Triumphrat

nostatic · 07-21-2005

Well, against my better sanity (what's that?), I did the LA-SF-LA trek all to meet some online friends and have dinner (those are the Pelicans, as in Pelican Parts. Back in one piece. Subject pretty much tells it all. Left at 9:30am Wednesday heading north, got to my motel at 5:00pm (Travelodge near SFO), showered, changed, back on the bike into downtown SF, arrive at Harringtons at 6:00pm. Hang out with pelicans until about 10:30pm, back on the bike to the motel. Sleep, back on the bike at 9:30am this morning heading south. Got a ticket at 1:07pm ouside of Paso Robles...nice enough guy. Clocked me at 95, wrote me up for 85 in a 70 zone. Traffic was horrible around Santa Barbara (lane split), then again near Oxnard (lane split), then again in Thousand Oaks (lane split). It looked like it was going to be that way all the way into LA so I bailed at Las Virgenes and headed over the hills to Malibu...it was wicked hot inland. Got to PCH and made the familiar drive back home in relative comfort except for my butt and my right hand (which I'm icing right now).

Not something I'd do every day. Or even again unless I had a bike with more fairing and a better long distance position. But what the hell, you only live once and you're dead a long, long, long time...

[ This message was edited by: nostatic on 2005-07-21 21:55 ]

DaveC · 07-21-2005

Great report! Inspiring!

I've found that a simple thing like a throttle rocker helps a lot with the right hand cramping.

Yeah, the traffic into LA. That's what keeps me from longer rides that would bring me back in the afternoon. I usually ride 7-11 am.

What kind of mileage did you get? Any long stretches without stations?

Dave

Catenaccio · 07-21-2005

Good on ya! Sounds like a great trip! Monkey butt and wrist ache...what more can an enthusiast want? I ride without a fairing and find the view spectacular, especially the flora and fauna that decorate my helmet with aplomb. I understand the reluctance to go on such a trip until about 2 weeks later when, thanks to old age, I'm ready for the torture all over again. Saturday, for example, I'm headed to southern Utah into the mountains and through Bryce and Zion national parks. About 400 miles worth in 8 hours, not including stops.

Solve Lora Infernis!

keithu · 07-22-2005

+1 on the Throttlerocker recommendation, it improves wrist comfort immensely. It's the best $9 I've ever spent!

Believe it or not, you may have fewer comfort issues if you take more interesting roads next time, such as PCH or CA-25. Freeway droning is boring and your muscles spend a lot of time in one position. This may seem counter-intuitive but I have found that my TT600 is a great choice for 500-1400 mile days if I mix in plenty of twisties. But freeway drones are not fun.