more questions on the May/June LONG RIDE!

[jazzrat2000]

Hi again! I am getting excited about this trip... lots of members have contacted me and given me suggestions... here are several more questions I have:

1. what is the best reasonably priced rain gear? How big do you need to get it? (I am 5'10", 215 pounds) One piece or two?

2. What is the best way to cover saddlebags and the trunk when it rains (and you are riding, not stopped for the night!)? Mine are old retreads, and are certainly not watertight...

3. Keeping in mind I am not handy (at all)... what are the necessary tools and spare parts/repair stuff to bring? I have the stock tool kit, but I am assuming it may not be too complete and/or much good...

4. A safe way to take a laptop???

Thanks again, you guys are the best!

[Erik the Red]

what I found useful

Bring your Clymer or other repair manual, ZIP TIES!!, volt/ohm meter (be familiar with how to use it, too ), duct tape (take it off the roll and wrap it around itself), JB weld, epoxy, rags, rope/cord, mini flashlight (w/ good batteries), pantyhose (to cover carb intake if you have pod filters and one falls off ....DAMHIK ), extra set of spark plugs, and carry an extra quart or two of oil.

Rain.... To keep water out of your bags, garbage bags bungeed?? BUT- go one step further. Pack all your stuff into the 2 gallon Ziploc bags You can squeeze the air out, making your packing more space efficient, and even if water does get inside your bags, it won't soak your clothes or electronics.

[jazzrat2000]

thanks, I especially like the pantyhose idea!

[jetmechmarty]

I plan to leave on Wednesday afternoon from Atlanta. I'll be hooking up with Brent and we'll make the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground for Wednesday night stay. We'll two lane it to NY as much as possible.

Join us if you can.

I used a cheap DRYRIDER rainsuit for years. It kept me dry.

[DiverRay]

Jazzrat,
I would bring along about 10 or 12 KITCHEN garbage bags, the 13 gallon size. I used them for years to keep my boots, and feet dry. I put them on just before the rain pants, and rode all day in the rain through Oregon with DRY feet. You can also wrap the laptop bag in one, to keep it dry. I carried my laptop in the trunk, but with other things below it. That way, the only water close to it was on it's way to the bottom of the trunk.

[randy]

Marty, if your route takes you up I-81, let's hook up around Scranton, PA on Thursday?

[Jerry]

Tools:

Do a search on this topic and see other threads for comprehensive ideas. What I take: extra bulbs 1156 and 1157, extra fuses to fit all spots on the block, more than 1 of each size, electrician's tape, good needle-nose pliers, several feet of 12 - 14 gauge wire, 8mm box end wrench (fits caliper bleed screws) small tube of Locktite Blue, set of metric Allen wrenches - individual ones, not the ones on a ring or in an all-in-one case, small #0 flat screwdriver, good #3 Phillips screwdriver, pliers, mid-size Crescent wrench. This in addition to the stock tool set. Depending on how much space you have, you can take more items. I frequently take a 1/4 inch Sears metric socket set along, comes in a small molded case and handles anything up to about 17mm. Other handy bits are some emery cloth or fine sandpaper, common metric open-end / box end wrenches, couple shop rags, roll of paper shop towls if you have the room.

I carry the Honda spray-can aresol cleaner for the windshield and face shield, use the paper shop towels to clean. Some Jolly Roger hard candy is usually in one pocket, pop in a piece and it can help keep you more alert on long rides. Extra set of keys to be kept on the bike, proof of registration and insurance, good tire guage can all be usefull.

Rain suit...I use a 2-piece lined set from wallyworld. Suit will get dirty / torn after a few years, so I don't spend a lot, $25 or so. Caveat: I ride behind a large Windjammer fairing and wear a riding suit that in itself is water resistant. Bigest problem is the feet; cold wet feet are no fun on a ride. I use either a pull-over-the-boot natural rubber boot, or have from Tourmaster kind of a 'spat' that fits over the shoe and does a good job if the rain is not heavy or prolonged. I also use a pair of rubberized gloves to keep my hands warm and dry; most sporting goods stores will have these at fairly reasonable prices.

If you are serious about keeping your gear dry, again check out your sporting goods store for "Seal" bags or other water-tight enclosures. Be warned...these are not cheap, but will keep your stuff dry under heavy rain. I tend to use 2 - 3 garbage bags over my stuff, the heavy-duty commercial ones that about 4 mil thick. Will generally tear one or two outer bags every trip, but you can carry quite a few in a small space.

Unless you carry a Panasonic Tough-Book I would not plan to carry a laptop with you. I know it has been done, but the vibration / jolting a laptop is subject to may cause real damage. Search ebay for toughbook and you can find some older (slower, Pentium II) units that may work for you. I have one, and equipped it with a wireless card and Windows 2000. Not the fastest, but it has USB ports for the camera and I can upload images and video clips to my idisk (idisk.mac.com) account from anywhere I can get a wireless connection, also check my e-mail and do other tasks. I bought new battery and charger for it, total investment was around $200.00 with Linksys wireless card. The laptop stand on edge in one of my saddlebags, seems to ride OK there. If buing a Toughbook is not an option, take along a few extra memory cards for you camera and upload them when you get home.

[jetmechmarty]

Randy,

Thursday AM departure from Waynesville, NC gives me just 670 miles to Scranton, PA. It is possible, but once I get there, ...I might be a little tired.

[randy]

Well, then you could stop here in Stroudsburg, stay with us Thurs. night and we can all leave Fri Morn? Only 200 mi from here to Pulaski!

[jetmechmarty]

That sounds like a good plan!

[randy]

Just let me know how many are in your 'party'

[jazzrat2000]

s**t!!

Hi all,

My brother will not be able to make the trip after all... so I am going to edit it... up through Alabama, over the Blue Ridge to the coast, down to Key West and back up... all the suggestions you have sent are helping me a lot... I just feel by myself a shorter trip might be the smarter way to go... the US 1 idea will just have to wait...

[jazzrat2000]

Day 3!

Hi, I am on day 3, made it to Huntsville and my sons' place... had a bit of trouble yesterday... rear brakes went out! I found a great shop in Acworth GA: Acworth Cycle... and owner Mike Mlaska... phone 770-974-0056... as soon as he knew I was on the road they jumped on my bike, it was fixed very reasonably in an hour!!! I know you guys know the good roads, but here are a few I found today: OLD US 41 in GA, and Alabama 68... is there a place on this site where I can put an official recommendation of a shop and/or mechanic? Other than the short brake problem, the old XS is running great...

PS Atlanta (I75) and Marietta (US 27) traffic stinks on Fridays!!!