Just wondering......

[BA80]

Why I don't see anyone but the regular misfits I ride with, and Scott, that have ridden more than 1000 miles from home on an XS.

[Schming]

Greg, that's exactly what I built my "G" for in hopes to see the best parts of the Country and meet a few XSives along the way. Just put it on the road two weeks ago and I'm working a few minor bugs out to make sure she's ready for a LD ride. Couldn't attend XS East on account of no state registration as it was purged from the system for being off the road so long. Now that I'm all legal, after about a 15 yr. hiatus gotta log some local miles with the wife and increase the miles and seat time to get used to it again.

[Ken Talbot]

Hmm, maybe its a sign of old(er) age, both of our rides and our selves. It has been a while since SWMBO and I pulled off a major summer ride, but in years past we have exceeded 1000 miles "out", with that distance or sometimes more, "back".

Our first big ride was in 1998 when we rode out to Dale and Lois Hicks' place in Gillette, WY to meet the group, visit Sturgis, see Devils Tower, etc, etc. That ride was just about exactly 1000 miles out for us.

Another year we hooked up with the crew at Colorado Springs, approx 1400 miles on the out leg, and we took a longer route home.

We've also done 1000 mile treks across southern Canada into Manitoba and back, and another 1000 mile jaunt over to the west coast then down to California.

We've done lots of 1000 mile plus loops but they don't even compare to a full 1000 out and 1000 back!

But, like I said, that was then, this is now. I'm not sure if my butt could handle that sort of distance on Tsunami any more.

[madmax-im]

Ken has pretty much summed it up...the ol.d bikes can still go the distance ...but this old body on that old bike...not so much... Good on you guys that are still riding 1000+ miles at a time...Greg I suspect you have never ridden a modern sport touring bike like a ST1100/1300 or a FJR1300 or a Concours 1400,,,because once youve ridden one...owned one...you're spoiled...comfort,power,linear torgue of a locomotive...real world fairings and real weather protection... and real electronic cruise control...but I think bottom line...its all a state of mind...
A couple yrs ago when i still had my ST1100..the XJ or XS was relegated to day trips and XS rallies all the LD riding was relegated to the ST. That mindset still holds true today.... but I'm down to just the XS1100...my LD mileage has fallen way off the usual marks...YMMV but keep on ridin' Bro'

[dpotter58]

Why I don't see anyone but the regular misfits I ride with, and Scott, that have ridden more than 1000 miles from home on an XS.

One way/ Round trip? I've done round trips of close to 2k but not in a few years. I'm an old pu$$y

[BA80]

One way/ Round trip? I've done round trips of close to 2k but not in a few years. I'm an old pu$$y

Already knew that about you.

trbig and I did a 3500 mile trip just last year and I'm just as old as your old cat.

[desert1]

my last long haul on the XS

Hello Ken! Yeah my last major ride was 2011 to the North Rally of that year..4700 kms return to N.S. I still ride the XS11 locally and its running the best its ever ran....maybe my next long run I will need to truck or trailer it.....I'm the weakest link now.
78X S1100
2005 Honda ST 1300
Bruce Doucette
PS Now going on ebay to try and find a rubber mount for my rear signal lite

[XJOK2PLAY]

Ken has pretty much summed it up...the ol.d bikes can still go the distance ...but this old body on that old bike...not so much... Good on you guys that are still riding 1000+ miles at a time...Greg I suspect you have never ridden a modern sport touring bike like a ST1100/1300 or a FJR1300 or a Concours 1400,,,because once youve ridden one...owned one...you're spoiled...comfort,power,linear torgue of a locomotive...real world fairings and real weather protection... and real electronic cruise control...but I think bottom line...its all a state of mind...
A couple yrs ago when i still had my ST1100..the XJ or XS was relegated to day trips and XS rallies all the LD riding was relegated to the ST. That mindset still holds true today.... but I'm down to just the XS1100...my LD mileage has fallen way off the usual marks...YMMV but keep on ridin' Bro'

Well said, Ben! I agree.

BUT, there's not another bike, period, that's as fun to ride, has that unique sound... an 11 can barely be within earshot, and I will always say, "Hark! I HEAR THE SOUND OF AN 11! I've owned and ridden a lot of bikes over the years, but none have THE SOUL of an 11. They're just awesome bikes.

