Tour of Yellowstone and the rest of Gods County.

Hello all,

I usually take my annual motorcycle trip in the Summer time. This year, because of a very busy work schedule. I was unable to do my trip until the second week of September. The week before my trip was super busy. I had to work 139 hours in the 8 days prior to the trip... So I was very ready for this trip.

Without further a do.. here it is.

DAYS #1 and #2

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Day #1 (Sunday, Sept 7th 2008): Mpls/St Paul, MN to Rapid City,SD (640+ miles)

Me and three other good friends met up at a McDonald's/gas stop in Lakeville,MN at 0700 hrs. The willing participants were my FJR, a C14, a FZ1 and a Street Glide. We had a quick breakfast, gassed up and dumped a few turds in anticipation of the 640+ mile run out to Rapid City ,SD. We decided to super slab to Rapid City, SD because basically the scenery doesn't really start until you get out to the Blackhills. We road I35 South to I90 West out to Rapid City, SD. Nice ride. Hit about an hour worth of rain out in South Dakota but that was it. Sore butt.. but good time by the clock and fun meters alike.











This Lake was where we started to get out of the long flat prairies.





Day #2 (Monday, Sept 8th 2008): Rapid City, SD to Red Lodge, MT (550+ miles of scenic routes).

We woke up to a cool morning (40's) and headed out early. We made our way South along Hwy 16 through Custer, SD along a very scenic route West to Newcastle, WY. Then NorthWest onto Moorcroft,Wy. We took I-90 West to Gillette,WY. Staying this course we rode to Ranchester,WY. This is where we grabbed Alt Route 14 through the Big Horn Pass. WOW! What a road. DO NOT MISS THIS STRETCH OF THE ROAD!!! We headed onto Lovell,WY. As I am sure you could guess... We had to stop a couple times and deposit a couple more turds along the way!! Hehahaha!! Anyways...We then rode Hwy 310 North to Bridger. We took 72 South to Belfry. From there, we took 78 West to Red Lodge, MT. What a great day of riding. We had a ton of fun and me peepers were overloaded with the sights. Here are some pics:































Damn varmits!!













Gotta Love them Speed Limts!!



Great friends having a great time.



More to Come......

Days #3 and #4

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Day #3 (Tues, Sept 9th 2008)

Red Lodge, MT we went across the pass at the West Summit (Shoshone) , touring through most all of Yellowstone to West Yellowstone, MT.

Gotta say our 70's styled motel did not discourage us (even though it was over priced and a real dump). The ******* even looked like a collectors item!! We left Red Lodge after a well needed night of rest. This was to be a very short mileage day but it turned out to be a very long day in the saddle. We did less than 200 miles, yet it took us over 9 hours of seat time to do it. Riders be warned... Yellowstone has a 45 mph speed limit and is packed full of happy tourers alike. No worries we came for the scenery and we got plenty (along will me ache'n ***!!). We entered Yellowstone near Cooke City and Damn near did the whole crazy 8 loop inside of the park. The sights were EXTRAORDINARILY AWESOME!!

We arrived in West Yellowstone,MT late in the evening. Got a chance to meet IronbuttCody. A great guy and true motorcyclist. An asset to this board.. Even though he rides a C14..Hahahaha! Here is a link in regards to our meet:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...=110295&hl=

Here are some pics:

Our bikes parked the night before.





























































The FUN continued!!!!!

Day #4 (Weds, Sept 10th 2008)

This was our Bumming day and ice the *** day. We had some rain and some hail. So we decided to take our time droppin a few turds at d toilet!! Hehahahahe... Anyhow, We spent the day resting up, shopping in West Yellowstone for goodies for our families. We did make a quick run out to Idaho, just to say we did... We got a chance to feel the Idaho hail on the way out and back. It wasn't any better than the Minnesota hail thats for sure. If the weather had been better, we had considered a run out to the Sawtooth but it just wasn't meant to be. So we got ready for our 650 plus mile run out to Bismarck,ND (the following day). Sorry no pics to see. On a side note, I over packed for the trip. I found the US Post Office in West Yellowstone and shipped back some dirty clothes. Best $12 bucks I ever spent!

More to come.

Great job, thank for the pics and report

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

Days #5 and #6

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Day #5 (Thurs, Sept 11th 2008).. GOD BLESS AMERICA. LET US NEVER FORGET!!

West Yellowstone, MT to Bismarck, ND. (650 + mile day).

I would be lying if I didn't say that the alarm didn't ring way too early and that it wasn't cold enough out. Though, the cold air helped us all have a good clean wipe after the turd push.... Hehehe.. Anyhow... The temp gage on my bike read 28 degrees for the first couple of hours at O' dark thirty. I am sure glad I had my heated hand grips and my trusty powerlet heated jacket liner!! What a difference it made. We rode North out of West Yellowstone on Hwy 191. Along the West edge of the park. Shot across Hwy 84 to Bozeman, MT. There we snagged I90 and locked the TM's back at a healthy 110 for hours, and hours. Waved at a couple MT State Patrol as they/we went by opposing directions. They didn't even turn their heads at us. Interchanged at I94 East onto Bismarck, ND. Needless to say we made pretty good time. My buddy Motor659 was getting kinda frustrated with his bikes thirst for the fuel. With our girls opened up, we were having to stop for gas (for his thirsty *** *****) around every 165-175 miles. He even ran outta gas once trying to push it to the next gas stop but got her up an runnin and coasted in. My well mannered drinking girl was always willing to sip up too. Though, she always had a good 1/4 tankful when big nose Kate (her Kawasaki girlfriend) was having the tremors!!

