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

GypsyRR wrote:Nice ride, ChiTown. I'd like to know where this picture was taken. What river? Any coordinates even remotely close that could identify it? It's the first river in your set of photos if that helps you remember. It looks like a great place to visit in the summer.

That was some tough stuff you rode through. Obviously, your bike can handle it though.

There are some very good paved roads in Arkansas too, you know. I just thought I'd throw that in there in case some people were thinking about coming to the Arkansas Bash in October and are afraid all of the roads are like what you just rode on. They aren't!!!! The paved roads are very nice - clean, nice, well marked, no Elk wandering around, no frozen ruts, no rivers to ford, ample restaurants, pullouts, overlooks, and nice motels with clean dry beds, and nice hot showers. But - if off road is what you want - obviously there is that too, as seen in this report.

Great report. Fantastic pictures. Nice sound effects too.

It is where I marked Camp Creek. Beautiful spot. I saved it in my StreetPilot for that very reason, I'll be back there.... I don't have my Atlas with me, but can post the names of the places later...
You can go to http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321528 at the bottom of my first post....
to download the Garmin Track GPX file (that you can open in Google earth, or Garmin Bobcat for Mac) for an exact location. It is a great place, you'll have to ride down a few miles of nice gravel roads to get there, not too rough, and doable for anyone who's ever ridden on a gravel road.

Yes there are plenty of beautiful paved roads there, don't be afraid just like Kristi says...
If I can make it to the Bash I'll be happy to lead anyone down some of these "other" roads, staying out of the real rough stuff. There's also many nicely groomed gravel roads that you don't have to be crazy to ride a street bike on, that will take you to out of the way, beautiful places.
Since the nice paved roads had salt and lots of debris from the winter, and this trip was about saving $, I didn't spend too much time racing around the pavement, and kept it mellow in the dirt.... kind of.

Proud to know you, Joe!

LAST DAY


OK, time to head North back to Chicago. I didn't sleep in today, and was up at sunrise. It was chilly 27ºF, and my tent was frozen pretty solid. My Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4, and Big Agnes Storm King º0 bag had kept me very warm and comfortable this whole trip, it was just in between the bag, and the bike (with a Gerbings jacket) that was cold. I wanted to wander my way North until I made it to I-44, I still left the GPS set to minor or unpaved roads, so I was excited to see where I'd end up, I didn't have a MO Atlas with me, so I was flying blind in a way... I had around 500 miles to get home, so the more I screwed around the later I'd get home. Low's to be in the 20's in Chicago tonight.... So be it.






The roads on the Ozark Scenic Riverways were great, but quite rough. I didn't take as many pics due to the terrain in places, and didn't stop as much.... I had to be home tonight...









Hard to really see it here, but the Current River I came up to lived up to it's name, being a large, deep, fast moving river that I couldn't cross here, so I turned around. I hate turning around.








I tracked back and found another route, by this time I felt like I had been screwing around trying to get through here and was wasting daylight. I needed to get moving North.










I went and scouted out a route, and it looked like I could do it..... but it was going to be close. Obviously my main concern was sucking water into the engine, since my intake is only about 2.5 feet off the ground. Current River Here I come! More than likely I would not try this if I didn't have a SPOT Messenger with me...























As I went past the big rock in the pic, the front end dropped down over 2 feet into the river and the force of the river hit me. I gassed it and held on, and it just kept getting deeper. poo! Engine sputters, must be taking in water I thought. I twist the throttle even more, the rear end beaks traction, but lifts the front end up and over the big rocks in the river. When the rear end slide out I slammed my butt back on the seat to get my feet down to keep from falling. The water was over my knee's. I remember feeling that I was moving forward and sideways from the current...... I'm still on the gas. going . going. Made it! Loose embankment... got it!

:clap


















I reved the engine a few time to make sure it was cleared out and running OK. It was. The only thing was now my pants and boots were soaked, I took the boots off off and poured the water out. A minor inconvienience right now when it was almost 60º, but I just thought about later...... Whatever I'm unstoppable ! :ricky








So after riding a little ways I came up to this. Couldn't help but think how convenient one of these would have been a little while ago, since my inflated ego had been deflated from the feeling of wet itchy feet. :ear






















Back on pavement.








