Posted by Jim on June 12, 2000 at 20:53:11:
I just had to go advise/assist the USMC Reserves on an annual training period. It was at Ft Riley, Kansas, about 300 miles away from here (Tulsa, Oklahoma). Of course, I rode the Piglet. I learned a couple things:
-Gas mileage between 37 and 43 mpg. Less miles going 75 on interstates, more cruising at 50-60 in state highways. This is not significantly different from my last main jet (147.5 - now I'm at 150). But the bottom line is that if there isn't gas available every 100 miles, I aint going there (or I have to carry some).
-With my Dyna pipe, white spacer out, pilot turned out 4 full turns, and rejetted carb, it was smooth running and power to spare (I'm around 190 lbs and I had 30-40 lbs of gear strapped on).
-I haven't checked my plug yet, but the tailpipe doesn't show any increased soot around the exhaust. Also, no significant yellowing to the header after running it wide open for sustained periods.
-It was 60-80 degrees the whole way- usually what I'd think was perfect. But I started out early and got cold fast, and I never really recovered. (I was wearing jungle boots with wool socks, jeans (underwear for Linette), a t shirt, sweatshirt, jeans jacket and gloves. I wore my shorty helmet with the storm flap zipped in.)
-300 miles is a good comfortable short-long ride. It would be very do-able for several days straight. I would guess 450 as the maximum I'd want to do in any given day.
-The only place I got stiff/sore was my inside thighs. Several time I felt myself start to shiver. I don't know if it was cold or fatigue to my thighs. I found that the less you move about trying to get comfortable, the longer you can ride (pick a couple positions- don't fidget around). Chaps would have been a definite plus.
-I got hit by something (glass? bee? gravel?) in my face which stuck and hurt BAD! I dug it out on the move, but then realized that if you wear a bandana (a la Jesse James) it will probably cut out most of those incidents. (Don't know why I didn't think of that earlier- I've been doing it on a tank for the last 11 years and it works fine...)
-On the way up, I strapped 3 bags to my seat and saddlebags (one on each saddle bag and one on the seat nestled between the other two). It sort of formed a backrest, which was very comfortable. As the trip progressed, though, it "settled" and I lost alot of support. A harder support would have been much more comfortable.
-I also found what may be a good backrest/bag combo. Ya'll may think I'm nuts, but you know those airline size rolling bags? Well, I found one that doesn't have a hard frame, except on the back where the handle is. It expands "upward" (as it sits on is wheels) (so it doesn't get any thicker) by unzipping two zippers. The wheels and rests on the bottom fit just outside the pillion pad. I bungee it with the handle-side to the rear (against the backrest), standing up straight. Makes a good backrest, easy to carry/roll around off the bike, functional for other trips, and if you need more room to strap gear down, you can extend the handle for an instant Easyrider sissybar! Unfortunately, I found it at the end of the trip so it is as of yet, untested over the long haul.
Anyway- them's my random wanderings. Maybe helpfull to some. Maybe just a way to pass the time. But definitely related to motorcycling (if you overlook the underwear comment) (there I go again) (it's really all your fault, Linette!). By the way, if anyone has to go north/south through Kansas, I recommend US 77. It was absolutely beautiful; rolling grasslands punctuated by woodsy hollows and ever-present, friendly, smiling cows (OK, maybe I was just imagining about the friendly part, but I swear I saw a couple of 'em smile).
-KTRSD
-Jim