My Super Tenere has been bought, farkled and painted, now all to do was to go for a ride!!!
My plan was to head on over to YellowSTone from here in Seattle for little over 4 days of riding along with a new fellow Tenere owner from here as well.
Day 1 (oops evening) I am all packed, fueled up and hop onto I-90 at 7:30pm Thursday evening to head east where I was meeting this other rider Jim. I had to drive 3 hours to meet him in Richland, WA at the Hampton Inn. So, 35 miles from home it is raining as I near the peak of the Snoqualmie Pass at 3300ft. I pull off the exit to change into something a little more comfortable, like rain gloves!!, when I look down to check the OEM Yammie Bags.
The WASP carbon pipe, a nice piece of added harmony had blown all of it's hot air directly onto the corner of the bag melting the corner and the latches used for removing the bag from the bike. Oh Sh_t!!! No way!!! Yep!! It did it!! Well, I can't go on, it will further melt it!!! I can't drive home, it will melt it more!!! Ahh Sh_t!!! Hmm, where's McGuiver when you need him? I stand there thinking for almost an hour. I turn around to the mini-mart/gas station and wonder over to have a look. I needed something to put on the saddlebag for the quick trek back home.
I enter the front door look back and forth for a hint of an area where I may be able to find something other than a cut-apart pepsi can. TO my right, stands the first shelf and at the bottom is a small aluminum disposable turkey roasting pan!!! YES!! This will work, now how will I get it to adhere to the bag. Hmm, left the duct tape at home, clerk do you have some tape? Yep, so $9.00 roll later and a pan for cooking, we are out the door. I cut off a corner with the multi-tool push the bag outward to slide the aluminum between the pipe and the bag and it is sitting there by itself. I un-roll some tape, install a few strands across the foil out of the way of the direct gasses and home I drive.
It's late now and I am supposed to be in Richland at this time. I park the bike, place on center-stand and take a well lit look at the issues at hand. Hmm, need a pry bar to even jarr the red latch loose. Stubby flat screw driver and some hefty twisting and she pops open. Bag removal 101!!!! Oh well, I will fix this after the trip. I need to hit the bed for a few hours of sleep as 4:30am will be here soon.
Day 1 Up early and on the road in time, although late, I should be there by 9am. Our plan was to make Missoula, MT today by way of RT 12 across Idaho and up over Lolo Pass. In case you have never done this section, it is amazing. There are upwards of 190 miles of twisty, meandering two lane roadway which follows a crystal clear river almost the whole way. Um, I think it is called the Clear River, and then the Lochsa or something!!! There were no photo ops, or video recording taking place much on this trip. With a road like this, it is time for riding.
SO now with Lolo behind us and well before Missoula, we needed to stop at a steak house just before rt 93 in MT while on RT 12. They are locally known for steaks and feeding the masses. As we pull into the parking lot, it was full so hmm, must be a good place to eat. After Jim's 20 oz rib-eye and my 20 oz Tbone, it was time for a bed and shower. There aren't better days than tons of miles, twisties and T-Bones!!!
Um, but before you go and crash someplace, it is better to have called ahead to reserve a room. After a few calls and no vacancy to be found, we find a Hawthorne Suites by Marriot. There must be something going on in town, like a Grizzlies Football game!!! Geez already, guess we got lucky, who would of thought of a football game in town, we are on our bikes, who cares!!! Um, we almost cared when it was hard to find a room in the inn!!! Hmm, Jim maybe I should of booked it earlier in the week when I was online!!! HAHAHA!!!
Day 2 Our path was simple, all two lanes up over some passes and down to West YellowSTone for a saturday evening stay. Yesterday was my first real taste of running the new Tenere on some good curvy roads. Very exciting!!! Today was a taste of even more, but with a a little bit of Cajun spices mixed into it. Heading south from Missoula on RT 93, we were heading to the pass where MT and ID meet. At the summit we were going to head east on rt.43 Before we summit, we are clipping along at 75-90mph indicated when we come upon some BIG OLE SWEEPERS!!!!! MMMMMM me like SWEEPERS!!!! I bump the shifter down a click or two, open the throttle lean the bike over some and smile as I quickly glance down to see 101!!!!!! Shhhhh, don't tell my wife!!!!! In case you don't know yet, this monster of a bike pulls damn hard from 5-7000 rpm eating up the miles and miles and miles.
Speaking of eating up miles, I think I have heard someone say this Tenere eats up miles!! No, this thing doesn't just eat miles, it eats miles more than a hungry football team eats a steak, lobster and crab buffet!!! At the same time, it sips the fuel better than Queen Elizabeth sips her afternoon tea!!! WOW!!!!