I can completely relate to the dog...








While stopping for fuel I met Doc from St. Louis. He was heading home now, just out for a day ride, and I decided to follow him on his "great" route home.







It turned out to be a good choice, he lead me through some great roads, the best in the area he said. We didn't really ride that hard because the roads had a lot of sand, and gravel on them, especially in corners. So we took a nice mellow pace, and it was a nice way to end the trip, really.






*boring part



At 74º it was the warmest I had been riding in since last year.... Perfect, too bad I had to go home...


















Oh yes, riding across Illinois again.....:snore










By this time my feet had gone from itchy to cold to numb. It was 28º. Glad to be home, but only because I was finally cold.....







Slideshow, it takes a little time to load.

http://chitownrider.blip.tv/#754620





:clap


Cheers!

I hope someone reminds me to suddenly get a massive tummy ache whenever ChiTown volunteers to lead a ride I'm about to go on.

Great ride...REALLY great ride. Thanks for sharing it.

Joe - my son, the downhill mountain bike racer, always saves the comment "he's crazy!" as a compliment of the highest order.

To borrow his phrase and meaning - "You're crazy man!"

I am glad we got the chance to meet at the Atlanta show, so I can put a face with these great reports. The offer to go riding with you the next time in WNC stands, but I am afraid my tours of the mountains would bore you!

The only time I have rode with him was to the MOA rally. He will not take me anywhere for obvious reasons.
http://chitown01.smugmug.com/photos/265 ... QDW-XL.jpg
It look like you have a leak? No.

Great RIDE and a superb read - thats what life is all about. Thanks for sharing and have a good Easter one and all. I of course will be mounting the Roxster and travelling from London(ish) to Cornwall - Have fun be safe !

Ewan MacGregor has nothing on you!

ladybeemer wrote:Ewan MacGregor has nothing on you!

He sure has something I sure don't; unlimited resources and a sponsorship from BMW!


I tried to get on board with this journey, but it doesn't appear I made the cut....


http://www.emilioscotto.com/default_eng.asp


Again, one of the points of this report is to show people that if you have the will, you can (almost) go anywhere you want on any motorcycle.
You don't need a bike designed for round the world off road journey's or Dakar Race to ride down some gravel roads, with an occasional small water crossing... to see beautiful out of the way places, without gawking tourists, or to camp in places without RV's running generators
I don't really have much off road riding experience, been 15 years since I was on a dirt bike. After some of my off road adventures last year I knew I needed to take it up a notch, so this winter I scoured ADVrider.com reading about off road riding technique's. This trip I put that info to use. Stand up, elbows out, and just gas it to go over/through the rough stuff. That's the basic's...
If I can do it, anyone can do it, and when you take it too far you're stuck picking up your bike, not someone scraping you off the pavement....
I believe it's not as dangerous to ride at a slow pace off road as it is carving up the twisty's on the pavement with blind corners... at least there's NO traffic to worry about on fire roads, plus now that I a carry a SPOT Messenger, I'm way more likely to go further off the beaten path, or try a deeper river crossing - I have access to help anytime...
Ride to Brazil on a R? hmmmm could be fun.


This is way less dangerous and just as exciting....





Than this








Steve, no leaks.... come on.... she takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'


Thanks for all the kind words....


Cheers!


-Joe

UNBELIEVABLE!

Joe, you've done it again! Further words fail me at the moment, other than to say you should be paid for this!

Joe

I have to bow and pay reverence to your riding adventures as there isn't any better advertisement that BMW can buy for their brand. Here we have someone that has taken a plain Jane of a bike and has, in essence, ventured out well away from the designed use for the bike to come back and scrape the valve covers on the twisties.

I know I couldn't do it.....you should be elevated to a place of worship, as I surely do!!!!!

Hi !!!
This trip is i-m-p-r-e-s-s-i-v-e.

I own a R1150R and have installed the Conti's on your advice, but had no time to test on the back roads.

