Norge in the Smokies

[blackbuell]

Just returned from a trip from the greater Cincinnati area down into the Great Smoky Mts. National Park. Camped in Elkmont CG with 3 former colleagues who went there for fly fishing. While my buddies were fishing I went riding. This is a good time of year to camp and ride in the Park; the leaf peepers are gone, the campgrounds are not very full, and the roads are not very congested. I had a great time riding through the Park, on the Foothills Parkway, and on other roads in the area.  The Norge ran like a champ; I mainly slabbed it in between home and north of Knoxville, keeping the bike between 80-85 mph for about 200 miles. The ride was smooth, I was comfortable (even when it was only 45 degrees F), and the bike ended up getting 46 mpg for the whole trip.

True, at times in the past this bike has been a pain-in-the-ass, but it has become one of my favorite bikes of all time. The ODO now reads 52K miles; I really want to get it over 100K in the not-too-distant future. It is a keeper.

The pic is of the Norge at our campground.

[twowings]

Lovely bike, lovely time! You deserve it...

[Jim Rich]

Best riding I have ever experienced, glad you got to go.

[Huzo]

[quote author=blackbuell link=topic=86962.msg1371145#msg1371145 date=1478646194

True, at times in the past this bike has been a pain-in-the-ass, but it has become one of my favorite bikes of all time. The ODO now reads 52K miles; I really want to get it over 100K in the not-too-distant future. It is a keeper.






[/quote] What's some of the more significant things it's done wrong ? I have an '07 with 105,000 and wondered if our history is similar.

[Huzo]

Sorry, something went wrong with that post, but the question for me remains.

[tris]

..... the leaf peepers are gone, .....

... and they are ????

Otherwise that looks like an ace place to go!

[ohiorider]

Nice ride!  Beautiful scenery, and riding on what may be one of the best looking sport/touring bikes ever.

Glad to hear you were able to squeeze in a good ride this late in the year.

Bob

[Ncdan]

What a great adventure. I hope to have a few more stories like yours before I get to old to ride.

[blackbuell]

Tris, in October the area is flooded with folks coming to view the changing fall colors; the mts. are covered by hardwood forests; can be very colorful, but due to the regional drought the colors were somewhat muted this year. Actually, there are currently several forest fires in the area.

Huzo: neutral sensor, oil pressure sensor, and ECU failures. Stock muffler broke internally, had to replace it. Oil leak in CARC. Warped rotors, startus interuptus. Bent side stand, center stand rattled loose during first week of riding. Bubbling and expansion of fuel tank. Otherwise, everything has been fine.

Ncdan, I just retired in May; trying to get in as many rides as I can while I'm still physically able. Hopefully the Norge will make it to the end of my riding days.

Jon

[Huzo]

Huzo: neutral sensor, oil pressure sensor, and ECU failures. Stock muffler broke internally, had to replace it. Oil leak in CARC. Warped rotors, startus interuptus. Bent side stand, center stand rattled loose during first week of riding. Bubbling and expansion of fuel tank. Otherwise, everything has been fine.



Jon

Two of those sound familiar but generally I've had a luckier run, and mine's a red '07 !!?