| Author | Message | ||
     Jon |
Across America, from the SF Bay to the Florida Keys. I'm thinking of the X1 against the ungainly and piglike R1100RT. 300-500 mile days. I am buying a used Corbin seat soon. I am 6', been on some long rides on the X1, but nothing like what's coming. On those longer rides the knees tended to get a bit sore, so I will do a 3-4 day trip as a tune-up for all things. Cortech soft luggage will do for the mighty X1. X1 riders, your thoughts on the long trips especially those of like height. Oh...I turn 50 this year so that's partly why. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Sounds like a hell of a celebration. Here's a good list of tips for long-distance riding from the Iron Butt Association, their "Archive of Wisdom": http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm | ||
| Cowboy |
Att. Jon I have a 2001 X1 I find it just as easy on long runs as my V-Rod--- but I am a short ass 5 ft.9 in. | ||
| Cowboy |
Hell jon I am 74 | ||
| Kyrocket |
I rode from Ky. to Fla. and back but that was 10 years ago. Bike was flawless, although we did have a chase truck with our luggage but everything I took I could have put in my Cortech tail and saddle bags. I'd say just enjoy the trip. If you know where you're going to stay along the way a good idea is to ship clothes/supplies to the hotel and ship your old stuff back home. That or stay somewhere with a laundromat. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
damnit... 5-9 is short ass.... sumnabiatch my 5-6 must make me a member of the lollipop guild from the munchkins of the Wizard of Oz. sounds like a fun ride... maybe a theme or a quest for it. like.... RIDE FOR BACON ! | ||
| Tpoppa |
On those longer rides the knees tended to get a bit sore Ever try riding with a knee brace (soft sports compression type). I've done lots of 500+ mile days on sportbikes. Around 350 my knees start hurting unless I'm wearing a brace. It takes some pressure off your knees. It could make a big difference on a long ride. | ||
| Ducbsa |
Last summer, my 23 YO son went from SF to Miami, then back through Minneapolis on his '03 Speed Triple - 7300 miles. He stopped off here and there, it wasn't continuous. His main asset was being 23, I think. | ||
| Iamike |
I have the same problem with the sore knees. I use Advil for both knee and wrist pain and it also helps relax the rest of the body too. | ||
| Strokizator |
300 - 500 miles a day is not a lot. I usually shoot for 400 with a few over 500. I find that with gas stops, food, rest breaks, etc. that I average about 50 mph so 400 miles is just an easy 8 hour day. The only thing I missed on my Uly was highway pegs but just stretch out any way you can. Add some sort of cruise control and you're good to go. Stay off the interstates and really see America. Oh yeah, you're real close to Corbin in Hollister. If the seat you get doesn't feel right give them a call and they'll custom fit it for you while you wait. (Message edited by strokizator on January 27, 2011) | ||
| Ratbuell |
Long trips, I've found that I: a) use the passenger pegs a lot, just to change my pressure points b) stand up on the pegs a lot to give the boys some air  c) carry a seat pad. One tank of fuel with the pad, next tank without it. Alternate. Changes those pressure points around, cuts fatigue. I use a cheap-o ATV "gel pad" from WalMart. It has "gel" panels here and there. Also...forget Advil. Get in touch with a Canuck; Johnson&Johnson markets an over the counter pain reliever up there called 222. But, you only need ONE at a time. Trust me. Beyond that...take a tire plug kit, a small compressor, a small container of spare fuel, a quart of oil, and some basic hand tools for side of the road stuff. Some carry a spare belt; I usually don't, but that's up to you. MasterCard can take care of the rest, once you're safely off the shoulder. Oh, and a few GB worth of SD cards for the digital camera  | ||
| Jon |
Good input here and much appreciated. One thing that I thought of after posting was my mp3 player full of Jeff Beck. Check! Cityxslicker, you shot an arrow through the keyhole with the bacon remark! I am known for my affection for the perfect food...bacon. I once made what I called a "Bacon Blossom". I created a floral arrangement out of bacon. It didn't really look like a flower, but it rocked. We were in a marriage study group and it was supposed to be a formal dinner potluck. I was sneered at by the ladies, but the guys loved it. Extra thick with black pepper. The next dinner called for another first...the "bacon volcano". I created a large cone with bacon and used fried pork rinds as lava spewing out of the top and around the base. I used black jelly beans to cleanse the pallet. But that's a subject for another thread. Please keep the comments and advice coming. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oh, and I see in your profile that you run a supertrapp...set it up QUIET for the trip. After the first day and a half...your migraine will thank you (by not appearing in the first place). | ||
| Xdigitalx |
Photos, Photos and more Photos. Are you taking a different return route? I think it might be cool to see your progress across the usa in some sort of GPS tracking map with photos along the way. Like Google Latitude? | ||
| Jon |
Xdigitalx, I'd actually like to keep an web log with photos and ride reports. I would like to create an easy to use thingy, but we'll see. I am not up to speed on anything more than say, uploading pic on Badweb. There is a chance that I may be reporting on a certain Italian apparel makers touring boots, but I have yet to hear from the contact. | ||
| Jon |
Ratbuell, I have custom made earplugs. I happen to like the sound of my mighty X1, but after several days, I may agree with you. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oh, I love the sound too. S2 and S1W both have race cans; the Uly used to have a Drummer. Then I got my 1125 and ran it bone-stock. The next day, I did the same run (same roads, same distance) on a tuber. The ride was just as enjoyable on the tuber...but my ears rang for about an hour and a half afterwards. Tried it on the Uly next. It now has a stock muffler, and that's the way I rode to Buelltoberfest, WV Buell Rally, and Homecoming on it. I love the thump and rumble...but on a longer run, actual wind noise is niiiiice Besides, if you want to actually *hear* that Beck.... | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Ageing has hardened my butt and softened the seat on my 99 X1.For some reason, miles on it don't bother me like it used to when I first got it 11 years ago ........  | ||
