Idaho to New York or Bust

[BillyRok]

Well I'm going on a little adventure next month. Since I had a bike in college, I always wanted to ride one across the country. And I always wanted to see the Rocky Mountains up close. So this past February I found a 1980 LG in Post Falls, Idaho and after numerous conversations with the owner (2nd owner of the bike) I bought it with plans to fly out there this summer and ride it back. Here she is --
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
Flying from Rochester, NY to Spokane, WA on 8/4 and taking a week or so to travel back. I-90 is a pretty straight shot but I'm hoping to see Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse...may have to check out the happenings in Sturgis on the way through.

I'm looking for some tips/suggestions about preparing for this journey from some of you who have done some long distances on these bikes...anything from parts/tools/gear to bring along to mechanical stuff to check before heading out to routes to take/things to see along the way. I'll end up shipping some stuff out to ID ahead of time to pack on the bike for the trip back so I don't have to lug a ton of stuff on a plane and risk losing it in route. I'd also like to be able to post trip updates as I go for friends to follow along but not sure how best to do that.

So give me your ideas as well as questions and tell me what you think, might even be able to hook up with a couple of you along the way. I'm really looking forward to this...who knows, I may end up battle hardened and want to make the trip to the Iron Horse in September!

[3Phase]

Billy,

It'd be a hoot to meet you at the Iron Horse with your 'new' XS! The top two tools you can bring on any ride are a credit card and a mobile phone.

In the pictures the bike looks great and you have had numerous conversations with the owner but, uh, there are a whole bunch of things that should be checked before you go gallivanting across the country on a thirty-three or thirty-four-year-old motorcycle.

You haven't mentioned whether the bike has been sitting or if it's currently being ridden but even if the P.O. swears on a stack of Yamaha dealership service/parts receipts and the original XS1100 Owners Guide and Service Manual that everything is in great shape you need to check as much as you can:

fairing, windshield, bags and top box are in good shape, stay closed and won't fall off
steering/triple-tree bearings
headlight and signals
battery
air filter
fuses and fuse block
spark plugs and wires
tires for wear and their age from the DOT birth date
brake fluid levels and their water/gunk content
brakes pads for wear
brakes levers firm and not spongy
brake calipers release and don't stick
middle drive and final drive oil levels and their water or metal content
engine oil level and fuel/water/metal content
fuel and its condition in the tank and carburetor float bowls
fuel lines, fuel taps and octy all work and don't leak any fuel
fuel tank cap vent isn't gummed shut

Double, no, triple-check the Fuse Block before you head out on the road.

If you can manage to find a spare 1978-1980 2H7 TCI, do it. The 10M TCI on your XJ11 will physically connect to your new Midnight Special but it won't work correctly.

Check the Fuse Block.

.

[cajun31]

+1

ditto on all the things mentioned to check.

I will say you are a braver soul then I to attempt this ride on a bike you know nothing about. No way I would trust the bike until I had personally gone through it with a fine tooth comb. Too many things that can be bad or be on the brink of going bad with no spare parts available. Of course if it breaks down on you along the way you can always just ship it home from there and fly back.

I wish you much luck and pleasure on the ride and hope that you make the entire trip safely.

[cajun31]

Oh by the way

great looking bike and welcome to the LG fold.

[jwhughes3]

Scott is right...cellphone is key. Join AMA and get membership with towing coverage.

Take some way to access forum on the road. We will answer.

Good luck. She will be fine.


John

[MaximPhil]

Hi Billy,
+1 everything 3Phase wrote. I would be inclined to put on new tires anyway for a journey of that length....yes really Pack a multi meter for electrical issues.
If you are not accustomed to long distance riding. If you think you should stop for a rest you should have already. Don't push your self it is supposed to be fun.
Take lots of pictures along the way.
Good luck
Phil

[Murrayf]

i have learned that with the vetter side bags that i actually criss cross

two black zip ties or tie wire around the lock mechanism and the bag frame

as i have had them bounce off and the lock pop off the locking spring wire

after hitting a bump a few times on my goldwing

i may have had them a tad heavy but once it happened when they were empty

so take a pair of side cutters and a bag of zip ties

[madmax-im]

Good rain gear....and be prepared for temperature extremes depending upon your elevation...it can still get quite cool up in the Rockies in the summertime....Good luck... BTW thats a nice scoot you got there hope all goes without a hitch...

[tcoop]

If you can get them I would include (along with doing all the above ) a spare throttle cable and clutch cable. I have had one break while in town and it was a pain in the ... it would be worse out in the middle of nowhere. Have fun on the trip.

