| Author | Message | ||
     Terrible1one3 |
Well my wife is in. I just submitted for PTO. Will be planning on leaving June 23rd and returning July 3rd. The planned Route: June 23: DC --> New York, 281 Miles June 24: New York --> Boston, 232 Miles June 25: Boston --> St John, NB, CA, 401 Miles June 26: St John --> Halifax Nova Scotia, 256 Miles June 27: Stay in Halifax June 28: Halifax --> Fredericton, NB, CA 267 Miles June 29: Fredericton --> Quebec City, QC, CA 366 Miles June 30: Late afternoon trip to Montreal, QC, Canada 162 Miles July 1: Stay in Montreal July 2: Montreal --> Syracuse, NY, 252 Miles July 3: Syracuse --> DC (NOVA Home) 370 Miles Mapped out on Google Maps for a total of 2,588 miles.  Taking my '06 Ulysses and my lovely wife is accompanying me on this trip. My '06 has within the last 1k miles had all wheel bearings/spacers replaced, Michelin PS III tires installed, Fluids changed. Just made a $480 order with Al at American Sport Bike for: New Fan (mine has been dying for 12k+ miles, bad bearing), spare belt, Clutch cable and updated bracket, fork oil, spark plugs and wires. Have full luggage on my bike, will be adding a tank bag, torn between the Touratech one and the Marsee 15L one... Think I will go with Marsee because of the price and ability to charge electronics in a case. Any info is appreciated. Marsee: http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/product/MarseeT ankbag15LiterTourPocket/MarseeTankBags2 Touratech: http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-055-1410/Mul ti-functional-Tank-Bag-Buell-XB12X-Ulysses Also thinking of doing highway pegs from Palmer but not really sold on them: http://palmerproducts.auto.officelive.com/buellxb1 2x.aspx Any feedback on those products? Mike bike is pretty well farkled since I have owned it since new. Rider Comfort Kit Race ECM Drummer with Quiet Insert Aprilia mirrors Normal front fender Open Air Box Zumo 550 GPS w/ mount Bad Boy air horn upgrade Zero Gravity touring shield And some other custom modifications. I think after I do another maintenance and replace the clutch cable she will be good to go. I haven't been on a 2k+ trip since I rode to Sturgis and back with my Dad from Michigan back in 2003 (his bike broke @ Sturgis, we went home north of Lake Superior through Canada, 950 miles in a day from Deluth, MN to Lansing, MI). | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
As a local, I would suggest avoiding the route 95 stretch between NY and Boston. Route 84 is more expedient. | ||
| Tleighbell |
Quebec City, Montreal and even Kingston are worth a visit, but I think most of the road you are planning on taking,from New Brunswick, especially from Quebec to Kingston will be dull straight highway. Efficient but not all that enjoyable. My favoured route between Montreal and St. John New Brunswick was through Sherbrooke, then south and through Maine straight across toward St. John New Brunswick. Beautiful roads and scenery and cut off some distance. You would have to modify that route if you want to hit Quebec which is sure to be worthwhile but consider going north through Maine rather than taking the Trans Canada. Just make sure you can get across the St. Lawrence River! Just my $.02 | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Cool, yeah routes aren't exactly what is pictured above and would love feedback on where to go. Thanks! I'll make the modifications. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Thanks Nat, was going to take 95 to be close to the water so we could hop off and take some nice roads or stop and eat on the water. | ||
| Beached |
I cannot find a listing for it now, but I use the Buell tank bag. Fits,roomy, great quality, easily removed and get back on. (important when getting gas). | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Sounds like a fun adventure. Please take pics, post up and be safe. "I cannot find a listing for it now, but I use the Buell tank bag." If it is the same one I am using it is all those things beached mentioned but does not fare the best if you get caught in the rain. If someone does not beat me to it, I'll try to post a pic of ours later. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
I ended up ordering the Marsee 15L one with rain cover. I'll give it a shot and see if it will work, if not I'll ship it back and try something else. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
This hotel is my favorite in Quebec: http://www.manoirdesremparts.com/ Family owned and located right on the ramparts overlooking the St. Lawrence. Real nice Cambodian family owns it. There is a tiny parking lot in the rear where you could stash your bike. HOWEVER for some reason, they ban bikes from entering the old town. I always play dumb and drive right in and have never had any issues. The place is ideally situated for walking down to the waterfront, walking to the top of the citadel, or walking to any number of shops. Quebec is one of my favorite places to visit ever. | ||
