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      10-11-2020, 11:53 PM   #54
macadamia9
XK Red 27 Technique
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Drives: 2018 G01 X3 M40i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Eastern Idaho

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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
excellent info, have been researching the GS. Recently they had a Hayes caliper leaking recall. (one of the larger K's had a water pump issue ). 600mile first service, then it was 6000mile valve adjustment (recently a soft cam metal wear issue). I like the 2021's and in comparison to Africa Twin the BMW's wight down low and capability is very tempting. I want to buy new and I'm balking on the price, one model that starts at $18.xxx may still be too expensive for me.

Very good photos.
Thank you very much! For what it is worth, you could ride any motorcycle for your trip. Some will be more comfortable; some will just be adequate...

I did another long distance ride back in 2012 from San Clemente, CA to Edmond OK, to Peoria IL, to Hiawatha KS, to Beaver UT, to Las Vegas NV, and back to San Clemente. I did this trip in over three weeks stopping in each city above for anywhere from a single night (Hiawatha) to almost two weeks (Peoria). I did my first Iron Butt ride during this trip. It was the Saddle Sore 1000 (SS1000), which is over 1000 miles in less than 24 hours. I do not remember my exact time, but I do remember it was 105°F when I left Hiawatha, 38°F when I rode through Breckenridge at about 2am, and 115°F when I arrived in Beaver, Utah. That entire trip was done on a 2007 BMW 650X Challenge with no windscreen and no winter gear at all. The ride was a lot of fun. I rode on Route 66 from California to Illinois, then all freeway on the way back. It was very scenic, very fun, and very tiring. Luckily, I had a Garmin Zumo 665 GPS with the XM Radio antenna & I have a lifetime XM subscription. That made the trip much easier. I had my comms set up in my helmet so I could listen to the XM radio and make/receive calls if necessary.

The hardest thing about making a long motorcycle trip is to actually start. You can do all of the planning, packing, deciding, and choosing necessary, but until you are KSU (kick stand up), you are still waiting...

Attached are some photos from that trip. I had modified my motorcycle to have an aftermarket large auxiliary front gas tank that fed into the main tank located under the front of the seat, an aftermarket auxiliary gas tank that was mounted to the subframe under the back of the seat on the right side of the bike above the tire, and had a one gallon "emergency" fuel can attached to the back of my left pannier. I had 2 bottles of Gatorade on the back of the right pannier. The shots of me getting ready to leave were taken by my mom. I'm a firm believer in ATGATT (all the gear, all the time). And the photo of me riding with the GPS in the lower left shows the speed at the top right of the GPS screen: flat out with my fat ass and all my gear was about 80 mph with no wind. With a tailwind I could get about 85 mph. At one point after I left Edmond OK, I was riding into a thunderstorm and into a headwind. With all of the rain and wind, I could only go about 60 mph.

It was a very worthwhile trip...
Attached Images
       
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"No matter where you go, there you are..." Buckaroo Banzai
2018 G01 X3 M40i | Alpine White 3 | Cognac Vernasca Leather | 21" Rims | Tow Hitch | Bone Stock
2002 BMW R1100S BCX | 2007 BMW G650X Challenge (sold) | 2012 BMW R1200GS Adventure (sold) | 1999 Alpine White E36 323i Convertible (sold) | 2012 F30 335i (sold)
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