Hudson
Well-known member
I'm nearly ready to head down to San Diego, departure is in days. To recap, I'm doing a car conversion that requires my car to be in San Diego for a week. Instead of renting, I decided to bring the FJR along with me, and ride some of those great SCal roads while I have chance. The trip down is about 1300 miles, slow going as I am hauling the FJR on a trailer.
The neighbors helped me load the bike into the trailer. It fit perfectly.
Thanks to Niehart's tendency to buy two of everything, I scored his extra Condor chock. If you're ever thinking about how to haul the FJR long distances, do yourself a favor and check one out. They're pricier than the average Harbor Freight special, but they are removable and solid aluminum (no rust, and less weight). Better, it holds the FJR in a headlock. I ran tie downs over the fork brace, and it snugged the FJR nice and tight.
I also ran two sets of tie downs to the center, and one more across the rear tire, just because.
The observant reader will notice the front fender has a rhino liner coating on its schnoz. Let's just say the first solo attempt to load the FJR didn't go so well. Achiu showed up with a rattle can of rhino, and a few coats later, I gots me a new noseguard. Cheaper than replacing the fender, and it kinda looks like a Brazilian...all nice and trim. I touched up the saddle bags too, which had gotten scratched from a prior drop.
I've got three full days to reach San Diego, and will be testing out the camp features of the Honda Element along the way, with its fully folding front and rear seats. Once there, I'll have a full week of riding. Gonna try to hit Pines to Palms, Angeles Crest, and Mulholland, and hopefully (time permitting) Highway 33 from I5 to Ojai. I'm calculating whether I'll have time to visit Death Valley, but that would be two very long days there and back.
I can't wait to leave.
To Be Continued...
The neighbors helped me load the bike into the trailer. It fit perfectly.
Thanks to Niehart's tendency to buy two of everything, I scored his extra Condor chock. If you're ever thinking about how to haul the FJR long distances, do yourself a favor and check one out. They're pricier than the average Harbor Freight special, but they are removable and solid aluminum (no rust, and less weight). Better, it holds the FJR in a headlock. I ran tie downs over the fork brace, and it snugged the FJR nice and tight.
I also ran two sets of tie downs to the center, and one more across the rear tire, just because.
The observant reader will notice the front fender has a rhino liner coating on its schnoz. Let's just say the first solo attempt to load the FJR didn't go so well. Achiu showed up with a rattle can of rhino, and a few coats later, I gots me a new noseguard. Cheaper than replacing the fender, and it kinda looks like a Brazilian...all nice and trim. I touched up the saddle bags too, which had gotten scratched from a prior drop.
I've got three full days to reach San Diego, and will be testing out the camp features of the Honda Element along the way, with its fully folding front and rear seats. Once there, I'll have a full week of riding. Gonna try to hit Pines to Palms, Angeles Crest, and Mulholland, and hopefully (time permitting) Highway 33 from I5 to Ojai. I'm calculating whether I'll have time to visit Death Valley, but that would be two very long days there and back.
I can't wait to leave.
To Be Continued...
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