long road trip advice? (updated)

[Slowe30]

FYI, I survived 1000 miles on the GS...    see last page for update (photos to come in a week or 3 whenever i get everything developed)



Hey everybody,

my GS has been in hibernation this semester since I came to school.  I am going to crank her up this weekend and am considering using it for a pretty lengthy road trip... Columbia, SC to Cocoa beach, FL.  450 miles one way (375 miles or so on I-95).  I would be leaving Thursday march 23 around 2:30pm for the 9 hour drive, and returning Monday March 27, leaving fla sometime that morning.  I will only consider taking the bike if the weather for both trips looks pretty dry and nice.  I did volunteer work in venezuela for my spring break so i figure i should reward myself with a long weekend visiting a buddy in florida.

1.  my only other interstate road trip experience has been 1.5 hours one way.  my bike is a stock 01 with srinath 2 weld bars and 17k miles.  I might rig up my beat up flyscreen for the trip.   I have only had the bike about 7 months and put 1k miles on it.  the battery is "weak" so I will probably replace that before the trip, even though i've never had much problem push starting it.  i am concerned about my fuel petcock (i've run out of fuel twice because reserve apparently doesn't work), so I will have to check the plumbing going to that, and if i don't find a culprit, fill up every 180 miles or so.

2.  Any advice about this?  Is this stupid/ should I start smaller?  Any advice about what to take/ how to prepare/ how to ride long distances?  any tools to take?  i'll take a quart of oil i suppose.  Any tips on body position (like:  I've found it less tiring to put the balls of my feet on the pegs, instead of my arches, when cruising on the interstate)?   I will take earplugs (i've never tried them before) and try to remember sunscreen on my neck and nose.  anything else like this to remember?

3.  my rear tire was kinda squared when i got the bike, and is low on tread in the middle (thus no rainy riding).  i plan on killing it with the 900 miles and replacing it after the trip.  that's obviously less safe than replacing it now, but is this moderately acceptable?

4.  Also, I don't have any bike luggage besides my cargo net.  No tank bag to lean against.  I'm just planning to strap a bookbag behind me.  Are there any other low cost luggage tips out there? (besides the $1 tank bag- i've only managed to get two harddrive magnets so far- not enough for whole bag yet)

5.  Any sights to see or stops to make along i-95 or riders who want to join in for a few miles?  95 follows the ga/fl coast pretty closely, but not close enough to see beach at any point (it's usually about 10 miles from beach).  It goes thru savannah (ga), jacksonville, palm beach, etc.

[scratch]

I'd start smaller, but this is me and I'm (cough)<older>, so you might be okay.  I'd do 200miles to Reno from San Jose.  Definitely use the flyscreen.  The rear tire with already low tread in the middle will wear fast.  What's the tread depth?  And, what's the tread depth to the wear bars?  It's good that you're replacing the battery, make sure you have an extra fuse, and another one in your pocket.  Maybe bring along a couple extra sparkplugs.  Definitely wear the earplugs.  You might bring chainlube, too.  Lube before you go, and lube when you get there (warm chain), or when you leave there.  Actually, what is the condition of your chain?  Where is it on the wear marks?

[Trwhouse]

Hi there,
Take the trip, enjoy the experience but REPLACE THE BAD TIRE FIRST. Don't try to get more wear out of it.
Do it right, be safe, and avoid problems on the road.
I've done a 2,000 mile trip on my GS500E -- 1,000 miles each way to Wisconsin from my home here in PA. I took two days each way and loved every second of it.
Have fun -- hit the road!
yours,
Todd

[Doggy]

I've done a 550km run each way and the only problems I had were:

- Staying under the speed limit
- Vibration in hands (Some dork put dirt bike bar ends on mine, vibration city!)
- Keep your posture good.
- Don't be tempted to tie stuff on cause it will rub marks on your duck tail. Invest in some good over the saddle bags etc. You can pick them up fairly cheap.
- Finding Good comfortable earplugs
- Massive monsoon type thunderstorms.  Now that was an experiance.

Above all have fun and stop often.