Ok, so time to slow down some and wait for Jim to catch up. He has made me be point for most of this trip. I don't know why, except I kept on catching him while riding. He figured he might as well just let me go and I would ocassionally wait for him to catch up to make sure all is well. From one small town to another we make our way eventually over to West YellowSTone for a late afternoon arrival.
Just after dinner, Jim and I start to look at some maps and a clock to think on the time frame I have to work with in order to be back home Monday evening for a meeting I have to attend. Although gorgeous, YellowSTone isn't a fast paced roadway where one can eat the miles up in a short amount of time. Overall, we decide we don't have the necessary time to make the southern part of the park where Old Faithful is. We elect to take the northern route for a quick 58 miles in and out of the park to stay on schedule. Now to ask for the morning forecast on weather. Low of 24 with chance of some showers, high of 55 in the park for Sunday.
Day 3 We get off to an early start of breakfast, warm weather gear and a full tank of gas. Our trek through the corner of the park will be quick. Driving the NW corner of the park, you get an idea of the amount of land mass that was consumed by the forest fires some years ago. At this time, most of the pine trees were 6-10 feet tall and recovering quite well. We drive for miles and miles to see remnants of the old trees that were burned. It is hard to think of a fire that size burning everything in it's path. In between recovering pines, would be a wide variety of rock formations, hot springs, golden meadows and flowing streams. I could smell the natural chemicals oozing from the ground like phosphorous, or as my brother used to call it, rotten eggs!!! This place is a beautiful place to visit. I look forward to the time when I can share the rest of it with my wife and daughter in the coming years, just not on a bike. I also can't even imagine the amount of people who visit this place each and every year causing traffic jams and collisions with bison. 58 Miles later, Jim and I leave the park with an intent to get back to Missoula for the evening. No special drive here, just 150 miles of freeway just to make it back by 6pm. 380 miles today, not to bad!!!
Day 4, Last day of riding, just slab it all the way!!! 460 miles and little over 7 hours with no stops, but we all know that isn't possible. I am on the road by 6:30 am and in my driveway by 3:45pm. We had some rain, some sun, and alot of fun. It's been 6 years since I have done a good amount of miles in a short time. It felt wonderful aboard this fine new machine. The Tenere now has 2900 miles on it, 1926 miles in the last 4 days. It has felt good to be on the bike and log some good miles in some beautiful places with tons of curvy roads. I can't wait for the day when I can share these experiences first hand with my daughter on the back!!!
My plan was to head on over to YellowSTone from here in Seattle for little over 4 days of riding along with a new fellow Tenere owner from here as well.
Day 1 (oops evening) I am all packed, fueled up and hop onto I-90 at 7:30pm Thursday evening to head east where I was meeting this other rider Jim. I had to drive 3 hours to meet him in Richland, WA at the Hampton Inn. So, 35 miles from home it is raining as I near the peak of the Snoqualmie Pass at 3300ft. I pull off the exit to change into something a little more comfortable, like rain gloves!!, when I look down to check the OEM Yammie Bags.
The WASP carbon pipe, a nice piece of added harmony had blown all of it's hot air directly onto the corner of the bag melting the corner and the latches used for removing the bag from the bike. Oh Sh_t!!! No way!!! Yep!! It did it!! Well, I can't go on, it will further melt it!!! I can't drive home, it will melt it more!!! Ahh Sh_t!!! Hmm, where's McGuiver when you need him? I stand there thinking for almost an hour. I turn around to the mini-mart/gas station and wonder over to have a look. I needed something to put on the saddlebag for the quick trek back home.
I enter the front door look back and forth for a hint of an area where I may be able to find something other than a cut-apart pepsi can. TO my right, stands the first shelf and at the bottom is a small aluminum disposable turkey roasting pan!!! YES!! This will work, now how will I get it to adhere to the bag. Hmm, left the duct tape at home, clerk do you have some tape? Yep, so $9.00 roll later and a pan for cooking, we are out the door. I cut off a corner with the multi-tool push the bag outward to slide the aluminum between the pipe and the bag and it is sitting there by itself. I un-roll some tape, install a few strands across the foil out of the way of the direct gasses and home I drive.
It's late now and I am supposed to be in Richland at this time. I park the bike, place on center-stand and take a well lit look at the issues at hand. Hmm, need a pry bar to even jarr the red latch loose. Stubby flat screw driver and some hefty twisting and she pops open. Bag removal 101!!!! Oh well, I will fix this after the trip. I need to hit the bed for a few hours of sleep as 4:30am will be here soon.