| Trevd |
"HOWEVER for some reason, they ban bikes from entering the old town." The reason is because in the past too many A--holes with their straight pipes have created too much noise which annoys people, which allows the legislators to discriminate against all motorcycles. | ||
| Trevd |
I know you said that your route isn't finalized, but I would echo the earlier comment about your day from Montreal to Syracuse. Boring! Unless you really want to go to Syracuse, I would make my way down via Adirondack Park - nice roads in there and the time you lose going at slower speeds would probably be made up by less distance. Also, instead of turning around in Halifax and doubling back, you might want to consider taking the ferry from St. John to Digby, NS, (http://www.nfl-bay.com/) and then to Hwy 8 to Halifax from there. Then you could stop in Lunenburg, which is nice, and Peggy's Cove, which is a big tourist attraction. Also, please keep in mind that the drivers in Montreal are crazy. I've ridden all over North America, and I've never feared for my life as much as when I rode in Montreal. For someone not used to it, it can be scary. I'm talking about cabbies passing you in your own lane, as you look for a street. Be careful. | ||
| Crusty |
Yeah, but if you go through Syracuse, you can eat at the original (and best) Dinosaur BBQ, then go look at the magnificent Mohawk Power and Light Building. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
"I'm talking about cabbies passing you in your own lane, as you look for a street." Funny you mention it but my Uly's first scratch came from a cab in Montreal. Stopped in the MIDDLE LANE to let someone out. I was in the right lane. My saddlebag slammed the door shut as I passed. I'm sure the passenger was every bit surprised as I was! Glad I was going 12 MPH. | ||
| Tootal |
If you're going that far you might as well go into Nova Scotia and do the Cabot trail! Hell, jump into Newfy, the friendliest people I've ever met! | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Went with the Marsee 15L Tank bag. Little big but should be great for the trip. Installed easy, fits well, seems like it will work very good. Pics:           | ||
| Ratbuell |
Put a stock muffler on for the trip, your ears will thank you. My fan has been rattling since before I rode to HC'10. I've had a new spare in the topcase, ready to go in the day it dies...but it hasn't died. Get a spare, carry it in case you need it...but I doubt you will. I added owners manual tubes from a tractor to the bottom of each of my saddlebags. One has 1L of spare fuel (google MSR fuel bottle); the other has a first aid kit, flashlight, matches, and a blade. I keep a Slime air compressor and rope plugs under the seat, and the Buell tool roll in the left bag. Send Ron Vennell a PM (rwven) - not sure if he's still making them, but his passenger peg drop brackets ROCK. She'll love them. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Little big but should be great for the trip." That tank bag looks awesome. It's the walk-in closet of tank bags! Please keep us posted on how it works out for you, especially if you run into any rain. "I added owners manual tubes from a tractor to the bottom of each of my saddlebags." Ratbuell, could you please post up info about where you found those tractor tubes and how you mounted them? | ||
| Ratbuell |
You can do a search here on badweb for "operators tubes" and it should turn up some info. Here's the best shot I could find of 'em. They have "feet" - one at each end, and a single bolt through each one holds them in place. Screw top with a gasket, keeps everything nice and dry inside (the feet let you bolt them down without putting a hole in the canister itself).  I had the decals made by a place I found on eBay. They're reflective, too, just like the red stripes on the bags  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Thanks, Ratbuell. It's a great idea. Hubby's prolly gonna be less than thrilled to have another task added to the honeydo list but I think I want to have those added to the bike before we head north this summer.  . | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Terrible, That plastic top sure looks like it would create very killer glare. | ||
| Ratbuell |
If it glares, use hairspray. We used to coat mirrors on stage sets with it, to keep the stage lights from blinding audience members. Still looked like mirrors...just no death-ray. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Don't have a stock exhaust and not going to get one. I had the drummer re-packed with the new stuff that Kevin offers and then added the quiet insert. It's quiet enough, add ear plugs and it will be fine. As for the top of the tank bag, it doesn't seem like it is in the field of vision at all. We'll see, if so I'll take Ratbuell's tip and do that. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
