Triumphrat

Bame · 05-22-2009, 10:45 PM

Hello all,

Please excuse me if I’m posting this in the wrong section. I’m not only new to these forums, I’m new to the motorcycles in general. I came here because I have some questions and I figured no one could answer them better than others who are passionate about the lifestyle.

To give you all some brief background, I’m 27, and I grew up in a household where riding a motorcycle was in the same category as hard drugs, or criminal activity. I have never had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle (only a vespa-type scooter). I’ve always secretly wanted to ride a motorcycle through the United States though, with only a backpack of possessions.

This summer, I’m at a place in my life where I can do that, and I’m not sure I’ll ever have this type of freedom again. I’ve already taken some steps to making it happen. I’ve scheduled classes for beginners to learn about & practice riding motorcycles, which will wrap up at the end of June. I have the finances to buy my first bike around that time as well. I would like to start my trip either late July or early August (not to miss too many summer days).

I have so many questions, but in general I’m looking for any advice. Am I stupid for even thinking in one summer I can be competent enough to ride long distances through the US? What things should I be thinking about or doing to prepare for this kind of journey?

[Edit: I forgot to mention my major question. What kind of bike would be best for a beginner looking to travel long distances? I love the look of the Triumph Thruxton, but I know that can't be good for what I'm doing. I'm a tall skinny guy (if that makes a difference).]

Thanks for reading.

Brett

HiDesert · 05-23-2009, 12:55 AM

Well, you're starting off well; asking good questions, and in an appropriate forum!

Are you from the U.S., or will this be part of an overseas trip?

There are some people who shouldn't attempt what you are talking about, and some who could do so with no problem. Hopefully you will be able to judge for yourself where you fall in that spectrum, because it would be almost impossible to judge purely from information obtained on a forum.

I'll assume you get your license when you finish the course. If that's not the case, set me straight and some of the advice will chance.

First piece of advice; buy and wear all the safety gear, all the time. All the gear means helmet (full face), and armored boots/gloves/jacket/pants. Wear them for every ride. Even to the library and back. A disproportionate number of accidents take place on short trips close to home. For summer riding, you'll want mesh gear to stay cool, and a camelback to stay hydrated.

In addition to the course, you should also buy and read the two Proficient Motorcycling books by David Hough. He goes into detail that few courses have the time to cover, and it's easy to understand.

The next issue is whether this is an unrealistic undertaking. I don't think so, provided you are a good judge of your own limits. Start with low daily distance goals, and see how it feels. Maybe 200 or 250 for the first couple of days. Work your way up from there are you feel comfortable. Avoid congested areas; deserted backroads are much safer to learn on. If you live in a megalopolis, you might want to consider finding some way to get your bike well out of the urban jungle before kicking off.

Gotta run; I'll type more soon.

Bame · 05-23-2009, 01:29 AM

Hi HiDesert,

Thanks for the reply.

I do live in the US. Hood River, Oregon (along the Columbia Gorge) is my starting location.

As far as the motorcycle license, I'm not sure. The course is Basic Rider Training (BRT), and I haven't looked into it much further than the registration. The course starts more than a month from now. I still need to call them & clarify some details. A friend recommended the course to me after I asked him some of these same questions. He never mentioned having to get his license elsewhere, so I'm hoping this is how I will get it.

Thank you for the advice you've already given. I will definitely read your book recommendations, and follow your gear suggestion.

Thank you also for your vote of confidence that the idea isn't totally unrealistic

Hope hear more from ya!

HiDesert · 05-23-2009, 02:06 AM

Cool; Oregon is a good starting point. You can be on good, empty roads in no time flat. Just take it easy; if you do have a bad spill on a deserted road out here in the west, it can be a long time before any good Samaritans happen by!

I believe most states coordinate with the MSF course so that you fulfill the requirements for you license by the end of the course, and you just have to visit the DMV afterwards to mug for the camera.

So, as I was saying, stay flexible, and decide for yourself what a good daily distance is. On the right bike, and the wrong roads, it's not hard to cover 600 or more miles in a day. But notice I said the wrong roads. My single day record is 750 miles, but I did a 400 mile day recently (see the Golden Eagle thread) that left me at least as worn out as that 750 mile day. So plan for a few days of 200-250 miles, and see how you feel after that kind of distance.

As for the bike itself... for a first bike, the usual recommendation is cheap, used, light, and low power. All excellent characteristics, because the odds of dropping your first bike are quite high. I did it. My father in law did it when he got back into riding. My brother in law did it. Almost everyone does it. Doing it on an old, cheap beater bike is easy to deal with. Doing it on your brand new pride and joy is a much harder hit to the wallet, and to the part of your heart devoted to treasuring your new machine.

However, since you plan to hop right on and head for parts unknown, reliability is a more serious concern than it is for someone who plans to spend his first year without ever getting more than 150 miles from home. So new, or lightly used, might not be such a bad idea. Especially if you put engine guards on it to minimize the damage in case of a tipover.

I'd suggest staying away from any of the three-cylinder engines. The 1050 is way too much motor for someone with no riding experience. Ditto for the 955. I rode a singe cam, air-cooled 650 for years before stepping up to a 600cc sportbike. Go thou and do, well, if not exactly likewise, at least similarly.

