| Author | Message | ||
     Radattack_tim |
farthest ive gone is sturgis SD from Atlanta Ga. i put a total of 4050 miles on my S3T in one trip.(1600 one way, and did some riding out there.) <img> <img> great experience and ride. whats your farthest? | ||
| Tdiddy |
My farthest ride was just last weekend. I road from my home in Newbury Park ( just north of Los Angeles) to San Francisco via PCH 1. I stopped for the night in Monteray and cuntinued on in the morning. It rained the second day so I had about 100 miles of soggy leathers. I have Coretech saddle bags and lost one of the rainflies so my extra socks and huggies were wet. The third day I started south, unsure how far I'd go before pulling off for the night. I had perfect blue skies and dry leathers thanks to my sister in law. For my brothers out there who don't know of PCH 1, It runs the lengh of the cost for most of the state. In some places it's carved in to the cliff face. A wall one your right, the ocean 200 feet below you to the left. Some sections are super twisty. The really cool thing is the speed limit is 55mph. I don't know how they figured 55 is safe but it feels like your flying. This is a really fun ride.The third day I rode from the Golden Gate Bridge to my house. Stopping to gas up and eat and take pictures all along the way. I made it home just after dark. All total was close to 900 miles with 400 on the last day. I took over 100 pictures, and wanted to post a few of them for every one to see but when I try to add them, it says their to big. I don't know how to make them smaller. | ||
| Gunslinger |
When I got home from Iraq back in the Summer of 03 I rode my 2000 Cyclone from Havelock NC to Kansas City MO. I had planned to take three days getting there. The first day I made it to Deal's Gap and rode through to a campground near Sweetwater. The second day was going to put me at the "Land Between the Lakes" near Paducah, but despite a major detour I got there before noon. I decided to keep riding, and found myself on the far side of St Louis before sundown, so I pressed on to Kansas City, arriving at just before 10:00pm, having covered 788 miles in one day. I met up with a buddy in KC, and after a few days riding around town we headed south to Branson and rode around the Ozarks for a couple of days. On the way back to KC he started having engine trouble, so I wound up staying an extra day to help fix it. As a result I had to push flat out to get home before the end of my time off. I made about 700 miles the first day, all on the Interstate. I began having trouble with the front muffler bracket. On the second day the weld where the front of the muffler and the header join broke. I swung into the Harley/Buell dealer in Charlston WV hoping they might have a muffler in stock. They directed me to a welder who worked out of a shack down the road. 20 minutes and $20 later I was back on the road, just in time for a rain storm that followed me all the way home. On getting home the bike had to be parked. I wound up replacing the front muffler bracket with the new Y-shaped bracket. The tires, brand new at the start of the trip were down to the chord. And the transmission oil was white and contaminated from the rain. For a while I had no intention of ever taking a long trip like that again. Now I think about it all the time. For my next trip I want to ride Route 66 from Chicago to LA. | ||
| Sleez |
2290 miles, friday at noon to sunday 10 pm, Indy to El Segundo. on the S3. | ||
| Gunslinger |
I have to admit, after my KC adventure I was thinking nice things about Goldwings. | ||
| Unibear12r |
7700 miles thru 22 states on my Uly last May. Made the Run For the Wall last year coast to coast. Some day I'll post up some pics. Most memorable moment was putting in late to the riders meeting in Gallop N.M. and the fan fired up at shut down. Had about a thousand pairs of eyes turn to me at that moment and all I could think of to say was "Its just the turbo spinning down!" The range of looks I got was incredible. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Glenn, your "longest ride," to me & D anyway, was Arizona Springfast. i told that story to Wade this afternoon over lunch. to this day, your weekend that weekend is the most incredible display of riding stamina and courage i've ever witnessed. hope you're well. we miss you.  FB&D | ||
| Unibear12r |
Coming from one who has done such notable rides as you have thats quite a compliment! Thanks Jerry! I'm doing somewhat better. Hope you two are well too. I miss you both too. I'll have to ride over with a bottle of Goldschlager some day before long.  Glenn | ||
| Themagster |
Longest single trip was 4,221 from Florida to Michigan and back on a Blast. Longest single day - 600 miles from Florida through the mountains into Sweetwater, TN I post all my ride photos at www.whereismaggiemae.com Happy Trails Ya'll | ||
| Prior |
Somewhere around 9300, San Diego to St. John's NL to Hanover, PA, on the Ride Across North America. It took about 4.5 weeks, but there was a bit of partying in the middle... | ||
| Iamike |
but there was a bit of partying in the middle... Um huh, just a little. T - I always pack the clothes in freezer bags to keep them dry and easy to sort. Learned that from backpacking. Sit on them to squeeze all the air out and then close the zipper. They pack up real nice that way. My longest was 3,500mi in a week from NE Iowa to Phoenix & back on the S3. Yes the thoughts of a Wing passed through my mind until I hit the curves. | ||
| Unibear12r |
I don't think it was the size of the parties Alex... it was the number of them!!!  It was good to take part... | ||
| Deerhunter17 |
