My wife's family is in SE Idaho and she goes out there every year during the summer. I have not made the trip in a few years, but I'm going this year when she goes in mid July. She asked me the other day if I wanted to take the bike and ride the whole way while she drives the van with the offspring. I have to admit that thought had not even crossed my mind, but I'm giving it some serious thought. I figured I would hit up the community for some input on this one as I'm really on the fence and July is not all that far off. I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of things to consider.
The trip:
We are in the SW suburbs of Chicago and the final destination is in SE Idaho. About 1500 miles if you just blast along the interstate straight there. We have a lot of flexibility in how long we take to get there. Early thoughts are four days to get there and not going direct. Interstate day one to Omaha @ ~ 450 miles. Day two taking the interstate as far as Rapid City, SD @ ~ 530 miles. She may decide to visit Mt. Rushmore again at this point. Day three interstate to Sheridan, Wy and the off on state highway through the Bighorn National Forest and some serious views and roads through the pass. The plan would be to end at Red Lodge, MT just outside the Beartooth Pass road into Yellowstone @ ~ 400 miles for the day. Day four would be the big reason for going - the Beartooth Pass road into the NE side of Yellowstone and at least the north end of the great loop through the park. I'm not sure if we would end at the park and spend an extra day in there or bolt for the final destination in Idaho. After that run I could rest up and spend the next week and half doing day trips of my choice from the Idaho Falls, ID area before taking four days to head home by whatever route we like.
The bike:
2007 wee currently at around 9,000 miles with the following equipment
Russell Day Long saddle
Grab On grip covers
Barkbusters hand guards
Joe Rocket manta tank bag
Nelson-Rigg CL850 soft saddlebags
SW Motech crash bars
3/4" drop front and rear ( yeah I have short legs )
Michelin Anakee II rear new this spring
factory Bridgestone Trailwing up front almost done for
Ride-On tire sealant in both tires
The rider:
I'm in my early forties and I have only been riding for about three years. The first two with a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 and this last year with the wee. I have logged over 25,000 miles in those three years between the two bikes. I tend to work from a standpoint of taking the bike for most everything unless there is some really good reason I can't and it has provided the opportunity to experience quite a bit - torrential rain, heavy wind gusts, riding temps over 95F and as low as 21F ( that turned out to not be my brightest idea - I have subsequently revised my minimum riding temperature up about 35F ). I put on a lot of miles doing a 35 - 40 mile each way commute that takes me through lovely Joliet at rush hour and provides me with plenty of fast interstate time on I80. On weekends I like to go find rural farm roads I have never seen before and proceed to keep taking them at random until good and properly lost while enjoying the scenery. Gravel and I are on shaky terms so far, but I try and do a little bit now and then to build some experience. My longest single day has been about 350 miles of mixed interstate and state highway which did not seem to cause any exceptional fatigue.
Thoughts on the "pro" side so far:
-Some world class roads in Wy in the Bighorn National Forest and Yellowstone
-No idea when this type of opportunity may present itself again with my work
-The day trips from SE Idaho provide vast opportunity for scenic runs
-I wouldn't have to pack the heck out of the bike as I will be able to pack most anything I want in the van
-I will get good rest as we will hotel it each night
Thoughts on the "con" side so far:
-I have never done a single day that long, let alone a four day hard run
-I have very limited experience with steep grades and turns ( I do play along the Illinois River out near Starved Rock frequently so I get a little time at it and I'm not nervous about it, just aware of how limited my experience is )
-There is potential for some ugly weather out on the plains and I'm committed once we start
-No switching off drivers for rest as we do when we just take the van together
-Blasting along the interstate for over two days to make the schedule work does not sound like fun
Thoughts in general:
-A trailer is not feasible for this trip (next vehicle I will work on that).
-I figure if I decide to do it I need to add a throttle lock, get some waterproof gloves to go with my rainsuit and replace my front tire as a minimum.
-I really should not rely soley on the Ride-On and get a plug kit and air pump.
-I should add a bike cover and some sort of lock for some additional security.
-It would be nice to add an HD cam like the Contour Roam2 or Drift HD
-It would be nice to have a com system to communicate with the wife in the van
-I have really had a desire to roam the rockies and was on track to work my way up to it with additional equipment additions over the next year and by taking some two and three day solo trips this year and see how it goes. I do have a rough plan to take a two day trip up the Mississippi with a friend in June that would be around 600 miles, but that is just nothing compared to this trip.
-I know this is vastly long winded, but check out my account name...
The trip:
We are in the SW suburbs of Chicago and the final destination is in SE Idaho. About 1500 miles if you just blast along the interstate straight there. We have a lot of flexibility in how long we take to get there. Early thoughts are four days to get there and not going direct. Interstate day one to Omaha @ ~ 450 miles. Day two taking the interstate as far as Rapid City, SD @ ~ 530 miles. She may decide to visit Mt. Rushmore again at this point. Day three interstate to Sheridan, Wy and the off on state highway through the Bighorn National Forest and some serious views and roads through the pass. The plan would be to end at Red Lodge, MT just outside the Beartooth Pass road into Yellowstone @ ~ 400 miles for the day. Day four would be the big reason for going - the Beartooth Pass road into the NE side of Yellowstone and at least the north end of the great loop through the park. I'm not sure if we would end at the park and spend an extra day in there or bolt for the final destination in Idaho. After that run I could rest up and spend the next week and half doing day trips of my choice from the Idaho Falls, ID area before taking four days to head home by whatever route we like.
The bike:
2007 wee currently at around 9,000 miles with the following equipment
Russell Day Long saddle
Grab On grip covers
Barkbusters hand guards
Joe Rocket manta tank bag
Nelson-Rigg CL850 soft saddlebags
SW Motech crash bars
3/4" drop front and rear ( yeah I have short legs )
Michelin Anakee II rear new this spring
factory Bridgestone Trailwing up front almost done for
Ride-On tire sealant in both tires
The rider:
I'm in my early forties and I have only been riding for about three years. The first two with a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 and this last year with the wee. I have logged over 25,000 miles in those three years between the two bikes. I tend to work from a standpoint of taking the bike for most everything unless there is some really good reason I can't and it has provided the opportunity to experience quite a bit - torrential rain, heavy wind gusts, riding temps over 95F and as low as 21F ( that turned out to not be my brightest idea - I have subsequently revised my minimum riding temperature up about 35F ). I put on a lot of miles doing a 35 - 40 mile each way commute that takes me through lovely Joliet at rush hour and provides me with plenty of fast interstate time on I80. On weekends I like to go find rural farm roads I have never seen before and proceed to keep taking them at random until good and properly lost while enjoying the scenery. Gravel and I are on shaky terms so far, but I try and do a little bit now and then to build some experience. My longest single day has been about 350 miles of mixed interstate and state highway which did not seem to cause any exceptional fatigue.
Thoughts on the "pro" side so far:
-Some world class roads in Wy in the Bighorn National Forest and Yellowstone
-No idea when this type of opportunity may present itself again with my work
-The day trips from SE Idaho provide vast opportunity for scenic runs
-I wouldn't have to pack the heck out of the bike as I will be able to pack most anything I want in the van
-I will get good rest as we will hotel it each night
Thoughts on the "con" side so far:
-I have never done a single day that long, let alone a four day hard run
-I have very limited experience with steep grades and turns ( I do play along the Illinois River out near Starved Rock frequently so I get a little time at it and I'm not nervous about it, just aware of how limited my experience is )
-There is potential for some ugly weather out on the plains and I'm committed once we start
-No switching off drivers for rest as we do when we just take the van together
-Blasting along the interstate for over two days to make the schedule work does not sound like fun
Thoughts in general:
-A trailer is not feasible for this trip (next vehicle I will work on that).
-I figure if I decide to do it I need to add a throttle lock, get some waterproof gloves to go with my rainsuit and replace my front tire as a minimum.
-I really should not rely soley on the Ride-On and get a plug kit and air pump.
-I should add a bike cover and some sort of lock for some additional security.
-It would be nice to add an HD cam like the Contour Roam2 or Drift HD
-It would be nice to have a com system to communicate with the wife in the van
-I have really had a desire to roam the rockies and was on track to work my way up to it with additional equipment additions over the next year and by taking some two and three day solo trips this year and see how it goes. I do have a rough plan to take a two day trip up the Mississippi with a friend in June that would be around 600 miles, but that is just nothing compared to this trip.
-I know this is vastly long winded, but check out my account name...
