wormgear
Expert Class
Posts: 339
|
posted March 31, 2008 06:48 AM
Trip, PR2's, Rain, Heat & a Bent Wheel.
Just got back yesterday. 6 days, 5 nights and 2150 miles of bliss on the C-14. I took the twistiest route I could find From Houston to Big Bend National Park (about 750 miles) and ran it hard through the best parts. This bike really does it all, Very Well. I rode two of the infamous three sisters (hill country ranch roads) on the way to the park and just ate'em up. In the park there are probably a couple hundred miles of great roads. I was warned about the enforced 45 mph speed limit throughout but quickly realized the rangers just cruise around with their radar on full time so with a watchful eye and radar detector I was able to let the road determine my pace. It was 95F there both afternoons and I was glad to have my new Phoenix 4.0 jacket and airglide II pants, both in silver. Great ventilation and unlike black, doesn't soak up heat from the sunlight. I wasn't nearly as hot as I'd have been in jeans and a T-shirt. Great scenery and billions of stars at night, could have stayed a week and I hated to leave.
Then it was back to Bandera for a V-Max Rally. Slowly but surely the Max's are being phased out and people are buying more current bikes but the group remains. On the trip from the park to Bandera I hit a rock about the size of a brick, straight on the front wheel and bent it a little (Aurgh) now I get some shaking with the front brake, it's still quite rideable but Damn that's going to cost me some $$. The Hill Country group ride started out wet but got better as the day went on. The PR2 tires were amazing in both wet and dry conditions. I've got 5K on them now and the front still looks new. The rear is squaring off a little but I can't tell a difference in handling and I have maybe 1/16" left to the wear marks. You can see the bent wheel in the pics and I was pretty impressed that the tire took no apparent damage.
All in all it was a great trip on a bike that I would not trade for any other.
More pics here
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc207/randybaer/Big%20Bend%20and%20%20Bandera/
____________
GodDamnit there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good! (Tom Waits)
  
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted March 31, 2008 09:11 AM
I can't see the pictures (blocked out photobucket at work) but rims can be straightened to be as good as new.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
MasterBlaster
Expert Class
Posts: 297
|
posted March 31, 2008 09:40 AM
That rim isnt so bad, I would straighten it myself if it were mine. Big Ben is on my short list. Last couple of times I crossed West Texas weather was too crappy to detour down. Always wanted to check out the Marfa lights, and do the loop.
|
FASTESTbusaAROUND
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
|
posted March 31, 2008 05:38 PM
Great tune Wormgear, I recognized those lyric from "God's away on business". It was the soundtrack for The Smartest Guys in the Room. Too bad about your wheel...but it sounds like you had a great trip! We still have snow, but should be out by riding the end of the week!
____________
FYYFF!!!
|
wormgear
Expert Class
Posts: 339
|
posted April 01, 2008 12:15 PM
Steve, Yep I'm a Tom Waits junkie, guess that says something dark about my personality.
There's a local shop I'm planning on taking the wheel to that has a good rep.
MasterBlaster, how would you do it? Big rubber mallet?
Oh and I forgot to mention the loop outside the park, Great ride! especially 170. Be careful on 170 at least your first run on it, it's very technical and I scared up a gigantic ram that ran across the road about 30 ft in front of me. I swear that fucker was the size of a small cow and looked like it belonged in Africa or something.
Let's see If i can recount the critters that crossed the road way to close for comfort.
That big fucking ram, one fuzzy antlered buck, one doe, a wildcat, two coyotes and a couple flocks of vultures. Vultures don't pick up altitude very quickly and they always take off flying in whatever direction they were standing in. So if you see a group of them working a road kill and any of them are facing your path slow way down because they'll jump just in time to be in your lane about 3-5 ft off the ground when you get there. Dumb fucking birds.
____________
GodDamnit there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good! (Tom Waits)
|
idphillips
Parking Attendant
Posts: 21
|
posted April 21, 2008 02:18 PM
wormgear what trunk do you have on yours ? Where can I get one ? Thanks for the help.
|
wormgear
Expert Class
Posts: 339
|
posted April 21, 2008 09:47 PM
 Edited By: wormgear on 21 Apr 2008 22:51
It's a Mutazu Top Box model 918 you can order them at mutazu.com
It's cheap, like $145 shipped. Worked fine for me but I don't use it often. Has a brake light.
____________
GodDamnit there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good! (Tom Waits)
|
idphillips
Parking Attendant
Posts: 21
|
posted April 22, 2008 11:21 AM
Cool. Thanks. I'm not planning on using it too often either, so cheap is great for me.
|
DrewHerc130
Expert Class
Posts: 140
|
posted April 22, 2008 09:32 PM
Sorry about the rim, but glad it didn't cause a loss of control and worse. Pics look great. With all those animals you were meeting maybe we should call you Ace Ventura...lol
I'm gonna need a vented mesh jacket here soon too. Who makes the one you mentioned?
____________
2008 C14, flies out, Area P-Carbon, BMC, PC3, Spencer Seat Mod, Alaska Leather, Helibars with Ram GPS mount, Nuvi 250W
"Life moves pretty quick. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
|
wormgear
Expert Class
Posts: 339
|
posted April 23, 2008 11:50 AM
Edited By: wormgear on 23 Apr 2008 12:51
It's a Joe Rocket, Phoenix model.
Oh and Congradts on your purchase!
____________
GodDamnit there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good! (Tom Waits)
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted April 23, 2008 06:48 PM
I have a couple of mesh jackets an Icon and a Joe rocket. The Icon is a great jacket, plenty of pockets, good protection. The Joe Rocket looks cool.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC