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**mitch** · 09-02-2003, 04:22 PM

scratches

Hi beech, If u want to take scratches out of your shield buff it with a soft cloth and brasso . It also does a great job on windshields, much like jewellers rouge!!!! Take a small tent but a warning it is cold this time of the year in Canada LOL.I damm near froze last weekend at the STOMP a local bike rally!Good Luck have a safe trip, P.S...... try a lamb skin on your seat Ed Condly swears bye his for comfort on a long trip!!!! BON VOYAGE

**Mike Hart** · 09-02-2003, 04:53 PM

How long can you be on the road?

Forest Service campgrounds are cheap, some don't have water. Take a spare cargo net to hold groceries for dinner/breakfast. Never had a problem in a Forest Svc campground. In Nat'l Forests, you can camp pretty much anywhere, check em out on the web.

Get good maps, ones with detail, so you can find the good twistie roads!

Once you get to Western Montana, you have a lot of choices for great rides. Hwy 12 Lolo Pass is a must-do. Or you could go north thru Glacier Nat'l Park.

Check out the Ride Reports area for pre-rally, rally, post-rally rides in WA. email me at mdh@speakeasy.net for info on how to get ahold of me if you make it this far!

I sure like the sheepskin I throw on whichever bike I'm taking on a long haul. Myself, I can't see camping without at air mattress. Any dang fool can be uncomfortable

Rain gear - you'll want some. What is it the GoldWing guys swear by? two-piece, lightweight, packs small... sorry don't remember the name right now.

Waterproof boots sure beat having wet feet. You can put rubber gloves over riding gloves, or put surgical/mechanic gloves on under.

A big helmet is not a good thing. Shop for one that fits, then shop for price on the internet.

Hmmm now which subset of tools to take?

Good luck, be safe.

**Ken Talbot** · 09-02-2003, 05:37 PM

Look for a pair of those oversized rubber gloves - the long ones that will go over the sleeves of your rain gear. Get yourself the big ugly orange ones if you can find them.

**Geezer** · 09-02-2003, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by Ken Talbot
Look for a pair of those oversized rubber gloves - the long ones that will go over the sleeves of your rain gear. Get yourself the big ugly orange ones if you can find them.

Go to a auto paint store and get a can of spray die for vinyl tops and die those ugly gloves black or buy a pair of black acid gloves instead. They’re already black and you’ll look a little less geeky than with the orange ones. ;o)

Geezer

**Ken Talbot** · 09-02-2003, 08:02 PM

No, Tony, you want to go for the orange ones, just like Mike Hart's helmet!

**beechfront** · 09-02-2003, 08:44 PM

Well, I have plenty of vacation time - but I do have to be back by the 26th for a wedding I'm in.

I had thought about the lambs skin, but I read somewhere on here that the wood beads are good in the rain. though i suppose a lambs skin is something i could tuck away if it did rain. is there a good place to find one? I probalby don't have time to mail-order something.

I did some looking for national forests - lots of stuff on the web. most of my trip i can probably just plan as i go but i can see i'm going to want a good long list of possible campsites.

rain gear - i could really use some suggestions. is there gear designed for riding? or will any ole' cheapo walmart raingear work?

--definitely going to look into the rubber gloves.

thanks for all the suggestions. VERY HELPFUL! It's nice have ideas from others who have 'been there done that'.

**Geezer** · 09-02-2003, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by Ken Talbot
No, Tony, you want to go for the orange ones, just like Mike Hart's helmet!

Ok wear the orange gloves and helmet then install a black light in the garage so you glow in the dark. ;o)

Geezer

**Mike Hart** · 09-03-2003, 07:35 AM

IKEA has bins of sheepskins for about $20 ea - I'm thinking there must be one in Omaha, if not in Lincoln. bzzzt - wrong - just checked their web site, none in NE. Some other home store perhaps? Baby store?

**Jerry** · 09-03-2003, 04:16 PM

Long trips are great. Couple things to look for to prepare the bike.

Check battery fluid level and cables.
Take a few extra fuses for the fuse box.
Carry a good tire pressure gauge.
Tighten all nuts/bolts and don/t overlook the header bolts.

Much depends on you storage space...I also take a quart of oil, small tool kit, and cleaner for the windshield, (Novus #2 plus a few shop towels.) Carry a couple bottles of water and drink a bit every time you stop for gas.

Camping gear...like tools, everyone has their opinion. Best is a good sleeping bag and a Thermo-rest self-inflating pad. These are not cheap. Air matress, which I use, will transfer cold up to your body. Again, I've gotten laze and carry a battery-powered Coleman pump to blow up the air mattress. Mesh bags for dirty cloths, a few extra garbage bags to wrap things in, single-burner stove for heating water and cooking simple meals, metal cup, bowl, and a knife, fork, and spoon set. A couple packets of coaco, tea, sugar packets, or for coffee drinkers, coffee in what looks like tea bags. (No need to carry coffe pot.) Flashlight, of course, though I use one of the 2 AA metal-bodied ones. A hammer makes putting in and taking out tent stakes much easier. A small rug, like a bath rug, in front of your tent door will keep a lot of dirt and junk outside the tent.

You will get rained on. Either a 1-piece or good 2-piece (I have the 2-piece) is a good investment. Try to get a lined suit if you go the 2-piece route. Slip-on boots (over your regular shoe/boot) are pretty easy to get. I ended up with a slip-on that covers the toe/upper and ankle part of the foot, hooks on with straps. These were about $14.00 per set, pack very small, and do a pretty decent job of keeping the boot and foot dry. I have a pair of black ruberized gloves that cover the wrist-to-cuff joint. I generally use them over a set of glove liners so my hands don't get feeling clammy after being in the gloves for more than a few minutes.

