Am I alone? Why are there so few ride reports?!?

[Calimusjohn]

Am I alone?

I’m disappointed. With so many Spyder Lovers on this forum, why are there so few ride reports?

I’ve read all of the previous entries. I’d like more.

Who has done Pike’s Peak? Whitney portal? Death Valley? Sturgis? Maggie Valley? Bike week? The SCMC Four Corners Tour – Blaine, Washington – San Diego - Key West - Madawaska, Maine? Iron Butt 1,000? The Canada to Mexico run? 48 states in 27 days? North to Alaska?

I don’t see much about crossing Canada or touring Nova Scotia. Surely someone has . . . where is your story?

I see only one reference to riding to Cabo San Lucas. Whew! I’ve found Baja and Old Mexico are great on two wheels. What is your experience?

I’ve done the above rides on two wheels and plan on repeating them on three.

Now, I’m 85 years old. I can’t wait for procrastinators to write about their trips― someday. I want them now.

If you only ride in your home state, what is your favorite loop, destination, or eating place? When is the best time to visit your state? Why? What should I avoid?

Where can I find the best Bar-B-Que? Tex-Mex? Burger? Cold drinks? Music? Camping? Curviest roads? (Yeah, I’ve done the Dragon.) Wild women?

What was the worst day of riding you’ve experienced? Best day? Expensive?

I can’t believe that I’m the only one wanting to hear your tales. If all else fails. Lie! Make something up. Share. Time’s a wastin’.

[ARtraveler]

Not guilty here.

For years I posted Alaska rides and adventures. Check out my home page...There are over 10 albums with fantastic pictures. When I moved away from AK in 2019 I did a day by day blog covering our trek back from AK to the US.

Yazz's adventure TO Alaska--covered about 10 pages of posting. She also added many beautiful pictures. We have AK well covered. Will leave the other places to others who have been there.

I have been posting since Feb of 2010. I have said a lot in that time. Some is even worth reading.

[Calimusjohn]

You sir an an exception. Scott's report on his Alaska adventure is also top-notch.

I would just like to see more participants.

John M.

[BamaJohn]

Am I alone?

I’m disappointed. With so many Spyder Lovers on this forum, why are there so few ride reports?

I’ve read all of the previous entries. I’d like more.

Who has done Pike’s Peak? Whitney portal? Death Valley? Sturgis? Maggie Valley? Bike week? The SCMC Four Corners Tour – Blaine, Washington – San Diego - Key West - Madawaska, Maine? Iron Butt 1,000? The Canada to Mexico run? 48 states in 27 days? North to Alaska?

I don’t see much about crossing Canada or touring Nova Scotia. Surely someone has . . . where is your story?

I see only one reference to riding to Cabo San Lucas. Whew! I’ve found Baja and Old Mexico are great on two wheels. What is your experience?

I’ve done the above rides on two wheels and plan on repeating them on three.

Now, I’m 85 years old. I can’t wait for procrastinators to write about their trips― someday. I want them now.

If you only ride in your home state, what is your favorite loop, destination, or eating place? When is the best time to visit your state? Why? What should I avoid?

Where can I find the best Bar-B-Que? Tex-Mex? Burger? Cold drinks? Music? Camping? Curviest roads? (Yeah, I’ve done the Dragon.) Wild women?

What was the worst day of riding you’ve experienced? Best day? Expensive?

I can’t believe that I’m the only one wanting to hear your tales. If all else fails. Lie! Make something up. Share. Time’s a wastin’.

I would like that too... I've not posted much here, but have done the highlighted rides in your post above, plus a few more... Mt Evans (highest paved road in USA); highest point in North Carolina/Georgia/Alabama; ridden in the Bahamas & Mexico. I have a week-long riding trip in the Smokies the end of April, and a week in northwestern Arkansas in June.
Not bragging, just trying to cram in more with this 81year-old carcass.
Thanks for your post and I hope to read more trip tales.....might even pen one myself.

