Since I now live hundreds of miles away from where my beloved VFR is, I ride rarely but when I do I try to get in as much riding as I can. A friend and I have just finalized our plans for a ride from Atlantic to Pacific. (Technically he's riding from the Gulf of Mexico since he lives in Tampa.)
A very bad route map is up. We leave in three weeks and will be on the road for three weeks. If you see a fat guy on an 02 VFR and a gimpy guy on a Bandit, wave hi!
We learned a very valuable lesson the last time we tried this trip, so this time we're completely avoiding Illinois, Iowa and Indiana ("I" states are bad) and I'm leaving the wife at home.
[image: View Post]Havagan, on Aug 20 2007, 01:00 PM, said:
We learned a very valuable lesson the last time we tried this trip, so this time we're completely avoiding Illinois, Iowa and Indiana ("I" states are bad) and I'm leaving the wife at home.
Hav
I laughed at that one! Not all of Indiana is bad, Hav! North of Indy, the roads are flat and straight. South of Indy, the roads are much better! Just ask some of the other Hoosiers... at least the ones that will admit it!
As for your ride and route... it sounds and looks like it wil be a blast! I wish you a safe and memorable adventure!
One day I'll save enough to do a trip like that! :thumbsup:
[image: View Post]Havagan, on Aug 20 2007, 11:00 AM, said:
Since I now live hundreds of miles away from where my beloved VFR is, I ride rarely but when I do I try to get in as much riding as I can. A friend and I have just finalized our plans for a ride from Atlantic to Pacific. (Technically he's riding from the Gulf of Mexico since he lives in Tampa.)
A very bad route map is up. We leave in three weeks and will be on the road for three weeks. If you see a fat guy on an 02 VFR and a gimpy guy on a Bandit, wave hi!
We learned a very valuable lesson the last time we tried this trip, so this time we're completely avoiding Illinois, Iowa and Indiana ("I" states are bad) and I'm leaving the wife at home.
Hav
Dude your nuts, I love it. I just drove from far west to east and back to west towing a 29ft trailer with my truck 6400 miles in two weeks. I was beat. I can only imagine how you guys are gonna feel. About how many miles do you forsee it being?
[image: View Post]Bigbear75, on Aug 22 2007, 06:44 AM, said:
Dude your nuts, I love it. I just drove from far west to east and back to west towing a 29ft trailer with my truck 6400 miles in two weeks. I was beat. I can only imagine how you guys are gonna feel. About how many miles do you forsee it being?
I'm not even close to nuts... just stir-crazy. I needed a vacation and this sounded like a good idea.
[image: View Post]Havagan, on Aug 22 2007, 07:02 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Bigbear75, on Aug 22 2007, 06:44 AM, said:
Dude your nuts, I love it. I just drove from far west to east and back to west towing a 29ft trailer with my truck 6400 miles in two weeks. I was beat. I can only imagine how you guys are gonna feel. About how many miles do you forsee it being?
I'm not even close to nuts... just stir-crazy. I needed a vacation and this sounded like a good idea.
As for mileage, around 9000 miles in 20 days.
Have a ball! I've thought about a cross-country trip and have several friends who have done it. It always seems, though, like the weather is terrible in the South and Midwest: like who's riding in the Upper Midwest right now? Probably nobody. And here come the hurricanes in the South. Keep your eyes on the Weather Channel.
Looks like you're coming through Southern Oregon. Feel free to PM for a phone number and I'll be happy to show you some roads or offer a place to layover.
[image: View Post]BonusVFR, on Oct 27 2007, 01:58 AM, said:
Do you have studded tires?
Does a cupped and worn Pilot Road count as studded? If so, then yes. :blink:
The tire set up was a Pilot Road front and a ME-880 (170 width) in the rear. They stuck surprisingly well with a full load on the bike (and my fat self) although I expected better mileage out of the rear.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1191954393/gallery_491_3398_484611.jpg Bicentennial Highway Utah The Colorado River to the right, you can see the bridge off in the distance
Utah was the most beautiful state we passed through. UT-95 was a day full of fast sweepers and incredible scenery.
This is the one road I missed in Sourthern Utah that I am really kicking myself over. I went North out of Hanksville to take the short way around to Moab. Don't do that. Everybody raves about the southern portion of 95!!!
I just missed out on 95 again .................. this last weekend but good thing I did not go as it would not have been "cool" for my wife to pack up the valuables by herself during the recent fires in San Diego. I would have spent a few years explaining that one!
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1191954393/gallery_491_3398_484611.jpg Bicentennial Highway Utah The Colorado River to the right, you can see the bridge off in the distance
[image: View Post]Havagan, on Oct 27 2007, 12:18 PM, said:
[image: View Post]BonusVFR, on Oct 27 2007, 01:58 AM, said:
Do you have studded tires?
Does a cupped and worn Pilot Road count as studded? If so, then yes. :blink:
The tire set up was a Pilot Road front and a ME-880 (170 width) in the rear. They stuck surprisingly well with a full load on the bike (and my fat self) although I expected better mileage out of the rear.
I like the snow shots............
What miles did you get out of 880? Lots of folks (not VFRD but ST/Wing boards) say this is the best long range tire. Compare the mileage you got with the 880 compared to others.
I need to get another VFR rear rim! :thumbsup: I have two on the Wing which helps when your are trying to get the last mile out. Not proud of this but want better mileage out of all rears.
[image: View Post]BonusVFR, on Oct 27 2007, 06:16 PM, said:
What miles did you get out of 880?
The ME880 has just over 9800 miles on it. It's worn in the middle but not dangerously so. We saw the most noticeable wear after multiple days of 100+ mph travel. If we had kept the high speed idiocy down that tire could have gone a couple more thousand miles.
The Pilot Road still had tread left in the middle but there was a noticeable dip where the middle compound met the softer edge compound and there wasn't any tread left on the sides from trail braking. Even so, 9800 miles was satisfactory for the Road.