Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: steelby on March 28, 2016, 09:34:33 PM
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I've got a Norge 2014 and my wife has a 2015 V7 Stone. We want to take a tour out to Yellowstone, Utah, Colorado and back home (Pittsburgh), but I have a couple of concerns.
To date we have only taken short trips between 200-300 miles. This trip would be about 4000 miles. My concern is that I am in no way a mechanic, and with the limited availability of the Guzzi service network, I'm worried that we end up out in the middle of nowhere with a breakdown and won't know what to do.
I have watched our Guzzi mechanic work on my Norge with a laptop to read service codes, adjust valves, change oil and all the rest, and while he makes it all look easy, there's no way I can mimic his skill, not to mention having the appropriate tools on hand.
It's like with my car: I drive it, I take it to be serviced, but when I look under the hood it's all I can do to add windshield washer fluid. If my car ever breaks down (and it has not), I would call Triple A and they would tow it to the nearest auto mechanic, which is less than 100 miles away no matter where you breakdown in America. If our bikes break down, a certified Guzzi service facility could be two States away...
There seems to be quite a bit of knowledge on this board, and most of you probably could work your way out of a mechanical issue, but there's got to be others like myself that don't have that confidence. Words of wisdom would be appreciated.
"I can type 100 words a minute, but it's in my own language." -Mitch Hedberg
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Get the Norge serviced before the trip. Then it can make the round trip without needing another service.
No matter what bike you own , regardless of brand or model, a BMW, Honda or a Guzzi, if you aren't confident in its ability to make a 4000 mile trip, I wouldn't try.
The Norge is a good bike for that distance but no matter what, you must have confidence in it or that is what you'll think about the entire time and that doesn't make for a good time.
Is there an aspect of the Norge that causes you concerns?
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Remain a member in good standing on WG and carry some type of device to access the net . Being a member here means you are never truly stranded .
Dusty
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I'm also in the very limited mechanical ability camp. I've been riding for over 30 yrs and taken over 25 cross country trips on a variety of different bikes from different manufactures, with only one minor breakdown that caused me to lose one day of travel. I had an 07 Norge which I took 3 long distance trips on, averaging around 5,000 miles on each trip with never a single issue.
As Norge Pilot said, have it serviced before you go then go out and enjoy your trip. I do belong to a motorcycle towing service for piece of mind, but otherwise I figure as long as I have a cell phone and credit card I'll always be able to get home even if something unexpected should happen. Take lots of pics and give us a ride report when you get back.
:bike-037:
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All good advice, get the bike checked out and just do it. If you don't you'll always wish you did instead of staying home. Keep in touch here as you go. Don't think of it as a 4000mi trip, just a bunch of 3 or 400 mile trips. HAVE FUN! :thumb:
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My motto, as my avatar suggests, "What, me worry?"
Join Mgnoc and get the contact list. Or just count on the WG folks, just in case.
You'll be fine. Sounds like a great time.
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Think of it as a bunch of 300-400 mile trips happening in quick succession, interspersed with adventurous eating and some campouts. Bring a camera.
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Let your dealer know your plans, have the bikes checked out and serviced as needed, and forget about it. Modern bikes are just about as reliable as cars. It's unlikely you'll have any serious problems, and any that arise can always be managed.
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Join the MGNOC. Carry the "owners list".
Don't have high expectations from a towing service like triple-A. They only take the bike a SHORT distance and leave you at a place that doesn't work on Moto Guzzis.
Worse case, cell phone, two truck, and U-Haul home.
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I've got a Norge 2014 and my wife has a 2015 V7 Stone. We want to take a tour out to Yellowstone, Utah, Colorado and back home (Pittsburgh), but I have a couple of concerns.
There seems to be quite a bit of knowledge on this board, and most of you probably could work your way out of a mechanical issue, but there's got to be others like myself that don't have that confidence. Words of wisdom would be appreciated.
Go for it, all you ever need is a cell phone, some cash in your wallet and your credit card paid up before you leave. These basic three rules were given to me twenty years ago when I started long distance touring with a seasoned rider who has been to every Canadian Province and Territory, all of the American states less Hawaii and a lot of Mexico on his bike.
I have once had to rent a U haul van to ferry three bikes through a snow storm in Nevada one late October and last summer I ended up trading in a dead KLR 650 in Whitehorse Yukon for a new one to continue my trip up the Dempster. I have had flat tires and ran out of gas in the desert, broke a clutch cable in New Mexico, a shift lever in the Rockies, and fried a CDI box in Vegas, it's all good and I enjoyed the mishaps as much as the smooth sailing. Overcoming these minor 1st world problems builds confidence in the rest of you life.
A tow truck is a call away and a Greyhound bus goes through most towns.
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You hinted, but didn't state specifically, whether your wife will be riding her Stone or will be pillion. If she is on the Stone, I'd suggest a good long day will still be in the 3-400 mile range; if she is riding pillion, you could move that up to maybe 600 at most.
While MG-specific mechanics are sparse out here in the west, most of what could need attention is easy and familiar to any good mechanic - they just need to send for parts. Carry a basic - but full - set of tools, a tire patch kit and a mini compressor. As others have said, a full service before the trip and one when you return.
If you are riding on two bikes, you have an out if you can't get cell service - one of you can ride to the nearest town. If a tow is required, you may be better off negotiating the cost locally than the price you get by calling your standard service. I get roadside assistance through my insurance company on the Norge; they were good the one time I had to call, but I had to wait for the sun to go down and radio range to improve before my phone could reliably hit the tower :undecided:
If you haven't already got a GPS, get one. It's really good for your self-confidence and enjoyment to have a clear idea of where you are and where the next gas, food, or bed may be. Not only that, it will let you tell the people at the other end of the phone line where exactly you are if needed.
