Topic: Pre-Cross country trip tips?

[madScientist]

I ride year round in St Louis...unless there's snow on the ground. But then my commute is only about 10 miles. I'm reaching 'ice cube' status about the time I pull in.

I could not imagine doing an 800+ mile ride during that time. You've either got massive cajones or you're insane...

Haul it man...Otherwise you're going to have no cajones when you get there cause they'll be firmly tucked away in your stomach region and wont be coming out for a few weeks...

[Schnell]

How about this: ride it as far as possible towards your destination, then if/when the conditions become unbearable, rent a van to complete the trip.

[Mooshie]

How about this: ride it as far as possible towards your destination, then if/when the conditions become unbearable, rent a van to complete the trip.

+1. I rode CA>Nevada>Utah>California (2500+) just this past July and the heat was gruesome.  But nothing compared to riding in snow/sleet/ice/cold.  I would take the heat over the cold any day.  have a backup plan to haul the bike before frostbite sets in.   

[BeSeeingYou]

What is this ice and snow you foreigners speak of...

Well...you know those twirly things you guys get with all the wind blowing stuff away or the water washing stuff away....it's not like that.  More like a giant snowcone.   You can even write your name in it.

[Kickstart]

I agree with Jerry Rxman... you don't need to carry all that stuff if you're bike is running well.  If you're really going to do it, focus more on your riding gear (jacket, pants, boots, gloves, wool socks, under armor, etc.)... get good stuff that will keep you warm.  You may end up spending the same amount as the shipping costs here... but then you'll have the gear for many years.

New tires, chain and sprockets sounds like a good idea... as well as the 3000 mile tune-up suggested above.

There was a pretty good thread recently on what tools to carry:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=111303

For other shipping options, try Keyboard motorcycle shipping (I used them about 6 years and they were the cheapest option I could find). 

Shipping is probably the cheaper and "smarter" way to go... but I get the feeling you looking for an excuse to do the ride  

You may be able to stay south for the majority of the trip by taking 40 all the way to Nashville and then heading strait north for the last 300 or so miles. Based on the average temperature map for January, it think it's doable without freezing to death:



Heck... if you have the time... swing really far south with stops in Austin and New Orleans.  Could be one awesome trip, but then you'll probably end up spending a lot more than the few hundred dollars you were hoping to save by riding.

If you do decide to do it... give yourself plenty of time and don't push yourself.... ride safe.

[seanbarney41]

Yer gonna need wheels in your new location.....you won't be riding your bike year round.  Just get a minivan or pickup in Nevada and haul it all that way or rent a cargo van from U-Haul.   If you insist on this rather dumb idea maybe you will get lucky with the weather and have a nice trip or maybe you will ride into a nice ice storm like they tend to get in those middle states in winter.  Sorry for the tough love but maybe you aren't clear on what happens here in the midwest in January.  

...those are pretty ice sculptures

[scottly]

have a backup plan to haul the bike before frostbite sets in.   

If he takes I-40, frostbite may set in as early as about 10 miles out of Kingman; if not then, surely by Flagstaff.

[stockscreamer]

i think i know just the redneck to call in Michigan that would gimme a tow as far as kentucky im sure. sorry for not specifying that i meant i would rest and eat every ten hours, of course fueling whenever needed using the potty is encouraged lol. I like dusty's idea but i do already have TP on my list my mother brought that one up already  .U-hauls are Expensive! maybe not the trailer but im not hauling it in my truck way too many miles on a E4OD transmission, and there isnt a company that will let me rent and drop a pickup for a decent price. Ive grown up around dune buggies, trucks and snowmobiles in Michigan winters all through my childhood 6- now, I have ridden the ole girl in the dead of winter and all year-round for 2 years of work. i know it will be cold i know it will be hard maybe even stupid  but like someone brought up it really is something i would like to do a little write up with photos and stuffs. I would never ask any of you but unless you are willing to put my bike in your pickup and only take like 4-500 bucks for fuel ( thats fors both there and back) im riding, im a bit stubborn so i think its a trip i can do. I dont know if this crowd is familiar with under armor but its a tight stretchy long sleeve and pants set that keeps you nice and warm when its cold, and when its hot out it breaths and cools you down (like long johns only better) ill be wearing those, some nice gloves that have pockets for hand warmers ive already been scouring craigslist for a riding suit it wont really fit the theme of my bike but it will be nice to have on. a couple things im looking at also are rigging up a cruise control for the the throttle (save my wrists) maybe depending on price i will install a steering damper and i will for sure be denting the tank so my knees fit tighter to the bike!  other than that 500-6000 mile service,  wheel bearings and what  weve discussed before i will have no doubts she and i will make it. 

