SPORT Touring on a 600RR-North Texas

[gregorytx]

Haven't had a chance to get out much the last couple of years due to a heavy work load and some health problems. I recently was piddling in the garage and made a rear seat rack so that I could mount my Dryspec bags to the rear of my 2009 CBR600RR. Figured it would be fun to blast out on the little beast and escape the Dallas/Ft Worth metro mess when I can. This is a great bike, loads of fun and a grin factor off the chart. Here's my bag set-up

[gregorytx]

My sister lives in Vernon, TX, which is about 3 hours west of the Metro-Mess of Dallas up on the Red River. Being the adventurous type I figured I'd leave way early, 5:30 AM, to avoid the heat and to dodge the deer and wild pigs while blasting across the back roads. My route was from McKinney (North of Dallas) to Jacksboro, up to Windthorst, across to Archer City (Home to Larry McMurtry), up to Electra, and finally across the fabled Waggoner Ranch to Vernon. The only thing I was dodging was State Troopers. I got hit by two but they were friendly and out of the two I only got one written warning.

[gregorytx]

From first appearances there doesn't appear to be a lot in that part of the country. Just a bunch of mesquite trees, red dirt and rattlesnakes. Well, that's pretty accurate and first appearances aren't deceiving......

I grew up in this little church out in the middle of Waggoner Ranch. Pretty cool little church. A real "cowboy" church. I can remember the ranch cowboys riding their horses up to the church and coming in with fresh cow shit on their boots and jeans.

[gregorytx]

Here's some pics of one of the "ghost" towns in the area. This one used to be Medicine Mound. Pretty much all the little towns through there are slowly turning into ghost towns. The drought's pretty bad, the economy sucks up there, and anyone with ambition hauls ass to Dallas or Austin.

[gregorytx]

It was a fun trip, a little over 800 miles for the weekend. The bike was flawless and the only change I need to make is to invest in a custom seat. The only other comfort mod on the bike is a set of helibars. For tires I am running Michelin Pilot Road 3's, with 2,000 miles on them they still look brand new. Looking forward to some longer trips on the little beast. Turns out she makes a pretty good little touring rig.....

[Mastros2]

Sounded like a fun trip.  

[jdgretz]

Cool - I remember Medicine Mound.  That brought back memories of driving out in that area.  Maybe next year I'll bring a bike back there and go see more of those little towns.

jdg

[gregorytx]

Cool - I remember Medicine Mound.  That brought back memories of driving out in that area.  Maybe next year I'll bring a bike back there and go see more of those little towns.

jdg

You from that area?

[jdgretz]

You from that area?

I lived in Texas for about 12 or 13 years - naturalized citizen of the Republic of Texas.  When I got dropped in Texas after Vietnam, I spent a bunch of time running all over the state flying light aircraft, helicopters and the like.  Counting my flight training in Mineral Wells, I saw a goodly number of the small towns in an area roughly bounded Denton, Abilene, San Angelo, Uvalde, Beeville, Nacodoches, and Tyler.  My mom's ancestors were from Tobeyville (now extinct) which was somewhere around Marble Falls.  My first wife's people were from the Glen Rose/Stephenville area.  Love that state.

I came through the southern route (mostly I-10, US-90 with side trips through Fredericksburg, Luckenbach and other places) in April (you can find that trip here if you get bored).

jdg

[jeepinbanditrider]

Heh I grew up in Mineral Wells and spent a lot of time on Fort Wolters.  I even go there now that I'm stationed in Fort Worth for annual rifle qualification.  Small world the interwebz is.

[Jay S.]

Great report and pics. I'm in Abilene so I know it had to be pretty hot! Ugh. Gotta love SPORT-touring.

 

[Bruce Bogtrotter]

Nice report, congrats on the warning instead of a ticket.

If you don't mind my asking a personal question -- supersport touring being a goal of mine -- what's your height and weight? Curious about the Helibars and whether it's something I'm going to need to install sooner rather than later.

[gregorytx]

If you don't mind my asking a personal question -- supersport touring being a goal of mine -- what's your height and weight? Curious about the Helibars and whether it's something I'm going to need to install sooner rather than later.

I am 6-01 and a lean 210. 45 yrs old though, so not as flexible as I used to be....