First long trip

[DANGEROUSDANA]

Well, I took my first long trip on my RSV last week. A friend's wife died suddenly and I went to be with him. Drove from Daphne, AL to Shreveport, LA. Great trip. Approx 450 miles one way. Butt was starting to get a little sore by the end of the first leg, but on the way back, I was squirming early on. Guess I need to build up those butt muscles with more riding!

 

On the way home, I was cruising mostly around 90 on the speedo (probably 82 or 83 in real life) then this woman came by me and I fell in behind her. We were running at 100 by my speedo. I began daydreaming about the last day's occurrences, and not watching the horizon for the Man, and I was also not hanging back from my escort, as far as I should have been. Then I came out of my daze when I noticed a BIG SUV on my Butt with his lights flashing. He pulled us over and asked if I knew how fast I was going and I said no, my Speedo is not accurate. He said he clocked the lady I was following at 91. He said he got behind me and clocked me at 87. I was very polite and he wrote me for 87 in a 70, but he showed me her ticket and he wrote her for 91. He said he could tell from my surprise when he told me I was going 91 that he believed I really didn't know I was going that fast.

 

So, If I had been paying attention, watching for the Man and following my escort at a greater distance, then when he clocked her and hit his brakes to turn around, my bike would have slowed down and he would not have noticed I was following her. Lesson learned...Don't speed if you are going to daydream.

 

About ten miles later I ran out of gas about a mile from the station I was planning on stopping at any way. As you probably know, the odometer, somehow knows when you go on reserve and begins counting miles up from zero. I have gone as much as 44 miles before, but this time I ran out at 37. Probably the 91 mph cruising I had been doing. So, I got off the bike and began pushing. I put my head down and began pushing for about 5 minutes. I looked up and the Gas Station was not ANY closer. I decided I would need to leave the bike and walk there and back. I am on a meal replacement diet that has been working very well for me. I carried my shake mix and my shake mixing cup with me. I grabbed my shake mixing cup and decided it would be perfect for carrying enough gas to get me to the Gas Station. I grabbed it and turned to walk toward the station when a lady pulled over and asked if she could help. I told her it would be great if she could give me a ride to the gas station up ahead, or at least to that exit. I got in. She told me her husband rode and that they always stopped when they saw stranded riders. She not only took me to the gas station, she waited on me and took me all the way back to the previous exit and back to my bike and wouldn't leave until my bike started. I told her she was a real hero and that she probably saved me two hours of walking and driving after dark when it really gets cold.

 

So...I will pay this forward. I will never drive past a stranded rider without stopping and asking if they need help.

 

My butt sure was sore by the time I got home that night. Is 450 miles in the saddle considered alot? Or do I just have wimp butt?

 

I just read in another post that when the bike is out of gas, and it is straight up that there is between 1/2 and 1 gallon of gas left in it. Does any body know if this is true and if so, how would I move the gas to the other side of the tank, short of laying the bike on it's side? It would not be worth a hernia!

[SilvrT]

Good story and lesson to learn .... one which I have learned at least 2 times LOL (guess I didn't learn it the first time)

 

As for the seat, it can be modified. My butt would get sore at the tail bone so I pulled it apart and took a chunk of foam out. That helped but still wasn't enuf so I installed a backrest .... never got sore again and 450 miles is maybe average day.

[DANGEROUSDANA]

My RSV has a Corbin seat, but it is REALLY firm/hard. But, I don't have the $229 matching Corbin Backrest. Are you suggesting it might be worth the money?

 

On the way home, I was really looking forward to each gas stop.

Edited December 7, 2011 by DANGEROUSDANA
additional thought

[Dave77459]

My butt sure was sore by the time I got home that night. Is 450 miles in the saddle considered alot? Or do I just have wimp butt?

 

I just read in another post that when the bike is out of gas, and it is straight up that there is between 1/2 and 1 gallon of gas left in it. Does any body know if this is true and if so, how would I move the gas to the other side of the tank, short of laying the bike on it's side? It would not be worth a hernia!

 

Good on you for being with your friend in his time of need. That's great of you.

 

450 miles one way is a lot... the first time. Five or six more of those and it will probably seem easy enough. I had Rick Butler upgrade my [RSTD] seat. I think it is time to do it again; all foam has a lifetime and I have enough weight to shorten it.

