Beaky's (first) Grand Motorcycle Tour- pt 1

[beaky]

Long story short: got a motorcycle, finally, last summer... put 5000 miles on it since September, including a big trip from NJ to New Orleans, LA... rode the fabled 500-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, visited friends and made new ones, and took some snaps.

I started the "photo journal" here, but figured I'd continue in the Photos forum, as there are a few good non-moto-related images.

http://forums.simviation.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=170020&start=30#p1266463

The original point of going to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground that weekend was to meet with a small group of fellow "Twisted Twin" owners (from the superb Honda CX/GL forum) who meet there annually... out of about six participants, only I and one other showed up on their "maggots", not some other machine. But it was a good 'un- "Chilimac's" '78 CX500, lovingly cared for, and with some interesting mods, like the Harley saddle seat. Here it is with my GL, at the terrific diner down the road from the campground, in Cruso, NC.




Stayed in Cruso two nights, riding the remainder of the parkway the second day (without the load of camping gear and panniers on it; nice!). Then I hit the interstate to spend another night at a friend's apt. in Huntsville, AL. When I left the next morning, made a quick stop for a photo op at the "rocket garden" down the road...





Arrived in New Orleans well after dark, after a full day of "super slab" riding at 70 mph, with many stops and brief detours to lesser roads. Here's most of what I had loaded on my old donkey's back for the trip...about 60 lbs worth, including the stuff I needed for my week-long stay in the Big Easy.



Next: part 2- New Orleans

[Fozzer]

Wonderful story, and wonderful photo's, Sean!.... ...!

I keep getting your 1982-84, 500cc, "Silver Wing" GL500 transverse, V-Twin bike confused with its earlier sister, the old 1978-83, 500cc, CX500 transverse, V-Twin .
Your GL is somewhat more modified (improved), and better (more reliable) than the old CX!

Both turn out the same 50 HP, similar top speed 105 MPH, same 50 MPG, and the same colossal dry weight; 440 Lbs!

And, of course, there is also the "Gold Wing" 1975-80, 998cc, GL1000, flat-4; and the 1984-87, 1182cc, GL1200 flat-4, weighing in at 675Lbs!

...and the down-to-earth stuff!...>>> http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ ... g%2082.htm

Looking forward to some more photo's, (and stories!) of the trip as you progressed down through the Southern States to the Gulf of Mexico!

Paul.... ...!

[pete]

Great to hear Sean!

Been to some of those places too


Can't wait to see more and happy riding!

[ozzy72]

Great stuff Sean I can't wait to see the next installment!

[mustangaroo]

Do garden rockets have garden gnomes for crew?

[expat]

Nice bike Sean, it is what the German's call a gully pump and they are quite sort after here.
I have driven quite a bit of the Parkway, but I would love to ride it too.......one day I hope.

Matt

[jcj78]

Wow! I didn't see this till part 2 posted, but that is too cool.

I wish I'd known you were coming, The Rocket City is where I go for a beer. Sometimes on this:






I'd have bought you a:
Maybe next time.

and we'd have had a drink to Miss Baker.


I went to her birthday party when I was really little. I don't think I remember it, just the story that I went.



I couldn't go all the way to NOLA, but I might've tagged along for an hour ot two. How'd you go? Not I65 to I10 on a GL5 I wouldn't guess. My brother in law had one for years, and it was an awsome bar hopper, but not an Interstate bike. Hell, I barely get on I565 (right in front of the USPRC) on the K75.

[beaky]

The Gl500 is actually not bad on the interstate...mine is an Interstate editjon, after all... I have highway pegs and a throttle lock, and the seat is not bad. She accelerates well enough and will cruise at 70mph at 6500 rpm all day no problem.
I spent a lot of time on 81, 59, and 65 on that trip, and regularly commute on the NYC area slabs. A 650 would be better for that, but less fun in the city or on back roads.

[Fozzer]

It seem that driving/riding in the USA, one has to be constantly aware of the speed limits in various States to avoid a Speeding Ticket!...>>>>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limi ... ted_States

Its also very noticeable how extremely strict the USA Authorities are, regarding Stop Signs at road junctions, etc!...come to a complete standstill, NO creeping....or you get a ticket!
We rarely get Stop Signs, so the chance of a serious collision at road junctions is always possible.

