Topic: Go West Young Man!

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

For the last few months I've been planning a big cross country trip on my 1974 550K. After several delays it looks like this is the week. I'll be heading west from Little Rock, AR to Los Angeles. I'll be traveling with a buddy on his 1981 CX500. After reaching LA we'll meet up with the drummer from our band and his '05 Bonnie. Then it's north through Big Sur, San Fran, Yosemite, Sequoia park and back through Bakersfield, my home town. The return trip isn't mapped out yet, so any road east is homeward.

The bike has been overhauled with, just a few things:

Complete engine rebuild
- rings
- bearings
- cam chain
- primary chain

Complete carb overhaul
Wheel bearings
Whole frame disassembled, regreased
Entire harness cleaned
Dyna coils
Headlight relay
DIY fuse box, new rectifier/regulator
Braided lines
NOS Red Wing 13" shocks

A ton of other stuff

650 Cam & gauge

So anyways, we'll be camping along the way. If anyone has a yard we can safely camp in (and maybe a shower ) we can probably use some assistance along the way. Now I'm off to the buddies to replace his stator and put the motor back in!

(heres the band we were all in together: www.myspace.com/grandserenade)

[Bob Wessner]

Best of luck. Take lots of pics and post a report when you return.. or, along the way if you can find I-Net access.

[BVCB650]

About 15 miles or so south of Silver City, NM is a place to camp if the timing works out for you. It is called Burro Mountain and is a great place. Old resort type place where Teddy Roosevelt once stayed.

[Gordon]

Sounds like a great trip!  If I were you I'd stick to something similar for the return trip.  This late in the year you're likely to get into some pretty hairy weather going over the mountains any further north than that.  Stop through Austin on the way back and hit a couple of shows, it's a great place. 

[Duke McDukiedook]

Good luck and bring back some In 'n Out for us KC people.

[Shenanigans]

Just a little north of Tuscson there is a great place to camp at Pichacho peak. If I get done with my 750 rebuild in time I will ride along a bit or I am pretty sure I can find a bike. Lots of my friends owe me.

It looks like your taking the the 8 past Tucson, a few mins. north west of Casa Grande is Maricopa I can offer you atleast a shower and yard there if you dont make it up to Phoenix. Where the I-8 and the 347/84 meet there used to be an abandon motel with a really good empty pool for skating. There was a giant sign that said diesel but the "sel" was faded so it just said DIE. A lot of the out of town people coming to Az would sleep in the pool and skate it the next morning, but the "owner" started waking people up with a shotgun in the face  So I dont know how much you want to risk it there.

[Damfino]

Good luck and bring back some In 'n Out for us KC people.

In 'n Out gave me a serious case of heartburn.
(Did taste great going down though!)

[IAmCitizenMe]

I dig your band.

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

I dig your band.

Awesome man, thanks a lot!

About 15 miles or so south of Las Cruses, NM, is a place to camp if the timing works out for you. It is called Burro Mountain and is a great place. Old resort type place where Teddy Roosevelt once stayed.

I'm going to look into it, if it's good enough for Teddy..

Sounds like a great trip!  If I were you I'd stick to something similar for the return trip.  This late in the year you're likely to get into some pretty hairy weather going over the mountains any further north than that.  Stop through Austin on the way back and hit a couple of shows, it's a great place. 

How bad? Southern Utah/Colorado was the idea for the return. Of course I had planned on leaving 3 weeks ago. We do have quality camping gear, good tent, low temp bags & sleeping mats. I'd really like to ride through all the state parks along the southern borders of those two states. We'll be heading home from the Vegas area the first week of October. I know the nights are frigid, but how bad is it during the day?

Thanks for the support guys, and if anyone happens to live along hwy 10 in Texas and has any accommodations let me know.

[andy750]

Hey great trip and good luck! Dont worry about the temps - should be fine this time of year and you have the gear so enjoy it. An example of how cold it might get - I was in Wyoming at Devils Tower (so way north of where you will be) in October 2001 and it was so cold the Gatorade from in my tent  . Perhaps on the return journey through Utah at the higher elevation you might get cold during the night but daytimes are still nice and warm (70-80F).

Dont forget some rain gear just in case. Gaiters or something to cover your boots is a good idea to stop the feet/ankles getting soaked in a heavy rain storm.

Have a great time and remember to check your oil/battery level (if you dont have an AGM) and tire pressure every 500 miles or so.

Ride report afterwards!
cheers
Andy

[BVCB650]

You should be good coming back through Southern Colo. Come up Wolf Creek Pass from Utah. We don't get snow until mid October. There has been some snow lately, but above 13,000 feet. Didn't stay around long. Too warm.

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

You guys think it'd be smarter to flip the trip upside down, go out there across OK, up through New Mexico, 4 corners, SO. Utah, then Vegas?

What is the difference between the Rockies weather now and 3 weeks from now?

[BVCB650]

The Aspens are turning now. Make for some good pics. I seriously doubt you will run into snow 3 weeks from now. It usually comes around the 3rd to 4th week in October. Even then, it usually melts off by 10AM.

[IAmCitizenMe]

I grew up in Wyoming and spent a good 90% of my time in the mountains. BVCB650 is right. After about 10:00 a.m. the snow is gone, the sun is out and you can feel the warmth. You should be fine as long as you come prepared. And pictures are an absolute must.

[Duke McDukiedook]

You guys think it'd be smarter to flip the trip upside down, go out there across OK, up through New Mexico, 4 corners, SO. Utah, then Vegas?

What is the difference between the Rockies weather now and 3 weeks from now?

Snow, ice. They get more snow (Wolf Creek) than anywhere in CO.

[BVCB650]

No where in the state that I have been to. Oh, maybe on Pike's Peak.

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

What would you guys do in my situation? I'm down for doing a full 180 at the last minute and going the north route out there if I'll end up in more enjoyable weather.

[BVCB650]

Given that the trees are real pretty right now from the dry fall we have had, I'd head north.

[andy750]

Given that the trees are real pretty right now from the dry fall we have had, I'd head north.

+1. Go for it!

[Shenanigans]

When you get to this sign, go north 

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

When you get to this sign, go north 

Awesome. Looks like we're going up first, so maybe we can meet up if you have the 750 ready. Should be the first week or so of October.

Thanks guys, will post up a pic of the loaded bikes right before we leave.

[Chris Elliott]

I'd be happy to let you guys crash in my back yard and use my showers.  I live in Tempe AZ and I have a pretty big yard and a decent sized house.  Might even have my bike ready by then if i'm lucky.  

[Shenanigans]

hmmm, that bike looks awfully familiar...

By that time my bike will be done.

[bistromath]

If you're rolling through SF, let me know with a PM. I'll be around.

[BVCB650]

You guys think it'd be smarter to flip the trip upside down, go out there across OK, up through New Mexico, 4 corners, SO. Utah, then Vegas?

What is the difference between the Rockies weather now and 3 weeks from now?

Snow, ice. They get more snow (Wolf Creek) than anywhere in CO.

Probably anywhere in the nation................but not this time of year. I hunt down that way every year and the earliest I have got snowed on was Oct 24th.