XS Southeast 2016 Discussion

[MPittma100]

Dragon

Quote

Turn back now, Dorothy!" (Okay, I made that one up...) but just ride like blue monkeys are after you because you're already late for dinner at the Iron Horse and they're holding it for you if you can get there before the kitchen closes.


Rode the Dragon one NIGHT in the RAIN and I actually did see the MONKEYS? I passed one of them!

[Dbshea]

First of all it helps a lot if you don't actually know that you're riding The Dragon.

Just leave the suspension on the cushy highway setting with the tires at 50 Psi for gas mileage. Don't worry about the bags or the fairing, you're just going up the road to a motorcycle lodge for the weekend.

Ignore the increasingly strident warning signs telling trucks to stop and turn around or abandon all hope, they're not meant for you because you're on a motorcycle.

Ignore the final warning sign before the first set of curves that's written in sinister dripping green paint that says, "Turn back now, Dorothy!" (Okay, I made that one up...) but just ride like blue monkeys are after you because you're already late for dinner at the Iron Horse and they're holding it for you if you can get there before the kitchen closes.

Trust, me, you'll have a blast.

Haha! Yep, that's pretty much how I had it planned out in my head. Looks like we may overnight at a buddies house Friday night and roll in early Saturday morning to IH.

[3Phase]

... 3Phase can tell you all about the nighttime Dragon run, if he hasn't already.

First of all it helps a lot if you don't actually know that you're riding The Dragon.

Just leave the suspension on the cushy highway setting with the tires at 50 Psi for gas mileage. Don't worry about the bags or the fairing, you're just going up the road to a motorcycle lodge for the weekend.

Ignore the increasingly strident warning signs telling trucks to stop and turn around or abandon all hope, they're not meant for you because you're on a motorcycle.

Ignore the final warning sign before the first set of curves that's written in sinister dripping green paint that says, "Turn back now, Dorothy!" (Okay, I made that one up...) but just ride like blue monkeys are after you because you're already late for dinner at the Iron Horse and they're holding it for you if you can get there before the kitchen closes.

Trust, me, you'll have a blast.

[jetmechmarty]

My bike is a 2009 FLSTC.....

It's been the best bike I've ever had and I've had a lot of bikes.

I think Brent's Road King went 215,000 miles before it gave up. The engine is rebuilt and he's still riding it. I believe he'll be on his trusty XS11 Special for the rally.

I'm hoping the place is filled with vintage Japanese bikes.

The Dragon can be ridden at night. Your speed for it is going to be 25 mph or even less. There are no good places to go off the road. That's true for most of the area. 3Phase can tell you all about the nighttime Dragon run, if he hasn't already.

[RichV]

Talk to Brent Hooverstal about Harley's reliability! He can vouch for it!

He rode that red, Firefighter's Special forever. Rides a new black one now.
They get good fuel mileage, too!
I thought my FI'd 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 w/ ECO mode getting 50 mpg on our trip out to Zion and back was awesome, but each time Brent, Tod, and I stopped for fuel... Brent's 'ole red HD got 51! Not bad...
Bob

My bike is a 2009 FLSTC and I've only had to replace a bearing in the transmission (easy), a wheel bearing, and the stator/rotor (twice). Everything else was routine maintenance. When I bought the bike new I also purchased a life time maintenance contract at a discount. This helped me remember to perform all scheduled maintenance and fluid changes.

The only modification I've done is to perform the stage 1 upgrade. It's been the best bike I've ever had and I've had a lot of bikes.

[JeffH]

BTW: Sunset at the destination - Iron Horse Stecoah is 7:30 PM

Dragon would be a 25mph adventure after dark. (but for the I-65, I-75 northern riders & I-40 western riders it is the best way in)
Even NC28 into Iron Horse would be intimidating at more than about 35mph after dark. (tough enough to read the road in the daylight let alone at night figuring out curve orientation (off camber - decreasing radius) and apex point.

Also, on Friday evening when you get around Knoxville it will be congested. Approaching Knoxville I-75 south actually runs on the I-640 west loop. Then when you hit I-40 you have to travel a few likely congested miles to get to the Alcoa Highway (US129) south. Alcoa Highway is also congested around the time you will be passing through. So just a consideration in your planning.


The other way into I-H involves running the twisty curves of I-40 over the mountain to Clyde NC to get on US23. Nice ride but in heavy traffic with cars and trucks it gets a little unnerving if that sort of thing is bothersome. However going that way is mostly 4 lane roads until the last 10 miles. Few more miles that way but about the same time to get to I-H. Either way gets you there and I-40 over the mountains is a hoot if traffic isn't heavy + nice 4 lane ride to Sylva on US23 then Bryson City on US74.

Jeff

[Dbshea]

Is this the route you are speaking of? If so, I do not see another route unless you want to come through Asheville.

https://www.mapquest.com/directions/...coah-283414776

Yes, that's generally it. We are leaving SE Wisconsin at about 5 am.

[MPittma100]

Route

So reading the posts here made me realize our route takes us down us129 at early evening after an 11 hour ride. I'd rather not end the rally before it starts, so for those familiar with the area, Any suggestions on a healthy approach from the Louisville area? Looks like super slab all the way until that point and we'll need to plan from there. Route will be in a zumo so. A few backroads won't be a monkey wrench.

Is this the route you are speaking of? If so, I do not see another route unless you want to come through Asheville.

https://www.mapquest.com/directions/...coah-283414776

[XJOK2PLAY]

Yes, I do. It has about 120K miles on it and I'm starting to worry that I'll have problems on a long ride. I'd rather take the XS which, after the complete overhaul, is like new.

I've never had a major problem with the Harley. All little stuff. It is a little sluggish now (not bad) but still rides great. I've always used synthetics and that probably helped.

So much for Harley's being poorly made. ;-)

Talk to Brent Hooverstal about Harley's reliability! He can vouch for it!

He rode that red, Firefighter's Special forever. Rides a new black one now.
They get good fuel mileage, too!
I thought my FI'd 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 w/ ECO mode getting 50 mpg on our trip out to Zion and back was awesome, but each time Brent, Tod, and I stopped for fuel... Brent's 'ole red HD got 51! Not bad...
Bob

[Dbshea]

So reading the posts here made me realize our route takes us down us129 at early evening after an 11 hour ride. I'd rather not end the rally before it starts, so for those familiar with the area, Any suggestions on a healthy approach from the Louisville area? Looks like super slab all the way until that point and we'll need to plan from there. Route will be in a zumo so. A few backroads won't be a monkey wrench.

[RichV]

Great news and congratulations! If necessary, you still have the Harley, right?

Yes, I do. It has about 120K miles on it and I'm starting to worry that I'll have problems on a long ride. I'd rather take the XS which, after the complete overhaul, is like new.

I've never had a major problem with the Harley. All little stuff. It is a little sluggish now (not bad) but still rides great. I've always used synthetics and that probably helped.

So much for Harley's being poorly made. ;-)

[3Phase]

What frak'ing genius came up with a GPS that you can't change en-route without a separate app and a computer? It must have been one of those out-sourced/off-shored/Congressionally de-funded engineering teams because that'd be perfect for cruise missiles or artillery rounds but not much else.

Well, I got a new Windows 10 Lumia 950 XL pseudo-smart phone from the Microsoft Store and one of those 99-cent Trek 2 / ZTE K88 Android tablets from AT&T so I'll try to figure it out.

In the meantime I've hit an expensive lull.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Scott,
LOL!! You crack me up, dude! Hahaha...

Sounds like as long as you know the destination address, don't plan on any route deviations it tells you, and you punch in that address in "Where To", you'll get there fine with the new 660. Then, if you go to the menu, and find where you key in your home address, then when you get ready to reverse the trip, you hit the "Home" button, and it'll get you home... Lol...

But seriously, after they stopped making the Zumo 550's, they were the last units that allowed the user to plan a route IN THE GPS by using Viapoints.
Say, like if along the way, in your motel room, you're riding with others and they wanna change the planned route for the next day, on a 550 you simply set new "viapoints" for the route changes, and it easily adds the changes and makes a new route.

But, with a 660, you load "Basecamp" software on your home computer or say a tablet you'll take on your trip with you. You plan your route in that software, then download it to the 660. Most are not big fans of Basecamp, as it's not very "user friendly".

But, if you have the spare time to study the software steps and familiarize yourself with it, it'll make more sense to you, and it works.
But... it's definitely not plug and play, and when I started looking at it after being a previous generation Garmin user, I said no way. Viapoint method is far more intuitive and easy to use, at least for me.

Only problem I see... you're not gonna have enough time to study up before your trip, since you're working on your bike...

[3Phase]

Coming from California, I don't recommend going to Asheville. It's too far in the wrong direction and I40 traffic can be a nightmare.

Scott, come through the Dragon. Just come earlier. There's really no better way.

Marty, I was thinking (I know!) about meeting up with Jeff and riding up to the Lodge wth y'all on Friday. That should take care of any pesky Dragon-y detours!

[MaximPhil]

I would love to help out with a route there but I am following MaximPhil. Where he goes I go.... LOL

P.S. I hope he doesn't get lost

Hi Tom,
I appreciate your confidence in my GPS I have managed to find my way the last few years so we should be OK.
Phil