SPORT Touring on a CBR600RR

[gregorytx]

Not too long ago I was dicking around in the garage and made a rack for the rear of my 2009 CBR600RR that would hold my Dryspec bags. This past weekend I finally had the chance to take a little trip to test out the mount and the bags. Worked great, did about 800 miles over the weekend. There's a little sacrifice for comfort, but once the destination is reached and the bags come off the fun begins. Well worth the sacrifice.....

Went to visit my sister in Vernon, TX., traveling from McKinney, TX., just north of Dallas. Vernon's out west a ways, just south of the Red River, and the entire area up there is going through hard times. Between the sour economy and a major drought, things don't look good. Lots of closed businesses and empty buildings. Made a stop at the church I grew up in. Rock Crossing Baptist Church in the middle of the fabled Waggoner Ranch south of Vernon. This is a real "Cowboy" church, it was cowboy before cowboy was cool. I can remember the ranch cowboys riding up on their horses, taking off their chaps, and coming in for church with fresh cow **** on their boots and jeans.

A little ghost town not too far from Vernon

The little CBR was awesome. I'll be doing a lot more touring on this little beast....

 

[gregorytx]

Left out early Saturday morning (0530), and I was worried I'd be dodging wild pigs and deer once I hit the back roads on the way west. Turns out the only thing I was dodging was the State Troopers, they were out pretty heavy. Got hit by two of them, but they were friendly and out of the two I got one written warning. Chatted with one for a bit about bikes. I don't think they were expecting to see a "mature" man take the helmet off....

 

[mferriter]

I like the sign in the window.

 

[gregorytx]

Yup, pretty much sums it up.....

 

[jcyuhn]

Are you riding the stock seat on the CBR? My spousal-unit used an early split-seat F4i for a sport-touring mount, with a Corbin no less. She couldn't take the lack of comfort, so got something more accomodating before a week long ride earlier this year.

281 has been a big speed trap for as long as I can recall. Gawd it was painful when the limit was 55MPH. It used to take a full day just to get to Amarillo!

 

[gregorytx]

I'm using a Saddlemen gel seat. Not much better than stock, probably gonna invest in a custom saddle. The wind and riding position doesn't bother me, but my ass was sore.....It's embarassing to say, but each time I was stopped I was popped for a whopping 5 over the limit; 65 in a 60 and 75 in a 70. You'd expect more seeing the bike I was on, but, being "mature" I'm not the helion I once was.