Long Distance Riding "Must Have" List

TUCKS medicated pads!

 

lights

bring bilbs and fuses. On the way home from my sisters my headlight on my cb went out and I didnt have a fuse and 2 assholes going the opposite direction flashed thier high beams which I had to pull over allow my eyes to adjust to the dark again and off I went if I had the fuse it wouldn't have been a problem

 

It amazes me that Honda has all its headlights on one single fuse. Blow the fuse for what ever reason in the dark and you are fuct. I know from experience. That same experience made me buy a small micro LED flashlight which I ziptied to one of the cables on the handlebar somewhere.

 

I'm not exact on the time frame yet passing through south Carolina but I'll guess it's this coming Sunday the 23rd. If you pm me your cell number, I can update you to meet up for a few miles or whatever. Again I much appreciate the support.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

cell number sent. Ride safe!

 

Ow-yea! I was giggling about the "Long Distance" ride too.eep:

 

The original purpose of this post is to be prepared for relying on only the motorcycle for transportation for 3 months. I'll tally the mileage from start to finish, it'll be much more "long distance" in that regard.

Trip is delayed slightly due to this weather. Still hoping to be there by the 24th.

 

Have a safe trip :vtr2: Vooooooomm..............voooooooooom

 

PGA - ride safe, watch out for a$$h**es on the way check in every once in a while and we'll see you back up here next year.

 

It seems this thread needs a book recommendation (or two) on the subject.

Ron Ayers books are easy reads and discusses in great detail the subject discussed in this thread.

Amazon.com: Ron Ayres: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Robert Pirsig's book are more cerebral. After reading his book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, you'll have a deeper appreciation for the machine propelling you forward (among other things).

Amazon.com: Robert M. Pirsig: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Last note...

In long distance riding, the three points of contact between you and the motorcycle RULE (hands, feet and bum). Addressing these three will make a world of difference in your voyage. A properly fitted bike means, no back pain, numb hands, achy feet, sore neck (you get the point) after a long ride. In your daily commute this is likely a non-issue, but after hours on the saddle, you'll notice. For ideas on addressing these, you guessed it, read Ayers book.

Have fun and don't forget to post a few pix!

 

I recently had my bike towed, and was nervous the whole way to the repair shop (rear flat). Many of these guys just don't have the know-how or equipment to handle bikes. Now, I carry one of this in my bike at all times.

 

That's why you stay there and if the "tow" dudes make flakey moves you stop them. Watch out for some of the tow outfits too. Bike shops that are standup will recommend a tow outfit that does bikes. A couple of things not so honest tow companies will do is tell you that riding in thier truck is against the law. This lets them take your bike to a storage yard and they will charge storage and hit you up for two tows.

Many insurers as well as outfits like HRC offer roadside assistance and towing as part of the deal.

This gives rise to yet another meaning for the term "tow cutter".

Nice to have a plug N ride kit under that seat too.

 

This could realistically be a condition of their insurance. That would not surprise me. But I would let them know before they even touch my bike, that I was riding with it in their truck. If they pull this line, I simply suggest they get back in their truck and leave. I will call another tow. When they see revenue drifting away, they tend to bend a few rules. Some people here actually go out to the bar, get pissed up, then call a tow truck to tow their cars home and they ride with it. I am led to believe that this really is not much more expensive than taking a cab. If you let them throw a hook on your bike, then in most places, there is legislation similar, to a Warehouse Liens Act or Mechanics Liens Act or something similar, that make it your obligation to pay the bill before they release the bike.

 

Thanks, this is good to know if I ever need another tow in Canada. Had one up your way due to a R/R failure. The tow guy had a tilt rig and knew how to handle a bike. Drove me to a nice motel and provided the name and phone # for the local Honda dealer.

That was in your neck of the forest.

Tow companies at least in Washington are regulated by both the state and the indiviual cities and counties. Consequently, concrete information is at best, difficult to define.

Another scam that some of the tow co's pull is towing a car that is parked perhaps too near a fire hydrant by inches or in front of a residence for several days. No communication or citation is issued by any official law enforcemet agency. Your fuckin car is just gone because the sleazey cocksuckers can take it. Then they charge for storage and the tow. What they don't tell the saps that get nailed for this is that since no citation is issued, guilt is presumed. By a fucking towtruck driver??? Kiss my ass.. By law in the US the vehicle under these conditions has to be returned with no charge since proof of violation is not valid by some ten buck an hour doofus that drives a tow truck.

Pretty nice when the prez of your MC is a Federal lawyer and some members are sitting judges.. who know who the sleazebag attorneys of record are for tow companies and outfits like ABATE.

This does not deflect my admiration for Diana Krall by one whit..

 

When I said "their" I meant the tow company's insurance, In re-read, that wasn't quite clear. You were in my neck of the woods and didn't call!!!! I AM HURT!!!

As far as the tow companies coming along and towing without a citation, I hear you and don't disagree. But there may be a municipal by-law or city ordinance that allows for this. This day and age of digital photography, I would be surprised if the tow truck drivers did not carry a camera with them to record where they towed from and any existing damage on the car. They are pretty short sighted if they do not.

Sounds like I am coming to the defense of tow companies. I am not. I place them only about two rungs on the ladder above Insurance companies. But in most cases that I am aware of, when they up and tow a vehicle for illegal parking or parking contrary to signage, public or private, they have a contract with the property owner or steward to do just that. If they don't tow, they are not fulfilling their obligations under an agreement, therefore the contract becomes void and the property owner hires someone that will fulfill the contract. Too much of this lost income means business fails.

Back to the original intent of this post, I really gotta get myself a set of those towing straps. I have never had my bike towed but I think with all the miles I have put on, I am on borrowed time. Anyone puts a scratch on my bike, other than when I drop it myself, will enjoy my expertise in performing a frontal lobotomy on them without the use of an anesthetic.

 

Well PGA - did you depart and arrive safely, I hope?

 

I sure did. It was an incredible experience for me, I enjoyed it. I had a thread going in ride reports going so I didn't update this one.

Thanks for asking, I appreciate the support from all of you VFR folk. My garage in new jersey is always open to any of you. (when I'm there of course)

The picture is from gypsy horse, Wellington, Florida

 

You can see where I installed the canyon dancer rings through the fairings, where the coil is bolted to frame. Look through the slotted portion.

I used them for trailering it to have the chain pressed on, they work perfectly.