Quest for the Iron Butt

Discussion in 'Trips & Events' started by reg71, Oct 6, 2013.

  1. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    Reg, BTW I found some new smillies, did you put them in there?
     
  2. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    Just my 2 cents, it would be more fun if the trip reports were posted as you went along, e.g. Day 1 "I'm in vegas right now, here are some pictures" then the next day go back on VFRW post more updates, e.g. Day 2, "My bike swingarm broke due to a fault torque hammer, damn I gotta stay at the hotel and wait for parts".

    It's fun to kind of follow along with the adventure compared to just reading all about the trip AFTER it happened. I have to admit Reg71s write is just too much it would've been easier and more fun if it was broken down to several posts rather than one huge one.

    Going on a tangent I think the main reason why VFRW is not as much fun as it used to be due to the economy. I even see motorcycle shops closing up left and right in my area and even Buell went out of business. Even when driving around the mountains I don't see as many bikes as I used to. Some areas it was like a zoo a few years ago with all the bikers screaming around but now it's more like a ghost town.

    Nothing is permanent indeed and it was fun while it lasted!
     
  3. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    yeah. Apparenty we had them uploaded but had never added them. I was looking for an :ass: smilie for Randy. I also was looking for a :dislike:

    Agreed, but in this case it was an ironbutt so there was the time factor.

    As Poe's raven said, "Nevermore..."
     
  4. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    you know I still haven't heard anything. They haven't cashed my check, though so who knows if they even got my certification paperwork...
     
  5. JTC

    JTC New Member

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    Reg, we need to do a ride. I don't have the patience to compile such a thorough write up. Can you narrate for me? Feel like I'm there when I read your reports. Hemingway 'aint got shit on you.
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2013
  6. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    Sure. I'm always up for a ride. Just got email from iba and I have been accepted. I feel so special now. ;)

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
     
  7. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Next step Reg is to get the Burnaby Brass Ass certification. Doesn't exist yet, but I will figure something out for you.
     
  8. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Joey,

    What I found on my retirement tour, many places, (campgrounds anyways) restricted the amount of data you could upload. I tried uploading pix while I was on the road but kept getting shut down. I even paid for internet to get more that the complimentary 1 hour many places gave for free, but still the access froze up soon as I tried uploading pix. When I questioned the host on this, they told me that many places place such restrictions on their HiFi access to discourage perverts using their sites for porn and that kinda shit. And like Reg, time was a factor for part of my trip as I was trying Canada to Mexico IBA (failed). Will try again this coming trip.

    I am getting to old for this shit!
     
  9. Knife

    Knife Member

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    Who you calling a pervert?
     
  10. ShawnCT450R

    ShawnCT450R New Member

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    What can I say? Awesome trip! Awesome review! Pics speak for themselves!!! This review was just more fuel for me to ride the new (to me) VFR coast to coast in record time. Now we'll see how that schedule works out. Does everyone remember Cannonball Run? hehehe
     
  11. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    Yeah. I used to love that show.

    On another note, I got an e-mail from the IBA. I have been accepted but they are still reviewing my paperwork so my membership package hasn't been sent yet.

    These guys operate like the gubment!

    Well except for the part about actually accomplishing something.
     
  12. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    Gotcha, I'm looking forward to your next trip report. Can I also say I like this as a first world problem? "I'm going on an epic motorcycle tour but I can't upload all my pictures every day!" Poor Randy :lol:
     
  13. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    Reg, we will miss you and Jason on my next Adventure :wink:
     
  14. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Next time I am taking an Olivetti Typewriter and sending my reports to everyone via USPS. Watch for unspent ordinates.
     
  15. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    Nice job reg. What a great trip story. Thanks for writing it up. You may have covered this and if so I apologize for my reading comprehension but how did the GS compare with your prior VFR experience?
     
  16. soloii-74

    soloii-74 New Member

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    I'll second Jim's observations.... Great write-up. Don't know if I could (or would want to) ride more than the 500 in one day - from home to Barber and back, with a little drizzle, but the whole "rain, sleet, and snow" thing certainly makes your adventure, well, just more adventurous. :thumbsup: (And not just some scary postman delivery story :scared: :pound: )
     
  17. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Having just got my first heated vest, can't tell you what I would have given for one that day.
     
  18. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    There is nothing that beats an electric vest except maybe not riding in freezing rain and slush! I get puckered up driving in that crap much less riding in it. My hat is off to you. I had to turn on the space heater under my desk just to finish reading about it.
     
  19. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    Good question. I have thought a lot about this (especially while I was riding during this trip). I wasn't sure if anyone would be too interested since it is such an apples to oranges comparison.

    I find the BMW more comfortable that the VFR for me. I did this trip on the stock seat and never felt particularly bad. You may or may not know I have had lot's of issues with my lower back. I'm more or less missing the disc between L5-S1 so sometimes I get a bit of bone grind. The seating position of the BMW made me arch my lumbar spine more and I sat more upright. My bike actually didn't bother me much on this trip. I think even Jason noticed I wasn't bitchin about my back much.

    I learned to ride on a dirtbike in the 70s so the BMW just felt natural to me. I even thought about throwing sort dirt bars on my VFR after this trip. Up to 70 or 75 miles per hour the BMW is fine. Above that and the vibrations are annoying. That kept me out of ticket danger. If you had ever ridden with me, you'd know that that in itself is a good thing. The VFR has a tendency to creep up to 100+ when I'm in the zone.

    My only complaints with the BMW right now are that the prior owner was a little feller so he did the hyperpro or whatever lowering thing so it was shorter than stock. While the seat height feels high when throwing a leg over, once you are up there my legs are bent more than I'd like them to be. Also, I think it doesn't hold enough fuel. I think it's about 4 gallons located beneath the seat.

    I thought about my complaints with the bike while I was riding, also and came to the conclusion that bikes are so good these days that we can only find little things to gripe about. Everyone should have a friend with a 70s model harley to ride so that they can see how good we really have it.

    I enjoy riding this bike and it seems to fit with my spaceman-esque Roadmaster suit but I feel that I look like a total dork when riding it. :courage: Even thought they are pretty common now, they are still weird looking to me.

    All of that being said, it was a perfect fit for what I wanted. I was beating up my VFR because I have a tendency to wander a bit when I'm out so I wanted to be able to take the occasional gravel road or fire road or even moderate trail to see where it goes. I get tired of hauling my dirtbike places. This bike is a good compromise. (It doesn't jump well. Yes, I did.) But, it does a pretty decent job off-road and a pretty good job on the road (up to 75 miles per hour). I think I could ride this bike all the way down to S.A. or up to Alaska and have a pretty good time doing it.
     
  20. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    Or some electric socks... Of course I might have been electrocuted giving that my socks were pretty saturated. I wonder if McDonalds bathroom still smells like toasted feet.
     
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