[Dusterdude]

I'll being riding from Virginia to New Orleans and then to Memphis before heading home, this will be in September. It's not really a joy ride, I'll be on a personal mission. If y'all want to hear about it, let me know.

[RapidSpyder]

Doing Yellowstone again along with Grand Teton in July. Trailering to Billings, then ryding to Bozeman, Driggs (Idaho) and up through the Tetons into Yellowstone, then Beartooth Hwy back to Billings. We use Shaka Guide for guiding the many stops along the way.

[Peter Aawen]

I'll being riding from Virginia to New Orleans and then to Memphis before heading home, this will be in September. It's not really a joy ride, I'll be on a personal mission. If y'all want to hear about it, let me know.

YES!! We do wan't to hear about it, PLEASE!!

[ARtraveler]

Once upon a time, in a galaxy, far, far, away, there lived an old biker. He liked "big iron," and by his riding dress, you would have guessed he was "the leader of a pack" of some nasty gang. He was an adventurous old coot and was a regular reader of the motorcycle mags of the time. Many new big irons were purchased because of his affinity for the "latest, and greatest."

While thumbing through the "Whats new" section of one of the cycle rags, he saw an "odd" creation. It was a trike, but oddly enough, it had two wheels in the front. Backwards from a "real" trike was in his mind. He said, I got to get me one of those. Went to the local dealer, he said they were going to get some, but it may be awhile. They were destined to be sold only in the lower 48. Sorry Alaska. !!! The dealer did have some pull with BRP though. He was the largest Ski Doo dealer in the US at the time. He did want a deposit from me, (I had only bought three "big irons" from him in the last seven years). Oct of 2007 I gave him my deposit of $500 and said, get me one of those.

They offered Yellow, Red, or Half Moon Silver for those first models. In June of 2008, I got the call. Your Half Moon Silver is in. It has a 5 speed manual. I did get the first one sold to a customer in AK. He snarfed two others, one for him and one for his wife. Then, the contest started. Who could make the meanest looking, handling, etc. new Spyder. In those days, there was no "aftermarket" stuff for the Spyders. It was a create as you go situation. Thanks to Corbin, and some adventurous venders ready to strike out after the "new market." $6000 later worth of bling is what is shown. And unfortunately, my words are still true. Accessories are worth 50% to zero at trade in or resale time.

The story continues with the Red one. That was the first SE (automatic to you) to hit the state. She was NEVER going to ride a motorcycle, EVER. That's another story, and I even got to play that one out 4 years later with my eventually to be next wife.

A link to my picture album showing the start of it all....

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...chmentid=20862

TO BE CONTINUED: ????

[Calimusjohn]

Hi ARtraveler,
Your last post is what I'm looking for. Great photos.
It's a beautiful sunshiny day in eastern Tennessee. So, three of us ( A Ryker, a Sea to Sky, and a Honda Africa-Twin) braved the 48-degree start of a 100-mile loop around Kingston. Trees are sporting new leaves, home homeowners are battling the advent of grass lawn maintenance season. I love how those on riding mowers always give a "V" finger wave. Boat launch ramps were crowded. Bass boats raced along the Tennessee River. A car show in Rockland featured a hundred cars ranging from 1928 to 2024 models. A red 1951 two-door hardtop Ford, captured my heart. Only 8,000 were ever built. Few survive.

Now, who is next to share an adventure?

[ARtraveler]

Hi ARtraveler,
Your last post is what I'm looking for. Great photos.
It's a beautiful sunshiny day in eastern Tennessee. So, three of us ( A Ryker, a Sea to Sky, and a Honda Africa-Twin) braved the 48-degree start of a 100-mile loop around Kingston. Trees are sporting new leaves, home homeowners are battling the advent of grass lawn maintenance season. I love how those on riding mowers always give a "V" finger wave. Boat launch ramps were crowded. Bass boats raced along the Tennessee River. A car show in Rockland featured a hundred cars ranging from 1928 to 2024 models. A red 1951 two-door hardtop Ford, captured my heart. Only 8,000 were ever built. Few survive.