But, for me, when it's time for LD trips, the C14 works much better, and for all the reasons Ben mentioned. Heck, once you've gotten used to an electrically adjustable windscreen, electronic cruise control, ABS brakes, KTRC traction control, larger rear tire, and 50 mpg, removeable hardbags and trunk... it's hard to tour on anything less. Plus, 156 RWHP is pretty sweet, too!

But an 11 will always hold a special place near and dear to my heart.
They're way cool.
Bob

[BA80]

Well said, Ben! I agree.

BUT, there's not another bike, period, that's as fun to ride, has that unique sound... an 11 can barely be within earshot, and I will always say, "Hark! I HEAR THE SOUND OF AN 11! I've owned and ridden a lot of bikes over the years, but none have THE SOUL of an 11. They're just awesome bikes.

But, for me, when it's time for LD trips, the C14 works much better, and for all the reasons Ben mentioned. Heck, once you've gotten used to an electrically adjustable windscreen, electronic cruise control, ABS brakes, KTRC traction control, larger rear tire, and 50 mpg, removeable hardbags and trunk... it's hard to tour on anything less. Plus, 156 RWHP is pretty sweet, too!

But an 11 will always hold a special place near and dear to my heart.
They're way cool.
Bob

All I hear is you complaining about the fancy crap that doesn't work right when we go somewhere together. With my 11 can get aggravated for a lot less $.

[madmax-im]

Agree with the sound and fury of an XS1100...even if is a sedate sound coming from the OEM exhausts...put on a Kerker and the sound goes from sedate to that of a spastic pit bull when you blip the throttle at the Hardleys...My XJ had the kerker and man do i miss that sound and fury. SwampThing has dual MAC exhausts they're ok but nothing mean comes from them...

[XJOK2PLAY]

All I hear is you complaining about the fancy crap that doesn't work right when we go somewhere together. With my 11 can get aggravated for a lot less $.

Greg,
The ONLY things I've EVER complained about when we have ridden together has been that stupid 7" tablet w/ GPS software I let Tim talk me into trying, and my Scala G9 communicator.

I got rid of the tablet crap, now have a Zumo 550 (best one they ever made...)
and now have Cardo's latest software download which seems to have solved the previous glitches.

BUT... as for my Connie... after 36,000 miles and 4 years... not 1 complaint, nor has it ever seen the dealer for ANY needed warranty work.
Nary one hiccup. It has been, w/o a doubt, just as Cody's '08 C14 was...
rock solid dependable. The most reliable thing I've ever owned.

I am now knocking on wood, no jinxes!!!

Bob

[BA80]

Greg,
The ONLY things I've EVER complained about when we have ridden together has been that stupid 7" tablet w/ GPS software I let Tim talk me into trying, and my Scala G9 communicator.

I got rid of the tablet crap, now have a Zumo 550 (best one they ever made...)
and now have Cardo's latest software download which seems to have solved the previous glitches.

BUT... as for my Connie... after 36,000 miles and 4 years... not 1 complaint, nor has it ever seen the dealer for ANY needed warranty work.
Nary one hiccup. It has been, w/o a doubt, just as Cody's '08 C14 was...
rock solid dependable. The most reliable thing I've ever owned.

I am now knocking on wood, no jinxes!!!

Bob

You will be just fine on this trip. Bohn has his early GPS setup working fine. (Paper maps).

[soccer4m]

Need more rallies

Maybe some need to ride to more rallies and see the number of long distance xs riders.I have been to a few and have seen numerous guys riding long distance just to get to the rallies. Most of them are riding xs's also, so they are out there maybe just not posting about it. The xs1100 is well built for distance, but as they age the reliablility factor does decrease and more are leaning to shorter trips, as mentioned. Anyway,,,,we are out there, just not visible to the website. The upcoming Colorado rally should have a fair number of xs riders from all over the USA. Jerry's website has a lot of pics of past rallies and xs1100's from quite a few areas. Definately a looksee for xs interest......ride on,,,,Mike in Sun Diego

[MaximPhil]

You will be just fine on this trip. Bohn has his early GPS setup working fine. (Paper maps).

Without cartographers and the paper maps they made the GPS would not be able to guide us to "turn left at the intersection"
All we would get would be " Make a U turn when possible"
Phil

[XJOK2PLAY]

Without cartographers and the paper maps they made the GPS would not be able to guide us to "turn left at the intersection"
All we would get would be " Make a U turn when possible"
Phil

That's right, Phil!

Greg, Bohn also uses a Zumo 550, along with the maps.