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Showing results for tags 'trip'.
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I have just completed a trip from Chicago, IL to Orlando FL to visit my daughter turning 13 this month. During my trip down south, several thoughts crossed my mind and I am writing to inquire as to whether any of you have any specific answers for the following questions: 1) How "catastrophic" would it be to hit a deer bounding into your path single riding at say 85 mph? I saw many dead deer along the sides of the road near the Tennessee mountains outside of Chattanooga, and wondered if a biker would survive. 2) I was forced to ride in the evening on strange roads, through Georgia. I kept wondering what would happen if I ran over a good sized pot hole. Anybody ever do that? 3) How does a bike behave with a blow out? Front tire? Rear tire? Can a single rider have any warning to try to handle the forces?? 4) Generally, what speed is acceptable with decent tires in the rain? I had several cars and tractor-trailors rush by me, but it was night, and drizzeling for hours and hours down to Florida. I made it safe and sound, took it relatively easy, but sometimes when it got real dark, and visibility was poor, my mind played lots of tricks on me. I "trusted" the overall road condition, and the statistical improbability of hitting a deer, pot hole, etc. Thank you for your true to life experiences. Sunrayman
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Well, I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that at age 52, I am finally considering my first road trip on a motorcycle. I’ve been riding various bikes since I was 17, but have never had the opportunity to really get out and go. About 150 miles on a Saturday with friends is the longest I’ve ever ridden. I’ve had my RSV now for two years and have put about 8K on the clock, but all here in the Houston area and nearby countryside. Well, every year for Thanksgiving we travel to my wife’s hometown of Odessa to visit her family. Today she told me that she wanted to go out a few days ahead of me to have some “alone” time with her parents. So I say “cool, I’ll ride out later on the bike then!” My wife is not real excited about my “new” love (the Venture) and wasn’t too thrilled, but I think she’ll come around. So now, if I’m going to do this, I’ve got to do it right. Don’t want to forget anything important or breakdown along the way due to failure to prepare properly. So, any suggestions from any of you “old hands” on how to properly prepare the bike, and myself, for this adventure? The distance is about 560 miles each way. It usually takes about nine and a half hours in the car and is mostly on I-10. That seems kind of boring, so any ideas for alternate routes will be considered. Should I try to do it in one day or is that likely to kill me on my first trip? I could stop one night at friends in the Canyon Lake area, just north of San Antonio. That would split it into 220 and 340 mile segments. As I’m thinking, that is probably the way to go. So, when I leave San Antonio, should I just rip it out the freeway or take a more scenic route. A big chunk of that road has an 80mph speed limit, so any deviation is definitely going to take longer. On the plus side, there are a lot more choices for places to stop and things to see off the freeway. What about safety? I guess there too there are pluses and minuses for each option. Thanks in advance for any and all ideas and suggestions.
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Anyone live near Dover Oh? I would love to go there sometime to see the Warther Carving Museum. It's just something I'm interested in since I do woodworking. I would like to plan a trip there sometime, and I'm wondering what else is there to see or do in the area.
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Got a call from Mike (CMIKE) last night. Wanted to know if I were up for a ride today. I had been watching the weather call for rain all week, but lo and behold today they had miraculously dropped the forcast to less than 20%. So, lets go. He came by my house this morning and we cut out for Hattiesburg. I wanted to show off my stolen (at least that's what Squidley called it) Venture to some of my Harley and G/W riding co-workers. We had lunch, then showed off both Ventures (Silver IS the fastest and gets better fuel mileage too! ) Well where to next? Ever been the the Grand Canyon of Mississippi? http://www.geocities.com/t_2m/Welcome_to_Red_Bluff No, not until today, so we made the trip. Pictures don't do it justice, and no it is nowhere near as big as the "real thing" but it is a beautiful place and there are a few twisties to get there. One of my co-workers mentioned that MS587 is kinda curvey. I guess he has never been to the Smokies... Around a 250 mile day for me and a bit more for Mike as he lives about 90 miles from me. Not a bad first outing. Thanks for suggesting it Mike!!!
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Hello to all. Just returned from a 3800 mi trip. I noticed some spots of oil on the floor on the floor this morning.Not sure where is is coming from but it looks like around the back of the engine on the drive shaft side. Upon further inspection I see I have used about 2 quarts of oil on the trip. It seems to have dropped very quickly as I looked at the oil window a couple of times on the trip and never noticed it being very low. I was driving hi speeds the whole trip. One thing I did do before the trip was to change to Amsoil Synthetic oil .Wondering if any one has ever had this issue. One other thing I noticed was after removing the air cleaner lid I see a lot of oil in the housing. I do know about over filling can cause oil to accumulate in the housing, but I was very careful not to over fill.
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WOW ! This is different. Just slightly bigger city than Gassaway. Right down town Baltimore. I could get lost here. Glad I have a GPS with me. I'm here on a three day all-expense paid trip. Too bad its a business trip.
