We rode for 4 days to nowhere but saw everything. we did over 500 miles and had a grand time. It was one of the best vacations I've ever hadand I will be back with the bike as soon as I can. The GS handled great and I didn't have the least problem on the paved roads with it even riding 2 up. The one thing it did not like was gravel, then I doubt there are meny street bikes with street tires that do. My biggest worry was the breaks but no problems there. I averaged 58 mpg with the best day being 64 and the worst 53
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1333.jpg)
A church in the community of Kona. This small community has been there so long it had a Revolutionary war veteran buried in it's cemetary.
NC 80 north leads to this place and it is one fun road to ride.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1328.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1328.jpg)
Another post card valley. The beautiful veiws abound, if we stopped and photographed every one we would have never made it anywhere.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1359.jpg)
The veiw from the top of Roan Mountian. If you look real close in the upper left hand cornor you can see my house in south Florida. The road down into Tennesee from the top of this mountian was a blast.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1369.jpg)
Signs like this are for real, this is 80 south and was another fantastic ride. It ends up in Marion but what's better is the 40 flavor soft serve ice cream shop there. Coconut soft serve dipped in chocolet is friggin awesum.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1386.jpg)
All good things got to come to a end and here we are loaded and ready tohit the road. We drove 2200 miles with the bike hung back there. Got to love the GS any thing heavier would have had to have been trailered.
I can't see the pictures but I would like too? Am I the only one who can't see them?
I can see them. The trip looks great. 500 miles 2up sounds like a bit of work though!
I want to get a bike carrier like that, but I don't know yet...
how do you load the bike ON the carrier?
Looks like you made that bike rack yourself ? Any details on it?
Nice pics :thumb: Looks like a great time.. Wish I could take a vacation :mad:
:cheers:
Sounds like you and your wife had the perfect vacation. Love your pics. Post more when you get time.
Yeah, now that I think of it, I'd love more info on that bike carrier too. We were thinking about getting a hitch for our little car, it'd be awesome to be able to carry a bike with our car, mostly for the sake of picking up non running bikes from craigslist, or carrying bikes you just fixed up to get an inspection.
What size hitch do you think you need to carry a bike? Can you get away with the smaller size, or do you need the full size?
As everyone said above. Nice bike rack is it home made and how do you load it? Details Please!
Robert
Nice pics lilwoody even though that house is my house in charlotte ...
And have you noticed ... your wife is waaaaaaaaaaay out of your league ... :cheers:
Bikers man, they gtet he best chicks ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Nice !
Love the trip reports ! :cheers:
Im planning a ride up to the NC mountains to meet my brother but
I'll be riding from Florida all the way up >:(
Should be an adventure !
Quote from: The Buddha on July 15, 2009, 09:07:05 AM
Nice pics lilwoody even though that house is my house in charlotte ...
And have you noticed ... your wife is waaaaaaaaaaay out of your league ... :cheers:
Bikers man, they gtet he best chicks ...
Cool.
Buddha.
BWAHAAHAHAHA
Quote from: Bluesmudge on July 14, 2009, 11:19:11 PM
I can't see the pictures but I would like too? Am I the only one who can't see them?
I can't see them from my computer at work. I'll be able to see them on my computer at home.
-Porkchop
Here's a few more pics
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1325.jpg)
Taking a break on another road with killer views.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1344.jpg)
Looking off the Roan into Tn.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1371.jpg)
Looking south east off the parkway. If you look close in this pic you'll see Buddas shop in the upper right just over the ridge. :icon_lol:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN1382.jpg)
The top of Grandfather Mountian
You simply take the all thread out of the rear tire support, loosen the lower nuts on the support, pull it back, slide in a peice of 3/4 plywood that is cut to fit, put it on the ground and roll the bike up or down. To get it up on it I drive it up by standing along side and feathering the front brerak and clutch. The front support is tighten up to be ridige so when the front tire goes into it it's not falling over. Then it's just a matter of tightening the tire supports, strapping it in (6 ratchets) and the lights and tag. It takes about 30 minutes and is quite solid. I may do some mods to the hitch for 2 more box tube supports but it works fine the way it is. It's on a V8 grand Cherokee and I pretty sure this is about the smallest vehical I'd put one on, I'm going to be getting air shocks before our next trip. I'll post a thread on how I made it with pics of the hauler later.
Grandfather mountain ... man that is so 2001 ... we have formally and I should know, I am a NC resident ... and officially renamed it GSJack mountain.
Its to be called that from here on forth.
Cool.
Buddha.
Well Lilwoody I think that that is creative as hell I'd like to see like pics of it being loaded in steps. I can imagine you feel it in the rearend taking corners when it is loaded?
Cool Beans
Robert :thumb: