Does anyone keep a journal of their rides? If so, is it just a simple notebook or something a bit more elaborate? Im jealous when people like Ferret and others can speak to exactly how many miles they ride each year... I have to bet that a journal is involved. I can only look at a maintenance log and guess... I'd like to start a separate journal for all of my bikes... or maybe just one for all 3 combined. I was given a HOG journal as a gift once but it seems too big and cumbersome for what I'm talking about. Thoughts...suggestions?
Ack sent me a little book called Baroody's Bike Log that has pages to log alll your bike info, like specs, etc. service info and dates performed and trip info, etc.
I haven't filled any of it in yet, but is is a cool little book. I looked on the web site and it is about $12 I think.
Anyway,
http://www.bikelog.com
Mandatory disclaimer: I have nothing to do with them other than Ack gave me one
I keep individual ride journals for trips, and track daily mileage on a calendar. Then there is the sheet hanging on the wall by my computer that logs every mile for every motorcycle I have owned but foolishly I have dropped them off every few years so the list that hangs there now only goes back 7 years. So at a glance I can tell you in 2009 I put 7929 miles on my ST, 27 miles that I put on the FZ1 I bought on Dec 17th of that year, and 2605 miles on my 750 Nighthawk for a total of 10,561 miles. 2010 was 10,542, 2011 was 10,736, 2012 was 10,718, 2012 was 11,117 and I retired in May of 2013 and rode 13,442. So far this year I have ridden 16,152.
My trip journals list miles, weather, meals, gas stops, hotels, and sights seen along with daily commentary. Then there are the literally thousands of pics I take on every trip but that's another story lol
It's fun every once in awhile to grab a journal that's several years old and read what an old trip was like on a daily basis. With the way my memory is going someday I will be living vicariously thru my journals.
I don't think you need anything flash for this. Just buy a notebook, decide what you want to record and be diligent.
I wish I were.
Ferret...I'm worn out reading your reply! And a bit jealous...
Thanks.
I do write down the services on my bikes but riding memories are stored in my brain.
I keep a record of service, mods, farkles, repairs, replacements (tires, battery, etc.) done to the bikes (date, mileage, etc.) but not a record of rides.
For me, riding locally, it serves no purpose to know where I went; what I had to eat; where I bought gas, etc.
OTOH, if I'm on a road trip I keep a daily diary of where I went; what I saw and what I did.
129 miles added to the calendar today
May miss tomorrow though, headed to the MotoGP in the truck
32 miles for me... got rained on and said forget it.
I keep a small spiral notebook with some notes, but it's nothing elaborate. On overnight trips, I find it relaxing to write some of my thoughts down at the end of the day, but I confess that I am not diligent in this endeavor.