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6 States and 3000 Miles

450 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Chromo
Just returned from a road trip a buddy and I took. He rode his Kaw ZRX 1200 and I the Blackbird. This was a scenic trip that took us into OR, CA, NV, AZ, CO and NM. TONS of incredible scenery and interesting roads. My longest day was when we parted company at Kingman, AZ at 5:30am and I rode 900+ miles arriving home around 9pm that evening.

A few thoughts and stats:

Travelled 2950 miles
Departed on a Thurs, Returned following Thurs
Moving average 60 mph
Moving time 49:05
MPG ranged from 33 to 46 (buddy's ZRX about 10% better on average)
Max speed 98 mph (musta been passing someone)
Highest elevation observed 11,084' (really zaps the horsepower)
Highest temp observed 101 degrees (mid-upper 90s much of the time)
Mechanical issues Zero
Saw countless other motorcycles, and 95% were Harleys
8 of 10 other riders waved a friendly "howdy"
99% of cars/trucks were courteous and gave us lots of space
Killed approximately 1,432,512 bugs
Found the Beaded Seat cover to be helpful in the heat
Found the evaporative cooling vest to be priceless in the heat...wore
it under armoured mesh riding jacket.
Could NOT have ridden the 900 mile day home without highway pegs as they allowed me to easily lift the weight/pressure off my tired
old behind frequently.
The most beautiful country was in Utah and Colorado
Able to make good safe time generally riding about 5 mph above posted
speeds...we had no interest in attracting police attention. We often
rode below the speed limit as we were in no hurry.
Took very few photos...very inconvenient to use a camera in this mode
of travel.

This was a wonderful trip and I brought home many fond memories. We've already begun thinking of where we'll go next year!
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Excellent trip and trip report! Only wish I was there but I get envious whenever anyone posts about a trip they have taken!!! Thanks for posting the details too, I like it!

:claps:
I say many times, ride long and often, you did that.
Who in their right mind rides 900 + miles in upper 90's ..hmmmmmm? Thats just craaaazzzzyyy!!!
Awesome, thanks for sharing with us. Sounds like you had a great time!
Makes me Jealous............ I'd love to just get on the wing and ride...... I did it a few weeks ago, covered almost 4,000 miles and had the time of my life, wish it could have been longer!
Who in their right mind rides 900 + miles in upper 90's ..hmmmmmm? Thats just craaaazzzzyyy!!!
I've never claimed to be in my right mind!:raspberry:

Honestly I didn't start out to get home in one day, but there was just never any reason to end the day early. I was able to maintain excellent comfort with the bead seat, highway pegs, and cooling vest and surprisingly, other than a 15 minute period of feeling fatigued about 3 hours from home, I felt great. On the other hand, during the other days of the trip I was real happy to get off the bike at 300 miles + or -.

I'm unsure if I'll ever do another near-1000 mile day...but I won't rule it out. Last year I was coming home from New York and marathoned it to Gallup, NM before getting a motel, only stopping for gas and snacks: about 2200 miles (around 36 hours in the car)...so I'm known for doing stupid driving tricks. My wife was none to happy with me when I confessed that demonstration of poor judgement.
3
Just returned from a road trip a buddy and I took. He rode his Kaw ZRX 1200 and I the Blackbird. This was a scenic trip that took us into OR, CA, NV, AZ, CO and NM. TONS of incredible scenery and interesting roads. My longest day was when we parted company at Kingman, AZ at 5:30am and I rode 900+ miles arriving home around 9pm that evening.

A few thoughts and stats:

Travelled 2950 miles
Departed on a Thurs, Returned following Thurs
Moving average 60 mph
Moving time 49:05
MPG ranged from 33 to 46 (buddy's ZRX about 10% better on average)
Max speed 98 mph (musta been passing someone)
Highest elevation observed 11,084' (really zaps the horsepower)
Highest temp observed 101 degrees (mid-upper 90s much of the time)
Mechanical issues Zero
Saw countless other motorcycles, and 95% were Harleys
8 of 10 other riders waved a friendly "howdy"
99% of cars/trucks were courteous and gave us lots of space
Killed approximately 1,432,512 bugs
Found the Beaded Seat cover to be helpful in the heat
Found the evaporative cooling vest to be priceless in the heat...wore
it under armoured mesh riding jacket.
Could NOT have ridden the 900 mile day home without highway pegs as they allowed me to easily lift the weight/pressure off my tired
old behind frequently.
The most beautiful country was in Utah and Colorado
Able to make good safe time generally riding about 5 mph above posted
speeds...we had no interest in attracting police attention. We often
rode below the speed limit as we were in no hurry.
Took very few photos...very inconvenient to use a camera in this mode
of travel.

This was a wonderful trip and I brought home many fond memories. We've already begun thinking of where we'll go next year!
Learn to use a camera correctly, ride with left hand, cruise on, and snap pics with camera in right hand! WHILE pulling a 800lb trailer or more! LOL

Well I meant that as a joke and was going to make comments, but stupid new forum and thumbs for pictures does not let comments be posted in between pictures as well as not showing a decent picture in the post!

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Who in their right mind rides 900 + miles in upper 90's ..hmmmmmm? Thats just craaaazzzzyyy!!!
Many of us do!
I have ridden 800+ in 100F+ a couple times, and 800+ in 100+ then hard rains to drowned a frog, then sticky muggy 100+ again same day about 2pm!

Worst was about 120F heading to SC. and about 800 mile ride. Only reason I stopped then was I got to a friends house where I spent a couple days, otherwise I would have rode the full 900+ to where I was actually going for 2 weeks.

900 in 90's is nothing, it's only 1-2 hours that really bothers you, then your used to it or dead! :ROFL:
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