BruceHarrisJr
May 14th, 2006, 10:10 pm
I, like some forty-nine other fools completed the Ride Around Texas this week. Details can be found at: www.mctourer.com. Its about a whole lotta ridin' in a small amount of time; either 70 hours or 85 hours-rider's choice. Being one to arrive late at a party and stay all night, I chose the 70 hour version and completed my ride in 69 hours and 29 minutes; which covered 3,192 miles of fun.
For me, the highlight of the trip was arriving at the entrance to Big Bend National Park at sunrise and feeling completely alone with Mother Nature-she's beautiful at that time of the morning. The low point was missing a turn and putting me off route some 35 miles which I over came by driving at 35 mph for the last twenty miles into Kermit, Texas. Upon arriving at the gas station in Kermit I pumped 6.1 gallons into MS Whoyah! Not fun in the middle of nowhere Texas!
I'd like to thank a few folks that without their help my ride would have been impossible: Mr. Joey Fletcher of Durham, NC. Joey helicoiled my camshaft bearing cap a few days prior to my departure. My engine never missed a beat.
Mr. Fletcher Clark of Ruleville, Mississippi. Fletcher left a note under my motel room on the morning of departure alerting me that a gas station that we had decided to use for our official starting point in Texarkana was in Arkansas instead of Texas. Had I used the Arkansas station I would have ridden around the entire state of Texas for nothing. The ride had to start and end at the same location in *Texas*! Mr. Don Norwood for being my *official* cheerleader, friend and pal! After riding for three days with only eight hours of sleep total his voice on the other end of a phone at oh 'bout 0330 hours at the end of my ride was nice to hear. Thanks Don for keeping your phone bill paid!
Some observations: Its the rider that counts, not the bike. ie, a GS 650 BMW ran with the 'big dogs' all day long-a miserable bike for this type of ride but ridden by a rider who 'just wanted to finish' in time.
LD Rider underwear: It flat out works for me. Yes, I know a pair now cost $50 butt consider the alternative.
Texas drivers: Simply the best the USA has to offer. Polite, friendly almost to a fault.
LT weight: Sucks really bad all the time, especially when your so tired that you (me) can't get her off the side stand due to a)Ohlins shocks b) inclination of parking surface c) dead weight
Texas Deputy Sheriff: who shall remain anonymous and stopped me for speeding: 81 mph in a 70mph zone and gave me just a verbal warning;then struck up a conversation about 'How's the fishing down in Texarkana?'
LT's Cruise Control: works just fine thank you very much at 100 mph for extended periods.
Russell Day Long Rider Backrest: for me its uncomfortable, nowhere near the comfort or engineering that is provided by the BAKUP.
BMW K1200LT model year 2005: she ain't perfect and neither am I-that's part of the reason we get along so well. She took me 5,381 miles in about eight days and never complained...
For me, the highlight of the trip was arriving at the entrance to Big Bend National Park at sunrise and feeling completely alone with Mother Nature-she's beautiful at that time of the morning. The low point was missing a turn and putting me off route some 35 miles which I over came by driving at 35 mph for the last twenty miles into Kermit, Texas. Upon arriving at the gas station in Kermit I pumped 6.1 gallons into MS Whoyah! Not fun in the middle of nowhere Texas!
I'd like to thank a few folks that without their help my ride would have been impossible: Mr. Joey Fletcher of Durham, NC. Joey helicoiled my camshaft bearing cap a few days prior to my departure. My engine never missed a beat.
Mr. Fletcher Clark of Ruleville, Mississippi. Fletcher left a note under my motel room on the morning of departure alerting me that a gas station that we had decided to use for our official starting point in Texarkana was in Arkansas instead of Texas. Had I used the Arkansas station I would have ridden around the entire state of Texas for nothing. The ride had to start and end at the same location in *Texas*! Mr. Don Norwood for being my *official* cheerleader, friend and pal! After riding for three days with only eight hours of sleep total his voice on the other end of a phone at oh 'bout 0330 hours at the end of my ride was nice to hear. Thanks Don for keeping your phone bill paid!
Some observations: Its the rider that counts, not the bike. ie, a GS 650 BMW ran with the 'big dogs' all day long-a miserable bike for this type of ride but ridden by a rider who 'just wanted to finish' in time.
LD Rider underwear: It flat out works for me. Yes, I know a pair now cost $50 butt consider the alternative.
Texas drivers: Simply the best the USA has to offer. Polite, friendly almost to a fault.
LT weight: Sucks really bad all the time, especially when your so tired that you (me) can't get her off the side stand due to a)Ohlins shocks b) inclination of parking surface c) dead weight
Texas Deputy Sheriff: who shall remain anonymous and stopped me for speeding: 81 mph in a 70mph zone and gave me just a verbal warning;then struck up a conversation about 'How's the fishing down in Texarkana?'
LT's Cruise Control: works just fine thank you very much at 100 mph for extended periods.
Russell Day Long Rider Backrest: for me its uncomfortable, nowhere near the comfort or engineering that is provided by the BAKUP.
BMW K1200LT model year 2005: she ain't perfect and neither am I-that's part of the reason we get along so well. She took me 5,381 miles in about eight days and never complained...