I've got the itch

[Jedz123]

Life's supposed to be an adventure. Motel or camp which ever you prefer but go do it. I've done lot's of cool stuff but my biggest regret is still looking back on stuff I could have done and should have done but didn't.

Well put! And Gorgeous Machine!!!

 

[tkent02]

But I've got my 50th birthday coming up next year and I'm thinking about asking for a pass to ride down to Florida.

If you're 50 and still need a pass, you're not ready.

 

[Sandy]

If you're 50 and still need a pass, you're not ready.

You're a cruel person Charlie Brown .....accurate, but cruel.

 

[DimitriT]

If you're 50 and still need a pass, you're not ready.

I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna get.

 

[roeme]

Wait, that was serious?

Why would you need a pass when your kids are already 14/16? :-k

But in any case, you must do it.

 

[Wingsconsin]

I don't see the need to bash on someone who is obviously being considerate of the people in his life.
Getting a pass probably simply means something like "I will express my desire to do this to the ones who love me so they know my intentions."
I usually make sure my wife knows and understands my travel plans - and that my plans do not interfere with some other family obligation.
Being a rugged individual motorcyclist does not mean forgoing common courtesy in my world.
But I only ride about 15,000 miles per year in a state where we get 4-5 months of snow and ice.

Get your pass - take your ride - you will be glad you did it .

 

[Guest]

Here's my setup, took me a few trips to get it down to this size, I'll see if I can find the hilarious picture of my first road trip on a bike, ha,ha,ha...

I have a single person tent in there, single element stove and the gas for it, compact pot set and there's some spare parts etc.. I actually am not sure if I'll keep taking the stove and pots because I do what Sandy does, stop somewhere before setting up the tent and grab a cooked piece of chicken or something and a beer or two along with a piece of fruit or something for a light breakfast. I wake early and ride for a an hour or two and have a large breakfast. Breakfast is usually my largest meal (it's also the cheapest), lunch usually consists of energy bar and nuts and dinner is from a grocery store. I'll usually hit a motel when I can smell myself or if it's a downpour of rain. And it's amazing how long a single guy can make 3 sets of clothes last

 

[Sandy]

I don't see the need to bash on someone who is obviously being considerate of the people in his life.
Getting a pass probably simply means something like "I will express my desire to do this to the ones who love me so they know my intentions."
I usually make sure my wife knows and understands my travel plans - and that my plans do not interfere with some other family obligation.
Being a rugged individual motorcyclist does not mean forgoing common courtesy in my world.
But I only ride about 15,000 miles per year in a state where we get 4-5 months of snow and ice.

Get your pass - take your ride - you will be glad you did it .

Well put, my apologies Dimitri. As for your question to me about booking ahead. It's not something I usually do but then I try to travel outside of normal tourist season where campsites usually fill up early. Only issues I've ever had was one September traveling the US west coast when it was screaming hot inland. Everyone came to the coast to cool off and if we weren't camped be 3:00pm we were out of luck. It actually worked out good because it was one of those trips with no destination or time schedule.

 

[dpep]

Long rides are about the only kind of riding I do. I usually do at least one of two weeks or longer each season. I did a six week 10,000 mile one out to the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and the Great Plains back in 2012. I estimate my trips by tank fillups more so than miles. I have made that trip between Florida and New England several times each way and for a while rode up to WV every year which is about halfway along the route.

My strong suggestion is that you do not totally eschew the Interstates. They have their function. They allow you to avoid slow unpleasant stretches so you can have more time to enjoy the fun roads along the way. If you stay on surface roads including through the populated areas your time will run out very quickly. The logistics of camping require a fair amount of time also. If you dawdle along on backroads and always stop with enough daylight to set up your camp, just making Florida and back in two weeks will be a challenge. That daylight consideration varies with when you travel. I like to plan my long trips not more than a month or two from June 21.

If I were doing the trip you describe from MA to FL I would take I-84 over to I-81 in PA and take it south to I-77. US 11 parallels 81 for much of that section so that is an option as well. Once you get down into VA and NC I-77 is a pretty ride itself plus you can jump off on either side and parallel it on some great roads in in WV, VA, and NC including the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I avoid I-95 like the plague, particularly up there in the Northeast. Heavy, heavy traffic, flat road, ugly scenery, and tolls, tolls, tolls. The I-81/I-77 alternative has none of those.

Keep us posted as the time draws closer. And if you do make it to Florida, Jacksonville is right here at the top.
...

