Off to the Honda Homecomming & up to Canada

[Todd2]

Leaving form Houston, TX. Wish me luck! I'll be in the Guiness VTX world record ride too. :D :D :D Later.

Todd

[Todd2]

Well the trip to Canada went off without a hitch - 3000+ miles. Well....except for trying to cross the boarder into Windsor without a passport. They made us go through customs - took everything out of my saddle bags, did a background check on me, asked me if I knew Canada was a different countey, etc. No big deal, they just wanted to hassle us - but a passport will be required next year (2006).

Also, just recieved my Iron Butt Association # 23299 in the mail today. :) :) :) Yea!!! :) :) :)

Take care.

Todd

[MoreRoadAhead]

hi Todd; I know you said without a hitch but were there ANY little hiccups ie with the bike etc; ANY advice, comments etc?

I am starting to plan a major ride for next yr; X-country; a bit over 3,000mi each way and another 750 or so ('loop') at the far end. Approaching 10,000 total with side trips etc. I am starting to wonder if I need to stop to get a valve adjustment somewhere along the way.....?

Anyway, any observations will be useful and helpful.

Did you check the famous flange bearing either before or after? How does your engine sound; any probs with gasoline quality or maybe availability; what about packing/ quantity and what didn't you need; did you hotel/motel it all the way; thoughts about security/lockup or alarms? Anything.....

thanks
GP

[matrX]

I'd like to hear some tips as well. Just got my VTX 1300 Retro a week ago Saturday, already logged 1200 mi. :twisted: Went up to Ann Arbor, MI that weekend (from Indianapolis). Planning an X-country myself for next spring, Indy to Oregon from the north and then down through the Red Woods and back across the south. Camping is the plan where I can. Tips? Nightmares? What Up?

[Sureshot]

I just changed plugs and checked the valves in mine with 25K miles. Before leaving on a trip check every nut and bolt for tightness. I have had a little grief with aftermarket mirrors and pegs coming loose. Pack light and if you need you can always mail any purchases home. I even mailed home my laundry once and bought new stuff. My favorite is to take old stuff and throw it away as it gets dirty. Good way to get rid of holy socks and junk and make room for the new stuff.

[MoreRoadAhead]

I just changed plugs and checked the valves in mine with 25K miles. Before leaving on a trip check every nut and bolt for tightness. I have had a little grief with aftermarket mirrors and pegs coming loose. Pack light and if you need you can always mail any purchases home. I even mailed home my laundry once and bought new stuff. My favorite is to take old stuff and throw it away as it gets dirty. Good way to get rid of holy socks and junk and make room for the new stuff.

LOL that's hilarious; doesn't that qualify as hazardous waste?
so the BIKE had no issues of any sort? What kind of gas mileage did you get (starting to be a real concern for me....)

[Sureshot]

My bike has run flawlessly except for a poor connection on my HPP unit which would make it miss once in awhile when hitting a bump. I am planning on riding it to Florida in a couple of weeks and would set out around the world with it if I could get away that long. I don't seem to get over the mid 30's for mileage and should keep better track but I ussually expect to fill every 100 miles. It also doesn't seem to matter how fast you travel although I have never really given it a try at less than 75.

[Todd2]

Hey Moreroadahead and Matrix,


I really need to check this board more often. I posted this under a different topic below, but I'll repost with a few additions/deletions and try to answer your questions.

Previously Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:20 pm
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I've been doing this (cross country riding = 1000 miles away from home, by my definition) for 10+ years now with my G/F and I on separate bikes, so I may be able to help you out here. I'm no Iron Butt rider - NO WAIT a minute, I have my credentials now (FINALLY). Much of this may be obvious to you, but its based on my experiences - good and bad as I learned along the way, so I'll just type what comes to mind, till I get tired.

Water is a good suggestion. Drink as you go - I drink 1 Gatorade between every gas stop, if I am riding in the heat. I used to just 'tough it out' till I got REALLY sick on a particularily hot ride one year - no more. Bicycle shops (and The Container Store) sell insulated squeeze bottles - get one - a nice cool drink is much better than hot liquid when you're hot and tired. Always keep it within easy reach while you ride (RAM sells a cheap mount). Get one with a straw and you only have to lean forward to get a drink and never have to remove it form the holder or tilt your head back (eyes off the road) - very convenient, or so says my G/F. Re-fill with ice (pack it in) at the self serve fountain drink machines when you stop for gas - buy your Gatorade (or anything, just BUY something) and tell the clerk you filled your squeeze bottle with ice. More times than not, they give it to you for free (if you do not use one of their cups) or at a reduced charge - like 12 cents (no kidding).

Carry all the protective gear you will need. You WILL ride through cold weather. You WILL ride through pouring rain. You WILL ride through hail storms. You WILL ride through hurricanes. Trust me - don't kid yourself. You will eventually hit every kind of weather imaginable - its not the end of the trip - just another story if you can ride through comfortably and safely. I used to try to plan around this crap - forget it - ***** happens. What I'm saying is - stay dry, warm, cool, use sunscreen, stay comfortable at all times and don't ride beyound your abilities. Once it was raining so hard that I ran thoruogh a low spot on the freeway and the water splashed up and knocked my feet off my pegs - we immediately stopped and waited for 1/2 an hour. And yeah, I know, you're feet got soaked, and your boots weren't dry the next morning either. I like to layer my clothes, so the little I carry goes double duty.

