So finally I did my longest journey ever on the GS. A total on 340+ miles going from Chico, CA to Reno, NV and back (since I rode in the city a little while).
My shoulders (left one is busted from car accident) were killing me at the end. I never knew I could have so much pain from them, but what kept me going until the end was the thought of posting my experience at this board :laugh:
So anyway, first things first: the map of the road. That 70's road is a killer. Lots of twists, but I saw many cop cars too :icon_confused:
(click to enlarge pics)
(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_340mi-2way.png) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_340mi-2way.png)
These pics are where the 70's road end on HWY 395. You can see there's like... nothing:
(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_hw70.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_hw70.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_at395.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_at395.jpg)
Once in Reno, I was very tired and had to refuel once again. The clerk at this station thinks he's funny... he also got me with a 'free candy' trap box in the store (had a mouse inside :mad: )
(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_getgas.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_getgas.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_pain.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_pain.jpg)
Finally it was time to go back, and I was back in the 70's road... which took me to the highest point of the road:
(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_goingback.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_goingback.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/th_2reno_5221ft.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_5221ft.jpg)
Oh, and let's not forget the battlescars...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/subco/2reno_battlescars.jpg)
It was a nice ride, but very painful due to my messed up shoulder. Now I know why I did not see many sports type motorcycles (only 2 or 3), but a lot of harley riders (70+ and lost count). It's a real exercise with so many twists and ups and downs.
The GS behaved really well, but I realized how little power it had everytime I got to a hill. Sometimes I had to go in 4th gear at high rpms to keep moving with the traffic :icon_confused:
do you live in chico? i live in paradise, 70s a fun road go up, ive only gotten to belden on my bike tho.
yes I live in Chico... for 1 more day ;)
I go to Paradise every now and then (a cousin lives there), but the road chico-paradise is not much fun (the skyway).
ahhh what a soft fruit cake learn to tough up and ride a motorcycle O0
Quote from: nick_villan on September 24, 2006, 10:40:01 PM
ahhh what a soft fruit cake learn to tough up and ride a motorcycle O0
Previous accident Nick. Don't be a prick.
Your one step closer to the 700 mile a day club, or even the more ( drum rool please ) :bowdown: :bowdown: coveted 1,000 mile club witch I fully intend on obtaining before I leave country.
So are you coming to Reno Calamari?
We should ride if you're up here.
soft fruit cake.. :laugh: that made me lol
and yes CirclesCenter, im moving there next tuesday, but don't know about bringing the bike with me... there's no covered parking at the place i'm staying :icon_confused: so who knows. maybe I move to another place within Reno later.
As far as 700mi in a day, i think that's pushing it for me... Even now 5 hours later after arriving, I still feel pain all over the place, but I loved the ride... i only needed a few more ponies on the engine 8)
DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You'll have to ride with me!!!!
I promise not to go Busa chasing and leave you!
u couldnt catch up with a busa if u wanted [edit: inappropriate word removed by moderator]
Quote from: nick_villan on September 25, 2006, 12:31:51 AM
u couldnt catch up with a busa if u wanted to [edit: inappropriate word removed by moderator]
why do let him speak still :bs: :2guns: :2guns:
Why do we listen to that fake still?
nice ride calli :thumb:
Yeah 340 on a GS is a good days ride, I've done the Ironbutt 1000 on a 85 VFR750, a 85 VT500 shadow, and an 83 GL1100 Aspencade multiple times. Not sure I would want to do it on a GS The shadow had great torque and didn't feel as underpowered as the GS does to me. As far as supersport rides go I am afraid driving more than 5 miles in a straight line will square off my Pilot power tires :icon_rolleyes:
I plan on riding the 954 next weekend for 900 miles round trip 450 to the hotel and 450 back the next day. You learn lot's of tricks long distance endurance riding like hanging butt cheeks off the side or in my case since the bike is tall enough I can drop my feet of the pegs of the 954 and the wind blast at highway speed is enough to keep my boots from dragging. On the GS I used to put my shins on the passenger pegs and lay on the tank since it was to low for the above mentioned leg stretch technique.
Or just sit on the passenger seat with your feet on the rider pegs. :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: CirclesCenter on September 25, 2006, 01:47:13 PM
Or just sit on the passenger seat with your feet on the rider pegs. :icon_mrgreen:
Hell I do that on 15 mile trips :laugh:
Or, get a tank bag and put something soft in it (like your jacket liner)... Put the shins of your boots on your passenger pegs and lay down on the tank...
Whatever you do, I've found that changing position regularly really helps.
My buddy on the Busa gets a kick out of me riding side saddle.
Quote from: CirclesCenter on September 25, 2006, 02:04:05 PM
My buddy on the Busa gets a kick out of me riding side saddle.
Grrl! :flipoff: :laugh:
I just drool looking at that Highway 70 on the map.... lots of twisties!