Cheers,

[banner]

450 should be fine. Just make sure the bike is mechanically dependable. Fix everything that can break..since it probably will end up breaking when you hit the middle of your trip. As far as luggage...i'd just strap on a duffel bag to the tail, put a towel underneath it and tie it up really well..

[Slowe30]

yeah, i asked my dad to look at the bike (it's back home still) and the back tire is too far gone for the trip.  I'm ordering another lasertec from MAW tomorrow.  hopefully they can get it here in time.  If I should look for a different retailer, please let me know.  They seemed reasonably priced and decent shipping cost.  Now I have to find a shop to put it on for less than $30!

[hhgsm31]

Also, try and avoid a lot of weight in the backpack as it will add to fatigue. Invest in a cheap tank bag, or go to the local junk computer shop and ask one of the guys there for a bad hard drive, i'm sure they've got lots of old ones lying around. Be safe and have fun

[starwalt]

Florida = RAINSUIT

Cellphone for sure.

I'd go from Columbia to Augusta and take the old US 1 route to Jacksonville. Then take the coastal highway A1A to Cocoa. Much ocean viewing and lots of places to stop. (Here's your 98 cents change).

I'm a two lane road nut like Peter Egan. America is more than Interstates. Regardless, enjoy the trip.

If you don't get the fuel routing squared away before your next stay in Greenville, we'll fix it one Saturday. I should have the 90 done by then and several of us can ride into the hills.

Be safe!

[Slowe30]

Also, try and avoid a lot of weight in the backpack as it will add to fatigue. Invest in a cheap tank bag, or go to the local junk computer shop and ask one of the guys there for a bad hard drive, i'm sure they've got lots of old ones lying around. Be safe and have fun

i'm planning on strapping the backpack to the tail, not myself (i hear wearing it is dangerous, though i must admit i feel safer with a 'pack on).  i've been able to harvest 2 hard drive magnets from my volunteer work at the habitat store, i'll have to check into it again before I leave to see if they have more.

thanks for the tips, folks.  i'll look into 2 lane roads for the daytime of the "there" trip... on the way back I have a feeling I'll just want to get home in time for 6pm class.  any more suggestions are of course appreciated.

[joedude]

You should be fine, The first long trip I did with my GS was about 2000 Miles (Dallas, OR - where I bought the Baby GS - to Winnipeg, MB - Home for now). I had a set of Saddle bags, one with a set of ratchets and other miscellaneous tools (you never know!), a can of Chain lube, 1Gal Jerry can of gas, rainsuit, 1 Roll of 500MPH tape (commonly known as Duct Tape), change of clothes and of course a CAMERA! (you never know when you'll get a good photo opt. and we all know how photogenic the GS's are! - and if you do take some pics... post em for us to see!). I didn't want to ride such a long trip with something on my back so I stuffed everthing I could in the saddle bags. It worked out for me.

plan out your stops before you leave, photocopy or print off your map from mapquest and highlight your route and laminate them, makes for easy find of route and doesn't damage the map by stuffing it in your jacket pocket

ride safe
and have a good trip!

Luc

[daneilah]

Any chance you can leave earlier?  Leaving at 2:30pm for a 9-hour drive means you're driving the last few hours in the dark when you're going to be your most tired.  Don't try to be a hero.... stop when you get the 1000-yard stare.  Arrive alive.   

[visionthing]

Mate,

I wouldn't worry about it.

Recently, I did Sydney to Melbourne which is 1000klms (about 650 miles) in 2 days, first was 42c degrees(about 115f).
* Make sure you take a break every 2 hours and drink plenty of water to rehydrate. Even if its cold.
* *definitely* take the earplugs. They block out the buzzing & wind which actually have their own form of fatigue assigned to them. I can't remember the name.
* Take a bit of oil, but unless your bike has a drinking problem it should be ok.
* Tread is for pumping water off the road. If you've a worn tyre with less tread you have more rubber on the road. More rubber on road = more grip. Of course, its shite in the wet!! don't risk it if the road is wet.
* Take a map.

Well, thats my take above the other excellent advice from others.

