The Motopologist
Just got it firing!
The Texas summer has been its normal harsh self this year as the sun tried its best to bake us at 100+ F* stopping most people from riding for a few months. I however work for a dealership and take pride in riding daily. After missing my turn to test the V85 TT during MotoGP weekend, I was happy to indulge in some V-twin therapy upon Moto Guzzi’s latest bike since the 1200 series motor was discontinued.
Due to Texas blue laws most dealerships have to be closed 2 day a week. That leaves Monday free and the roads free of most traffic after 10am. I started off my day bouncing through a few neighborhoods and enjoying the stop light to stop light fun found on the Guzzi. Hopping on the tollway (thank you TxDOT for not installing sensors along the striped line) I head towards some of Austin famous riding areas, both on-road and off.
The roads near Mount Bonnell are nice sweepers without a lot of gravel or debris on the road commonly found at Lime Creek Road. Aside from the occasional person leaving their drive way the only obstacles are the amount of cyclist and displaced tourist checking out the view from atop the massive stairwell.
Leaving Mount Bonnell and heading towards 2222 (pronounced: twenty two twenty two by locals) is a massive change of pace as the road becomes a free for all speedway carving past remains of the rocky hills blown away to make way for the 4 lane road. Thankfully this is a short jaunt before entering City Park Road towards Emma Long Park.
Emma Long Park winds around some of the most beautiful hill country as you often can catch glimpse of the Colorado River lurking below. I finally arrive at one of the many trail heads. “When in Rome” is probably the least favorable concept when exploring the massive trails network originally built for the trail bike, dirt bike and the occasional mountain bike crowd, one problem I’m on a 500lb adventure bike that doesn’t belong to me. Please don’t drop it, please don’t drop it rings on repeat in my head as I navigate through rock shelfs and cobblestones on a set of Metzler Tourance series tires. The light at the end of the preverbal tree tunnel couldn’t appear sooner as the trail become increasingly more technical and my lack of off-road skill set become increasingly apparent.
Making my way back to civilization was a welcoming feel as a throttled out of the park enjoying the paved road once again. However the V85 is an alluring beast and I found myself trucking up a minor grade dirt hill in search of a new adventure. This time the road was much more forgiving and the 853cc motor has no problems powering the chassis and I up to the top for a view before calling it a day and heading home.
Due to Texas blue laws most dealerships have to be closed 2 day a week. That leaves Monday free and the roads free of most traffic after 10am. I started off my day bouncing through a few neighborhoods and enjoying the stop light to stop light fun found on the Guzzi. Hopping on the tollway (thank you TxDOT for not installing sensors along the striped line) I head towards some of Austin famous riding areas, both on-road and off.
The roads near Mount Bonnell are nice sweepers without a lot of gravel or debris on the road commonly found at Lime Creek Road. Aside from the occasional person leaving their drive way the only obstacles are the amount of cyclist and displaced tourist checking out the view from atop the massive stairwell.
Leaving Mount Bonnell and heading towards 2222 (pronounced: twenty two twenty two by locals) is a massive change of pace as the road becomes a free for all speedway carving past remains of the rocky hills blown away to make way for the 4 lane road. Thankfully this is a short jaunt before entering City Park Road towards Emma Long Park.
Emma Long Park winds around some of the most beautiful hill country as you often can catch glimpse of the Colorado River lurking below. I finally arrive at one of the many trail heads. “When in Rome” is probably the least favorable concept when exploring the massive trails network originally built for the trail bike, dirt bike and the occasional mountain bike crowd, one problem I’m on a 500lb adventure bike that doesn’t belong to me. Please don’t drop it, please don’t drop it rings on repeat in my head as I navigate through rock shelfs and cobblestones on a set of Metzler Tourance series tires. The light at the end of the preverbal tree tunnel couldn’t appear sooner as the trail become increasingly more technical and my lack of off-road skill set become increasingly apparent.
Making my way back to civilization was a welcoming feel as a throttled out of the park enjoying the paved road once again. However the V85 is an alluring beast and I found myself trucking up a minor grade dirt hill in search of a new adventure. This time the road was much more forgiving and the 853cc motor has no problems powering the chassis and I up to the top for a view before calling it a day and heading home.
