Train, Were you out there prior to 2009? I moved away in the summer of 2008, was back a couple of times just to ride, but I never saw another one out there except for the people I knew from the MVAgusta forum. The other MV rider over there is on a 2007 black F4R, mine was the F4 S (2005).
Also have to say Rt. 28 is easily one of my favorites as well. I just love that road. Just as you said, the perfect mix of tight/technical and looong sweeping curves. I've even had a great time going from 28 South, then over to Robbinsville, and back up 129 to the juncion again. 129 heading back and forth from the store to Robbinsville can be a blast as well, and its fun preparing for the Cherohala on it.
Crazybiker, I think we worked for the same guy in Alcoa at one point. I don't remember you, but I remember Ben in Service, as well as everyone else as well as Greg from Mountain Adventures. I gave up the MV as well as all the other toys, the Acura NSX, the 7 other bikes, etc, shortly after leaving there. I developed some significant health issues and had to make some major life adjustments mentally, physically, financially, and geographically.
From purely a riding perspective, the MV Agusta was the absolute most uncomfortable motorcycle on the planet. Imagine a GSXR but 100 times worse. Completely dedicated to one thing only and with a throttle literally like an on/off switch. Combine that with having to go to Atlanta from Knoxville area for any service and the time required to receive warranty parts and that was it. The plastic fuel line fittings cracked and that kept my MV off the road for 3 months in the fall. CRC took so long to get the parts in I finally insisted the dealer take the fuel lines off a new unit on the floor to get my bike back. It was just too much expense, time (7 hours round trip to dealer), and uncomfortable for me to keep. The attention was great, and I enjoyed sharing the bike and the history of the brand in conversation, but I took off my performance goodies and sold it before I left TN.
When moving to NJ, I knew the roads would be nothing like where I was, so I also gave up the FJR1300, the 07 CBR600RR, the dual sport and all the others and just kept the CBR1000RR Repsol for the track and some occaisional street riding. I had a horrible accident at Roebling Road in turn 5 when my CBR's front wheel touched another rider's rear wheel, destroying my body and the Repsol in seconds.
After waiting for quite a while and trying some other bikes again, I found the FZ1 and convinced the new wife that it was upright and slow and nothing like what I used to ride at the track. Of course now she knows I was a little full of it, but it was still a radical departure from what she had seen. Given the flat and straight nature of the NJ roads, I decided an FZ1 would be fine. The bike was a 2007 brand new leftover in April of 2010, the dealer made me an offer I couldn't refuse on the 3 year old leftover, and my wife said just buy it and get back to what I loved.
That's pretty much my story in a nutshell! Feel free to skip over any parts where I rambled, lost your interest, or got nostalgic about some of the other things I used to enjoy so much. But in the end, the MV Agusta was paid for, great for my ego, and cool to experience but other bikes did just as much just as well for 1/2 the cost.
Hope this finds you all well.
Think I'm going back early april to meet up with my old crew, 'them boys right there no how to do it up :nana::teeter:
