First Ever Motorcycle Trip

[glstine]

Just returned from my first ever overnight trip on a bike. My buddy and I took off Friday morning and headed to Luckenbach for the Harvest Classic Vintage Bike Rally. We camped in Luckenbach Friday and Saturday night and headed down to Leakey on Sunday morning. We stayed the night in Leakey and headed home on Monday morning.

Some of the things I learned on this trip:

My 550, that most people would probably be terrified to ride since it seems like it is about to crumble to the ground at any moment, is a trooper. She got flogged pretty hard this weekend, a total of 871.7 hard miles. It is also extremely uncomfortable.

Vincents look more awesome in person than they do in pictures

This is my favorite road sign:

This is my least favorite road sign:

The D'Rose Inn in Leakey is a great place to stay, motorcycle and bicycle lodging only. Deb the owner is incredibly nice.

It is really beautiful deep in the Texas Hill Country

There are also some awesome roads. Ranch Road 335, one of the three sisters, was by far my favorite. The roller coaster section (which is exactly what it would be like to ride on a roller coaster track) was the most fun I've ever had riding any kind of motorized vehicle.

I took about 500 pictures during the trip, here is a slide show with some highlights (I know the music is not very original): Edit: I just discovered only about half of the slide show uploaded, I will have to try again tonight I guess. I guess photobucket has a 10 minute time limit on videos. I will have to find something else to do with it. I am uploading the slideshow to youtube, I will post a link when done. Edit: Added a link to the slideshow further down (Post 10)

 

[cowboyup3371]

Great pictures. Sounds like you had fun.

 

[Billy Ricks]

I had planned to do both this past weekend, the Classic and the Sisters but family took priority. I've talked to people who have ridden both the Dragon and the Sisters and they prefer the Sisters.

 

[tkent02]

My 550, that most people would probably be terrified to ride since it seems like it is about to crumble to the ground at any moment, is a trooper. She got flogged pretty hard this weekend, a total of 871.7 hard miles. It is also extremely uncomfortable.

Looks like a great ride, and a great bike you have there. The uncomfortable part, that's just an L thing.

 

[ddaniels]

Looks like a great ride, and a great bike you have there. The uncomfortable part, that's just an L thing.

For sure.

I don't think your bike looks like it's going to crumble to the ground any minute at all. Nice looking bike, regardless of the comfort thing.

 

[glstine]

I had planned to do both this past weekend, the Classic and the Sisters but family took priority. I've talked to people who have ridden both the Dragon and the Sisters and they prefer the Sisters.

I liked the fact that we basically had the road to ourselves. We would go for miles without seeing anyone. That could be because we didn't start until almost 4:00 pm. We stopped at Two Fat Guys BBQ in Camp Wood (which has excellent pulled pork and buttermilk pie btw, plus the owner is an incredibly nice gentleman) so the sun was getting low which made the descent into Leakey on 337 somewhat nerve wracking, doesn't help I am somewhat scared of heights. Think a paved Bolivian death road with a guard rail.

There is also the section of 16, just past the sign in the picture above, that is pretty cool, so steep and curvy I don't think I got out of second gear. It took me by surprise. I didn't know there were roads like that in Texas.

 

[glstine]

For sure.

I don't think your bike looks like it's going to crumble to the ground any minute at all. Nice looking bike, regardless of the comfort thing.

Looks like a great ride, and a great bike you have there. The uncomfortable part, that's just an L thing.

Thanks for the comments. The bike looks much better in pictures than in person. If you saw all the rust, the chain, the soft brakes (which I thought stainless lines would fix), the occasional odd noise coming from the engine...

But, she always gets me home. If I can ever get the 850 on the road, the 550 is going to get some serious love.

 

[850 Combat]

Looks like a great ride, and a great bike you have there. The uncomfortable part, that's just an L thing.

Well, at least they have a small tank so that you don't have to sit on it as long at one time.

Putting in 400 + miles in a day is going to give you some discomfort on any bike, even an 850 or 1000G, which are both super comfortable in my opinion. Getting past the discomfort is part of the experience, as you now well know.