This goes for your gear also - protect it. Use zip lock freezer bags or space saver bags (used to compress garments for storage (Container Store again)) for ALL your gear exposed to the weather, if not in a hard, waterproof saddlebag. Your nice leather ones are only water resistant - not water (sand, snow) PROOF. Yeah, I know, you paid a fortune for 'em - you'll soon find out. Sit on the space saver bag while on a bed to expell all the air out to save space. It works great. Waterproof dive bags from a scuba diving shop (like Sea Line) are an alternative, but $$$.

Plan your day and know (in your head) when it will end. This is really psycological, but it does make a huge differnce. Wake up, and first ride for 100 miles, minimum, before stopping for breakfast. For some reason, the part of the ride before breakfast is forgotten. This makes the day seem shorter, and your butt is first to forget.

Carry extra gas - even if just a gallon! I know I'll be jumped for this one, but again, trust me - even with the most carefull planning I've run out of gas on several occasions (I have a "C" - not really a long legged bike, I must say). Planned gas station stops are closed down or non existent. I travel x-country on back (sometimes way back) roads - interstates are not as bad. I've sat at a small town gas station waiting 45 minutes for the owner to finish his dinner and walk back down the sidewalk to re-open and start pumping again. We met a lot of nice people during the wait (one actually told us to wait, because the owner usually comes back after dinner - especialy if he sees someone waiting. :) )

OK another one for everyone to jump me on - If you get tired [pull over immediately and rest, or.......] drink Red Bull or any of the other high intensity/energy/brain enhancing drinks. They are sold at many gas stops now and really do work (takes about 20 min. to kick in).

Lock your bike in hotel parking lots, and take off all valuables - EVERY night. Try to lock your bike to a pole, DIRECTLY outside your hotel door or window, or position it so they have to lift it to get it. We specifically look for hotels that meet this criteria (older mom and pop hotels are good for this). Between the cable locking the wheels, the handlebar lock, the bike wedged between parking curbs or walls or other cars, it'll take more than two guys to get it off the sidewalk and onto a trailer or pick-up truck. I like to lock our bikes tightly together side-by-side with two cables, wheel/frame to wheel. Now theives have two heavy bikes flopping against each other to pick up - and only from the outside (they can't fit between the bikes and bend over to get a good grip). It'll take a gang of 'em to get both bikes in a pickup. Remember, anything you do to make your bike look harder to get than the Harley parked down the row will better your chances to make the drive by theives move onto an easier prey. (That was an ani-bash on Harleys.) Its sad, but true - you have to make them want to steal somebody elses bike that night. I have an alarm w/ pager. I sleep peacefully now.

Glasses - for day AND clear for night riding. If you have contacts you MUST ride with good wind blocking glasses (by the second or third day, you'll know what I mean).

You didn't say if you were traveling with a woman, If so, take anit-bacterial waterless soap (it comes in a bottle). Some restrooms are absolutely filthy and women seem to have to pee a LOT! Also, individually packaged baby wipes are GREAT! They will even take off grease from your hands.

Walkman - any kind of music while on the road helps pass the time. It entertains people and kills the boring stretches. I have received more positive comments about music from other x-country motorcycle travelers I've met on the road than any other one thing (well......maybe except for aftermarket seats). People love their music when they travel (G/F has handle bar mounted speakers AND headsets in her helmet). I know she's having a good time when I see her bobbing her head and tapping her foot against the floorboard as we roll down the road for the 6th hour. Radios are really only good in the larger cities (you can't seem to find a channel that lasts for very long). MP3s are great (load up the memory). CDs skip, when mounted to the bike, unless padded. Satelite systems work extemely well, except in between tall buildings (someplace you probably won't spend much time in. I have a cassette player that works extremely well (that's a sort of ancient miniture reel to reel player :oops: ). Try before you leave - you may need a mini amplifyer to hear it, though.

Adjust your valves and mount new tires (Avons or Mets 880s - both should make ten grand if only highway driven) right before you leave. No "hickups" with the bike what so ever. I haven't looked at the infamous wheel bearings - yet. Maybe some winter.

Bring an emergency credit card, or better yet, call your credit card company and tell them what you plan to do BEFORE you leave (give them dates). I've had mine cut off more than once for 'suspicious activity". Believe it or not, credit card companies are very accustomed to these types of calls and will accomadate you. If the card reader at the pump starts telling you tp go inside - your about to be in for quite a surprise :D :D :D (call the number on the back of the card).

Finally, take practice runs and 'condition' yourself to long rides. It makes a huge difference.

Also, see the Iron Butt Association site for their riding tips. They have 20+ (rather conservative) tips that may jog your memory and help you with your planning.

Finally, and most important - and I can't stress this enough - HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!! - every mile of every day! I've seen people half kill themselves on their first cross country and never ride farther than the local bar, ever again (or, worse yet, sell their bike after they return). Remember, its an adventure - savor and enjoy it - take pictures, laugh, keep an open mind - make changes as required, you're half way across the country on a motorcycle, exposed to the elements - ON PURPOSE! Stand around at every gas stop for 5 or 10 minutes. Learn what works for you and what doesn't. Its definitely doable - there are A LOT of better, WAY more experienced, riders out there than me. People do this everyday for fun. Finally - good luck, don't worry about the bike - its a Honda!

Todd

P.S. I really hope this post helped you out, by giving you just one idea (it took me long enough to type - INCLUDING SPELLING ERRORS AND TYPOES). Feel free to PM me if you have a specific question (As you can tell, I'm terribly slow to respond due to my travel schedule). Let me (and the board) know how your trip went!

[matrX]

:twisted: Sounds Excellent!! Can't wait. Might have my bud from Oregon meet me halfway and go the rest together, otherwise, this is a "soul-searching-solo-encounter". Can't "friggin" wait! Thanks for the info. Just got my rain gear...