Enjoy the trip!
Cheers
Bruce

When you say the battery is 'weak' do you mean as in charge or *holding* charge? If the latter, yeah. Replace it before you go.

[Slowe30]

it's going to be down to the wire if i'm going to get the tire replaced and be able to go... it's "supposed" to come wednesday.  if not, i'll be taking the cage or waiting another week. 

it should actually be an 7.5-8 hour trip if i were in a car and taking all interstate.  i added an hour for rest stops.  if i take back roads, it'll be even longer. 

[ashman]

I'd personally only ride till 8 or 9pm the 1st day that would get you a good 1/2 way their and you could work out any kinks for the next days ride. On a trip last summer I included in my tools: spark plug, strong thin gauge wire, 9-14mm wrench, chain lube, 1 liter fuel, 1 quart oil, duct tape, multi purpose tool, and a plug kit. I'd def. change that tire, a bad tire is the most likely thing to stop you. If it comes down to taking the bike w/ the bad tire  or your car/ waiting. I'd wait to get the tire on, if you take it off yourself and bring it to the shop they'll get to it quicker and you can just drop it off.

I'd say thats not too far too go. Riding postion is best to adjust to what feels comfortable, use the passanger pegs if you want. I always travel w/ a back pack personally, I prefer to have my essensials @ hand. Plus it keeps the wind from buffering and flopping up my back, I do pack it light tho. If you have any windsheild no matter how dinky I'd use it, you get tired less quickly. Use gas stops to fuel yourself up too, get a drink and a snack, walk around some and use the john (ha, ha,  john). IF YOU START GETTING TUNNEL VISION PULL OFF THE ROAD. Your body is slowing down and you should @ least take a cat nap.

I usually fill up every 150 miles to be on the safe side. You dont need luggage, I've packed camping gear for a weekend w/o using saddle bags. DO invest in water proof bag liners aka garbage bags. OH bring extra garbage bags. Avoid keeping your neck in one positon too long you'll get a wicked crick in it. Plan your route out ahead of time, keep in mind high traffic areas/ avoid downtown @ 5pm.

Anyway thats all I have. Get a duffle bag. Check your pressures, signals, get your batt up to snuff. Take breaks! Bring a bottle of water and snack and use any stop to move around and get your blood movin. If you can get radar images on your cell I usually check my route ahead round 1pm when the thunderstorms start to build. Its amazing how well you can estimate when you'll need the gear that way(bring rain gear ofcourse) if its lookin too hairy, pull off and get a cup of coffee. HAVE FUN! dont forget your cam!

-ash

[Slowe30]

Florida = RAINSUIT

Cellphone for sure.

I'd go from Columbia to Augusta and take the old US 1 route to Jacksonville. Then take the coastal highway A1A to Cocoa. Much ocean viewing and lots of places to stop. (Here's your 98 cents change).

Wowzers, Doug, i just google mapped a1a from jacksonville to cocoa... i will DEFINITELY be taking that, bike or cage.  I'll probably do interstate from cola to jacksonville for time, but it would be stupid to pass that highway up.

I don't have budget or time to order a real rain suit before I go.  I'm wearing a JR meteor textile jacket, probably underarmor under that, thick jeans and leather steel toed boots.  I figure the JR will keep my dry enough and it won't be freezing cold even if i do get dumped on.  thoughts?

[starwalt]

That Google tool is neat, but I just saw a problem -- traffic and urban sprawl.

1A starts in Fernandina Beach (Fort Clinch Monument is very neat) and goes the length of Florida sorta parallel to I-95. It was the original coastal highway waaaaay back in the day (waaaay before my day).

The ride would be fine from Fernandina (you can ride the Mayport Ferry across the St. Johns River - maybe hook up with GSTwinner that_guy) until St. Augustine. It would slow going until past that.

At any point in time, you could detour west to catch I-95 to make up some time. Canaveral Seashore would be a must see/ride. You can see the lauch pads for KSC and Canaveral when the weather permits.

<sigh> I envy you running around my home turf. Enjoy it regardless of the method.