Again, much depends on your torage space. A few extra straps, cords, cotton or small diameter rope always seem to get used. Small scissors are very useful on occasion. Zip-lock bags are handy for storing food, wallet, other items rain or dry.

I've never had a problem with theft from a camp site, but do store stuff in the tent or on the bike, never left out on table or 'around' the camping area.

You might come up with a list and post it here, and people will make recommendations to add or remove from your list.

**TopCatGr58** · 09-03-2003, 04:27 PM

Hey there Beech,

Those cheap Walmart suits don't hold up to the beating you give them with the wind on the bike, they'll just shred!! BTDT!! If you have a bike shop near by, you should be able to find a 2 piece rainsuit that will probably be closer to being able to fit vs. 1 piece. The pants also block the wind fairly well, so if you get into colder climes, they can provide protection so you don't have to go the expense of the leather pants/chaps!! You can find a cheap pair of rubber boots at Walmart for about $15.00, but they are worn like boots, not over your boots/shoes! I found a set of oversized rubber household/yard gloves that were GREEN that fit over my thin fall weather gloves for pretty cheap vs. buying a set of big expensive gauntlets!!

Do you have a set of cruise pegs? Can find those at the local bike shop for about $20.00 that clamp onto engine guards, frame rails to let you stretch out. Hope you are rigging some sort of backrest, cushion, pad. Throttle lock? You can find inexpensive helmets in JCW and can get rush delivery, just follow their measuring guides!! I prefer the safety of a full face, and they have them with lots of venting now, and you can even get one with a flip up chin section so that you can drink/eat/talk without taking it off!

A small first aid kit is nice. There's a link/page in the tech tips about LDR's and what to pack/bring. Aside from tool set, spare quart of oil, distilled water for battery, spare bulbs, electrical & duct tape, wire, glue, thread lock, possibly tire plug kit, can of flat tire fix, Cell phone or prepaid calling card, repair manual, matches-lighter, bungee cords, spare spark plugs. Check the tips and bring what you think sounds reasonable and you have room for!

List of emergency names, addresses, phone numbers written down in wallet; SPARE BIKE KEY in wallet!!

I use a sheep skin, and it could double as a pillow with your sleeping bag!! The tank and bike will probably only get you 100 or so miles per fillup, which depending on how fast you can go is 1 to 1.5 hours at a stretch, so you'll be able to stop and stretch at each fillup which is nice for the butt. I also use hard candy/butterscotches to keep my mouth comfy since I can't drink while riding. I even rigged up a set of boot straps onto my handlebars, and used them as reins for steering on long stretches so I could lay back against my backrest/luggage roll and enjoy the ride without wearing out my arms/shoulders/ back!! Just made a knot so they would loop at the ends, then could fit my hands inside the loop and secure it around my wrist and inside my grip, and used countersteering, takes very little pull to turn!!!!

Finally, I envy you, I've always wanted to tour the west, the great parks and such, enjoy, take lots of pictures and POST THEM!

T.C.

**Snow** · 09-03-2003, 04:29 PM

Personally, I like MRE's every once in a while, and they can be had for about 6-8 each at army surplus stores, which I guess is kinda expensive, but you just rip 'em open and eat. I just picked up a cheap pair of Vasque Ranger GTX boots, not exactly designed for motorcycle riding, but they are waterproof and incorporate gortex. Also got Coolmax socks from target, 2 pack is like 5 or 6 bucks. I almost always have a Gerber multi-tool on hand, and has saved my a couple times so far.
I definately agree about the mini-flashlight, target always seems to have mini-maglites and I believe Meijer's does too. If you do stay at campgrounds, make sure to NOT have open food in your tent or bike overnight, critters love to try to get at it. Consider bringing a bear bag, or whatever they are called, for hanging your foodly smelling stuffs.

**oldfart** · 09-03-2003, 04:39 PM

trip

I went from central Ontario to Alaska back in 1976 on my RD400,Yes I did say 400 cc 2 stroke!(I was young )Two things I brought that were indispensable were a fabrene tarp I used to throw over my bike for a sleeping shelter.I staked the edges to the ground.Not only did it keep me dry but heat from the engine kept me warm for a while.I found it better than a tent and took less room.I also brought my fishing rod and caught dinner quite often.(but todays rules and regulations makes that a little harder to do)In summer of 2004 I'm planning to repeat the trip,but at 49+ I plan on taking my Venture Royale this time.(I will be taking a little bigger tarp and my fishing rod!)

**beechfront** · 09-04-2003, 07:29 AM

disappointment

it's beginning to look more and more like this spur of the moment trip isn't going to happen. All the stuff I've bought for the trip has added up to a lot more than I had expected - and I still don't have my helmet issue resolved. I could still make the trip, but wouldn't have much 'emergency' money. What I should do is wait until next spring, but what will likely happen is I'll end up waiting for payday at the end of the month and head south - I figure the weather is going to be getting too cold for a westward trip.

Regardless - thanks for all of the advice. Now I'll be better prepared for when I do go.

It's gonna be tough not heading out when those saddlebags show up today.

maybe I can go sell a kidney or somethin.

**beechfront** · 09-04-2003, 07:58 AM

wierd

so about a minute after I wrote that last message, I got a call from my car insurance guy - for some reason they decided to reimburse me for a $1000 deductible from two years ago when a tree fell and landed on my car.

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