Aloha Bud,
I would suggest you do a track day to hone your turning technique, that way they all wouldn't pass you.
The other thing is "home field" advantage. The people who ride those roads every Sunday probably have every turn memorized, they have done each turn for years on that same bike, and they would just be hard to out ride in their back yard, no matter what you were on.
Good for you, that you made that trip...I have just recently done my first 400+ mile day on the W (I have gone much farther than that on several other motorcycles, but not the W), and it was really not bad as a long day ride (400 miles doesn't sound like much until you put 300 of them on tight turns), I own bikes that are more adapt at distances, but I had the W and the Hawk in Virginia, and the W seemed like a better mount for a day we planned on riding 300 miles (did I mention that I rutinely get lost, and that on this day I was leading the ride?).
Last Friday, I drove the formerly U-Haul truck to Pensacola, my daughter had bought tickets for some event that she wanted to take me to (BEATLEMANIA as it turned out). I drove the truck because lightning/thunderstorms were forecast for the whole weekend. I put the W and the NS 50 in the truck just in case I could get some riding in.
It cost almost $300 for Diesel fuel and stuff to go 368 miles. While I was in Pensacola, I put a CD player and a console with cup holders in the truck to make it more comfy next time.
But just as your trip had a big payoff, mine was worth every penny. The concert was great, Beverly rode the NS 50 on Sunday (did three wheelies..starting off with the front tire 3 feet off the ground, then about a foot and a half, the last one maybe 6 inches or so), by the end of her ride, she was taking off and shifting smoothly. I took Beverly's friend, Sandy, for a ride on the W, and I taught Sandy's son Josh how to ride..Sandy told Beverly that she had never seen such a big smile on his face.
James Franklin
2411 Pine Summit DR. E
Jacksonville, Florida 32211
808-225-0994 (cell)
From: "w650_nerd" <themeterguy@...>
Reply-To: W650riders@...
To: W650riders@...
Subject: [W650riders] Costs of a short trip!
Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:02:52 -0000
I just got back from a trip from central Wyoming across Idaho and then
across Oregon to get together with an old Navy buddy and then to ride
beside him on a short 200 mile tour of the mountains of southern
Washington near Hood River.
The trip started with an oil change and noted that the tires are
looking worn. Figured that I could pick them up along the way and get
some miles of extra wear.
It was amazing how everyone of those antique bikes, Vincents, BMWs,
Triumphs,Moto Guzzies, and others that I can't think of right now,
simply passed me on ever curve and I tried to just stay insight. I was
kinda amuzed by a Vincent 500, that looked like an engineering
nightmare.
As we made our way out to the run through the mountains around
Klicitat, Wa., the W held its own on brief straight line acceration
with some very exotic but old machines, most are restored to better
than new!
But the mountain curves, I caved when the funny sounding (like an old
tractor) passed me as I was slowing up and in full lean for a corner.
It was only 500cc, single. It was here that I knew that I'm not the
rider I thought.40 years of riding did not prepare me for a ride with
these old geezers!
My buddy rode his restored to almost showroom 68 BSA Lightning on this
trip that would take us through north central Oregon.
Anyway, these few days wore the tire down a bit and looked ready but I
decided to try to make it home. By Boise, I was getting nervous and
spent several hours checking the shops for new tires. There were none
to be had. All would have to order. Motel bills had already hit the
budget pretty hard. Another 2 or 3 days before I could back on the
road, I gambled that the next town down the way would help, no help.
That night, my mind churned what I was gonna do. Finally after much
thought to rent a U-Haul and carry it back and get home on schedule.
Since Casper is growing and very few U-hauls are leaving town, they
charged me a little over a dollar a mile! And that 40 gallon tank was
really eating up the money.
I haven't added all the costs up but, I think I could have flown and
rented a bike. The bike performed all but the last 600 miles very well.
Never skipped a beat. Speedometer did keep dying until I could get the
bike cooled off in the wind. My gas milage went up to a high of 65 mpg
and began averaging about 51 to 56 mpg for the rest of the trip. It had
been getting a pretty consistant 50 mpg most of the bikes life.
Right now, I'm of the mind to just use the bike only for utilitarian
uses, everyday riding locally in Wyoming, and never leave home to make
a trip that I do not feel the W is up to!
PS: Two things. First is that I got a new videocam that mounts easily
on the handlebars. Sound is terrible but the digital video is pretty
good overall. I have already got some of it up on You-Tube.
Also got some good stuff at the OVM Rally and ride.
Second. I enjoyed the hell out of myself!
Ride Safe!
Bud
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