Now, who is next to share an adventure?

Your mention of those "crispy" morning starts bring back a lot of memories. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! Have a great riding day.

[safecracker]

I have traveled alot in the Maritimes and Quebec, Also know NH and Vermont quite well. Most of my trips are posted in the Maine Forum. Th Rides forum was not available at the time of most of those trips. Bruce

[Dusterdude]

Oj y'all,ill try to remember to post on the trip.

[2dogs]

Am I alone?

I’m disappointed. With so many Spyder Lovers on this forum, why are there so few ride reports?

I can’t believe that I’m the only one wanting to hear your tales. If all else fails. Lie! Make something up. Share. Time’s a wastin’.

Intrinsically my wife and I ride to be alone. For almost 50 years it's been that way. We take secondary routes and avoid the freeways and interstates when possible. And we avoid the group rides. Yeah, we've been on them but to us they become boring. Pretty soon we find ourselves playing to the whims of the crowd following the rut. Other riders often split off also for those same reasons. We ride for the enjoyment of being with one another and sharing our experiences, which I view as invaluable. We've found ourselves from time to time alone on the open road with a 360-degree view of the beautiful world with no one in it but us. Rarely an epiphany moment, that simply can't be recovered. Sorry for being stingy but we only go around once, there are no do overs.

[Navydad]

Intrinsically my wife and I ride to be alone. For almost 50 years it's been that way. We take secondary routes and avoid the freeways and interstates when possible. And we avoid the group rides. Yeah, we've been on them but to us they become boring. Pretty soon we find ourselves playing to the whims of the crowd following the rut. Other riders often split off also for those same reasons. We ride for the enjoyment of being with one another and sharing our experiences, which I view as invaluable. We've found ourselves from time to time alone on the open road with a 360-degree view of the beautiful world with no one in it but us. Rarely an epiphany moment, that simply can't be recovered. Sorry for being stingy but we only go around once, there are no do overs.

That explains us as well. Nova Scotia to Key West and sea to shining sea. If we ever meet I will be happy to tell the tales, but a writer I ain't.

[Calimusjohn]

Navydad,

You don't have to be a "writer!"

Imagine you're sitting by a campfire or on a patio or even a lakeside dock. Tell us in your own words and style about the time you got caught in a thunderstorm in Left-turn-ahead, wherever. You don't get graded like we are in school. We all enjoy hearing and reading of other folks adventures. Makes me want to go find "Left-turn-ahead." What about the time you stopped in the middle of nowhere and the bike wouldn't start. Only took an hour to find the kill switch . . . tripped. Or the time . . ...

[pegasus1300]

February 1973. I had closed my motorcycle business the previous fall, as my major selling line had stopped production and I was out in the cold, so to speak. In the area where I lived at the time, independent shops were not yet a thing. In December, I answered an ad for a plant manager's job in Puerto Rico - Must be Spanish speaking. After 2 years in Argentina and having a major in Spanish I felt I qualified, they did too. How wrong we would both be is another story. Anyway, I needed to be in New Orleans in a week. Since I had my mother living there with a nice big garage, I asked them to fly me out of there in a week. I left my wife to sell the house and dispose of our stuff, packed up, and left for New Orleans in the middle of a snowstorm in February.

It snowed all the way to Salina, Utah, where I found a motel with a Vacancy sign and moved in for the night. Come morning, the roads were clear but slushy, and it was still lightly snowing. I-70 had just barely opened, and I knew it would avoid the mountains, so I headed for it. It was still snow covered but not slick, so I headed East, no traffic (boy have times changed), no other tracks in the snow. It was so beautiful, everything so crisp and new looking. Nice fresh cement somewhere under snow, I was just cruising along. A little cool but not cold, lots of layers on and a set of Harley Davidson sheepskin lined mittens on my hands and a big Avon fairing in front of me. I spotted a rest area in the distance and decided to pull in and take a few pictures.

