Trip Preparation: "Is it time yet!?"

 

Ride along with us!

Welcome friends and family.  This blog will allow you to “come along” with Dad and I on our May motorcycle ride.  We are travelling down the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA into NC then continuing to GA, AL and SC.  I will be making daily updates from my HTC Incredible smart phone including locations, sentiments on the weather, meal photos and riding scenery.  This time of the year can be hit or miss when it comes to showers so we will mindfully pack our rain gear.  Enjoy and thanks for riding along!

Our Route

View Saunders' Southern Sojurn in a larger map

Motorcycle Preparation

Sure, a stock motorcycle will take you wherever you need to go, just like a 74’ Beetle, but the list of aftermarket parts is endless and can make for a much more pleasant and comfortable ride.  Dad and I will be riding similar Suzuki V-Strom 650’s with a 6-speed V-Twin engine.  This helps me out so when my bike falls apart, I can just sneak parts off his… ;)

Accessories, or “farkles”, range from the technology related navigation aides to comfort oriented pads and rests.  Comfort and relaxation are a paramount necessity when riding for days on end. 

Pops has really gone all out on his bike in this regard.

Here is a pic of his bike loaded up:

In the past few months, he has added the following:

Comfort:

Highway cruising pegs (watch for his feet stretched out like a Harley pirate)

Lowered seat to allow a flat foot on the ground,

Sheepskin seat pad to fend off “Monkey Butt”

Grip Puppies which increase the diameter of the handlebar grips and decrease vibration

Bar Risers to shift the handlebars closer to the rider

           

Protection

Givi Windscreen to keep the rider in a nice quiet slipstream bubble

MadStad Windshield Bracket

SW Motech Engine Crash Bars

Suzuki Handguards

Tech:

            12V Electrical Socket

            Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS (your welcome for that present ;)

            RAM Mount for GPS on the handlebars

Storage

Tool tube for gadgets and tools

Oxford Expandable Soft Saddlebags (with rain covers)

Coocase Topcase with LED Brake Lights

Hidden spare keys ;)

I too am obsessive about “farkling”

Comfort:

Bar Risers to shift the handlebars higher

$18 Wal-Mart Gel Seat Pad (hey it works and I’m cheap)

           

Protection

Givi Windscreen to keep the rider in a nice quiet slipstream bubble

MadStad Windshield Bracket

SW Motech Engine Crash Bars

SW Motech Skid Plate

IMS Moto Footpegs

Acerbis Handguards

Tech:

            12V Electrical Socket w/ 3xOutlet and USB

            Magellan Crossover 2500 GPS with Mount

            HTC Incredible Smart Phone with Charger

            Highway driving lights mounted to front forks

            Stebel Nautilus Air Horn

            Heated vest and glove harnesses

            SAE wiring connection to air compressor

            Digital Voltmeter, Thermometer and Clock  

Storage

Tool tubes for gadgets and tools

2 Large Metal Panniers

1 Large JC Whitney Locking Topcase

Rapid Transit Abrams Tank Bag
                            

Gear Preparation

Hello my name is Mike, and I am a…gear-a-holic.   Riding gear has saved my skin many times and you get what you pay for.  Protection from the elements, temperature changes and in case of a crash is the most important aspect of preparation for me. 

Riding Gear

My riding gear:

Arai Corsair RX-7 Helmet

            Wired with a Chatterbox XBI2 Bluetooth communication to Dad

TCX Infinity Gore-Tex Riding Boots

Aerostich Roadcrafter 2 Piece Suit

BMW Atlantis 2 Gore-Tex Gloves

Homemade Balaclava

Dad’s riding gear:

            Fulmer Flip-Up Helmet

Wired with a Chatterbox XBI2 Bluetooth communication to Mike

            Cruiser Works Boots

            Olympia Mesh Jacket and Pants with Liners

            Olympia and Joe Rocket Gloves

Balaclava

Camping Gear:

My simplified camping gear list*:

            Marmot Aesolos 2P Tent w/ Ground Pad

            Kelty Light Year 20° Down Sleeping Bag

            Outdoor Pacific Insulated Air Mattress

            Inflatable Pillow

            Sportsman’s Guide 12x12 Lightweight Tarp

            Brunton Piezzo Butane Stove

            Trusty Camping Cup

Energizer Headlamp (AAA)

           

            Dad’s camping gear list

                        Eureka Apex 2XT Tent

                        Big Agnes 45°  Sleeping Bag and Pad

                        Inflatable Pillow

                        Single Burner Solid Fuel Stove and Small Pot (nifty!)

                        Energizer Headlamp (AAA)

           

* My list of actual gear is very detailed down to exactly which socks I pack…so I decided to spare you the “long” list

Riding Preparation

In order to ride 300+ mile days with ease, it is important to get comfortable with the motorcycle and the weight and load of camping gear.  Pairing down the unnecessary “kit” makes for less to cleanup, pack and worry over.  I camp just about every weekend from my bike and have dialed in my setup pretty well.  Good to go!  So far, Dad has only taken one overnight motorcycle camping trip with much success.  We set up camp and lived off the bikes for an evening despite his affinity for air conditioning, ice makers and cable TV.  He lived through the rainy night and enjoyed the West Virginia Landscape the following day.  We put back a couple hundred miles that weekend and have ridden some more ambitious days over 300 mi as well.

Fortunately, this trip will put us near some beautiful campgrounds, wonderful scenery and in the driveways of many family members.    We will be camping three nights or so in addition to staying in hotels, cabins and with relatives.  Expect us knocking on your door if you live in the south…