Detroit to San Francisco in four days on a 23 year old 500cc Honda
I made it. 2,600 miles on an untested, untried Honda Shadow that hadn't ran in ten years. It ran flawlessly from southeast Michigan all the way to San Francisco, California.
Highlights:
o Over 700 miles of FULL throttle. 400 miles with a strong headwind trying to keep speed, 300+ just making time. Very little was speeding excessively.
o That rattle? Before freaking out thinking it's a loose cam chain caused by miles of full throttle, consider there are more keys than normal on the keychain. They might rattle, too.
o Test the electric gear before 200 miles of 28 degree weather.
o Freezing rain makes for a very good grip on the seat. The ass clenches and won't let go.
o HAVE FRIENDS. They will tell you where the snowstorms are.
o Dust storms are cool. The wind that comes along with them is not.
o Random Cinco de Mayo street fairs are neat. If you're lucky, the food won't hurt you.
o I am finally a San Francisco resident. Within ten hours of arriving I had a parking ticket.
Take time to relax on the road. I stayed for a day in Denver, Colorado with some friends. Saw a movie, slept in, had two great meals. It was rejuvenating. Speaking of rejuvenation, stretch often - the entire trip passed without Advil-inducing pain.
Four days of riding, 2,600+ miles. It wasn't a sport touring bike, it wasn't a fully faired monster, it wasn't a literbike. It was simply a 500cc 1985 Honda Shadow.
To anyone who says to a beginner, "You need a bigger bike! You can't even get out of the way of traffic on that thing!" I say - try it for yourself, you'll be surprised. It's not the bike, it's the rider.
(Crossposted to motorcycles.)
Highlights:
o Over 700 miles of FULL throttle. 400 miles with a strong headwind trying to keep speed, 300+ just making time. Very little was speeding excessively.
o That rattle? Before freaking out thinking it's a loose cam chain caused by miles of full throttle, consider there are more keys than normal on the keychain. They might rattle, too.
o Test the electric gear before 200 miles of 28 degree weather.
o Freezing rain makes for a very good grip on the seat. The ass clenches and won't let go.
o HAVE FRIENDS. They will tell you where the snowstorms are.
o Dust storms are cool. The wind that comes along with them is not.
o Random Cinco de Mayo street fairs are neat. If you're lucky, the food won't hurt you.
o I am finally a San Francisco resident. Within ten hours of arriving I had a parking ticket.
Take time to relax on the road. I stayed for a day in Denver, Colorado with some friends. Saw a movie, slept in, had two great meals. It was rejuvenating. Speaking of rejuvenation, stretch often - the entire trip passed without Advil-inducing pain.
Four days of riding, 2,600+ miles. It wasn't a sport touring bike, it wasn't a fully faired monster, it wasn't a literbike. It was simply a 500cc 1985 Honda Shadow.
To anyone who says to a beginner, "You need a bigger bike! You can't even get out of the way of traffic on that thing!" I say - try it for yourself, you'll be surprised. It's not the bike, it's the rider.
(Crossposted to motorcycles.)