though I have moved since I bought my truck, the drive back to the dealership is only a 20 minute one. So to explain why I bought my motorcycle a hundred miles from home, I guess requires some explaining.
Two years, and a guess a week or so ago, I got an e-mail from a member of the Terre Haute Cruiser Club, informing me that a dealer in Charleston, Illinois was selling brand new from the factory, 2003 Honda VTX's at a ridiculous price. I was in disbelief at first, but I did check my finances, and phished for offers on my current motorcycle, a 2000 Honda Shadow Sabre. After some more investigation, and hearing from a few other sources, I decided to delve into the internet, to seek the truth. Sure enough, Owen Motorsports was selling 1800's for the price I had heard. The ad said to call and speak to Randy, which in my excitement I did. I thought there was no way this deal could be this sweet! Our phone call was brief, Randy told me that they had cleared 50 VTX's put the weekend before, and had a request for 15 more to come in the next weekend. All he needed was a Credit Card Number to hold one for me. At this point, I am about to wet myself!
I didn't give him the number yet, I needed to run it past my significant other first. Actually, it was more to just tell her I was buying a new bike, there was not going to be any asking. I had wanted an 1800 VTX since they came out, but the 12,499 Dollar price tag loomed very large for my wallet, bank account, retirement fund, etc. But at $6995, I would be kicking my foolish ass the rest of my life if I didn't take it!! They only had black, and I wanted red, but I also would enjoy the $5500 extra dollars in my pocket!
So I will end the story there, buying and picking it up is another story, that maybe I will write someday. This entry is about this date's ride.
Since the club had some heavy riding the weekend before, and the morning loomed dark with clouds, and the forecast called for hot mid nineties, I figured not too many would show up. Actually, I figured it would just be me and my brother.
I left the house, following Nina, as she had to work. She turned off at the Indianapolis Zoo Parking Lot, and I continued on Washington Street until Rockville Road, or US 36. I would cruise on to the western edge of Avon, where I would meet the other rider, my brother.
After exchanging pleasantness, we headed out further on US 36. We kept on this road almost until the edge of the state. Since the western border of Indiana is mostly the Wasbash River, we had to jog on a few roads to get to one that crossed Indiana's River. Along the way, we went through a town that had 29MPH Speed Limits?
We had to detour around a gravel road, tread lightly on two gravel patches surrounding a bridge, but eventually ended up on SR 16 in Illinois. The border crossing had no signs where we passed, on a change in asphalt. We also decided to take a break in a small town where a train was passing through.
Owen Motorsports, Where Your fun Starts, is on the western outskirts of Charleston, so we paraded our way through town. After being mistaken on an exit, we finally arrived. Randy was busy selling, and by the look of the inventory, he was doing quite a good job. We milled about the place for an hour or so, and then headed out for a bite to eat. Another salesperson suggested that we head a little more west, and eat at the airport restaurant. We took that advice, and the meal was pretty good. I think their must be a campaign to turn the view on Airport Food around?
By the time we came out of the diner, it was getting hotter. The sky had cleared of fog, an the sun was boiling down. We headed back into Charleston, got gas, and headed back to the Hoosier State.
This time, we would cross the Wabash on US 40, and pull into Terre Haute. We would head north, and then take some backroads to get to Bridgeton, Indiana. I have visited here a lot, as they are re-building their Covered Bridge lost to a senseless act of arson. I talked to Mike, the Bridgeton Mill Owner, and bought some Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream from his wife, Karen, and the Best Little Eatery next to a Dam Site.
From Bridgeton, we took my favorite route in the area, Greencastle Road. A lot of this road is tree lined, and the cooler air felt good. Kevin broke off of me at SR 231, heading north. I took it south to US 40, and then back to Indy. The trip home was about as hot as I want to ride in. Closer to the city, the air grew thicker, and hotter. Despite that, there were a lot of bikes out on the road. US 40 would turn into Washington Street, and I would take that home.
So last year at this time, near the one year anniversary of owning my 2003 Black Honda VTX 1800c, I was in Marysville, Ohio, lining up with about 6,000 other Honda VTX's for the World Record, One Model of Motorcycle, Ride back to the plant. The very plant that manufactured every one of these VTX's. I was at the Honda Homecoming. It is the manufacturer's annual event where owners can return their machines to where they were born. No, there is no Home Football Team that plays some Patsy small school for an easy win. This was the second time I had attended this event, with a three gap in the middle. It was great to get back together with old friends, and create new friendships.
I was ready to go back, but vacation time was running scarce, so I decided to create my own homecoming, and go back to the place I was more familiar with as home for my bike, the dealership that I bought it from. Normally, that would be a short trip for most us. Even though I have moved since I bought my truck, the drive back to the dealership is only a 20 minute one. So to explain why I bought my motorcycle a hundred miles from home, I guess requires some explaining.
Two years, and a guess a week or so ago, I got an e-mail from a member of the Terre Haute Cruiser Club, informing me that a dealer in Charleston, Illinois was selling brand new from the factory, 2003 Honda VTX's at a ridiculous price. I was in disbelief at first, but I did check my finances, and phished for offers on my current motorcycle, a 2000 Honda Shadow Sabre. After some more investigation, and hearing from a few other sources, I decided to delve into the internet, to seek the truth. Sure enough, Owen Motorsports was selling 1800's for the price I had heard. The ad said to call and speak to Randy, which in my excitement I did. I thought there was no way this deal could be this sweet! Our phone call was brief, Randy told me that they had cleared 50 VTX's put the weekend before, and had a request for 15 more to come in the next weekend. All he needed was a Credit Card Number to hold one for me. At this point, I am about to wet myself!
I didn't give him the number yet, I needed to run it past my significant other first. Actually, it was more to just tell her I was buying a new bike, there was not going to be any asking. I had wanted an 1800 VTX since they came out, but the 12,499 Dollar price tag loomed very large for my wallet, bank account, retirement fund, etc. But at $6995, I would be kicking my foolish ass the rest of my life if I didn't take it!! They only had black, and I wanted red, but I also would enjoy the $5500 extra dollars in my pocket!
So I will end the story there, buying and picking it up is another story, that maybe I will write someday. This entry is about this date's ride.
Since the club had some heavy riding the weekend before, and the morning loomed dark with clouds, and the forecast called for hot mid nineties, I figured not too many would show up. Actually, I figured it would just be me and my brother.
I left the house, following Nina, as she had to work. She turned off at the Indianapolis Zoo Parking Lot, and I continued on Washington Street until Rockville Road, or US 36. I would cruise on to the western edge of Avon, where I would meet the other rider, my brother.
After exchanging pleasantness, we headed out further on US 36. We kept on this road almost until the edge of the state. Since the western border of Indiana is mostly the Wasbash River, we had to jog on a few roads to get to one that crossed Indiana's River. Along the way, we went through a town that had 29MPH Speed Limits?
We had to detour around a gravel road, tread lightly on two gravel patches surrounding a bridge, but eventually ended up on SR 16 in Illinois. The border crossing had no signs where we passed, on a change in asphalt. We also decided to take a break in a small town where a train was passing through.
Owen Motorsports, Where Your fun Starts, is on the western outskirts of Charleston, so we paraded our way through town. After being mistaken on an exit, we finally arrived. Randy was busy selling, and by the look of the inventory, he was doing quite a good job. We milled about the place for an hour or so, and then headed out for a bite to eat. Another salesperson suggested that we head a little more west, and eat at the airport restaurant. We took that advice, and the meal was pretty good. I think their must be a campaign to turn the view on Airport Food around?
By the time we came out of the diner, it was getting hotter. The sky had cleared of fog, an the sun was boiling down. We headed back into Charleston, got gas, and headed back to the Hoosier State.
This time, we would cross the Wabash on US 40, and pull into Terre Haute. We would head north, and then take some backroads to get to Bridgeton, Indiana. I have visited here a lot, as they are re-building their Covered Bridge lost to a senseless act of arson. I talked to Mike, the Bridgeton Mill Owner, and bought some Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream from his wife, Karen, and the Best Little Eatery next to a Dam Site.
From Bridgeton, we took my favorite route in the area, Greencastle Road. A lot of this road is tree lined, and the cooler air felt good. Kevin broke off of me at SR 231, heading north. I took it south to US 40, and then back to Indy. The trip home was about as hot as I want to ride in. Closer to the city, the air grew thicker, and hotter. Despite that, there were a lot of bikes out on the road. US 40 would turn into Washington Street, and I would take that home.
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