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FIRST REALLY LONG TRIP, (need advice)

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  • #1

    FIRST REALLY LONG TRIP, (need advice)

    Hey guys,

    My name is Andrew, and I'd like your suggestions. Don't know how many of you are west coast riders, but to give you some background I've taken 1 day trips from LA to San Fran up Highway 1 twice in my life (always take the desert route back down the 5 to LA though). 450 miles, no big deal but decent.

    I want to go from Chicago to San Fran this late spring. I've never taken a multi-day trip. If any of you have had experiences along this route please give me your two cents on which highways to take, which spots to see/stop at, travel time, what to bring, and what to pack for an emergency XS road kit.

    I can take as much time as I want. I'm a student and will be out for the summer. I'm not a fan of desert riding or long straight stretches... but I'm bound to hit some. I'd like to stick to the northern states I think, I'd like mountains and valleys.

    I currently own a cafe'd 78 standard XS11 and a 76 xs650 on an aftermarket hard-tail. I would really like to take the 650 but don't know if my ass and back could take it. Could I get away with it if I took more time?

    When I ride long distance I usually stop every 100 miles for a rest, any one know of a good mile average I should be shooting for daily?


    Thanks kindly,

    Andrew
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Isn't EVERYTHING between Chicago and Denver a long, straight stretch of boring highway? There are a few things to stop and look at along I-80, but not much. Will you be camping or hotel-ing?
    1980 XS850SG - Sold
    1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
    Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
    Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).

    Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
    -H. Ford

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    • #3
      Camping and hotels when tired of smelling...

      I know it's a rough stretch, but i wanted to hit the Dakotas and Montana, maybe see some forest in Oregon. Any thoughts?

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      • #4
        While you can take I80 all the way it certainly isn't the only option. And since that area is 2/3 of the USA you can see just about anything you want. Suggestions would be easier if you gave hints on what you wanted to see.

        I would take a north route, through southern MN and SD. I like the Corn Museum and Wall. You could then see Crazy Horse ans Rushmore near Rapid City and continue to Yellowstone. The you could go south, passing through the Rockies whenever you wanted, though waiting until Denver lets you see the Tetons and the Rocky Mountain NP. Once over you are near the Grand Canyon. Continuing west you get Death Valley and a bit north to Kings NP.

        South gets you the Arch, land between the lakes and, if you go far enough Barber museum. Then there's TexArkana and North Texas (yummy food). After that you can still catch the Grand Canyon and such.

        For tools don't bring anything you don't know how to use. I don't bring a lot of spares, its hard to bring enough and still have room for clothes. Definitely bring a tire patch kit and know how to use it!!

        I typed this on my phone, so I apologize for weird words / spelling

        Oh, take which bike you want. Just give it a good through servicing before you leave. Its usually the simple stuff that goes wrong.
        I've been in more than one Hemisphere, and I wrote a book to help you do it too (or just prepare better for that week long road trip). Going Small, not just for the little guys.

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        • #5
          oops missed the oregon thing

          Sorry I missed your Oregon comment. From Yellowstone you could go north to Glacier then west. The park Mt St Helen's is in (I forget the name) is nice. You could swing over to Olympia? I've never been. Its in a awkward spot. Then its all south. You can ride along the ocean for a while, head inland to Yosemite, whatever you like.
          I've been in more than one Hemisphere, and I wrote a book to help you do it too (or just prepare better for that week long road trip). Going Small, not just for the little guys.

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          • #6
            Route 66 maybe? I know it ain't what it used to be, but I think it would still make for an interesting ride. You mentioned it will be a summer ride, so if you came that way, be prepared for some heat, Oklahoma summers top triple digits very easily, with damn near 100% humidity.
            Richard
            '79 XS1100SF "Phantom Stranger" full fairing w/radio and cd player, H-D Roadking trunk, everything else stock
            '02 Honda VTX1800C

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            • #7
              Rushmore, Yellowstone and the Rockies sounds about right to me, Denver as well... I don't think I will be ducking south for a Texas ride, I'm thinking I want to keep that northerly route. Thanks a lot guys, please keep the advice coming!

              Andrew

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              • #8
                Originally posted by andrewraffaele View Post
                ...maybe see some forest in Oregon. Any thoughts?
                Let me know when you get to planning your Oregon leg of the trip. I can give you some recommendations.
                XS1100SG - Obsession

                Like I told my last wife, I says, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it's all in the reflexes."
                -- Jack Burton

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                • #9
                  Look in the FAQ section or the tech tips I forget where it is, but there is a thread on tools to bring for road trips.

                  Also, if riding short trips on the hard tail gives you pause to reconsider it for your long trip, then rethink that one. Anything that bothers you a little on a short trip, is NOT something you will just get used to for the long one. It just gets on your nerves more and more with each passing day or mile even. IMO, Hard tail bikes were NOT made for road trips, they are bar hoppers. Again just my opinion.
                  Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

                  When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

                  81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
                  80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


                  Previously owned
                  93 GSX600F
                  80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
                  81 XS1100 Special
                  81 CB750 C
                  80 CB750 C
                  78 XS750

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                  • #10
                    come to Canada, eh
                    There are only two types of bikers...
                    those that have layed it down, and
                    those that have not layed it down...YET!

                    1982 XJ1100J Maxim (F-Bomb)
                    Not going to lie, Brand new at this... thanks for having a bit of patience with dumb questions

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                    • #11
                      if and when it is laid down

                      kool link on here as how to get it back up....from a ironbutt.....which i would extrmely listen tooo....anyone who rides a 1000 miles or more a day and crosses the country...we have one here in NC and he had a passager that now is his WIFE...
                      windjammer gump
                      bikes now own
                      1981xs1100sh special
                      1971 cb 350
                      mini chopper project
                      bikes use to own
                      1978 750/four..
                      1983kz1100 ltd

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                      • #12
                        Short Ride

                        Just wanna let you guys know I can ride a little, this is a brief slide show of my 450 mile Hwy 1 trip. 12 hours, had a couple hikes and about 3 lunches... Left LA at 6am and arrived in San Fran at 6pm, just in time for the "Bay to Breakers" street festival the following day.

                        Long stretches of Hwy 1 are cut right into the cliffs hugging the Pacific. There are great turns, awesome sights, and grand sounds... especially my straight pipes bouncing off canyon walls...

                        I just made a Flickr account, so I hope this works... Please let me know if I did the URLs right.

                        PS, here's the link to the tool kit for distance rides...
                        http://www.xs11.com/faqs/156-what-to...ce-riding.html
























                        Super haggered...

















                        Pictures from this point forward only become terribly inappropriate, and would make you all painfully jealous...



                        I live in Chicago now, which means I miss year round riding seasons, warmth, and those pretty lil west coast ladies...

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                        • #13
                          Apparently it didn't work??? Cause I see no pics, just a blank...

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                          • #14

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                            • #15
                              Not sure about Flickr, on Photobucket if you hover over the picture it brings up link options. There is one that is an IMG link. You post that directly into your post and you see the pics. For flickr, if they do nto have those IMG links for you, you should be able to highlight the address with the picture up, and then post it using the picture insert tool (looks like a yellow square with mountains and a sun in it on the tools for your post.
                              Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

                              When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

                              81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
                              80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


                              Previously owned
                              93 GSX600F
                              80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
                              81 XS1100 Special
                              81 CB750 C
                              80 CB750 C
                              78 XS750

                              Comment

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