GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: Mk1inCali on May 14, 2007, 10:11:17 AM

Title: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: Mk1inCali on May 14, 2007, 10:11:17 AM
How many days should I give myself for a solo ride over 2300 miles?  I went from SD to San Francisco in 1 day, then back again the next, and that was about 650 miles per day.

I figure 500 mile days should do it, maybe one that'd cover 750 to get back home.  I'll be riding my ST2.  Later part of August of this year.


Any thoughts/good sights to see (I plan on hitting the Grand Canyon, 4 corners, and any other national/state parks I happen upon.
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: Turd Ferguson on May 14, 2007, 10:33:54 AM
Make sure to hit up the New Belgium Brewery and the Odell Brewery in Ft. Collins.  God I love that town...

Have fun, the ST2 should be right at home on a long trip. :thumb:

-Turd.
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: Mk1inCali on May 14, 2007, 05:05:22 PM
It definitely comes into its own on 300+ mile days.  Around town the fairly tall gearing makes it seem ill at ease, but the v-twin is fantastically flexible (wide-ass torque curve), and the fairly upright seating position makes lane-sharing a cake.



Only real mods I can think of doing would be head work to get a bit more usable RPM range, it starts dropping off after 8K or so, if I could extend that to 9.5K, I'd be absolutely happy with the motor, and then lighter weight wheels and swing-arm.  Otherwise, I'm totally happy with it.
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: ledfingers on May 15, 2007, 01:41:40 PM
you must have run up the coast for sdtosf to be 650. i did el cajon to san rafael in just under 600 but i did 15 to 210 to 5 to 580 so i bypassed all the crap.
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: Mk1inCali on May 16, 2007, 07:05:27 PM
I took 5 to 405 to 101 to 158 to 101, stopped right around Stanford, then rode all around the city before coming back the next day via the 101 again.


If I had had a couple more days I would have done more roads, but meh...it was literally last minute, the night before decision and I had to be back for work in 2 days.
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: ledfingers on May 16, 2007, 10:17:38 PM
you should come up to north bay, we have some great roads... most of them lead to great, secluded, beautiful spots too.

but i'll always be a san diegan. i'll never blend into the norcal culture.... :cookoo:
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: Mk1inCali on May 17, 2007, 10:04:15 AM
It is definitely a different vibe and lifestyle up there.  Right now, SD fits me pretty well, but I could see at some point wanting to go somewhere a bit faster.


I'd like to take a week and do a tour of Napa/Bay area as well.  That's the only problem with Cali, so much stuff to do, it's just what you want to get done first.
Title: Re: Road Trip: San Diego, CA to Fort Collins, CO
Post by: ledfingers on May 17, 2007, 04:09:54 PM
don't move up here if you want faster. the city could work, but not marin.