'06 Ulys fuel pump wiring is dangling in your frame, chafing the wires with every mile you put on. The chafing wore thru my wires at 52,000 miles on the Indiana toll road. I replaced the pump with an updated model. Updated version has wires encased to prevent chafing. I'd change the pump assembly before your trip. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
What year did they update the fuel pumps? | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Are these wires inside the frame with the fuel pump or external? Is this a widespread issue? Haven't heard of it before. (Message edited by terrible1one3 on May 10, 2012) | ||
| Bienhoabob |
The wires are attached to the fuel pump inside the frame. They are part of the fuel pump assembly. The problem was becoming widespread as riders put more and more miles on their bikes. Not sure when Buell updated the assembly, my guess is '08, but could be '07. I was doing Iron Butt events until I just couldn't trust the bike anymore. (all wiring problems, fuel pump, harness) | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Yeah, if I worried about every little thing that could go wrong (any wiring issues) I would have no room in my budget for the trip or no room in my luggage for clothes because I'd have so many spare parts. Sometimes you gotta go on faith and if I have the misfortune of having an issue on the road I'll just have to figure it out there and learn from it and enjoy it. My Dad's cam bearing went in Sturgis after riding out there. He was number 80 or 90 something to be worked on in Rapid city and after 3 days wait they replaced his cam system and oil pump and we rode home. We were aware of the bearing issue but both rode 99's and couldn't hawk the extra 500 a piece to replace the cam bearings before the trip. His was repaired under warranty, with about 9k miles on the clock. Mine had 5k and made it through another 20k and the bearing never failed. Looking back, it sucked being in such a beautiful area with only one bike but then again those rides with my dad on the back of my super glide or me on the back and those days waiting at the dealership were pretty cool and fun to talk about. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
About high way pegs, saw some where some one who used the chin faring holes to add foot pegs, don't know how safe or strong it would be. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Hotels booked. Base AAA doesn't cover motorcycles so upgrade... aaaannnddd my motor mount (isolater) blew up last week. Had a motorcycle maintenance party with a few friends. On my buddies we installed a custom made Zumo 550 GPS mount. On my other buddies we installed a power commander. On my bike we... Changed engine oil Changed Primary/trans oil Changed Clutch cable and upgraded bracket Replaced the front motor mount (nightmare, it was so seized up) Replaced the fan (had a bad bearing last 10+k miles) Tune up (new plugs and wires, first time changing the plugs since new) It was a long day but we got everything done. I started up the bike and got it warm and took it around the block a few times and it sounded great, smooth as silk (comparatively) and the fan sounds great! Bike is almost 100% ready for the trip. Going to let the dealer fix the neutral switch indicator sensor and the fork oil. Also, we upgraded our headwear. Going from two very... very old HJC's to Me having a new Arai Signet-Q and my wife picking up an Arai Vector-2. First helmet I will have ever owned that was over $200. It felt great at the store, we tried on a ton and we were both down to the arai's or the RPS-10 from HJC which made me wonder because we have two different head profiles and each arai felt horrible on our heads (vector-2 didn't fit me and my Signet didn't fit her) but we both liked the HJC. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Success! We departed today. Had brunch at Cheapside Wharf in Baltimore. Currently staying in a trendy hotel in Queens. Heading out to Boston tomorrow. Got a bunch of walking in and sightseeing. Pictures to come! | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
We made it. Ended up being 2822 miles. Low beam bulb went out, bent my rear wheel, loosened my head bearing, got a little warp on my front rotor. Other than that she ran like a champ and took us safely home. I am going to post everything to my blog just to keep it simple. First post here, 11 more to come. http://msouders13.blogspot.com/2012/07/motorcycle- road-trip-bike-break-down.html |