Im not particularly fond of shipping to begin with because i like to be responsible for myself  and know that it will make it their safely, If i forgot to mention before i would be taking the southern route which will be a milder ride then head straight north to Indiana.
shoot me if im lying my good friend hooking me up with a job is lending me his beamer for riding back and forth to work, while taking the beamer back and forth to work i will have the engine removed and rebuilt to 836, honda man ignition, trans rebuilt, clean up frame welds and powder coat frame at where i will be working. It should be fun as hell by this coming summer.


Stubborn, young, dumb and full of, Oh nevermind 
Josh

[seanbarney41]

Screw the tank dents...somebody better donate this guy a Vetter...with lowers!

[madScientist]

Let us know your route. If you get to the St Louis area and need a hand lemme know.

[stickman]

On January 1, 19 and something, a friend and I rode round trip approx. 3 hrs. in 32 degrees and overcast weather from North Wilkesboro, NC to Asheville NC.   Had on thermal this and thermal that, ski mask, etc. and still near froze to death.  Young and foolish is a very poor excuse for what we did.  Naked 750 Hondas and I did lots of riding in straight aways with both gloved hands hugging the finned jugs on the engine.  Clean roads and no weather, just cold, cold, cold and more cold. 

Please consider tuning up the ole Ford pickup and hauling your bike.  Take it easy and don't abuse the ole gal and she may surprise you.  If she is dependable enough to not break down running trips around home, a long trip is nothing more than several short trips strung together.  Just get the pick up prepared for the trip before you leave.  Worst case, you are carrying alternative transportation in the back of the pickup.  Remember to pack winter riding gear just in case.

Whatever, you decide, be safe and best of luck with your adventure and new job.  Stickman.

[DustyRags]

Actually a Vetter might not be a bad idea at all. Hideous, to be sure, but from what I can tell they're effective as all hell. Just dump it again when you get there.

[andrewk]

Vetters are very effective.  I wouldn't take a road trip without mine, the ugly sumb*tch anyway.   The lowers made riding in the 30's (with good warm gear) a breeze.  The hardest part was getting the bike warmed up!

[Old Scrambler]

THE most important item on your trip will be YOU!  To save yourself from having to stop every hour to warm-up, at least get a full-cover windshield that extends to your handgrips.  Just the other day I left my house at 7:AM with a 29-degree temp. I had a short shield and handguards on the bike. I had layers under my insulated riding suit with a ski-mask and full-face helmet. I had insulated socks and my GIVI riding boots, and insulated gauntlet-gloves.  I have a throttle lock so I could flex my hand and warm it when I was on straight roads.  It was a sunny day and warmed to about 55.  I stopped for breakfast after riding for one hour. Later in the day I did not need the ski-mask, but I did use it again after 5:PM.  I covered 320 miles for the day and had cold feet when I got home a little after dark and the temps were back down to about 30.

I road my sandcast 750 from Wisconsin to LA in November of 1969.  I adjusted the chain twice.....no other tools needed.  I will never forget how cold I got riding up to Flagstaff.  If the weather is clear, you can make the trip in 3 or 4 days.........just concentrate on staying warm (maybe rubber boots and gloves) and protecting yourself from the wind.

[Duanob]

If it were me I would buy a $300 harbor freight trailer and tow the bike to your new home. That way you have the bike and a trailer which is really handy. Frankly once you get across the divide the prairies really don't have much to offer on a road trip but a whole lotta nothing. But once you get to Indiana and eastward you will have tons of awesome scenery and roads to ride through next spring.

