Mogan
Well-known member
It's T- 3 weeks for my 7500 mile, one month, coast to coast trip. The bike is nearly ready and much of my gear is packed. Any last minute tips on prep, what to do, not do?
Trip Prep
- Thread starter Mogan
- Start date
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radman
R.I.P. Our Motorcycling Friend
Don't eat any raw oysters, or drink Texican water 
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NoCage
formerly SouthernFJR
Depending on tire milage, you may want to order a set of tires and have them delivered to an appropriate location/dealer so they'll be waiting for you.
airboss
Well-known member
Check limits on credit cards, stuff bank card and cash in wallet, point bike in right direction, turn key on, push button-------GO. :yahoo:
Blueliner
Well-known member
Stay hydrated
Have a lot of fun! Give us a report when you get back
Have a lot of fun! Give us a report when you get back
dcarver
Well-known member
Be prepared to pack then repack after 2 or 3 days on the road. Stuff you think you need at top for easy access somehow isn't the stuff you really need at top level...
I keep a low limit CC in the glove box for fueling stops. Don't have to dig out the wallet that way.
I keep a low limit CC in the glove box for fueling stops. Don't have to dig out the wallet that way.
FJRPierre
Making up for lost time...
Tell your credit card company that you are going on a trip and will have an unusual spending pattern. When I went on my first long one, they kept phoning my home and saying "do you know there is someone in xxx charging stuff to your card?"
Woodstock
Well-known member
+1
Nothing worse than getting your CC declined in some random gas station due to this while traveling to, say, WFO-5.
Esp. if you have a spouse "left at home" so that you'll be using the credit card number simultaniously in different areas of the country.
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Bluestreek
Bluestreek
This happened to me during a saddlesore 1000 around midnight. Credit card company was calling my house when no one was home to answer. Lucky I had a back up card to use.
GunMD
Well-known member
I have suffered from this myself. I have a standing "comment" in my bank's remarks column stating that my card should not be turned off for frequent usage at gas stations. Any other strange behavior will still get me shut off.
I have seen individual chains of gas stations do the same thing though...I've had both Chevron and Shell flag my card and the "pay at the pump" display will say "Please see attendant". Go inside, they check your I.D (yeah, right) and swipe the card with no problem. Either way...have cash (just in-case) and carry a couple of cards if possible.
boogahboogah
Well-known member
7, 5 and 3 days before the start, do a half hour of fast hill-climb on the bicycle & a half hour touring through the other weight machines at the gym, not to build muscle but to make them remember why they're there. Don't forget situps.
If you don't have fast dry (water wicking) briefs & top, hop on over to Wally World & pick up 2 pair each. They saved my butt (literally) going out to WFO5. Plus they wash at night in the hotel room & are dry by morning, so you don't have to pack lots of heavy underwear ...
Take time, at the appropriate gas stops, to take time & smell the roses (relax).
Make sure you have a 1GB memory card in the digital camera along with 3 sets of batteries. If you bring a cell don't forget the charger.
My preparation for flat tires: Can of Fix_a_Flat, foot pump, string patches, mushroom patches. Flat tires to date - zero.
Good luck, take your time, enjoy, & post lots of photos here when you get back !
If you don't have fast dry (water wicking) briefs & top, hop on over to Wally World & pick up 2 pair each. They saved my butt (literally) going out to WFO5. Plus they wash at night in the hotel room & are dry by morning, so you don't have to pack lots of heavy underwear ...
Take time, at the appropriate gas stops, to take time & smell the roses (relax).
Make sure you have a 1GB memory card in the digital camera along with 3 sets of batteries. If you bring a cell don't forget the charger.
My preparation for flat tires: Can of Fix_a_Flat, foot pump, string patches, mushroom patches. Flat tires to date - zero.
Good luck, take your time, enjoy, & post lots of photos here when you get back !
Mogan
Well-known member
Heading up to Niagra Falls, then across CA to Michigan and up to the upper Peninsula to Highway 2. I'll take that all the way to Glacier. I'll be there a couple of days then off to Jasper and Lake Louise for about a week. Then down to visit family in the Tri-Cities, WA. While there I'll have the fellas in Sunneyside go through the bike and put some new rubber on.
Then it's down to the Grand Tetons then a speed run home via interstate.
Leaving 9/1 returning 10/1 or later.
Great advice!!!! I've had this trouble before but it didn't occur to me to do this.
This may sound like a strange question, but when I told my father about my plans he told me to make sure I had a handgun "packed." I'm a good shooter (colt gold cup 45), but am wary about crossing state lines etc. and I'm sure it's illegal in Canada. Could get searched, confiscated and nailed at a border corssing...
Thoughts? OOOPS Never mind. It ocurred to me I'd get busted at the Canadian border.
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boogahboogah
Well-known member
The canadians will even confiscate pepper spray or a knife with a blade longer than 5 inches, so forget about the 45 caliber...
krashdragon
Well-known member
couple of short notes...
1. NO WEAPONS, NO bullets, and hide your knives!
2. Bring your passport, make sure you have the reg and drivers lisc and insurance cards.... ( I forgot mine in Cali on the way back to Ohio.... I remembered about 130 miles and 3 hours after I left Napa....sure cuts down on the speeding, tho...<BG>
3. Avoid the I 80/ I 74 mess in Illinois.... sucks big time... took me over an hour today to go about 10 miles, and it's Sunday... a big rig overturned and really slowed things down..., in addition to the usual clusterwhatsis there... they have to collect their .60 toll from everyone..... sheese....
4. I80 or I 90 to I 76 south will get you to I 70.... You do go thru Columbus, Oh, not bad, has a bypass....
If you take I 80 straight across, go late...very late... but watch for Bambi...
Or route a detour....
Nebraska is boring... havent' ridden thru Kansas yet....
And US 50 is very nice.... way more traffic than I expected, it's the not-so-lonelist road in the US! <G
Have fun...
Mary
trimmantom
Well-known member
If you don't have a radar detector get one if you can afford it.
If it saves you one ticket that will pay for a lot of gas.
Ask me how I know?
Also make sure you have your seating situation set.
By that I mean an airhawk cushion or sheepskin covering or custom seat or such.
If your ass takes a dump on you in the middle of the trip you'll be miserable.
Have fun and report back to us.
If it saves you one ticket that will pay for a lot of gas.
Ask me how I know?
Also make sure you have your seating situation set.
By that I mean an airhawk cushion or sheepskin covering or custom seat or such.
If your ass takes a dump on you in the middle of the trip you'll be miserable.
Have fun and report back to us.
boogahboogah
Well-known member
Oh I forgot one.
Call your insurance company and have them fax you a Canadian Endorsement for your policy. If you have an accident in Canada, you'll be very glad that you have that piece of paper. The insurance company should do it at no charge.
+1 on taking the passport with you
Also, if a city has a beltway bypass, take it (Columbus, Indianapolis, Peoria, etc etc).
Call your insurance company and have them fax you a Canadian Endorsement for your policy. If you have an accident in Canada, you'll be very glad that you have that piece of paper. The insurance company should do it at no charge.
+1 on taking the passport with you
Also, if a city has a beltway bypass, take it (Columbus, Indianapolis, Peoria, etc etc).
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odot
CC member # 17,----- DUP member # 7, mensa club m
Um...bring a helmet....them west coast nazi pinko commie states require you to wear one.