In addition to MGNOC, I would also recommend the Motorcycle Tourers Forum over on Delphi, and their Motorcycle Tourers' Assistants program. While they may not have the MG specific expertise, they may also be in places where MGNOC members may be few.
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Just observations: Try not to ride more than a few hundred miles per day unless you are droning the highways. A 600 mile day is way over 12 hours of straight riding if you average 50 mph. Add in a breakfast and a lunch and walking out the door at 6 am has you still on the road at 7pm. That is stopping only for an hour total time the entire day. Add at least 3 fuel stops and you've got closer to an hour and a half plus the 12 hours of straight riding.
Of course it is personal preference but with a passenger, unless they are really into long distance riding, they are done long before the 12 hour mark especially if the trip is nearly across the country and it isn't something done with regularity. The Norge is a Sport Tourer, not a full dresser or long & broad bike like other Guzzis.
I know, some wives are heros but the average speed is rarely the miles divided by the speed limit, often it is less. There is a big difference between riding 200-300 miles for a trip once in a while and putting down twice as many miles + a day for days.
If you take scenic routes, you are lucky to break 600 miles in a day because that average speed is going way down unless you never stop to take a picture, sit by a river for a nice lunch or chat with people you meet.
When planning a cross country trip, optimistic miles per day can often result in frustration and no fun.
Don't get me wrong, some of us have wives with iron butts but that isn't everyone. Idea is to have fun not see how many miles you can lay down.
One thing that has worked and is only a suggestion: Ride out single and fly the wife out a few days later. That lets you lay down miles and take the leisurely way back. You carry less with you on the way out, can make better time and the wife is refreshed and good for a long ride back. I've also done it the other way around, ride together there and she flew back. It allows for a lot of flexibility. It gives her a taste of a long distance tour and you're not half way through and facing hardship.
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Learn how to check oil level and tire pressure at the very least and perform them religiously...if neglected, those two items tend to cause the most trouble
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One thing that has worked and is only a suggestion: Ride out single and fly the wife out a few days later. That lets you lay down miles and take the leisurely way back. You carry less with you on the way out, can make better time and the wife is refreshed and good for a long ride back. I've also done it the other way around, ride together there and she flew back. It allows for a lot of flexibility. It gives her a taste of a long distance tour and you're not half way through and facing hardship.
:1:
We did this last year: I rode to Austin for the Moto GP, and my wife flew out and rode back with me.
This year, we're doing a similar thing. I'm taking 4 days to ride to Hartford, CT. She'll fly in, then we'll spend 12 days riding through New England and Canada, ending up in Buffalo. She'll fly home from there, and I'll 4 days to ride back.
Also, as has been said before, Our longest day on the bike will be less than 300 miles, leaving plenty of time for sight seeing. My solo days will be much longer, probably 300-400 per day.
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IMHO, there is a lot more to consider than just the bikes. Many here, including myself have done some extensive traveling on two wheels. Stuff, and the ability to carry it, need be considered. Riding gear, clothing, perhaps camping gear, and so on. Once you pull out you have what you have or have to buy it along the way.
Yellowstone is a great place to visit BTW.
If you have a desire to discuss it further, send me a PM and I will call you or you can call me. I would be happy to talk.
John Henry
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Just to reinforce some points;
* most people aren't mechanics and can't really fix anything serious on the side of the road anyway.
* if you've got 2 bikes one can always go for help.
* a Uhaul is never all that far away and worse case scenario you can always get back home.
* Jenn and I have long preferred taking our time when touring. Highway droning is a tool we've used for compressed timelines but otherwise we prefer to keep it to 200-300 miles a day max on back roads. I don't know that in over a decade of riding that Jenn has ever done much more than 400 in a day and I remember her looking exhausted and getting cranky around that number.
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Yes, get bikes serviced but give yourself a few shake down miles with all your stuff hanging off.
No major adjustments before hand without trying out first.
Let bank know of travel plans so as not to cancel your debit card(ask me how I know).
Lots of pictures, and lower expectations of daily miles to be covered.
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Pull a Daniel K and live out of one bag
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I've done some long trips on my Vintage and the bike did very well. My biggest issues were flats and loosening nuts and bolts. Start the trip with new or newish tires and go over your bike daily to find loose fasteners and you will likely be fine. Like Kev said, a U-Haul dealer is seldom far away...
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A 600 mile day is way over 12 hours of straight riding if you average 50 mph.
Your sentence doesn't make sense. A 50mph overall average includes food and fuel stops, and quite a bit of stopped time. Straight riding, especially in the west, is 60-80 mph.
In my experience, the 50mph overall average is a good rule of thumb for a truck driver, but when travelling my average is rarely that low unless it's a day set aside for few miles and lots of sight-seeing stops. On "transit days" where stops are few, maintaining a 55-60mph overall average is no biggie, and 65mph overall average is doable in places with 75-80 mph speed limits.
On week-long trips out west, I mix the days. I'll ride a full day through some areas, knocking out 600-700 miles in 11 or 12 hours. Then the next day might mean 100-200 miles through an interesting area with lots of stops. Sometimes I'll stay 2 or more nights in one place if I'm really interested in checking out the area. Then I'll knock out another big day in order to get to another place that interests me.
Riding 400-500 miles a day, every day, for ten days would not be my first choice. I'd rather have a couple of 600-1000 mile days mixed in with some short ones. But everyone is different. And everyone wants to see and do different things when travelling by motorcycle...
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I second everything above.
I would consider getting a good towing service plan, even if it is for one year. To me, in your situation, the AAA premium plan would be worth it for peace of mind. A 200mi tow will get you to almost any decent size town. From there you can plan how to 'fix' whatever is wrong, even if it is to rent a uhaul to take them home. There are other benefits as well, like hotel discounts and such.