 

I've not tried moving fuel from one side to the other, but IIRC it is akin to laying it on its side. When I am on a road trip I carry one or more MSR fuel bottles that are about a liter, just in case. I also slow down when I go on reserve. My big windscreen really decreases fuel economy when moving fast.

 

Dave

[SilvrT]

My RSV has a Corbin seat, but it is REALLY firm/hard. But, I don't have the $229 matching Corbin Backrest. Are you suggesting it might be worth the money?

 

On the way home, I was really looking forward to each gas stop.

 

FWIW ... I got a good used Corbin off a member and it near wrecked me. I sold it and went back to the stock seat ... and then did the mod and added the backrest.

[RandyR]

just rock the bike side to side a little to slop the gas over to the left side. You can get some fuel that way if the ride has otherwise been very smooth. Or hit the brakes a few time to slosh the gas around.

 

I'm happy with the Butler mod to my stock standard RSV seat. did a couple 700 mile days this year with it.

[MAINEAC]

My RSV has a Corbin seat, but it is REALLY firm/hard. But, I don't have the $229 matching Corbin Backrest. Are you suggesting it might be worth the money?

 

On the way home, I was really looking forward to each gas stop.

 

If you're interested in a Corbin backrest I have one that I don't use that I would sell for $100 plus shipping.... let me know...

[DANGEROUSDANA]

I would buy that. However, my RSV is a Millennium, so it would need to be brown leather to match. Do you not like the back rest?

[MAINEAC]

No I don't like the backrest... I can't lean back far enough and I don't like hopping over the seat to mount my bike... I have a black backrest..

[twigg]

Four Hundred and Fifty miles isn't a lot. Unless you have the wrong equipment, then it is torture

 

Four thousand five hundred miles in four days is a lot, and that is what I am facing next July, but I have a seat that can take me that far without my butt getting sore. Hips, knees ... they are another story.

 

I did five hundred miles last Saturday, in the most appalling conditions. That was a lot but mainly because I was cold and wet for most of it.

 

You can read about it here:

 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/29/1040792/-Pops66-Mini-Rally?via=blog_741009

 

Anyway ... I have a Travelcade Road Sofa. It wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was on the bike when I bought it and I got lucky because it is supremely comfortable. Could use a new cover.

 

Take a look at the Russel Day Long ... You won't regret it.

[Freebird]

Seats are the hardest thing I know of to recommend to another rider. I had the stock seat on my '99 and hated it. I then tried the pillow top off a later model and hated it. I then bought the Travelcade Road Sofa and hated it worse than any seat I have ever owned. I then found a used Corbin and have been pretty darn happy with it for many years now. They are not for everybody but it's the best seat FOR ME that I've ever owned on any bike. It does take a few thousand miles for it to break in for you though.

 

One seat that I haven't tired because I really never liked the look of it that much but I have heard that it is very comfortable is the Russell Daylong. I would like to try one at some point.

[twigg]

Seats are the hardest thing I know of to recommend to another rider. I had the stock seat on my '99 and hated it. I then tried the pillow top off a later model and hated it. I then bought the Travelcade Road Sofa and hated it worse than any seat I have ever owned. I then found a used Corbin and have been pretty darn happy with it for many years now. They are not for everybody but it's the best seat FOR ME that I've ever owned on any bike. It does take a few thousand miles for it to break in for you though.

 

One seat that I haven't tired because I really never liked the look of it that much but I have heard that it is very comfortable is the Russell Daylong. I would like to try one at some point.

 

You are correct, and I didn't mean to be dismissive of a 450 mile ride either

 

The LD community swears by the DayLong, and they are cheaper than the Corbin. If possible, do a "Ride In" and they will tailor it for you on the spot.

 

I like the Travelcade mainly because it is comfortable. 1000 mile comfortable (I know this, I tried it), but that only applies to me. I was lucky when I bought the wreck!

 

The ride I linked above was 519 miles, door to door, and it was one of the toughest I have ever done. 75% of it was on Oklahoma secondary roads, in the rain with temps not getting above 42F ... all the while "on the clock" and trying to navigate to bonus locations. It was good to finish

 

500 miles on the highway, in warm weather ... that's a blast.