Wanderer
Elite Member
First off, I bought this bike with the intention of going to Alaska on it. I've put a few farkles on it to facilitate that, so I took her for a bit of a shakedown run. 3000 miles in 5 days, 3 days' rest, then another 1000 miles home in two days. I'm not sure exactly the best way to organize my thoughts here. Also, I just got home, so this will probably just be a stream of semi-consciousness....
I'm sure I'll think of more to add later...
- What a machine?!? I found myself repeating that over and over. It's hideously underpowered on the interstate, but I don't care. I will run 85 all day long and I'd rather not be on the interstate anyway.
- Fuel mileage can vary tremendously. I ranged 44mpg (running 85mph into a headwind) to 77 mpg (national forest dirt roads at 30 mph).
- Russell daylong seats are worth every penny. They just are. I've never had anything remotely close. The only discomfort I had from the seat is from the edge of the seat on my thighs. Even that was only after spending the whole day in the saddle. If the pegs were a tad higher, or if I install some crash bars & highway pegs, that issue would go away.
- Givi outback bags are heavy, but they work nicely.
- BIRDS! Before this trip, I'd hit one bird on a motorcycle. I hit four in four days on this trip. One was a grouse. Honestly, it has me a little freaked out. Maybe killer dolphins eat birds instead of fish?
- Deer and antelope are scary. Nevermind elk, wild horses, cows and buffalo. Denali spot lights aimed in the ditches gave me a little early warning.
- A small compartment that I could access without turning off the bike would be nice.
- Black helmets are hot. My next one will be white.
- The Sena 20S is awesome. Up to about 60 mph, my wife can't even tell I'm on the bike when I call her. I can listen to music all day long on one charge.
- Avon trailriders are great highway tires, ok for dirt roads, crap for sand. After 4,000 miles, there is a slight flat spot in the middle of the back tire. I can hardly tell the front has even been on the road.
- Sand is treacherous. I nearly lost it on two different occasions in a couple of inches of loose sand. I was going 30 mph one of those times. Very sketchy.
- I wish I had a cruise control. The Omni cruise is a clever device that is WAY better than nothing, but it needs frequent adjustment.
- It's a long freakin' way to Fargo North Dakota. Also, there's not much to see for hundreds of miles on the way there. The farmland is beautiful, but after 12 hours of cornfields, you're ready to see something else.
- There's a reason why Sturgis is such a big deal. Riding in the black hills is incredible. Do not miss Iron Mountain Rd if you go to Mt Rushmore. It's motorcycling Nirvana. Wind Caves NP is pretty fun as well.
- If you're looking for an out-of-the-way place to go camping, Medicine Rock State Park in Montana should be on your list. Big sky, indeed.
- If you're going riding in the national forest, get a forest service map and take a compass. Google maps doesn't work all that well without data.
- Keep the chain lubed. I heard a weird popping sound at low speed on day 4, finally figured out it was the chain.
- Take clear safety glasses. I wear sunglasses and keep the visor open to cool off my face. Sometimes it's hot at night and the sunglasses are too dark.
- Get a hondabikepro rear rack with a fuel filler hole in it. It was a minor inconvenience having to move my cooler at every gas stop, but still an inconvenience.
I'm sure I'll think of more to add later...
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