Touring on a GS

[ivany]

So, a buddy and I are planning a trip up the coast this summer. First week of July, we are riding up the Seattle and back. Budgeting 8 days, so I don't think we will be rushed at all. We will be staying with friends in San Fran, San Jose, and Seattle. Moteling somewhere in Oregon for 1 night each direction. I am picking up a Cortech sport saddlebag + seat bag set, hope this is enough to carry some clothes as well as necessary supplies and equipment. We'll see.

Questions I've got:

1. What should I expect/prepare for as far as weather? I'm going to wear a Cortech texile jacket with a removable liner, it kept me dry during rain here and it seems to be a good all-purpose touring jacket.
2. Any suggestions as to route? We're thinking taking the 1 up north and then coming down by some more in-land highway. I'm sure someone has done this ride before, what routes did you use?
3. What things should I take? I'm of course taking clothes and toiletries, as well as a very basic complement of tools, chain lube, and maybe 1 qt. of oil. Any suggestions?

I'm going to do an oil change and a general look-over before I head out, but otherwise it will be 2000 miles with no planned service. I will of course lube the chain a few times and keep the oil topped off, but anything else? I've only put ~2,500 miles on my GS since buying it, and all I've done so far is change the air filter, lube the chain, and top off the oil. It's got about 7200 on it right now, pretty low for this bike.

[darb85]

Dont have any suggestions but man thats gonna be epic!  I love that area, really wish I lived around there.

[CoyotesFan84]

I can't really give much feedback, but I'm interested to know what to bring as well. I live in AZ and I'm looking at taking a trip up to Cali the 3rd week of July (Brother lives in SD, Daft Punk is playing at the Staples Center). I probably will only have a backpack (possibly a tank bag) by then but any information I could use as well would be helpful. Didn't mean to hijack... just in the same boat as you. 

[RVertigo]

Is the GS your first Street bike?  I didn't have the balls to try something that long after only 2500...  Be careful!

I love the SF area...  If you're actually heading through SF, just across the GG bridge Marin County has some SWEEEEEEET roads.  

Personally, I'd avoid super-slab when you can...  I go batschit after about an hour on I-5.


Oh and...  Say hi when you're in Seattle.  

[ivany]

The GS was my first street bike. I also own a GSX-R600, on which I have only put about 900 miles (got it back in March). Yep, I'm pretty much a nooby, but I think it'll be a fun ride.

We're avoiding the 5 as much as possible, don't worry. I want to minimize interstates on this trip.

[ohgood]

THis is me green with envy.

I have the cortech saddlebags, but no truck. You REALLY want a tank bag of some type, with a place for a MAP.

Since I was in Cali for a very short time (8 months) can I suggest a couple of things we liked there ? I'll link to my personal maps.google.com so you can see what interestes you.

As far as the weather, you'll do fine. Just pack light rain gear and prepare for cold nights and mornings.

WATCH OUT FOR DEER IN RURAL Cali. Those bastards are EVERYWHERE!

San Fran is cold, San Jose is HELL ON EARTH AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, and hiway 1 is not to be missed. 101 is fine, just avoid it at shift change times.

Please travel on The Avenue of the Giants. I cannot stress this enough. There be good spirits there. You simple must experience them. Stop, get off, and listen. Don't talk, don't cellphone, don't do anything. Just listen. Oh, and take some pictures! Lean you bike against one of them ? oh man, I'm jealouse!

Anyway, here's my personal maps.google.com that I've prepared as my sister is planning a similar route next week. (From oklahoma city no less)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&om=1&z=7&msid=110991532483178875916.00000111f7486a4cd2379&msa=0

it should allow any of you to view it, without logging into gmail/google/wahtever.

Enjoy the ride, it will be awesome!

[manofthefield]

Bring a camera and a small notepad.  Write down stuff about the trip every day in the notepad.  I did this on my trip, but started slacking off the last few days.  I got busy after the trip and pretty soon the events of the trip blurred together and I couldn't remember everything anymore

A few other random things I could think to add to your list:
Tire pressure gauge
Ear plugs (I like them on a long trip)
Cleaner for helmet/faceshield
Rags
Ibprofin
Sunblock
Deck of cards

I could give you a list of what I brought as a "tool kit" too if you like

As for rain, I wouldn't trust my textile jacket for prolonged riding in the rain.  I had full rain gear.  But maybe your jacket is more waterproof than mine

[Trwhouse]

