Cross Country Practice Ride

[piccola]

I would like to ride across country in 2012. As practice/ shakedown cruise, I'm planning to ride to Michigan this summer. I have been mulling over lots of different routes. I didn't want to contend with I-95 in CT. You must be out of the state before 7 am or risk getting stuck in stop and go traffic. But finding hotels/motels with space available and within a reasonable price range has not been easy.

I had settled on riding I-84 across CT and NY to PA. Then I wanted to take route 6 up along the northern tier of PA. But almost all of the hotels on the early section of this route were already booked in Feb., 2011 or way too expensive. So I have changed my route.

I am going to leave my house before 5 am on a Sun. morning in hopes of beating the worst of the traffic. I will take 95 down to NY and go over the Tappen Zee bridge. Then I'll take 287 around the outskirts of NJ and pick up I 80 west. There are lots of hotels along 80 who still have rooms available in July at reasonable rates. Perhaps I will try riding route 6 through PA on the way back.

[newguy]

What kind of scooter do you have? I am doing this now on a 150. Not too fun in traffic. You're on
the East coast. I started in Cheyenne Wyo. And am in Taos NM. now. Took a week to get here, But
am here. Still trying to figure a good route up thru 4 corners. (I wanna stand in 2 states at once)
Pack light. Pack warm. Pack well. Good luck to you!

[piccola]

Hi Newguy,

I'm really impressed you are doing this ride on a 150. Would have loved to do this on my 250, but together we are too light to ride the hwy. I get blown around too much. So I bought a Honda Silver Wing, (600 cc). It is way too big and heavy for me to ride, so I had training wheels installed on it, (Tow Pac Trike kit).

It is impossible to ride west out of CT without going on a hwy. So I need the bigger vehicle just to get out of my own state!! I am hoping that I will escape most of the traffic by getting over the Tappen Zee Bridge early and going around the outskirts of NJ. In the summer, most of the Sunday traffic will be headed to the beaches, along I-95.

Where are you now? Which direction are you headed and how far are you planning to go?

I am planning a prelude to my prelude. Over Memorial Day Weekend, if the weather is good, I'll take the Mode Quad, (the Wing), to Long Island, NY. I want to check my baggage arrangements. Last year when my husband and I took a riding vacation to New Hampshire, one of my bags came loose twice. I'm going to rig a chain over the seat and secure the bags with it. Then if the straps come loose, I won't loose the bag down the hwy!!

Let me know where you are and how you are doing.

[piccola]

Well, it looks like I'm not going to do my prelude to my prelude. The weather has been rainy for about 2 weeks in CT and the forcast for next weekend isn't very good. Since I don't like to ride or camp in the rain, I'm staying home.

We did have some dry time on Fri., so I went out to work on my bag arrangement. I have completely reconfigured the bags. I'm not going to hang them across the seat at all. I was able to securely attach the bags to the trunk platform. I may put just one on the platform and one on the passenger seat. Not sure about the weight limits for that trunk platform.

Found some nice rain covers for the bags at Eastern MT Sports. They are fairly expensive, $30 for an extra small cover. I was going to buy 2, one to cover each bag. But then I thought it would make more sense to buy one larger one to cover both. Will probably buy the cover in the next few weeks.

[chaz12]

Ya, I would like to attempt something like this, but on a true chinese scooter. Not a Jap scoot. All china made.. I have a 250cc scooter that has 4300 miles on it. It is good on 55 mph highways riding around Missouri. I would not take the Interstate because moving down hill it will hit 75 mph but up hills( some are steep) you would be lucky to go 55 mph on a china made scoot. Also lucky not to break a belt. But it would take planning and getting parts before heading out on the Great Adventure. LOL..

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[piccola]

chaz, are you handy at fixing things? A lot of Chinese scoots require a lot of work to keep them running well. My first scoot was a Chinese 150. Had nothing but trouble with it. No shops to fix it. My husband was adament that I get rid of it and buy a more dependable scoot. So I bought the 2 Hondas.

How long have you had the scoot? There are some guys who do take long trips on Chinese scoots, but they are well able to fix them on the road if necessary. You could take a long trip with your scoot, you would just need to plan a route that avoided big hills.

I hope at some point you do go ahead and take a long trip. I have discovered I love long trips on the scoot. Longest so far was about 320 miles one way, up to northern NH and then across to Maine. It was supposed to be a week long camping trip. However I was allergic to the bites of the black flies and had to come home the very next day!! What a bummer. Had to stay at hotels on the way up and on the way back because of heavy rain with thunder and lightning. Turned out to be a very expensive weekend.

