Just back from our "Snakes on the Trace" not-rally. Rode about 300 miles on the Lammy. Bike ran great, even doing a couple of 80 mile non-stop stretches at 55-65 MPH and rolling hills along the Nachez Trace. That 50 MPH speed limit is just a recommendation. Good news is that the exhaust fix seems to have worked perfectly.
Now if you're wondering the difference between a not-rally and a rally, rallies have patches and t-shirts and sign-ups and planning committees and require work. Not-rallies pick a destination, provide a link to where everyone should stay, and have a rough idea of where we want to ride. After that, it's just hanging out and riding. No effort required.
We had about 20 people in total, with a dozen or so of us riding. I rode down from Nashville and one member rode up from Alabama. We stayed at a campground (almost everyone rented a cabin or brought an RV) and it was amazing fall weather. Cold at night, but clear blue skies and 70-ish during the day. Ride all day, firepit all night. Amazing scenery with the leaves turning and clear blue skies.
Saturday, we rode over to Columbia, Tennessee, where we got a tour of some of Mike Wolfe's (American Pickers guy) warehouse/collection. Saw an amazing number of bikes and scooters, all of them generally 100% original. He collects, but does not restore. Super nice guy, great host, didn't mind us wandering around drooling on his stuff. Everyone had a different ZOMG! moment, as he has an amazing collection of vintage motorcycles and scooters.
What blew me away personally was that he had *three* Vincent Black Shadow's. One OG-but-serviceable, one either super-well preserved or restored, and one that was more of a project.
Loads of early 20th century motorized bicycles and early motorcycles. Weird scooters. Plus all sorts of vintage automotive & motorcycle signs and paraphenalia, gas pumps, helmets and riding gear. Just a super cool time all around.
Mechanically, I had two issues on the trip, both of them carb-related. First, during the group ride on Saturday, my carb float got stuck, so fuel was flooding the carb and streaming onto the ground. A couple taps on the float bowl cover with a wrench sorted it out, though.
Then, on the ride home today, things got a little exciting when it felt like a seize at 65 MPH, but the motor was trying to run, so I knew it had to be something else. Turns out, the circlip on my carb needle broke. Luckily, I had a spare, so it was an easy fix, but I was pretty irritated during that first minute before I figured out what was going on. Snapped on a new circlip, put it back together, and good-to-go.
Fortunately, one of my clubmates was not far behind me, so he pulled over for moral support and documenting me in my time of distress. What are friends for, right?
So awesome riding, awesome times with friends, getting to see some really cool stuff, and now I'm home safe, sound, and ready for the next one.