My first looong ride - will she make it?

Alright boys and girls, I'm making my first multi-state and I need your infinite wisdom. I'm heading from Portland OR to Jackson WY on my '85 VF700, can take as much time as I want, camping and fishing are priorities, and my return trip goes through Yellowstone.

Do you think my bike can handle the journey (it has 16K and no known issues)?

That is to say, what maintenance issues are key (besides oil, fuel, tires)?

A list of must carries or what I should leave at home?

Things to know about long rides?

Misc?

Alright, let the wisdom flow!

 

As long as your bike is in top mechanical shape, I can only think of one potential issue, altitude.

Portland is approximately at sea level. Checking the approach plate for KPDX reveals a field elevation of 30 ft. If your carb'd VFR runs fine at this elevation, it's going to run like ass at the elevations in WY. The Jackson Hole airport is listed as 6451 above sea level. If I remember correctly, the town of Jackson itself is around 8000ft. My 89 Hawk runs fine in NJ but sometimes will barely start when I ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. When the wife & I went to Mt Mitchell (6684ft), the bike wouldn't start & I had to ride it down the hill & pop start it.

To fix this problem, you need to jet the bike to ride at elevation which then causes it to run way to rich at sea level. This is why I'll never own another thing with a carb on it.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Preventative maintenance.

A couple of things I like to do for a trip like this one:

Really consider the quality of your chain. If it is old, or stretched, or nearing the end of the adjusters, get an o-ring chain.

Things you must do to prevent disappointment: Change oil and filter, and air filter if you can (or at least blow the pine needles out of your old one). Obviously check the air pressure in tires, and spray the fuse box (behind key) with WD-40 to lubricate your fuses & electrical connections. I like to spray WD-40 under the cover of the high-low beam switch, and also under the start/kill switch by loosening the phillips screws on these plastic housings and spraying the piss out of the connections hidden underneath= WD-40 is an electrical vitamin to an old bike, and may prevent your lights/kill switch from giving you bad times in moisture.

Purchase and bring:
Chain lube
extra 10w40 oil
WD40 can (small)
bottle of favorite carb cleaner (the kind you pour in tank)
Air pressure gauge
Tools to tighten the chain (under your seat in original tool kit)
2 or 3 Bungee chords and 50' of parachute chord (you will use it to string your fish, set your tarp, and maybe lash down your bike in a pinch)
If you have a cover, bring it!
Pledge orange furniture polish to clean your plexi screen on windshield
Micro-fiber towel to wipe water or pledge from screen without scratching it.
1/4 oz Maryjane for when you put your feet up for the night! Enjoy:wink:

 

GREAT suggestions so far...any suggestions for what I can do about the elevation change issue? Do I just adjust my bike ahead of time to run rich for the elevation change? I saw an advertisement for Flo-Commander; anyone here of it?

 

My 89 Hawk GT has a section in both the owner's manual & the Honda maintenance manual for high altitude adjustment. It specifically says to only adjust for SUSTAINED operation above 1500 feet. Being that you're going to be up around 6000+, I really don't have a clue what should be done.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2: