NOT - Leaving on a jet plane….

[f6john]

Cancelled my flight yesterday after taking a look at some weather models for the last half of the week, lots of rain, freezing temperatures the closer I get to home, and not exactly new tires on the bike. So it’s road trip time again and I’m bringing an old friend with me who loves a little adventure. He and I haven’t been on a road trip together in years, I lost count of how many times I accompanied him on a long distance bike purchase.


Not Flying out of Lexington Ky Tuesday afternoon for a two hour flight to Orlando. Will be riding this back home.





I’m thinking I have done my due diligence and will not be facing the same issues as last February when I pulled a trailer to Virginia and had to come back home empty due to way less than full disclosure from the seller.

Believe it or not I have been searching for the right bike for me almost daily for the past year. I found numerous candidates but I kept getting beat out on the best ones due to local buyers being able to snatch them up.

In the last 6 plus years I have probably ridden less than 200 miles on a bike and those miles came from the generosity of Rams at last years Inzane. It could be said that it has been the gentile prodding of Rams that has kept me involved and interested in riding. Rams certainly was instrumental in me registering for this years Inzane! I just wanted to give credit where credit is due.

I have wanted an 1800 ride ever since one of my riding buddies let me get on his new 2001 yellow wing all those years ago. The 1800 Valkyries were always a strong pull at me due to their sportiness and great value. The F6b’s attracted me with its trunk less raked look. Right or wrong I decided that I wanted/needed the powered reverse along with all the amenities that a Goldwing offers.

I may be wishing I had driven down and pulled my trailer given what weather we can get in Kentucky in February. But that’s motorcycling right?

[Serk]

Pre-Congrats, and welcome to the Tupperware side! Other than dealing with said Tupperware, loving mine still...

(Did the first oil change last night, 30 minutes doing the oil change, 90 minutes removing, breaking, and replacing Tupperware.... )

The spousal unit would be jealous, her first comment when I presented mine was "If only it were red..."

[Robert]

Sweet, enjoy 

[f6john]

Pre-Congrats, and welcome to the Tupperware side! Other than dealing with said Tupperware, loving mine still...

(Did the first oil change last night, 30 minutes doing the oil change, 90 minutes removing, breaking, and replacing Tupperware.... )

The spousal unit would be jealous, her first comment when I presented mine was "If only it were red..."

I understand the air filter is a real treat too! I read that $125.00 to change the air filter is considered a good price if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Of course it had to be red,

[Jess from VA]

Nice bike John.   

Wishing you fair weather on the way home.  (take some gloves   )

Last bike I bought, I rode up on the AmTrack train with a duffel of gear (from No VA to Springfield MA) and rode home.  Not in winter.  (best, most comfortable public transportation I ever took in my lifetime too)

[Valkorado]

Well, if there ever was a good reason to fly somewhere there it is.  Congrats and enjoy!

[f6john]

Sweet, enjoy 

Thanks, I’m sure I will.

Nice bike John.   

Wishing you fair weather on the way home.  (take some gloves   )

Last bike I bought, I rode up on the AmTrack train with a duffel of gear (from No VA to Springfield MA) and rode home.  Not in winter.  (best, most comfortable public transportation I ever took in my lifetime too)

Thanks for the positive vibes.The bike has heated seat and grips, not sure how much that will help but better than nothing. Gauntlet gloves check.

Well, if there ever was a good reason to fly somewhere there it is.  Congrats and enjoy!

I have to agree!

[Rams]

Flying out of Lexington Ky Tuesday afternoon for a two hour flight to Orlando. Will be riding this back home.






Believe it or not.

In the last 6 plus years I have probably ridden less than 200 miles on a bike and those miles came from the generosity of Rams at last years Inzane. It could be said that it has been the gentile prodding of Rams that has kept me involved and interested in riding. Rams certainly was instrumental in me registering for this years Inzane! I just wanted to give credit where credit is due.

 Right or wrong I decided…..

The last quoted sentence says it all.    Don’t go blaming me.   I have enough problems and don’t want your wife hunting me down….  

Rams.

[f6john]

Now Rams, you have to take the bad with the good. 

[Jersey mike]

Hey that’s a pretty looking bike, congratulations 

Hope you get years and years of safe, smooth, comfortable, carefree riding.

[f6john]

Hey that’s a pretty looking bike, congratulations 

Hope you get years and years of safe, smooth, comfortable, carefree riding.

Thanks I’ve been looking long enough and deflecting naysayers within my family, you’re too old, why do you want another bike, ect. I’m always encouraged by our elder riders who keep on keeping on. As my next birthday will be the big 70, I think I am entering that elder category. I don’t see myself becoming a rambling traveler with all the strings attached to home but I think there is a lot of exploring to do right here in my backyard.

[Jersey mike]

Hey that’s a pretty looking bike, congratulations 

Hope you get years and years of safe, smooth, comfortable, carefree riding.

Thanks I’ve been looking long enough and deflecting naysayers within my family, you’re too old, why do you want another bike, ect. I’m always encouraged by our elder riders who keep on keeping on. As my next birthday will be the big 70, I think I am entering that elder category. I don’t see myself becoming a rambling traveler with all the strings attached to home but I think there is a lot of exploring to do right here in my backyard.

Whatever floats your boat and makes you happy is what it’s all about, whether it 500 or 3,000 or even more miles a year. If you can do it then do it.

[Serk]

Saw the subject change and was worried the seller had screwed you over, relieved to see it was Mother Nature's doing instead, and that the bike purchase is likely still a go!

Ya'll be safe, be careful, bring protection, and have a good adventure!

[f6john]

We are heading out in about an hour, decided not to wait on a early morning departure time high will make meeting up with the buyer much more convenient.

[Serk]

Safe travels, update the collective with how it goes as you can!

[f6john]

Never have I ever spent so much money on gas in such a short period of time. My decision to drive versus flying and riding proved to be good as it’s 31 degrees and misting rain which could be ice or snow soon.

I left Kentucky night before last at 8:00pm with my buddy heading for Orlando , in a pouring rain. With almost no lights on the trailer working. I tried everything I knew and finely came to the conclusion that one brake light and turn signal would have to do. Leaving from my mothers home the gps picked a route I had never traveled but it looked like the best option. For the next 3-4 hours I drove in a downpour on decent roads but having to use the stripping to really tell where I was. I thought these backroads were going to deposit me on I-24 somewhere between Nashville and Chattanooga. We crossed over I-40 at Cookeville Tennessee which registered correct with my mind. I knew I-24 would be further south, but we just kept driving and driving following the gps instructions but we weren’t seeing anything indicating we were getting close to I-24. At a gas stop a sheriffs car pulled in and I asked him if we were getting close to 24. He seemed perplexed by the question and asked where we were going. I told him Chattanooga and he like oh, ok just take that ramp and…..ect. So we started driving again not really knowing much more than before, but the officer confirmed we were heading for Chattanooga. And in no time we found ourselves on top of Signal Mountain. I looked over at my buddy and I asked, isn’t Signal Mountain in Chattanooga? Sure enough, we had driven for hours in the dark, in the pouring rain, and found ourselves in Chattanooga without ever touching a superslab! I thought Smokin’’ Joe would be proud. But once in Chattanooga is hammer down and super slab the rest of the way.

We made it to Ocala Florida at 8:00am and breakfast at Cracker Barrel. The seller was only aware I was driving but wasn’t expecting me to leave until yesterday morning, so a text was sent to let him know we were maybe 1 1/2  hours away. Back on the road and mid morning I was arriving at the storage unit where the bike was stored and a short test ride ensued.  Then it was paperwork and payment, loading and strapping down the bike and by noon we were heading north. By that time we had been up for 30 hours and on the road for 15 hours. Feeling pretty good we were going to travel until dusk and then get a room. Before the Florida state line my Titan started having problems which we couldn’t diagnose since it was intermittent but I had to pull off a couple of times as I was losing power and the truck would ultimately die. Every time it would start back up and we made it to Valdosta at a little after 3:00pm and after trying a code reader at an auto parts store which revealed nothing we called it a day. After showers and a change of clothing it was off to Hooters for wings and a burger, we walked because Hooters was next door to the Comfort Inn. We turned in at 8:30pm after 24 hours on the road and about 36 hours with no sleep.