When I travel and see the sights along the way a 300mi day is more than enough. Yes, you can do more. If you don't have anything to see along the way you can hop on the interstate and blitz it for a few hundred miles.
I will be embarking on a 2000mi trip next month, solo, on my 32yr old Guzzi. I don't plan on anything breaking either, but, am prepared in case it does.
And this rowdy bunch is online almost 24/7 for any questions/issues/help you may need. A bonus is if you let us know where you'll be we might even link up for a breakfast/lunch or just ride along a bit if you want. Warning, some of us can be a bit 'scary' on first contact. :)
FWIW, there are some on here and elsewhere who are more than just a friendly place. Folks like Matt Forslund in Albuquerque are full fledged Guzzi mechanics with all the tools and spares needed to get you back on the road. Yes, he even has a few complete engines and transmissions sitting in his garage (along with about 20 motorcycles if you decide you want a different one :) ).
Last, Yellowstone is great, but, to really see it you need to spend at least two days there. Yes, it is worth it.
The entire area you are looking at is full of wonderful sights and roads. Don't plan too much ahead and take your time. Except, if you want to stay at a hotel near any of the popular spots you need reservations well in advance. If expense is not that important then see about staying at places like the hotels at Old Faithful, Mammoth Springs, Zion, North or South Rim of the Grand Canyon, etc. They are really great historic places.
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One thing that has worked and is only a suggestion: Ride out single and fly the wife out a few days later. That lets you lay down miles and take the leisurely way back. You carry less with you on the way out, can make better time and the wife is refreshed and good for a long ride back. I've also done it the other way around, ride together there and she flew back. It allows for a lot of flexibility. It gives her a taste of a long distance tour and you're not half way through and facing hardship.
We did this last year: I rode to Austin for the Moto GP, and my wife flew out and rode back with me.
This year, we're doing a similar thing. I'm taking 4 days to ride to Hartford, CT. She'll fly in, then we'll spend 12 days riding through New England and Canada, ending up in Buffalo. She'll fly home from there, and I'll 4 days to ride back.
Also, as has been said before, Our longest day on the bike will be less than 300 miles, leaving plenty of time for sight seeing. My solo days will be much longer, probably 300-400 per day.
This is a good idea, and works well. For the Wildguzzi Western Adventure in 2013, Marcia couldn't take all the time off for the trip. We bought her a plane ticket into Durango Colorado, which saved her sitting on the bike for two days. I rode out from Arkansas, knocking out 650 miles to Cimarron NM the first day, then 250 miles to Durango the second day.She spent a long weekend at the campout in Ouray, and I dropped her at at the airport in Durango on Tuesday morning, on my way to Santa Fe for a couple nights. Then I knocked out a 775 mile day home on the last day.
While in Colorado, she rode with me on a 250 mile lunch ride to Gateway Canyons Resort, and we took the long way back to Durango through Telluride and Dolores. She logged nearly 500 miles while there. I logged about 2400 miles.
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It sounds to me like you haven't done this before. If that is true, here is my advice gleaned from over 50 years of doing it.
(1) Don't worry about the bikes being able to do it. Modern motorcycles are almost reliable to a fault. :smiley:
(2) Your most likely break down is a flat tire. Be prepared to plug one. It is still extremely unusual. I could count the number of flats I've had in 50 some years on both hands.
(3) Don't plan long days, especially if your wife is low on experience. Without much experience, over 300 miles is a long day. Depending on what kind of roads you are on, it can be a *very* long day.
(4) It *can* turn into work if you *need* to be somewhere for whatever reason and weather intervenes, for instance. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room. Be flexible in your planning.
(5) See number 1. :smiley:
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A word of caution: if you are going to be traversing any open desert, be aware that the desert deserves serious respect. In the East, when it's hot you can always find some shade or an air conditioned place to cool off. In the desert, not so, and you aren't acclimated to the extreme conditions you may encounter. Last summer I crossed the Nevada desert from Las Vegas to Utah in triple-digit midday heat under a scorching sun. I spent the better part of several hours wondering if I was going to die in the next minute when I passed out on my rented Road King at 75 mph. You have no choice but to keep going. I do not recommend this experience.
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You just have to jump in and do it. My first serious road trip was in 1980 on a Suzuki GS400 with a home made pasley duffle bag for luggage. Rode from Central Kansas to Houston and back.
The only things I might add that has not already been said is be prepared for the sun. Full face helmet or a 3/4 with a shaded face shield. Cover all the body to protect from sun and windburn (yes, there is such a thing) and use some sort of lip balm. Enjoy!
GliderJohn
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The danger of the desert is no joke. I had to repair a tire in West Texas. It was June and the temperature was 117F. Despite drinking a liter of water and completing the job in 45 minutes, I suffered heat exhaustion and lost a day resting and re-hydrating. There was absolutely not even a spot of shade where the tire went flat. I've lived most of my life in Louisiana or New Mexico, yet that was my first heat-related issue. It really got my attention...
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All great advice. I'll just reinforce the peace of mind that comes from having the following:
- Tools - even if you don't know how to use them, a fellow motorcyclist may.
- Tire repair Kit - same as above
- Food and water - if stranded, running late, or just starting to feel down on energy while crossing a long, open section without services
- AAA or AMA memberships - especially the long-distance towing option. I think every state is different, but my CA AAA club includeds motorcycle towing under the RV category.
And I don't think I saw this in the thread so far - does your wife's bike have a windshield? If not, you might want to invest in one for the trip. You'll get a lot of protection on the Norge. If the V7 has no windshield, she'll probably get tired sooner than you.