Hi there,
That sounds like a fun trip.
When I tour on my 1991 GS500E, I always follow the tool maxim -- if you take it with you, you won't need it. If you leave it at home, that tool is the one you will need as you sit on the side of the road.
I always pack a small kit made up of Craftsman tools because you can get warranty replacements anywhere you travel:
Phillips and flat screwdrivers, large, medium and small
1 set Craftsman 1/4 inch drive socket wrench with sockets in case 4-14 mm
1 3/8 drive Craftsman socket wrench and sockets as above 6-19mm
1 12" adjustable Crescent wrench, 1 8" wrench, for odd sized fasteners
long needlenose pliers
lineman's general purpose pliers medium
regular thin pliers
combination wrenches, 6,8,10,12,14,17 mm with box on one end and open end on the other end (hence the name combination wrenches, for newbies)
roll black electrical tape
several assorted electrical connectors, male and female ends, crush variety rather than solder type
several segments of 18 and 16 gauge electrical wire 1-2 feet long, coiled(just in case)
spare fuses
Prepaid phone card for payphones in wallet (just in case cell doesn't work)
several shop rags
small can Black Label PJ1 chain lube -- I like this best after trying many many brands over the last 32 years
small Craftsman halogen rugged model flashlight (runs on AA batteries)
As suggested by someone above -- tire pressure gauge
I think that's it.
Add in your own favorites.
I put it all in a cloth bag and wrap it several times, then tuck it low into a saddlebag or my soft tail trunk that I can mount on the seat behind me if I don't have a passenger.

Take pictures and tell us all about your trip!

Be safe,
yours,
Todd

[bombadillo]

THis is me green with envy.

I have the cortech saddlebags, but no truck. You REALLY want a tank bag of some type, with a place for a MAP.

Since I was in Cali for a very short time (8 months) can I suggest a couple of things we liked there ? I'll link to my personal maps.google.com so you can see what interestes you.

As far as the weather, you'll do fine. Just pack light rain gear and prepare for cold nights and mornings.

WATCH OUT FOR DEER IN RURAL Cali. Those bastards are EVERYWHERE!

San Fran is cold, San Jose is HELL ON EARTH AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, and hiway 1 is not to be missed. 101 is fine, just avoid it at shift change times.

Please travel on The Avenue of the Giants. I cannot stress this enough. There be good spirits there. You simple must experience them. Stop, get off, and listen. Don't talk, don't cellphone, don't do anything. Just listen. Oh, and take some pictures! Lean you bike against one of them ? oh man, I'm jealouse!

Anyway, here's my personal maps.google.com that I've prepared as my sister is planning a similar route next week. (From oklahoma city no less)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&om=1&z=7&msid=110991532483178875916.00000111f7486a4cd2379&msa=0

it should allow any of you to view it, without logging into gmail/google/wahtever.

Enjoy the ride, it will be awesome!

I live just about 30 minutes from avenue of the giants and it is pretty amazing.  If you're travelling up in eureka here, come down to costco optical and give me a hello, or shoot me a pm and we can hook up and show you some nice roads up here.  I'm a noob but still there are fun places to ride.  As far as avenue of the giants, highway 36, 101 from SF all the way up here to eureka is awesome as well as 299 for a bike.  That is a great highway as well.  Lots of twisties in a few parts.  Southern oregon is absolutely breathtaking.  Good luck and rubber side down

[scratch]

There's alot of wind coming north on Hwy1.  Let me know if you need a valve adjustment (every 4000 miles, and you're at 7200 miles, which means you may need one at 8000) when you're in San Jose.  I'm in Sunnyvale.  I'll pm ya my contact #

[William M]

I live north of Seattle on one of the islands and have covered about every road in Northwest Washington.. Weather-wise the coast just about always has some rain. I'd really suggest going up 101 through the rain forest despite that as its quite spectacular (it gets 10x the rain as where I live and the sheer biomass is stunning..) Huricane Ridge is another spot not to be missed. Take a ferry from Pt Townsend to Whidbey (you'll get special treatment on a bike-first on, first off!), cross Deception Pass, then South down 5 to your friends in Seattle (or Hi 9, much nicer...). I rode the entire Sound yesterday- South to Tacoma Narrows bridge, up the pennisula to Pt Townsend, ferry, Deception Pass and back home and still worked on my bike that evening, so the detour up the pennisula rather than straight to Seattle isn't a huge "out of the way". In addition, during that time of year it remains light until 10:30 PM.The roads are generally excellent.Traffic around Seattle is abissmal and with the State $ surplus, construction abounds so if you can avoid the major roads you'll enjoy it much more. Seattle drivers are becoming totally insane on the major hiways (5, 405, floating bridges).

Once you're on the inland side of the Olympics it will be warm (70s-80s) and generally dry. The coast is maybe 10 degrees cooler.

There is so much to see here in western Washington I hope you allow some time. Chucanut drive to Bellingham, the Cascde Loop (Hi 20), Mt Baker, Mt Ranier, and, of course, the many islands.