Wow, thought I accomplished something, till I read previous posts... there are some buell ridin fools out there..huh I took my XB12R directly from the paint booth ( with a fresh 20K maintenance completed ) Straight down I95 to Jax Fla, made a right on 10, went another hour and ended up in Lake City Fla. ( just under 850 miles, 14 hours ) Drank, got drunk, sang karaoke ( like a fool ).. and passed out. Next day was clean up, enter a show.. took first place,.. little less partying. Got up Sunday at 5 am, rode 15 hours back to Northern Md. The bike ran great, I felt fine, had great riding weather, loved every minute... maybe not the singing part,.. but hey, I don't remember it being bad..lol | ||
| M2nc |
There are levels of accomplishments in riding long distance. If you are on a FLH, 1000 miles should be nothing. For me riding long distances in the M2 is more of a feat than riding the Uly a long distance. Also I have not had the chance to do that cross-country trip I hope to do one day and I do not know what bike I would want to do that on. That said, the longest trips I have taken are three day weekends. The M2 has made trips to Daytona - 600 miles in one direction and 1500 miles in three days. The M2 also did a trip to Cincinnati or 650 miles in one direction and 1500 miles in three days. I have made the same trips on the Uly, but that really was not as much of a feat as the trips I took on the M2. 120-140 miles continuous on the M2 is about it comfortably, then a good 20 minute break is required. On the Uly I have run the bike out of gas and was still good to. The Uly has gone just over 200 miles non-stop. The longest day ride on the Uly was Cincinnati to coastal North Carolina with a four hour non-stop detour through West Virginia and Virginia. In total 14 hours and 720 miles. | ||
| Themagster |
Hey Carlos - on an average weekend - how do you decide between the Uly and the M2??? I would love to have the Uly, but my legs would have it otherwise (damn short legs). When I found out Buell had a sport touring bike in production my heart went pitter patter - but when I read the specs - the seat height did me in. From all I have read - the Uly is a super great ride - tell me more... | ||
| Ulywife |
Don't let inseam discourage you from the Uly. Carlos has a 29" inseam! The 07 seat is the ticket. The below link is a seat comparison (06 stock, 06 low and 07 stock). http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=142838&post=760948#POST760948 Around here, we refer to the M2 as the girlfriend and the Uly is the wife. That might give you some insight to the difference of the bikes! | ||
| Themagster |
Thanks for the seat suggestion Kristi. Lets just say that when I sat on the Uly everybody in the room laughed as my legs swung to and fro "several inches" from the floor. No seat will help what God did not give me  and I am OK with that. So far the little 500 (ST) has done me proud and I will ride it till I kill it. By then, maybe there will be more sport touring options for the vertically challenged. But I will never stop wanting to hear what people love about the bikes they ride - even the ones I can't. | ||
| Ulywife |
Don't feel bad, my 12 year old can support the M2 by herself, while my feet do the dangle that no even "kiss boots" can help! | ||
| Gunslinger |
I myself have thought of getting the low seat for my M2. The seat is not higher than most bikes, but it is wide. Not always a bad thing, but I am 5' 10" and I can't put both feet flat at a stop. | ||
| Court |
For long distance . . . I LOVE the S-2. | ||
| Gunslinger |
I'm still waiting for an XB1200ST. I am not sold on the Uly yet, though it is growing on me. | ||
| M2nc |
To answer which bike to ride, so far its been an issue of which bike is available. The M2 has been a great bike to own. The only problem I continue to have with it is keeping its fluids where they belong. One day I let the kids help me wash the bike and for the first time since I owned it, it would not start. It took a while for me to determine the problem and then get the time to fix it. Now the Uly has been mechanically solid, but it suffers from operator malfunction from time to time. So when the Uly is suffering the affects of operator cranial gas, the M2 becomes the bike of choice. Now there have been trips that both bikes were available. I rode the M2 to the Salisbury Smokeout and left the Uly at home. For those who do not know, the Smoke Out is a bike rally for Old School choppers. These guys are "Real Bikers" and I have found that the louder exhaust and more conventional design of the M2 is better received. Unfortunately I felt like an Impala that walked into a Lion's den. Though the body of Buell's work is not always appreciated in that crowd, there are components of it they clamor for. That trip was around 450 miles in three days. It rain terribly and the bike did great on the trip. After several long distance trips on the Uly, I found myself needing breaks sooner on the M2 or about 100 miles. Like I said before, on the Uly I can run out a tank of gas. On the trip to the Dragon last month I stopped only twice for gas. Once just past the Triad Airport or 180+ miles and then off US-74 past Ashville NC or 165 miles. I made the second stop early to gas up and eat before heading into the mountains. I left work in Kinston, North Carolina just past 2PM, and I was eating dinner on US-74 past Ashville at 7pm. That's 350 miles in 5 hours and I could have keep on going no problems. Upside to the Uly: It's more comfortable. The seat is better padded and does not pinch. It has more leg room. Your wrists are in a neutral position and not hold any body weight. The Uly also has better air protection. Upside to the M2: It is more communicative. The bike tells you what it is doing at all times. Not always great on a long trip, but it is when you are driving in traffic, by cops, or twisty roads. Don't get me wrong, the Uly handles better, but you find yourself loosing track of how fast you are going. Also the M2's Sportster cams do better in cruiser duty. I can "putt-putt" in traffic easier on the M2 because it runs better at lower RPM. The mechanical throttle and torque range is also more predictable in traffic and there is no fan whining at you reminding you are putting along. The M2 also does not have the Hot seat effect, so on a short trip on a hot summer day, the M2 would be the clear choice. | ||
