Test Driving

During our stay-cation, I visited 4 Harley-Davidson Stores; (1)Perry HD in Kalamazoo and (2) Battle Creek HD in Michigan, as well as (3) Signature 1 HD in Perrytown, OH (Toledo subburb) and (4) Toledo HD in Toledo, OH.

 

Being a new rider, while I am not looking to purchase a motorcycle this or next riding season, I am trying to do my homework now, in order to have a better idea what I may look at once I move up to my next motorcycle in the future.  I currently drive a 1999 Honda Shadow 600 (picture below), which has been a great beginners bike and is great for driving to/from work on good weather days.  Being a 'smaller' bike, a couple cons of the bike include that I really have to put more throttle to keep it at 65-75 mph to keep pace and you feel every little bump in the road.  Looking back, I wish I would have taken my wife's advice and gone with the 750cc, but I am absolutely happy with this bike as my first one.  I would highly recommend anyone looking to get into biking to consider this bike as a great starter bike.

Displacement: 583.0 cc; 39.0 HP; 6500 RPM; 4 speed transmission

Weighs 438.7 lbs and holds 2.91 gals of gas (gets me about 70-80 miles on a tank)

While at Battle Creek HD, I test drove 3 motorcycles.

HD- Street Bob

Displacement: 1868cc; 94 HP; 5020 RPM; 6 speed transmission; Milwaukee-eight 114 engine

Weighs 674 lbs and holds 3.6 gals of gas

Initial Thoughts: The throttle was a little jerky/sensitive, and was not a fan of the mid-position controls and seat position.  Of the 6 bikes I rode this week, this was probably my least favorite.

HD- Heritage Classic

Displacement: 1753cc; 119 ft/lbs @ 3000 rpm; 6 speed transmission; Milwaukee-eight 114 engine

Weighs 728 lbs and holds 5 gals of gas

Initial Thoughts: I rode this bike twice--see under Toledo.

HD- Street Glide

Displacement: 1746cc; 111 ft/lbs @ 3250 rpm; 6 speed transmission; Milwaukee-eight 107 engine

Weighs 828 lbs and holds 6 gals of gas

Initial Thoughts: I was intimidate about even thinking about getting this bike...its honestly a bigger bike.  Unfortunately, due to rain my ride was cut short (I only rode it fora bout 50-75 yards).  I will for sure plan on test driving again.   My initial thoughts were was that I liked it.  Its for sure a bigger bike, but does not feel like a bigger bike.  

While at Toledo HD, I test drove 3 motorcycles.

HD- Fat Bob

Displacement: 1868cc; 119 ft-lbs @ 3000 rpm; 6 speed transmission; Milwaukee-eight 114 engine

Weighs 699 lbs and holds 5 gals of gas

Initial Thoughts: This was a different bike.  As you may notice, the wheels are bigger both in front and back.  A reference to my bike; the size of my rear wheel is about the size of its front, and the Fat Bobs rear tire is a bit bigger than its front tire.  In general the bike felt wider in general, and in riding it, you sit up higher than both the Street and Road Glide which is interesting consider how much bigger those bikes actually are.  Handling too also felt different, and it seemed that it look more effort (not really much in general) to get the bike to move around corners and cones.  For sure something I would consider maybe down the road.

HD- Heritage Classic

Displacement: 1753cc; 119 ft/lbs @ 3000 rpm; 6 speed transmission; Milwaukee-eight 114 engine

Weighs 728 lbs and holds 5 gals of gas

Initial Thoughts:  So I drove this bike twice, and really liked it both times I drove it.  Comparing it to a Street Glide, they are the same exact bike (frame, size) minus the front faring. Handles great, very smooth ride and transitioning between gears. In some aspects it feels a little smaller than my bike (generally sitting on it) and in other aspects it feels better (driving it).  For sure something I would consider maybe down the road.