 

[lurch12_2000]

Seems like the GW250 would not be good for a long haul trip loaded with camping gear and if you're a 6 footer or bigger guy. That seat would be torture after 500 miles and the ergos seem small for legs too. MPG is great but..... Great idea of doing a long trip journey and I have visions of doing something similar with my GS850G. I would agree that longer days around summer would be conducive to more time to travel in light, less cold weather gear(DO NOT leave your rain gear behind to save space!!) and easier for camping, even though traffic and busier time for travel. Highways have their periodic benefits to make up time or skip certain parts of the states, but again that 250 will be huffing and puffing at 75-80 mph to stay up with traffic.
It looks like my old GS500E shrunk down, and I had that twin 500cc wound out at 95mph...and my legs were cramped.

 

[Chuck78]

Dimitri, GET OUT THERE AND RIDE!!!
I highly endorse your notions of doing this trip, although I question the 250 unless "credit card touring" (hotels and restaraunts with minimal gear to save weight).

You live in Massachusetts? I can fully attest to the fact that riding through West Virginia and Virginia (close to the WV border & Southwestern tip below WV), Tennessee, NC, & the NW corner of Georgia is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!! Unless you are really looking to spend time at the ocean & beaches, I personally as lays endorse the twisty roads in the hills & mountains areas as far superior getaways... Florida is great for winter weather and ocean scenery, but in my opinion, not as desirable in all other ways as a vacation getaway (very flat, HUGE insect population with massive cockroaches, swarms of mosquitoes even in winter, fire ants, lots of venomous snakes...

 

[Chuck78]

(Eagle Rock/Smoke Hole Canyon WV)

If coming from the northeastern seaboard, I'd recommend aiming towards Harrisonburg, VA and take US33 over the WV Shenandoah Mtn ridgetop border (one of the absolute best stretches of road in the East Harrisonburg to Harman WV). Ride through the valley and up thru Smoke Hole Canyon (campgrounds there or AMAZING North Fork Mtn ridgetop backcountry camp spot if u ask me where).
(best backcountry camp spot ever, me on the ridge - October Sunrise to my back - North Fork Mtn ridgetop backcountry trail)

Or continue thru Smoke Hole then hang a left on 55 (?) & pass down by Seneca Rocks (mandatory stop) where there is also Seneca Shadows campground.
Then either head deeper into WV for the full experience (west of the NE mtns, the entire state is rugged Appalachian hills loaded full of amazing twisty road routes), or double back on US33 over North Fork Mtn and then catch Sugar Grove Rd south near Brandywine down to Reddish Knob Rd up the mountain the very twisty slow scenic route to Reddish Knob Spur Rd lookout (make sure to GPS this, easy to mis the bike path width turnoff road to the peak)

(Reddish Knob - very remote lookout)
Then down the other side of the mountain ridge on the more tame Briery Branch Rd (or Briery Gap Rd? One is the way to the Spruce Knob lookout by Seneca Rocks, other is Virginia side of the Reddish Knob area).


(Spruce knob, WV)


Then down south a short distance and catch US250 over the same mountain ridge west (3rd time is way more than a charm, this is a very thrilling long mountain ridge to explore!).

(view over the River Knobs toward Dolly Sods from North Fork Mtn WV)

From there I'd take 250 to 219 for another great but slightly less technical thrilling mountain scenic ride. Then head west and pick up WV-16 south of Beckley. If you come in North of Beckley to 16, you can take 20 (?) over the New River Gorge bridge, which is something like a mile long and 980 feet tall, world famous. WV16 aside from the valley area in Beckley is an amazing ride from the Ohio border all the way to the VA border... I have another GREAT lesser traveled secret camp spot along the bottom of the New River Gorge if you email me.

South of Beckley, WV16 is great twisties all the way. Then once into VA, it turns into VA-16. Then you can catch the Back of the Dragon section of 16 over 3 small/medium mountains and 2 valleys, an AMAZING ride.