I have tested an R1200GS but, as you say, the fun of riding 90% on asphalt is losed on the GS compared
to the R, so I will surely push the R1150R out of the pavement more often after your report.


Many, many, many, many thanks

Great Ride....

Just want to know; how do you pack all your stuff.
The picture of you camping, I see a chair, and then in another picture it looks like you have some type of 'Boom Box" for your tunes.
Where does it all fit???

MJB wrote: Just want to know; how do you pack all your stuff.
The picture of you camping, I see a chair, and then in another picture it looks like you have some type of 'Boom Box" for your tunes.
Where does it all fit???

Most everything I have is small and lightweight, it's always a work in progress - for me to take less.
My pack changes accordingly to the climate I'm in. If I'll be in cold weather I need more space to store the cold weather gear when it's gets warm... this summer I won't even use my hard bags on trips, with the tent on the forks looking something like this:



Here's a list of my gear for this trip:

Mountain Hardware Lightwedge 3 Person Tent

Big Agnes StormKing 0º Down Sleeping Bag

Therm-A-Rest Prolight 4 Sleeping Pad

Therm-A-Rest Compression Camp Pillow

Merrill Shoes

Kermit Camp Chair

JetBoil Stove

MSR Dragonfly Multi-fuel Stove ( I don't usually carry 2 stoves... the Jetboil is my first choice, but has not performed well in the past in temps below freezing )

MSR Blacklight Frying Pan / Aluminum Plate

Utensils / Aluminum Foil / Seasonings

Various Nalgene bottles with cooking oil, coffee, fish-fry breading, etc.

MSR Dromedary 8L Water Bag

Gerber Wood Saw

Gerber Multi-Tool

Filet Knife

Mighty Lite Mini LED Lantern

Streamlight Scorpion Flashlight

Petzel eLite Headlamp

REI XL Camp Towel

Seattle Sports Roll Top Dry Bag

Bass Pro Shop telescoping fishing rod and reel( ultra-lite), Shimano Medium weight rod + reel / Mini Tackle Box

JBL On Tour Speakers / iPod


Wearables:

1 REI pants (for campsite)
2 Under Armor underwear ( very important for being monkey butt free)
2 pair Sokz brand socks
1 Bodz long underwear top and bottom
1 pair Smartwool socks ( for campsite )
1 Patagonia thermal shirt
Gerbings jacket, Gerbings socks ( for below 40º), Gerbings G3 gloves ( for -5ºF to 35º )
Rev'It Lab jacket
Rev'It Ultimate Pants
Rev'it Ergo Boots
Rev'it PCM winter gloves 35º - 60º
Rev'it summer gloves 60º+
Shoei RF-1000 with Pinlock shield Inserts





In the left side saddle bag:
Mountain Hardware Tent in a compression bag, shoes, pint of something brown. Space for food, or extra clothing to be removed in warm weather.

Right saddle bag:
BMW bag liner, with clothes, towel, space for food and extra clothes or beer.

Roll top bag on seat:
Sleeping pad, sleeping bag, Kermit chair, pillow, Mountain Hardware down jacket( for campsite).

All the rest of the camping/cooking/fishing stuff goes in the Pelican top box, plus air pump, torque wrench, and maps, with some space for water bottle or food.
A decent amount of tools under the seat, along with a respectable small first-aid kit.

Camera, iPhone, sunglasses, lens cleaner, micro fiber towel, gum, etc goes in the Pelican tank box.

Very impressive! You really test the limits of that bike, and yourself, and come out "shining." Nice work.

Appreciate the equipment list. That picture with the list, never really showed right on my system. It was too cropped, with the front wheel off screen (and no scroll on mine). But I opened it in a new window and it shows the whole picture.

I never knew our m/c looked so cool from below! I've been treating this area as "unseeen" when detailing my bike. Now, I'll have to get out my tooth brush and spruce the underside up. Imagine the embarrassment of having a bunch of grease boogers hanging off the underside!

Creeks and rivers are still swollen with rain here in AR (more rain and crud weather coming). Many of the sights you pictured have been well under water for days. Many first descents are being claimed by the creek boaters.