[andreashweiss]

I have driven the interstate through montana many times. Very boring road. Try and drive the state hwys further north, follows the railroad line. Just remember to cut south before you reach the north Dakota border to AVOID driving through the oil patch in north Dakota. High accident rate there due to lots of traffic. (williston) I would drive through north Dakota on the interstate but not through montana.

[fredintoon]

Well I'm going on a little adventure next month. Since I had a bike in college, I always wanted to ride one across the country. And I always wanted to see the Rocky Mountains up close. So this past February I found a 1980 LG in Post Falls, Idaho and after numerous conversations with the owner (2nd owner of the bike) I bought it with plans to fly out there this summer and ride it back. - - -

Hi Billy,
what they all said.
In addition, as with all XS11 Specials, your bike has a pathetically tiny gas tank and like all XS11s, it will drink fuel like a drunken sailor.
Plan your route to never be more than 100 miles from a gas station, eh?
Also, it's a rare thing but it happened to me. The petcock in-tank filter/reserve towers can fall out and lay on the bottom of the tank.
Besides running on unfiltered gas this means you are on reserve all the time so when you need reserve there ain't one.

[donebysunday]

1st, BEAUTIFUL BIKE !
+1 on all !
Like Fred said not many miles in a tank but it looks like you have plenty of room to bring at least 1 and maybe 2 or 3 small gallon cans, some drinking fluid and beef jerky or some such. I've been through there in a car and remember searching for fuel, I did not fill up at the last place because I had more than 1/2 tank left. There are some very desolated stretches your going to find some hundreds of miles. Might want to check the web for motorcycle paths ?
I'm worried for you !

[D0wn5h1ft]

If you can get them I would include (along with doing all the above ) a spare throttle cable and clutch cable. I have had one break while in town and it was a pain in the ... it would be worse out in the middle of nowhere. Have fun on the trip.

This. This. This.

Two essentials on ANY trip. I always pack a spare clutch/throttle cable because for such a stupid little $15 part it'll ground you just as much as a blown engine.

I'd be wary of riding ANYTHING that far without first having done a FULL inspection MYSELF. I just took at 275 mile ride along the Appalachian last Sunday and even having just installed a new head, full (and I mean full) carb rebuild, petcock rebuild, new TC fuse block, oil change, blah blah blah blah I was still really nervous all the way until I got back on the highway to head home.

I know my XS11 like the back of my hand having been in almost every system yet I still don't have 100% confidence that she won't decide to do something crazy. All of that being said, what a thrill it will be riding that thing back. There's no way of getting to know yourself better and getting to know that bike. It'll be like marrying a woman you just met . You'll either fall in love or roll that thing into a ditch and hitchhike back to New York.

If you need any help going through her once she's back, let me know. I'm about an hour and a half from NY and love a challenge.

[dpotter58]

add in a volt meter, electric tape, spare fuses and a couple bulbs. Enjoy Washington

[BillyRok]

Some additional information

Thanks for the replies so far, the advice is appreciated.

The bike has been garaged as long as Mark has owned it and has 17,500 miles on it. He is in his early 50's and has gotten into riding dirt bikes and 4 wheelers so he hasn't ridden the LG much the last 2 years. He's never been a member here but does most of his own mechanical work and has tried to maintain the bike.

The Good: Fairing and bags are in good shape with functioning locks. Battery new this spring. Lights all work. Brakes feel firm. Air filter cleaned regularly. Oil and filter changed regularly. Gas tank clean and octy functions, no leaks. Triple tree bearings good. Never had issue with 2nd gear or pick up coil wires.

The Bad (potentially?): Signals blink more slowly at idle, fine at rpm. Has stock fuse block and fuses. Plugs have been in there awhile and thinks the wires are originals. Tires are several years old with 1,000 miles on them, will check the date codes for me. Not sure about brake pad wear and fluid condition.

The Ugly (maybe?): Mark didn't realize there was a middle drive and has never changed the oil in it or the final drive, guessing the drive shaft hasn't been greased unless it was at the last tire change.

Andreas has a clutch and throttle cable for me and I have a line on a spare 2H7 TCI. Got the cell phone, credit card, multimeter, zip ties and side cutters, Ipad to access site, and towing coverage.

Mark has a shop and tools to do a little work before I head back, what do you think about this list? Should I --

1. Upgrade to TC's fuse block and fuses?
2. Drain oil from drives, hoping to find some oil but no water or metal?
3. New plugs and check resistance in existing wires?
4. Change brake fluid, need to verify now that pads have life left?
5. Clean grounds and connections?
6. Check valve clearances and synch carbs?
7. Check pick up coil wires?
8. Grease drive shaft?

Thoughts/ideas?

I understand this trip might be a little daring, hopefully not foolish, but I trust Mark when he says the bike is pretty sound...heck he even mailed me the signed title before the check I wrote him cleared!

Thanks for your input and encouragement.