I had been there only a few minutes when a new pickup truck pulled in behind me. A man got out and we began talking. He said he was on the way back from buying the truck in California, and had been following this single set of tire tracks since Salina, Utah; so when they turned into the rest area, he had to follow them in to see what was making them. Turned out he was the Photography editor for the Grant Junction newspaper; he got my story and some pictures, and he took a few for me. I gave him my address to send me a copy of the story, but I guess he never wrote it 'cos I never saw one.

Anyway, I continued on to Cortez, finally running out of the snow and saw a car wash, so I decided to wash all the mud and snow off. I found the luggage rack had broken, so I put it back together with a couple of hose clamps from the auto parts store next door. Tried starting the bike, no start. I decided to pull the front cover off the motor (R75/5 BMW) to see what was going on with the points. They were packed full of red Colorado mud. I rinsed it all out and dried the points off with a can of LPS1 I just happened to have for some odd reason. Hit the starter button and wham, it started first click. Best it had started since new. Front cover on, making sure the point sealing O ring was in place, and off we went to Mancos Co.

My best friend and his wife lived there, so I spent the night with them. Next day was clear but cold. I glided on past Ship Rock looking majestic in the dawn light, then on to Albuquerque, Tucumcari, and Amarillo, Tx. where I spent the night. Next day saw a hard ride into New Orleans. Spent a couple of days with Mom, then I was off to Puerto Rico. The factory was in a little town on the opposite coast from San Juan called Humacao. Beautiful place with very nice people. Three months later, I had an argument with the owner - you know who won that one, and I was soon on my way back to Provo. I do have pictures, but after 50+ years, who knows where they are now! Getting the bike home will be in Part 2.

[Calimusjohn]

Hi,
Reminds me of being caught in a snowstorm in Illinois. I pulled into a gas station and wrapped my body in layers of newspaper for insulation. Covered the newspaper with plastic trash bags for wind protection and made it home. Newspaper, plastic bags and duct tape can be life savers.

[RayBJ]

I have put 39000 miles on my 2020 RT in just over 3 years. Year-round every weekend runs, a few long weekend trips and a 13 day Yellowstone loop. When I'm out riding, I don't feel like keeping a journal of my escapades. I'm a somewhat 'private' guy and avoid telling the world what I do - especially when away from home for long periods. My last essay was in High School when I was required to submit a "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" paper! I didn't like doing that either.

[2dogs]

Hi,
Reminds me of being caught in a snowstorm in Illinois. I pulled into a gas station and wrapped my body in layers of newspaper for insulation. Covered the newspaper with plastic trash bags for wind protection and made it home. Newspaper, plastic bags and duct tape can be life savers.

Now we run heated clothing but your post reminds me of our earlier days. The wife and I were not paying attention to our surroundings on a trip we'd made to the high desert area of the western US. We got caught over 200 miles from home and the temps that night were dropping into the low 30s. We stopped at Denny's for some hot chocolate and to warm up for the next 100 miles. We emptied the newspaper stand and packed out pants and coats with yesterday's newspapers and made it home in reasonable comfort. Dam, we're glad it wasn't raining that night.

[EdMat]

Dam, we're glad it wasn't raining that night.

Frozen paper mache.....

[Peter Aawen]

.... We emptied the newspaper stand and packed out pants and coats with yesterday's newspapers and made it home in reasonable comfort. Dam, we're glad it wasn't raining that night.

Frozen paper mache.....

Been there; done that!

Believe me, it's a real learning experience...

You'll never realise how bad it can be just having to do this when the rain is already starting to feel a bit like spikes of ice hitting you; or how much wet newspaper smells like recycled cat piss; not until you too experience the joys of freezing your arse off by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere during a howling rainstorm, and the only thing on hand to stave off the imminent hypothermia is old, wet newspapers....

But as they say... If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger!! I must be SOOO strong now!

