I say go for it. You are lucky to have a wife willing to drive the van by herself, so you can ride the bike. I could never talk my wife into doing that for a long trip.

 

Boy, you aren't kidding about your forum nick, are you??? :green_lol:

I say go for it too. You could seemingly live life always asking "what if...", and in so doing, always find a reason to not do. So understand that I do not mean this in a mean-spirited way, but suck it up and get out there. This trip is not so big, bad and dangerous that you are really putting yourself out there into a situation that you cannot handle. It's also quick enough and short enough that it will give you a taste of longer distance trips--probably enough to know whether you like them or not and whether you prefer the superslab, backroads, or falling asleep in the passenger seat of your car while your wife drives. IMO, you have the ability and opportunity to do something that--and hopefully it won't come to this--you may never have again. Seize that opportunity. I really do not think you will regret it, even if you are scared to death to take that very first step. Trust me...do it.

 

Boy, you aren't kidding about your forum nick, are you??? :green_lol:

Nope, not a bit. Probably why I work in IT.

Thanks for all the input so far everyone. I'll take as much benefit from other people's experience as I can get. I will definitely report back no matter which way it goes.

 

Are you kidding? go for it. Tell the wife it will be a dream trip for you and thank you so much for this opportunity "love of my life" but:

1) Don't even consider riding out or back with your wife/family and keeping pace with the van, it will ruin the trip for you. Going on a motorcycle trip is about you riding your bike, at your pace and experiencing what is around you. It is not about riding your bike while the wife talks in your ear on the com unit about how windy it is out there or how it looks like rain, or how the van needs to stop because someone in the van is hungry, needs to pee, or that someone is fighting with someone else and so you need to stop too, or is flashing the headlights at you trying to get your attention and to convey any of the above.

2) Do more than 400 miles a day, 600 miles a day on your bike should be a breeze, just start fairly early, take some brakes, and the miles will fly by. Blast the interstate out there and then have a day to ride by yourself while the wife catches up and meet with the family on day 3 and then you both will have cool "travel stories" to tell each other and she will see how stoked you are and (hopefully) give you even more freedom to ride for the rest of the trip because the cool stuff for you is going to start on days 3 and 4. She has done this drive before to go see the family and you weren't along right? she can make it again.

3) No trailer, no HD Video camera, no bike cover and probably no extra lock. No one is going to start the bike without the key and you can park it close to you if you are camping or under the hotel awning or at least up close if you are hoteling it. No cover, if it rains, let the bike get wet it won't mind, wipe off the seat in the morning and if your rain gear is worth owning you won't even know that your seat was wet when you sat on it. Bring an extra pair of gloves and a plug kit and air pump are worth having but practice putting a plug or two in an old tire before you go. You may want to consider a heated vest (I love mine).

The Wee is very capable and the hills and turns you encounter won't even slow it down and while I have never used a throttle lock I love my cramp buster (google it).

I suppose plan B would be to go ahead and buy a trailer for the bike and trailer it out on the 2 days of superslab (maybe even rent a U-haul) so you can do the sweet honey thing and share the driving, then drop the trailer at a hotel or some gas station that says it's ok (or contact some stromtrooper) and start riding once the scenery starts to get good and pick up the trailer and load up the bike again for the superslab bit on the way back.

Best of luck dude... go have an adventure! :thumbup:

 

Could not have said it better. And what an opportunity. I would do it in a heartbeat and sort of have on a shorter trip. My wife followed me to Outer Banks one year. I have a trailer but wanted to cross the Appalachians on back roads. We did part of trip her following (or leading which actually worked better) and part of it going different paths.

 

Great opportunity!
The first day will be the roughest, as you will be getting use to the saddle time and taking timeouts to stretch. The rest should be a cake walk once you become more relaxed in your riding positions.
Allow a little extra time to go thru Yellowstone as the speed limits are low and it takes a bit longer to put on a few miles.
Have a good journey and enjoy!

Cheers
Ray B.

 

Be warned... if you are brave enough to do this....

It will change your riding the rest of your life...

IN A GOOD WAY..

You're young, you have good gear and a great bike.

You know some of your weaknesses and this will give you time/experience to work on those.

You'll be a better rider in the end and have memories to last a lifetime.

 

Go for it! Some of the best motorcycle roads in this county are in Colorado, not to be missed. I was out there last summer on a rented bike, currently planning a trip with my bike this year.


Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

I would GO. I ride to that area every summer to visit family, some great riding. These are pictures of Bear Tooth Pass in July, it snowed on us a bit, but melted as soon as it hit the road. If possible, try to make it over to Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, nice, nice road.

 

TARGET FIXATION:

You and your spouse would both have to be mindful about target fixation... of each other!!!

- You'll be watching the kids in Mom's mini-van, waving, pulling up alongside, and other things...

- She will be constantly looking in her mirrors watching you and making sure you're okay and "safe"...

All the while you will be traveling amongst all those sleepy cagers and senior citizens driving huge motor homes with toy poodles on their lap... and you'll be on unfamiliar roads too.

There are many PLUS points for this trip, and there are many MINUS points for this type of family caravan trip.

For me, I would do it, but a good sense of judgement would have to be constantly reinforced, both for ME and Mom's support van. It could be really fun. Let us know what you decide.

 

Go for it dude! you'll regret it later if you don't...

If you are inexperienced in the turns just take them slower. I'd advise taking a long day ride at least once before you head out though. After spending 400+ miles on your bike you might learn something that you want to change to make yourself more comfortable.

One other thing to keep in mind:
You will have to stop more often to fill up for gas than the van will. It might work out better if you meet her each evening rather than follow her or her follow you.

 

Well, you are headed for some great riding so it's a definite that you should do it, but...

IMHO those are pretty long days on the superslab, especially across the Great (and Boring) Plains. If you do it, however, it may be easiest on everyone if you do not try to follow the van, but simply agree to meet at the motel destination each day. You can check in from time to time via cell phone.

But the BEST solution is to rent a U-Haul trailer for the bike and tow it. Or get thee to Harbor Freight and pick up one of their inexpensive 1000-lb capacity trailers. Since you are visiting family in ID you can leave the trailer parked at someone's house until time to return.

 

Jeeze, Dude, You sound like my brother.."I think I forgot how to have fun!'"
Use the farce, thinker, and go play.
Way too much cerebral time and not enough let go. Let the van get out of site and get to know your inner Stromtrooper!

 

If you love your wife, ride in the van.

 

I strongly suspect that her motivation in suggesting taking the bike is so we can leave the kids with the family in Idaho and she can go on some of the day trips with me. She has done the drive out there with the kids solo with no complaints when I couldn't go.:mod2_detective:

 

Why ride that far that fast? What's the rush. And, there is no need for the two of you to travel in convoy, is there? I agree with the light weight trailer idea. Almost every vehicle will tow 1000#, especially on the plains, and the lightest trailer plus the strom weighs less than that. If needed, there is probably some stromtrooper along the way who will let you store the trailer at their place in exchange for a pizza.

There are advanced riding classes in your area. Look for one to get into as soon as possible. Total Rider Tech in Villa Park offers the Lee Parks' Advanced Rider's Clinic. Highly recommended. There might be others suitable for mountain riding, not just track days. In the meantime, there are some good books on the topic. Lee Parks' book is excellent. Berngt Spiegel's is even better, but kind of a Teutonic slog in the first half--all good, though. On downhill hairpin mountain turns, get your speed down before you enter the turn and continue braking through the turn as needed. There are always discussions about trail braking (braking while in the turn), but you must do that in downhill hairpins unless you nearly stop at the turn entry. No problem, just something that must always be in mind. Always enter a turn wide and deep so you have the best sight line of the turn's exit and the entry to the next turn. Never, ever cross the center line with any part of your body. Give on coming drivers room to miss you. Riding fast around blind turns is fun...until it isn't.

 

Personally at my age I don't like the long days. Six hours at a lower speed is max for me. But if I was younger....yes.
Just be careful in the mountains. I live a couple of miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Inexperienced flatlanders come here to prove themselves and find out they're not as good as they thought. It usually ends poorly. Just take your time and get a feel for it and don't overestimate your abilities.

 

You'll love it!

I enjoyed my ride through Idaho a lot. I rode US-93 along the Salmon River, and had a wonderful time. I suggest you do the ride, because it will bring you lots of smiles while you ride, and lots more afterward.

Keith

 

I really can't think of any reason not to support a muti-state trip through some of the most beautiful areas in the U.S.! I do, however, have a few suggestions:

1. Ditch the convoy, if wife allows. Is it possible for you to leave a few days early and meet up with your wife at a pre-determined location? All of my multi-state trips require me to stop every 100-150 miles for rest. While this may be ok for the first few hundred miles, the crew in the van may be looking to press ahead and not stop so often.

