Last summer, my husband and I rode our bikes almost all the way around the country before my bike broke down. We ended up logging about 11,000 miles and visited 28 states on the bikes (another 1,000 miles and 3 states in a rental truck.)

This was the most incredible adventure I've ever been on! We had the best time- camped some, motels some. We sort of planned the trip in advance, but not really. We knew which direction we were heading and had planned on some sites we wanted to visit, but mostly just rode until we wanted to stop and stopped to see whatever we wanted.

Hubby kept a journal and is working on a book. (At his pace that could take years...)

I finally got around to posting pictures: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569728854ZMTScb

This is less than 300 of the over 2,000 pictures I took.

Enjoy!

oh boy.. i am jealous... my goal is to ride a motorcycle in all 50 states... but a cross country trip would be even better!

WOW, that'd be a nice trip!!
Thanks for sharing the pics :smiley_th

What happened to your bike?

Rear drive shaft coupling and rear drive unit failed. It appeared that they had never been greased at all. Fortunately got used parts on ebay fairly cheap and my husband did the work, so I'm back on the road.

Jealousy is a horrible thing. I am soooooooo jealous of such a trip.
Last summer I did a two day, 600+ mile trip that was pure FUN. I'd kill to be able to ride for a few weeks just following wherever my front wheel points.
After I had my seat replaced with a custom job my long distance riding has been very comfortable. I can't seem to find time to cut loose for a multi-state ride. Too many family commitments interfereing.
A nice, cross-country ride would do the soul well. To do the Forest Gump-thing of going from ocean to ocean because I just felt like riding would be outstanding!!

thanks for sharing the pics...it looks awsome!!!
how long was the trip?

how long was the trip?

Almost 2 months including a week in Georgia waiting for tires for my husband's bike.

What an amazing trip, like so many before me "boy am I ever jealous" Thanks for sharing those fantastic pics with us that can only dream of taking such a spectacular trip one day. So whens your next journey?

Peace :beerchug:

Beautiful. Thank you. What memories!

Fantastic trip thanks for shareing. let me know when the book comes out

Here's Chapter One:

http://ctoons124.blogspot.com/

My goal is to post a new chapter each week...

I would leave today for another trip, if I could!

Good read! Hope to see more.

Last summer, my husband and I rode our bikes almost all the way around the country before my bike broke down. We ended up logging about 11,000 miles and visited 28 states on the bikes (another 1,000 miles and 3 states in a rental truck.)

This was the most incredible adventure I've ever been on! We had the best time- camped some, motels some. We sort of planned the trip in advance, but not really. We knew which direction we were heading and had planned on some sites we wanted to visit, but mostly just rode until we wanted to stop and stopped to see whatever we wanted.

Hubby kept a journal and is working on a book. (At his pace that could take years...)

I finally got around to posting pictures: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569728854ZMTScb

This is less than 300 of the over 2,000 pictures I took.

Enjoy!

Thanx for all the pics. They are great. Are the pics from the museum from here, Texas at Rock Sping??

Just curious, What kinda bike is that your husband was riding? Looks a lot like my old 94' Yamaha XJ600 Seca II

Just curious, What kinda bike is that your husband was riding? Looks a lot like my old 94' Yamaha XJ600 Seca II

'96 Suzuki Bandit 600- very similar to the Seca II


Day one is now posted on my blog:

http://ctoons124.blogspot.com (http://ctoons124.blogspot.com/)

Thanx for all the pics. They are great. Are the pics from the museum from here, Texas at Rock Sping??

You mean the motorcycle museum? Those are taken in Sturgis, SD.

We're up to day three now on the blog:

http://ctoons124.blogspot.com/

Enjoy reading them!

I've posted through Day 7 now...

That is an awesome trip...I am moving from NY to Oregon in 2010, And would love to do the trip on my bike...but the wife says no, she wants us to drive the cage on old route 66...

You can tell who wears the pants in Slims family :)

yup and I aint afraid to admit it...she does...most of the time...lol

Bump. Good reading!

Just get you a Motorcycle trailer and let her drive the in the auto and you on the bike. Then if you get tired or have a problem with the bike you can load it on the trailer.

That's the way the wife and I have figured out what to do on a long trip.
Then when we get there we'll have the bike to run around on.

That is an awesome trip...I am moving from NY to Oregon in 2010, And would love to do the trip on my bike...but the wife says no, she wants us to drive the cage on old route 66...

In our house, I'd be the one talking my husband into taking the bikes. Much easier to do now that he has a new Versys!

I have posted through Day 18 now...