Have you been riding at night together? If not, it would be good to go get a little night riding practice in places you know. That way, in case you get caught in the dark it won't be a totally not a new experience.
Desert pic from last week (NGC):
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m492/timscudder/1992%20K75s/IMG_4683.jpg) (http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/timscudder/media/1992%20K75s/IMG_4683.jpg.html)
Don't be the person who needs a helicopter ride.
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Highly recommend having a new set of tires, or at least ones with 5000 miles of tread life left, giving you enough time to explore back roads, side routes etc without having to change a tire on the trip. 300 miles a day in the twisties is a fun all day trip with plenty of time for pics, lunch, walk abouts and just schmoozing with people you meet along the way. There may even be some days where you park one bike and ride 2 up...perhaps the Beartooth and back depending on whether you are planning on staying in 1 place for a few days...can make it easier just to hop on one bike.
Plenty of liquids...bring a camelback and drink drink drink thru the day...
Helmet liner - can be wet and put back on...provides air conditioning for the head in hot climates
Nike DryFit or Under Armour gear...can wet a shirt and also provides air conditioning
Long distance riding underwear: LD Comfort or Moto Skivvies...trust me, these things are important on a long trip!
Good pair of riding socks as well
A good seat or sheepskin/airhawk...
A few pairs of gloves in case one gets wet, at least one should be water proof...
Miniature tire compressor, small tool pack
Hydro Flasks are great for keeping Hot Coffee all day long with you in the bags...fill it up at the hotel in the morning, you'll have hot coffee all day long
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Yeah. The biggest hassles any of my riding buddies have experienced on longer trips were tire related.
Leaving on a thousands mile long trip, knowing the tire won't make it will just cost you time and money on the road.
My favorite story is a friend discovering he needed a new tire in Western Oklahoma on a Saturday. Made it to Liberal Kansas. The kawasaki store didn't have a tire that would fit. The Harley/Buell dealer had a tire, but wouldn't mount it on a motorcycle brand they didn't sell. He thought he'd buy the tire at the Harley dealer and have the kawasaki dealer install it, but they wouldn't install a tire they didn't sell. Catch-22 deal, for my friend. They burned a day with that debacle, and still didn't have a tire for the Ducati Monster.
Sunday, he ended up riding home 400 miles on cords, trying his best to keep the bike leaned a few degrees left, alternating with leaning it a few degrees right, to spread the wear off the tire's centerline.
If he'd left home on a new sport-touring tire, that would've never happened...
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PJPR01 brings up some great points. I'd even go so far as to say that you should leave with brand new rear tires on each bike. You'll be surprised at how fast the last couple mm or tire wears away! That gets worse when the road surface is hot.
The OEM seat on my '13 V7 was only good for about 100 miles, it became unbearable after that. If your wife thinks the seat is OK she's one tough rider! Now is a good time to consider upgrading the seat.
Peter Y.
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Oh yea. I knock of 400 mile days on my V7, but NO WAY on that stock seat.
Some very good points made here. I'll add: good gear to stay dry, those Moto-Skivies for gals work great Mrs. KoF tells me, riding into the wind will be MUCH different for her than you, and yes to everything mentioned about the desert. It's unbelievable in beauty but it'll kill you quick if you take it for granted.
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Anyone here have a recommend for tire plug/repair kits?
I am sure some are better than others, what are your experiences?
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I carry both a Dynaplug kit and a small tube with repair items from Nealey in Iowa.
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I just carry the tire 'rope' kits. Fresh glue every year. I carry a bottle of slime, an air compressor and a CO2 inflation kit. Spare fuses and relays.
But, I also carry a full set of tools for the bike, spare throttle and clutch cables, electrical wire, baling wire, duct tape, electrical tape, connectors, etc, etc. But, I also plan on fixing the bike myself whatever goes wrong. Yes, I go overboard on tools and spares :)
You can scare yourself out of this trip if you think about all the bad things. Just take it easy, stop often. If you get uncomfortable then stop for the day.
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Anyone here have a recommend for tire plug/repair kits?
I am sure some are better than others, what are your experiences?
From someone that gets more flats per year than some people do in a lifetime:
The 'motorcycle specific' plugs are a waste. Get some 'gooey worms' at any auto parts place, and the reamer/probe to go with them. Throw them out every couple of years and get fresh ones. If you carry a FRESH tube of cement to help insert and seal them, even better.
For tube tires get a bicycle patch kit. Replace that with fresh patches and FRESH cement at least every year. You will need tire irons too. Practice at home.
For airing it up, a compact 12 volt pump is best if you can fit it in. CO2 kits work, but plan on needing about twice as many CO2 cartridges as they claim.
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To pile on: don't worry about the scant Guzzi network. There are Harley dealers seemingly everywhere, but if you break down in rural Oklahoma, the inconvenience and time lost will be the same whether you are riding a California or a Road King.
If you break down near Chicago, send me a PM on your smartphone, I'll help you out. See how easy that was? :grin:
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Forgot to mention I use a MotoPumps 12v inflator. Small and works a treat.
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I've got a Norge 2014 and my wife has a 2015 V7 Stone. We want to take a tour out to Yellowstone, Utah, Colorado and back home (Pittsburgh), but I have a couple of concerns.
To date we have only taken short trips between 200-300 miles. This trip would be about 4000 miles.