2. Travel with only the neccesities. Focus on protecting you from the elements, not the bike. One of the best investments is a full waterproof motorcycle pants and jacket set. I used to have rain gear, but far too often I lacked the foresight or motivation to pull over and put it all on. With a good waterproof pants and jacket set, you'll just truck ahead regardless of weather. Don't forget waterproof boots too - a must in my opinion.

3. Take time to explore and deviate from the route. Some of the coolest routes/sights that I have seen were only discovered by talking to locals, other bikers at gas stations, the waitress at the cafe ect.. These things cannot be planned, they just happen but it's these things that make trip truly memorable. My point is make this an adventure, not just a road trip.

Go for it, and have a safe trip!

 

I say, go for it. It could be the trip of a lifetime for you, a chance you may never get to take again. When we moved to Idaho in '02, we did as many trips as we could. There were some quite long ones and I'm glad we did that because now, having moved back to Alaska, we'll never get the opportunity to do any of that again. I know Alaska is a destination ride for lots of folks, but living up here is a different story. But I digress.

Discuss it with your wife, and if she's willing, don't convoy. Go your own pace or route and then meet up each evening. It won't be hard to do 400 mile days or longer once you settle into it. The key is to make sure you get plenty of rest, eat light meals (avoid heavy stuff like burgers and anything greasy), stay well-hydrated and take plenty of breaks. Even a 5-minute break every hour makes a big difference.

Take the time to explore Yellowstone. Just a jaunt around the north loop won't do it justice, and you won't want to miss Old Faithful geyser. And while you're in Idaho, it'll make a great day ride to go over to the Craters of the Moon National monument/park, whatever they call it. That is an amazing place.

Of course, all of this is moot if she's not willing to let you do that, but you're not inexperienced and you are young, so you should be up to the task. If you can swing it with your wife, go for it and have a great trip.

 

No way. Absolutely nothing to see in that part of the country particularly the over rated Rocky Mountains. You have been forever spoiled by the splendor of Planefield Illinois. GO FOR IT you lucky dog you. :thumbup:

 

Well it seems unanimous so far, and I agree.
Be prepared for any type of weather, including 0-100ºF temps, rain, massive side winds across the plains, etc.
Take extra water and snacks. Take whatever you need to stay warm, alert, and absolutely dry = comfortable.
Agree with not trailering.
Agree with not convoying.
Nothing says you have to stick to the interstate, if time is no issue. But even if you do, although tiresome and boring, I would find it more satisfying than trailering.

 

Good God man, this is a no-brainer. Do it! :thumbup:

 

What he said !!!:thumbup:

 

We have pretty much decided it's a go. All other details are on a TBD basis yet. 51 days to get ready if the dates hold.

 

She was looking at the route work so far today and said that she might like to plan the trip back to include seeing her sister in Spokane and where she lived as a kid in Sandpoint, ID which could put Lolo Pass, Lake Pend OReille and the Going to the Sun road all into play during this same trip.

I think I need to buying a better camera to my "to do" list.

 

I think I need to buying a better camera to my "to do" list.

Buy yourself a dslr and a cheap 50mm prime lens asap. Learn to use it while the kids are still young and at home. You'll appreciate the much better picture clarity 20 years from now.

 

Trailer it

Buy a cheap trailer. Ride with the wife and kids on the long boring parts. Unload and ride when the riding is fun.

 

Buy a cheap trailer. Ride with the wife and kids on the long boring parts. Unload and ride when the riding is fun.

I agree. The purists be damned. This is the way to go on this particular trip. Next time, just go solo or with a riding buddy or two.

 

Go for it.

You definitely don't need an extra lock for the bike. But consider one to run through the helmet and sleeve of your jacket if you are leaving them around the bike.

I also really like having a full cover. When I'm travelling, I have soft saddlebags and usually a duffle bag on the back seat. Being able to throw the cover over it all when I park adds a little bit of security (at least in my mind). If they can't see what is there, they won't think too much about messing with it. Mostly keeping semi-honest people on the honest side. Real troublemakers are going to be a problem no matter what I do. Fortunately, real troublemakers are rare.

If you can get some highway bars, they are a real help on long stretches to maintain some comfort. I also use put my feet on the passenger pegs occasionally. But the 5-minute off the bike time every hour is one of the best ideas.

 

what the hell are you waiting on?!? :mrgreen: