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Maine to Florida and back, end of April, beginning of May

  • Thread starter Thread starter mighty13d
  • Start date Start date

Maine to Florida and back, end of April, beginning of May

  • Ride the bikes DUH!

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • Trailer the bikes down and have a quick trip

    Votes: 4 80.0%

  • Drive a car

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Fly

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    5
Well if you have three days that means an average of 533 miles per day. But it looks from the map like the last leg of your trip will not be Interstate so I would urge 600-650 per day the first two. The difference in making time Interstate vs. surface roads is huge. And on that third day you do not want to be out after dark on unfamiliar surface roads in a fatigued condition.

Keep rolling as long as you can on 81 and 77. That is the most pleasant stretch.
 
Given your situation I would suggest the following. Call the Greyhound Bus Company and find out the cost of a ticket from Maine to your destination in Florida. Then put that amount aside in a secret place or at least make sure you will have well over that amount on your credit card limit.

If you get well into the trip and your girlfriend says she just can't go on with it, head to the closest Greyhound station and let her ride the rest of the way. For most of your ride you will be at some distance from a commercial airport, but you are never very far from a Greyhound route/terminal.

When I take my trips I always make sure I have enough to buy me a ticket home if there is a problem with the bike. And I carry a large duffel bag to bring all my gear back with me.
 
Also, before you leave call your credit card company and tell them you are going to be taking a trip; give them where you are going and your dates. Otherwise a algorithm they have to detect purchases outside your normal area and pattern could shut the card off.
 
Thanks. I already threw a lot of money aside into my savings acct so I have more than enough money to get down there and back, and for most issues that could come up.

If I can find someone somewhere around virgina/tenn I would actually really consider towing the bike that far and riding it down the rest of the way. Id much prefer if it was somewhere close to my route, 81 and if it was someone who was fairly well known on here so I'm not risking leaving a vehicle somewhere.

Anyone know of someone near 81 in virginia or tenn????
 
thanks for all the tips and pointers in this guys too. I really appreciate all the suggestions. You never know, someone might suggest the one thing that could make or break this trip so I'm trying to store all the suggestions in the front of my mind for easy access! lol
 
Trailer 'em down. You'll all be a lot fresher and more likely to enjoy your vacation.
Whatever you do, have fun.
 
Florida Guy said:
Trailer 'em down. You'll all be a lot fresher and more likely to enjoy your vacation.
Whatever you do, have fun.
Click to expand...


oh don't you worry about us having fun. that's #1 on my to-do list! lol Thanks for the vote. I really don't want to trailer behind my car if I can avoid it so I think that if I can borrow a truck or something I have decided on trailering most the way and taking a short one day trip on the bike the rest of the way. If I can't find a tow vehicle, then we'll be riding the whole way. I'd rather be a little sore and take 3 days than break my car trying to shorten the trip! lol
 
mighty13d said:
If I can find someone somewhere around virgina/tenn I would actually really consider towing the bike that far and riding it down the rest of the way. Id much prefer if it was somewhere close to my route, 81 and if it was someone who was fairly well known on here so I'm not risking leaving a vehicle somewhere.

Anyone know of someone near 81 in virginia or tenn????
Click to expand...
If you go the pickup truck route and you otherwise can't find a secure spot to leave it, the Charlotte Airport is only a mile or so off of I-85 on which you will be traveling. They offer parking at $4 per day and you might be able to beat that shopping around the numerous private lots that serve the facility. Around any large airport there are a bunch of long term parking lots. They are not free of course but they are relatively secure (fenced and gated) and they are open 24/7. There is no need to coordinate your arrival times with another party. I have successfully used airport facilities for non-flying travel needs several times over the years.

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/Parking/home.htm

If you have a car with a trailer it might not work as well. You may have to pay for two spaces.
 
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Update: got the original engine back in the bike, backrest made for the girlfriend and helmet to helmet communicator, tank bag, new mirrors, the painting will be done on the next nice day so the air compressor doesn't suck in moist air.. umm... I need to make a couple mounts for the rear tabs of the luggage rack and something for some highway pegs for me. I have a throttle lock that's ready to go on and i'll order a windshield this week. I'm looking forward to doing lots of break-in miles in the next couple weeks!
 
okay so I'm almost ready to leave. I have everything painted and on except my foolish tank. I put some flames on it when I painted it and the clear that I put over it wasn't compatable with the base coat paint... grrrrr The paint didn't set up correctly because it wasn't warm enough to cure overnight like it should so it was soft and I marked it up some with just my hands so I think that I'll repaint anything I mess up after I get back. It would be easy now though!

also I got a new windshield. It's the F-15 tour windshield from National Cycle. I'll post some pics when I get the tank on. I like the windshield. I'll adjust the rake on it this weekend.
G_10678G_CL_1.jpg



It should be tall enough to push the wind up out of the way. I have my new rear tire that's ready to go on. Still haven't put it on yet though. I think I'll mount it and then just have the dealership balance it. Shouldn't cost me $25 then.

I also put new throttle and clutch cables on it. flushed and bled the brake lines with rebuilt calipers. I'll put a new sync on the carbs in a day or two.

I put in new front wheel bearings in last week. I wasn't thrilled with them though because they are open on the inside. I prefer closed/closed bearings or having seals there or something. The front end is tight now though and if suzuki runs them that way, they should be ok for another 25k!

If I think of anything else, I'll post that up.
 
Leaving tomorrow night!!!! So excited. Just need to put the GPS on there and put the cover on the backrest I made. I'll throw a couple pics up in an hour or two of everything on it.
 
can't ride the bike. Went out last night to load my saddlebags and the paint was bubbling on the tank. I have a small gas leak from behind the left side emblem. I'll be driving the car now and crying the whole way down. At least it will be a shorter more comfortable ride. *sigh* poor poor bike. It really wanted to drive me down there. It's been running so nicely for me too!

At least the friggin leak happened now and not when we were a few hundred miles away. I'll post pictures later.
 
Garbage! That is too bad man. It's gonna be a tough ride down with all the other sheep on the road!
 
My son got a gas leak on his dirt bike, he used a product called "Seals All" to seal a gas leak. Drained the gas down wiped it off with a rag, put a squirt of Seals All over the hole let it sit over night and has ridden the bike for over two weeks with no further gas leakage problems. Not the most cosmetically attractive fix but it worked.
 
100_0742.jpg


Here's a pic of the tank. Poor poor tank. i'll re-weld it, seal it and then repaint it. this time I will take even longer with the paint and do a perfect job not just a 'good' job. There won't be any orange peel in it this time.
 
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