Road trip tomorrow

[f6john]

Heading out early tomorrow to Stephens City Virginia to lay eyes on what may become my next motorcycle. Pictures are great and the owner said he rolled it out of storage shed and she fired right up. New tires, recent battery and fluids flush, 41,000 miles. It’s an 8 hour ride so I hope to arrive with plenty of daylight and a chance to run her down the road a bit. It’s been six years since I have ridden so a little nervous although when I bought my 99 Valkyrie it had been 20+ years between bikes. Fingers crossed that there are no surprises when I inspect and ride the bike.

I worked on my trailer over the weekend making sure the lights and brakes were in working order and I installed a wheel chock that I’ve had almost as long as I’ve had my Valkyrie but had never used. Never have strapped down a Goldwing so not sure what I need but will have plenty of ratchet straps on hand.

[sandy]

Try to find soft ties. Hooking onto a wing can be tricky. Don’t hook onto the rear bag savers. Remove the side covers and wrap around the frame under the cover for the rear tie.

[Valkorado]

Woo-hoo!   

[Rams]

That ain't Blue but, it's a pretty motorcycle.

This officially makes you older than me.   

Rams   

[John Schmidt]

You need to buy something in red! 

[f6john]

That ain't Blue but, it's a pretty motorcycle.

This officially makes you older than me.   

Rams   

I probably was already!

You need to buy something in red! 

Sucker for red alright!

Try to find soft ties. Hooking onto a wing can be tricky. Don’t hook onto the rear bag savers. Remove the side covers and wrap around the frame under the cover for the rear tie.

Thanks for that info, any tips on removing side covers on a Goldwing?

[Bighead]

When I tied mine down from Arkansas to Alabama.  Front tire in wheel chock a ratchet strap on each engine guard one on each bag guard not very tight on those just s ug enough to not move side to side and one through the rear wheel it Never moved. And if you have ever traveled through Memphis you know how rough those roads are. Also dont tie handlebars they will break I have been told.

[Rams]

John,
On your way to pick up the bike, stop by my place and we'll have lunch.   Since it's just a tad out of your way, I'll buy. 

Rams 

[f6john]

John,
On your way to pick up the bike, stop by my place and we'll have lunch.   Since it's just a tad out of your way, I'll buy. 

Rams 

I may not be able to squeeze that in unless it’s on the way back.

When I tied mine down from Arkansas to Alabama.  Front tire in wheel chock a ratchet strap on each engine guard one on each bag guard not very tight on those just s ug enough to not move side to side and one through the rear wheel it Never moved. And if you have ever traveled through Memphis you know how rough those roads are. Also dont tie handlebars they will break I have been told.

Thanks, that helps a lot.

[Jack B]

If you under the fairing and up the forks you will see where you can put the front straps.
I put the rear on the bag guard.
This is the only picture I have of my bike on a trailer.

[cookiedough]

Looks clean and well cared for, but pretty much stock no hwy. pegs, luggage rack carrier on top of trunk, and a few other necessities for me anyways.  am sure you got a good deal on it been looking at them tupperware wings as well past few years and still like my 2 VAlks too much to give them up, maybe one year?    One thing I have not gotten use to is the totally UPRIGHT seating position which for me is not as comfy and layed back as our Valkyries are with more wiggly room to move around in the saddle on our Valks unlike those goldwings.  Plus, I am not that tall only 5'10" and my knees come darn close to hitting the plastic tupperware in front.  NO idea how someone 6 ft. or taller can ride one?

I got the ITCH past few days to get the cycles/scooters fired up, but after this rain next few days the roads might be so-so good enough to get them fired up, but the cold is coming next week again in 20's for lows and low 40's for highs, back to normal in WI unfortunately.

[G-Man]

Best of luck!  Enjoy!!!   

[f6john]

It was a bust! 14 hours on the road and $200 in gas and the bike was misrepresented. Another lesson learned.

[Rams]

It was a bust! 14 hours on the road and $200 in gas and the bike was misrepresented. Another lesson learned.

Well, crap.

[DDT (12)]

John,

Sorry for your disappointment. If you're interested, I have an RX guaranteed to work a miracle for ya! Load your gear up on yer Valk, through a leg over her saddle, and meet us down in Hattiesburg the weekend of April 1st. That's not all... allow a couple of extra days either way, if you can, and take two-lane roads all the way there and back home... If you're road-ready enough to buy a big ol' Wing, then you're also up for a trek like the one I just described... You won't believe the change in yourself and just how good you'll feel about life and our neighbors all around the hood...

Please don't spend your time finding reasons not to do this... You will succeed if you do. Look instead for ways to make this happen! You just might pull something like this off, and if you do... take my word for it, you will be happy you did for the entire remainder of your life!!! Besides, many of us on here have been wanting to meet ya anyway...

DDT

[..]

It was a bust! 14 hours on the road and $200 in gas and the bike was misrepresented. Another lesson learned.

How was it misrepresented?

I've never understood sellers who don't clean a part before photos.
 
Or say something is a 10/10 when it's a 7/10

You could always ask here if anyone is near a bike and willing to look it over.

[f6john]

It was a bust! 14 hours on the road and $200 in gas and the bike was misrepresented. Another lesson learned.

How was it misrepresented?

I've never understood sellers who don't clean a part before photos.
 
Or say something is a 10/10 when it's a 7/10

You could always ask here if anyone is near a bike and willing to look it over.

When I arrived at the sellers house the garage door was open and before I got half was to the bike I saw something wasn’t right. The radiator pod cover on the right hand side was dull. On closer inspection there was a strip along the leading edge that had no paint at all, it was down to the plastic base (black). Without saying anything I went around the rest of the bike which appeared fine but the seller didn’t question my multiple stops at the damaged area. When I questioned him about it, he says, I never saw that before! I decided it was time for me to leave before I said something that I’d regret. I just wasn’t willing to risk what other secrets the bike held that this guy might be withholding.

[Skinhead]

Sorry you went through all that.  In my experience, vehicles that are listed with a price that seems to be a good deal, usually are not.  The bikes with asking prices at or about the Blue book value are usually listed that way because they are worth it.

I drove 4 hrs one way to look at a 99 interstate that was listed at $2500.  I talked to the guy before going and asked him to be honest and tell me any thing that was wrong with it and give me an honest appraisal of any thing that was wrong.  He said it was all good and only selling because he needed money for a lawyer/divorce.  So i drove down and the bike was a mess, had sat outside for over a year, a lot of cracked plastic.  I told him I should kick his ass for not being honest with me.  In order not to waste the trip, I said against my better judgement, i would give him $1300 for it.  

After a lot of work, it turned out to be a decent bike and I ended up with about $2500 total (not including labor) in it, and gave the bike to my son.  

[f6john]

John,

Sorry for your disappointment. If you're interested, I have an RX guaranteed to work a miracle for ya! Load your gear up on yer Valk, through a leg over her saddle, and meet us down in Hattiesburg the weekend of April 1st. That's not all... allow a couple of extra days either way, if you can, and take two-lane roads all the way there and back home... If you're road-ready enough to buy a big ol' Wing, then you're also up for a trek like the one I just described... You won't believe the change in yourself and just how good you'll feel about life and our neighbors all around the hood...

Please don't spend your time finding reasons not to do this... You will succeed if you do. Look instead for ways to make this happen! You just might pull something like this off, and if you do... take my word for it, you will be happy you did for the entire remainder of your life!!! Besides, many of us on here have been wanting to meet ya anyway...

DDT

Kind and thoughtful words Bruce, but without the miraculous resurrection of BigBf and a direct trip to my house the Valkyrie isn’t going anywhere soon. Just too much to be done for my abilities.

I’m working on it as much and as often as I can but that’s not saying much.




The Wing was going to be my answer for riding this year as I have had one on my mind since a riding buddy bought a 2001 when the 1800’s first came out.

[Serk]

Royally sucks, but better a wasted trip and wasted gas than to end up with a lemon on your hands...

[DDT (12)]

OK, who has a loaner bike John can use? Looks like he is ready, willing, and able, so we need to make this happen... If I have to, I can come up there and let John ride bitch on our girl, I reckon... Sure wouldn't be a pretty sight, though; however... this is important! Lifetime memories are on the line, so it's time for the family to rally... Seriously, isn't there something we can do here?

DDT

[Rams]

OK, who has a loaner bike John can use? Looks like he is ready, willing, and able, so we need to make this happen... If I have to, I can come up there and let John ride bitch on our girl, I reckon... Sure wouldn't be a pretty sight, though; however... this is important! Lifetime memories are on the line, so it's time for the family to rally... Seriously, isn't there something we can do here?

DDT

John can come down and ride my fat lady anytime.  He knows that.
He just can't take it home with him.  

Rams