back from a 430 mile ride

[gargantua350]

Well guys just got back from a ride to the mojave desert with friends on the RD.  First major stop was Ludlow where I had to get gas, then to barstow.  We had to get to amboy before dark but that didn't happen.  We got lost as we were searching for the trilobite wilderness area up in the mountains.  I was really scared as it was pitch black with only our headlights guiding us with no cell reception running low on fuel.  It was so cold around 30 degrees we started to get fatigued.  I had just installed the Vape ignition but there was hardly any seat time maybe 3 miles. I was thinking what if the rotor slipped out here and fucked up the motor.  Had to get that out my mind as I had followed directions for installation from this great forum. 

The bike ran flawless with no issues.  I was the only bike without issues as a matter fact.  My bud had problems with his new BMW adventure bike with the electronics freaking him out.  the motoguzzi had headlight issues that I fixed temporarily.  The 82 BMW had issues starting in the cold.  The RD just kept going no matter what weather, road condition or obstacle that got in it's way.  It was exposed to dirt, sand, water and cold/hot weather.  And btw, I had like 40 extra pounds of stuff strapped to the back with clothes, tools, water, food, extra 2 stroke oil...

the best part was when getting back to the lake hughes area I surprised my friend on his ADV bike on the twisties as he couldn't lose me at all.  It done everything his could do on the turns if not better.  It was a great time with great friends.  about 430 miles total!

[m in sc]

  

[85RZwade]

That's the kind of ride that it's all about 

[JKV45]

Sounds like a great time!

I know the feeling of running low on gas, in the middle of nowhere.  It's not great!

Glad it all worked out and everyone made it home safe.

[Simmons1]

      

[SoCal250]

Congrats! Sounds like a fun time

[Kawtriplefreak]

Sounds like a great time!  

[Evans Ward]

Good on you for the sense of adventure! The kind of ride I like to read about and who says these old 2 strokes can't be reliable? 

[RDryan]

That just sounds amazing. If ever there was a thread to give RD greatness testimonials. This is it! What an epic ride.    

[gargantua350]

Would I do it again? Probably not.  It was too uncomfortable after about 80-100 miles I was done.  We went an extra 30 miles out of the way being lost.  The first day/evening was tough for us 50 somethings about 130 miles. 

In a way, I was lucky for the HPI to fail earlier this month.  If it would have failed out in the Mojave on Route 66 then that would have ended the whole trip. 

Again thanks to the technical knowledge of this forum and especially Marc posting how to's and John from economy cycle for help with installation information.

This trip really helped get my mind aligned since I'm going thru divorce right now it has been the hardest things in life I am going thru.  I'm sure some of you can relate.  What better way is to test your resilience.

I will post some photos of my trip soon.

[pdxjim]

Great job out there.

I have a feeling most guys on this forum wouldn't ride their 2T bikes this kind of distance.

In my younger days (like 15-20yrs ago), I rode my TZR/TDR on 1000mi long weekends out to eastern Oregon every year.  I never found it too physically uncomfortable, but filling gas every opportunity possible, and worrying about a seizure all day (etc) was really mentally fatiguing.

[85RZwade]

Rode my RZ from central Washington to Laguna Seca in '92; I would have been 24, and it was a long way. I would have to make some changes to the riding position to do it again at my age, but maybe.

[soonerbillz]

Awesome ride & Awesome story.
 Thanks for sharing. Long distance rides on any vintage bike is not for weak riders. It's takes a lot.