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Bicycling from CA. to MI. to pick up my 1982' GS450T then drive it back to CA.

G

grcamna2

Forum Mentor
I live in Winters,CA. and I will be riding my Motobecane bicycle from here to St. Clair Shores,MI. on May 1st 2018 to pick-up my 1982' Suzuki GS450TXZ and then ride the GS back to Winters,CA.
 
Good luck to you! I rode my 1100g to Ontario, Canada in August of 2016 and it was a nice trip. Be sure to take and share some pictures.
 
I'm thinking it will take 4-5 weeks by bicycle to MI.(I'm in my 'young 60's' so going with 'Long Slow Distance' ;)) then I will get the GS450 ready for the road and make all the necessary adjustments and fine tuning.The DMV told me that I will need to get an initial smog check by them when I arrive in CA. using my one way trip permit that I bought from the DMV here in CA.;they won't let me register the bike in CA. until they verify smog..,I better remove the plugs from the pilot screws when I clean the carbs. so I can lean the bike out later if needed.I think a total of almost 2 months,good adventure time. :) I plan on riding the Google Maps 'bicycle route' out to MI. and then take I.80 back to CA. on the GS.I can take a couple pics on my smart phone then upload them later to the forum.
 
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watch the video on that map link, gives a really good overview of what is on them. I wonder if they are avail used on ebay or somewhere.
 
California smog check for a motorcycle? I've never seen that, but I've had them check the vin and motor serial number, they could care less if it had any other parts or even if it works. If anything looks odd they will send you over to the CHP for inspection, again it's just for frame Vin and motor serial number check.
 
fbody_mike said:
California smog check for a motorcycle? I've never seen that, but I've had them check the vin and motor serial number, they could care less if it had any other parts or even if it works. If anything looks odd they will send you over to the CHP for inspection, again it's just for frame Vin and motor serial number check.
Click to expand...

I've registered two bikes (GS's) in California from out of state and the only thing they did was walk out side with me and verify the engine and frame numbers. They never mentioned smog on either one. I wouldn't loose sleep over this.........

My son used "Warmshowers" on his bicycle trip from far Northern California to Mexico in 2013 and he had a wonderful experience with his hosts.
 
Charlie G said:
I've registered two bikes (GS's) in California from out of state and the only thing they did was walk out side with me and verify the engine and frame numbers. They never mentioned smog on either one. I wouldn't loose sleep over this.........

My son used "Warmshowers" on his bicycle trip from far Northern California to Mexico in 2013 and he had a wonderful experience with his hosts.
Click to expand...

I appreciate hearing that a smog check isn't a priority for bikes here in CA.,the DMV book says they're exempt,someone in the DMV said something that messed me up on that,thanks.I also appreciate that info about that website:getting clean and sleep on this long bicycle trip is very important to me.
 
fbody_mike said:
California smog check for a motorcycle? I've never seen that, but I've had them check the vin and motor serial number, they could care less if it had any other parts or even if it works. If anything looks odd they will send you over to the CHP for inspection, again it's just for frame Vin and motor serial number check.
Click to expand...

ok,thanks Mike
 
Sounds like an adventure.

if you add to the adventure, going either way, by taking ferry across Lake Michigan (Milwaukee Muskegon), you will be going bye here.

what do you know about this 82 gs......? To have confidence in its reliability...?
Maybe (har har har) disassemble the bicycle to take with you as backup.....?
 
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You know that you could fly to Michigan........right ? There is no way on this earth I would, or could, ride a bicycle across the country. Good Luck to you !!
 
May first.
hum.. you may want to take 3 or maybe 4 weeks to go east before turn north to Michigan (Detroit area).

maybe by then might have temps near 70.
( now is unseasonably cold, highs in low 30, freezing sleet)
 
The ferry is in Manitowoc Wisconsin and goes to Ludington MI. Around 3 1/2 hrs to cross Lake Michigan. You can get a cabin ticket which has a bed so you can snooze or hang out topside on the front deck. I took my cycle across once and was happy for the time and milage saved. The Badger isa coal fired reic if yur into sailing on an old ship fro way back in the day.

https://www.ssbadger.com/

And there is a "fast" ferry too...

https://www.lake-express.com/
 
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chuck hahn said:
The ferry is in Manitowoc Wisconsin and goes to Ludington MI. ..............
Click to expand...

Is now (7? 8? years) also a highspeed (hydroplane) cross lake ferry that is faster (cost more), is Milllwalkee - Muskegon.
So I was saying if grcamna takes that one, he will be near here.
 
Thanks for this info,the ferry doesn't sound like a bad idea.I will be getting to my destination by early June so I'm hoping things will get warmer..
My friend Dan knows this GS450 and it's a good bike.I repair Japanese motorcycles as my trade so I will get it where I need it to be
 
chuck hahn said:
The ferry is in Manitowoc Wisconsin and goes to Ludington MI. Around 3 1/2 hrs to cross Lake Michigan. You can get a cabin ticket which has a bed so you can snooze or hang out topside on the front deck. I took my cycle across once and was happy for the time and milage saved. The Badger isa coal fired reic if yur into sailing on an old ship fro way back in the day.

https://www.ssbadger.com/

And there is a "fast" ferry too...

https://www.lake-express.com/
Click to expand...


I highly recommend this and the ferry has a bar, for those end of day beverages.
 
I'm almost positive there is no smog check on a 1981 bike. Technically the bike should have an emissions label that states the vehicle meets CA smog laws though and the DMV may choose to look for that. I'd be very surprised if they did and I recommend AAA anyway because the small fee for the card pays for itself the first time you avoid the DMV all together.
 
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