| Blake |
Good snug fitting noise blocking earbuds for your MP3 player. A nice new quiet helmet. Depending on when and what the weather looks like... Water-proof breathable riding boots. Water-proof breathable gloves. Leatherman multi-tool. Smart-phone with internet and good weather app Some good high strength zip ties, various sizes. The BadWeB BRAN listings applicable to your route. Camping or hoteling? | ||
| Blake |
Put everything in watertight bags, even if just a heavy duty ziplock freezer bag. I really like to use the dry bags like the Sea to Summit line offered by REI. I use one to keep all the clean clothes dry. Wet clothes are no fun. A ball cap for when you're off the bike and don't want the sun on your nose. Some rags and a can of S100 Detail and Wax for faceshield cleaning and bike beautifying. One giant can of humble for when you traverse Texas, on account of we'll be a'waitin' fer ya, and it'll be all too obvious that you ain't from aroun' here.  | ||
| Jon |
We be hotel-ing. Good suggestions, Blake. Yes wet clothes are no fun! And I will bring cigars as well! | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Personally, I would take the Beemer. It's made for the highway. Riding the Buell will be fine for awhile, then every muscle will turn from a slight ache to downright torture. Trust me, I've ridden numerous thousand miles days. Ride the bike made for the event. RT made for long distance, Buell made for fun short trips. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I rode Albany, NY to Los Angeles, CA last June on an S3. Do yourself a favor and don't plan on where you're going to stay each night. Pick a city or town to get to each morning and go from there. Get to town and get on the phone looking for hotels. I stayed in some seedy places but the folks running them are way cooler than the front desk employees at a Holiday Inn. 300-500 mile days is nothing, especially west of the Mississippi. I did a couple over 600 and many over 400 and 500 including multi-hour stops at scenic places. Pack up everything you think you're going to need on the trip, and then put half of it back on the shelf. Seriously. You'll be surprised how many places have laundry facilities and how much of the stuff you won't need. However, don't skimp on tools because you never know. My bike ended up using a lot of oil, so extra is a must on these bikes. I used an Airhawk seat pad, love it, even more than the Corbins I've used, and much less money. It actually stays on the bike full-time now. Food for thought. Have proper gear for hot, cold and rain. I used a one-peice suit (Joe Rocket Survivor) and it kept me dry, warm and cool-enough in the real hot stuff. The high plains will be chilly in the mornings - I had to put a sweatshirt on in Wyoming for a couple hours under my suit, vents closed. Soak a t-shirt in water, put it on and then close up all the vents on your jacket - you'll feel better in the desert. Take LOTS of photos and talk to everyone you meet. The people are just as interesting as the areas you'll see. Feel free to check out my trip report, and if I think of anything else I'll pipe in again. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/681 7/577035.html?1283197082  | ||
| Rex |
Jon. what a treat. Maybe you can arrange to make a couple of events. the buell homecoming, the s2 gathering, etc. | ||
| Jon |
Yeah the mileage thing is conservative I know. We can easily do better than 300 and I think the avg. will be 500 especially when on the interstate. Rex, I'm not thinking I will be making any events other then the trip. I think we'll just do our thing, but who knows? The thing about a vacation is not to have to be anywhere in particular and any particular time. Plus, my riding partner is not a Buell guy and he would have no interest. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Try to stay off the goddam interstates as much as possible! Really - all the 'good stuff' is on the 2 lane roads. Maybe just use them to circumvent the larger urban districts. Bring tire repair kits and learn to use 'em before you need to actually put them to use. Take the old adage to heart that goes something like "mechanical problems arise in inverse proportion to the quantity of tools brought along". Make sure you have a wrench that will fit virtually everything on the bike. Don't get to crazy - you probably won't need the mill, lathe, tig welder or the Sunnen hone. I've always found that when I brought a complete tool kit and misc. wire, nuts, bolts, etc., that my bike NEVER broke down. Of course, I always ended up on the side of the road anyway, fixing other people's bikes. They didn't bring any tools. Also - drink plenty of water and eat sensibly and not too much - heavy greasy food, though tasty and hard to resist, can make you tired and, even worse, constipated. That will throw a wrench in to a fun ride! Good luck and have a ball! Al PS - when are you going and when's Rex coming for the S2 parts?! | ||
| Iamike |
Since I never did my ride reports in the Tale section on the fly I always carried a steno book to keep a daily log. It's amazing what you can forget from day to day. I have a netbook now but haven't had a chance to take it on a trip. You may think that your trip is mundane but to many of us we can travel vicariously through other's ride reports. We really enjoy the discussion and pictures, even if it is Kansas or God forbid, Texas. | ||
| Ducbsa |
+1 on the ear plugs. I rode my no-windshield airhead BMW 700 miles in 12 hours with ear plugs and was fresh as a daisy when I parked it. It was Interstate all the way, though. | ||
| Jon |
Bienhabob, You speak the truth... that's part of the reason for the 3-4 day tune-up (Message edited by jon on January 29, 2011) | ||
| Blk_uly |
If you would like to, I'd be happy to take you on an island hopping tour of the southwest coast of FL. There's lost of cool places to visit and see. google Sanibel and Captiva islands to have a look. Some folks say that this area is the best kept secret. tropical and serene, If your into that. |