There and Almost Back Again (http://ctoons124.blogspot.com/)

I just looked at the slide show and read through the whole 18 days, and I can feel the PITA your hubby`s bike seat is giving him. I,ve only got about 6 weeks riding experience, on my vn750, before an accident, breaking my leg on June 25, 2008. That`s day 4 of your trip. I don`t know that I would have your stamina to keep riding day after day, in the heat and wind etc., that you and hubby experienced so far in the 18 days.

It`s been 10 1/2 months since the accident and my leg is still not healing, so I`ll miss this riding season too. But when I do finally get healed up so I can ride again, I am going to plan some day trips or weekenders and go find some twisties in the Rockies, just 2 hours west of me into British Columbia. I`m also only about 100 miles from Waterton National Park, which joins with Glacier in the USA, to form the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park that was mentioned in the blog/book. I,ve been over the Going to the Sun Highway many times in a car, but never yet on a bike. I`m looking foreward to reading the rest of your trip report.

I take it that you never discovered the vn750.com forum until you returned. If you had been here before, you would have known to check and lube those rear splines, and avoided that ride in the U-Haul truck for 3 days. Oh well, better late than never. BTW do you have the stock seat on the vn, and how did you find it to ride on for weeks at a time?

What`s your plans for this summer? Ride to live, and stay safe.

I don`t know that I would have your stamina to keep riding day after day, in the heat and wind etc., that you and hubby experienced so far in the 18 days.

Just wait until we get into the rainy part!

I`m also only about 100 miles from Waterton National Park, which joins with Glacier in the USA, to form the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park that was mentioned in the blog/book. I,ve been over the Going to the Sun Highway many times in a car, but never yet on a bike.

Beautiful area! Going to the Sun Highway was under construction and crowded, but still incredibly beautiful!

I take it that you never discovered the vn750.com forum until you returned. If you had been here before, you would have known to check and lube those rear splines, and avoided that ride in the U-Haul truck for 3 days.

Unfortunately, I discovered VN750.com when I was trying to figure out why my bike wouldn't go anymore.:mad:

BTW do you have the stock seat on the vn, and how did you find it to ride on for weeks at a time?

I do have the stock seat on the vn and I didn't notice much discomfort for at least the first 7,500 miles. After that, I started complaining some and had several days when I really didn't want to get back on the bike. Once we got to the Adirondacks, the pain seemed to disappear. Guess I was just enjoying the ride too much to notice.:motorcycl

What`s your plans for this summer? Ride to live, and stay safe.

If all works out, we will head back to Tennessee/ North Carolina to ride the Dragon this summer. Thanks for the feedback! I wish you a speedier recovery.

I`ve got a cousin who lives in NC, that I haven`t had any contact with for at least 20 years. I`ve never met her husband or 3 kids, and the oldest graduates from high school this year. My mother still has 3 living sisters who all talk on the phone regularly, so I`m kept up to date on my cousins a bit thru the aunt grapevine. My mother and aunts are all in their 70s and 80s now, so I guess we 23 cousins on my mothers side of the family, had better start making more contact with each other now,or we will lose track of each other altogether, in a few years. Whew, that`s a long intro to saying that I have a good excuse to make a trip to NC to visit family. If I ride 3,000 miles across the continent, it only makes sense to ride the Dragon and some of the other scenic routes I`ve read about too, while I`m there.

That trip will have to wait for a few more years I`m afraid. I wish you`all a safe and enjoyable trip this summer. Dedicate one of your trips down the Tail of the Dragon to me, I`d love to be able to ride it with you! Hoss

I'm a little late posting today, but Day 21 is now up!

Bump.

Thanks for the bump. We didn't get a new day posted this week. We've been too busy riding! In the last two weeks we've ridden the Natchez Trace, Foothills Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, The Dragon (4 times) and countless other incredible roads in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas. We will get back on track when we get back home next week sometime!

We just got back from the road trip. (See ride report here) (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42022)

Finally got another day posted on last year's report. (See my signature for the link!) We're up to day 30 now!

One of these days I'm going to get a small laptop so I can post this stuff on the road!

did i miss something where did your vn go?

Back in June, we rode to NW Arkansas to visit family. The vulcan died about 10 miles from our destination. Turns out it's likely the stator. I bought a Sportster 1200 to make the ride back home. The vulcan is now sitting in the shed in my back yard awaiting repairs. It might be a while- I have to pay for the Harley. I do plan to fix it up and paint it. The VN is by far my favorite bike to ride!

good, i am glad you still have it. How do you like the Sportster? my wife is looking at those along with the bigger Vulcans

I am really enjoying the Sportster. I like the way it rides. The seat isn't quite as comfy as my VN for long trips, but it holds more gas. My husband has done some adjustments to raise it a bit so I won't drag as easily in the twisties. (I only dragged the kickstand/ footpeg once in our recent trip to the Dragon.) It has the pegs set mid range instead of forward. My brother has an 883 with forward pegs and it is uncomfortable for me. (I'm 5'3".)

