49 state quest-2014

First topic message reminder :

Just returned from adding IN/MO/KS/Iowa/IL/NB

1700 miles-50mpg, exactly 10 mpg less than my 400 Burgman, same type use.

Mistakes: did not take my feather jacket as liner for my Darien Lite jacket, 30 degrees two mornings. Did not take/wear my Stone Lake leather bibs-they would have worked for whole trip. Wore my 40-50 winter gloves for whole trip, should have taken my 30 degree gloves. Had to wear Joe Rocket rain pants to keep warm. As US SilverWing comes with no electric plug in---my electric bib of no use. Heated grips would have been nice. Just wore all of the clothes I had with me under the jacket.

Events: pulled over in Const. Zone in St Louis---engine off but bike rolled forward off side stand----trailer bikers do not stop to help as well as HD weekend "rider?" Finally car guy stopped and helped me get the heavy pig up. Black Fingernail polish will cover plastic showing. Banged my head,broke face shield at mounting brackets---rode home with open face with helmet not designed to be used this way---just put Givi Adjustable screen up a little,looking over , comfortable on ride home.

As I am on second new SilverWing, the thing has serious high wind problems/following truck air waves---solution don't go so fast---the engine is faster than chassis, period.
Ridden at nice scooter pace=ok.

Do to uncomfortable handling, I had removed Givi box and carrier---taking off about 15 lbs of dead weight above and behind rear axle---$8.97 Plastic box from Home Depot helped a little. Carried only one Ortleib bag-10-15 lbs this time. My Conclusion: at highway speed not good bike to put beginner or unskilled rider on.

No bike trouble---needs bath and fresh oil.

Saw one scooter....on trailer.

Trip for me would have been better on Helix---love the built in trunk!! And they didn't seem to be bothered by load----I have 175,000 Helix miles------Further the SilverWing is not bike I would take on world tour---one of my 4 Helix did Baja California and Central America ok, dog liked it too.

Yes we have had some pretty severe storms today in New England and they will continue until Thursday.

I'm not sure which way you took on the return trip but I would recommend the following to anyone leaving the Northeast:

To avoid the NY mess I would suggest the Taconic State Parkway (No trucks allowed) and then heading west on I-84 for a short distance until you cross the Hudson river at Newburg NY. We continued a little further west on I-84 to Port Jervis then picked up US 209 through the Delaware water gap area, nice ride.

LOL!
John,

john grinsel wrote:

I do not just do the distances, but enjoy the ride and hope for new mechanical troubles.

This is the first time I have laughed at one of your posts (in a good way).

I see now that you say you meant  "no mechanical troubles", but I would have believed you either way.   

Last day I went from Brattleboro, VT to Troy, NY,back roads then various Interststes, including stretch of NY Thruway that turned out to be free--I hate toll roads in US due to unfair prices for scooter/motorcycle.

Worked my way to 81S, that is nice in most places. Bad spot, , about 50-60 miles thru Knoxville, then straight shot to Chattanooga.

Don't care if I ever return to NY/PA----expensive and horrible road conditions.

A lot of people knock Johns negative discretions of his travels. I feel it's sometimes a good thing to know some of things people fail to mention. It's not hard to find the good things about road trips in the many reviews people post but its also good to know the bad too. Most of the time people have such a good time that the trip leaves us with such good memories that we overlook the few inconvenient things we encounter along the way. And you can count on John to inform us on the things to try to avoid or at least be prepared to encounter.

Joe does not speak for me, as evidenced by the reality that I know how to properly spell 'your'.



Wow Jdeer I guess if you don't like the way I spell "UR" you are going to have a problem reading a lot of my posts in the future, but if you really care that much I guess I could change them for you or maybe not....

Hope to find more of your posting thru the search program on this site  and look forward reading all about your travels...

UR
Joey

When did you start learning how not to spell?  

We have enough difficulty over the difference between UK and US English, something we laugh about as a rule.

Text-speak will not be tolerated - it hasn't been before - and posts containing any will be edited or more likely deleted.
It is unacceptable in a place where communication is utterly dependant on the Written Word and its use is downright laziness.

MajikalJoe take note.

MikeO wrote:

We have enough difficulty over the difference between UK and US English, something we laugh about as a rule.