For speed limits, its not too bad over here, as our speed limits really only apply to two main types of roads:

Multi-lane Motorways (similar to Interstate/Freeway Highways)...70 MPH max.
Other roads (Trunk roads/A roads, B roads, Unclassified roads, etc)....60 MPH max.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_speed ... ed_Kingdom

So there's not a lot of confusion.... ....!

Paul.... ...!

[jcj78]

The Gl500 is actually not bad on the interstate...mine is an Interstate editjon, after all... I have highway pegs and a throttle lock, and the seat is not bad. She accelerates well enough and will cruise at 70mph at 6500 rpm all day no problem.
I spent a lot of time on 81, 59, and 65 on that trip, and regularly commute on the NYC area slabs. A 650 would be better for that, but less fun in the city or on back roads.

Seventy mph on I65? Sounds terrifying. Everyone else is running 90. The K75 is only a little faster. She'll turn 80 without too much vibration, and pull all the way to 120mph, but that comfortable 80mph don't let me get on I65 without getting passsed by semi turcks. Too scary for me. I stick to US Highways and 55-65 speed limits, where everyone is driving 70ish.

[jcj78]

It seem that driving/riding in the USA, one has to be constantly aware of the speed limits in various States to avoid a Speeding Ticket!...>>>>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limi ... ted_States

Its also very noticeable how extremely strict the USA Authorities are, regarding Stop Signs at road junctions, etc!...come to a complete standstill, NO creeping....or you get a ticket!
We rarely get Stop Signs, so the chance of a serious collision at road junctions is always possible.

For speed limits, its not too bad over here, as our speed limits really only apply to two main types of roads:

Multi-lane Motorways (similar to Interstate/Freeway Highways)...70 MPH max.
Other roads (Trunk roads/A roads, B roads, Unclassified roads, etc)....60 MPH max.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_speed ... ed_Kingdom

So there's not a lot of confusion.... ....!

Paul.... ...!

Interstate Highways are regulated by the federal NHTSB, and they set the speed limits. Most are around 70ish. I don't know how it is in other states, but in Alabama and Tennessee, only the state police can ticket you on the interstate highways. The municipalities police the US highways, but not the ones designated "Interstate Highways". Of course, since they can't write tickets, the municipalities don't respond to accidents on Interstates unless there are injuries. IF you're just waiting on a police report, you wait on a State Trooper. Sometimes for a while.

[Fozzer]

I am paranoid about speed limits wherever I am Biking/Motoring.... ...!
Most of them make sense... ....!
With a clean Driving Licence for Motorcycles and Motor cars/Light vehicles, for the past 65 years, I stick rigidly to speed limits, because I really don't want to spoil my spotless Driving record!
I Bike according to road, weather, and traffic conditions!
I really don't want to rattle The California Highway Patrol's, etc, cage!..... ....!

Paul....Safe Riding is the order of the day for me...I want to keep on Biking!... ....!

...unlike our Ozzy, who is downright reckless!.... ... ....!

[beaky]

When I say "70mph", that's obviously not carved in stone... we all know that sometimes, for safety's sake (to maintain that "space cushion") we have to go a bit faster than those around us. My GL500 will go quite a bit faster than that, although Honda advises that with all the "accessories, it's best to keep it under 80. I have gone a bit faster than that, but hardly ever out of necessity... it sure is fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast! I get best fuel economy at about 65, so I try to cruise around that speed when it's safe to do so.
And sometimes it's easier to fall back to get some elbow room... I'm not ashamed to yield the left lane briefly for people who want to go faster, or scared to let big rigs pass me. Much as I prefer to not be in their wake or have them blocking my view, I can usually keep a lane between me and them, so it's not a big problem. If I'm paying attention, even having one pass in the next lane is no big deal. "Imoto" is surprisingly stable in turbulence- probably because the fairing is frame-mounted, not fork-mounted. A windshield that big, mounted on the forks, would be a problem in gusts or the wake of bigger vehicles! If I need to pass a big rig in the next lane and it's a windy day, sometimes I'll hunker down behind that plastic shield to make the transition even smoother.
From my experience on I-80 at peak hours, the scariest traffic is when it's bumper-to-bumper, varying between about 30mph to a walking pace, with sudden stops. That's when I get the hell out of there and take the next exit... lane-splitting is illegal around here, and makes the local drivers angry; then there's the horrible cracks between lanes on most of the NYC-area highways. It's a challenging riding environment, but so far I am doing just fine with my humble steed.