Triumphrat

ride4321 · 11-12-2009, 03:15 PM

Thinking about buying a bike on the west coast, I'm in NY. Of course I'd be buying it sight unseen which is a concern but I think I could arrange for a mechanic to check it out for me. Part of my reasoning to buy so far away is to have a reason to ride home. I can take 3 days off the week of Thanksgiving and have a total of 9 days free to get back. If I do this I'll stay south going from LA to Knoxville on I40. That will take me to Deals Gap and allow a day there for goofing off. So, my question is, do you think 2800 miles in 7 days is a big deal? I've never done it although I've done a few 400 mile days. I think I'm up for it if the bike is. I love the idea but I do have crazy ideas at times.

spank86 · 11-12-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ride4321

Thinking about buying a bike on the west coast, I'm in NY. Of course I'd be buying it sight unseen which is a concern but I think I could arrange for a mechanic to check it out for me. Part of my reasoning to buy so far away is to have a reason to ride home. I can take 3 days off the week of Thanksgiving and have a total of 9 days free to get back. If I do this I'll stay south going from LA to Knoxville on I40. That will take me to Deals Gap and allow a day there for goofing off. So, my question is, do you think 2800 miles in 7 days is a big deal? I've never done it although I've done a few 400 mile days. I think I'm up for it if the bike is. I love the idea but I do have crazy ideas at times.

I'd say do it.

I have no experience of it since I'd have to ride round the whole of great Britain several times to manage it.

But if you do we want lots of pics and a write up of your experiences!

Skye · 11-12-2009, 03:29 PM

7 days is pushing it. You're going to need at least a couple of days to recover in the middle.

Iron Butt rides are not fun. I did one from New Orleans to Seattle. And it was on a stupidly uncomfortable bike too. I did all the riding positions, the "stretch", the "humping frog", the "push up", and none of them stopped my body from screaming at me for 3 months afterwards.

I'd think twice about it...or 5 times, however many times it takes for me to talk myself out of it.

ride4321 · 11-12-2009, 03:45 PM

I'm 55 and here's the breakdown of the mileage. I'd try to even it out to around 400 miles a day but city to city looks like this.

Los Angeles, CA to Flagstaff, AZ 466 miles
Flaggstaff, AZ to Albuquerque, NM 322 miles
Albuquerque to Oklahoma City 544 miles
Oklahoma City to Memphis 466 miles
Memphis to Deals Gap 400 miles
Deals Gap to Binghamton NY (2 day ride) 718 miles

Doesn't sound too bad on paper.

spank86 · 11-12-2009, 03:50 PM

I reckon if you split the days up into four pats with a decen't break in the gaps you shouldn't have too much trouble.

But get used to long rides before hand or you'll be doing John Wayne impressions before the end of the first day.

Skye · 11-12-2009, 03:52 PM

Don't forget to take weather into account. Flagstaff is rather high in altitude, and I once drove through there in snow. Just going past San Bernardino through the pass there is occasionally snowed in. It's November.....when is this trip planned?

They're already predicting snow on Saturday.....

ride4321 · 11-12-2009, 03:54 PM

I just did 350 miles the other day and felt fine and that was on secondary roads. I've done plenty of 350-400 days, just never back to back. I'd be on the interstate most of this trip unfortunately, but that would be less time on the bike and much easier riding. Come on, you guys are supposed to be convincing me here...

spank86 · 11-12-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ride4321

I just did 350 miles the other day and felt fine and that was on secondary roads. I've done plenty of 350-400 days, just never back to back. I'd be on the interstate most of this trip unfortunately, but that would be less time on the bike and much easier riding. Come on, you guys are supposed to be convincing me here...

hey, I'm all for it.

Any crazy idea gets my vote.

Overkill0084 · 11-12-2009, 04:01 PM

What kind of bike? Hard tail chopper, Bad idea. Gold Wing, yeah, ok.
I would guess that it's probably somewhere between the 2 extremes.
It's getting late in the year, budget extra time for screwy weather.

Geimer · 11-12-2009, 04:08 PM

Well.... my son and I did about exactly that number of miles in exactly that number of days in August. He rode a Suzuki Marauder and I rode my Bonneville. I don't recall reading in your post just what type of bike you are buying... that MAY make a difference. The miles themselves just do not seem like a big factor to me.
Here is MY advice: my trip was in August, yours will be near the end of November. So you MUST pay attention to weather. And not only precipitation wise. Even with good clothing on any temp below 50°F can suck the heat right out of your body. Below 40 it can get hazardous. Below 30 hazardous even faster and below 20°F can get dangerous very quickly. Remember 20°F with the 70 MPH wind you will be pushing on the bike = 6°F below zero wind chill.