BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Leaving in about two-three weeks, approx 6/10-6/15 from upstate NY. Going cross country. No time frame. Probably head west into Pa and pick up Rt 16 in Altoona, that will get me to Boone N.C. I'd like to see Telico Plains. Then thinking about the Natchez Trace.

Unsure from there. Northern Texas, Moab/ Bryce maybe. I plan on picking up the west coast north of San Fan and riding up to northern Washington. Then into western Washington, Idaho, Montana. Will be spending time here looking for work.

Will camp until I can't stand myself. Then hit a motel or two. Looking for low tourist factor. Two lane backroads. R1200R so no gnarly dirt. Backroads ok.

Suggestions welcome.

That sounds like a nice ride. You might consider the Motorcycle Travel Network. Nice folks and you get to stay with fellow motorcycle tourers with a bed and shower etc. for $15 a night. I've done it a couple of years now and it works. Check it out.

http://www.motorcycle-travel.net/

Also there's a Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=gro ... 95420&ap=1

look for squiggly lines, and stay north.

You are looking for brutality if you think you will cross La and Tx in this heat. Plus camping will be a little problematic, finding a place and then the hassle of setting up.

Super 8s and the like are going for $58/night. Camping will run you about 12-30/night, unless stealth, plus you'll easily add 1.5 hours to your day, with setup and break down.

I just crossed Kansas on US 160, mostly, and can rec that route. North Arkansas is another choice. Prob in Tn you can find something E->W that will be interesting and cooler than the deep south.

N NM, along 64 is beautiful. N AZ along the Vermillion Cliffs is spectacular, esp at dusk. But man, crossing Tx, although sometimes pretty, nice roads, mostly, will be brutal.

I am in La Junta Colorado right now and at 630 am it is already warm. It was over 100 yesterday, Oh, but it's a dry heat! Yes, so is an oven. And La, Ms, Al are wet heat.

Wet down your shirt, Soak your helmet, carry water, apples are good to have. Walmart is your friend.

New tires should be considered, you will get lost and find yourself on dirt roads. Have good maps--AAA--are fine. Consider a GPS, though it will give you grief sometimes.

But, it will be an adventure, esp if it's your first big ride.

Good luck
just my 2 cents

PS Natchez Trace----never appealed, 45-50 mph, RVs, LEOs, and monotonous scenery, though very pretty for a few miles. If you're going to do it Word is the northern part is better

John

John,

Yes, I must admit I have been looking at the daily temps for some of the cities along my projected route. And have been seriously considering a more northerly route.

Thanks for the advice.

Boxer wrote:That sounds like a nice ride. You might consider the Motorcycle Travel Network. Nice folks and you get to stay with fellow motorcycle tourers with a bed and shower etc. for $15 a night. I've done it a couple of years now and it works. Check it out.

http://www.motorcycle-travel.net/

Also there's a Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=gro ... 95420&ap=1

This network looks pretty good. Have you or anyone else had/seen any downside to this program? Curious.

This network looks pretty good. Have you or anyone else had/seen any downside to this program? Curious.

The only downside I have encountered is finding people home when you are touring. For some reason they also like to get out and ride at the same time I do! LOL

But so far, I have hosted only two riders and have stayed at one couples place in California, with others planned, but due to my change of plans I had to cancel several last June. Everyone I've spoken to on the phone have been very cordial and welcoming. Just with that minimal usage I have already saved more than my membership fee. I'm looking forward to meeting a couple in Iowa when I go there this coming month.

Boxer wrote:

This network looks pretty good. Have you or anyone else had/seen any downside to this program? Curious.

The only downside I have encountered is finding people home when you are touring. For some reason they also like to get out and ride at the same time I do! LOL

But so far, I have hosted only two riders and have stayed at one couples place in California, with others planned, but due to my change of plans I had to cancel several last June. Everyone I've spoken to on the phone have been very cordial and welcoming. Just with that minimal usage I have already saved more than my membership fee. I'm looking forward to meeting a couple in Iowa when I go there this coming month.

Thank you for your frank assessment. I don't know how crazy my wife will be with guests from now/then (she hardly can have family over), but knowing I could save myself some serious coin this summer on a trip, it is certainly tempting. Been also thinking of couch surfers http://www.couchsurfing.org/ as another alternative, however, not sure about the digs overall.

