Hi, I'm David, aka Kingpatzer, from Rochester, MN, I'm joining along with my brand new Tiger Rally 900 that I just picked up yesterday. This is a real change from the Harley Electro-Glide that I traded in for it, but I really love this bike so far. I can't believe how much fun it is to ride. It's an amazing machine.
Greetings, @Kingpatzer! Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of Triumph. You are a brave man trading for a Triumph in "Harley Country". I grew up in Minnesota about 140 miles to the west in a tiny farming town called Comfrey. What led you to swapping a touring bike for an ADV bike? Hope you enjoy the forum!
Hi @Sandi T, I've just really become enamored with the idea of bike camping and hitting some of the farm road and riding trails around here. I don't really plan on doing any true "off-roading," but I do want to be off pavement enough that I wanted something other than a cruiser. And once I tried out an ADV bike, I really liked the seating position and feel of them. My first try was actually the Harley Pan American, but I decided to go to a mid-size just because I haven't ridden anything on dirt since I was a teenager and the idea of trying to pick something that heavy up after dropping it just made made me not want to risk going and having an adventure So I started shopping around, and once I got on the Triumph, it just felt like a perfect motorcycle. Oh, and I know exactly where Comfrey is -- my riding group has stopped at the Comfrey Bar and Grill more than once , it's kind of on the way to Pipestone National Monument.
@Kingpatzer, I'm amazed that you know where Comfrey is and have stopped at the Comfrey Bar and Grill! Pretty much NO ONE every knows where Comfrey is. My youngest brother and his family still live there and my bro farms the farm we all grew up on that was started by my great-grandfather. Wow, it truly is a small world. Mr. Sandi and I have a friend and riding buddy who has a Pan American and absolutely loves it. He does ride it off road but you are right about it being one of the larger ADV's out there. I hope you enjoy riding that Triumph Tiger and bike camping! I'm up for the riding part but not so much the camping part--whether bike camping or not. I always joke that I'll put in 500 mile days but at the end of the day I want a shower, a cocktail and a good meal, and a real bed. Please keep us posted with your thoughts about and photos of the new bike. If and when you ride through Comfrey again, I'd love to see a photo of your bike parked in front of the Comfrey Bar and Grill! And perhaps one at Pipestone National Monument, too!
Nice bike. Welcome. I've only been to Minnesota once. It was in February. I get cold just thinking about it.
Hello David, I live in La Crosse, WI. As you are, I’m sure, aware…we have the best “top secret” riding roads here. If you’re heading East, I’d try to keep up with you on my Speedmaster… Pete
@Lou160487 That is definitely NOT a good time of the year to visit Minnesota, Lou! I'd say the only worse time would be January and it's really a toss up. Autumn can be very nice with the leaves turning, the humidity dropping, and the first hard freeze (yes, in autumn) killing off the last of the mosquitos. Mr. Sandi comments about moving back there to live on the farm with my brother and his family. I respond back that I'll come visit him--maybe--in the summer or fall. Some people love it there. I left as soon as I graduated from college. The farm and my little home town was a great place and way to grow up. But now there are "three strikes" again it for me: 1. the weather. 2. it's flat as a pancake. 3. The town only has 400 people and one bar & grill and the nearest town of any decent size is 30 miles away and the Twin Cities (Minneapolis--St. Paul) are about a two hour drive.