painlessbob
Jul 10th, 2007, 12:01 pm
After a 3,400 mile trip covering San Diego, Yellowstone, Coeur D’Alene, Portland, and back to San Diego, some comments.
1. 47.8 MPG, all Premium. Average moving speed – 60.5 MPH. Most of the trip with a bag on the luggage rack.
2. Hats off to Dale at BMW of Las Vegas for assuring me that my coolant gage was broken, not the coolant system.
3. Our two LTs behaved flawlessly (except the coolant gage). No drops, no problems.
4. There is no thrill in driving in 100-plus weather. Leave very early, have a pool waiting at the end.
5. The cup holder is very useful. A camelback is good at holding water, but I’ll take the option of having soda or coffee. It helps that the prior owner spent the $118 to buy the thing.
6. At age 53, had my second (and third) cup of coffee ever. Why people drink that stuff is still beyond me. Give me a Coke.
7. In Montana I replaced my KBC FFR Flip-up with a ¾ HJC CL-33. Just too much noise. Short trips are okay, but after three days, it got really irritating.
8. All my life the beauties of Yellowstone have been emphasized. So I was prepared for my first visit to be a little anticlimactic. But it exceeded all expectations. God’s Country is right. (I was told that Montana’s informal slogan (aimed mostly at Californians) is “Welcome to Montana. Now go away!”)
9. The coast of Oregon/Northern California is just as beautiful as the coast of Maine. If you can’t get to one, go to the other. Make sure to stop at Depoe Bay and watch at least one boat enter the harbor.
10. Because our Montana destination was near Billings, which hosted Honda’s Wing Ding Event, met up with a bunch of tricked-out Wings. Those that didn’t have the trike conversion had a trailer. Some had both. Maybe it’s just me, but they don’t seem like bikes. Whatever else one might say about Wings and LTs, it’s safe to say that the ratio of time spent customizing to riding is much higher for them than us. Awfully nice people though.
11. GPS’s are incredibly useful. Besides saying how to get somewhere, they’re invaluable in giving arrival time. And by zooming in, they can even give a good clue on what the next curve is like. Took the anxiety out of a lot of blind corners that didn’t deserve any special attention.
12. Do not ever, ever, ever, take Highway 20 in California. No passing zones, lots of very slow traffic, lots of heat. An MC oven.
13. Waited fifteen minutes at a Denny’s. Left without ordering. That THIS was the primary low point in my dealings with other people is a testament to how friendly people are. (My nickname is Grumpy.)
14. Most of the trip was keyed on a destination (friend/relatives of my riding buddies). Most of the fun in the traveling was on the days when there was no predetermined arrival time. Conclusion: bikes are built for the trip, not the destination. Even when there is a destination, leave enough spare time to enjoy the sites along the way.
15. Overall, I have to say that the courtesy of drivers sharing the road was outstanding. Truckers didn’t pull out to pass when approached, RVs pulled over in the turn-outs, slower drivers DID stay right, etc.
1. 47.8 MPG, all Premium. Average moving speed – 60.5 MPH. Most of the trip with a bag on the luggage rack.
2. Hats off to Dale at BMW of Las Vegas for assuring me that my coolant gage was broken, not the coolant system.
3. Our two LTs behaved flawlessly (except the coolant gage). No drops, no problems.
4. There is no thrill in driving in 100-plus weather. Leave very early, have a pool waiting at the end.
5. The cup holder is very useful. A camelback is good at holding water, but I’ll take the option of having soda or coffee. It helps that the prior owner spent the $118 to buy the thing.
6. At age 53, had my second (and third) cup of coffee ever. Why people drink that stuff is still beyond me. Give me a Coke.
7. In Montana I replaced my KBC FFR Flip-up with a ¾ HJC CL-33. Just too much noise. Short trips are okay, but after three days, it got really irritating.
8. All my life the beauties of Yellowstone have been emphasized. So I was prepared for my first visit to be a little anticlimactic. But it exceeded all expectations. God’s Country is right. (I was told that Montana’s informal slogan (aimed mostly at Californians) is “Welcome to Montana. Now go away!”)
9. The coast of Oregon/Northern California is just as beautiful as the coast of Maine. If you can’t get to one, go to the other. Make sure to stop at Depoe Bay and watch at least one boat enter the harbor.
10. Because our Montana destination was near Billings, which hosted Honda’s Wing Ding Event, met up with a bunch of tricked-out Wings. Those that didn’t have the trike conversion had a trailer. Some had both. Maybe it’s just me, but they don’t seem like bikes. Whatever else one might say about Wings and LTs, it’s safe to say that the ratio of time spent customizing to riding is much higher for them than us. Awfully nice people though.
11. GPS’s are incredibly useful. Besides saying how to get somewhere, they’re invaluable in giving arrival time. And by zooming in, they can even give a good clue on what the next curve is like. Took the anxiety out of a lot of blind corners that didn’t deserve any special attention.
12. Do not ever, ever, ever, take Highway 20 in California. No passing zones, lots of very slow traffic, lots of heat. An MC oven.
13. Waited fifteen minutes at a Denny’s. Left without ordering. That THIS was the primary low point in my dealings with other people is a testament to how friendly people are. (My nickname is Grumpy.)
14. Most of the trip was keyed on a destination (friend/relatives of my riding buddies). Most of the fun in the traveling was on the days when there was no predetermined arrival time. Conclusion: bikes are built for the trip, not the destination. Even when there is a destination, leave enough spare time to enjoy the sites along the way.
15. Overall, I have to say that the courtesy of drivers sharing the road was outstanding. Truckers didn’t pull out to pass when approached, RVs pulled over in the turn-outs, slower drivers DID stay right, etc.