Ride Resource

[draketrumpet]

Hi all,

Being new to bikes in general, I had a couple questions, and thought it might help to consolidate some information I've found with some information I haven't found via searching.

Is there a good resource for finding scenic rides wherever you may be?

Not only am I new to bikes, but I'm also new to OK, so this part is even more challenging for me.

What are your essential supplies that you always take with you when you're taking a ride out of town?

What is your checklist for checking your bike before going on a ride?

And just for fun, add your favorite picture from your favorite ride (once I get one, I'll add one).

[trbig]

Is there a good resource for finding scenic rides wherever you may be?

Ummm.. the internet? lol. From Oklahoma, either head west until you hit Colorado, or go southeast to Talihina, OK, or east to Arkansas. Anything north of I-40 in Arkansas will do.

What are your essential supplies that you always take with you when you're taking a ride out of town?

A small ice chest full of beer on the back seat. Actually that's a lie. Oklahoma has 3.2% beer, so I usually bring an empty ice chest and buy beer when I get to some other state.

In a small zippered bag about the size of the old pencil bags you used to see in schools, I have a tire plug tool and plugs, a CO2 tire inflator, a select few wrenches, a couple sockets and a ratchet, small vice grips, a couple screwdrivers, zip ties, fuses, and a Gerber tool in my pocket. With the tools that fit in this bag, I could pull the motor and split the cases on the side of the road if need be. On longer trips where I throw on my ugly saddle bags, I throw even more in there like a manual and testers and things. In my tank bag, I usually carry a couple spare parts like an extra TCI, spark plugs, clutch handle, clutch/throttle cable, and a few extra particular nuts and bolts.

What is your checklist for checking your bike before going on a ride?

Tires got air? Gas on? Now...Where did I put those d#$* keys?


As for favorite pic... I usually take hundreds at each ride. I'd have a heck of a time getting them down to the top ten!?

Tod

[Ivan]

I take clothes and enough money for an old white wall harley tire just in case....

I haven't ever carried extra parts, but have a tire plug kit that I take if I remember.

Rain gear. Never forget that.

A few tools that I might find necessary, but normally if the bike has run back and forth to work for the last month with no problems, I usually trust it.

[CatatonicBug]

There are several sites (like motorcycleroads.com) that have rider-submitted rides, and some have a rating system for how scenic/challenging the roads are. Just spend a few hours with Google searching the internet, and you'll find plenty.

+1 on the rain gear. I keep it in my fairing all the time. You never know when a freak stom is gonna hit. Just be sure you put on the rain gear BEFORE it starts raining.

There is a tech tip that gives a full list of just about everything you could think of to take on a trip. However, most don't pack quite that much. I always have a pair of pliers and surgical forceps in my bag, and I have a tire plug kit and a small compressor (plugs into the cig. lighter on the fairing). I also keep a towel, and a can of plexus for cleaning my windshield and visor (some bugs are NASTY!), and a bottle of glucose tablets (I'm diabetic) in my fairing at all times.

As for the checklist before riding, if you take the MSF course, they will outline the details of what to check EVERY time you ride. Other than that, tire tread/pressure, loose fasteners, look for oil leaks, stuff like that...

[draketrumpet]

As for the checklist before riding, if you take the MSF course, they will outline the details of what to check EVERY time you ride. Other than that, tire tread/pressure, loose fasteners, look for oil leaks, stuff like that...

Signed up for the course last week. Waiting to hear if the AF accepted me into JAG before I go boot shopping (I figure combat boots can be at least as good as riding boots).

[Larrym]

Resource Management/Stuff Happens

Last year I did a 7 State "honeymoon" tour and used this site:

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html

Fairly easy to use. Just click on the state you're in (or wanna go to..) and the site shows the "best" roads along with a lot of the crucial info. My preference was to choose the sweeper roads in order to keep my chicken strips at a respectably slim width.

Tools/schmools! I brought enough hand tools in the bike's OEM tool compartment to tighten a fuel line or something quick-n-dirty. But then I had this vehicle as a base of operations:



Complete with tools, spare parts, etc., and the ability to self rescue the bike. Nothing happened on the trip that I couldn't handle with the resources I had on hand.

Without all that to draw upon a cell phone with something like AAA or the AMA towing for bikes is a good resource if you end up more than half a day from a good friend with a pick-up truck/trailer and some sturdy ramps.

JAT: Boots are great. Just remember to tuck in the laces where they can't foul on say......the shifter lever. DAMHIKIJK

[trbig]

Wow...

Just looked at the site you posted for good roads to ride. I checked where I do a lot of riding in Arkansas, and it doesn't even show the Pig Trail (Hwy 23) as one of the roads to ride. That thing is world famous.

Just goes to show you.. don't always just take a map's word for it. Get out there and go exploring!


Tod

[Larrym]

Point A to Point B

I agree with trbig. The site has it's limits and so there's always roads/rides that don't make it on to the "official" web page. Makes it a true joy to find one and ride it in a "Ha Ha, Not listed on the site-map." kinda way.

For example this Back way to Tombstone from Sierra Vista.

Besides, if all the good roads were there in the site then there'd be no way to discover them for yourself.

Local knowledge from the folks in the area is good too. But then ya gotta politely answer those questions of, "What bike is that??"

I dunno why they do that. My tank badges and side covers seem legible enough. Am I missing something here??

[CatatonicBug]

I dunno why they do that. My tank badges and side covers seem legible enough. Am I missing something here??

That assumes the audience can read!

Of course, HD's don't have nameplates on them like that, so most folks don't think to look on the sidecovers for the actual NAME of the bike. It doesn't have the "shield" on it, so they don't know what it is.

[Larrym]

4"th Line down from the Top, Please..

OOooh!! That makes sense, C-Bug.

I kinda figured that maybe they had limited vision and to bust them on it I"d have to pull this out of my saddlebag:



Good to know I can use the space for something I really need.