HD- Road Glide

Displacement: 1746; 111.0 lb.-ft. @ 3,250 rpm; 6 speed transmission; Milwaukee-eight 107 engine

Weighs 855 lbs and holds 6 gals of gas

Initial Thoughts:  A SWEET ride.  Like the Street Glide above, I was intimidate about even thinking about getting this bike...its honestly a bigger bike.  Test driving this threw that fear far away after shifting it into first gear.  It has a low center of gravity (the lowest of all of the bikes I drove), and handles and turns on a dime and with very little effort.  For sure something I would consider maybe down the road.

Street vs. Road Glide

Some of you all may be asking the difference between the two bikes.  The simple difference is the frame mounted fairing (Road Glide- red bike on the left) vs. the fork mounted fairing (Street-white bike on the right).  From talking with folks who have this, or use to have this; their advice is that if you are considering getting a HD Street Glide, but are thinking of maybe one day wanting a HD Road Glide, get the Road Glide.  Their suggestions included that a HD Road Glide just feels more comfortable to ride longer distances and handles better in windy conditions.  Both are sweet rides.  

Whatever bike may be my next bike, I for sure plan on going to the parking lot here at the Gardens and eventually across the street and break out the cones and get back to practicing the basics.

Garden Progress Pictures

Our little garden is coming quit along.  The warmer weather we had at the end of June really required us to water it more regularly.

Garage Side Garden

In this garden, you will find sweet potatoes, kale, cherry and beefsteak tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots and green peppers.

Dixboro Road Side Garden

In this garden, you will find collard greens, carrots, tomatoes, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pumpkins, corn, asparagus.

So far we have been able to harvest our Kale, Collard Greens, Cheery Tomatoes and Zucchini.

Happy Anniversary and Stay-Cation Recap

                                    Happy Anniversary

Every year, we have had a goal of watching fireworks in different places.  This year, we were suppose to watch fireworks in Seattle, Washington; canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Brian and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary by watching fireworks in Clear Lake, IN; about a 3 2.5-3 hours from the house.  Observing social distancing (mask, distance), we parked our car on the side of the lake along a road and enjoyed the sights over/around the lake.

1st year (2017); The Mall in Downtown Washington DC- Washington DC

2nd year (2018); Greenfield Village/Salute to America Concert--Dearborn Heights, MI

3rd year (2019); Greenfield Village/Salute to America Concert--Dearborn Heights, MI

4th year (2020); Clear Lake, IN

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Plan for our 5th year- Seattle, Washington

Brians' Bucket List

On Tuesday, July 7th Brian checked off a bucket list item.  We attended a Summer Collegiate Baseball League (modified due to COVID-19) in Kalamazoo, MI home of the Kalamazoo Growlers of the Northwood League.  This year due to COVID restrictions in not only in Michigan but in other states who have teams (MI- 3; IN-1; IL-1; WI-9; MN-5; IA-1; ND-1; Northwest Ontario), the Growlers , which also owns a team down the street (Battle Creak Bombers), created a 3rd team to play round robin with throughout the summer.  .  The creation of the 3rd team, the Mac Daddies, originated as an alternate jersey game the team plays annually.  The Mac Daddies is a tribute to the well known Mac and Cheese Festival hosted in Kalamazoo in the fall. https://www.macandcheesemi.com/

Due to decrease attendance (only allowed 100 person gatherings in Michigan), when walking into the stadium, they asked if he/I would want to throw out the first pitch, which Brian quickly agreed too and was able to complete something on his bucket list.  I am happy to write, that without any warm-up, Brian threw the ball over the plate and directly to the catcher.

Moe Skeeter; the Mascot for the Bombers

Kalamazoo Mac Daddies 3---Battle Creek Bombers 6  (F)

Turtle Parents!

We had a turtle come lay eggs by the garden recently.  We now have three turtle eggs that we are currently caring for.

When she finished she scampered away.

Finished Garage Floor

Finished our garage project.  After letting the epoxy (with chips) set for a week, the last step in our project was a put a clear coat over top to protect it.  In our clear coat, we decided to put an anti-skid product to give the surface a little bit of texture.  We decided to include the anti-skid product after researching, and watching several YouTuberer's who noted that sometime epoxy or the epoxy/clear coat can become slippery when it gets wet; an obvious concern when it rains here in Michigan as well as in the winter when we get snow.  We let our clear coat with anti-skid set for 2 days before walking on it, and a total of a week before putting our shelving/tool boxes back into the garage.  As of this post (2 weeks since applying it), we have yet to drive our cars onto it.