Text-speak will not be tolerated - it hasn't been before - and posts containing any will be edited or more likely deleted.
It is unacceptable in a place where communication is utterly dependant on the Written Word and its use is downright laziness.

MajikalJoe take note.

    :lol!: 

Why what are you going to do BAN me from this site, or is it "dependant" or should I spell it correctly dependent  on the way that I spell...

Really....

        

Just returned from UP of MI and MN,WI, Ill, IN. Think I have ridden in 40 states so far 2014---trip to Hyder AK will take care of all 49 I set out to do this year,

This trip took my TU250 Suzuki=not so bad, weak 70 mpg, windshield set up much less buffeting than SilverWing with Givi adjustable. Used open face 3/4 helmet


Lots of trailer bikers=wimps

Saw 2 scooters on road---Burgman 650 on trailer, SilverWing with training wheels, 2 up, pulling trailer on US Hwy 2---wonder how long his drive belt lasts?? And a SilverWing with training wheels for sale in Superior WI gas station

Horrible rain, 2 days of 8 day ride----me in Aerostich Darien jacket and pants plus rubber boots.
Harley riders seem to have money for chrome junk.....but none for proper clothes.

Every bike/scooter has its advantages/disadvantages for long trips, but all work--TU250 a little over geared in 5th/luggage(Ortlieb bags) touched me a little on my back----open chain(bear to oil with no center stand) Used expensive chain spray, next time cheap oil. Enjoyed my 4 Helix most on trips--probably due to the rear trunk or the trailing link front suspension....and foot brake for rear.

No underwear works for long days in saddle. Lots of fresh ear plugs necessary.

Clam shell top boxes (Givi in this case) not the most practical---only work well half full.

Once again---50 miles or one hour and get off---walk around, take helmet off, ear plugs out check bike over---works for me. 300 to 400 miles a day work fine for my 75 year old body. 500 mile days can be boring and make me tired.

John, you mentioned maybe moving to the UP of MI.
Did you check it out on your drive through?

bigbird wrote:

the UP of MI.

I hope that isn't text speak, or some subversive coded message.    


      

Of course I checked out UP property again, stopped at BMO Harris bank in Ashland, WI, where I have pre approval for house loan---everything in order. Hwy2---Harley riders and the unskilled love......straight, low speed limit, no challenge. Otherwise a little boring.

Picked up this info in Eau Claire WI former Suzuki Dealer----6 or 7 Suzuki dealers in WI have dropped Suzuki due to non-delivery of bikes (including Zacho where I stopped)---MN may be as many as 18-20 Suzuki dealers have dropped the line.

Several Suzuki dealers have recently closed in and around London UK.

Our closest Suzuki dealer closed last year. Whats going on? Is it the beginning of the end? I have a GSF650 as my second ride on the days when the swing just wont cut it!!!

john grinsel wrote:

Of course I checked out UP property again, stopped at BMO Harris bank in Ashland, WI, where I have pre approval for house loan---everything in order.  Hwy2---Harley riders and the unskilled love......straight, low speed limit, no challenge.  Otherwise a little boring.

Picked up this info in Eau Claire WI former Suzuki Dealer----6 or 7 Suzuki dealers in WI have dropped Suzuki due to non-delivery of bikes (including Zacho where I stopped)---MN may be as many as 18-20 Suzuki dealers have dropped the line.

John, I asked about your acquiring property, not about Suzuki dealers or Highway 2 and Harley riders.

So, are you planning a move, or not?

Ever thought of moving to Canada John, I hear Manitoba is very nice. You'd need underwear in winter of course, maybe one of those old timers red woollen onesies with the buttoned flap on the back. No need for a sidecar either, with your Silver Wing hibernating over winter you could jump on that pimped up snowmobile and meet up with bigbird for for coffee and doughnuts at Tim Horton's.  

If its winter order the chile in the bread bowl……MMMMMmmmmm……cap that with an old fashioned sugar donut, or two……great now im hungry  

Meldrew wrote:

Ever thought of moving to Canada John, I hear Manitoba is very nice. You'd need underwear in winter of course, maybe one of those old timers red woollen onesies with the buttoned flap on the back. No need for a sidecar either, with your Silver Wing hibernating over winter you could jump on that pimped up snowmobile and meet up with bigbird for for coffee and doughnuts at Tim Horton's.  

