I get a phone call on Monday, it's Gavin, and he tells me he's got an idea.  This is how the whole trip started.  Less than a weeks notice, with bikes that aren't in great riding condition, and skimpy bank statements.  Sounds like a great ride to me!

   "Lets go to 'The Gap," he says ecstatically.  After a small pause, and knowing that I have a warped front rotor, leaking fork, my bike is lowered, my rear sprocket looks like a saw blade and I need tires bad, I reply "Ok."  Luckily, I had already ordered a new 42 tooth Vortex sprocket, and a set of Shinko 009 Raven sport touring tires.  The warped front rotor and leaky fork seal?  Oh well...

   On Wednesday, we finally decided it would be cheaper to just trailer the bikes there with Travis' Avalanche.  If we all rode, and averaged 35mpg each it would cost as much as driving something that got 8.75mph.  Even the Chevy pulling a loaded trailer in the mountains wouldn't get that bad.  It was about this time that Gavin started looking for a place to sleep too.  He could only find one Hotel, the Two Wheeled In.  Prices were around $80 per two bed room.  He reserved the only two vacancies they had for Friday night.

   I wasn't the only one having bike  problems though.  Gavin had half-ass rigged up his air filter set up and was doing a road test to the tune of  a 60+mph wheelie, and his engine just shut off.  The front end slammed down hard, nearly throwing him and his headlight and freshly painted 636 fender collided.  The fender didn't fair so well, but that was "Fixed" by trimming off the entire back portion that was busted into little pieces.  After hours of troubleshooting,  and plenty of head scratching, he discovered why the engine had stalled.  The left two boots connecting the throttle bodies to the head were dry rotted and cracked.  He called up a motorcycle parts dealer in Augusta, GA, and ordered up two new boots.  He also got the bright Idea of trading a guy on a forum his Z-1000 gauge for a '05 ZX-10R one to match his engine.  They both over-nighted  the gauges, but neither shipping services could guarantee a next day arrival.  On top of that, when he called about his throttle boots, they were coming from BF Egypt and were hopefully going to be here Friday morning, the day we were supposed to leave.  He also had to "Fab-up" an overflow tank, disguised as a metal brake fluid can clamped to a motor mount.  Fingers crossed, Gavin prayed for rain.  His parts came in in the nick-of-time and surprisingly, everything worked.  With the exception of the fuel light.  Gavin would just have to deal with the flashing light and shake the bike to guess how much gas he had left.

   Travis was also having problems with his Intruder.  The speedo was amiss, and he took it to a local shop to have it fixed, as well as a new rear tire installed.  After paying an arm and a leg, he picked up his bike only to find that it wouldn't stay running.  The shop looked it over and found that the mechanic had pinched a fuel hose.  Problem solved, but he didn't get out of there before they got him all worked up about how dangerous riding on a new tire was.

   Mike had tire problems too.  We had just pulled off his extensions, and raised his bike back to stock ride height, but his 929 was still wearing Shinko drag tires, and the rear was a 200mm to boot.  Cash and time were at a premium though and he just said screw it.

   My tires showed up sometime around Wednesday, and Mike and I pulled the wheels off of my Gixxer and carried them to Augusta to have them mounted and balanced after work.  I was a little worried about the grip of the cheap touring tires, but more on that later.  UPS dropped off my sprocket Thursday morning.  I took leave Friday, mounted it up and changed the oil.  I also had to find somewhere to mount my tag horizontally because we had been told horror stories about the ridiculous tickets the local 5.0 and State Patrol so graciously hand out up there.  After I gave the bike a good once over I started packing up my back pack. 

   I met Mike at Huddle House in town, and we rode, in the rain, to Thomson, where Gavin and Travis were waiting with the truck and trailer.  We had loaded three bikes on this trailer before, but they were all sports bikes.  This time we had a 800lb. 8ft. Long cruiser thrown into the mix.  We finally got all three strapped down and gave it a good "Jump up and down on the trailer" test.  It wasn't confidence inspiring, but it'd have to make do.  We loaded Gavin's "Z-King" in the back of Travis' Avalanche and hooked up the trailer.  After posing for a quick picture, out buddy Jason saw us off.

   The Avalanche, with it's 4 real doors was much more comfortable than the extra cab 2500 Chevy we took to Myrtle earlier this year.  The rear seat was half-ass comfortable, unlike the mid-evil torture device GM calls a bench in the 2500.  After hours of driving, talking smack about each others bikes, multiple pit stops for Travis to take a leak (I lost count), followed by all out races to the front passenger seat, and several nervous glances out of the rear window when we hit a pot hole, ears started popping and the roads got windy.  The drive in was gorgeous.  The rain had settled to a mist and everything was a beautiful lush green.  The road wound along the River and up into the mountains. 

   We finally reached the checkered flag on our GPS and turned into the Two Wheeled In in Robbinsville, NC.  I was proud of our tie-down job.  Every strap was still tight, and the bikes really didn't move around too much.  The lady at the Hotel was vary friendly.  She showed us all of the routs to ride, gave suggestions of restaurants, and showed us to our rooms.  The rooms were small, but homely.  They also had their own locking bike garages built in.  The beds however, were rock hard and a little small for my 6'2 frame.  It's all good though.

