I just made it back today..... as some of you know I am going overseas next month so I decided to take a little trip on the GS. From the 3rd of Dec till the 20th I managed to put over 5000 miles. My trip took me from Florida to California. I got to go through the swamps of louisana to the flatlands of Texas and New Mexico. And finaly the mountains of Arizona.
Everyone in my unit said i was crazy for wanting to take a trip cross country in December....... And they were right. The night I left It was 38 degrees in floida. I hit another low in texas when at 24 i was able to watch gas boil on my tank. I finaly quit when i saw Ice form on the interstate.
I didnt get too photo happy on my trip but as soon as the admin approves my photos ill go ahead and post them for now I'm going to hit the sack. Ill fill you in more in depth latter.
Nick
P.S. I know i can't spell
Wow, congrats! I'm glad you made it safe! That is one helluva journey! Its already time to adjust your valves again... :)
Once again, congrats and I'm jealous. Get some pictures up!
-T.
Welcome back!
That is awsome. Congrats.
Congradulations and welcome back!
uh... btw...
who's that guy?
:laugh: :laugh:
j/k
Props on the long ride... how did the GS hold up/ride for long distances? Comfy?
Gas boiled on your tank? I dont understand. Like it was overheated and boiled in your tank?
Did anyone see The Long Way Around, the motorbike world tour doc with Ewan MacGregor, there was one point in Mongolia or somewhere where a russian 500cc they got was pwning their 1000cc bmw's because of the weight problem. I bet GS500s would be a good touring bike despite being not as powerful.
Yes I just watched all the episodes of "Long Way Round" and holy shite it was excellent, probably by far the best thing I have watched in a while. And yes the cameraman (Claudio) broke his r1150gs and had to get some small Russian bike, but this was all on unpaved and muddy roads (if you can call them that) where the heavier BMW's were getting stuck. On a paved road or gravel road situation I would much rather have a large, comfortable bike such as the 1200gs or something along those lines. But with a good seat and what not I think the gs500 would make a good tourer, if only for short to medium length trips.
As has been said before, we need to see some pics!
Welcome back, Nick!! :cheers:
gas boils in really cold weather. for some reason my photos arent being posted on the photo gallery. Ill figure something out today.
It wasn't the altitude that made gas boil?
I hope not. I was in centeral tx on I-10 when it happened.
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0080.jpg)
at a rest stop before tx. Note the hand guards i made out of an old water bottle that i cut and duct taped to my handle bars.
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0086.jpg)
Sunrise in the mountains between Mesa and Payson AZ. Watching the view while flying through the canyons and hilltops was so beautiful that i forgot it was only 37 degrees
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0088.jpg)
Pic of me comming over the Mogion Rim AZ elevation 7200 ft. temp 31 degrees
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0116.jpg)
This place is busa heaven. I went 20 miles down this flat and lonely road with out even seeing another vehicle.
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0134.jpg)
Hoover dam
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0123.jpg)
Just proof I made it to california
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0115.jpg)
Cold bastard
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0081.jpg)
Why i always ask for a hotel room on the 1st floor
I went through my stock chain, lost my upper right faring bolt, had my replacement chain streach 4.5 inches. And my choke refused to work at most of the altitudes i was at.
My body felt fine and comfey for the entire trip but stiting here 4 days after and my back is on Fire. But im only 21 so i guess i can suck it up
Very cool :thumb:
I love the ghetto hand guards :laugh:
Quote from: scottpA_GS on December 23, 2006, 08:17:35 AM
Very cool :thumb:
I love the ghetto hand guards :laugh:
They're on backwards... ;) :icon_razz:
Great pics! :thumb:
I notice the turnsignal lookin' down, and then it's shorter than the other in the other pics.
Yea..... about 5 days before my trip i went to the dealership to pick up my cold weather gloves. Their parking lot is about 20 years old, and really gravely. I was trying to slow down and make a turn. I used my front brake and you know what happened next.
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/735/1681735/100_0066.jpg)
but on a good note... the clutch leaver can double as a kickstand
What do you mean their on backwards??
When we used Clorox bottles we ducttapped the mouth of the jug to the handlebar for better coverage, but hey, I'm not knockin' ya. :kiss3:
Man, all I gotta say is WOW! Uber kudos to you man!
Damien
awesome man, but how did you go through the chains so fast? you not lube them?
i just found out today that my front sproket is fubar
That'll do it.
Quote from: damiencovington on December 23, 2006, 09:31:01 AM
Man, all I gotta say is WOW! Uber kudos to you man!
Damien
+1
Im not so brave as to try it during December tho :laugh:
Nice pics, by chance did you see the ones just outside of Payson, that say
"they saw an elk"
"oh what a thrill"
"untill the smashed it"
"on the grill"
Quote from: Blu_Spd_Dmon on December 23, 2006, 06:05:15 PM
Quote from: damiencovington on December 23, 2006, 09:31:01 AM
Man, all I gotta say is WOW! Uber kudos to you man!
Damien
+1
Im not so brave as to try it during December tho :laugh:
Nice pics, by chance did you see the ones just outside of Payson, that say
"they saw an elk"
"oh what a thrill"
"untill the smashed it"
"on the grill"
yup thats the one
You the man. When I was 21 I was riding around on my secondhand bicycle. Love the hotel shot and the iced up GS chugging away. :thumb:
props to you for riding in the cold. Personally, 45 degrees is about my limit.
Great ride.
You have big cajones for making that ride in the cold. :cheers:
There are those who dream and there are those who act.
Well done! :thumb:
Thanks for the pics! :bowdown:
Quote from: starwalt on December 25, 2006, 12:29:28 PM
There are those who dream and there are those who act.
Well done! :thumb:
Thanks for the pics! :bowdown:
couldn't of said it better myself. Great pics man.
you said your going overseas? The sand box? I thought you had left to Honduras.
No I leave on the 10th for Hondo. Hopefully I can time my mid-tour leave with the next deals gap trip.
3imo you up for a ride this weekend?
Wish I could.
I hate to turn you down, but I just moved my wife and kids here from Orlando and all I want to do now is be with them.
We moved into a house in D'ville on the 5th.
On the 9th I was on a plane to Germany.
I just got back before Christmas.
I am putting off the weekends to be with them for a while. I don't know if you remember my situation but it has been a year since we lived together. I am sure you can understand.
I'll try to catch you on next years Gap trip. Be safe in Honduras, chasing coke farms and Drug lords. Make sure your pilots aren't using their products. :laugh:
Nice job and great pics! I'm doing a similar trip (actually California to Florida) in a month or so, and it's definitely good to see 'proof' it can be done. however, I'll be on a 1997 gs500e...brrrrrr. Congrats again!
Its all about the gear. 4 layers of top and bottoms + a flight suit (just for coveralls) battery heated socks, ski mask, gator neck, winter riding gloves,and an IPOD is all you need.
I understand. 3IMO.
Please.... to anyone on this board if I ever get to the point where family takes presidence over riding please kill me. :laugh:
Quote from: 3imo on December 26, 2006, 10:06:53 AM
Wish I could.
I hate to turn you down, but I just moved my wife and kids here from Orlando and all I want to do now is be with them.
We moved into a house in D'ville on the 5th.
On the 9th I was on a plane to Germany.
I just got back before Christmas.
I am putting off the weekends to be with them for a while. I don't know if you remember my situation but it has been a year since we lived together. I am sure you can understand.
I'll try to catch you on next years Gap trip. Be safe in Honduras, chasing coke farms and Drug lords. Make sure your pilots aren't using their products. :laugh:
whoa whoa whoa 3imo say that again. You moved INTO orlando or you left it? If you moved here we have to ride and you gotta show me your badass projects. :thumb: :2guns:
Quote from: thatguy1025 on December 20, 2006, 11:40:21 PM
I just made it back today..... as some of you know I am going overseas next month so I decided to take a little trip on the GS. From the 3rd of Dec till the 20th I managed to put over 5000 miles. My trip took me from Florida to California. I got to go through the swamps of louisana to the flatlands of Texas and New Mexico. And finaly the mountains of Arizona.
Everyone in my unit said i was crazy for wanting to take a trip cross country in December....... And they were right. The night I left It was 38 degrees in floida. I hit another low in texas when at 24 i was able to watch gas boil on my tank. I finaly quit when i saw Ice form on the interstate.
I didnt get too photo happy on my trip but as soon as the admin approves my photos ill go ahead and post them for now I'm going to hit the sack. Ill fill you in more in depth latter.
Nick
P.S. I know i can't spell
Sounds awesome man. Grats. Did you stay in hotels or sleep on the side of the road? Also what unit are you in? Are you going to Iraq? A few of us on the board are in the military. :2guns: :2guns:
Quote from: starwalt on December 25, 2006, 12:29:28 PM
There are those who dream and there are those who act.
Well done! :thumb:
Thanks for the pics! :bowdown:
+1!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
Rolling the bike into a 1st-floor hotel room is a stroke of genius.
Quote from: Smokebombb on December 27, 2006, 01:09:36 AM
Rolling the bike into a 1st-floor hotel room is a stroke of genius.
Also would make for a fast, power-assisted getaway should anyone bust your door down. If you backed it in that is.
[/quote]
Sounds awesome man. Grats. Did you stay in hotels or sleep on the side of the road? Also what unit are you in? Are you going to Iraq? A few of us on the board are in the military. :2guns: :2guns:
[/quote]
I stayed in hotels, also if I got tired I would pull my bike between 2 trucks at a stop (to break the wind) and take a 15-20 min cat nap while sitting on the bike.
Right now I'm in a flight school unit but I'm heading to Hondo.
>>Right now I'm in a flight school unit but I'm heading to Hondo.
I envy you.
Quote from: indywar360 on December 27, 2006, 04:01:31 PM
>>Right now I'm in a flight school unit but I'm heading to Hondo.
I envy you.
theres nothing to envy. Just becase I'm headed to a warm tropical country that just so happens to be the chinook party capital of the world, theres tons of hot women who want american guys, and I'm aviation...... It doesnt mean a thing.
P.S the chinook is a helicopter for all my non-military friends.
Quote from: thatguy1025 on December 27, 2006, 04:05:31 PM
Quote from: indywar360 on December 27, 2006, 04:01:31 PM
>>Right now I'm in a flight school unit but I'm heading to Hondo.
I envy you.
theres nothing to envy. Just becase I'm headed to a warm tropical country that just so happens to be the chinook party capital of the world, theres tons of hot women who want american guys, and I'm aviation...... It doesnt mean a thing.
P.S the chinook is a helicopter for all my non-military friends.
you bastard. Flying for the army was my dream!! Didn't pass medical :mad: :mad: :mad: I had to settle being an engineer instead :icon_rolleyes:
I'm not a pilot, If a crew chief on chinooks.