Columbia River Gorge Run

[ddragon63]

We have everything out here except dry weather. LOL

You said it buddy!

Suppose to be nice most all of next week... Of course that could change by tomorrow

[BigDoug]

Thanks for the great post Don. It reminds me of the very early days of the XS11.com group when we had so many active members in the PNW: Denny Z, Squid, Deano K, Capt Kirk to name a few. We made a similar trip with about 20 guys - all on XS11's.

Again thanks for the 'blast from the past' - nice pics!

BigDoug

[sparks]

Thanks for the Ride

I recently got my XS11 but have yet to take it out. I promised my wife that I would retake my motorcycle endorsement test or the Team Oregon course. It's been 20 years since my last bike. I joined the PNW group but there doesnt seem to be much activity. I'm looking for a fairing and rack to give me a little room for "stuff". I'm an amateur radio person and am thinking of mounting a radio isomewhere on the bike.. maybe in a box on a rack.. Anyhow that looked like a great ride.. Thinking my first one will be to the coast. Along the Smith and the redwoods.. I'm in Grants Pass so just getting up to the gorge would be at least an overnighter.

Lee
NI7I

[XS1100 Newbie]

Be very careful adding electronics to these bikes. Our charging systems are pretty well taxed with just the stock equipment.

[sparks]

I hadnt given it that much thought but I may go with a hand held rig anyhow. It's smaller, has its own battery and can be used with an external antenna. I dont plan on trying to use it while riding. There are to many other things that require your attention.. Thanks for the advice..

Lee

[ddragon63]

I recently got my XS11 but have yet to take it out. I promised my wife that I would retake my motorcycle endorsement test or the Team Oregon course. It's been 20 years since my last bike. I joined the PNW group but there doesnt seem to be much activity. I'm looking for a fairing and rack to give me a little room for "stuff". I'm an amateur radio person and am thinking of mounting a radio isomewhere on the bike.. maybe in a box on a rack.. Anyhow that looked like a great ride.. Thinking my first one will be to the coast. Along the Smith and the redwoods.. I'm in Grants Pass so just getting up to the gorge would be at least an overnighter.

Lee
NI7I

I still have my Dads CB hooked up in the bike. It lives in the right side box of the fairing. Radio and mic control box are in there. When I travel up on the mountain I pull it out and turn it on to listen to the Loggers. Anymore its just there for emergency purposes.

Be very careful adding electronics to these bikes. Our charging systems are pretty well taxed with just the stock equipment.

+1... it took me a while to figure out why Old Man use to eat a battery in a year. Running a CB, old school stereo, 65 watt headlight, and 5x 1157 incandescent bulbs taxes the system pretty well.

With the modern Stereo in it and LED's all around it doesn't use much power anymore. I've added a 12v power port plug for my GPS and I run it too... and it still draws less than it did in the forum of which my Dad had it. I keep the CB off and unplugged for the most part as the Mic control box is hot @ all times, it only saves a few amps, but every amp helps.

[sparks]

Right now, my bike is naked.. I havent shopped around except for craigs list for fairings or bags.. The ham rig draws a bit more than the CB would.. On transmit running 50 watts more or less, it draws maybe 15 amps.. Because its FM, on rx it draws between a few miliamps to maybe a half amp if somebody is talking..

Lee

[ddragon63]

good luck with your search... Let me know if you find anything. Ebay unfortunately will be your best bet. if you find anything in the Portland area and need some eyes on it drop me a PM. I'm all over the Metro area every day. I can take a look and give you an opinion

[CaptonZap]

I recently got my XS11 but have yet to take it out. I promised my wife that I would retake my motorcycle endorsement test or the Team Oregon course. It's been 20 years since my last bike. I joined the PNW group but there doesnt seem to be much activity. I'm looking for a fairing and rack to give me a little room for "stuff". I'm an amateur radio person and am thinking of mounting a radio isomewhere on the bike.. maybe in a box on a rack.. Anyhow that looked like a great ride.. Thinking my first one will be to the coast. Along the Smith and the redwoods.. I'm in Grants Pass so just getting up to the gorge would be at least an overnighter.

Lee
NI7I

I'm not up to date with the technicals of present day HAM gear, but I do know that the electrical system on an xs11 is not one that has a lot of extra wattage for radios, etc. And a ten foot whip might pose a mounting problem.
If you get it done, we would all like to see pictures. CZ

[BA80]

Breaker breaker 1-9......LOL

Todays radios don't take much juice like most everything else. I wouldn't see a problem other than the 10 foot antenna. There have been great advances in that tech also so I would think that large of one unnecessary.

[sparks]

Antenna would onlky be between 19 and 24 inches. With a luggage rack, I could make a mount for it.. I would be pulling off the road to use the radio.. There is enough to concentrate on while riding.. Dont need to be confused by a radio then.

Lee

I'm not up to date with the technicals of present day HAM gear, but I do know that the electrical system on an xs11 is not one that has a lot of extra wattage for radios, etc. And a ten foot whip might pose a mounting problem.
If you get it done, we would all like to see pictures. CZ

[sparks]

Thanks for the offer.. If I find one up there, I'll drop you a line..

Lee

good luck with your search... Let me know if you find anything. Ebay unfortunately will be your best bet. if you find anything in the Portland area and need some eyes on it drop me a PM. I'm all over the Metro area every day. I can take a look and give you an opinion

[ddragon63]

Breaker breaker 1-9......LOL

this here's the Rubber Duck... come on....

[ddragon63]

I run a 3ft fire stick... and an fm splitter so the CB and stereo share the antenna .... it reaches out pretty good for both. simple flat mount, plastic insulator, and spring mount. been on the bike since the 80's... I upgraded the antenna and replaced the decaying insulator a few years back.

[MaximPhil]

Hey Don, Nice looking Top box you have there.
Phil