Let's see those bikes

You are correct on Tennessee. Was down there again a couple weekends ago. Here's a video.

 

My flush schedule is very short. The higher the boiling point of the “racing” brake fluids, the quicker they absorb moisture. I don’t mind tinkering.

During yesterday’s commute on the Duc, I stalled it once and the clutch felt off. Took the cover off the res and , fluid almost non-existent. Made it home but today I come to the realization that fluid went somewhere. Just ordered an Oberon clutch slave cylinder. $140ish. With 45k on the odo, can’t complain.

 

Are you getting much riding in this year? I'm going on 6K for the year. Farthest i took the bike was Scotty's GTG and that was only 120 miles away. The rest is back and forth to Pittsburgh for work.

 

I know you weren't talking to me, buy I'm new (to actually riding on the street/backroad/legal) since I bought my Suzuki Drz400SM in July, and I'm up to ALMOST 3800 miles.

It came factory with street tires but they swapped some Shinko Trail Masters on for me at the dealership.

I felt my rear tire needed changing and just took it to a guy today. The rear would slide more easily on braking, and definitely wasnt getting in anything wet in it's condition. Went with Michellin Trail Raid Max or something . I'll get the equipment to do it myself eventually. Will update tomorrow after trying them out!

 

Riding when I can. Not a whole lot of just taking a day and going, but I am commuting to work and taking the long way home. Haven’t tracked the mileage. I can’t be much because I haven’t reached my oil change interval yet (4k).

 

Im with yall, commuting is adding most of my miles, including the long way home. Ohio trip added 1400 miles (2. 12 hour rides).
I Put it on the road July 22, 5110 miles to date...with a few hundred more before the cold hits.
When I rode 20 years ago, best I saw was 3000 miles.

 

My best year with the old Harley was 12,500 But i was a younger wilder kid back then. Man i miss that old bike

 

Miss my first Shadow as well.
No regrets, all in due time.
12500 miles is a tall mark to beat.
If I had the putt early in the riding season, miles would have been more I reckon.

 

Here's another one from the last time in TN.

 

Went riding around Saturday, out to a bike shop in Plano with a buddy. He bought a new helmet and we bought the Cardo Freecom4X duo. The store associate installed them in our helmets and initial setup while we ate at Fuzzys Tacos next door and gave us the rundown when we came back.

It was nice being able to communicate verbally.

We came back to our area and rode here and there, and at a city gravel stockpile site I came up on a small rat snake. I got a stick to support him and picked him up. Buddy says let on the handlebars.. okay. He goes up in behind my headlight fascia and won't come out.

We rode for a little bit before he decided to come out and he escaped safely and without harm. He was my first passenger, and now my wife is mad that it wasn't her.

 

if that was my bike,id dump it and be gone, hate snakes

 

Due to residual left foot drop from multiple strokes I’ve settled on a maxi scooter so I don’t have to upshift with my left foot. It’s a 2006 Honda Silverwing 600 and it actually runs pretty good for a maxi scooter.

On Monday November 13 I’m leaving from here in northwest Virginia for Orlando FL to visit an old friend from med school. It will be a 2400 mile round trip, the first multi day trip I’ve ever attempted.

And if all goes well, I’ll be trailering a home made mini motorcycle pop up camper trailer. I simply mounted a hard shell roof top tent to a small motorcycle trailer frame.



If the weather holds I’m going to start the journey by riding down Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The campgrounds in each park are all closed for the season as of October 31, so I made reservations at some independent and state park campgrounds along the route.

I’ve never attempted this kind / length of ride. Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

I have cold, rain and summer riding gear, a lithium jump starter battery and a tire mushroom plug tool in case of tire trouble, winter and summer gloves and Aerostich waterproof over gloves, even a denatured alcohol sailboat heater/ cooker in case I run into really bad weather and need to wait it out, mess kit, etc.

 

Don’t rush it. BRP is a glorious road on 2 wheels. Savor every moment and plan fuel stops accordingly. I exited more than once on fumes. Another thing that got me a little was the elevation changes. It can mess with your ears/head. Wife and I rode from Gettysburg to Roanoke, stayed a night there then proceeded down BRP to Robbinsville, stayed in a cabin a few nights then returned to Roanoke, then home. I think it was 2,200mi or so in 5 days. Anti monkey butt is your friend!

 

Thanks!

Are there any soft extra gas tanks out there?

I wouldn’t mind stowing away a gallon just in case but I don’t want one of those rigid flat cubes.

 

I've only ever seen guys carry these:


Friend of friends had a dual-sport bike and rode with us a couple times. He always had 2.

 

I did a little internet digging. Apparently Desert Fox and Giant Loop are the ones I saw online a while ago:


Apparently there’s a 7l military surplus version that gets good reviews:

I’m trying to find that one but other than Alibaba or eBay with shipping from China, no luck so far.

 

Those are a twin cylinder and get pretty good mileage normally...but in the hills, and pulling a trailer, no idea on your range...my guess is that you could be down to 40 MPG?

 

I just installed a blow and go on a Suzuki Burgman 400. Guy had his wife drive it from Pittsburgh to me (+4 hours) couple weeks ago and it broke down just as she got within 20 miles of my shop. Local place fixed it, this AM they took a Greyhound to get here, she's driving the scoot back w/ the interlock, he's taking train. Chivalry is dying. 1st, my wife would say he11 no, second I'd never ask this of her. I'd have rented a truck and rode w/ her to haul it home (well, 1st I wouldn't have gotten a dewwy..).

They said the drive belt broke and the one pulley was trashed, which probably caused the belt failure.

Moral of the story, be prepared for any situation.

 

The Burgmans are notorious for transmission failures, the 650 more so than the 400 from what I’ve read. In comparison the Silverwings are very reliable in that respect.

I put a new belt on it 500 miles ago, changed the oil and rear drive fluid, front forks were rebuilt, Dr. Pully 26gm sliders installed, changed the coolant and air filter and changed the brake fluid in the reservoirs.

The rear brake lever has been feeling gritty and harder to pull this summer.

This morning I took it to a local independent shop and they vacuum bled the brake lines and put new spark plugs in it. They did a thorough inspection on it and the only thing they found was some fluid leaking from the rear shocks. But they said it’s okay to ride it to Florida and back.

When I rode it home the rear brake lever was once again as smooth and responsive as the front brake lever.