The Thruxton is cool, no question about it. But I don't think that's the bike for the kind of trip you are talking about. Try sitting on the Scrambler or the standard Bonneville. The Scrambler has a slightly higher seat, which you may find more comfortable. The Bonnie is more flexible. That's important, because you may discover as you ride that your tastes change as you gain experience. You can turn a Bonneville into many different styles of bike.

Now, without a fair amount of riding experience under your belt, you won't really know what to look for (feel for?) when sitting on a bike. But you may sit on one or the other and instantly feel 'yes!' or 'no way!' That's useful information.

These two bikes have enough power for the kind of trip you want to make, but it's smooth enough power (and not too excessive) that you should be able to control it. And that's the key; you control it. Nobody in their right mind recommends liter-class sportbikes as first bikes, because there's so much power on tap. A newbie who never gets above 1/4 throttle and 6000 rpm could learn perfectly safely on a liter bike. But how many of us could stick to those rules for several thousand miles? Give a powerful bike too much throttle, especially at the wrong time, and you can end up in a lot of trouble very quickly. Now, that can happen on any bike. If your idiocy caliber is high enough, you can kill yourself on a 250 Rebel. You've just got to work at it a little harder with lower power. And that's a good thing. The beauty of the Scrambler/Bonneville is that you have manageable power in a bike that's so fundamentally good that a lot of very experienced, very skilled riders choose them as their only bike.

Other good choices include the Suzuki SV650, the new twin-cylinder Kawasaki, and maybe the 750 Nighthawk.

Whichever you choose, you'll want to put some sort of wind protection on it, and some bags (probably but not necessarily hard bags). Kick around the forums for the model you settle on, and see what other people have done. The windscreen isn't absolutely mandatory, but imagine yourself doing 65 down some beautiful mountain road, and running into a nice summer hailstorm.

So, to sum up (for now): course; books; AllTheGearAllTheTime; Scrambler/Bonnie; crash bars; windscreen; luggage. Then ride, eat, sleep, repeat.

Oh, and take plenty of pictures (while the bike is stopped). We'll be expecting a heck of a ride report.

DaveB · 05-23-2009, 02:51 AM

I can't add anything to HiDesert's comprehensive advice, but you may want to view this:
http://www.triumphrat.net/ride-trip-...back-solo.html

It's the report of an inexperienced rider who travelled coast to coast in the US and all the way back again on a Bonneville. Not only should it give inspiration but I'd think that you'd pick up many good tips from it.

DaveB.

Bame · 05-23-2009, 05:33 PM

All of this advice is much appreciated. All really good information.

That blog DaveB posted is definitely inspiring to say the least.

I checked out all of the bikes you listed, and I think I'm a fan of the Triumph Bonneville (looks wise), the most. The fact that you can modify them so much, as HiDesert said, is really appealing.

I've been surfing through craigslist, ebay, and other classifieds for Bonnevilles. I found quite a few, some as old as 1966 (I think), up to recent. Does anyone more experienced know a good year bracket I should be looking at? What things should I really consider when purchasing my first one and what should I pay?

Thanks so much for all the help so far. My dream is slowly becoming a reality.

davidc · 05-23-2009, 05:42 PM

You definitely don't want a vintage Triumph for a tour of the US! Aside from issues of operating properly for that duration, they are not at all comfortable.
A Hinckley Bonneville would do the trick and then some.

HiDesert · 05-23-2009, 06:29 PM

David is right. Go with the Hinckley models, 2001 and newer. They'll let you concentrate on the riding more.

TucsonBill · 06-01-2009, 03:18 AM

You also need to consider the weather when planning your route. On a motorcycle you're much more exposed than in a car. While you may be used to rain in "sunny" Oregon, it's a whole different ballgame on a motorcycle. Late summer can be lovely up north, but summer thunderstorms in the south are a real adventure on two wheels! I have also experienced snow in Montana in the first week of September. An active hurricane season can make travel miserable from Texas to Maine.
Damn, I sound like somebody who you grew up with! I'm really just trying to make sure that your expectations are met, you have an amazing adventure, and become an avid rider for the rest of your days. There is lots of really great motorcycle gear that makes riding safe and comfortable in any kind of weather. Be willing to get the best you can afford.

Bob757 · 06-13-2009, 01:52 AM

"I grew up in a household where riding a motorcycle was in the same category as hard drugs, or criminal activity. I have never had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle (only a vespa-type scooter). "

Well its nice to know that I'm not the only one! Yeah, had a Vespa Bravo in high school, sold it, and never talked about riding again. But it was always there. Then at the age of 44, I made the mistake of sitting on a neighbor's Rebel 250. Oops! That turned into the MSF BRC to purchase a Honda Big Ruckus (250cc) which I explained to everyone isn't really a motorcycle. Then said screw it, and bought a Honda Shadow 750 to get real experience on. Now the Bonneville has captured my attention with its vintage styling and unbelievable sound with the Arrow exhaust with baffles removed.

The rest of the family does NOT understand. And that is an understatement. Go for your dreams and please by all means, report back on your ride across the U.S.!
Bob