XS Southeast 2015 discussion

[Old Red]

Thanks Brent for being willing to hang back with us slow guys!!!!

[Old Red]

The chase rider has brought me home safe every time.

[madmax-im]

Good advice Mike...it should be noted that there is a Chase rider who is always last and makes sure there are no stragglers...he has a radio and is in communication with the lead or near lead rider as well...

[MPittma100]

Mission

Kurt,

The "cruise control" may come in handy for extended trips, but will not have a use through the twisties. The Crampbuster products are very good at reducing (throttle) wrist fatigue while riding. I recommend them. Can be seen here:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-cruise-assist

Riding at the rally is not something to worry about. There are a lot twisties, but no one gets left behind. There is always someone at the back to make sure that you don't miss a turn. Plenty of gas stops for everyone with the
Special MPG in mind. You will likely not ride as fast as some being two-up, but it will not be a problem. Do not push your limit trying to do so. Ride your own ride and be safe. None of us wants to see SWMBO slapping you around for going too fast.

[madmax-im]

Yes Kurt to what Bob has said...Do not even think of using the GPS when riding the twisties...I can tell you that i have seen at least one or 2 bad accidents happened because someone was looking at their GPS instead of the road...not during this rally but other rallies with other MC forums...
Secondly...your Wife...passenger...pillion rider needs to be in synch with what you do with the bike...for instance if you are looking and leaning into a right hander so should she. A pillion rider does not counter what the pilot is doing...rather they flow along with the bike and rider...takes a little effort at first but should become second nature over time....Also be sure there is some space between the 2 of you...If she sneezes she could head butt you...so the pillion rider needs to allow for some space and hold their head to reduce the head jerk effect...I have seen this happen too...

[XJOK2PLAY]

Kurt,
I dunno if it was just my AT&T cell carrier, or if it's all cell carriers, but I had -0- cell service anywhere in a 25 mile radius of the I-H lodge!

I was also testing a 7" tablet with GPS software on that trip last year.
Horrible failure. Didn't work there, either.

But a Garmin or TomTom should work ok, as long as you have a clear sky above you.

I've since fixed that "problem" with a Garmin gps now.

Only thing I'll tell ya... when you start riding those twisties, there'll be no time to look at a gps!

At breakfast the morning of the first group ride of the rally, Bohn told me," Bob you know how the twisties are in Arkansas? Pretty challenging, right?" I said, "yes." He said, "well, forget that! These curves are gonna be the most challenging roads you've ever ridden! The corners are relentless!"

He was abso-freakin-lutely correct! Left-right-left... they just keep coming!
I spent the majority of the day riding my Concours14 in 1-2 gears... And ran about 6 grand rpm's.

At least in Arkansas, you DO get an occasional straightaway... not there!

Strap in, hang on, stay alert and focused... and you'll have the ride of your lives.

Marty had his wife on the back of his XS, and it was a challenge to stay with him! They're used to riding those roads like that, and I was very impressed with how well his wife did, as passenger! She didn't hurl once! Hahaha...

Just ride your ride... you'll be fine.
And by the end of the rally, you'll have some very cool memories to take back home.

Ride safe, and wish I could be there with ya.
Bob

[kboehringer]

Mission Planning (XSSE)

Hey Kurt,
As already stated, many of us ride Specials, so the rally coordinators plan for adequate fuel/REST stops. .

That's good to know. I usually re-set my trip meter at every fill up and stop for gas before I get to 70 miles. The warning lamp came on once at 70 and that's pretty much become my target for gas.

I think I remember that you have a backrest on your bike for your pillion/SWMBO...so USE HER as YOUR backrest. If you have to lean too far back to be able to rest against her, then either adjust her backrest, or add a pillow/cushion between you and her to provide you support.

The bride is just getting comfortable relying on the back rest a little more each ride. Those first couple rides I was getting a death grip on my waist. She also would slide forward pushing me toward the tank making "things" VERY uncomfortable. She's learned to try to be neutral back there and not "help me" lean or turn either. I also have learned to push back a bit keeping "myself" off of the tank. My backrest has no adjustment, it's fixed position.

You're only about 2 years out, and you had 2 sections/joints worked on, and I don't know how severe ... fusion / hardware??.

I don't know the medical terminology but the DR. said my bone structure was in decent shape and we'd skip the hardware. They removed a significant amount of herniated material from the disc areas which was pushing on the spinal cord. I have a small amount of feeling loss in my right toes but otherwise the surgery was a complete success. However, I can get some real soreness when I over do it.

Being able to change foot/leg position while riding can be helpful, so folks that do LDR's usually have some form of cruise pegs to allow them to safely reposition their feet forward to stretch the legs and take the pressure of the back.

I have the highway pegs that came with the DUCK. They're some pretty nasty looking 70's style pegs that I was planning to use the brackets from for some driving lamps. I might reconsider and hang those ugly things back on. With a special the 60-70 range I've been doing between stops hasn't yet been an issue.

Also, do you have a throttle lock/cruise control on your handlebar?

NO. I don't have one yet. I've actually never had one on any bike I've owned. I found this one on e-bay and it says it fits a 7/8" bar but also says it won't fit an XS11.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTORCYCLE-C...b24050&vxp=mtr

I checked MikesXS and saw nothing.
Anyone have a model they recommend for an 11 Special?

Full face helmets are great protective gear. Do you ride with EAR PLUGS? The constant wind noise even with Full Face Helmets can cause hearing damage. I have a modular full face helmet as well.

Both of our helmets are Modular. I've been having issues with the sun on the way to/from work. I drive dead EAST to work at 7:00 am into the morning Georgia sun and direct WEST on the way home at 5:00pm. The evenings aren't too bad but the morning can stink real bad. I went and looked at those new helmets with the drop down sun visor INSIDE operated by a button on the top or side. Unfortunately the HJC model is $220+ and the BILT is $180+. I grabbed a BILT Modular Standard this weekend on sale for $79 at CYCLE GEAR (Marietta Location) for Nancy. I ordered a smoked visor for my HJC at the Yamaha Dealer ($24 OUCH! )

I don't normally wear ear plugs but planned to give it a try on the long trip.

Thanks for all the advice T.C. et al.

Sincerely,
KURT

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Kurt,

As already stated, many of us ride Specials, so the rally coordinators plan for adequate fuel/REST stops. I think I remember that you have a backrest on your bike for your pillion/SWMBO...so USE HER as YOUR backrest. If you have to lean too far back to be able to rest against her, then either adjust her backrest, or add a pillow/cushion between you and her to provide you support. I, too, have had lower back surgery....L5-S1 some 17 years ago..fortunately just a simple laminectomy, no fusion/hardware. I did my first LDR after my rebuild in 2001 about 3 years after my back surgery, some 600 miles and like 12+ hours on the road! You're only about 2 years out, and you had 2 sections/joints worked on, and I don't know how severe ... fusion / hardware??

Sitting is about the worst position for the lower back, it puts a lot of stress on the lower back/hip joints. Being able to change foot/leg position while riding can be helpful, so folks that do LDR's usually have some form of cruise pegs to allow them to safely reposition their feet forward to stretch the legs and take the pressure of the back.

Also, do you have a throttle lock/cruise control on your handlebar? Having that can help you take your hand down for a few moments while cruising to help you rest your arm/hands/shoulders ...again being able to move/shift your body around a bit can help relieve positional stress. I'm sure with the improvements to the rear shocks/wheel you'll be making, that combined with riding with your swmbo will make the bike suspension relatively softer, but extra bottom cushioning can't hurt! I have a large sheep skin that I throw on mine for my LDR's.

Full face helmets are great protective gear. Do you ride with EAR PLUGS? The constant wind noise even with Full Face Helmets can cause hearing damage. I have a modular full face helmet as well. But I still have problems with the sun when it's low/in my face, even with polarized sunglasses. Holding my hand up like a VISOR solves the problem, but is problematic. I have seen some new fancy glue/stick on VISORS that can be put onto the clear visor of the helmet to provide that needed extra Sun VISOR affect for when the sun gets low! I'll do a search on here and see what/where it is on the web....we had a thread about it some months ago.

