ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted August 14, 2008 12:16 PM
Off to burn off another tire
I'm off in the morning on a 2500-3000 mile motorcycle/camping trip. Will be passing through, BC, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, N California, Oregon, back through Washington then home to Vancouver Island.
While doing the big loop of the PNW we expect to do a day trip out of Thompson Falls Montana and another one out of Coos Bay Oregon.
Should be fun but I'm expecting extremely hot conditions. Have full mesh gear and one of those Fieldshear Polar Vests. Packing lots of water and some bug off. LOL
Stay out of trouble people. LOL (I hope I do as well)
Locked and loaded!!
The proposed route
Thompson Falls loop.
Coos Bay Loop.
  
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shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted August 14, 2008 12:19 PM
Have a safe, fun trip!
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ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted August 14, 2008 12:19 PM
Must have clicked the wrong button and did 2 loops out of Thompson Falls LOL.
Main proposed PNW loop.
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Ninja_Knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted August 14, 2008 12:20 PM
That is living!!!! Have a terrific trip!
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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nydhags
Expert Class
Posts: 127
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posted August 14, 2008 02:24 PM
Have a fun safe trip.
Sounds like my type of mission.
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To Do List:
CONTINENTAL US DONE
Hawaii - I’ll rent a bike there, MAYBE
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 14, 2008 02:26 PM
man I'm jealous
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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port_angeles_ninja
Expert Class
Posts: 388
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posted August 14, 2008 03:09 PM
+1 on the jealousy
How much time do you have planned for the whole trip?
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Red/Black 85' GPZ900
Blue 07' ZX14
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ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted August 14, 2008 03:51 PM
How much time do you have planned for the whole trip?
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10 days. Will be going through your town tomorrow. Catching the ferry over to PA from Victoria in the morning. Stopping in at Port Angeles Power around 1 pm to pick up a Fieldshear Polar Vest. Then heading down to Olympia to meet the rest of the guys taking the trip. Starting trip from Olympia. Hope to go back through PA on the 25th to catch ferry home.
I'll wave. LOL
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port_angeles_ninja
Expert Class
Posts: 388
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posted August 14, 2008 03:59 PM
thats cool that you can take it at a nice easy pace. just did a 2400 mile trip to california with the girlfriend on the back, but we only had 3 days.
If you have 30 minutes to spare in pa and haven't been up to hurricane ridge it would be a worthwhile little side trip.
i'll wave back
have fun
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Red/Black 85' GPZ900
Blue 07' ZX14
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GTMan
Novice Class
Posts: 33
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posted August 14, 2008 05:03 PM
Man...that looks nice....Good luck and enjoy.
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GTMan
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted August 14, 2008 05:55 PM
lucky to have that much time to ride,enjoy!
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted August 14, 2008 08:18 PM
I did my little 1650 mile 3 day trip and was really happy to get it over with lol. Would have been a lot better with a connie seat, and someone else to ride with.
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Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted August 24, 2008 01:19 PM
I'm back, actually have been since late Tuesday night. Just now getting around to up dating a few details.
The following are a couple of ride reports I have posted up on the Island Rider site and a note to some of the friends I made the ride with.
Hope you enjoy the read.
Ken
Ride Report
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Well like most long distance M/C road trips-things can go sideways! Whether road conditions, weather, mechanical issues, health whatever. Things change.
Fri the 15th started as planned. Caught the morning Coho over to PA. Took a leisurely ride SE down 101 to the out skirts of Olympia to stay at friends. 2 more riders came in over the evening and the 4 of us headed east at 7.30 Sat. morning. We got well east of the I-5, Seattle mad house and head north on 2 lanes. Wound our way up to Hwy 20 and headed east on the Cascade Hwy. It was warm but bearable. After we went over the pass and started down into the interior things got very hot. High 90's and climbing. We crossed back into Canada at Osoyoos at about 7pm. It was 102f. Sitting in temps of 102 on motorcycles with the temps likely touching 200f wafting up of the bikes waiting to pass through customs/immigration was a killer.
Stopped at first motel, no rooms. Checked a couple more only to learn that everything around Osoyoos was booked.
Fortunately one of the guys had a contact in town. A phone call got us an invite over for beer. He had a fridge full in his shop. Re hydration took place in a civil way with an invite to shower and flop our sleeping bags in his back yard. There is a God!!
6.45 next morning our Host par excellence showed up with a large carafe of coffee. We were on the road east on Hwy 3 before 8 and the heat was already building.