Don't give him too many ideas, Meldrew.

I'd hate to see John snowmobiling at -30C going commando.

There's a Timmies 2 blocks from my house, but I've never been in it. I don't do the coffee or donut thing.

bigbird wrote:

 

There's a Timmies 2 blocks from my house, but I've never been in it. I don't do the coffee or donut thing.

Hand in your passport and get out  

hotwings wrote:

bigbird wrote:

 

There's a Timmies 2 blocks from my house, but I've never been in it. I don't do the coffee or donut thing.

Hand in your passport and get out  

He once told me in confidence he doesn't do poutine either.   

No Timmies?...No poutine?...Lives in the icy regions of the Great White North. Hmm what kinda bird is this?

Maybe a genetic mutation of the, much rumored, yellow breasted, Great Northern Ostrich. Long reported to be extinct, but sometimes reported to be seen from a distance. When reported it usually by a lone mining company surveyor and always near the Mackenzie river when the ice was breaking up. This has all gotta be related to climate change

I ski---made it so far as US CISM Biathlon ski team---once in the top 200 seed for alpine race starts, Europe-----scooter with sidecar/training wheels fine for me, Hondas do start when cold. Winter salt is hard on bikes---best to use cheap one.

No snowmobiles for me.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

No Timmies?...No poutine?...Lives in the icy regions of the Great White North. Hmm what kinda bird is this?

I do enjoy snowmobiling, ice fishing, and am an ardent fan of our Winnipeg Jets NHL hockey team.

Poutine? Great for HD primary drive oil.

Timmies? I have no idea what any of their dreck is good for.

John Grinsel? Good for a laugh, or head-shake, or both.

Quote :

John Grinsel? Good for a laugh, or head-shake, or both.

 Tennessee tourism department might toss in a chicken fried steak dinner if you take him.          

John Grinsel? Good for a laugh, or head-shake, or both.

Quote :

 Tennessee tourism department might toss in a chicken fried steak dinner if you take him.           

Now that's funny!

john grinsel wrote:

Just returned from UP of  MI and MN,WI, Ill, IN.  Think I have ridden in 40 states so far 2014---trip to Hyder AK will take care of all 49 I set out to do this year.<>

Mr Grinsel,

What route(s) are you planning as your direct route between Chattanooga, and Hyder? I assume that you may be doing other states in conjunction with going in in one direction, but taking a direct route between the two points going in the other direction.

Tim

To get to Hyder----Do SD,ND,MT,WY, ID on way, then thru BC to Hyder. Return via BC to WA and OR----then any route home. Will have been in 49 states on 2 wheels,2014. I make no concrete plans....just do it. 300-500 miles a day, any weather, leaving in Sep so there could be early snow.

Carry spare drive belt, etc. Fresh rear Michelin on rear, thinking about new front tire, again Michelin to match rear. SilverWing at present has 15,000 miles.

Having ridden in/to 49 states in past----I find in SD/ND/MT taking small roads, first a little North, then a little West works----old style motels, mom and pop places to eat, some towns have free camp grounds.

John,

Please continue with your adventures. I look forward to your travel journal entries, and I am anxious to see more of the U.S. when it is my time to do so.

John

I live 4 miles off of I 5 In NW Washington, 70 miles south of the border. If you need a place to crash for a night let me know. Dave

Thanks for offer---but I make no plans, just go.

Colin B wrote:

bigbird wrote:

the UP of MI.

I hope that isn't text speak, or some subversive coded message.    

         

UP of MI. = Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Sorry nobody clarified that for you sooner.

About to take off on final leg of rides---Hyder Alaska being goal----do map check today to make sure I get all places I wanted to get to.

Notes: Food in N America for the most part is horrible--so nothing to write about it---just hope it does not run thru quickly!!

I have little in common with many modern riders---trailer bikers,etc. I stop to help any and all riders with bike trouble! Modern riders seem to not do this.

Bike still has minor oil drip from rear drive case filler plug---Yesterday used 8mm bolt and new washer, plus a little sealant---just have to see how that works.

Bike at 14,000 miles, will be near20,000 on return-----then change belt,BUT carry spare with rollers and sliders. Think belt will go 20,000----in now over 300,000 miles of rubber band drive scooter, I have had only one belt break underway. May change oil in Seattle at friends garage---but not really necessary.

As I will be doing some riding in Sept---clothes/suit requires some thought. Comfortable/warm/dry.

Darien Jacket best on top....and bright yellow! Pants---leather Bibs? or Some strong Fire Hose cotton bibs---both combos require rain overpants when raining/snowing or just wear Darien pants for everything associated with riding....and stay dry with no extra mickey mouse.

As getting late in season----proper stuff under jacket and pants needs consideration.(warm)

Sleeping---always carry lite camping gear. Fun when right place if found----not fun when you sleep on the ground with fat lady's RV running Generator all nite for AC and warming up Diesel engine before taking off early AM.

Last---packing #1 underseat storage very handy for travel. #2 Will try to use one big Ortlieb rubber bag for clothes, use smaller Ortlieb on top (was tank bag)---keeping load low and as near centerline of bike as possible. Boots--proper Motorcycle Boots---this case Aerostich Combat Lites, and take rubber overboots---I like dry feet when rain might be around. Helmet: Arthur Fulmer 3/4 with face shield and foam ear plugs---make riding long days ok with the "scooter wind buffeting" present even with Givi Adjustable windshield. And costs?? I run thru at least $30 a day in gas, can eat for $15-20
a day----Motel prices are getting higher and higher so that cost?? Daily miles?? but 350-400 easy.
Bike under warranty.
Passport for Canada!

Good luck John! 49 states in less than 9 months is very impressive.     :not worthy:    

"I stop to help any and all riders with bike trouble! Modern riders seem to not do this."

I stop to see if I can help when I see a bike or scooter on the side of the road. The last few years it seems every time I've stopped to offer help I've been told they just stopped for a break or they have already called for help. I think so few people stop to offer help is because they feel everyone has a cell phone to call for help if needed.

Wow !!! Best of luck to you John and hope you have a very enjoyable time.

Just returned from completing 49 states for 2014---OR/WA/AK being last states---this trip approx. 7500 miles.

Bike now has 21500 miles, original drive belt, original front tire with till 3/32 tread depth----rear with 10,500 miles=trash but made it home. Gets new drive belt and rear tire next week.

No oil added this trip--7500 miles, oil WalMart 10-40 .

Canada not cheap---was planning to go straight across Canada after leaving Hyder, AK and return via MI---instead went in US in MT.

Costs to do this=at least $100 a day, plus bike wear.

Conclusion on Handling....after my second SilverWing---it is foul handling PIG!! Worse than my 2 400 Burgmans!

Checked loading---maybe 60 lbs of luggage/tools/water in total.
Honda limits 25.3 lbs, so there starts the poor handling. rest appears to be designed in.---SilverWing is old design, so there will be no changes and appears to be out of production----Now Stretch in SD, Rapid City-S. Falls I have ridden many times in the past 40 years----HD Sidecar/VespaPX200E/Burgman 400/Yamaha SR500/SuzukiGS500E, etc. etc----this time pure hell---SilverWing really bad in severe cross winds/gusts=no fun and probably quite dangerous.

MPG---this trip 55mpg US approx.=ok

SilverWing plenty of power.

Note: Bags not mounted high---highest point 3-4 inches above Givi back rest-----I am sure Givi Box a real minus for handling, period. Hump-Tank bag used in spite of more trouble getting on and off.

Trip=one dead bird, saw Zero BIG SCOOTERS!! Got cold trikes disappeared=wimps. HD mot common bikes on road. Lots of trailer bikers=wimps, too.

Long underwear required about 10 days of the 3 week trip.

SilverWing seat fine for 8-12 hour days-----feet forward position not

John glad to hear you made it home safe. Congratulations on finishing your goal of completing 49 states for 2014.  

John,

I agree with Roger...Congrats on your goal and happy to hear you are safe. I made a post a week ago asking if anyone has heard from you. I knew you were going on a long ride but we haven't heard from you in awhile. So, what do you think will be your next bike if you say SWing wasn't all that well in handling?

:not worthy: Well done sir!!!

Congrats! I knew you could do it; just wish I was with you at least part of the way.

It sounds like your love affair with the Silverwing is about over.
So what's your next bike going to be? Any thoughts?

I will use SilverWing another 20,000 miles----handling, one must always remember it is a scooter and should be ridden as scooter...slow and not on ruff roads,, etc.

Next bike----already have Suzuki TU 250 2013, 10,000 miles---ok bike but no center stand!--Next, next maybe SR400 Yamaha--already had SR500, new.

I need/like: Shiny wheels/center stand/ good wind protection(National Cycle big screen)/easy adjust valves/nice flat seat=2 up fine/reg gas/not heavy pig/easy to work on---icing on cake old Frans Becker Chaincase from Pirmasens---if I can find one.


Appears big scooter market in N America=dead.


Some lessons learned from recent ride:
.
Boots: I used RedWing 8 inch lace up=fine for grip when you put foot down/walking

Better would have been my Aerostich Kombat Lite--they allow tucking jeans in tops and that allows no pants flapping.

Used my Tingley rubber boots (about $35 from Aerostich)=dry feet!, several times.

Should have taken my feather jacket as liner for my Darien lite jacket---this works better than sweater/sweatshirt/wind shirt I made due with.

Helmet---3/4 with face shield ok, having 3/4 jet helmet with duckbill visor a long with the riding into sun good idea....but where is the space to carry it? We need 3/4 with Duck Bill visor and drop down face shield!


Ideal bike/scooter tour---200-250 mile a day, camping, cook your self----when I rode to North Cap in Norway,, carried 40 lbs or so of MRE's from military, should do again


Motels in US:Suck---with more and more Indian owned/managed (from India)---dirty, stink, not well maintained and can screw you on price----they have invaded Motel 6, too

Top of line not set up for parking and walking direct in room......and walk in wet/dirty you will usually get their bad rooms!!

Congratulations on your successful trip Mr Grinsel.

Just out of curiosity, how much did your motel stay in Hyder cost?

Regarding your comment that your future bike/scooter requirement would be 'easy valve adjustment', why would valve adjustment be a concern given that you only own your ride for such a short amount of miles before purchasing a new one?

Tim

Congrats on the trip! Sounds like you should start figuring out what the next bike will be, since 20,000 miles will probably go pretty quick for you. The SR400 looks like a fun, simple machine.

I am interested in your comment about the side winds. I commute on one of the windiest roads in the country every day, with wind hitting me sideways. 50MPH side winds are not unusual, and it can be a lot more than that. I've never felt the bike was dangerous, just that you had to think about the wind when riding it. I have the big Givi trunk and the Givi adjustable windscreen, so I've got plenty of side profile. It's odd to be leaning against turns when the wind is strong enough, but the bike seems to do reasonably. I would imagine a bike with a windscreen that turned with the bars would be a nightmare.

As for motels, I don't think any race/nationality has a monopoly on horrible motels. I will say that Motel 6 has definitely gone down hill from what it used to be 15 years ago, which is unfortunate. My last Motel 6 experience (somewhere in Iowa) pretty much ended that chain for me. What I look for now is a sign that has all the pieces, a parking lot without pot holes, and more than one car in the parking lot. I find these are all signs that enough money is coming in for the hotel to keep up with the essential maintenance.

Some additional comments:

Easy valve adjustment: easy to reach/nut and screw/no shims---SilverWing, I forget about it. Yes I get new bikes often....but the trade in usually has 40,000 or more miles. My NT700V was nut and screw, but bear to get at.

Stand by my comments on India run motels in US=bad. Job put me about 25 per cent of my life sleeping in Hotels/Motels/military temp quarters, I have some experience. Simple camping next time out.

Clothes: big mistake.....did not take/use my Stone Lake bib leather pants-----with rain pants for the wet stuff.

Side Winds----SilverWing and some others can be real pigs in many wind conditions. Once on Helix I was worried about the amount of lean required in big winds ....to keep going straight......until a GoldWing and Yamaha Venture passed me.....almost on their sides. One way to cover foul handling of scooters is: do not go so fast!!