Have you looked at this on a map? You're probably looking at 4,500 miles or more. Google Map Link (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Pittsburgh,+PA/Yellowstone+National+Park,+WY/Moab,+UT/Ouray,+CO/Durango,+CO/Dodge+City,+KS/St.+Louis,+MO/Pittsburgh,+PA/@40.5311782,-104.8768566,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m50!4m49!1m5!1m1!1s0x8834f16f48068503:0x8df915a15aa21b34!2m2!1d-79.9958864!2d40.4406248!1m5!1m1!1s0x534e1fa4815fb5c5:0x55626b0f59fce96b!2m2!1d-110.5884542!2d44.4279684!1m5!1m1!1s0x8747e1e59ab82d8d:0xb32b17af1d5c42d!2m2!1d-109.5498395!2d38.5733155!1m5!1m1!1s0x873f1f7caf7386f3:0x9003c80400295bdd!2m2!1d-107.6714487!2d38.0227716!1m5!1m1!1s0x873c02a6bd85fc23:0xdc2b8882a3a67e5a!2m2!1d-107.8800667!2d37.27528!1m5!1m1!1s0x87a71b1a4bc919e1:0x8de63453e6193d43!2m2!1d-100.0170787!2d37.7527982!1m5!1m1!1s0x87d8b4a9faed8ef9:0xbe39eaca22bbe05b!2m2!1d-90.1994042!2d38.6270025!1m5!1m1!1s0x8834f16f48068503:0x8df915a15aa21b34!2m2!1d-79.9958864!2d40.4406248!3e0)
As mentioned, each day is a ride to itself, like the rides you're already taking. You just don't go home at the end of each day.
Having taken several 10-day to 2-week 3,500-4,500 mile trips, I'd say fatique will be one of the biggest enemies. Unfortunately, most of the trip you have planned will be across flat plains, and even the "scenic" 2-lanes can be a challenge to keep interesting.
I like these kinds of rides, but I know a lot of people don't. I also remember my first big rides out west and how exhilarating an experience they were.
If you have only been riding 300 miles per day, getting to Yellowstone will take you six days. Getting home from Utah will take you six days. How much time do you have to enjoy The Rockies while you're there ? I'm thinking you need to plan this as a three week trip.
I know and understand the desire to ride one's own bike on these adventures, but this trip sounds like a big bite to take. You might consider trying a few 1000-1200 mile weekend trips before taking off on this one.
Also, you might consider flying to Montana and renting a Harley to ride on the fun parts of the trip. Then fly home. It would make your three week trip a one week trip...
Not trying to talk you out of it, but worrying about the motorcycle is down the list. You need to be mentally and physically ready for three weeks of riding a motorcycle almost everyday. Ready for heat, cold, rain, wind, and fatigue. It could be the ride of a lifetime. You just have to be prepared.
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Your sentence doesn't make sense. A 50mph overall average includes food and fuel stops, and quite a bit of stopped time. Straight riding, especially in the west, is 60-80 mph.
It makes plenty of sense. He is riding either with his wife on a V7 or two up on a Norge. Yeah, the heros can stomp out average speeds of 60-80 mph for between 7.5 and 10 hours. Do you know what it takes to put down 600 miles in a day at an average speed of 80 mph? Now add in another rider on a much smaller bike with no fairing, different needs for restroom and other needs. Please.
Like I said unless you are droning in highways your speeds are lower. Missed that part? For their first big trip, being optimistic about average speeds and miles covered isn't helpful.
Stopping for lunch and having a nice chat with people you meet can easily take 45 min. There goes your average speed and also your miles covered without making it an all day into late evening ride.
Straight riding? Umm, its a vacation with the wife, not some iron butt marathon. Read the post again. Geesh.
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Relax. :cool:
What everyone else said - and in the unlikely event that you have a breakdown, it's just part of the adventure, NOT a disaster. Embrace a bit of risk (and I'm not endorsing dangerous behaviour). It makes life more interesting.
Most of all, have fun and don't be driven by the feeling that you have to make miles. Wherever you are is good. The next place can wait.
Nick
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It makes plenty of sense. He is riding either with his wife on a V7 or two up on a Norge. Yeah, the heros can stomp out average speeds of 60-80 mph for between 7.5 and 10 hours. Do you know what it takes to put down 600 miles in a day at an average speed of 80 mph? Now add in another rider on a much smaller bike with no fairing, different needs for restroom and other needs. Please.
Like I said unless you are droning in highways your speeds are lower. Missed that part?
Stopping for lunch and having a nice chat with people you meet can easily take 45 min. There goes your average speed and also your miles covered without making it an all day into late evening ride.
Straight riding? Umm, its a vacation with the wife, not some iron butt marathon. Geesh.
Once again, a comment goes straight over your head.
"straight riding" = moving time. That doesn't include stops. Your 50mph is "overall average", which includes stops.
No one rides 50mph. Especially on the kind of trip the OP is contemplating. They ride 60-80 mph and the timed "overall average" is impacted by fuel and food stops.
Having ridden all over the country on all kinds of bikes, I fully understand that a 50mph overall average is lolly-gagging. It's an easy pace.
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Whatever. Everyone else managed to just provide some helpful advice, you needed, as usual, to troll my post.
Off highways, lots of people ride 50 mph but again, read the first post. Average is just that, average. From start of day to end of day, average speed. Total time/hours start to stop. Most people can figure that out.
:rolleyes:
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You might line up some visits with WG folks along the way. For example, if you're going to be passing thru northern NM, I'd be happy to share a meal or cuppa coffee with you (I don't have a good spare bedroom, but there is a sleeper sofa you'd be welcome to use). And you could use my garage if need be.
Rich A
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Whatever. Everyone else managed to just provide some helpful advice, you needed, as usual, to troll my post.
You said:
A 600 mile day is way over 12 hours of straight riding if you average 50 mph.
I say, a 600 mile day is not 12 hours of "straight riding". It's eight or nine hours of riding and three or four hours of sitting. It's a relatively easy day.
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A lot of good advice so far, but it really can't take the place of experience. Work your way up to that big journey with many shorter trips; push the boundaries of your comfort zone closer to home.