[chaz12]

PICCOLA,
Ya I know alot about scooters. I do my own work on them. I got 4300 miles on it right now. Still starts like new. It is a Roketa MC-13-250 scooter- known as the Bali 250. Furthest I rode in one day is 120 miles in 2 hours. The engine did not even get warm. It was 60 degrees. lol.. Had scooters since 1993.. This 250cc scooter I had 3 years.

Alot would need to be considered in a trip like this? A extra belt or 2, spark plugs, centrifical clutch, few new tires, antifreeze, oil, few yards of hosing, air filter, 5 fuel filters, tools to fix things with. Than still got clothing, food and drinks, tent and sleeping bag. Would stay in motel some to get cleaned up and do laundry. Take ATM card.

Now I am not considering running my scooter into the ground to try and be the fastest on a chinese scooter.. You know what I mean.. I would cool my scooter down and take a break more often than a person on a Suzuki, Honda, ect.. because I know deep down, that a chinese scooter is not built with as much quality as a Jap scooter. They are meant to take short trips and rest more. I don't want to run my scooter above 80% of being to the hot mark on the heat guage. See to me, it does not matter if I ride only 300 miles per day and rest. That is approximently 10 days to cross the country. I am sticking to 55 to 60 mph highways. It is hard to believe, but my oil is still yellowish gold after 4300 miles.

But the whole thing is doing it on a chinese built scooter would be interesting to try. If it breakdown and I can't fix it,( engine malfunctions) well there is always a bus back to Belle MO.. It is not the end of the world. Can get another one. But why it is interesting to do on a chinese scooter, is the fact that no one has attempted it. Yes, one would be making a name for China, but the name would be meaningless to most. It would simply say a chinese scoot can make it across country. That is not to much still..

It would be easy on a Honda or Suzuki because of more power. One can find 55 mph highways from the east coast to the west coast. I

[chaz12]

It is not a race across country but taking time and making it. Knowing when to rest the chinese scooter is important. I mean, that is half the fun of riding is resting and looking at the scenery. Taking photos and showing everyone the trip.

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[piccola]

chaz,
The Roketa has a reputation for being a pretty good Chinese scoot. It should be able to make the trip.

Even with the Mod Quad, (Honda Silver Wing with Tow Pac trike kit), I would plan to take a lot of time to ride across country. A big part of the trip is enjoying the local scenery and meeting local people. Camping is a great way to meet people, but it takes me too long to pack up in the morning. I will probably stay mostly in motels so I can get an early start in the mornings.

[chaz12]

So what date was you going to start the trip? I live in Missouri. Quite a ride to the east coast. But could come out and change belt and clutch before starting trip. Probably tires too. Just making sure everything would be new like that could slow me up. April is generally a good time to start across country. I mean, May starts to warm up, and March is still snow sometimes.
Are you retired? See, why I ask, is because you act like time doesn't really matter.. I am disabled and draw SSDI. So the trip doesn't really matter when I take it. I had a severe stroke at age 16, but now am 47 and it mostly is not noticable today,( a little right hand weakness and right leg limp). But I also need to pass the motorcycle riding test. I got a permit to ride in daylight hours and no passengers. But the test should be easy.

[piccola]

Unfortunately, not retired. Took off 25 years to take care of my children, so I'll be working untill I'm 100 if I live that long!! But I teach, so I have the summer off.

I wanted to have new Pirelli tires installed on the Mod Quad before I leave. I called the shop and they said they have to take the whole trike kit off to change the rear tire. They charged me $500 to install it. NOT going to have the whole thing removed before I ride off this summer. The tires are in good shape, I just wanted to be sure I wouldn't have a problem.

The company who made the trike kit is in IL, not far from my cousin in MI, who will be the end of my practice trip. I may go out to their shop and have them install new tires while I'm out there. They only charge $200 to install the kit from scratch.

My targeted departure date is Sun, July 10, '11. I'm planning to visit my daughter and college roommate in Ohio, then ride on to Jackson, MI to my cousin's. If I can't get the tires changed here, then I'll go on to Kankakee before heading back home. I'm allowing about 3 weeks for the trip. I'm guessing I'll really only need 2, but I don't ride in the rain and I'd like to do a little sight seeing too.