Looking back, we are really happy with how the project turned out as it looks brighter and more finished.  As we spend time in both our screened in patio and our garden, our garage space has become a new place we have found ourselves enjoying in the evenings.

 

Sharing our Knowledge:

 

1.) After researching and watching several YouTubers, make sure your garage surface is really clean.  We spent a lot of time and focus on this step (cleaning and etching), which is why we think it turned out as well as it did.  We did not have to do this in our garage, but if you have any cracks in the surface, be sure when you repair them that they are smooth and not lumpy.  Several YouTubers did rushed repairs in their process, and it was obvious in their final product.

 

2.) While the epoxy kits come in various garage sizes, plan to treat a bigger garage surface.  We have a 'traditional' two car garage, and in planning, researching and reviewing, we went with 1 and a half kits in order to have good coverage.  Reading reviews online and watching a couple of DIY YouTubers commented that they wish they would have been more purposeful in their application of epoxy (e.g. thinner spot, not as smooth surface, etc.)  Depending on the chips you want on the surface, we recommend getting an additional bag of chips, as we felt you can really go through them in applying them.

3.)  In the Epox Kits, both A and B products are in the same bag (separate compartments).  If the bag feels lump when mixing, it is not ready yet.  Spend a little extra time make sure it is thoroughly mixed.

4.) When doing the mixing and applying the clear coat, the product set very quickly--WORK FAST.  Trial by error, we went with gallon containers (2x A's and 1x B's = 1 batch of clear coat [total of 3 gal]), and our clear coat in our mixing container set within 25 minutes (about 1/3 left of the garage to clear coat).  We did ahead of time purchase quart containers of clear coat in case we needed some extra coverage; good thing as we ended up needing to use it to finish the job.  Looking back, we decided if we had to do it again, was to go with the quart containers of clear coat vs. the gallon as not to run into this problem of the clear coat setting up faster than we could apply it.  In this case, we would have needed 2 sets (x2 A's and x1 B) to complete our project.

5.) When applying either the epoxy or the clear coat, have a plan how you are going to putting it down.  We would envision doing this solo to be a very difficult project, and would recommend working as a pair or of 3 people.  When laying down the epoxy, Jenn would do the baseboard/floor 'touch up' work, while I would follow behind and roll the bigger surfaces.  After doing a specific sized area, Jenn would go back and touch up any areas, as well laying down the colored chips; this has to be down fairly quickly, as the epoxy does start to set up on the ground fairly quickly (within 5-7 minutes).  With a 3rd person crew, you could just follow each other around the garage.  When doing the clear coat, we worked in the same fashion (she did touch ups/base boards) and I rolled the bigger areas.  As we are resourceful, the spent/hardened clear coat once popped out of the Lowes bucket was repurposed as a pedestal for the water basin in the bee garden.

6.) Have good ventilation while working/applying, and afterwards.  During the cleaning and etching phase, we used fans to really dry the surface, which helped in us determining if we needed to keep cleaning the surface. We also used fans in the entrance of the garage to blow out which helped keep pollen, ants/bugs out of our garage during the drying process.  As for the garage door, if you have to close it, close it most of the way but not all the way. This allows for even drying of the floor in the area where your garage door makes contact with the surface.

 

Garden Progress

The garden is coming along.  

Carrots

Kale

Cherry Tomatoes

Green Peppers

Zucchini 

Quilts!

A t-shirt quilt for a customer!  This is for a graduating senior that is a field hockey player.  It is still at the quilt shop waiting to be quilted.  The ladies at the shop said it would be ready for pickup in mid July.  I'm excited to see it finished.

This is a jewel toned quilt for Matt Orton.  Matt took our engagement photos for us and in return I agreed to finish some quilts that his Aunt started before she passed away.  Brian dropped this quilt and an Autumn quilt top (which I forgot to take a picture of), at the quilting shop.  My quilting ladies are retiring and closing their shop and the last day to drop off quilt tops was 6/30.

I love the way the border turned out!