 

[glstine]

Well, at least they have a small tank so that you don't have to sit on it as long at one time.

Putting in 400 + miles in a day is going to give you some discomfort on any bike, even an 850 or 1000G, which are both super comfortable in my opinion. Getting past the discomfort is part of the experience, as you now well know.

Our longest day was 320+ on the way home, near the end we stopped about once an hour to stretch the legs and rest the rear. It is pretty amazing that getting off for even just 5 minutes will have you good to go for quite a while.

 

[glstine]

Ok let me try this for the slideshow edit: removed facebook link

 

[Kerry]

40 mph at 0rpm. You must get some kinda gas mileage.

If you can tell me what chain conversion you use for that, I'd appreciate it.

Seriously though, great story and pics. I've (sadly) just put The Flame! in for winter storage (and, of course, it's 17 C right now and sunny as I type this - always the way...), but I'm already looking forward to some long-distance touring next season.

 

[glstine]

40 mph at 0rpm. You must get some kinda gas mileage.

If you can tell me what chain conversion you use for that, I'd appreciate it.

Seriously though, great story and pics. I've (sadly) just put The Flame! in for winter storage (and, of course, it's 17 C right now and sunny as I type this - always the way...), but I'm already looking forward to some long-distance touring next season.

I wondered if someone was going to notice that. My tach cable snapped a couple of weeks ago. Also my speedometer is somewhere between 30-40% off on the slow side, I mostly guess how fast I'm going.

Just thought of something you guys might like, got to see a 1920's bike running
[URL=http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc258/glstine/Harvest%20Classic%20and%20Beyond%202010/Harvest%20Classic/?action=view&current=SANY0306.mp4]
[/URL]

 

[Redman]

Glstine,

I like Tx Hill Country riding. (have been there only once, want to go again).
Yes, FM335 & 336 and 337 are just great.
I was there in 2005.
And Have "traveled" some of it since on Google Maps Street View. And have seen that since 2005 The east end of 335 (towards Bandera) has been regraded and rerouted some to smooth out the elevation changes and smooth out some of the curves. Drat.

SOme one beat me to commenting on your 50mph at 0 rpm. I didnt think it was the engine off and coasting downhill.

I suppose you know that the majority of the discomfort of an L is related to the bars. See twr1776 pictures for a good example of Ls that have had the L modified out of them.


Thanks for posting.

.

 

[Redman]

...

.....
The D'Rose Inn in Leakey is a great place to stay, motorcycle and bicycle lodging only. Deb the owner is incredibly nice.
.....

Hum, that at all associated with The Motorcycle Stop there in Leakey?

.

 

[Allie]

Fantastic pics, I'm glad you had such a great time!

 

[glstine]

Hum, that at all associated with The Motorcycle Stop there in Leakey?

.

Note that I'm aware of there is a little history on it on their website http://droseinn.com/ They have a pretty well stocked shop on the property from what I hear. Just don't get in a water balloon fight or you will be charged $250. Seriously, that is one of the posted rules. I'm sure there is a story behind that.

 

[fnkvn]

Thanks for a great post! It makes me sad, that I didn't get any long trips in this year . There is always next year. I hope you venture farther next year too.

 

[Guest]

Well done old mate . Looks like you had a ball . Good stuff this motor sickling .

I suppose you'd be up for the iron butt next .

Cheers , Simon . :clap:

 

[glstine]

Hey Simon, I've been following your trip, look's great, I'd like to get to some of those areas some day. I'd like to say you should come to Texas next time, but, while there are some great areas like the Hill Country and the Big Bend area, you have to drive through hundreds of miles of yuck to get to them.

One of these days when I have a more suitable bike I want to do an iron butt just to say I did, but now on my bike I could maybe do 500 in a day, maybe.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. glstine,

Wow, a most excellent adventure. Thanks for all the pictures. Yes, your GS550 is a tough old machine. Just give it a little regular maintenance and it will run a good long time.

Just FYI, I've done over 350 miles in a day on my GS850 without a single complaint from my back or butt. They really are comfy.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff