Heading south

[Mad Mike]

Way too much oil, you're around 100:1, that's 2 stroke territory.

A stock engine in good shape running on the street should use about 500ml every 6000km.

Gonna be hard on the Cat. Get it checked.

Good stuff.
This thread might give you a few more roads to hit up wherever you may be headed:

Stateside Roads - the twistier the better!

Given how many of us so frequently head south to ride good roads, I'm putting this thread together to help you plan your routes. The roads below are the ones I have been on and they are sorted by state (especially once I add more states). If you know of some amazing road that I have missed in a...

www.gtamotorcycle.com

That's a lot of oil to be burning for such a new bike and seems weird

 

[GreyGhost]

Way too much oil, you're around 100:1, that's 2 stroke territory.

A stock engine in good shape running on the street should use about 500ml every 6000km.

Gonna be hard on the Cat. Get it checked.

I entirely agree. It's got to be hard on the exhaust and it adds a lot to operating costs (and hassle). Wasn't this the bike that was 2L low on oil headed into its second oil change?

Audi, BMW, Subaru all say that a quart every 600 to 1000 miles is acceptable. These are on vehicles that would be dry before the next oil change at that rate. By sticking to this program, they can save a fortune in warranty repairs (especially since significant improvement would likely need an engine swap). To get them to follow a different path, you'd need courts (or EPA) to step in and tell manufacturers that this is in no way acceptable.

Excessive Oil Consumption Isn't Normal - Consumer Reports

Excessive oil consumption isn't normal, Consumer Reports says. Automakers say adding oil between scheduled changes is acceptable. It's not.

www.consumerreports.org

I have no idea what the acceptable burn rate is for a motorcycle. For obvious reasons, there is a lot less data available. If we had a manufacturers tech willing to look up the test procedure, that would give us at least one data point. For cars the tech fills and then seals the oil system. Owner drives the specified distance and then comes back and oil level is checked. If level dropped less than specified in the procedure, car is fine, add oil with every other tank of gas as required. I say BS but if the manufacturer wants to fight, I'm not going to engage a lawyer for that.

 

[bigpoppa]

I entirely agree. It's got to be hard on the exhaust and it adds a lot to operating costs (and hassle). Wasn't this the bike that was 2L low on oil headed into its second oil change?

Correct.

 

[shanekingsley]

But back to your trip… if you are staying in WV for a bit, the highest point in the state is Spruce Knob and the ride up there is pretty sweet. Smoke Hole canyon is a pretty cool ride too and not that far away from Spuce Knob.

 

[LBV]

There are no roads like this in Ontario.

Have you by chance done The Highlands (Barrys Bay etc)? Those you're on now are better?

 

[shanekingsley]

Have you by chance done The Highlands (Barrys Bay etc)? Those you're on now are better?

The roads in the south are so much better than what we have up north. Think of the best roads near Barry’s Bay and imagine it with better asphalt, more corners per mile and higher elevation changes.

 

[Jayell]

decided to go the soft bag route, 35l/30l sidebags and a 50l duffel. should get it all setup this week.

What'd you buy?

 

[Evoex]

What'd you buy?

Saw it in person on an ATAS from a fellow instructor;

Bags; lockable, quick release and all the buckles between all products can work together.

Hussar 30/35 Kit (Updated for 2023!)

Our flagship adventure soft panniers, the icing on the cake, introducing the Hussar Adventure Semi-Rigid Pannier Series Kit. Positioned to really make a splash in the market, test launches of the bag in local retailers have yielded recognition by many professional riders as the perfect adventure...

www.westwindmoto.com

Heavy Cavalry 50

The Heavy Cavalry lineup of Rear Seat duffels were conceived with one sole purpose - to offer accessible and usable storage in a weather-resistant design. Created for the true adventurists who take long trips, The Heavy Cavalry lineup allows you to bring all that you would need. As our flagship...

www.westwindmoto.com

Racks;

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin – Pannier Racks

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin standard and X-Frame pannier racks by Outback Motortek designed for hard and soft panniers to haul luggage and fuel storage.

outbackmotortek.ca

 

[Jayell]

Saw it in person on an ATAS from a fellow instructor;

Bags; lockable, quick release all the buckles between all products can work together.

Hussar 30/35 Kit (Updated for 2023!)

Our flagship adventure soft panniers, the icing on the cake, introducing the Hussar Adventure Semi-Rigid Pannier Series Kit. Positioned to really make a splash in the market, test launches of the bag in local retailers have yielded recognition by many professional riders as the perfect adventure...

www.westwindmoto.com

View attachment 62376
View attachment 62377

Heavy Cavalry 50

The Heavy Cavalry lineup of Rear Seat duffels were conceived with one sole purpose - to offer accessible and usable storage in a weather-resistant design. Created for the true adventurists who take long trips, The Heavy Cavalry lineup allows you to bring all that you would need. As our flagship...

www.westwindmoto.com

View attachment 62378View attachment 62379

Racks;

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin – Pannier Racks

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin standard and X-Frame pannier racks by Outback Motortek designed for hard and soft panniers to haul luggage and fuel storage.

outbackmotortek.ca

Yes, support the local guy! I have been considering the same bags. Westwind's office and warehouse is in Markham, run by a very nice and reasonable guy named Kevin Ma. Contact him on Instagram if necessary.

The board is locked to the rack, but a determined thief can make off with the bag itself. Or at least open a bag and scoop the contents, unless you run a lockable cable through it. Just an FYI.

These look to be every bit as good as Mosko, maybe even Lone Rider, but much less expensive, pay in Canadian dollars, and receive friendly, local support.

Great choice.

 

[Evoex]

Yes, support the local guy! I have been considering the same bags. Westwind's office and warehouse is in Markham, run by a very nice and reasonable guy named Kevin Ma. Contact him on Instagram if necessary.

The board is locked to the rack, but a determined thief can make off with the bag itself. Or at least open a bag and scoop the contents, unless you run a lockable cable through it. Just an FYI.

These look to be every bit as good as Mosko, maybe even Lone Rider, but much less expensive, pay in Canadian dollars, and receive friendly, local support.

Great choice.

Yep I met Kevin when I purchased them last week.

 

[Evoex]

Yes, support the local guy! I have been considering the same bags. Westwind's office and warehouse is in Markham, run by a very nice and reasonable guy named Kevin Ma. Contact him on Instagram if necessary.

The board is locked to the rack, but a determined thief can make off with the bag itself. Or at least open a bag and scoop the contents, unless you run a lockable cable through it. Just an FYI.

These look to be every bit as good as Mosko, maybe even Lone Rider, but much less expensive, pay in Canadian dollars, and receive friendly, local support.

Great choice.

I assume you saw his GS demo model when you dropped by. Either way you`re welcome to take a gander when I get it all mounted.

 

[Jayell]

I assume you saw his GS demo model when you dropped by. Either way you`re welcome to take a gander when I get it all mounted.

I guess that means we'll each have to attend Burger Night?

 

[shanekingsley]

Have you by chance done The Highlands (Barrys Bay etc)? Those you're on now are better?

And if you have 6 minutes to waste, you can blow the virtual dust off this video that shows what the dragon, snake and some other roads in that general area are like.

 

[bigpoppa]

Day 4:

I spend about half the day riding backroads in WV, the rest I slabbed, in Tennessee now.

Seeing a lot of dollar generals and strangely enough Cfmoto dealers everywhere in rural Appalachia.

Strange seeing trucks sit in left lanes out here.

@shanekingsley would you rate the roads in Pennsylvania better or worse than the roads further south? I’m thinking of coming here more regularly, and wondering if I should just stay in Pennsylvania because it’s closer and convenient or do I have to go to deals gap every time I want to ride great roads?

Have you by chance done The Highlands (Barrys Bay etc)? Those you're on now are better?

Many of these roads are like racetracks, but with way better asphalt than grand bend(no bumps, potholes, or tar snakes anywhere)

 

[robertv19]

Have you by chance done The Highlands (Barrys Bay etc)? Those you're on now are better?

So, so much better.
The Highlands are nice and all, but for me it’s a haul to get over there when I can be in Pennsylvania in about the same (or less) time and experience far better roads with far less traffic and almost zero police presence.
Just don’t talk politics with anyone and you’ll be just fine.

 

[sburns]

And if you have 6 minutes to waste, you can blow the virtual dust off this video that shows what the dragon, snake and some other roads in that general area are like.

Is that you Shane in the video?
Yeah some virtual dust... lol

 

[sburns]

Day 4:

I spend about half the day riding backroads in WV, the rest I slabbed, in Tennessee now.

Seeing a lot of dollar generals and strangely enough Cfmoto dealers everywhere in rural Appalachia.

Strange seeing trucks sit in left lanes out here.

@shanekingsley would you rate the roads in Pennsylvania better or worse than the roads further south? I’m thinking of coming here more regularly, and wondering if I should just stay in Pennsylvania because it’s closer and convenient or do I have to go to deals gap every time I want to ride great roads?


Many of these roads are like racetracks, but with way better asphalt than grand bend(no bumps, potholes, or tar snakes anywhere)

Very curious where you are headed, that's quite the jump in distance. You are in grits territory or almost.
No sight seeing? Interesting pitstops?

 

[bigpoppa]

Very curious where you are headed, that's quite the jump in distance. You are in grits territory or almost.
No sight seeing? Interesting pitstops?

 

[shanekingsley]

Day 4:

I spend about half the day riding backroads in WV, the rest I slabbed, in Tennessee now.

Seeing a lot of dollar generals and strangely enough Cfmoto dealers everywhere in rural Appalachia.

Strange seeing trucks sit in left lanes out here.

@shanekingsley would you rate the roads in Pennsylvania better or worse than the roads further south? I’m thinking of coming here more regularly, and wondering if I should just stay in Pennsylvania because it’s closer and convenient or do I have to go to deals gap every time I want to ride great roads?


Many of these roads are like racetracks, but with way better asphalt than grand bend(no bumps, potholes, or tar snakes anywhere)

As the elevation changes increase, the twisty factor increases all the way up to the heart of the Smoky's. As mentioned, the north Georgia mountains are also really good. I think the roads in PA are quite nice, but it only takes a day or two to ride the best of them and then you've done them all. I personally don't do PA anymore, because I'd rather ride a little further and spend time in the Virginia's and further south. It will take weeks in each state of WV, VA, NC and TN to ride all the good stuff. And if you explore the forest roads, there some really spectacular stuff all to yourself.

If I was rating the roads it would look something like:
Ontario 4
PA 6
OH 6/7
VA/WV 7/8
NC/TN 9/10
n GA 9

I can't stress it enough - if you have the time and no real plan - take secondary roads everywhere you go, because there are unlimited hidden gems in WV, TN and NC. Those ride reports I did have the best of the best all mapped out so that could help.

 

[shanekingsley]

Is that you Shane in the video?
Yeah some virtual dust... lol

Yeah me filming and riding with a couple guys from this forum back in 2015. Amazing trip, but got rained on almost every day.