Comments on: Less Whim, More Plan

By: article dude

article dude — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:55:09 +0000

So how did the trip go??? I had a VT500C myself, actually I had 3 of them. Great bikes for touring, but you must hang on to the bars when going past 50mph or they shake all over! That’s due to their extreme rake.
Also the front wheel throws up tons of mud to clog the already small radiator, but if you catch it early you can fit a mudflap. I have had 65mpg on one of these!

By: Mark Ghosh

Mark Ghosh — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:30:12 +0000

Andy, let me know when you are planning to ride through Ohio. If at all possible, I might drive up and meet you somewhere. I am in Toledo, so about 100 miles off your planned route.

By: California Road Trip « Barry on WordPress

California Road Trip « Barry on WordPress — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:16:09 +0000

[...] all F1 WordPressers California Road Trip June 26th, 2007 Granted, it’s not a 7000 mike trek on a 1985 Honda motorcycle, but 1081 miles in a semi-comfortable car is long enough for me. Heading out tomorrow, be back in [...]

By: Dustin

Dustin — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:06:00 +0000

You are more than welcome to stay with me Andy, let me know when you will be in and I will let The Goat know.

By: AllySkelly

AllySkelly — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:10:38 +0000

So what’s your time frame for being in VT?

By: mdawaffe

mdawaffe — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:35:52 +0000

Rockin. Crash at my place in Pasadena, CA if you need a place to stay in LA.

By: michelle

michelle — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 03:29:10 +0000

that sounds awesome! i wanted to get a motorcycle but had trouble balancing my friend’s vespa

i really want to drive on the salt flats in utah
it has the highest recorded land speed with a combustion engine
497mph or something

By: EM

EM — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:14:07 +0000

Wow. That look like a lot of fun, too bad you will be nowhere near MT. I hope you have a great time, I expect many posts as you travel. Stay in touch, Andy.

By: Lorelle VanFossen

Lorelle VanFossen — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:14:03 +0000

I did about the same distance last year, with a lot of side trips, so it was probably 8,000 or more miles. You’re going to have the time of your life, though it would be slick if you camped, but the weight of the gear is a pain. Still, all you need is a sheet and a towel…if you travel as many did years ago. hee hee

One very important piece of advice though. Having done this too many times in my life, your schedule has 500+ mile days. That’s just stupid. Seriously stupid. The wear and tear on the body vibrating in a car or RV makes 400 days exhausting and 500 days horrid. You’ll be traveling in the heat, too, which saps all your energy.

On a motorcycle, that “feel of the road under you” will bruise and batter your body. You’ll lose fillings in your teeth and shake your hair out along with your brain. You really might want to consider finding some part way points, especially into day 5-7 when your bones can’t take the rattle any more.

Been there, done that, have the back pain to remember I will never do it again. Unless we’re running from hurricanes, tornadoes, or way, way behind a deadline schedule, we rarely ever go past 400 miles and that’s in the comfort of a vehicle with protection from bugs and gravel flying into your face, music cranked up, padded seats, and shocks.

By: Maya

Maya — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:39:52 +0000

Wow! That sounds like fun. I once drove from Savannah to San Francisco and it was great. But I was in a car – you know to preserve the hair. Good luck!