Cross country Motorcycle Trip

[csnowman00]

Hey GS500 community,

In August of 2007 I really am thinking of taking a cross country motorcycle trip with my 2005 GS 500.  I have been driving now for over a year and it is something that I always wanted to do, but taking my Jeep Grand Cherokee would be expensive. In addition to that, I would like to experience this trip on two wheels.  I want to leave Wilkes-Barre (PA), then cross through Kansas CIty (MO), Las Vegas (NV), and Arive in Los Angeles (CA).  From then I want to take the coastal highway north to San Francisco (CA) then return home.  I really want to attend one of the infamous LA "Bike Nights" and go riding through the canyons.  I will probably stay at campgrounds and national parks.  I am actually excited about this trip.  However it will be a long trip (about 87 hours on the bike).  The longest I have ever been on my bike for was about 5 hours from my house to Maryland.  If anyone has any tips, hints, or thinks I am crazy - let me know.

[pandy]

This sounds like crazy fun!! Be sure you have a nest egg set aside in case of on-the-road emergencies! 

Keep us posted....I hope you'll hit a GSTwin'r's 'puter in every town so you can post up a journal about your journey! My 'puter's located in the SF bay area, and we'd have to put together a B.A.G.S. ride and B.B.Q.! 

[frye]

i wanna do one to soon. but my 500s gone...so i guess ill have to take my vtr1000f . if your down in LA just give me call or send a mesaage and ill coem meet you or something.

[manofthefield]

Sounds like fun. 

Things to start thinking about now are doing some warm up rides in the coming months to get used to being on the road for extended periods of time.  Start by going out riding for a half or whole day and then maybe do a weekend trip or two. 

Also think about what maintenance will need to be done before the trip (new tires, valve check, change oil, ...) and do that stuff a couple weeks before you go so you know all that stuff is kosher before you leave.  Finding out you got a defective part or did something wrong near home = no big deal, but finding out thousands of miles from home = suck. 

Good luck and keep us posted

[trumpetguy]

OK, I'll be devil's advocate here if no one else will.

I just finished a 2,000 mile trip (less than half of what you are proposing).  It can be very grueling, and you'll make MUCH slower progress than in a car. 

First, you have to stop every couple of hours for gas and to stretch your legs.  Each time, you'll have to deal with removing and replacing your gear.  The time adds up on a long trip.

Second, you'll have to deal with any road condition and weather condition that comes up.  We rode in a thunderstorm (twice) and it wasn't fun.  Do you have rain gear and a place to carry it?  Do you have cool weather and warm weather gear?  I used both and I was in Texas.  We also had several instances of road construction, ranging from dirt/gravel road detours to gravel on the road surface.  Are you experienced in riding on these surfaces?  If not, you'll be doubling your risk level.

Third, you'll need to be self-sufficient to a large degree.  Do you have bike luggage and the ability to secure it on the bike by yourself?  You'll have to bring it in every night for security.  Can you make minor repairs and/or routine maintenance as it is required on the road?  With the mileage you're proposing, that will be necessary.   More money = less need to do this yourself, but then you're on someone else's schedule.

Fourth, with your level of riding experience, a trip like this sounds silly to me.  I'm older and (hopefully) wiser, but I wouldn't have dreamed of a long trip without several years of experience on a bike.  Every time you get on the bike you assume risks.  With experience and education, you can lower those risks somewhat, but there are significant risks.  Take the MSF safety course and/or read Proficient Motorcycling and More Proficient Motorcyclingby David Hough to improve your chances.

My advice would be to start smaller -- a weekend trip, for example, then work up from there.

[Bulwark]

Ill be doing a long trip myself next month.  From Moncton, NB to Kingston, ONT.  The trip is 13.5 hrs by car so it will be a long ride on a GS but it is something that I want to do as well.

Now that the weather has warmed up a bit here and it isnt still raining like a son Im going to be doing some 2 hr runs to see how it goes.

I figure Ill do the 8 hrs to Montreal then take a motel for the night then do the remaining the next day.

As for luggage Im lucky that my Mother and my son will be going by train at the same time so Im sending a suit case with them.  Ill use my ugly hard top case and a tank bag.

All in all I figure that Ill be sore as hell the next day but Ill also be grinning from ear to ear.

[ducati_nolan]

Sound like fun! Trumpetguy has some good points, but if you do some preperation it should work out.

If your tires aren't brand new but have plenty of life left, you may want to call up a shop on the west coast and make sure that they have tires for you and that they'll be able to do it in a day (explain your situation before hand) they can also change your oil and perforn other maintenance for you. (doing the stuff yourself while on the road sucks, unless you're at a friends house.)

Search the site, I know this topic has been brought up many times and you can find some good advice.

It basicall boils down to; Take some long practice rides, Get good luggage, Carry a tool kit and flat repir kit, do maintenance before the trip, and have fun!

[chris5150]

Next time i move back to hawaii i am planning on driving my bike across country and shipping it from California.

enjoy the trip

[roosterbike]

If you come south to NC, and hang a right on I-40, hit me up in Asheville.
We'll hit a bike night here or something

[csnowman00]

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I know it is going to be a blast, but I also know that it not going to be easy.  Before I go, I will have to go for a weekend trip or something, great ideas. (maybe to maine or something).  There are a few things that worry me....when I drive for 30-60 minutes, my hands fall asleep.  Is that normal?  Also, last year my clutch went out after having the bike for 2 months.  I just hope no mechanical problems happen. 

I am in the planning stage now, and am buying the supplies I need ahead of time (tent, saddlebags, emergency repari kits, gas cards, AAA membership)....

I will keep you guys in touch, thanks again for the comments.

[Bulwark]

I wouldnt think hands falling asleep after 30 minutes is a good sign.  I can ride for two hrs and not have that problem.  Id say you should get that checked.

[cgann012]

I think people have mentioned this before but its all based on riding position.

Your hands fall asleep because all of your weight is on them when you ride. I think using your legs more to support your weight and keeping your forearms parallel to the ground should help...try that and then get it checked out.

[csnowman00]

Thanks, Ill have to do some searching.  People also told me I have a "death grip" on the handlebars. 

[RedShift]

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I know it is going to be a blast, but I also know that it not going to be easy.  Before I go, I will have to go for a weekend trip or something, great ideas. (maybe to maine or something). ...

Trying a local trip in advance of a big one is a great idea.  Helps to practice packing your bike, making sure you don't forget any important bits, making a check list is worth the effort.

... There are a few things that worry me....when I drive for 30-60 minutes, my hands fall asleep.  Is that normal?  Also, last year my clutch went out after having the bike for 2 months.  I just hope no mechanical problems happen. 

Numb hands is a sign that your posture or grip is not right.  You need to practice sitting straighter with less weight on your hands.  Try sticking your chest out -- puts your spine straighter.  Use your lower body muscles -- perhaps more knee hugging of the tank.  One or more of these actions should take pressure off your wrists.  On that, it could be that your grip may be too tight.  Be gentle.

It might be a good idea to get towing insurance.  Not sure if the CAA offers this service -- check your insurer.  Could be a small fee that takes care of a big hassle.  (The service is supposed to get the bike carried to a motorcycle dealer within 80 km of the place of failure.) 

Oh, and bring a cell phone -- the ultimate piece of insurance.  (Don't forget the charger.  )

Just a few thoughts.

[trumpetguy]

One of the best things I did before my recent trip was to wire accessory outlets to my tank bag and saddlebag.  They are wired through a relay (triggered by the tail light) so that they are powered only when the key is on.  I used Kerry's plans (http://www.bbburma.net/AccessoryPowerOutlet.htm) but added the relay so that I didn't have to remember to unplug when I stopped for lunch or a hike. 

Each outlet is pigtailed through a quick disconnect plug so that the bags can come off quickly if I stay in a motel and want to take the bags in.  When I don't have the bags on the bike, I unplug the pigtails.  The front one tucks behind the headlight and the rear one under the seat.

The relay itself is next to the battery (one of the few places I could find to locate it -- there's not a surplus of room under the seat!  It is held on the bike with zip ties.  Both the power and ground connections are screwed on the battery terminals.  The positive feeds through a 20A fuse to the relay.  The system worked flawlessly on my trip and let me use an MP3 player in the tank bag and charge my phone in the saddlebag.

[csnowman00]

Hey thanks trumpetguy....

Tomorrow I plan on actually installing a permanent cigarette lighter in the area behind the front fairing.  I need power for my GPS to run and from looking at it, it looks like a great spot to mount one.   I will also do a relay with a wire tied into the headlight, so when the bike is on, it will activate the relay.  What kind of saddlebags did you get?  That is on my list of things to get for the trip. 

I am going on a 100 mile benefit ride tomorrow with my girlfriend.  I will try to keep the "proper posture" to see if it helps my hands from boing numb.     

Thanks guys.

[Jay_wolf]

In The Headlight there are to Ignition switched wires , i belive used for the parking light , ones Brown *Posative*, Ones Black and White *Negative* and it only gets used when the ignition is switched to on , i use it for my Acewell , so it doesnt drain my battery ,

If Thats Any Help ,

Thanks Jay

*I Got The Info of Kerrys Site , If You Want To Look Into More Detail