Today was more of the same, pulled out at 8:00am in beautiful  weather but after a few hours on the road the rain started, but not nearly as heavy as the ride down. It was 65  degrees in Atlanta in Chattanooga it was 50, as we went further north we watched the temps fall thru the 40’s and then the 30’s with rain, mist and fog. By the time I got back to Campbellsville at 5:30 pm the wind was blowing and 31 degrees. Did I say I was glad I didn’t ride the bike home?

I don’t have a total on the gas as I lost interest in getting receipts and keeping records but I thing my fuel cost will top $500.00. Overall my buddy and I had a great time connecting again and the only real downer was the truck troubles which may or may not be resolved, more on that later when I have a definitive answer.

[carolinarider09]

Glad you made it home safely.  Nice write up. 

[Rams]

As I always tell my wife and friends, "Every Trip Is An Adventure". 
One never knows what one will encounter on the way.

Glad it was a safe trip.   

Rams

[f6john]

Glad you made it home safely.  Nice write up.  

Thanks, but technically still not home. I got another 2 hours in the morning to get to Richmond where I reside.

As I always tell my wife and friends, "Every Trip Is An Adventure". 
One never knows what one will encounter on the way.

Glad it was a safe trip.   

Rams

Very true, was very happy to not have to call a wrecker on this trip.

Never have I ever spent so much money on gas in such a short period of time.

I guess you’ve never driven a motorhome on the Alcan with gas @ $5,000 per litre ? You made a wise decision in trailering it. When I bought my Interstate in Tampa I encountered icy roads for 200 miles thru Texas. I thought I was going to die several times. Glad you got yourself a new bike 

@ $5,000 a liter, I’m not going anywhere! Thanks, it was time.

[Jess from VA]

I freaking HATE wildly intermittent car/truck problems.

You can't diagnose it, no code means the car/truck can't diagnose it, repair shops can't find it, so you can't fix it.  Without luck.

My last car at only 30K (but age 13) would fail to start every week or three. Sometimes it would start up fine after a few minutes, and sometimes it wouldn't.  No one could find anything wrong.  No code.  I drive to MI from VA, and spend half a day in a PA turnpike rest stop (on a Sunday with no hope of repair), and then it magically started (heat?).  I never shut it off again till Ann Arbor, then traded it in on my new truck.  The dealer I traded to was still trying to figure out what was wrong when I drove away in my new truck.  I loved that car, but at the end, I wanted it shot at sunrise.

Hope you make it home.  Glad you got your bike.

[f6john]

Ice storm this morning . The truck and bike cover had a solid layer of ice on them but the roads remained very passable and I only observed one vehicle being recovered by a rollback but the vehicle went off a 50’ embankment steep enough it would have been difficult to climb out.

Bike is in the dry at last, after some more rest I’ll tackle getting it unloaded.







All the ice thats left after being inside for a few hours

[..]

 

[Serk]

Glad ya' got her home in one piece! AND glad you wisely choose to trailer it instead of ride it...

Hope you've gotten some rest and recovered from that marathon.....

Now..... Let the farkling begin!

[f6john]

Glad ya' got her home in one piece! AND glad you wisely choose to trailer it instead of ride it...

Hope you've gotten some rest and recovered from that marathon.....

Now..... Let the farkling begin!

Maybe a little de-farkling first. The bike has the Kuryakyn floor boards with the heal toe shifter which I don’t like. You have to fold up the floor board to put the kick stand down. I’m sure some people would have nothing else but a heal-toe setup but it didn’t feel natural to me. Luckily I did get the original foot pegs and brake pedal to put back on. I’d like to do some lighting upgrades that you have mentioned. I have a new in the box set of Kuryakyn highway pegs that I don’t think I want to use unless I can’t find anything I like better. Rivco makes a folding peg that mounts to the valve covers that blend in with the bike but may or may not be a good fit for me. Almost a thousand miles on a trailer with the truck throwing up road spray a thorough cleaning is up first.

I don’t even know how people jack these bikes up. I have a new set of Bridgestones to put on right away. I want to buy Centramatic wheel balancers but may have to go with beads on the first go around.

[Serk]

Maybe a little de-farkling first.

Understand that too! My green Interstate had TONS of no longer working green LEDs ALL OVER the place I had to hunt down, strip out the wiring and pry the stickers off to remove....

And I've got, literally, a whole box of bits and bobs of foot pegs, mostly Kurakyns that I've removed from various bikes over the years, so I get that as well.....

[f6john]

Decided to pull these off today and put the factory pegs back on. They sure are purty, but I don’t think they are for me, the other side has a shiny chrome brake pedal to match but they will probably end up for sale on the gl1800 classifieds.

[..]

Decided to pull these off today and put the factory pegs back on. They sure are purty, but I don’t think they are for me, the other side has a shiny chrome brake pedal to match but they will probably end up for sale on the gl1800 classifieds.

if you need more boot toe room for the OEM equipment.

http://www.knightdesignllc.com/Products/Motorcycle/Honda/GL1800/Honda-GL1800-Goldwing-1-Front-Foot-Pegs.html

[f6john]

Thanks for the link. It appears the stock peg location will be fine but I still haven’t had any seat time as yet.

[Willow]

Try the heel/toe setup for awhile before you pull it off.  I don't like them but it may grow on you.

[f6john]

Try the heel/toe setup for awhile before you pull it off.  I don't like them but it may grow on you.

Too late, took them off yesterday. But they are going anywhere right away I don’t suppose. I don’t have a particularly large foot but I was having trouble finding a resting spot that didn’t have my foot up against or on top of  the shifter.

[Jess from VA]

I've been on heel toe shifters for decades.  Won't ride without them.

I have a pretty small 8.5D foot, but my shift foot boot toe is always outboard of the peg (off the edge of the floorboard).   In hard left turns, I must lift it, or it can drag off the board painfully.  But it's long since automatic behavior.

My problem with a standard shifter setup is not feet but short legs; I've always (except dirt bikes) had to scooch forward in the seat to get adequate reach for lifting shifts, and hate that.  Kicking down my heel is so much easier and I stay on the back of the seat where I want to be.

But it's my experience that lifetime riders without heel toe shifters never seem to take to them.  So it comes down to what you are used to and comfortable with.  

FWIW, that Goldwing board and heel toe is decently longer than those on any Valkyrie.

[f6john]

These late model Gold-wings put your feet right under you with the stock seat. I have a 29-30” inseam and floor boards really make me stretch out wide to put my feet on the ground when stopped. With stock pegs, I flat foot no problem. As balanced as these bikes are, Wings and Valkyries, I’m noticing their heft much more, than when I was riding regularly in my early 60’s.

[Jess from VA]

I have the same length legs and my boards almost never bother me getting feet down (though it might not be perfect flatfoot on both sides).  Except sometimes, or if a pothole or low spot, then I go to one foot down only.  But it's decades of heel toes and boards for me.

Another bad habit I had with pegs was hooking my heel over one and pointing my toe down (leaning in on spirited riding), and then hitting it on a manhole cover or something, which hurt.   

[f6john]

I have the same length legs and my boards almost never bother me getting feet down (though it might not be perfect flatfoot on both sides).  Except sometimes, or if a pothole or low spot, then I go to one foot down only.  But it's decades of heel toes and boards for me.

Another bad habit I had with pegs was hooking my heel over one and pointing my toe down (leaning in on spirited riding), and then hitting it on a manhole cover or something, which hurt.   

I’m finding the same info on the wing boards. Some are fans for their own reasons and others are like me, never used them and probably won’t start now.

[Serk]

The few times I've tried a heel-toe I hated it, but beyond not being learned in it, I also have..... large.....

...boots......