EDIT -- Full write-up here:
http://myweb.cebridge.net/james.south/2007%20Trip/index.html

Or you can read the whole thread...

ORIGINAL POST
Saturday I'm taking off on an 9-day, 2,000 mile trip.  There will be five bikes (after we meet at a central location Saturday evening) -- my GS, a 94 BMW R1100RT, a 2001 Triumph 1200, a 2004 Harley, and a 1978 Moto Guzzi 850.  It will be a family trip.  My brother, his girlfriend, his son, my dad, and I are going.

Our route will take us to Big Bend National Park and surrounding area, then through the Davis Mountains to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, and the southern Rockies (Cloudcroft and Ruidoso, NM).  At Roswell, we'll either head to Palo Duro or Caprock Canyon in the Texas panhandle, or back to Dallas if we're beat.  We'll be camping about 75% of the time.

I will be carrying my tank bag, my GIVI tail bag (which now has LED brake lights that I just finished), Fieldsheer black nylon saddle bags, and a small backpack on the passenger seat.  I have installed relay-activated charging outlets in the tank bag and saddlebag to run the chargers for phone and MP3 player (gotta love those Etymotic Research ER-6i in-ear phones).

I have spent the last two months going over the bike in my (limited) spare time.  I think I've covered all the bases -- we'll see.  I'll take lots of pics and keep a good diary of our fun to post later.  Thanks to this forum for all the help getting the bike ready.

Quote from: trumpetguy on May 10, 2007, 10:33:41 PM
Saturday I'm taking off on an 8-day, 2,000 mile trip.  ...  I'll take lots of pics and keep a good diary of our fun to post later. 

Have a safe trip, and I can't wait to see the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Man, that sounds like an awesome trip. Hopefully I'll get to take a few like that this summer. Have fun and be safe. 

Have fun!

you will  LOVE  big bend !!!! if you want some good roads to ride down that way let me know . i can give you a round trip ride that will take you all day ! .. or one that will only take you about 3 hours .. eather way they are both super fun .. while you are up by Carlebad caverns if you have never been in that cave you need to is crazy and cool at the same time !

I am green with envy. Be safe.

I am looking forward to reading your report (and pics!).

Remember... if your nuts start going numb, pull over... it's just not worth it. 

I'm back from the trip.  I am swamped catching up on work, so my pics will have to wait a day or two.  The trip was great and the GS ran flawlessly.

We ended up changing our route after Wednesday.  We had just come out of the Big Bend area and it began to pour.  We had been camping up to that point and luckily had reservations for Wednesday night in a motel in Alpine, TX.  The next morning it was still raining some but was horribly foggy.  The forecast in southern New Mexico (where we were headed next) was for rain the remainder of the week.  So we diverted south and east and spent the rest of the trip in the Hill Country of SW Central Texas.  Because of the wet May, the wildflowers were amazing.  The roads we chose were all scenic and amazingly fun riding.  For those of you familiar with the area, they included State Hwy 16, Ranch Road 337, and the Willow City Loop.

Of the seven nights of the trip, we camped five nights and spent two nights in motels (in places where we couldn't find campgrounds).  We covered almost exactly 2,000 miles.   The only times that the bike got uncomfortable was when I had my backpack blocking part of the driver's seat.  Once I shifted the gear, I had more options and could alter my riding position a bit when it got uncomfortable in one position.

My GS was "the little bike that could."  The next bike up in size (in our group of five) was twice the displacement, but the GS did very well.  The ONLY problems I had were when the speed limit was 75 mph and we were going up hills against the wind (I had lots of gear on the bike, so aero drag was a definite issue).  Once we got back to a 70mph limit, I was in good shape.  Mileage varied from high 38-49 mpg depending on speed and terrain.   Even though the bike was loaded down (saddlebags, GIVI talbag, tankbag, and backpack laid across the passenger seat), the GS handled great in the twisties.  I even thinned out my "chicken strips."

All in all, my first motorcycle touring experience was a blast.  Pics later...

Woo.. Welcome back, safe and sound... I'm envious 

I'll be waiting for the pics.



J

Welcome back!! 

I'll be looking forward to the pics, too! 

Well, here's the link to the story and pics -- It took me over two weeks to finish, but it was fun!

http://myweb.cebridge.net/james.south/2007%20Trip/index.html

Whoa!!! GREAT write-up, and fantastic pics!!!! Thanks for sharing this so we could live vicariously! 

beautiful country. I feel relaxed already. 

Awesome pictures, looked like a super fun ride.

Wow...  Looks like a good time!     Now I gotta get some days off and do my own.