   We talked with a few older guys who had ridden in from Ohio, then rode out to get some grub.  Afterwards we argued about the weather and what time to wake up in the morning.  We finally came to an agreement and crashed.  Well, everyone else did, but Mike was snoring so loud that it took me what felt like hours to fall asleep.  It was so loud if fact, that it woke me up on several occasions.

   We all got up at about 7:30, showered and cleaned out the rooms.  The Hotel lady said that we could leave our truck and trailer there as long as we wanted.  Gavin bought a map and we decided on a rout for the day, then he cut out the section and taped it to his tank.  Geared up, cold and anxious to ride, we set out into the morning mist.

   Gavin and I rode pretty hard given  the less than ideal conditions, loving every minute of it.  Mike and Travis, however, were pretty slow.  Travis because he was scared of his new rear tire, and Mike just had no grip period.  The big flat 200 also shot his turn in and lean angle to hell so he couldn't go any faster.  We stopped and waited for the others at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort.  When Travis and Mike finally eased up, we got a bite to eat for breakfast and assured Travis that his tire was going to be fine.  While we were waiting we laughed at all of the people that would stop, do a double take, get closer, squat, walk around and wave others over to the "Z-King."  A group of about 6 people stood around it, pointing things out to one another for about 10 minutes, so Gavin and I went out and explained what it was, how we did it, what we used, and how long it took.  This would be the first of hundreds of like conversations to be had that day.  Gavin was so thrilled that someone actually showed an interest in his Frankenstein of a motorcycle.  Back home, if it doesn't have a huge tire, radical paint, chrome everything and at least one TV monitor people don't even notice it.  We took a few pictures and headed out to "Slay The Dragon."

   To be completely honest, "The Dragon" wasn't all that great, though I pushed pretty hard through it, wet roads and all.  Don't get me wrong, it was a blast, but I had more fun once we got on the much less congested and cop free "Skyway."  With 120+mph straights, 80mph sweepers, 30mph hair-pins and a handful of decreasing radius turns, it was insane.  The elevation change is awesome as well, we were literally riding through clouds at points.   Up near the top of the mountain, the roads were slick and mist was falling.  Visibility took a dump as well and it got quite cold.  The scenery was to die for, and we pulled off numerous times to take photos.  On the way back down the mountain the sun started to peak around some clouds and the road was mostly dry.  Gavin and I charged hard, almost too hard in some parts.  But it was a ride of a lifetime. 

   It took about 5 hours to get back around to The Dragon.  Mike wasn't real excited about riding it again, but we talked him into it, assuring him that it would be much more fun now that it was dry.  So we set off again, but sure enough, we hadn't made it in 2 miles and it started raining, hard.  I pushed anyway.  We met up at the end, turned around and charged back through.  I finished first, and waited at the end.  It was neat to watch the shiny wet tires dry themselves out from the heat.  I was really impressed with the tires though.  They held strong wet or dry at the edges of their tread, and didn't ever allow my right hand to get things out of shape, unless I was trying that is.  A good street tire for people who like me, commute and tour more than drag pegs.  But they'll let you turn when you want to.

   After everyone hooked back up, we rode back to the Hotel to load up the bikes and gear and head home.  It was about 7:30 and starting to get dark.  We waved good bye to a trip worth every penny and then the fatigue set in.  All of my muscles were sore, but the only thing that really stood out was my neck.  I'm not used to that kind of riding, and my body was quick to remind me afterwards.  We got home around midnight, unloaded the bikes and gear and said our good byes before heading to our houses.

   Despite the setbacks, the trip was to die for.  It was the most fun I've had on two wheels and we're already planning to go back for 4 days or better next year.  I'd recommend it to anyone.  It's money well spent, and you won't regret it!


Sprockets new and old:


Z-King ready to go:


Strapped down:


From left to right: Mike, Myself, Travis and Gavin:


Starting to get into the mountains:


The Hotel room:


One clean TLR:


Rat bikes:


Tree of Shame:


Gavin:

MT-01, guy was from Canada:


Z-King:


My Gixxer:


Gavin, Mike, Travis and I:


Z-King:


Gavin:


Me:


Mike:


Z-King:


Intruder:

Gavin's map:


Me:


Mike, Travis, Gavin and I:


All wet:

Love the z1000 , my friend had one in Green , but i think it looks nicer in white

Well, look a little closer, it's not a Z-1000 anymore.  If you can't figure it out, I'll tell ya.  Google some pix of a stock one to compare.

zx10 engine , Cbr 636 front end , Maybe b king headlight?

I new it wasnt a stock z1000, i love the rear of those anyways , it is infact a masterpiece to be honest

love the dragon only 40 mins ride from home  , that canuk bike, what was it if i may ask, ( if you know)

where are the gs500's ?

S'more shameless postwhoring

Quote from: Jay_wolf on September 28, 2008, 12:55:10 PM
zx10 engine , Cbr 636 front end , Maybe b king headlight?

I new it wasnt a stock z1000, i love the rear of those anyways , it is infact a masterpiece to be honest

'03 Z1000 frame, swingarm, gas tank, tail section and head light(modded.)  05 Zx-10R engine, '05 ZX-6R forks, brakes and triple,  '05 ZX-10R wheels, custom exhaust, Vortex clipons, PCIIIR, custom "air box." 

What the hell is a "cbr 636?