[BamaJohn]

Got home Monday from a week-long ride in the twisties in northeastern TN & western NC with 110 of my closest friends. We had a maximum of 6 riders in our group on one day and 3 the other days. My body and "Spydie" are recuperating.
After eating on the road, it's time to get back on my diet of sawdust and water, prescribed by my doctors.

Next is the 28,000 mile service, including a new rear tire and rear brake caliper service with new pads (already serviced the front brakes with new pads).

[Gwolf]

The amount of ride reports would probably increase if it didn't cost twice as much to fill the Spyder fuel tank now as it used to cost me to fill the fuel tank on my 74 F-100.

The restaurant bills and the motel bills have at least doubled in the last 10 years as well. I am older and not able to ride as far now, but the financial cost has to be considered as well.

[Calimusjohn]

Hi,
Thanks guys. This is what I was talking about at the beginning of this thread . . . sharing.

I love hearing other folks experiences and how they solved a problem when umpteen miles from home.

I would have missed my wedding rehearsal after a tire went flat on my Harley a hundred miles from the church. A farmer loaded my bike into the back of his pickup and hauled me to the church, delivered the bike to my house, and even took my girlfriend to her home. My soon-to-be bride wasn't a biker and didn't understand "a last farewell ride" with my girlfriend. Geez.

I also hated the "what I did on summer vacation" school assignments. Thinking back, I wish I could do some of the things I was capable of doing during the dark ages. Heck, I'll settle for a ride to the next town to get a Slurpee or some gas station sushi.

When I am stuck between going to doctor appointments and having stitches removed, I like to read about adventures. Tales don't have to be comparable to Itchy Boots' treks across continents. Tell me about places like the SPAM MUSEUM in Austin, Minnesota. Is there a Piggly Wiggly west of the Mississippi River? Where is the best-built, or longest/shortest covered bridge?

Enquiring minds want to know. Which is another way to say, "I need a valid excuse to go for a ride."

Along those lines . . . everyone writes about The Tail of the Dragon. Whoopee. It's basically a flat road with 318 curves. Go ride The Devil's Triangle. It has 533 curves that in some instances require a speed of 12 mph or less to negotiate. It rambles up and down mountainsides where if you go off . . . your body will never be found. Stop and have lunch at Brushy Mountain Prison. Take home some End of the Line moonshine. Imagine sharing a cell with James Earl Ray

[canamjhb]

Back in the mid-60s and early 70s I got into dirt bike riding thanks to the influence of my friend Dale and his brother, Rocky. Dale and his family lived 45 or so miles from me and we often rode at a place we called the gravel pit which was near his home. One fine winter day I hopped on my Yamaha 250 Enduro and cruised to Dale's house for an exciting day playing in the mud. The second time going over the handlebars that day, the pocket of my Levis got caught on the bar and were ripped down to my thigh. Fortunately, I had a rain suit bungeed on the back fender rack. Put the pants and jacket on and continued having fun.

On the way back to Dale's house it started to rain pretty good (this was Western Washington at its winter's best!) Stopped in for a quick rest and refreshment before riding the 45 miles home in the rain and dark. As I was fixn' to leave, Dale's wife, Roberta, wanted to make sure I kept dry on the way home. She tightly wrapped duct tape around the ankles and wrists of my rain suit. It worked as planned. Not a bit of water got through.

Then I got home. Wet slippery gloves, it was dark and raining, I was "locked" into a rain suit, and because I lived alone, there was no one to help me. I don't recall all the exact details, but breaking out of that securely fastened rain suit involved some unorthodox maneuvers and some imaginative doing. All the while chuckling to myself about the unique predicament I was in.

To this day, all my tape ends, be they scotch tape or duct tape, have a little folded over corner regardless of them being used or stored, so that I still have some place to grab when needing to unravel.

My dirt bike adventures ended after that day. The Enduro was soon sold, street and touring bikes became my loves for the next 50+ years.....