Marty, I'll only need 1 T-shirt...I'll check out the T-shirt thread soon!

T.C.

[jetmechmarty]

Mad Max...I don't own a gps,cell phone or a watch.I like maps and miss telephone booths. I think I will get a cell phone tho Been trying to for the past year.I am not old it is I just don't care.

I like your style! I hope you'll be able to come down and join the party.

[madmax-im]

Mad Max...I don't own a gps,cell phone or a watch.I like maps and miss telephone booths. I think I will get a cell phone tho Been trying to for the past year.I am not old it is I just don't care.

Cool...its still possible to function in the world without these things...for myself i have owned a cell phone for a good long time and now its actually smart...it has internet and wifi a 13mp camera and can voice or text calls...its also has a clock, and built in GPS and mapping if i want....
I like to wear Chronographs...not because I'm so time bound but that i enjoy big wacthes with lots of dials...(Thanks Gary)

[STEPPENWOLF]

Mad Max...I don't own a gps,cell phone or a watch.I like maps and miss telephone booths. I think I will get a cell phone tho Been trying to for the past year.I am not old it is I just don't care.

[madmax-im]

Go test ride with the Tom Tom...and figure out a way to keep it dry if it rains...personally I would not use a GPS...with all the things that are new to you my feeling is a GPS would be too much of a distraction... plus where you have it mounted is off center,,,not good...let your wife be the navigator...;-)

[kboehringer]

The Duck may improve... REALLY want to drive the bike!

XSSE Folks,
There is a good chance the recent repairs to the front end will make the ride much more comfortable on the back. Although I am CERTAIN most XS11's are in a better state of repair than mine, the fork cleaning and repair combined with a new tire has made a drastic improvement in the front end feel and the THUMPING my arms were taking. That "Thumping" I was taking was getting directly transmitted down the spine.

I may be able to make some improvement to the rear making it a lot more comfortable too. I will also be getting one of those back belts and possibly a gel pad and trying that out over the next couple weeks I'm trying NOT to leave anything to the last minute.......

Here's some more STUPID questions....... Although I have owned more than 30 bikes and have rarely been without one, I also spent 2+ years on crutches as a kid for riding my bike like an idiot (full reconstructive knee surgery). BUT, I've only done ONE overland long trek and that was by myself on a KZ750. IT WAS HORRIBLE and I was like 23 (+/-). I'm now over 50.

I always drive with long pants & sleeves, leather gloves, and a full face helmet I just got another full-face today so Nancy and I BOTH have a full-face. Nancy and I will BOTH be wearing reflective vests as I am a HUGE advocate of bright colors on bikes. I learned that in the Navy as a MC safety instructor...

I will be packing some REAL biker rain gear but intend on driving with Levis and leather shoes. I have soft gear that Marty checked out and he said should be much more than adequate. I installed the aftermarket "hoops" to keep 'em out of the rear wheel As Marty told me we should only need some clean undies and a toothbrush and we should be ready to roll.....

I also set this up on my bike two weeks ago.....

I stole this from my Accord and it works well..... Can't hear that nasty broad yelling at me (the TomTom GPS girl ) but I usually turn her voice off anyway (both of the girls ).

What am I missing?

KURT

[STEPPENWOLF]

I hope you can make it, and bring Mr. Beardslee with you!

Shirts won't be available until the last minute. Less than three weeks left on those.

We aren't getting any younger. Start the ritual pilgrimage now!

Mr Beardslee is his own man...

[MaximPhil]

Hi Kurt,
Always at least a couple of couples (pun intended ) on one bike.
Plus it seems more women are riding to this event too.
Gas stops are always less than 100 miles apart as most XS Specials will not go much more than that. Your own comfort level of distance only you can determine. Ride up or trailer which ever makes you happy. Get out there and practice
Phil