+5 on taking the camera. 

[ashman]

buy a cheap rain suit from a sporting goods store, thats what i use, works fine. 20 bux or so. btw even if its 70 degrees out if your soaked and doing 65mph it will be pretty chilly. oh, might want to get some cheap leather gloves if u dont have n e. once again. doesnt have to be made for a motorcycle nd cost big bux to get the job done if rox or bugs hit yur hands doin 70 + mph they hurt like a son of a yeah, it hurts. 

-ash

[Slowe30]

So I made it...

I left at 11:30am on thursday morning, arrived 500 miles away in the cocoa beach/patrick air force base/ satellite beach, FL area after about 11 hours.
i took i-26 from columbia to i-95, then i-95 75 miles into florida, then cut over to the a1a and 1 all the way in, which was amazing.  i WILL be going back to do the whole a1a someday.  the a1a will be the destination, not the route.  didn't get rained on, but it was gray skies all day.

the return trip today (monday) only took me 9 hours. i left at 6.30 this morning, took some pictures of the bike in front of the sunrise at the beach, and headed off.  i took a1a and 1 to daytona, then cut over to 95 to speed up my trip home.  the ride home was easier than the ride there.   i guess i figured out the whole body position thing better.  beautiful weather all day at 55-65 degrees and sunny.  it was a little chilly but i was prepared.

gas mileage was about 55mpg and the gs performed without a hic-up.

thoughts so far:
earplugs were crucial.

i hate that first huge bug that hits you in the face 3 miles after you clean your face shield.  i had to clean it twice on the way down there... once for bugs, once for sea spray), and 3 times for bugs on the way back.  thank you, barbasol shaving cream for cleaning my visor so well.

i'm 6' tall, and i have srinath's 2 weld bars.  ergonomics for the long haul were just not that great.  i was pretty folded up.  when i tucked behind my flyscreen and layed on the tank, my elbows were below my knees.  i could rest my elbows on my knees without my chest touching the tank.  my legs were sore from trying to keep them tucked in all day.  the tank doesn't just "suck them up" like other (larger) sport bikes i've sat on.

power was fine for the highway.  it was hard to keep my speed down sometimes.  i was going 85 for long stretches of i-95 with no problem, while getting passed mercilessly.   i had it up over 90 at some points with no probs.

i'm worried about squaring my new rear tire.  i had to replace the one that came on the bike because it was so badly squared.  bike felt much better with the new tire, but i don't want it to happen again.  i guess i need to find some twisties to wear down the sides.  i tried to do a slollam (sp?) type maneauver every so often to scrub the sides (better than nothing i hope).

i'll upload pictures when i get them developed.  i really really really need a digital.  there were some beautiful photo-op's this morning, but i don't know if any will turn out well enough to do it justice.

evan

[joedude]

Ah glad to hear that everything went well! See, long trips aren't that bad as long as you plan and prepare. Mind you nothing happened on your trip, but with murphy's law always lurking in the shaddows. If you don't bring a rain suit, then you get unforcasted rain a few hours into the ride... (I guess you just got lucky)  - I however did a 2100Mi ride in rain. And it was a forced ride, by that I mean that I had booked time off work and an airline ticket so I didn't have much flexibility. I flew half way across the country to pick up my bike and rode it back. Fun ride! but was I ever cold and oh so wet!

now get on your GS and go to Walmart and pick up a rainsuit and keep it in your riding bag/backpack, cause you won't always be this lucky. Those few times that you ride somewhere and end up getting a freak rainshower. You'll be happy that you're able to pull over, slap on a rainsuit and end your ride relatively dry and not so cold (wet clothes become real cold real fast when continously pounded by wind). Don't let one or a few good rides make you complacent! Always be prepared!


Can't wait to see those pics!
Cheers

[GSinUS]

Just wondering, you are saying you were able to cruise @ 90 mph...  When I go anything above 75 on  my gs I feel it straining and becoming much less maneuverable.  This is in sixths gear at about 7k rpm.  When you were riding segments at over this speed, were in you in the fifth gear, revving higher maybe?