nklr "gold book"

[RM]

Ramble warning: random disorganized thoughts below. ---- Hey, I'm now girlfriend-less, pet-less, and job-less. Now seems like a real good time to load up the KLR with everything but the kitchen sink and ride it from SoCal to my parents place in Florida and visit for a few days and maybe hit them up for money or something. If I were to do this in January, I'd want to stay as far south as possible for obvious reasons. I'm concerned about high elevations as well. If I were to follow along the I-8 and I-10 corridors, what's the highest elevation I'd be likely to encounter? I envision jumping on and off the Interstate as necessary (to see cool stuff or to zip through the boring stuff). The I-40 corridor looks much more interesting but it's just the wrong time of year for that sort of thing. My other question is in regards to how many list members live along this route. I envision this trip being >95% street but if I met up with a listmember who knows where the good dirt is then I might just stick around for a day or two and break some plastic off my bike. How many Texans we got 'round these parts? I speak fluent Southern, y'all hear? If possible, I might want to do a mid-trip tire change and oil change. Common sense says to put on new tires before I leave but I have an easy 1500 miles left on these and I rather change them in a listmember's garage over a good beer than pull them off now and waste the remaining treadlife. Yes, money is tight. If I do this, I'll need to get back home and get into the job market soon. I can't sit around and think about this trip for too long. I'd probably leave in 4-7 days. I also don't want to spend money on bike stuff. No electrics, no tailbag, no Corbin, no GPS, no laptop, no tank panniers... I'll be doing it with what I've got right now. A Wolfman Explorer, the larger and newer (?) Kawasaki panniers on a set of original Happy-Trails racks, a duffel bag strapped to the rack, and maybe a backpack with light stuff in it such as jacket liners. Camping seems like a sensible choice given the tight budget but I think it's a bad idea for two reasons. One, space. Two, quality of rest. I'm shooting for 500 mile days and I will NEED to be comfortable. Anyone ever stay in any of the youth hostels in the border states? There are several along the route... You're only young and stupid for so long, and my young and stupid days are drawing to a close so it's time to step up to the plate and make it happen. RM

[bsetliff]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., RM wrote:

> Hey, I'm now girlfriend-less, pet-less, and job-less. > Now seems like a real good time to load up the > KLR with everything but the kitchen sink and > ride it from SoCal to my parents place in Florida > and visit for a few days and maybe hit them up > for money or something.

Hmmm, check this out: http://www.transamtrail.com/ I'd bet the part of the route east of Colorado would be do-able this time of year. From reading the ride reports, it looks like a blast.

[John Irvine]

There is one pass East of Tucson that can get snow but usually would be all right. Plan on temps in the 20's in the early morning. There is no way I would do this ride without an electric vest and preferably something to keep the hands warm. There is a #46 Widder on ebay right now. --- RM wrote:

> > Ramble warning: random disorganized thoughts below. > > ---- > > Hey, I'm now girlfriend-less, pet-less, and > job-less. Now seems like a > real good time to load up the KLR with everything > but the kitchen sink and > ride it from SoCal to my parents place in Florida > and visit for a few days > and maybe hit them up for money or something. > > If I were to do this in January, I'd want to stay as > far south as possible > for obvious reasons. I'm concerned about high > elevations as well. > > If I were to follow along the I-8 and I-10 > corridors, what's the highest > elevation I'd be likely to encounter? I envision > jumping on and off the > Interstate as necessary (to see cool stuff or to zip > through the boring > stuff). The I-40 corridor looks much more > interesting but it's just the > wrong time of year for that sort of thing. > > My other question is in regards to how many list > members live along this > route. I envision this trip being >95% street but > if I met up with a > listmember who knows where the good dirt is then I > might just stick around > for a day or two and break some plastic off my bike. > How many Texans we > got 'round these parts? I speak fluent Southern, > y'all hear? > > If possible, I might want to do a mid-trip tire > change and oil change. > Common sense says to put on new tires before I leave > but I have an easy > 1500 miles left on these and I rather change them in > a listmember's garage > over a good beer than pull them off now and waste > the remaining treadlife. > Yes, money is tight. > > If I do this, I'll need to get back home and get > into the job market soon. > I can't sit around and think about this trip for too > long. I'd probably > leave in 4-7 days. > > I also don't want to spend money on bike stuff. No > electrics, no tailbag, > no Corbin, no GPS, no laptop, no tank panniers... > I'll be doing it with > what I've got right now. A Wolfman Explorer, the > larger and newer (?) > Kawasaki panniers on a set of original Happy-Trails > racks, a duffel bag > strapped to the rack, and maybe a backpack with > light stuff in it such as > jacket liners. > > Camping seems like a sensible choice given the tight > budget but I think > it's a bad idea for two reasons. One, space. Two, > quality of rest. I'm > shooting for 500 mile days and I will NEED to be > comfortable. Anyone ever > stay in any of the youth hostels in the border > states? There are several > along the route... > > You're only young and stupid for so long, and my > young and stupid days are > drawing to a close so it's time to step up to the > plate and make it > happen. > > RM > > > > > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com