From the bottom of that at Hungry Mother State Park / Marion VA, Take the route along the base of the mountain west and then cut south to Whitetop Rd and to to the Whitetop Mtn lookout or if you have plenty of time, Mt Rogers nearby. Then stop in at Bearclaw Holler Biker Rest Stop for free camping and excellent hospitality - look them up.
Then follow the mountains west then SW on US58 "The Mighty Python" to Damascus, then pick one of 2 great options southwest following the mountains through endless state and national forests toward the Asheville area. Lots of exploring to do between there and Asheville NC, where I would recommend spending a good bit of time

US276 & NC215 criss cross each other over/near the Blue Ridge Parkway, both are AMAZING tight mountain riding roads with excellent roadside waterfalls and dozens of hikes to spectacular waterfalls... and then there's the Blue Ridge Parkway... the BRP for an hour north of Asheville and Asheville south to Maggie Valley is the best section by far. No tight curves but nonstop ridgetop sweepers that can be all navigated at the 45 mph speed limit. Endless curves and scenic views... south of there is the US129 Deals Gap Tail of the Dragon area and the Moonshiner28, but beyond that is extremely far from my Ohio home so I can't be of much use at this point giving you the highlights of that area. South of Damascus, there is a lot of excellent riding as well, I'd have to look at a map to give you more leads.

Hopefully you or others can use this information as part of your adventures - this highlights THE finest riding area(s) in Eastern North America. Enjoy!

 

[DimitriT]

There is a book written by Simon Gandolfi entitled " Old man on a bike" His ride is a 125cc Honda. He has never ridden a bike before and it chronicles his journey from New York to Tierra del Fuego through 13 countries. Interesting read.

Got this book for Christmas. It's actually out of print but my wife found it used. I like the writing so far, although I look forward when he starts talking more about the trip than his politics (which occupies a bit too much of the first 20 pages).

The gw250 is slow. But its also big. It's the most comfortable bike I have. The suspension is made for long trips: smooth and soft with lots of travel. It's made for crappy Asian roads. The motor will get you to 70 mph (eventually) and then will keep you there (indefinitely). The gw250 will take you 240 miles on a tank of gas which refills with about 3.3 US gallons. That's less than $50 for gas to go Boston to Tampa.

I have a nice wind screen for it and a fairly large top case. Givi sells mounted side cases. I just bought a GPS mount (direct from China so I'm still waiting for it to show) and a dual USB 12v charging fixture.

I'll post a few pictures once I get it outfitted.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Look at Shad side cases too...
I have a top case from them and really like it.
Might be less $$ than a GIVI

www.shadonline.com

 

[DimitriT]

I've got my micro-tourer ready to roll. First trip will be down to NYC for some urban camping (couching) with friends and relatives.

This is a GW250 so it will be interesting to see how it does. I'm planning a route that will take me away from the interstates and I'll be doing it on a Sunday so I'm hoping not too much traffic.

Here's some pics of the bike.

Here's the all important GPS/phone mount with the USB charging setup. The charger is wired to a relay which only works when the ignition is on (pay no attention to that awful tank bag):

It's actually fairly roomy for a small bike and its so much easier to handle at slow speeds than a big tourer:

 

[RichDesmond]

Awesome setup! As long as you avoid long interstate droning the small bike will be fine.
People forget that back in the day lots of looong trips were done on bikes like CB350s, and a modern 250 is at least that capable.
How long a trip is this one?

 

[DimitriT]

Awesome setup! As long as you avoid long interstate droning the small bike will be fine.
People forget that back in the day lots of looong trips were done on bikes like CB350s, and a modern 250 is at least that capable.
How long a trip is this one?

Should be a one day trip. 250 miles or so. I have plans to spend the week and come back on Saturday. Hey if anyone wants to grab a beer let me know.

 

[RichDesmond]

Should be a one day trip. 250 miles or so. I have plans to spend the week and come back on Saturday. Hey if anyone wants to grab a beer let me know.

Cool, should be a nice little jaunt.

Add a dry bag across the rear seat to hold your camping stuff and you can go as far as you like on that bike.
Here's my setup for a trip to Alaska:



Full report here:

http://sonicsprings.com/catalog/alaska2008_ride_report.php

As I mention somewhere in there, I'm a big fan of solo trips. Had some friends who wanted to go with me on that one but I told them no.

 

[JJ]

Awesome setup! As long as you avoid long interstate droning the small bike will be fine.
People forget that back in the day lots of looong trips were done on bikes like CB350s, and a modern 250 is at least that capable.
How long a trip is this one?

Back in my high school days, a friend and I rode all over the Southeastern USA on a GT250 and GT380. It was nothing to make a 600 mile round-trip weekend.

My daughter and I have done many similar weekend trips with me on the 650 Yammie and her on her 250 Ninja.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Looks like grand fun! Wishing you a wonderful time, Dimitri.