Long trip thoughts

I like Convertibars, more angle and height options than HeliBars. You can come up quite a bit without buying new longer clutch and brake lines and if you reroute you can come up even higher. New lines and you can lean back like a Hardley rider.

http://www.convertibars.com

 

I did Simi to Phoenix (a little over 400 miles and about 6 hours drive time) on my 04 with a sargent seat, in July. That wasn't the best plan, as it was well over 100 for most of the ride. That being said my 04 did a great job. Stock bars and rearsets felt good. I was thankful for my sargent seat though. I felt like that probably made a world of difference as my hind quarters never complained at all. Getting off and walking around at gas stations helped. A throttle lock/cruise control would have been nice but I survived. I'm about your size, but just a year or two younger layful: and the trip wasn't bad. I felt like I could have done several hundred more miles.

I think a taller wind screen and taller bars, like adding helibars or something, would make a bigger difference and really set you up nice.

I will say to make sure you are wearing comfortable gear. I wore triumph riding jeans with armor and kevlar lining and they were terrible. I had nothing else to ride with so I kept them for the way back but I sure wish I had some other kind of riding pants because those just weren't designed for a trip that long or venting in that kind of heat.

 

I'll vouch for heli bars.It made a big difference on long trips for me.I kept the OEM seat.

 

That's actually scientific fact. Your nose moistens the air and conserves moisture. :-D

 

Just from another direction here....were it me, I'd go straight to a Goldwing for time and distance riding.

I ride in almost all mountain twisties and can hardly stand more than 20 miles in a straight line or 4 lane on a VFR. My last bike will definitely be a 'wing.

I hurt and get tired enough when I ride a full day where I ride. That alone makes me think "Goldwing" for when I get older and keep my adventurousness. Life shouldn't hurt anymore than it already does. FWIW.

 

Noses are also great for propping up sunglasses and using at parties to imitate steel guitars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09QxvE_SGgw

 

I have rode several Wings and they are very comfortable and extremely smooth. How is your BMW R1200RT on comfort?

 

I remember last summer meeting OOTV and others down in San Juan Capistrano, which is about 100 miles from me, riding canyons pretty much all day, then riding home. Probably at least 300- 350 miles total. I was happy to be off of the bike by the end of the day. I guess I'll do my best to set my bike up for this upcoming trip.

 

next time we have the same day off let's do a big 33 loop. Its about 9 hours of riding and several hundred miles but mostly twisties. It'll give you a good idea of what you want to do. AND its a great ride.

 

Funny you ask. Comfort is one reason I got rid of it. I have short legs for my height so it was a tall bike for me and the seat was horrible. It was built such that I always slid forward against the tank and it hurt my crotch area and, of course, the tools there....; ) Otherwise, it was a very quick bike and handled very well where I ride, which is all twisties. If the seat wasn't so uncomfortable it would definitely been an all day mile eater of a bike. Kind of a shame because I like the boxer engine. Lots of torque.

 

The Wings are pretty low and well balanced. I have seen a bunch of photos of Gold Wings doing wheelies. Not sure if I'd do that but kind of nice to know it could do that.

Ok, maybe a small 1st gear wheelie wouldn't hurt.

 

Ever come to any sort of conclusion here, Lint?

 

If you ever want to know what a Wing is capable of doing, look up "Yellow wolf at The Dragon" on YouTube. He can outride most people on anything with his 'Wing at The Gap. He's humiliated a lot of people there.

 

Several good recycles of Goldwings here:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v0uGqCRvXzA/hqdefault.jpg

 

I'd like to get another bike, but I'll stick with my VFR for this trip. I'm breaking the first part of the trip up with a day spent at Zion National Park, then going to Denver. I'm getting busy in my business, so it could happen that I get something else, but no plans at this time. Although an S1000XR would be real nice...

I really want a new bike that is without the old bike maintenance issues, but once they're done on my 99, it won't be needed again for a long time.

 

Regular maintenance should take care of any major issues.

Let us know how it goes with the Viffer. ... any mods planned?

 

I do maintain it, but I'm in an apartment that frowns on people wrenching. I just need to replace head bearings and soon my chain. I don't know if I'll mod it or not. Perhaps some drop pegs and raised handlebars, if I can find a good deal on it. Then I may put on a touring screen.

I'm debating on having the valves checked. My mileage has dropped and it has 74k+ miles on it. I'll be throwing new plugs in it soon too and maybe pull the injectors to have them cleaned. Oh, I also need to do a Coolant flush.

 

Let me know how it all goes!

 

Me too. I get really turned on by coolant flushes.

 

I would have thought you would have gotten your rocks off buffing your helmet...