Escape from San Francisco on my SuperDuke, May 2012

[Cafe Racer]

So, I was able to line up some time off to get on my bike and "just ride".  Somewhere.  Anywhere.  No hard-set schedule other then making it to a motel before dark so that I can get some local food and coffee time.

My weapon of choice is my KTM SuperDuke.  Not the most practical of bikes to tour on.  But I have toured on an FZR400 to and RC51 to a ZX-7R...  And just recently I did a Death Valley trip on my Honda VTR SuperHawk.  

So the KTM SD really isn't that bad of a choice for me.  It is upright and it has great highway power.  But it doesn't have much cargo carrying capacity.  The oddly shaped tank doesn't allow a standard tankbag.  I needed t buy a KTM unit.  And saddlebags?  I am going to have to make it work.  Somehow... it will work.

Anyway, I start my trip in either Thursday night or Friday morning.  Whenever... whatever...!  Just the way I like it!  And I have been working on fabricating a set of saddlebag braces.  Something to keep the bags from rubbing against my exotic Carbon Fiber MIVV pipes.  After a visit to the hardware store I was able to come up with the parts needed.

As you can see in the pics, I disassembled the rear pegs and used the hanger as the anchor point for the brace.  After a fair amount of cutting and drilling and making spacers.... it worked.  Several coats of Krylon black to make it look appealing amd I am ready to roll.    Now I need to fill the bags.

Itinerary.  My first stop will be in Nevada somewhere.  I will be riding over Yosemite Hwy120.  It should be spectacular.  More to follow!

Miguel

[kendenton]

 

[Cafe Racer]

   WTF!!!  Weather forecast is snow over the Sierras???  2-4" at 6,000ft!!!  Was planning to be at Tioga Pass which is 9,943ft.  

Now what?  Well, i'm still going.  Not gonna let some f'n snow slow my time away.  But, I better pack some wet gear.  Time to get some sleep.  leaving at 4am.

Miguel

[garry]

Ventura makes a rack that fits a Super Duke. If you hunt down the 2008 STN National ride reports, I'm sure there is a photo of R Doug's SD in touring mode in either my ride report or his...

[Cafe Racer]

Not much to say other then I got hit by the snow storm.  It was pretty intense.  Took lots of pics and vids.

Miguel

[bluepoof]

 

[sleazy rider]

So, where you headed besides home eventually?  Got any places you want to see?

[Cafe Racer]

Okay... Friday morning I made it over Tioga Pass at the top of Yosemite.  Elevation 9,943ft!!!    It was so cold that there wasn't any rain.  Just snow.  From around 5,500ft.  Then it would stop only to restart heavier.  

Fortunately    it was super frickin' windy and the snow, for the most part would blow off of the road.  But my bike was collecting snow on the front end.  And so was I.  It got to 22* according to the outside temp gauge.  All the while, when I entered into the foothills I was hoping that it would not get to 34 degrees.  I gave up hope once it dipped into the 20's.

One good thing, my gear kept me very warm considering the conditions.  And I was not wearing alot of stuff either.  

Sleeveless t-shirt
Long sleeve cotton shirt
Kushitani leather racing jacket (snug fit)
KTM Windbreaker fleece.

*Rain jacket, rubber
*Racer rain gloves

I must say, the rain gloves were AMAZING!!!  I expected to stay dry but I didn't expect to stay warm.  I'm not one to post recommendations but if you ride in the rain and want a great glove this is it.  (It doesn't have armor)
http://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/product/racer-softshell-gloves-/831

Anyway, I made it over the summit and down the otherside.  Things were warming up to the mid-40's.  It felt nice.  Even though there was no sunshine I could easily tell the difference.  Then, as I entered into Nevada it happened....  

(more to follow.  A lot more...)  

Miguel

[Cafe Racer]

Just past the summit on the eastern slope I pulled over at a gift shop restaurant. Tioga Pass Cafe or something like that.  I was so damn cold!    It was about 25 degrees outside.  The roads were starting to show black ice.  It totally freaked me out.  I didn't realize it until I noticed that the entire road surface was shiny.  Then it dawned on me.  I slowed down as best as I could and somehow the Dunlop D616's held on and maintained good grip. Yet there was some slipping probably due to me going 25-30mph.

I went into the restaurant and had me a bowl of chili.  And it was pretty damn good!  After 30min of thawing out in the restaurant I forced myself to leave.  I still had about a hundred miles to get to Hawthorne, NV.  So, I got on the bike and tried to roll it.  Nothing.  Was I in Neutral?  Yes.  What the heck happened to my bike?

The calipers were frozen to the rotors!    

I rocked it... and rocked it... and it would not let loose.  The brake lever was very still.  Finally, it snapped loose but the front brakes would not work.  I rode it anyway, trying to ride the front as much as possible to heat them up.  I made it to Hwy 395.

Took the cut-off to Hawthorne and all was looking great!  The weather was nice yet cloudy.  I did some serious "triple digit" speeds to make time.  I stopped at the Nevada border to take some pics with the sign and then it happened.... again!  

[Cafe Racer]

It started to snow.... and this time it was pretty serious!

[Cafe Racer]

So, where you headed besides home eventually?  Got any places you want to see?

Really wasnt looking to "see" anything in particular.  Just wanted to ride and enjoy.  Get away from The City.  I needed some open spaces.  Nice people and simple small talk.

Im in Barstow now.  And then heading to LA tomorrow.

Miguel

[veefer800canuck]

If you are at a gas station or restaraunt, get some hot water and pour it over your brake calipers, then hit the road right away!

Good luck, and I'm not envious. I rode about 250 miles today in 72 degree weather.