Phoenix/Montana bike swap?

[Big Sky]

Maybe this is the wrong place for this topic. If so, my apologies to the admins and reassign as you see fit.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Mesa to visit her folks at the end of March/early April. Airline tickets have gone up, fuel prices appear to be headed upward, etc. We were/are considering trailering the FJR to St. George, Utah (it's still wintery here), then doing some southwest touring while tying in the family visits. Pulling trailer and bike, my truck gets about 13 mpg so truck fuel would run about $300. Or we could take her Corolla all the way to Mesa - round trip, just under $200 in fuel - and rent a bike there, but for a three-day rental, we'd be looking at $400-$500 once all the little "extra" charges are considered.

So, let me throw out a proposition and see if it draws any interest.

How about a bike swap? You let us use your machine for three days, then you come to Montana and use ours for three to ??? days this summer? Butte, where we live, is about 2.5 hours from Yellowstone and 3.5 hours from Glacier National Park. Lots of good riding in the region. I have an '03 FJR, pretty close to stock (seat, risers, windshield, sliders) that I keep in top mechanical shape, good rubber, etc. that I routinely add tank bag and tail pack to. Also have an '05 DL 1000 V-Strom with soft saddle bags, tank bag and tail pack. I have an '07 GSXR 750 too, but who'd want to tour on that?

Perhaps we could even make arrangements to tour together: you show us the best riding outside the Phoenix area, we'll escort you on some of our favorite rides in the Northern Rockies. We also have lots of extra gear including jackets, gloves, boots, helmets, etc.

Just a little background: I've been riding for 34 years (I'm 54) and (knock on wood) never crashed - almost all mountain riding. My wife rides with me 90 percent of the time. We enjoy spirited sport touring and a little metal is missing from the Feej pavement feelers, but we also place most emphasis on safety and responsibility. Our favorite piece of AZ riding is the Coronado Trail from Springerville to Morenci/Clifton. We've done this three times.

I realize there may be some issues to resolve, but is there any interest in such a fly-and-ride or even drive-and-ride swap concept? Allegiance Airlines flies from Mesa direct to Bozeman or Missoula, which aren't far from Butte by Montana standards.

One other consideration: Butte is hosting, for the third year of a three-year run, the National Folk Festival this summer, July 9-11. This is the second time in 40 years or so this has been conducted west of the Mississippi. It's something like 30 very diverse musical acts on six or seven stages situated in our Uptown Historic District. Lots of food, arts/crafts and beer vendors with shuttles running throughout. It is an incredible event. Perhaps we could put you up in our camp trailer or home during the festival. And one other alternative: We have 11 acres and a quarter-mile of Jefferson River frontage with a rustic log cabin (no electric, water or sewer - but propane heat and lights) and an 18-foot tipi and a few other amenities. We have a 13-foot rubber raft with rowing frame, a kayak, etc. Mosquitoes can make the place intolerable in June, but are dissipating by July. Low snowpacks indicate low river flows, too, so... Anyway, this could add to vacation enjoyment and be made available.

I'd be interested in responses or even random thoughts.

Big Sky

 

[Fairlaner]

Paging Beemerdon.......Beemerdon to the white phone please.

E

 

[SacramentoMike]

I think it's a hell of an idea, myself. I was pondering something along those lines last year, maybe the idea of posting some kind of "want ads" here--or elsewhere if the admins didn't want to be associated with it for liability or other reasons. Just what you've done here, Sky, like "Sacramento area owner, has '05, near great coast and mountain roads, blah blah, looking for a one-week trade in the Smoky Mountains area" or something like that.

Kind of obsessed about it for a while, contacted my insurance carrier for an unofficial reaction. Not surprisingly, they kind of hated it. Still, a person-to-person trade off might still work out. Now I'm wondering what insurance issues would come up in the event of--gulp--a mishap. I sure wouldn't let a non-FJR rider take mine out, but another owner. . .

I'll be following this thread with great interest. Thanks.

 

[SkooterG]

Yo Big Sky, I give you permission to ride one of beemerdons bikes! They are all in excellent mechanical condition, they just smell funny!

 

[Big Sky]

Well, a lack of response has prompted us to plan to trailer the bike to southern Utah, unload, ride, then retrailer back north. However, folks who may want to ride the Northern Rockies this summer could still contact us.

Big Sky

 

[Big Sky]

Well, this posting was not in vain. I got a PM from Dan in St. George, Utah, and he invited us to leave our truck and trailer at their place as opposed to wrangling with a motel over the matter. I accepted. The next day, he PMd again and suggested we may just as well stay at his place since they had the spare bedroom, etc. Wow! Dan and Melissa, total strangers (other than being members of the FJR Brotherhood), invited total strangers to stay at their home! I love it and it reinforces that the world is made up of 99 percent people of pure gold, and the other 1 percent are...well, one percenters. Dan and Melissa extended first rate hospitality and accommodations. We are in their debt and they have our gratitude. I, of course, offered to return their generosity but they informed me they already had plans to vacation if Florida this summer. So I said I would offer to pay it forward somehow. Anyone who wants/needs a place to stay in the heart of the Montana Rockies (Butte, just a few hours from Yellowstone and Glacier) is welcome at our place. PM me and I can offer a lot of specifics and options, or read my original posting for some info.

Dan had an interesting suggestion: that we (FJR Forum members) begin an accommodations exchange directory, much as we have developed the FJR Forum Assistance Directory. List what you have available, perhaps other area touring opportunities and contact information. Motel rooms account for about half of our daily touring expense. If we could cut costs in half, or help someone else cut it in half, we could all do a lot more touring and maybe visit new areas we've had a hankering to see.

I have a feeling this section doesn't get a lot of visits so the idea may die due to lack of exposure or discussion. If any of you think an accommodations exchange idea has merit, maybe we can see if we can get the concept a more high profile posting and some traction.