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another thought, get any service or changes done some time before the trip and make a couple test rides. If you are going to have problems they are most likely to be with whatever was done at the last minute before you left.
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I got some advice from a long distance Harley rider a few years back that has worked for me. He did one or two trips to Alaska every year from Maryland. He says that it is important to wake up and get on the rode quickly. After a few days your body will tell you to spend more time in the motel and have a good breakfast before you head out. He said don't listen, wake up grab a coffee and get in the first 100 miles and then stop for breakfast, That will hold you over until you look for a hotel for the night. You can check in earlier, hit the pool if they have one and have a nice relaxed dinner and get to bed early. Repeat.
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We follow that routine whenever we travel, even with the RV.
About the only time I don't is when I have to break down camp first. But, on days I need to put in some miles, I will wake up before it is light out to break down and go.
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My routine on longer days of 400-800 miles:
-eat breakfast
-ride two or three hours
-fuel up
-ride two or three hours
-eat lunch/fuel up
-ride two or three hours
-fuel up
-ride two or three hours
-check in to lodging/eat dinner/relax
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Ok, let me give you another option. As far as I'm concerned, going across northern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and eastern Colorado is about as much fun as watching grass grow. :evil:
Why not <gasp> trailer the bikes to the Rockies, ride the *great* rides out west, and cannonball back home in the comfort of your tow vehicle? Less time spent, you're less tired once you get to the "good" riding, and will give it a better shot. Works for me, and has for *many* years, now. <shrug>
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Ok, let me give you another option. As far as I'm concerned, going across northern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and eastern Colorado is about as much fun as watching grass grow. :evil:
Why not <gasp> trailer the bikes to the Rockies, ride the *great* rides out west, and cannonball back home in the comfort of your tow vehicle? Less time spent, you're less tired once you get to the "good" riding, and will give it a better shot. Works for me, and has for *many* years, now. <shrug>
Might as well fly out there rent bikes and fly back. Yes, that is sarcasm you hear.. ;)
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Do the big trip on both bikes; if your wife doesn't ride hers she will wish she had! Take it easy and just chill out. Try not to have to be anywhere particular or have to "make time" - it can take a lot of the fun out of it. Dont eat a heavy meal at breakfast or lunch; I find that makes me sit on the bike like a bag of concrete.. A few more things;
Stop when you feel like it not when you HAVE to due to fatigue, by then its too late.
Take in the sights, thats what its all about. Even the weirdest thing might be worth checking out! Barometer World? Gnome Sanctuary?
Let the V7 set the pace. I tour on a B750 with a freind on a Norge, and we sit at 70-75 on the motorway and 60-65 on the NSL zones. Yeah the Norge could go faster but its better to stay together. Due to the nature of the roads we are often on, we average 50-55 for a days riding. We seek out the twisties......
Let the person who likes the most comfort pick the accomodation. I've stayed in everything from "under the stars on a bivvy bag" to a hotel and all in between, but by the time you have been in to it for a few days a good shower, good food, and a good bed will be appreciated!
Above all....GO!!!!!
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Quote from ScepticalScotty:
Above all....GO!!!!!
:1:
I recently turned 60. Not old by any means in today's world but s*&%@ can happen at any time. I am trying to minimize any regrets in old age of things I didn't do and wished I had. Life is too short not to taste all it has to offer. Go and enjoy!
GliderJohn
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To pile on: don't worry about the scant Guzzi network. There are Harley dealers seemingly everywhere, but if you break down in rural Oklahoma, the inconvenience and time lost will be the same whether you are riding a California or a Road King.
If you break down near Chicago, send me a PM on your smartphone, I'll help you out. See how easy that was? :grin:
That Oklahoma reference might not be such a good one. We have quite a few willing and able Guzzi guys in OK that are on the forum. And they have pick up trucks.
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That Oklahoma reference might not be such a good one. We have quite a few willing and able Guzzi guys in OK that are on the forum. And they have pick up trucks.
Yep , and that Wizard of all things Guzzi in Southern KS might as well be in Oklahoma . Besides , Okies are very friendly and always willing to offer advice , sometimes even of the useful variety :laugh:
Dusty
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That's actually my retirement dream. Sell the house, all I need is a bike and an ATM card.. follow the seasons.. I figure I could do it for about 10 years before I have to die..
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I drive a semi for a living, and I know the rigors of getthereitis. My best advice I can give you on a trip is :
1) There is no place you HAVE to get to. Change your mind/destination as you wish.
2) Your turn around point is any where you want. Not enough time to "complete" your trip? Turn around when you want. It's not a vacation trip if it becomes work.
3) Enjoy what your doing, do want you enjoy.
Wish I had more helpful advice for you. If you are transiting Iowa, I have room, a bed, garage, bike table, tools, but no skills. You're welcome to stop over at our place. I might even have some food, adult beverages, and cigars if you care too.
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:1: on all the above.
The one thing I didn't see mentioned is a SPOT tracker. Many places out west are without cell phone coverage and you can always press the send help button and it sends your GPS position to someone listed back home so they can get you help. And if something serious happens you press the SOS button for a medical emergency-it will activate a rescue and for approximately $100 a year it covers the cost of a full blown evac. This device sends a GPS position every 15 minutes once you turn it on at the beginning of a ride and lets any family and friends you choose watch your progress from their home computer and gives everyone peace of mind and lets them feel like they're in on the ride. I use mine on every ride since even local rides cause loss of cell phone signal in the Ozark mountains. Had to use mine once off road in Utah-it was a life saver.
I bought mine for about $60 used on e-bay and it is cheap insurance. Runs on batteries so it doesn't require any wiring on the bike-snap it in a ram mount on your bars or put it in your pocket. Good luck on your decision and happy riding!
