Ride home from the BBQ

[Smylinacha]

I have never ridden such miles on any given day that we rode down there. I think most I've ever done in a day on weekends (not counting a trip 3 yrs ago on my Harley to VA) is about 250 - 300 miles tops. So one of the days we rode 500 miles to get out of the rain and we ended up in PA from TN. And then the ride home yesterday was from Gettysburg PA to CT. I kept thinking about Tattr & Dee riding in ONE SHOT. I don't know how they did that. I felt so cramped after riding for so long - kept dangling my legs to stretch them. Even w/ the CHAD, although it works great, we hit alot of wind on the highway and I felt beat up afterwards. So I'm going to make my Spyder into a touring machine for me. I love the RT - it is so cool but I can't part w/ my Spyder - I love it too much. Now if I had A LOT of cash, I'd also buy the Harley streetglide trike that I sat on at Battlefield Harley - but I'm not rich. I can't afford the RT Spyder either - I really don't think my Spyder would get much of a trade in value.

So looking into some highway pegs, probably the Corbin fairing since I saw someone's Spyder at the BBQ with it on and it had big ole speakers too! Also want a driver's backrest from Utopia Products. So I think all that will help.

I had tunes - playing my mp3 player thru my Chatterbox which helped w/ the boredom of highway riding. But I want some good speakers to play tunes with when I don't use the Chatterbox.

So starting a wishlist.

Was a great ride and gave me lots of insight to how I want my Spyder to be set up :2thumbs:

 

[Kjen]

Enjoyed the write up Kim. Good insight for sure. Modifying or adding on or whatever it's called would certainly be cheaper than a new bike in the long run; not that that is always a factor. Many is the time Dudley has said "this is the last bike"; yeah, right.
We like and trust ours so it will be staying with us.

 

[BajaRon]

I have never ridden such miles on any given day that we rode down there. I think most I've ever done in a day on weekends (not counting a trip 3 yrs ago on my Harley to VA) is about 250 - 300 miles tops. So one of the days we rode 500 miles to get out of the rain and we ended up in PA from TN. And then the ride home yesterday was from Gettysburg PA to CT. I kept thinking about Tattr & Dee riding in ONE SHOT. I don't know how they did that. I felt so cramped after riding for so long - kept dangling my legs to stretch them. Even w/ the CHAD, although it works great, we hit alot of wind on the highway and I felt beat up afterwards. So I'm going to make my Spyder into a touring machine for me. I love the RT - it is so cool but I can't part w/ my Spyder - I love it too much. Now if I had A LOT of cash, I'd also buy the Harley streetglide trike that I sat on at Battlefield Harley - but I'm not rich. I can't afford the RT Spyder either - I really don't think my Spyder would get much of a trade in value.

So looking into some highway pegs, probably the Corbin fairing since I saw someone's Spyder at the BBQ with it on and it had big ole speakers too! Also want a driver's backrest from Utopia Products. So I think all that will help.

I had tunes - playing my mp3 player thru my Chatterbox which helped w/ the boredom of highway riding. But I want some good speakers to play tunes with when I don't use the Chatterbox.

So starting a wishlist.

Was a great ride and gave me lots of insight to how I want my Spyder to be set up :2thumbs:

Glad you had a safe, though bit tiring ride. I think highway pegs can just about double your range.

I don't know how many miles my longest bike ride is because I didn't even start paying attention until the last few years. 1106 is the longest day I've officially recorded.

Amazingly, I felt like I could have done another 400! Probably not but I felt pretty good that day.

It's great to just ride sometimes. Other times it seems to beat me up. But you can work up to longer rides as you get your bike sorted out for your peticular style.

 

[Smylinacha]

Enjoyed the write up Kim. Good insight for sure. Modifying or adding on or whatever it's called would certainly be cheaper than a new bike in the long run; not that that is always a factor. Many is the time Dudley has said "this is the last bike"; yeah, right.
We like and trust ours so it will be staying with us.

Hey you! How's things? So I hear you're gonna try and make it to the BBQ next year - THAT IS AWESOME cuz we'll see you there! Yep - keeping this one. I like her the way she is but for long distance it isn't comfortable so I need to make a few changes.

I like lean and mean looking but it makes no sense to tour and not be comfortable ya know?!

 

[Smylinacha]

Glad you had a safe, though bit tiring ride. I think highway pegs can just about double your range.

I don't know how many miles my longest bike ride is because I didn't even start paying attention until the last few years. 1106 is the longest day I've officially recorded.

Amazingly, I felt like I could have done another 400! Probably not but I felt pretty good that day.

It's great to just ride sometimes. Other times it seems to beat me up. But you can work up to longer rides as you get your bike sorted out for your peticular style.

I had so much fun in the mountains - but when it comes to highway riding I never liked it - I find it to be boring and I start getting distracted, sometimes I don't pay attention and I get drowsy (I even do that in a car when I'm highway riding). So since HDX tells me we have to take highways to get to our destination, then I gotta set this thing up accordingly. So after I'm done w/ dinner, I'm going to the Kewl Metal website and Corbin site and a speaker website and the backrest site. That should do the trick!

Or instead of the backrest I can pack differently to "create" a backrest. Not so sure I like drilling holes into my BRP comfort seat. Only need a backrest for long hauls - over 300 miles. But I think the Corbin fairing will help cut the wind down some. Plus it looks cool and I can hide some big ole speakers w/ that!

 

[effgjamis]

Speaking of long rides... my new custom seat was fantastic.. Only disconfort is the swelling in my hands and wrists. Just not used to the twisties.

Glad all arrived home safely..

 

[Roaddog2]

Press on Press

You just have to Press on and you did :2thumbs::doorag:

 

[Lamonster]

Just remember "Pain is weakness leaving the body"

 

[NancysToy]

Or instead of the backrest I can pack differently to "create" a backrest. Not so sure I like drilling holes into my BRP comfort seat. Only need a backrest for long hauls - over 300 miles. But I think the Corbin fairing will help cut the wind down some. Plus it looks cool and I can hide some big ole speakers w/ that!

Packing the bags on the seat does work well...especially if you have risers and highway pegs. Dltang's seat bag is built to act as a backrest. You may want to try one. I strap my Helen2Wheels clothes bag and my Seal-Line bag to the seat and lean on them. It really works, especially on my BMWs.

 

[Zerocool]

I find it to be boring and I start getting distracted, sometimes I don't pay attention and I get drowsy (I even do that in a car when I'm highway riding).

Me too.

Brett (having over +/- 300K lifetime miles) suggested we trade lead position on the highway (both down and back) every 30 miles. The reason being the follower(s) tend to get drowsy from lack of creative driving. When I led, it was easy to perk back up since I was able to control the speed, acceleration around the trucks, and pick the course down the highway.

I found this to be of considerable help. Apologies if this is a known "best practice." Just wanted to share

 

[RoadHammer]

You might think about full floor boards.
I can see a benefit of putting your feet anywhere you choose..... And highway pegs for sure.
Do you have risers on your spyder?

 

[FANG]

Or instead of the backrest I can pack differently to "create" a backrest. Not so sure I like drilling holes into my BRP comfort seat. Only need a backrest for long hauls - over 300 miles. But I think the Corbin fairing will help cut the wind down some. Plus it looks cool and I can hide some big ole speakers w/ that!

Smylin

I know what you are talking about -- I packed a small duffle this past weekend before a ryde and bungeed it to the passenger seat. It made a good cheap backrest.

Glad you and HDX made it home safe and enjoyed your time in TN. I am definitely going to make it next year.

 

[Smylinacha]

Speaking of long rides... my new custom seat was fantastic.. Only disconfort is the swelling in my hands and wrists. Just not used to the twisties.

Glad all arrived home safely..

I had no problems w/ my wrists in the twisties - it was on the highway they bothered me. Everything bothers me on a highway - maybe because I get real bored riding on highways. Nothing to do or anything pretty to look at - just trucks, smelly diesel and stupid cagers.:thumbup:

 

[Smylinacha]

Packing the bags on the seat does work well...especially if you have risers and highway pegs. Dltang's seat bag is built to act as a backrest. You may want to try one. I strap my Helen2Wheels clothes bag and my Seal-Line bag to the seat and lean on them. It really works, especially on my BMWs.

I was just thinking about that - Was looking at the Utopia backrests and I'm tiny so I don't think my back would even reach back there and I don't like the idea of taking a knife to my brp comfort seat. So I thought about making my bags work for me and even looked into the self inflating backrests at the high end camping stores. Then I remembered I have a lumbar (black) backrest at work stowed away in a closet :2thumbs:. Gonna bring it home and try it strapped to my bags and see if it works. Hey, if it's for free, it's for me! I'd rather try this before I spend all this money since I don't want to have a backrest all the time - only when I'm traveling a long ways.

 

[Smylinacha]

Me too.

Brett (having over +/- 300K lifetime miles) suggested we trade lead position on the highway (both down and back) every 30 miles. The reason being the follower(s) tend to get drowsy from lack of creative driving. When I led, it was easy to perk back up since I was able to control the speed, acceleration around the trucks, and pick the course down the highway.

I found this to be of considerable help. Apologies if this is a known "best practice." Just wanted to share

I led for a whole 3 miles when we were almost home LOL! No way can I lead where I'm unfamiliar - I will get everyone lost Even though 81 went on for what seemed like forever, I'd rather stay behind HDX, if someone were to piss him off, he'd make it known and get us all out of the way. Me? I'd probably do something dumb so I'm happy following him.

 

[Smylinacha]

You just have to Press on and you did :2thumbs::doorag:

I think I need a drink holder - for caffeine to keep me awake.

 

[Smylinacha]

You might think about full floor boards.
I can see a benefit of putting your feet anywhere you choose..... And highway pegs for sure.
Do you have risers on your spyder?

Yep, got the risers from Magic Man - one of the best investments I ever made for the Spyder. Going to look for some highway pegs - I have the backrest figured out I think. Forget the Corbin fairing - way too much money if you ask me. I'll keep the CHAD for now. Works well enough - just never been on the Spyder on such a long trip before.

 

[Smylinacha]

Sounds like 80mph isn't enough......maybe I should pick up the pace a bit to keep it interesting......:yikes:hyea:

80 is fine with me unless we are in a major curve passing semi's and the person behind you lags behind in passing and makes me stuck next to the truck which seems like forever. When I ride behind you I'm usually like glue with you when it comes to passing. Couldn't do that - kept the two two wheelers up front this time. Actually I don't think I even rode behind you once on this entire trip.

 

[Smylinacha]

Smylin

I know what you are talking about -- I packed a small duffle this past weekend before a ryde and bungeed it to the passenger seat. It made a good cheap backrest.

Glad you and HDX made it home safe and enjoyed your time in TN. I am definitely going to make it next year.

Yeah I'm going the cheapo route for now until maybe they come out with something I actually really like. Right now I'm not sure.

Hope to see ya next year at the BBQ!

 

[dltang]

So Kim,
This trip is going to end of being a costly one aye? You have a whole lot of new things to add to your spyder mods. It's gonna be a fun winter I know for myself, having my highway boards and my bikersfriend bag really helps on those long highway rides. It gives me many more choices of seating positions.

By the way, it was great to finally meet you in person. I wish we had more time to spend and next time we will have some more time and be able to get some riding in. It is a shame Brian and I went all that way and didn't take any rides.