Still getting over the shock. (High Bandwidth)

[jmdaniel]

If you're an IBA guy, the continent is your playground. :clapping:

And you don't bore easily.

The last time I rode back from Denver on the Feejer, it was 16 hours, and a little over 950 miles. People asked me why I didn't ride another 50 miles? I told them I was home already, why the hell keep going? What a dumb question....

 

[bluesdog]

Regarding the dog, I too was thinking all along that ol' Bonnie looked a bit precarious - glad she didn't get REALLY badly hurt. My dogs go to the kennel when I travel, which is better for them AND me.

I wonder, too, how to one would protect a dog's hearing during a motorcycle trek... I've seen examples where canine pillions have goggles for eye protection, but assuming a relatively quiet bike, is the idea just to try to put them in a "dead" air zone (behind the rider or a fairing)?

Neither supporting nor condemning taking pets along for the ride, but it looks like there are ways to increase safety and security for those furry family members. (not endorsing these, BTW):

Hearing protection for pets

Dog helmets

At least the cooler dog was provided better protection than

:dribble:

 

[GinaMcD]

Great pictures! It's a beautiful area, but not a place I'd want to be during Bike Week. When we went to Sturgis we waited until everyone was heading east for Laconia Bikeweek, then hightailed it west. Had the whole area almost to ourselves! This was the only traffic tie up we got stuck in while out there.

 

[willboe]

Excellent job documenting your trip, thanks. I particularly liked the perspectives of Mount Rushmore, I have never been there. I am also a fan of air brushed body art, a few more pics of that next time would be nice .

 

[willboe]

I was out there last year. Here is my photo collection:

Good thing it wasn't a shorter trip, you would have had to shoot negative pictures. I like the shot though, peaceful. Rear tire is a little dirty . . .

 

[jmdaniel]

Good thing it wasn't a shorter trip, you would have had to shoot negative pictures. I like the shot though, peaceful. Rear tire is a little dirty . . .

Thanks. The trip was 11 days, 11 states, and 5300 miles, just didn't take as many pictures of food!

 

[wheatonFJR]

If you're an IBA guy, the continent is your playground. :clapping:

And you don't bore easily.

The last time I rode back from Denver on the Feejer, it was 16 hours, and a little over 950 miles. People asked me why I didn't ride another 50 miles? I told them I was home already, why the hell keep going? What a dumb question....

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[K Rider]

In fact, if you like "open landscapes" like the American Southwest, then you can include some of the other American Plains states as well. And that's just the roads and scenery...then there's the people you might meet on your travels. Not every trip is about the sideways lean of rubber on the road...sometimes it's just being out there on roads you've never been on and places you've never seen, or will see again...drinking it in.

+1

 

[juniorfjr]

In fact, if you like "open landscapes" like the American Southwest, then you can include some of the other American Plains states as well. And that's just the roads and scenery...then there's the people you might meet on your travels. Not every trip is about the sideways lean of rubber on the road...sometimes it's just being out there on roads you've never been on and places you've never seen, or will see again...drinking it in.

+1

Sometimes it's kinda hard to remember that. I think some of the harley "riders" have it right, slow down and smell the roses. I, personally can't wait until the time when time doesn't matter. I want to soak it all in.

 

[TomInPA]

Smelling the roses is a completely different matter than the "parade" that goes through the Black Hills during Sturgis. I remember passing 20+ bikes at a time in formation that simply went so slow they didn't even need to lean in the turns. I like to stop, and enjoy the sights as much as anyone, but these guys are worse than than the proverbial Sunday driver. They back up traffic for miles and the only thing blasting is the uncontrolled sound from the open pipes,overly rich exhaust smell and open stereo systems letting us all enjoy the latest Lenyrd Skynard. And they wonder why those :crotch rockets: pass them on double yellow.

 

[Bounce]

The Black Hills any time other than the rally is fine. OK roads, still touristy, lower prices, lots of National Parks/etc. to see.

I've always had misgivings about pets riding on bikes. That this one got hurt made me sad.

Doesn't look like they've made any progress on Sitting Bull GERONIMO since I was there last.