| Themagster |
Kiss boots - what a great idea, now we are getting somewhere (just kidding). M2nc, sounds like your favorite bike is the one you are on at that particular moment. Kind of like the way I look at roads...my favorite road is the one that stretches out before me. As always - enjoy the ride! | ||
| Buelltoys |
Just completed a trip from Montgomery, AL to East Dubuque, IL to see my boys and my parents. 950 miles, 14.5 hours on Friday and back on Sunday. The ULY was great riding no problems with soar butt or tired arms. Ran into a little problem of my fan quit working. And a tank of bad gas. Other then that all was well. On the way back the engine light came on about 15 miles from the house. I think because engine was hot due to no fan and traveling behind cars. Keeping the pace around 80mph got 53mpg on the bike. What a great bike. Next time will make sure I take some gaterade in the camelbak to help with dehidration. Was not feeling good when I got back home. | ||
| Austinuu |
Last Wednesday over lunch and shots of tequila, I decided to make the run from Bastrop, TX to Knoxville, TN, to see my little bro walk across the stage at UT. Thursday morning at 6:30 I jumped on the 'bolt and headed east. 17 hours, 1051 miles later, stopping every 2 hours for gas and redbull, I knock on the front door and surprise the family (I had told them previously I would be unable to attend). Couple hours BS'ing and 8 hours to sleep and it's time to leave for the graduation and lunch. Now I've got a few hours to kill before the beerfest and I'm 64 miles from what I've heard is the "Holy Grail" of roads. Get directions and I'm off to ride "The Tail of the Dragon". What a fantastic stretch of asphalt, completely amazing, the road 100% lives up to the hype. I wish I had weeks to spend learning it, but I had to settle for a single run. Spent 30 minutes or so chatting it up with killboy, then back to Knoxville for some brews. Saturday it's off to the Smokey's for a hike with 3 of my brothers and dad. Drop the bike off at the trailhead and ride to the drop off point. Hike 6 miles to the campsite, eat dinner, say my goodbye and try to make the 7 miles to the bike before it gets dark. That doesn't go as planned, I havent run 7 miles since highschool and that was 15 years and 75 lbs ago, so I end up walking out in the dark. Back on the bike and riding out of the park I realise just how much the headlights suck (time to invest in some hellas). Get to my brothers house about midnight and decide it would be wise to get a few winks before heading back. 8:30 a.m. (Texas time) its back to the bike and highways, 11:52 p.m. I walk in the door, wake my wife, wish her a "Happy Mother's Day" and thank her for letting me be crazy once and awhile. All told I put a little under 2500 miles in 4 days on the bike and had a fantastic time. | ||
| Court |
I love those stories! I have relatives in Bastrop and my 70 year old uncle plays ice hockey . . . ya'll are crazy! Congratulations! | ||
| Themagster |
Austin: Sounds like a great ride. Did you happen to keep any of your gas receipts with time/date stamps on them?? Riding 1,000 miles in 24 hours would qualify you for the IBA. They do require specific documentation though. Pretty cool, living by the seat of your pants and enjoying life on the road. I find it very addicting. Official or not, I would say you are one of the "worlds toughest riders" Happy Trails | ||
| Gunslinger |
The madness is upon me! I have decided on what to do with the week long factory shutdown the first week of July. I am going to ride from SE Indiana to Maine. I have never been to New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine. That is reason enough, but there are lots of good roads along the whole route. Using the shortest, Interstate route I would be looking at about 2400 round trip, but I do not plan on much Interstate riding (well, maybe on the return trip if time is getting tight). I know how to travel light, so I am hoping to do this with just a large tank bag and larger tail bag. There are some old friends of the family in Wayne, Maine. It will be good to have a base of operations for a day or two, but I have no real "destination" in mind. It has been a @#$%&* year for me. I need to decompress. | ||
| Themagster |
Hey Gunslinger - my husband and I will be riding up in that general direction in June. We usually spend three weeks each summer on a road trip. I love that "no real destination" kind of traveling. We usually have a general direction to head and then each morning we just get up, look at the map and pick out a road (back roads). We ride until we don't feel like riding anymore and look for a room (I am way past that camping ability). Never knowing where you are going, or where you will end up adds to the decompression. No plans means no time lines or deadlines - no stress. Just out for a ride. We hope to make it all the way up to Maine. If we do - great. Whenever we are on the road, near or far, we have fun. Enjoy the Ride - Happy Trails | ||
| Gunslinger |
Hope to see you out there. What is great about this particular trip is that even if I do have a fixed destination (and I don't really), I have an almost unlimited choice of how to get there. I wish I had more than a week (well, 9 days)for the trip. While I am at it, I wish I had more money for the trip. Being a responsible adult sucks. |
