Getting closer...could use a hand.

[Rexsname]

I'm getting closer to getting my bike ready for my first Saddle Sore 1000.  It's the route that is giving me a little bit of a problem.  I was thinking of an 'out and back', go 500 (or so) miles and then turn around. Looking at Mapquest, this puts the turn around point at Santa Rosa New Mexico.  I realize that 800 or so miles of I-40 isn't the most exciting trip.

I also realize that many of you have much more experience in this sort of thing.  I could maybe swing 1000 miles one way and then get a hotel, rest and take an easy couple of days back.

Do any of you have better mapping software than Mapquest? Care to make some suggestions for a newbie? My GL1100 will usually go about 165 mile before switching to reserve.

My closest start point (gas station) is at Hwy 89a and Viewpoint.

REX

[Chuck 500]

Good luck with your planning and ride.  I, too, am working up to a first SS1000 and swing between out and back or straight to somewhere.  My somewhere would be either Meteor Crater of Dalton, GA.  Both are about 1,000 from Houston TX.

From all I have read, stick to main roads and interstates on the first one.  Slab may not be as scenic but the travel is easier, gas stops are more reliable.  You would want to abandon the attempt because you all the gas stations in some small town are closed.

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

[Justin]

I personally use Streets and Trips for my route planning - then export to GPX and upload to my GPS. Plugging your route (Prescott Valley to Santa Rosa) in it looks like a good choice. 521 easy miles of slab - you'll be there and back in 16 hours with gas stops

[Cablebandit]

I just use Google to plan, then transfer it into the GPS.  With so little range make sure you plan your gas accordingly.

[Rexsname]

Re: The limited range.    I have a Roto-pax 2 gallon fuel can that would be easy to bring along. Thoughts? Would it be cheating to bring along a bit of gas as peace of mind? I have read that some members of the IBA use fuel cells but I don't know about a 'non plumbed in' remedy to limited range. Or is it better somehow to count on prior proper planning and only use gas stations.

Thanks,

REX

[Justin]

Not cheating at all. I have a 5 gallon fuel cell on mine, so I can go 350-400 miles between fill ups. It's just evening out the odds  . Go to any LD rally, and 90% of the bikes have aux fuel cells.

[Mac]

Here you go.

 

Good Luck.

[miles]

Re: The limited range.    I have a Roto-pax 2 gallon fuel can that would be easy to bring along. Thoughts? Would it be cheating to bring along a bit of gas as peace of mind? I have read that some members of the IBA use fuel cells but I don't know about a 'non plumbed in' remedy to limited range. Or is it better somehow to count on prior proper planning and only use gas stations.

Thanks,

REX

For rallies, you can't use a non-plumbed extra fuel tank.  For LD certificate rides, they're perfectly acceptable.  For our last SS1000 Lawn Dart and I each carried along MSR style bottles of fuel, because my BMW S1000RR and his Monster Evo 100 bot have crummy fuel range, and we were on a route with few fuel stops.

[Cablebandit]

If your route has plenty of fuel along it, I wouldn't bother with carrying extra.  It will allow you to stretch your legs and grab a snack / potty break more often so you'll feel better throughout the day.  The SS1000 allows for plenty of time off the bike if you need to use it.

[miles]

If your route has plenty of fuel along it, I wouldn't bother with carrying extra.  It will allow you to stretch your legs and grab a snack / potty break more often so you'll feel better throughout the day.  The SS1000 allows for plenty of time off the bike if you need to use it.

I agree, but the peace of mind from knowing you have a little extra emergency fuel can be worth a lot.

[Cablebandit]

That's why I said if the route has plenty of fuel opportunities.  I've had the "miles till empty" meter read zero in the desert with nothing around.....not a good feeling.

[miles]

That's why I said if the route has plenty of fuel opportunities.  I've had the "miles till empty" meter read zero in the desert with nothing around.....not a good feeling.

The whole 'tuck in tight and draft anything you can' routine can be stressful, all right.

[Justin]

The whole 'tuck in tight and draft anything you can' routine can be stressful, all right.

Bob Munden did that for 24 hours straight when he did a BBG 1500 on a Honda CBR125  

Full throttle the whole way was the constant - the variables were finding good lane position and vehicles going fast enough to draft  

[Rexsname]

So, how 'bout this for a plan?  Prescott Valley to Winslow. Winslow to Gallup. Gallup to Abq. Abq to Santa Rosa. Sit down and eat. I would probably be about 9ish hours into the trip.  

Then turn around and go home.  If I leave the house at 0400hrs, that should put me at the turn around point in the early afternoon and home before midnight.  

Does this sound as if I'm biting off more that I can chew for a first SS1000? Suggestions? comments.....



REX

[Justin]

So, how 'bout this for a plan?  Prescott Valley to Winslow. Winslow to Gallup. Gallup to Abq. Abq to Santa Rosa. Sit down and eat. I would probably be about 9ish hours into the trip.  

Then turn around and go home.  If I leave the house at 0400hrs, that should put me at the turn around point in the early afternoon and home before midnight.  

Does this sound as if I'm biting off more that I can chew for a first SS1000? Suggestions? comments.....

REX

Not at all. That sound like a great route for a first SS1k. Mostly all easy miles on the super slab. You will have like 8 hours of buffer time excluding riding.

[squeezer]

Not at all. That sound like a great route for a first SS1k. Mostly all easy miles on the super slab. You will have like 8 hours of buffer time excluding riding.

I agree. Only caveat: if your longest day has only been, say, 250-300 miles, then yeah, 1K is a big step and you should get more miles under your belt first. If you've done rides longer than that, it should be pretty easy. Don't be afraid to stop if you're tired or having a problem holding a line. This stuff is fun and can be addicting, but it's not worth getting hurt.

Good luck and have fun.  

[Rexsname]

Thus far my longest days ride has been about 570 miles.  I rode from Santa Barbara, Ca to Prescott Valley, Az.  Very nearly all slab with only the portion from Rosamond to Barstow being two lane.

REX

[Rexsname]

  :bluduh:Well, Phooey! I put in a new headlight and Speedometer cable in order to prepare for my SS1000. When I went for a short ride to check my work I noticed that the odometer was not advancing.  Dangit! Now I have another item to add to the list.

REX

[roadstar]

from the IBA rules

WARNING: If your motorcycle is equipped with a large fuel-tank, please note that you must stop at least once every 300 miles for gas (this is purely for documentation for your ride). Although we know it is possible to ride greater distances non-stop, we will not accept a claim of this type.

So anything further might get turned down, on my rides with my FJR i stopped every 214 mi`s for fuel. I put fuel in my bike 5 times (1 start,3 during,1 ending) I put the milage on every reciept , cause in the middle of the ride it poored rain & didn`t want to get the big sheets of paper wet.

[Kneescrubber]

Be aware that the NM Highway Patrol can be very active between Albuquerque & Santa Rosa.