As we passed through customs/immigration into Idaho it was again a 100f with the same sit on bikes and wait our turn melt down. As long as we "in the wind" we could take the extreme temps but just stop and oh my God it was hot.
Stopped in Banners Ferry for lunch in an A/C restaurant and did not want to leave this oasis.
Finally did but stopped for a swim in a lake along the way before ending up in a motel called Rim Rock on the edge of Thompson Falls Montana. 2 other riders from Revilstoke and another from Utah we were supposed to meet up with were there.
After much beer and dinner it was decided that we would hang out here in the A/C rooms/bar/dining room for the Monday then strike out south Tuesday towards Nevada.
As Monday went by and temps climbed to 102f a group decision (chicken out) was made. The hell with this, I'm going home to the coast. Which I did and everyone else split for home. So much for the grand ride of 08.
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The following is a ride report I sent out to my riding buddies yesterday. You may enjoy it??
Memorable Ride
Well every bit of equipment from the trip has now been dried out, cleaned up and put away until next time. The bike is again spotless and all polished up. So clean, I don't want to even take it out and ride it at the moment!!! Of course my body still reminds me that I over did it on Tuesday.
Tuesday you say??
Well on Monday evening I got myself and everything organized for the run home. Was planning on an early start to beat the heat of the day and run to about Osoyoos. Motel it and make the run out to the coast on Wednesday. Plans changed by the mile.
Pulled out of the motel in Thompson Falls Montana at 5.20am. Gave your room a toot toot as I rolled out of the parking lot.
Rode for about 5 minutes and thought to myself. I'm COLD!! For the first time in about 3 days I was under dressed. Stopped and put the liner in my jacket. Rode another 10 minutes and realized that my hands were now cold. Stopped again, traded the mesh gloves for leather, thermolite insulted gloves. By now the bike is fully warmed up. I'm warmed up so I let the 14 have it's head. I was rolling along at about 85mph mile after mile. I left Montana and had almost crossed Idaho when the low fuel light began flashing. Stopped in Priest River for fuel and breakfast about 8.00am.
Got those chores out of the way and headed west again. As I crossed into Washington State went onto Hwy 20 north for a bit. At breakfast while studying the map spied a shorter route, An unnumbered road from Usk to Cheweiah that came out onto Hwy 395. GREAT!! M/C road. I have it filed away in the memory bank to do again some day. The pass at the top was 5773'. The road surface is excellent and NO traffic. Just carve away to your hearts content.
Shortly after coming out on 395 north it started to spit. Stopped, put on rain gear. 20 minutes later it had stop showering and was getting hot out. Stopped again, pealed off the gear and got rolling fast again. Hit Hwy 20 and headed west. Started spitting again Oh well, rain gear time again for about 1/2 an hour. Peeled it off again.
As I was getting near Twisp just east of Winthrop I watched a great Thunder storm ahead. It was moving north east and not raining where I was. Pushed on. About a mile east of Twisp the road was soaked and staring to spit but thought I would just run on into Twisp and stop for lunch. Close to 12 and time for fuel for bike and myself. Came around a corner and there is a fresh mud slide across the road. Water and mud still flowing across the road. A lot a rocks the size of soft balls in there as well. (thought to myself (hell I'm not going back) Slowed to about 3-4 mph and went clunk-clunk-clunk through it. Standing on the pegs like a dirt bike with it slewing around under me. Didn't go down but more luck than good management. Now it has started to pour. Not stopping. Another 1/4 mile and another mud slide going on. Done it once, I can do it again which I did. Another 1/4 mile and the road makes a sharp down hill left into Twisp and yet another mud slide flowing all the way down the hill with just the odd bit of pavement showing here and there. Away I go again, clunk-clunk, get to the bottom of the hill and there are 3-4 cars and a couple of PU's sitting there watching me and trying to decide whether they are going to attempt it or not.
It is really pouring now and I'm getting soaked through the mesh gear. Pull into Twisp and dive into a gas station with an awning over the pumps. Fuel up and cast my eyes up and down the street. Spy a restaurant down the street. Ride down. park and go in for lunch. The heavy rain has subsided by the time I finish. Go out to bike and strip down a bit to a fresh T shirt and pull over. Put on rain gear and push on. Hwy 20 mid week is really lonely, hardly any traffic. Great ride through the Cascades, carving to my hearts delight!!
Look at watch and think to myself, I can make it HOME!! today.
Pushed on until I hit 1-5 and take my first Interstate of the day. Shoot the 60 miles or so up to the boarder running pretty steady 90mph. Cross through customs/immigration at about 6.20 and shoot for the ferry. Caught the 7pm back to the island.
