Went Over 250 Today

csaintg · #1 22nd April 2005

It is very different riding in Korea. I picked up my bike last month, and the first place my friend and I rode to was Namsan Tower in Seoul. The first switch I learned the position of was my horn. So glad the 1200C is loud!

Today we rode down to Asan, and I am now halfway through the break-in period. We attempted the ride once before, but trying to figure out the roadways in Korea is like trying to describe what section of your small intestine the hot dog you ate an hour ago is now passing through. Needless to say, we got lost.

Last week was the American Iron First Annual Motorcycle Rally. We rode through Asan. On the way, I told my buddy, "This is the way we should have gone!" "No shit!", he laughed. Unfortunately, the run didn't stop in Asan. It was a straight one hour ride, police escorted, through the least populous areas possible. Still 100 Harley Davidson Motorcycles rolling through the streets of Anjong-Ri was quite a site!

Today we decided to take the right road to Asan, so we could slow down, and enjoy the view. If the Korean people didn't insist on spacing speed bumps every mile or so on some of their main thoroughfairs, Korea would be a great place to ride. The streets are suprisingly clean. Usually because there is some old Ajuma (Korean woman) out sweeping the middle of the road with a broom. Pedestrian traffic is nothing to sneeze at over here!

I am still breaking my bike in, so it was a fairly uneventful ride, except for the guy that figured he could take me off the line when the light turned green. The street lights here have a tendency to go from red, to yellow, to green, so they have the feel of racing lights. This guy crept up on my left while I was sitting at the light, and kept inching forward, waiting for the green. I had the option of either hitting the gas, or hitting the guardrail. I suppose I could have pulled over and let him go by, but what fun would that have been?

The light hit yellow, and the guy crept. I revved my engine, just so he would know that I was going first. My friend over in the left lane revved his Sporty too. His un-baffled Bassani pro-streets let everyone know where he was. The light turned green. I dropped the clutch. My ass was forced into my stock seat and I thought, "This seat has plenty of cushion, I don't see what everyone keeps complaining about." Shifted into second. I checked my rearview, and couldn't see a damned thing! I shifted into third, and looked down. My speedo flew passed 70, and was climbing rapidly to 80. The cager was nowhere to be seen, and my buddy's blue halogen light was shining steadily behind me, about 300 feet back.

At the next signal, we pulled off onto a side road, to the West Sea. The Asan Seawall is like a natural cement formation. It has no right corners whatsoever. It doesn't look like someone planned it, it just grew. There are still remnants of the Korean War scattered around, mostly in the form of rusty barbed wire. We saw an altar built to one of the many infamous Korean Generals from years past, and pulled up next to an unfinished bridge that stretched halfway across the bay. Watching the sun set on the western side of the Korean peninsula I thought, "Another good ride."

CJ

wagoneer12 · #2 22nd April 2005

I enjoyed reading this. Thanks for sharing it.

The part about the stock seat made me chuckle.

Vic
Manitowoc, WI

Kenny · #3 22nd April 2005

Thanks for sharing that story CJ I enjoyed it very much. I wish we had those race lights in Ca.

GOTWA · #4 22nd April 2005

Great read CSaintG!

AF Sting has a thread in the "On the road stories" about riding in Korea. I will never forget my first trip to Songton and hearing that distinctive Harley roar and turning around to see a bunch of bikes rumble by on a "Korean two lane." Most of 'em were ex-GI's with beards that just never left. And yeah, I get the craziness of Korean streets. I think the Saudi's have them beat, but insanse all the same. Just can't describe it properly for those who haven't driven them. Can't imagine doing it on two wheels!

csaintg · #5 23rd April 2005

Thanks all,

I have ridden for years, but never had as much fun as I am having with this bike! I can't wait to get past the 500 mark, so I can really see what she's got. I know it's fast. I figure I need to have that reflashh done also when they do the 1000 mile checkup. I just worry about the work that the Seoul HD shop will do.

CJ