Day 1 Up early and on the road in time, although late, I should be there by 9am. Our plan was to make Missoula, MT today by way of RT 12 across Idaho and up over Lolo Pass. In case you have never done this section, it is amazing. There are upwards of 190 miles of twisty, meandering two lane roadway which follows a crystal clear river almost the whole way. Um, I think it is called the Clear River, and then the Lochsa or something!!! There were no photo ops, or video recording taking place much on this trip. With a road like this, it is time for riding.
SO now with Lolo behind us and well before Missoula, we needed to stop at a steak house just before rt 93 in MT while on RT 12. They are locally known for steaks and feeding the masses. As we pull into the parking lot, it was full so hmm, must be a good place to eat. After Jim's 20 oz rib-eye and my 20 oz Tbone, it was time for a bed and shower. There aren't better days than tons of miles, twisties and T-Bones!!!
Um, but before you go and crash someplace, it is better to have called ahead to reserve a room. After a few calls and no vacancy to be found, we find a Hawthorne Suites by Marriot. There must be something going on in town, like a Grizzlies Football game!!! Geez already, guess we got lucky, who would of thought of a football game in town, we are on our bikes, who cares!!! Um, we almost cared when it was hard to find a room in the inn!!! Hmm, Jim maybe I should of booked it earlier in the week when I was online!!! HAHAHA!!!
Day 2 Our path was simple, all two lanes up over some passes and down to West YellowSTone for a saturday evening stay. Yesterday was my first real taste of running the new Tenere on some good curvy roads. Very exciting!!! Today was a taste of even more, but with a a little bit of Cajun spices mixed into it. Heading south from Missoula on RT 93, we were heading to the pass where MT and ID meet. At the summit we were going to head east on rt.43 Before we summit, we are clipping along at 75-90mph indicated when we come upon some BIG OLE SWEEPERS!!!!! MMMMMM me like SWEEPERS!!!! I bump the shifter down a click or two, open the throttle lean the bike over some and smile as I quickly glance down to see 101!!!!!! Shhhhh, don't tell my wife!!!!! In case you don't know yet, this monster of a bike pulls damn hard from 5-7000 rpm eating up the miles and miles and miles.
Speaking of eating up miles, I think I have heard someone say this Tenere eats up miles!! No, this thing doesn't just eat miles, it eats miles more than a hungry football team eats a steak, lobster and crab buffet!!! At the same time, it sips the fuel better than Queen Elizabeth sips her afternoon tea!!! WOW!!!!
Ok, so time to slow down some and wait for Jim to catch up. He has made me be point for most of this trip. I don't know why, except I kept on catching him while riding. He figured he might as well just let me go and I would ocassionally wait for him to catch up to make sure all is well. From one small town to another we make our way eventually over to West YellowSTone for a late afternoon arrival.
Just after dinner, Jim and I start to look at some maps and a clock to think on the time frame I have to work with in order to be back home Monday evening for a meeting I have to attend. Although gorgeous, YellowSTone isn't a fast paced roadway where one can eat the miles up in a short amount of time. Overall, we decide we don't have the necessary time to make the southern part of the park where Old Faithful is. We elect to take the northern route for a quick 58 miles in and out of the park to stay on schedule. Now to ask for the morning forecast on weather. Low of 24 with chance of some showers, high of 55 in the park for Sunday.
Day 3 We get off to an early start of breakfast, warm weather gear and a full tank of gas. Our trek through the corner of the park will be quick. Driving the NW corner of the park, you get an idea of the amount of land mass that was consumed by the forest fires some years ago. At this time, most of the pine trees were 6-10 feet tall and recovering quite well. We drive for miles and miles to see remnants of the old trees that were burned. It is hard to think of a fire that size burning everything in it's path. In between recovering pines, would be a wide variety of rock formations, hot springs, golden meadows and flowing streams. I could smell the natural chemicals oozing from the ground like phosphorous, or as my brother used to call it, rotten eggs!!! This place is a beautiful place to visit. I look forward to the time when I can share the rest of it with my wife and daughter in the coming years, just not on a bike. I also can't even imagine the amount of people who visit this place each and every year causing traffic jams and collisions with bison. 58 Miles later, Jim and I leave the park with an intent to get back to Missoula for the evening. No special drive here, just 150 miles of freeway just to make it back by 6pm. 380 miles today, not to bad!!!
Day 4, Last day of riding, just slab it all the way!!! 460 miles and little over 7 hours with no stops, but we all know that isn't possible. I am on the road by 6:30 am and in my driveway by 3:45pm. We had some rain, some sun, and alot of fun. It's been 6 years since I have done a good amount of miles in a short time. It felt wonderful aboard this fine new machine. The Tenere now has 2900 miles on it, 1926 miles in the last 4 days. It has felt good to be on the bike and log some good miles in some beautiful places with tons of curvy roads. I can't wait for the day when I can share these experiences first hand with my daughter on the back!!!