Last: I could have enjoyed this last stretch on Helix, too, especially slow speed/parking lot moving around.....reason FOOT BRAKE for rear------with 600 pound top heavy SilverWing linked brakes can cause topple. Rear brake is great balancing aide. Four Helix took me, 175,000 miles---rear "trunk" nice, too=weight low.

john grinsel wrote:

Conclusion on Handling....after my second SilverWing---it is foul handling PIG!!  Worse than my 2 400 Burgmans!

We just got back from North Pole, Alaska on our Silver Wings a week ago tomorrow. 6,300 miles in 9 days. Rode in temps from freezing to moderate mid-50's, a few snowflakes over the Divide, and steady cold rain in Alberta. Never had one bit of problem with handling but we don't take all our life's possessions with us on the road. We learned long ago that if you need it and can buy it on the road, it's way better than trying to think of everything and carry it along.

The Canadian portion of our trip was the most enjoyable. North Dakota these days is pretty much like Alaska was during the pipeline days. A cup of coffee in Jamestown will cost you $5 bucks. Gas is more expensive in Canada but the places we stayed and ate at were pretty much top notch in Canada.

I guess "taking life possessions " is dig at me. My estimate of 60 lbs of junk, includes weight of Givi Box and rack---enough tools to get both wheels off, spare drive belt, 2 Ortleib bags with about 5 day supply of some clean clothes, lite sleeping bag, shaving kit.....and rubber boots/Darien pants for cold or rain. I wore Darien Jacket for whole trip to AK.

61 years and over 1.5 million 2 wheel miles--I have light packing down to good system------SilverWing remains not good handling, too.

No "dig", just a comment. I've never bothered with tools to take wheels off. Just a plug kit and small 12V air compressor. If a wheel has to come off she goes to the nearest Honda dealer.

We only carry one change of clothes in case the ones we're wearing get wet, plus a pair of tennis shoes to lounge in. There's various ways to wash the other change of clothes and dry them when you camp at night, or stay in a motel, without having to go to a laundromat. Don't carry extra boots. Our Alpinestars boots that we wear when touring are 100% waterproof. We also don't carry layered gear. Just our Darien pants and jacket with Widder Ventura II vests and gloves. With personal effects in my Givi tunnel bag and under the seat, plus tent, sleeping bag, air mattress and 12V compressor in a Goldwing trunk liner strapped to the pillion - total weight of gear onboard <30 lbs.

Silverwing handles superb and she'll cruise at 70-80 mph all day.

I can't understand this obsession with clocking miles up, all credit it to Mr Grinsel and Mr Olson but apart from sitting on a scooter all day what else have you done.

I'm currently in Aachen in Germany and I leave tomorrow for Zeebrugge in Belgium for the overnight ferry to Hull and then the short ride home to York.

Now I've only been away a week and I've probably done just under a thousand miles, but I've done long high speed autobahn rides, been 'blasting through the twisties’ in the Harz Mountains on dry and wet roads, rode to and wandered round cities like Magdeburg, and Braunschweig, had kaffee und kuchen in the Altstadt of Quedlingburg, revisted the memorial site and museum of Mittelbau-Dora just outside Nordhausen, rode along with two Brit BMW riders to have the Death Valley Chilli Cheeseburger at Mel's Diner which is a huge new converted Airstream caravan in Göttingen. I've overdosed on Schnitzel after going out for dinner in the Harz with the Pension owners and other Brit guests. I've also enjoyed old favourites like currywurst, chicken kebabs in flatbread, and the good old German breakfasts.

Because I don't want to sit on the Honda all day I've had time to look round motorcycle dealers, cycle shops, department stores, and the bikers trinity of Hein Gericke, Louis, and Polo looking at motorcycle gear. Aachen where I am now and know pretty well has a cathedral which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and even older than York Minster back at home. It's famous for where Karl der Gorsel or Charlemagne, and other Kings of the Holy Roman Empire were crowned.

I've had no trouble riding at high speed, I've been comfortable without the Airhawk cushion, the amber sun visor fitted to my Scorpion has been useful, my Garmin Zūmo sat nav in the Touratech cradle has behaved itself, the Wunderlich Air deflector is a useful addition to the Airflow.

The only bugbear so far is the hit and miss internet availability in both the places I've stayed which in this day and age shouldn't be happening.

Well I need to finish my Hasseröder now and carefully pack Mrs M's presents away.

Guten Nacht.