Motorcycle travel, just do it

CDNTX650

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We (wife with her bmw f800gs) just got back from a month long m/c trip to california. 8000kms total.

Montana, highway 37 along lake koocanusa is beautiful, the cascades highway through idaho and washington is also awesome especially washington pass and fairly quiet. Camped all over, mountain lakes, coastal cliff in fort flagler washington, redwoods in cali. Highway 101 and 1 all the way down to san francisco for 2 days and stayed at the fancy international mark hopkins hotel (it was in the movie bulitt!) Highway 1 is narrow and insane and fun all in 1. Relaxed in san jose for 4 days at a friends acerage up in the hills and got a tour from him of google. Monterey bay, then lake tahoe.
I couldnt wait to get the hell through nevada, no offense if you live there bit its kind of a dump...interstates, 125hp and 85mph made that much more liveable.
We did utah last year so we just did some mild exploring on the way through. Jackson Hole to Beartooth pass!!! Almost 11000 feet. Its crazy.

So much fun, 8000kms over all and a honda st1300 loaded like a pack mule that didnt miss a beat! Now, oil change , diff oil change and spline lube with moly60 and a wash!
 
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Keep up with that moly 60, lost my pig and flange on my '86 GL1200I once, got some great parts at a great price though.

Didn't make a trip this year, but I had a great summer anyways just riding to the diner every day for breakfast and then some. Maybe Alabama next year. I'll keep riding until the salt hits the road.

I did make one trip this summer with the wife and the trailer full of camping gear. That was only her second time camping with the bike, had a great but leisurely time.

Scott
 
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Hows it tow that trailer, thinking of a small guy for my st1300.

And the splines are a bit worn as someone in between the orignal owner and me wasnt using it but using grease. But plenty of meat left on them. So hopfully this stops the wear or slows it to a crawl. Not like i cant buy the parts amd shims and rebuild it and the wheel hub anyways.
 
I built that trailer hitch and trailer as soon as I got the GoldWing. That's the second pod that I've had on it. Tows great, kind of noisy when it's empty. I went through the first set of tires real fast, these have lasted well. The springs are sliders from the front of a snowmobile with one leaf removed. I towed it through the mountains on the way to the Carolinas with my hefty son on the back, honestly, never had to downshift at all on the Interstate. When I bought the bike I tried to get the shop owner to give me a deal on the trailer hitch on the other GoldWing that they had, she said no, so I told her that I would be visiting and laying on the floor with a tape measure and note pad until I had the hitch built.

Scott

My splines were down to 1/16" and still working fine, but probably not for long. My own fault, lots of tire changes and not enough maintenance and one broken seal.
 
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One of a kind GoldWing, all of the unnecessary chrome and emblems removed, pinstriped by the late Charlie Buzzard, GM alternator running off of the crankshaft, alternator conversion done from scratch. Way over 100,000 miles and only just broke in. I did the Iron Butt on this bike, 1000 miles in one day.
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"GM alternator running off of the crankshaft, alternator conversion done from scratch." Been thinking of doing the exact same thing. Nice trip report!
 
A nice factory feature of the st1300, 60a denso car alternator between the V. Pain to get to though if it needs to come out.

Ill have to keep my eyes open for a small trailer like that.
 
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The cascade highway and 101. That had to be a awesome trip. I rode the cascade highway this year for the first time. And drove 101 a few years back. Would love to do a trip like that.
 
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