Fixed.

I'm also sad that the doggie got hurt through no fault of it's own.

i knew it didn't sound right when i posted it. thanks.

still... any progress at all? i'm hopeful it gets done as they envision. i'm less confident it'll get done in my lifetime.

 

[Boomer612]

After I was home 2 days I took my baby out and gave her a well deserved bath and got off all the gunk I could.. but when I started her up to pull back in the garage it sounded like the crankcase was full of marbles. I decided I should replace the CCT before she runs again. I ordered the parts and replaced the CCT yesterday.

When I started her up again (which took a while.. I figured because the gas tank was off and needed to get fuel back in the system)... She ran for 4 seconds before I turned her off. I believe the cam chain slipped a link before I replaced the CCT even tho it turned through manually ok. I decided to take her over to WOW for some of their TLC. They will check the timing and the valve clearance while they are in there...

2 days before I heard the noise I was blasting down the x-way doing up to 89MPH according to my GPS. I feel very blessed that nothing came flying apart at that speed. The bike has 44,000 on her now but my baby got me home before giving up.. gotta' love FJR's

 

[Boomer612]

After I was home 2 days I took my baby out and gave her a well deserved bath and got off all the gunk I could.. but when I started her up to pull back in the garage it sounded like the crankcase was full of marbles. I decided I should replace the CCT before she runs again. I ordered the parts and replaced the CCT yesterday.

When I started her up again (which took a while.. I figured because the gas tank was off and needed to get fuel back in the system)... She ran for 4 seconds before I turned her off. I believe the cam chain slipped a link before I replaced the CCT even tho it turned through manually ok. I decided to take her over to WOW for some of their TLC. They will check the timing and the valve clearance while they are in there...

2 days before I heard the noise I was blasting down the x-way doing up to 89MPH according to my GPS. I feel very blessed that nothing came flying apart at that speed. The bike has 44,000 on her now but my baby got me home before giving up.. gotta' love FJR's

My baby is all better again. The cause of the noise / vibration was "balancer chain tension was adjusted". I find this slightly hard to believe because the balancers are gear driven. But what ever they did it worked so I'm not going to argue success.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Have you heard about how dear little Bonnie is doing? :heart:

Please give Ken a nice hard Jimmy Kick for me? :assassin:

I'm glad the dog has healed well but you can kick your "friend" for me as well. Please use RadioHowie's avatar as a guide for the kicking. I've seen dogs on bikes before that looked completely safe, Bonnie was not one of those.

I am sure you learned alot about choosing travel companions. I hope the next ride you take is with another FJR or at least another sport touring bike of some type. We really do ride differently than the cruiser crowd.

I enjoyed the pics and I appreciated the report. I really have to thank you for confirming what I already thought about Sturgis. Attending that so called "Motorcycle Rally" would be about as enjoyable as removing each of my fingernails slowly with a pair of pliers while sipping the acid from a deep cycle battery.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I also want to thank the OP for having a thick skin...some people around here would be offended by all these comments on their long trip report that they took so much time to post.

 

[Boomer612]

I also want to thank the OP for having a thick skin...some people around here would be offended by all these comments on their long trip report that they took so much time to post.

My travel companion and I have been riding together for 11 years. Of course they were all 3/4 day trips and there was never an issue. I did attempt to talk Bonnie out of coming but to no avail. You need to remember that Sturgis was not on MY bucket list.. and I don't need thick skin because I agree with 99% of the comments. Now that I'm retired I have new skills to learn.. like choosing the correct travel partner. I don't think I could have predicted the outcome of this trip based on my previous experience but I do know what to look for going forward and Bonnie will not be in those plans. I will be attending the EOM and might be able to locate a FJR rider to travel with...

 

[mferriter]

If you're going to use margarine as a lube, I don't recommend the "light" variety.

 

[cota95]

Great report and pics!! I have been to a lot of those same places I just went 'out of season' I also travel alone alot.

 

[Top_Speed1]

Travel alone may be easier but not nearly as much fun (IMO anyway). Yes, ya gotta get the right travel buddies and if your all on the same page... priceless!