I test rode a couple of Vulcan 900s- the classic and the custom. I liked them, but wouldn't buy one. The 900s have much less ground clearance than the 750 and the pegs are too far forward for my short legs. I can't remember which one also had handlebars that I didn't like.

I think the Sportster 883 has as close to VN 750 performance/ riding style as any bike out there. I got the 1200 because the deal was right! I'm probably doomed to be not completely happy with any newer bike because I love the ride of the VN 750 so much.

she said the vn seat and comfy in the same sentence and i cant argue except i took half the trip she did and my arse is still numb

LOL- we were over halfway through 11,000 miles before I started complaining about the seat on the VN! After two 400 mile + days on the HD, my rear was feeling it!

thanks for the info...yes i am thinking a HD 883, larger VN or something along those lines... my wife says the VN750 is too tall for her..wich i don't understand...she is 5'9"

my wife says the VN750 is too tall for her..wich i don't understand...she is 5'9"

:wow:

If I was 5'9'', I'd have many more options as to what I could ride- VStrom, Versys, etc.

The Vulcan is as tall as I can manage, but shouldn't be anywhere near too tall for someone 5'9"!

:confused:

lol...she says it just doesn't feel right

Just posted two new days...

Four new days finally posted tonight!

Just get you a Motorcycle trailer and let her drive the in the auto and you on the bike. Then if you get tired or have a problem with the bike you can load it on the trailer.

That's the way the wife and I have figured out what to do on a long trip.
Then when we get there we'll have the bike to run around on.

I have done 2 family trips like this and it works out great! My wife doesn't mind driving, just the navigation...so I get to lead the cage on the bike when we hit scenic drives, etc. :motorcycl
she even got photographed on the dragon, driving the van and trailer :smiley_th

Mike finally got around to finishing the tale...

I have been fallowing this trip from the beginning... It was very well written. Only question I have now is... Did you finally repair the 750? I know you got a harley, but the VN750 is such a nicer Bike (IMHO).

:wow:

If I was 5'9'', I'd have many more options as to what I could ride- VStrom, Versys, etc.

The Vulcan is as tall as I can manage, but shouldn't be anywhere near too tall for someone 5'9"!

:confused:

Unless slims wife is long in the torso and has a very short inseam, I too have a hard time understanding how she, at 5' 9" tall would feel too short on the vn750. I am 5' 10 1/2" and can double flatfoot the vn750 leaned over at considerable angle.

I`m packing at least an extra #100 around my middle, so I feel a bit scrunched up with my feet on the stock pegs when riding for more then 30-40 minutes. IMHO the stock vn750 should be nearly ideal in size for someone from Ceci`s 5' 3" to a person at least 5' 8" tall and of average build and length of leg.

Slim, I think you need to take your wife down to an empty parking lot and let her practice slow riding on the 750 for an hour or two a few times. If she has no experience actually riding/driving a mc, then starting on a smaller, lighter 250 Rebel or something like it if possible, for several hours, may give her the confidence to try the 750, and not be intimidated by it.

Since you are already modding the seat on your vn, try shaving some padding from the width of it, to see if that makes a difference for your wife to the feel of standing over the bike when stopped.:smiley_th

She has MC experience... she is just used to the weight of a Dirt Bike compared to a cruiser... also I feel she needs to learn how to properly move a bike... she dumped it while moving it a crossed may tiny garage while I was away... (broke my front turn signal lens). As for my seat... it is already the width of the frame, so going narrower is useless. My wife keeps telling me she wants me to get her a "wing" but I feel that is going to be too big of a bike for her... I think I found the perfect bike for her... a Vn750 Lowered 1" front and rear with one of my custom seats to get her a little closer to the ground... and then she just needs to learn how to move the bike and mount/dismount. I think she is more or less intimated by the actual physical size of the bike. Like I said she is used to Riding dirt Bikes, where the CC's are smaller than that of a street bike. She grew up riding a little 125 four stroke honda, and the summer I met her she crashed a Honda XL650R... she said it was too much bike for her... and I agree a 650 dirt bike is even much for me. but in a cruiser, I know I could handle up to a 2000 cc machine as long as I continue to ride the way I do now.