TOPIC:

Had a lengthly discussion with my mother. She wants to go to Tennessee and go down that Tail of the Dragon road...this summer (I'm in Southern Wisconsin). The idea really had me worried, and I had to explain to her why it would be irresponsible to go. She's been riding for a little over a year, and I've got about 4-5 months in....not to mention a 30-year old bike. She finally conceded so now our plan is to ride up to my grandpa's house, about 4 hours away. Which is fine by me as I'm planning my longest trip yet of about 2 1/2 hours with my much more experinced father up to my grandmas house this spring. Trying to build up the stamina slowly.

So far the longest trip I've had was about an hour to an hour and a half away. I'm told the Tennessee trip would've taken 10 hours....by CAR.

Oh, pretty sure I figured out the clean oil thing....overfilled crankcase spitting out clean oil out of the breather. Pretty sure that makes the most sense.

You stop every 100 miles or so for gas. 400 miles is about all I care to do in one day.
Steve

Oh I was wrong, 12 hour drive....roughly 800 miles....maybe next year. So say i'd take a week off work....it'd be 2 days there, 3 days of doing whatever, and 2 days back...not bad.

SmokyOwl wrote: Oh I was wrong, 12 hour drive....roughly 800 miles....maybe next year. So say i'd take a week off work....it'd be 2 days there, 3 days of doing whatever, and 2 days back...not bad.

At my age & shape I'm only good for about 100 miles before my ass is numb & my hips start locking up
Did you ever consider taking the bikes on a trailer to your Grand-pas place, & ride from there ?
Pete

I could do it but I would consider it WORK. 400 or so miles, get a room get some beer and visit KZR on my lap top. Maybe a small pub will be walking distance and I might get lucky.
Steve

Agree. My longest ride on my KZ650, many years ago, was 450 miles in one day. When I finally arrived home I parked the bike and didn't even look at it again for a week. Nowadays, a normal ride is about 120 - 160 miles. I guess I'm getting old. Ed

Well I didn't feel like posting about this but it looks like now it has in fact become motorcycle related.

On 4/7/16, at work, a forklift driver tipped over a large, warehouse-sized rack over....and on top of me on my back. I'm more or less OK, save for a very badly sprained right ankle. Last weekend and most of this week....lows of ~50, highs of 75-80....and motorcycles just EVERYWHERE. I tried just sitting on the bike, felt good enough to use the foot brake, but definately not well enough to stand on at a stop. I'm well enough to drive my car though, thankfully. So since last weekend I'm very angry at the whole situation now every time I see a motorcycle on the road...

In the meantime I'm mending pretty well, using crutches for anything longer than 50 yards. At work I'm on light duty until next month. I'm thinking I might try again this weekend, see how the week goes.

Hang in there and don't ride before you are mended. If you drop the bike because of the ankle giving out you will REALLY be angry. Ed

Like 650ed said, If your ankle gives out on a stop it will most likely fall over on the side that your ankle gives out on, & can extend the healing up to 6-8 months longer, spring has just begun around us, so a couple of more weeks of healing wont hurt, wait & It'll be great,
Pete

You made the right decision for the right reasons. If more riders did that, there would be far fewer epic fail videos on YouTube and fewer ambulance runs to the Dragon.

I watched bike ride by for 15 years on Dillon. Finally got Bossie back on the road and ride as much as I can. Don't push it. Falling over can cause damage to both you and the bike. Get well soon.
Steve

I have trouble and stops even with two good ankles. My bike sits a bit high for my height so I have to use the front of my feet or put one foot down with a slight lean (usually my right foot). I can't imagine how I would cope if I had pain from a sprain.