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This device sends a GPS position every 15 minutes once you turn it on at the beginning of a ride
Exactly. Where do you think all those dots come from when I show my trip-route on a map? Spot. I get home, download all the recorded lat/lon locations, and then plot the points on a map (most any map software can be used). (by the way, the location is transmitted every ten minutes)
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Hello;
Get the bikes Serviced and new tires!
Bring with you a tire plugging kit and a 12 volt portable pump (the C02 cartridges are marginal)
Bring wire ties (Zip ties) and duct tape
Bring break handle, clutch handle, Foot break petal and clutch pedal... in case you take a small spill but snap a control lever
Just about NOTHING you can't fix with all that, and get to a location from which to get the bike to a dealer (Tow or slow speed run)
A small tool kit helps with metric sockets in class you need to change a lever. NOTHING Huge.. just enough to get you going again.
A credit card and a cell phone. ....
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!
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Just a thought. I have a couple friends with whom I have done some long distance trips. We tend to settle into a routine of getting up between 0600 and 0700, riding an hour before breakfast (maybe up to 100miles), stopping for lunch at about 1300, and quitting around 1900. We try to stop in a small town. We'll find an older motel downtown, within walking distance of a bar/restaurant. That way we can get off the bikes and not ride anywhere until the next day. This gives us lots of time to take side trips, smell the roses, and still make decent progress. Some days we will ride 800 miles, most days it's in the 4-500 range. It all depends on how much fun we are having. The limiting factors seem to be (1) seat comfort, (2) weather protection.
I'm the past president of 'making the most miles in a day'. Now I'd rather enjoy the scenery. Heck, I might just start to trailer my bike out to a neat spot and forgo all that slab time. In this case I suspect it's more important to focus on the couple bonding vs making the most miles. If you get to the most scenic point on the globe but hate the sight of your riding partner...what's the use?
Peter Y.
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Has anyone else noticed the original poster has never given any feedback
He seems to be on-line though.
Steelby, how are your plans going?
Just do it, you will forever regret if you don't
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IMO you are getting some good info and a lot of junk from the professional KERA members.
My girlfriend has ridden her V-7 from Texas to the National in Canada and also to NH on the stock seat. We put on many 5-600 mile days on secondary roads. For me, riding on the slab wears me out with all the traffic and noise. Take 50 to St. Louis, jog up to 36 and ride across MO and KS. Get to see what I call what is left of the real America. See weird stuff like kids riding their bikes and kids mowing lawns with a push mower!
Unless it is going to a rally, I don't have a destination for the day or night. In my 50 plus years of riding the US I say ride your game. That means if you have a routine stay with it. I can't stress enough about getting up and being on the road at daylight and stopping an hour before dark.
Don't worry about your bike. A million things COULD happen, but you also could have a memorable ride.
Now did I just waste my time on this post?
Tex
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Seats and screens. Two things that are highly personal. As Paul Simon said, "One man's ceiling is another man's floor."
If she rode to the National in NH (I had to cancel at the last minute due to illness-dang!) good on her. You may have met Jim Hamlin there. I get my bikes from him. Great guy. Anyway, I rode my V7 home 425 miles from his shop and said as I returned to my shop there HAS to be better for that bike. Spent the next year working on a few ideas for that bike seat.
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If she rode to the National in NH (I had to cancel at the last minute due to illness-dang!) good on her. You may have met Jim Hamlin there. I get my bikes from him. Great guy. Anyway, I rode my V7 home 425 miles from his shop and said as I returned to my shop there HAS to be better for that
[/quote]
I bought my Cali from Jim last summer. Of course, it's a little more convenient for me -- his shop is seven miles from my house.
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Be careful of changing gear right before the trip. Test it all out with several rides and different weather...that new pair of pants might have a seam that is perfectly in the wrong place
Bring spare spark plug and caps...Guzzis snap those easily in a tip over
Riding shorts/underwear that is breathable with some spandex helps keep blood from pooling in your butt
Earplugs that do not expand so much they hurt your ear canal
Establish a daily pattern that includes bike maintenance, tire pressure checks, as well as caring for yourself with extra water and food before you get hungry and thirsty
Have someone that knows your approximate plans and would respond for you if you didn't check in with them (more for a solo rider)
Make it a visiting trip and hit up everyone along the way that belongs to this board, while offering a place to stay if they came your way
Make it the goal of this big trip to collect stickers, or postcards, or something silly....when you get home you'll have a collection of stuff to remind you of the trip...the littlest memento can make you recall all the fun and adventure
toward the end, be very cautious of running to the barn...instead stop more often, even if you don't want to
Check in with your partner more often than the bike
Go slower...see more...stress less
Practice getting lost, and getting found....some of my best memories have happened after riding off the map
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There is a great deal of discussion about flats. Nobody wants to have to deal with a flat tire in the middle of nowhere...natch. I went through a time when it seemed I was having more than my share of punctures, so I really put a great deal of time into prevention. The advice to start with new tires is gold; thick tread turns away hazards much better than thin tread. Also, bringing along a 12v compressor is cheap insurance. My Viair 70P will seat a tire easily...something that is near impossible with Co2 or a hand pump (at least on tubeless tires). Lastly, I took some advice from an article written by a London motorcycle messenger and have not had a flat since: put a mudflap on your front fender. Most flats are on the rear wheel for a reason: the front wheel causes hazards to bounce around and occasionally a pointy end finds the rear tire and punctures it. The front mudflap will keep the detritus low or knock it out of the way, entirely. I know that it seems Harley-esque, but it is an old school solution to an age-old problem. See the photo of my Vintage below:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/JamesBagley/3525EF95-5E0C-42E4-9AA5-ABBF4D5DF78E_1.jpg)
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Great advise. I'll add: test ALL waterproofs in shower, tub, bucket, what have you. Quality control is not what we'd like-even for the big brands. Being in that business I can tell you that plenty of stuff had failed those tests right out of the box. Checking will reinforce that your gear is good-or present the opportunity for exchange. Make sure your DWR has been renewed. NixWax makes this really easy.
Jim's a great guy-as you know.
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Lastly, I took some advice from an article written by a London motorcycle messenger and have not had a flat since: put a mudflap on your front fender. Most flats are on the rear wheel for a reason: the front wheel causes hazards to bounce around and occasionally a pointy end finds the rear tire and punctures it. The front mudflap will keep the detritus low or knock it out of the way, entirely. I know that it seems Harley-esque, but it is an old school solution to an age-old problem. See the photo of my Vintage below:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/JamesBagley/3525EF95-5E0C-42E4-9AA5-ABBF4D5DF78E_1.jpg)
Hmmm, my Cali Custom came with such a mudflap -- guess that's a good thing!
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I'm new to this board, and can't figure out how to respond to feedback I've received--all good stuff. I tried "reply" a few times, but it's clearly a user problem (me). Sorry, I'll get it figured out... In particular, I can't figure out how you highlight a portion of somebody's posting, then respond to it on the board, so it becomes a part of the conversation.
Anyway, I've taken notes for all the many great suggestions I've received. I thank you all for this valuable input. I would have never thought of all the ideas mentioned. Using contact info from this board, also from the Moto Guzzi owners club as suggested brings a sense of calm over taking a long trip.
Also, all the many suggestions regarding what to take, how to prepare for such a trip, and general words of great wisdom have been very helpful. I have also been particularly impressed with all the many participants who have offered personal assistance if we happen to break down in their neck of the woods. Keeping notes on that, too.
Some people suggested trucking the bikes out instead of riding them, then trucking them back so as to beat all the boring miles out of the trip. Or flying out and renting bikes. Or some combination. In my mind, I go big or go home. My wife and I take on all the miles, good and bad, or we take on none of them. Sweet with the sour. After 34 years of marriage, this is the story of our life.
I did this kind of trip when I was younger, but it was not on a Norge, or a Stone. I love this bike of mine, and my wife loves her V7 Stone, but they are relatively new to our lives. Input you provided on that was encouraging.
Though we are not retired, we can find a way to free up about a month, and go for it, and it's really the only way to get a true idea how big this land is, and how beautiful even the bad parts can be. If you have been born and raised in Akron, Ohio as I was, and now living in Pittsburgh for 20 years, you come to appreciate the small "boring" stuff, not just the big stuff...
Sometimes you win a Super Bowl which makes up for most of the time, when you don't...
For those of you that run off the big miles every now and then, coast to coast, North to South---you know it's also about the accomplishment. It's long and tiring both mentally and physically, and it can also cost a bit of money but it's about going anywhere you want for as long as you want to be there, then moving on. That to me is what it is to be alive in America in 2016.
So thanks for the advice. We will be planning this trip in the Fall, after Labor day to beat the crowds around Yellowstone and the Parks in Utah. I'll let you know how it goes. In the meanwhile, I'll be participating in the conversation, and possibly even making timely responses once I figure out how to do it...
"Instead of getting married again, I'm just going to find a woman I don't like, and buy her a house." -Rod Stewart
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I went ahead and merged this
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Just a caution. We went to Yellowstone in mid Sep (they close the campgrounds and some of the hotels/restaurants around the 21st). That week the lows were in the 20's and two days before we got there they had snow. Daytime temps were in the 40's.
The month of Sep is still high tourist season out here. Tons of tour busses. Yellowstone wasn't bumper to bumper but it was crowded. Same thing in a previous year at the Grand Canyon and Zion. Bryce the hotels were all full. The highways not around the tourist traps are fine so at least you have that.
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No doubt on the Yellowstone advice...I recall coming back down into the North Entrance from Livingston on Labor Day and the traffic was bumper to bumper...so I decided to wait another day and rode back up and around for a day and came back the next day early morning....it was a bit mystical with some light fog and absolutely quiet....
A total of 2 cars and 1 gigantic bison were my company for the first 30 or 40 miles going thru the park until I hit the continental divide and basically a couple more cars until I hit Old Faithful...it was a night and day difference..so that 1 day can make the difference between chugging along at 2 mph or having the whole damn park to yourself practically!
Now that VW bus must be worth a fortune these days...they seem to have all turned into collectors items!
Enjoy!
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Just a thought, Gliderjohn you might want to comment or maybe cloud base. How about heading out on your task (sorry, trip) and do a easy distance say 150 miles, then change direction about 120 degrees and travel the same sort of diastance then change again about 120 degrees and another 150 miles or so. The point being of course that at any time you can pack it in, or quit, or give it the arse, whatever the terminology is in your part of the world. You'll effectively be doing a triangle with your home base in the middle and if conditions don't allow you to go on for whatever reason, you've not got a massive slog to get home. You don't want your wife to have bad memories of distance touring, but bear in mind she may surprise you, women have been shown to be able to concentrate better and can have high levels of tenacity. Another thing is I once did a dual ride with my partner of about 600 km, I thought I was looking after her by only sitting on 100 kph, I was on a GSXR1100 and she had a Honda CB250 at the time and I had no idea it was as arduous as it was for her to maintain 100 kph due to headwinds I couldn't feel and up hills I didn't know existed. Large/ish performance differences coupled with differences in experiences, I've found can rear their heads in a ugly way and spoil a good thing.
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Yep. I often have my bride lead. Makes the ride more enjoyable for her as the pace is more comfortable. The things we do for love!