First REAL motorcylce touring trip

S

sixstring

Well-known member
The first day of my 5 day USA tour is fast approaching. On the 29th, three buddies and I will set off from Toronto on four bikes that were never designed for the 3000+ km journey through five states and some of the greatest riding roads in the north eastern USA.

While I have personally riden to Indianapolis and back for MotoGP a few years ago, that trip was more about the destination while this will be my first proper touring trip where the journey is the main focus. The bikes we will be taking are:

A bone stock GSXR 600 (most appropriate bike in the group for the trip)...
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... a 1999 YZF-R6 which blows smoke out of its crank case breather like a train and is running what must be a stunt rear sprocket (most likely to catch fire) ...
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... a beutiful example of a 1998 YZF-R1 (too pretty to tour with. Notice the bespoke Harris WSB swingarm complete with quick release rear wheel hardware) ...
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... and my ZX-7RR (most inappropriate tail for the job).
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These are the routes that we're taking:

Day 1 - Mississauga to Lock Haven, PA (650 km)

Day 2 - Lock Haven, PA to Utica, NY (500 km)

Day 3 - Utica, NY to Lebanon, NH (375 km)

Day 4 Lebanon, NH to Elizabethtown, VT (475 km)

Day 5 - Elizabethtown, VT to Mississauga, ON (650 km)


To make my bike little more touring friendly. I've:

  • swapped my RR motor with a close ratio gearbox for a R motor with a standard ratio gear box. This makes the gaps between the gears a little more reasonable for street riding
  • swapped the 41mm FCR flatslide carbs for 38mm CVK CV carbs. While flatslides are great for a quick sunday blast they are painful for longer rides... maily because the throttle feels like it weighs a metric tonne.
  • swapped my 15/45 gearing for standard 16/42 gearing. This makes the bike cruise at reasonable RPMS.
  • installed a throttle rocker to give the throttle hand a break while cruising
  • installed heavy R&G bar ends to reduce vibrations at cruising RPMs
  • I didn't install this specifically for the trip but a Ducati 848 master cylinder coupled with the standard slave makes life in traffic ALOT easier
  • Air Hawk pad for my butt
  • Scala G9 head set to keep myself entertained when the roads straighten out

I'm taking a break from riding this week to get everything together for the trip. Clothes, tools, electronics, extra visor etc. Also trying to find a way to mount my tail bag without destroying my tail.

Should be fun! Can't wait to head out!
 
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Have fun man! Just got back from a 3 days tour of NY, VT and Ottawa, two up on my Versys.
One thing I will say, with those bikes it will be a bit painfull :)
 
rorider said:
One thing I will say, with those bikes it will be a bit painfull :)
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With those bikes, the right wrist releases more endorphins, so it's a wash.....
 
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Hey MacDoc thanks for that info! Really useful stuff!

One of the guys coming on the trip works in IT at an undisclosed company and can get virtually free data in the US. I'll have to look into those pre-paid phones if I ever tour without him though. I have health coverage through my work but I'm gonna look into travel health insurance as well through state-farm (where I have all my other stuff insured, house, car bikes)

Gotta head down to GP bikes and check out that Vista Cruise.

As brutal as that last day looks, I've done WAY worse on my previous ZX-7R (Toronto to Indiapolis in one day!). Lying down on a tank bag filled with clothes and having an air hawk makes a HUGE difference... but I do look forward to getting something more comfortable when funds allow. Maybe a ZX-11 or a ZX-14 if I win the lottery.

Anyways here's some pics:

My last REALLY long distance trip.
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My trip to Indiana taught me two things: my but was the first thing to go and my legs were second. The Air Hawk should reduce vibrations, get some air under me and give a few more degrees of leg room (it's a pretty tall pad).
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My bike as it sits now. Still waiting for bar ends and front sprocket to come in the mail
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Interesting mix of shiny race components and touring gear
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GEARS tank bag
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GEARS tail bag. If anyone is looking to buy touring bags, GEARS stuff is VERY good quality and are Canadian to boot! I might buy some saddle bags at some point and wouldn't hesitate to buy their brand again!
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The front ties are wrapped around the subframe under the front seat
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Scala G9. Got it for a STEAL during bikeleathers 50% off sale! Thanks Crazy Al!!!
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You look nicely set up - I wonder about your buddies with stock seats.
Anyone else with a Scala with you? really makes a difference.
 
Looks like a pretty good route.
 
So the weather network is reporting a REALLY **** weather or the 5 days that our trip falls on.

Lock Haven is supposed to have 5mm of rain on saturday (40% pop)

Utica 5-10mm on sunday (90% pop)

Lebanon 40-50mm on monday (100% pop)

Burlington 10mm on tuesday (90% pop)

Toronto on wednesday 2-4mm (90% pop)

Not sure if we're still going :(
 
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Hey Sixstring - your Day 4 you terminate at Conway, NH but its a short 50 km north to Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Eastern Seaboard states. Some of the best views and radical temperature change at the top.
 
Good luck on the trip.

I bet the guy with the R6 will have the most trouble. My friends who ride R6's are always complaing after riding for longer than 30mins.
 
Stock isn't great, but it's manageable. Did Key West and back on a stock SV650 seat last year.

MacDoc said:
You look nicely set up - I wonder about your buddies with stock seats.
Anyone else with a Scala with you? really makes a difference.
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Pretty good first day ride. Despite all the extreme weather warnings, there was only a hand full of 30 second showers. The rest of the day was semi-sunny. We're headed north east to Utica today.

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Kid had a great time yesterday - partly the first half of the day til 11 then running around getting food for me and boogieing back to the motel to organize the rescue with a reliable phone and internet connection.

At this point all good for tomorrow to be home in the evening thanks to a good dealer about 60 miles north.
Overnight a tire and fitted me into a slot tomorrow morning.

AAA is towing there in the morning - no charge - that's the only wrinkle out of my control but should be fine. A rest day is not all bad and internet is good - breakfast free.
It's pouring here now as well. Kid was going to head back but will wait and see if it clears.

Glad you got some decent weather to start.

Right now it's just ugly



and much of the east coast tho maybe you are far enough north

 
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