Not quite coast to coast

[Bigbore4]

Never done a ride report before. And not sure I can stick with the updates but will try.

Since 2007 I have been doing a long ride each year. In 2008 it grew to include starting in Indy fro Moto GP. This year I was fretting as work tried to get in the way of riding (I had to be in Richmond VA the beginning of the week my trip started) until my riding buddy said over a beer at the local watering hole, "Why not just ride to Richmond first?" So I am.

Andover MN, to Richmond VA, to Indy, to The Bonneville Salt Flats. The 6 days to ride the west starting the 31st.

Early here there won't be much to say. I left Minnesota Saturday the 20th of August about 8:00 AM. Made it to Springfield OH first day, Super Slabbed all the way. A tad over 800 miles in one pull on the Fast Raven Bike. And oh by the way, even with the Bead Rider, that seat SUCKS at the end of a long day.

Today I am heading for OH 555 which I hear is a fun road, and depending on timing state highways through WV to Richmond sometime later today. Work for a couple days then I plan oi hit Blue Ridge Parkway, The Dragon and Cherohala Parkway on the way to Indy.

Except the seat, bike was great.

An Appropriate start of ride trip at the cash machine:

Did I mention that seat sucks?

 

[Bigbore4]

Today's ride was from Springfield OH to Richmond VA. On the advice of a friend I went over to Zanesville and took OH 555 south. What a ride! I will need to come back, And I bet there are all kinds of back rods of the unpaved variety if you had the time.

Other than that is was another super slab day. I have to admit tho I have ridden lots worse than I71 and I64 through WV and VA. I will need to plan a trip back just to ride this area. Great country and they promote off road riding.

Here are a couple pics fro Oh 555.

They do not do justice to the area. There were not may safe places to stop. And the wet road is the worst I had today. Chased the storms all the way down, wet roads but never got rained on. Really pleased with how the bike handles, better than I expected. On some of the long upgrade pulls on the interstate you could really feel the heart of the beast thumping hard at a tad north of 80 in 6th, or so I hear any way. Seems like MPG is improving slightly too. I just ticked 40 on one tank of really hard running.

The seat was not as bad today but I didn't do as many miles. No oil consumption, everything seems sweet. ~2400 miles on her now and so far so good.

I am working for 2 days so it will only get ridden around Richmond. Have yet to see another out there, Anyone in Richmond want a beer? PM me.

 

[GrahamD]

So how's the seat?

 

[Checkswrecks]

Use this as a reference: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=1465.0

Replacing the black spacers on the bottom of the seat pan can be done in a Home Depot parking lot and is welcome relief. I got $2 rubber bumpers from Home Depot and cut them to the height of the cast seat pan ridges that the bumpers sit next to.


The hot glue didn't hold for me, so I simply used electric tape to hold the bumpers to the black plastic piece the seat sits on. I'll probably do something more permanent eventually, but the annoying seat tilt is gone and long days are a breeze.

 

[Bigbore4]

So how's the seat?

Ever get any Three Stooges Down Under?

"Ohhh, A Wise Guy" ?
::025::

@ Checkswrecks, I'll check that out, I am right down the street from either Depot or Lowes. Sure cant make it worse.

 

[Bigbore4]

My first earthquake today! Thought first train, then derailment, then EARTHQUAKE! Shook for 10 to 15 seconds.

Seat modified in hotel room, Thanks to Checkswrecks for the heads up. It will get a short shakedown tonight, and tomorrow Bluegrass parkway etc on the way to TN.

 

[Bigbore4]

Back home in MN, Family emergency.

Another day, another trip, I'll try again to write aboot it.

 

[S101]

Back home in MN, Family emergency.

Another day, another trip, I'll try again to write aboot it.

Sorry to hear that. Sounded like it was going to be a great trip. I know your brother and he was looking forward to this trip also. Hope everything works out ok.

 

[Bigbore4]

Not to be maudlin, our Dad had not been doing well the past year or so and passed while I was on the road. The Brother and I are going to go riding and head clearing the week following the service. I'll post up pics and reports as I can. We're thinking west, mountains and very few people.

I have aboot 4200 miles on the bike and am still liking it. Modded the seat and it still sucks. The stumble and killing off idle has to be addressed by Yamaha. I stalled it a couple times pulling into traffic and that scares me. I see the fixes posted in tech, but dammit, eff the EPA, they have to give us something safe to ride.

I remain very pleasantly surprised and happy with the handling. Keep in mind my other ride is an FJR. We were up north today at the folks gathering pics and rode back down a section of the great river route. Miles of new asphalt sweepers. It was awesome.