More pics to follow:













































Thats it for the Pics!!!

Day #6 (Fri, Sept 12th 2008).

Bismarck, ND to Mpls/St Paul, MN (A nice and short 450 miles),

I94 East all the way!!

Sorry no more pics. Although them bathrooms in ND are very nice for turd cuttin!!! Hahahaha!!! Anyway, we all knew this stretch of road all to well to be taking pictures. We had a lot of fog when we left Bismarck, ND but that was about it. The rest of the ride was pretty mundane. We all returned home safe and sound and without a hitch. The only problem I had was that my check engine light came on when we started into the elevation on day #2. It seems that my bike was looking for the (removed) 02 sensor. It has been resolved and a big thanks to all that answered my thread about this issue. This forum (and members) have been a great resource.

D end!

TAKE CARE EVERYBODY!!

Ride safe,

WW

Great pictures. Is that snow new? I hope to go to that general area the latter part of next week but have no snow desire.

Chester

Good report. Thanks! :thumbsup:

I envy you. Thank you for the beautiful pictures. I would love to get out that way one of these days. Thanks for sharing with us.

Murph, KsFjr, Bikesniffer, Thlh2007,

Thanks for tuning in. I don't know how new the snow was but it seemed like it had been there (11,000 feet and all).

WW

Thanks, WW. :clapping: That is just the kind of ride that gets me anxious to get out there again and burn up some beautiful mountain roads. You got some great pics as well!! I loved seeing them because I was able to ride 14A and Beartooth Pass on the way home from NAFO this summer, only somehow I had dry roads and no snow. I got lucky, I guess. My last attempt in that area had me riding into a storm with 4-6 inches of fresh snow on the road in Yellowstone. :dribble: A good time for concentration, but lousy for sight-seeing.

There is a lot of glorious country out there, and some of it comes with equally glorious roads. When you get to share it with friends, it is even better. Thanks for sharing!

Just late last night I stumbled upon your article sharing your power modifications for your FJR. An added joy to read your report today!! Brilliant!!

And where did you find/or how did you create that pillion bag? It matches....Black Cherry!!

Thanks Cello II,

If you want the POWER of a Modded up C14... Do my performance mods.. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Oh ya, me poor mans smuggler.... Check this link out:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...amp;hl=smuggler

Thanks for your thoughts,

WW

WW,

Wow, what a great trip...brings back memories of those roads I traveled.

What kind of MPG did you get during your trip w/your new setup verses the old one for comparson?

Thanks for sharing your journey!

Nice trip. Beautiful scenery.

I especially like the mix of bikes, and undoubtedly, rider personalities. That adds character to this ride review - and shows while motorcyclists may believe in different mounts, we all do it for the same reason: a great ride.

Thanks again for sharing.

-BD

HiYoSilver,

Well my mpg's were off because a lot of the time we were turning the throttle up and I had my screen all the way up 95% of the time. For the whole trip over all I averaged around 36. Though, if I kept it around 75 my mpg greatly increased to the low 40's. Pretty similar to before the mods except for when I have it all out (WOT) she does drink a bit more fuel.

BrunoDog,

I am sure you know this but these pictures do not come close to how it all looked in person. Breathtaking to say the least. As far as who I ride with... I will ride with most types.. I even still wave at all types of bikes/riders.. Though, I do get snubbed quite a bit by some of the "other" type of riders out there. Another subject I guess. I will say that it seems like almost every motorcyclist road tripping waves back. Guess they're lonely.. Probably more like bored.

Thanks for checking out my trip guys!

WW

Beautiful pictures Webby!! Sure wish I could have been with you guys.

Next year for sure.

Gramps said:

Beautiful pictures Webby!! Sure wish I could have been with you guys.Next year for sure.

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Gramps,

Your seat is already reserved for next year my friend.

See ya tomorrow.

Say can ya cell text me what time were meeting tomorrow?

WW

Wicked Webby said:

This Lake was where we started to get out of the long flat prairies.

Click to expand...

It's funny, I haven't been that way in two years, but I remember that lake well! Nice ride report, the frosted up bike pics bring back some good memories, thanks for sharing. :clapping:

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Looks like you guyshit some really nippy weather!

Wicked Webby said:

Well my mpg's were off because a lot of the time we were turning the throttle up and I had my screen all the way up 95% of the time. For the whole trip over all I averaged around 36. Though, if I kept it around 75 my mpg greatly increased to the low 40's. Pretty similar to before the mods except for when I have it all out (WOT) she does drink a bit more fuel.

Click to expand...

WW,

Thanks for sharing this info with me. Even so, that is quite impressive especially with the screen up. Of course, if my memory serves me correctly, it does get very chilly in those parts of the country much of the time. Those are the numbers I get with the '03 pretty much with the screen down no less.

What a wonderful trip with a great groups of guys... we just don't do these excursions enough.

V65,

No problem. Hope you enjoyed it. Sure is funny about what kind of things trigger the memories.

Cody,

You missed the cold front by a day.. Though, it sounds like you were doing your best to keep ahead of the 2 fronts battling it out!

03HiYoSilver,

I think the Gen II taller gearing helps out a bit with the mpg... Not by much though (I would guess). Absolutely, a great ride is great therapy.

Thanks Guys!

WW