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This morning it sure feels like fall. I was wondering if there were any plans for a ride in Iowa ? Wife and I are thinking about a trip into southern Iowa to see the fall colors, and stop at a festival if we can find one.
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We got home from our 14 day MC Trip from Omaha, NE to Washington / Canada Border to San Diego / Mexican border then east to Vegas then down to I-40 / Route 66 to Ok City then North to Omaha! Around 5.5k'ish miles!! - The heat was the worst! We rode in 104°F thru Portland, but 114°F coming across the desert to & from Vegas! (I'm not sure, but at one point, I'd swear that I saw a man dressed in all red with horns & a pitch fork). I doubt I will ever bike across that desert again!! - MANY thanks to those that invented the Cooling Vests that we bought in San Diego!! The bike ran flawless and was soooo smooth. My new Bushtec trailer was packed full and I could hardly tell I was pulling it, (except losing 2 - 3 mpg). Gas mileage was HORRIBLE!! I got as low as 27mpg when running above 70mph. The best I got was 35mpg while doing 50ish. This made most of my gas stop ranges between 100 & 120 miles, which was VERY annoying! If I can't get my mileage higher, I think I will be trading this bike for something with better fuel economy before my next long trip. All of the talk about West Coast drivers being bad - Nonsense!! THEY know how to drive! When I wasn't sure which lane I needed to be in until the last moment, I just signalled and they let me over!! We had no traffic issues until KS & NE, then back to fighing for a lane & slow drivers in the wrong lane!! As most of our trips go, it was a great trip - but it is wonderful to be home. craigr
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I was heading back to Salt Lake City from a four day trip through Colorado and the bike shutdown. I was heading north on I-15, our major north/south route, with afternoon rush hour traffick. In the fastlane at about 80-85 and the bike stopped responding to throttle. Had to stop on the left side of this four laner with not much room to do even that. Cars whipping by merely inches away. I now have a new found respect for our Highway Patrol. One car did a slow down manuver to four lanes so I could push my bike to the right side. Our Highway Incident Command wanted my bike off the highway so I pushed that sucker 3/4 of a mile to the next ramp. Have I mentioned the muscle pump I got from that. Long story short.....friends called.....bike trailered.....all because of a clogged fuel filter. This filter had less than a year on it and only 7,000 miles. How long should they last? Our local yamaha guy told me to pay better attention to buying good quality gas. My neck of the woods that would be Chevron. Priciest too...go figure. Anyway.....it put me in a dangerous situation with some huffing and puffing to boot.....lesson learned on doing a complete check of the bike before a long trip out of town.
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I know the fuel sender unit is a common problem and I have read through many of the threads that discuss it but I have yet to see this particular question answered. I also read through the service manual and owner's manual and I did not see anything that discussed that particular behavior (although it is likely that I missed it somewhere)... Does your low fuel light come on with the check engine light when you turn the key to the ON position (then go off after the 2 seconds or whatever it is)? I have seen my low fuel light come on and the trip meter switch to the "F trip" meter but it has been a while since I have seen that. Since the last time I have seen it I have had to switch to reserve with no light or f trip meter - but it is inconclusive whether the thing works or not. If it is supposed to come on when the key is turned to the ON position, then I know there is a problem with my unit. EDIT: Pg 8-37 of the owner's manual goes through the diagnostic and it does not say at any point, turn the key ON and see if the dumb thing lights up, so I am inclined to think that it doesn't, but it would be helpful if someone could tell me for sure. Thanks.
