Looks like you're coming right through my neck of the woods on that Asheville to Richmond leg.
Well when I go on the trip and am heading through your area I'll send you a PM. Grab a beer or something
Looks like you're coming right through my neck of the woods on that Asheville to Richmond leg.
Looking at your itinerary I have to say that the best I can do is about twice as long as Google maps indicates. If it says three hrs, it'll take six. This is going at the speed limit and taking a half hr break every 100 mi. or so. I suppose the lost time is in the breaks. But - you will want to slow down unless your point is just to cover ground. In that case you need to triple or quadruple it or...
What's the point of going on a trip and not getting to check out a place you've never been?!
I thought you might be visiting people at your destinations and just wanted to "get there." I wanted to warn you that if you take the times literally you might get there late
That thing around the pack is a German army poncho. I had one years ago and was ecstatic to find another one in Austin. The U.S. ponchos I've seen are just rubberized on one side and it flakes off to boot. There's another kind that's just silicone sprayed and rags out from wind. But the German one is killer. A lot of the stuff is camping supplies so if you aren't going to camp you can reduce the size by about half. I was having minor stability problems until I moved the weight forward to over the passenger seat.
Jeez, Barb! You are one tough lady!
^I stayed in motels too this last leg. Because I had been living so primitively up in the Bakken, no running water even. It was time for a little bit of civilization.
For tools I started with the most basic stuff, wrenches but no sockets for example. That will handle emergencies and if you want more you can buy it on the road, plus that thing becomes a souvenir too. I also took small parts that I might need that would have to be ordered if I needed them, like spare carb float needles and seats. If it's small and doesn't weigh anything and you might need it, might as well take it.
I'd like to hear stories about long trips you guys have taken on your bikes and problems you ran into.
Furthest I've traveled was on a 91 rigid Honda vt1100 was around a 1000 miles into New Mexico/Arizona..planned on going all the way to the West Coast..back wasn't playing nicely.
Well, new member here!! I made a plan to ride a bike from NY down to Kentucky, then into Florida, and loop around the tip and head back up into Colorado. no real schedule, no real plan. I happened across a '72 XS650 a couple weeks ago and picked it up as soon as I could, right now I've got the bike's back end torn apart and awaiting the hardtail in the mail. I've got a few wrench sets, a backpack full of clothes, and a tent to bring with me..Oh, and of course, my GoPro to document the adventure.
I came across this thread and figured it would be a good place to update my tales of exploration as I go.
I happened across a '72 XS650 a couple weeks ago and picked it up as soon as I could, right now I've got the bike's back end torn apart and awaiting the hardtail in the mail.
retiredgentleman- I've heard that strutting a soft tail bike rides and feels different than the same bike with a hardtail; from what I've gathered, the struts just send the shock straight up into the bike and into your back whereas the hardtail itself has a bit of flex in it, coupled with a spring or airbagged seat, which is why I decided to just go ahead and do it....or have I been mislead?
Mick71b- why do you say "no" to the chop?
Not to answer for Mick71b but I'd like to try to give a few reasons not to chop up an old frame. First, being an early one, there aren't many around. This makes them very collectable. This also makes the early ones worth more $$$. Many of the clan also think they are the best looking of the series. I'm sure there are more but, it's a start.