Great pictures & cool stuff. I am a rider - sort of. I still have my MC license, but have been off of them for about 4 years. I have had meniere's desease for a number of years and it has worsened over time. It affects one's hearing and balance. (Wiki has a good explaination of it - if interested) Anyway, after dropping my bike and falling to the ground, LUCKILY at a stop light, I decided that I should probably get off - for my sake and everyone else on the road. Couple that with a nasty encounter(in 2004) I had with a gal, who turned left
right across my path - I was thinking maybe the Man upstairs was trying to tell me something. Anyway, the bike was totalled (even broke the motor loose from the frame) but, again, I was lucky. I hit her about where the "A" pillar (front door meets front fender area) and flew over the hood of her car. I came out of the deal with a good dose of road rash and a lot of torn ligaments, etc. - nothing broken. I ruined some expensive protective gear but, it did it's job, as things could have been much worse. Even though I was still hobbling, 3 months later, I had a new bike and was riding again.
So, I'm going to take the opportunity to climb up on the soapbox and preach:
RIDERS; Wear your helmets, leather/protective jackets, boots, etc.
DRIVERS: Put down the @#$$^&* cell phones/blackberries - the life you save may be someone like me!
I am hoping that things (with me) will get to a point where I can again get out there with the rest of you and "drag the pegs" thru the curves again. But for now, only in spirit.
Again, cool pics...wish I could join you.