Story not over yet!!
As the boat came into Swartz Bay it starts to rain, HARD!! It is now dark. I suit up in all my rain gear and off load along with 250-300 cars and trucks. The next 20 minutes or so was some of the most difficult/dangerous riding I have done in a long time. The spray coming off all of these wheels made visibility through a soaked/fogging visor almost impossible. A gazillion tail/brake lights added to the mental confusion. The fact that I had already been riding for about 14 hours and covered close to a 1000 kms didn't help either.
But, the horse and I could smell the barn. We were not stopping.
Finally rolled into the driveway in Sooke about 9.45.
2 double rums and a hot tub later and I was ready for bed.
Great memorable ride. (for me)
When are we going again!!! Pant Pant.
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted August 24, 2008 03:15 PM
your gonna want to slit your wrists from Shelton to Astoria. forecast rain forever.divert! divert!
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Black 06
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GTMan
Novice Class
Posts: 33
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posted August 24, 2008 04:41 PM
Nice Ride
Sounds like a classic ride with all the pain and thrills....Thanks for the report......
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GTMan
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted August 25, 2008 08:49 AM
Good write up, nice pics, and no accidents.
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Ninja_Knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted August 25, 2008 01:02 PM
Freaking beautiful! 100°F??? Must feel great in your riding gear!
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted August 29, 2008 06:34 AM
 Edited By: Old Guy on 29 Aug 2008 07:41
Great trip!!!
I just did a 3000 mile loop of Wa. Or. Nv. Ca. with Yosemite and Reno thrown in, along many of the same roads. Too bad it was nasty for you on the North Cascades. That road is made for our 14s.
On my ride,I was doing the same thing as your mate. Get soaked to the bone and then go shooting accross the desert with the moisture acting as MY coolant. Would be dry in a hour or less. That 100 degree stuff is hell on NW people! Well as least THIS Cat from Washington and Alaska who wears "all the gear all the time".
Thank you for sharing your trip and showing the SoCal guys what real riders "commute" in.
(Just joking guys)
I love touring on the 14.
Oh yea I love commuting, and doing track days with it too!!!!!
What a versitile bike.
Do you have the Spiegle bar set up or what?
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Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 29, 2008 08:33 AM
In complete and utter honesty, its guys like you that both inspire me and have me looking forward to getting the kids out of the house, or hell, just getting older period. I'm 37 now and kinda doing the midlife crisis thing. Thanks for the view forward!
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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mcair
Expert Class
Posts: 118
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posted August 29, 2008 12:37 PM
Fantastic write-up, thanks I really enjoyed that. Damn, those mountain views are incredible. I gotta do that someday.
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08 ZX14 Atomic Silver
07 ZZR600 Red
92 ZX11 Black/Purple / 86 Ninja 1000R Red
79 GS850 Black / 77 CB250 Orange / 76 FS1E Burnt Red
Live like a Republican - vote Democrat
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ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted August 29, 2008 12:53 PM
Do you have the Spiegle bar set up or what?
______________________________________________
I looked at (on line) that Spiegle Bar Set Up and the price. $500+ for me here in Canada. Thought for that kind of $ I would build my own. Got the top triple clamp off a 78 Yamaha XS11 that I had laying around. Out came the hack saw and a couple of files. Carved away at it until it would just sit down between the upper fork legs and sit on top of the 14's top triple clamp. Drilled 4 holes in it and bolted it in place. Bought a Renthal alloy dirt track bar and mounted it on top of my fabrication. Had to get a longer master to front caliper hydraulic hose (braided stainless) The rest of the cables/wires etc. had enough stretch or were rerouted to fit. I have put over 11,000 on it since the conversion without any problems cropping up.
Oh, also, after installing the clutch/brake levers just touched the front faring/windshield. I added a riser/pull back bracket (up 1 1/4"-back 1") also off an old XS11. Clearance than was good.
I now sit straight up on the wide part of the seat (most comfortable) and the bars/grips just fall naturally into my hands. Also added a Zero Gravity ST (sports touring) wndscreen which shoves most of the air up to helmet level.
Even with a 74 year old body I can ride this sucker for hours at a time. No prob ducking down a bit if at elevated speeds.
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ratbyk
Expert Class
Posts: 179
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posted August 29, 2008 01:03 PM
Fantastic write-up, thanks I really enjoyed that. Damn, those mountain views are incredible. I gotta do that someday.
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Here are a couple more pics.
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