Boxer wrote:... in Iowa when I go there this coming month.

What's in Iowa?

jb

Iowa and Nebraska and Kansas are pretty. Just traversed Ks on 160 and enjoyed the ride

and just an fyi for you...just got back from La-> Ark->Ok->Ks-> Co->NM -> Tx-> La

Some really hot weather. I came in today and it was 100 degrees on the road. I had 98 in LaJunta Co.

Stay north young man, stay north

jl

North it is.

I really wanted to head south. I'm just not ready for that kind of heat. I'm heading out Friday. Route 20 across New York. May hit the MOA rally. Then through Cleveland into Michigan. Headed to the U.P. Then over to Areostich in Duluth and up around Lake Superior. Thinking about The Gunflint Trail, I might swing through Ely while I'm up there. Never been there in the summer.

Bike semi kitted out for the trip.



Reached 1000 miles.



Since Uncle Sam didn't rape me as bad as I had thought. So I'll be the Beta tester for the Wunderlich Seat.

LostViking wrote:...So I'll be the Beta tester for the Wunderlich Seat.

How do you like it so far?

ContraMoto wrote:

LostViking wrote:...So I'll be the Beta tester for the Wunderlich Seat.

How do you like it so far?

Yes, please feedback.

Hey guys,

I only got it Tuesday night, I put 150 miles on it yesterday. So far so good but really too early to tell. It is higher and wider than the 2011 comfort seat.

I'm leaving for Washington Friday so I'll keep you posted

Wait a minute

I just saw a thread from about a year ago where you put money down on an F800GS.
Now, you have this red r12 beauty.
What gives? Is there a thread that I missed that details this change of ride/heart?

John

Nice trip and your Bimmer will carry you safely.
If you do come thru N Tx be sure to do the Muenster run, see ridetexas.com magazine for the route. Tons of elevation changes and great twisties, about 1 1/2 hr ride.
Also I would strongly recommend wearing a camelback with ice water in it. When you stop to eat after riding in the heat, eat lots of fruit.
I have a good friend that did "Then came Bronson" trip on his decked out harley to a big corp meeting in St. louis.
He rode from DFW Tx to St Louis in the summer. He had put on stainless plug wires cause they looked cool.
No gps, no map, no reservations, just gonna MAN it out.
Day 1 , a 2hr ride took overnight because he didn't ck weather, he hit a huge storm him and stopped him several times.
Day 2 another storm, his cool ss wires started shorting out in rain and bike ran on 1 plug, bike wreckered to dealer.
Day 3 another storm and since he is too cool to wear full face helmet, all exposed face skin wind and rain beaten and another harley breaks down on the road.
Day 4 , he shows up the the corp. meeting he was driving to with a sore back, several hundred $ in repair bills and racoon eyes from his goggles and no full face helmet.
Riding in the rain is fun, If you are prepared.
Traveling on a bike is great, IF you are prepared.
My travel goodies:
Camelback
GPS-hard wired
Escort radar Det, hard wired.
Laminated maps.
Tool kit , extra fuses, Extra alternator belt.
New tires & tires plug kit w co2 cart.
Fresh oil and fluids.
Hotel reservations.
List of what's cool in area.
BMW bike dealers, Beatthetraffic and the weather channel app in smartphone.
List of radar traps along route.
Fullface helmet w clear and dark visor: store extra visor in tubesock.
Ziptie extra key hidden on frame.
For me personally, I ask for God's protection every time I throw a leg over and hit the starter.

any updates on your trip and how the seat is performing?

Nice photo! I'm really loving that red/black 1200R. Pretty!

I am getting the same wunderlich seat in a few days, I will let you know.

Sept29th: I finally got the wunderlich seat as well as various accessories. The seat did not fit properly my bike, surprisingly...in the sense it would not be possible to lock it properly on the frame, and it would go off by just shaking it up a bit. It took it to my BMW dealer who confirm me it did not fit. I told Wunderlich and they did not believe me eventhough I sent them the video I did with the bmw dealer prooving there was something wrong. Finally I returned the seat to my own expense and Wunderlich refused to send me a new seat and propose to pay me back. Not such a good experience for me.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread...but how did the Wunderlich seat work out?