[John Irvine]

--- bsetliff wrote:

> I'd bet the part of the route east of Colorado would > be do-able this > time of year.

Can you say potential blizzard?? (-: __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com

[Tengai650]

At 5:27 AM -0800 1/2/02, John Irvine wrote:

>There is one pass East of Tucson that can get snow but >usually would be all right. Plan on temps in the 20's >in the early morning. There is no way I would do this >ride without an electric vest and preferably something >to keep the hands warm. There is a #46 Widder on ebay >right now.

That would be fun. Last year, I did a 200 mile day in 18F with no electrics, 125 miles non-stop. I was just windproof, which is the key. Electrics are nice, but if you're on a budget you can do without. Ziploc freezerbags on the handlebars make a BIG difference. I did 160 miles in continuous snow a couple weeks ago. The biggest hazard in the snow is traffic. Mark (12F and riding to work in a few minutes) B2 A2 A3

[John Irvine]

--- Tengai650 wrote:

> That would be fun. Last year, I did a 200 mile day > in 18F with no > electrics, 125 miles non-stop. I was just windproof, > which is the > key. Electrics are nice, but if you're on a budget > you can do > without.

Ouch. I'm too cold blooded. Many people have remarked that once they tried electric they never went back to not using it. I rode this AM, 30 d. A decent rain suit helps cut the wind as well. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com

[Klx650rider@aol.com]

Richard, Not much in the way of high elevation on I-10 from the west. You should be OK, just watch the local weather, you can catch it at any truck stop along your route, while you warm up with a good cup of coffee. Yell if you get to New Orleans and need anything. Young and Stupid aren't so bad, this Old and Stupid lister will gladly give you a hand, as will several others on this list, I'm sure. Good luck, have fun, ride safe, Marshall in Slidell, La '95 KLXC3 "Blackhorse" (in honor of those who served)

[Klx650rider@aol.com]

The more I hear from the list, the more I appreciate good equipment. Have never tried electrics, but I have ridden in near zero temps with my Tourmaster one piece suit and long underwear, (tough but not stupid) and never experienced any discomfort. The suit being waterproof helps keep out the wind and the cold, I'm sure. Just my . 02 worth, Marshall in Slidell, La '95 KLXC3 "Blackhorse" (in honor of those who served) PS. Riding to work unless there is ice on the road!

[janekfr]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., John Irvine wrote:

> Ouch. I'm too cold blooded. Many people have remarked > that once they tried electric they never went back to > not using it. I rode this AM, 30 d. A decent rain > suit helps cut the wind as well.

I totally agree. I just did a ride to Arizona and back last week (from So.Cal), and without an electric vest I would have been miserable. A good point about the rain suit - it DOES keep you appreciably warmer, esp. when going at Interstate speeds. For hands, try thin glove liners - these will keep you warm for much longer than gloves alone, but are much more comfortable than heavy winter gloves. Be prepared for the weather turning nasty on short notice. Recently the jet stream has dipped quite a bit south, and this may bring cold, snow, and rain into your route. Janek '00 KLR650

[Ted Palmer]

Mark St.Hilaire, Sr wrote:

> After having read a recent list post, I was reminded of a group that > GoldWing riders have, Gold Wing Road Riders Association.

[...] Does this imply that there is a Gold Wing Offroad Riders Association? I'm getting strange visions of highlift jacks, bullbars with winches and intake snorkels running up the side of the windscreen. Mister_T Melbourne Australia