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My wife flew this past weekend to Denver to visit her sister. Playing around with MapSource, I saw that it was 1070ish miles from Houston to there. I'd wanted to ride an ironbutt for some time, so I took this opportunity and did it. I left Houston around 5AM on Thursday, headed to Lubbock for lunch. My son is a freshman at Texas Tech, and it was a chance to see him. Lubbock is about halfway on the route I'd plotted, so I figured it would take 9 hours to get there. I was about right, getting there about 2:30. We lunched at Orlando's Italian Restaurant, because Texas Monthly had recently judged their's the 10th best burger in Texas.[1] From there I went to Denver via Raton. I took this chance to try out the sheepskin I had bought at IKEA for $30. It rained most of the way to Lubbock, but was sunny from there out. Great sheepskin weather. Or so I thought.[2] Even though it wasn't raining, it was blowing hard. Hard enough that my bike thought I was doing 95mph and my mpg suffered. I saw another post today where someone gets more than 39mpg. I rarely will break 35mpg, and with the headwind and climbing in elevation, I got closer to 25mpg. The worst of the trip was the trip over Raton Pass. My legs hurt, I couldn't get comfortable, and the temperature dropped like a stone. My windscreen and headlamps were plastered with bugs when I finally pulled into Raton. I warmed up a little in the gas station and pressed on, within smelling distance of Colorado. I finally arrived at my sister-in-law's at 11:15 local, 12:30AM my time. I'd gone 1063 miles by the GPS, in 19.5 hours. They say it typically takes 18 hours, and I spent an hour with my son in Lubbock. I also stopped for gas about every 80 miles. My wife's flight was delayed, and she arrived 15 minutes after I did. She found me asleep in the rocking chair that I'd sat in to wait for her. LOL Even being tuckered, I woke up on auto-pilot at 8AM. By 10AM, my wife and I were heading to Wyoming for lunch. And to "color in my map". I planned to hit WY, NE, and KS, but we ran short of time--dinner was waiting. Had I pushed a little harder, I could have made the 1500 miles in 36 hour "Butt Burner". Oh well. The next day, Saturday, I headed home. I went out of my way to pick up Kansas. That's a pretty state. With no need to push it, I stopped at Wichita Falls, TX. I'd been in CO, KS, OK, and then TX. I like riding at night, so I was tempted to push on. But when I saw the ETA creep over 2AM, and I kept getting hit by large wet bugs, I stopped. Sunday was an easy ride home. Got there around 2PM. Final tally for the trip was 2637 miles. Notes: [1] - No way is that the 10th best burger in TX. Texas Monthly is plain wrong. They also gave something like 15 of the best burgers to Austin, and practically ignored Houston. This would be closer to the 50th spot in any list I made. I ought to do that. [2] - The sheepskin. Yeah, it's wrong for me when I am using luggage. It's nice and cushy to start, but then it pushed me to ride on the tank. It also rode up and pressed on my tailbone. I was much happier ignoring it when riding with the luggage, and sticking with my "Butt Butler" seat. That is comfy all day long. Pictures follow. If you want to see bigger versions, I can scare up a link to my Flickr account. Dave
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Get details about the next North GA Monthly M&E and our trip to the Park here: [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?p=387538#post387538]Announcing: October '09 North GA M&E! - VentureRider.Org[/ame] TERRY
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I figured this would be the only chance to take my son on a real biking trip because next year he starts university and would not be able to go again for years to come. So we packed the trailer, gassed up the two bikes and headed out with only one destination … anywhere the sun was shinning. 2800 miles (4500km) and we were home. What a priceless trip. Road in 10 States and 1 province Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York We had the unbelievable experience of riding the following; The Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, Skyline Drive, Shenandoah Valley and at Deals Gap we tamed the dragon. After we left the Appalachian Mountains we headed for the Adirondacks in New York. We were at Sweetwater, Robbinsville, Cherokee, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and visited places like The Lost Sea, The Natural Bridge, Luray Caverns, Ruby Falls, Rock City, Smokey Mountain National Park, Tennessee Aquarium, and the Ohio Caverns. Priceless time spent. Some of the pics from the trip.
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Recently we took the best trip I have ever had. We road down to Tennessee and took two weeks to ride home. [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?p=384695#post384695]http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?p=384695#post384695[/ame] We road through 10 States and 1 province and we stopped in each. In each location I had to order ice cream and test the consistency of the flavours. It was a three way tie for the best part of the trip: Breath taking scenery, 2. Unbelievable windy mountain roads 3. All the ice cream I ate. (My wife thought I lost it) BIG TOM we haven’t met but you’re a smart man and I like your style. Unfortunately I have to diet now that I am back to work, but man it was worth it.
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We just got back from the Smoky Mountains. 1700+ miles round trip. We rode the Dragon 3 times, saw lots of deer and wild bear at Cade's Cove, rode practically every mountain road in the National Park and Foothills Parkway along with the Cherohala Skyway. We had a great trip other than my wife having a fender bender with a truck that stopped at a green light - she is ok but her bike has a few scuffs and scratches. It was absolutely beautiful country - we've seen it lots of times before but not from our bikes.
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Hi all. Just installed the Chrome Glow turn signal lights last week and they work/look great so I ordered the tail light. Installed it tonight and it looks great. So here is the problem. I tighten down the lens cover to finish up and then turned the key thats when I had no lights and the horn is blowing. What gives?? I then took out the LED and put back the stock bulb..samething! I have a trip planed to Vermont this weekend and it would be a long trip with out lights and listening to the horn(LOL) Any Ideas??? Thanks. Bill
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We made it back yesterday...Great trip. Got home about 3 PM. total miles 1455. We went some interstate and some back roads up to Maryville TN. Spent the night then headed over and ran the Dragons tail US129 then rolled over the Cherohala Skyway. Went back to Maryville for lunch then headed down through Pigeon Forge through the Smoky Mt park to Cherokee NC...no cell service or beer there so went on down to Maggie Valley to spend the night. Great rides that day for sure. Next morning we left Maggie Valley on 19 back to Cherokee then on 441 south to 74 then to 23 then hit 64 into Highlands. Great roads there.. 28 out of there and turned on Warwoman road after we crossed into Georgia and into 76. More great roads . Took 75/17 down into Helen GA. Took 75 alt across to 129N hit 19 then 60 north back up to Blue Ridge GA. During this we stubled apon the Vogel park WOW. Went down 5 to 53 into Rome and when north on 27 up to Summerville GA. Happend apon a beautiful War Memorial there. Took off 48 to 40 to 35 into Scottsboro Ala to spend the night. Many great roads on this day. Left the next morning on the last leg headed home on 79 to 278 across to 13S to 18 to 96 into Columbus MS. 45 South to 21 south to the house. Great 4 day trip. Ready to go back the same route today. Weather was cloudy most of the time but we only got a couple of sprinkles. Wore our jackets most of the time due to it was kinda cool. Almost put on chaps one day especially at the higher elevations. The wife did not get to go with me this time but life ain't over yet. Tires are not flat in the middle no more. Got full even wear on the sides now. Lots of twistys on this trip. I learned to toss this big big around those curves...hard right then throw her over to the left. Here is some photos.
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We have been going on rides with our new riding buddies, Eric and Joanne. Our son in law, and daughter. We are having so much fun. Here are a few photos of our little day trip to Metamora,Indiana. They had a coal burning steam engine there that day.
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I am using Amsol Synthetic oil. What is the max miles I should travel between oil changes. I have put on 2000 miles since the last change, but I am heading out on a 2500 mile trip in a couple of weeks. Should I change the oil before my trip?
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On my last day of my New England trip I was loading the bike up at the hotel and I thought the trunk looked a little low. I didn't pay attention as I was in a hurry to get home. Once I got home and off loaded everything I saw what the problem was. Not one, but both bolts holding the trunk to the bracket next to the bags had come out. I checked and tightened pretty much everything I could find before leaving for my trip but never thought of checking these. I asked the parts guy at the Yamaha dealership if he'd ever see this before and in all his years he had not. The bolts were replaced and all is fine but better check yours.
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We took a trip last week with the daughter and son-inlaw across WV. on rt.50 to Front Royal Va. down the Sky-Line Dr. to the B.G. Parkway for a short ride.We jumped off on 60 and I 64.ended up in White Sulpher Springs,WV. the kids did the under ground Bunker tour at the Green Brier Hotel.We have done it befor so we shoped at the antique shops for awhile.Next we were on rt.60 then got on I 64 to find a room it was getting real dark real fast, we found a place called Dawson Inn.stayed ther that night.wed,when we were leaving it was just a light rain,took I 64 over to I 77 to pick up rt.19 rode across the new River Bridge and stayed around that area for awhile.Headed up rt 19 ti I 79 to Gassaway for a Dairy Queen well Skid wasn't home.We stayed in Flatwoods to do some shoping.Started home Thursday and got into some rain around Parkersburg,so we headed for Marietta Oh.They have a lot of antique shops there so we stayed over.Got on the road Friday made it to Lancaster Oh.which is 30 miles from home and the drive shaft broke on my trike.The son-inlaw rode on home got his truk and my trailer and came back to pick the wife and me up.Fun trip Jerry M here are a few pics.
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We're about to head off on another day ride here in MN. 300 miles of roads north of the Twin Cities. We'll be doing a lap around Lake Mille Lacs up in the Brainerd area. Google Map of the route. Today's weather is sunny and 59 degrees and they claim it could get up into the lower 70's. PERFECT riding weather!!!
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[ame=http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=498478]Nice but dangerous: Kawasaki’s new 1700 Voyager- an owners 1500 mile road trip evalua - ADVrider[/ame]
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We made it! what a great trip even without the bear tooth pass. Went for a nice ride from Lipan to San diego by way of Yuma, to Reseda, to Santa Cruz, over to Lake Tahoe, then to Salt lake. on to Rock Springs through Cheyenne down thru Denver across the Raton Pass east to Amarrillo and Witchita Falls back to Lipan. Don't sound like much really rote down like that, but the things we saw and the folks we met, would not trade for it at all. Had a great time. A few wrong turns and such. The Mighty Steed performed flawlessly. The Butler mod to Dawns seat helped her alot but we did need to stop in tahoe and get her a sheepskin pad for her bottom. All in all a great trip. Can't wait for next year!
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Except for the standard TOOLS that come with a RSV 2nd Gen, what are some other tools to take on a long road trip? I'm about to embark upon a 2500 mile trip and want to make sure I consider the lessons of others. Let's create a list for other to use. I'll put all the ideas in a final post after this thread has been up for a while. This is only for NON FOOD AND WATER items. (Rain gear is not a tool ) What else is recommended? - I'm taking a mini compressor, slime, and tire plug kit.
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