[Trwhouse]

Hey scratch,
That's an awfully nice offer you made to help him with a valve adjustment mid-trip.
It is nice to see such comraderie here.
Good man!
Best wishes,
Todd

[ducati_nolan]

You may want to have a peek at your valves before heading out. If they're within spec you shouldn't need to worry about them the rest of the trip.

I don't like the idea of waterproof liners in gear. I have it and it works alright for about an hour, but after that it can leak. Even if it dosn't your gear is still soaked for a while after the rain stops. Just bring some cheap rainger to put on over your gear.

Windshields look dorky but can be really nice on really long trips.

After I got my first flat I always cary a tire plug kit and a can of fix a flat to inflate the tire enough to limp to a gas station. A bike pump would work in a pinch too. They make some small 12v compressors too.

A 12v outlet is easy to install and can be nice for charging your cell, GPS, coffee maker, air pump etc.

as said before, earplugs. I always wear them on trips longer than ten minutes.
Have fun!

[jazerr]

THis is IMPORTANT!!!!!

After you get north of SF, take HWY 1 up past Bodega Bay, Past Jenner, And up to a road called Stewart's Point or Skagg Springs ROad. It will be off your right side. You may miss it. GET A MAP.

This road is kind of brutal for about 2 miles, but then opens up into one of the absolute best rides you will ever have. Takes you out past Lake Sonoma, with views and hills and everything, amazing.

You will end up back at HWY 101 in Healdsburg. From here, run HWY 101 north to oregon. It doesnt get any more beautiful.

[jazerr]

Oh also, if its a weekend, give me a buzz. I'll ride part way with ya....I'm in Santa Rosa, one hour north of SF. Will PM contact info.

[sanjay]

You said 8 days, but only mentioned stopping in SJ, SF, Oregon, and Seattle.   Are you going to  stop along the way, or spend multiple days at each stop?  I would recommend spreading it out more, since doing SD to SF on Hwy 1 in 1 day will be very rough.   You could take the 5, but that wouldn't be any fun.

Check out WildBlue's route up from SF to Vancouver last summer:  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=26681.0

[ohgood]

Man I am so envious.

Guaranteed good views, rides, and hookups for drinkin nights with the GS-twins crew ?

Man I wish I lived in Cali again.

<green>

[che mike]

um, reality check, dude! are you sure this is a good idea?

8 days from san diego to seattle and back? that's 2500 miles on I-5 the whole way. that's an average of 300 miles per day. you can do that on I-5 no problem but not so much on back roads.

do yo have the stamina? on my first long trip, seattle to san fran and back, i had to stop just about every hour on the hour, if not slightly before. i covered almost 2000 miles on that trip - distances are longer on back roads and speeds are slower.

you mentioned a waterproof jacket. do you have rain protection for your legs? are your gloves waterproof? boots? luggage?

have you done 'warm-up' tours? gone anywhere for a weekend taking your full luggage? it takes a bit of getting used to packing stuff and loading stuff on the bike. it'll slow you down for the first few days if you don't have your system down.

if you only have 8 days, i say go to san fran, visit your friend, ride around there for a day or two or three, then head home. save seattle for anther season.

[oppy00]

It's been suggested, but I'll emphasize: Ear Plugs.  They really make a big difference.

Also putting on wet riding gloves sucks, as does putting on wet boots.  Find a kitchen/restaurant supply store, they sell heavy duty rubber gloves in large sizes that should fit nicely over your riding gloves (take your riding gloves with you so you can check), best of all they are cheap and easy to store.  As for wet boots I always pack trash bags (lawn bags are a little more heavy duty than kitchen), and duct tape.  The trash bags serve two purposes, I generally camp when I tour, so trash bags are great for putting trash in,  :laugh:and if it looks like heavy/prolonged rain I can waterproof my boots quickly.   I didn't notice you say anything about waterproof pants.  You can but rain pants, that slip on easily over jeans, for about $20 or so at a sporting goods store.  Wet jeans suck, but unlike boots and gloves, they can be thrown into a dryer.  I try to always carry a pocket knife, cause you never know when you'll need one.  I've also found that a bandanna is an incredibly useful item, when on a long ride.  Don't forget that your face gets a lot of sun even with a full-face helmet.  Good luck, have fun, take lots of pictures, and post them when you get home safely.

[ivany]

Doing warm-up tours is a good point. I am going to be picking up the luggage by the first week of May and we will do a overnight trip sometime in May. Maybe a weekend trip in the beginning of June. Otherwise, it'll be tough, but I don't think it's gonna be that bad. We'll be going in the heat of the summer and it'll be pretty warm. Also, we're both still fairly young so we should be OK We've also got places to stay in SF and Seattle (spending two days in Seattle). It's a bit of a stretch but I'm sure it'll work out alright...