[stockscreamer]

The truck is not an option even if i wanted to take it unfortunatley, Im leaving it with my mother so she can put put around to work and everything til she sells everything and moves to mexico in a year. Ive got a couple months to plan out my route, but i will keep you all posted. Funny you would say that cause i hate the views in michigan too many trees lol, I like wide open nothingness. About the vetter i agree they are ugly as sin itself but how much do they usually run? if they arent too bad ill pick one up since so many of you say thumbs up for functionality. The key to staying warm is wearing all that thermal stuff and then sealing it all up with a wind proof material so it doesnt penetrate.. Although im glad so many of you are concerned, I grew up HATING the cold and being surrounded by it all the time so i figured out how to get and stay comfortable. I honestly wont mind carrying all the extra parts and tools for the piece of mind.. I dont really have a whole lot to take with me besides them. Thanks everyone for putting in there 2 cent!

Josh

[stockscreamer]

Well since my tools, nuts, bolts and washers havent sold no progress has been made to the Honda. I have another "plan" that wouldnt be possible without my good friend E over in Chicago.. The plan being wait til summer suck it up and ship the bike, fly out to my buddies in Chicago in January hand him 2k and hes going to hand me the keys to a mint awd, turbo 95 Subaru Impreza that i will then drive the remaining 200 miles to my Indiana and back and forth to work. Dont go thinking all your ideas were said and not heard, i will be taking a cross-country trip on the Honda and will use this thread to help with my journey. again thanks to everyone who spoke up.

Josh

[Jiminy Indy]

Yeah, living in Indiana I can attest that you can't / won't want to do any riding here during the winter months. If it was me I'd store your bike where you are then next summer go back for a visit and have a great road trip back to Indiana.

and BTW I like my Windjammer fairing -

[stockscreamer]

Yeah, living in Indiana I can attest that you can't / won't want to do any riding here during the winter months. If it was me I'd store your bike where you are then next summer go back for a visit and have a great road trip back to Indiana.

and BTW I like my Windjammer fairing -

Yea for sure i agree, im not as worried about the temps as much as i am un-plowed Indiana roads (quite a few if you dont know Indiana). But i like my new plan so long as it pulls through, ive always wanted a first gen Subaru and itll be a good winter ride. I have a year that i can leave the Honda here in Vegas free of charge, by summer ill have enough cash to not really care about the cost of shipping it..

[Jiminy Indy]

Cool deal - Welcome to Indiana. We can always use more Honda SOHC riders around.

[70CB750]

I ride year round in St Louis...unless there's snow on the ground. But then my commute is only about 10 miles. I'm reaching 'ice cube' status about the time I pull in.

    My commute is one mile, riding in winter I go around on local roads to warm her fully up while freezing solid.

[Bankerdanny]

I did 1,400 in 6 days in August 2011 on the Michigan leg of the Relay Rally. While my fellow riders will tell you I carried a lot of crap with me, not much of it was actual motorcycle stuff.

Definitely a spare tube. Make sure you have the tools you need to change the tire. Get a CO2 tire filler. I have used them for years on bicycles and they are a real life saver. A new tube won't help if you have a flat in the middle of Nebraska farm fields and no way to get air back into your repaired tire.

I would also recommend spending $100 and picking up a basic windshield if you don't have one. It makes a huge difference when spending hours on the highway.

If you install new points and condensers save the old ones (assuming the bike was running well when you replaced them). Known good ignition parts are nice to have in the event that the new ones act up (which is not uncommon).

Finally, make a small jumper wire for your ignition. The only issue that stranded me when I had my 550 that wasn't my fault was when the ignition switch failed with no warning at 11:30 at night. Fortunately I was close to home. The temporary fix wsa easy (do a search on the forum, this is a known issue and there are several topics on how to make the jumper) it is only a couple inches of wire and a male and female spade terminal set. The jumper took about 3 minutes to install and let me rid ethe bike home for a permanent repair.

[Don R]

Good choice. Maybe at some point you can take your vacation to go for the bike in good weather. As was said, you will need a car anyway. A good job requires you to be there on time and winter on a bike is not condusive to that. Maybe a small biike trailer would be in order at that time.