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Welcome to Trip's Kawasaki Site


Go to the National VROC website.Vulcan Bagger Association Website

Go to the Texas VROC website.Blue Knights Texas XXXIV


Click here for more pictures of "Ruby Earl"
Last taken July 20, 2008 and December 4, 2008



In June of 2005, I purchased a 2005 Kawasaki Nomad. Since then I have taken a number of trips and day rides and I have found the 1600 to be everything that Kawasaki says it is and more...


2005 Kawasaki Nomad Specs:

Engine: Four-stroke V-twin, SOHC, 8-valve
Displacement: 1,552cc
Bore x stroke: 102.0 x 95.0mm
Compression ratio: 9.0:1
Cooling: Liquid
Carburetion: Digital fuel injection with (2) 36mm throttle bodies
Ignition: Digital
Transmission: Five-speed
Frame: High-tensile steel, double cradle
Rake / trail: 32° / 7.4 in.
Suspension type, front: 43mm hydraulic fork
Suspension type, rear: Dual hydraulic shocks
Tire, front: 150/80 x 16
Tire, rear: 170/70 x 16
Brakes, front / rear: Dual hydraulic 300mm discs / single 300mm disc
Overall length: 8'4"
Ground clearance: 5.3 in.
Seat height: 27.8 in.
Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 66.3 in.
Oil capacity: 3.3 US Qts. w/oil filter.





Robert "Trip" Hilliard's Youtube Video Channel
















...And you shall henceforth be known as
"Dances With Deer"

On Thursday, April 24, 2008, a group of us were riding South on Hwy 674 between Rock Springs, TX and Bracketville, TX. We were about 30 miles North of Bracketville and riding as a group about 55 MPH. It was about 2:30PM and I was located in the middle of the group. There wasn't many new or used cars on the road at the time, but I was about to have an experience to make me worry about my life, and the equipment financing on my bike.

Out of the tree line to my right sprang a deer that ran into the road and started running parallel with my bike. Startled, I ducked my head and quickly accelerated hoping to make the deer pass to the other side of the road behind me instead of in front.

According to Chuck "txcwdancer" Burt (riding directly behind me) and John "coon" Cunningham (riding behind Burt), the deer then JUMPED over me. I couldn't see, due to being ducked down. As the deer jumped in the air over me, it twisted its' body with its' rear legs going one way and its' front legs going the opposite direction. While the deer twisted one of its' hoofs scratched the top of my helmet.

The deer tracked over me and landed on the other side of the road where it landed on the pavement and slid off into the gravel and dirt. I was told that it didn't get up and flee. It must have broken it's back during the jump. I was looking in my rear view mirror hoping that txcwdancer wasn't going to get hit, not knowing that it flew over me. All I could see was a cloud of dirt when the deer hit the other side.

Being versed in EMS procedures, txcwdancer and coon thought that they were going to have to help me. They thought I'd been hit, but once they saw that I was still upright and riding along OK, they were relieved.

Needless to say, when we stopped on the side of the road about a mile or two down, everyone let me know what happened. I feel lucky to go through that without a scrape (well, except for my helmet). That deer could have landed on top of me and broken every bone in my body.

As far as I know, there are no photographs or video of the incident. Txcwdancer was busy photographing the whole trip, but didn't have any of his gear running at the time.

I'm thankful to be alive and breathing.



Articles

My List Of Top Ten Texas Roads by Trip

My List Of Top Five East Texas Roads by Trip



Motorcycle Links

My List Of Links For The Texas Hill Country by Trip



Bike Camping Lists

Trip's Camping List - If you're not trailering

Trip's Camping List - If you are trailering



Trip Reports (Honda Magna)


Texas Hill Country Trip, "The 3 Amigos Tour" - October, 2001
Arkansas Trip, "You're in ARK - IN - SAW" - June, 2002
Texas Hill Country Trip, "We Ride Again" - September, 2002
Texas Big Bend Trip, "Riding the Texas Top Ten" - May, 2003
Colorado Trip, "Roadway To Heaven" - August, 2003
Talimena Highway, "Scenic Highway 1" - October, 2003
Riding the "Pig Trail" - Highway 23 - May, 2004
The "Pig Trail" REVISITED - Highway 23 & 123 - June, 2004
Colorado/Wyoming Trip, "Yellowstone Experience" - September, 2004
OK/AR Trip, "The Run For Eureka Springs" - April, 2005


Trip Reports (Kawasaki Nomad)

Mustang Island Trip "Plan B" - September, 2005
Deal's Gap/Natchez Trace "Slaying The Dragon" - October, 2005
Texas Big Bend "Quest for the River Road" - May, 2006
Arkansas Tour "The Hog Days of Summer" - July, 2006
Ozarks Tour "Running The Ozarks" - October, 2006
Texas Hill Country Tour "Just Get's Better!" - April, 2007
Dyass Air Force Base "Up Close With A B-1" - August, 2007
Utah 2007 - "Grand Array Of Unique Beauty" - October, 2007
Texas Hill Country Nirvana "Two trips to HC!" - Sep/Oct, 2008
The KawaNOW National Rally - Custer, SD. - June, 2009
The Texas Hill Country with KawaNOW - April, 2010
The KawaNOW National Rally - Maggie Valley, NC. - June, 2011


Trip Videos produced by VideoCafe
(All videos produced for Windows Media Player) Click here to get Microsoft's Media Player.

Going For A Ride
Combination Montage video of Rides
Deal's Gap-Natchez Trace Ride
Yellowstone-Tetons Ride
Freedom of the Saddle
Hill Country & Big Bend Tour
Talimena Scenic Byway-Hog Days Of Summer 2006
Life Is A Highway - Texas VROC MCH Rides
Running The Ozarks-Fall 2006 Ozark Tour
Running The Ozarks-Fast Forward Hyper Video
"I Believe I Can Fly"
"Utah-Grand Array Of Unique Beauty"
"Arizona Ramblin"
"Meet In Big Bend 2008 - TexasVROC"
"KawaNOW 2008 Rally Video"
Trip & Ruby Earl featured in TV Commercial
"KawaNOW 2009 National Rally Video
"KawaNOW 2011 National Rally Video


Riding Maps and Routes
(Choose a state for a look at some riding possibilities.)

 Arkansas
 Colorado
 Mississippi
 New Mexico
 Oklahoma
 Tennessee/North Carolina
 Texas


To date, estimated travel miles on a motorcycle: 92,000


Accessories installed:

Kawasaki F&S Vulcan Windshield.

Kawasaki F&S Fork Shields.

Kawasaki F&S Engine Guard.

Kawasaki Hard Bags.

Kawasaki F&S Hard Bag guards.

Kawasaki Sissy Bar and Fender Rack.

Kuryakyn Grips with Throttle Boss.

Kuryakyn ISO Highway Pegs with Stirrups.

Brakeaway Motorcycle Cruise Control.

Sage Brush Engine Guard Chaps and Dresser Chaps.

Garmin Zumo 550 GPS with RAM Mount.

J&M CB with whip antenna.

Utopia Backrest.

Fire & Steel Tachometer.







 


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