[chaz12]

Ya, that is cool. I don't ride in the rain neither.. LOL.. Well, that is a nice job to have. A teacher.. My wife and I, went to her teachers house last year, on the 4th of July. Her teachers are now in their late 50's.. We stayed the night at their home, on Lake of the Ozarks in MO...

I am not planning on leaving, until sometime in 2012.. Probably take a vacation on scooters and go up to Massachusettes. I know I spelled that wrong. My wife wants a Honda Rebel, my son( he is in Afganistan right now) want a Ninja.. But we all may take off together.

My son is in college and 2 in the military. But I am planning a long distance trip.

[piccola]

Chaz,

Please thank your son for his service to our country and tell him to come back home safely. My oldest son was in the first Gulf War. I know how tough it is on parents with a son in a war zone.

MO to MA is a long trip. It would be a great trip with the family!! It takes a lot of planning. I have been planning my practice ride for months. I'm beginning to get really excited about it finally coming up. I went out and bought a rain cover for the 2 overnight bags that will be strapped to the back of the scoot. I bought it at Eastern MT Sports. Cost me $46!! But it is light and packs very small.

[chaz12]

piccola,
Ya, I am proud of my son and scared too. I foundout today, that the 9th of June he will be in Afganistan and his job will be as a front gunner. Meaning one guy is looking for snipers and has a gun. If he is shot, well Allen pulls him out and resumes firing the gun. That is a dangerous position. I can only pray things workout o.k..

MO to MA is about as long, as from MO to the West Coast. I lived on the West Coast until 19. Never been to Maine. Been to SC.. The Smokey Mountains were pimples compared to the Rocky's.. I would like to go to Yellow Stone and the Grand Canyon. Bears at Yellow Stone means I would rent a motel.. lol.. But been to Ohio, pretty flat country. Never on a motorcycle or scooter.. In a pickup.

[piccola]

Sorry to hear about your son's posting. Maybe all our boys and girls will get to come home soon.

Been to Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Go to Grand Canyon first. Awesome in the true meaning of the word. It looks fake!! Plan a little time to walk at least part way down the Bright Angel Trail. It gives you some perspective on the grand scale of the canyon. Bring food and water for your walk and go early in the morning during the warm weather.

The Smokeys are a lot lower than the Rockies, but they sure are pretty. Really enjoyed Smokey MTs Nat. Park. Lots of interesting history there. The coast of Maine is really lovely too. Up in the north there are mountains that are covered with lots of nice evergreens and in the spring there are lots of biting black flies!! Had a great ride up there last summer. But only go to stay one night. I discovered I'm allergic to the bite of the black flies. Had bleeding welts and had to come home the very next day.

I agree, Ohio is flat as a pancake. My daughter lives just outside Akron. I'm going to spend a day or two with her when I ride out in July. I'm really looking forward to the trip. I hope I have good weather. Nothing ruins a scoot trip faster than rain.

[rogernelson]

It was nice to read all of your experiences.

[piccola]

Thanks for your comment, rogernelson. What do you ride? Do you ride just for fun or to work.

[jim63]

Your practice ride sounds like it will be a good one. IMO I think your husband was wise to have to get another bike, especially if you plan to do the long distance trips. Your Honda should serve you well with power, comfort and reliability. A trip to me is about enjoying the ride and taking in the sights. Have a great trip. Also thank your son for service, my youngest son just got back from his 2nd tour in Afghanistan, he is a Marine stationed in NC. My wife and I can relate to your feelings of concern for him.

[piccola]

jim63,

My oldest was a Marine too, but he only served one tour during the first Gulf War. Glad your son is back safely. Hope he doesn't end up in harm's way again. Please thank him for his service.

My sister called this morning and said she wants to go with me on the trip to MI. Company would be nice, but her son is working on a motorcycle she recently bought. He has to drop the height because she is even shorter than I, (I'm 5'2", she is 4'11"). I hope he gets the bike ready in time. I'm leaving on Sun, July 10, weather permitting, not waiting for someone else's motorcycle to be fixed. I'm really looking forward to the trip. Can't wait for my departure date to arrive.

[chaz12]

These are bad boy trikes, created by my uncle. This is my Grandmother sitting on it. She was 88, at the time. The scooter has a suicide clutch, origanally it was a Suzuki 650cc motorcycle before transformed into a trike. The Suzuki was bought at a junkyard and the engine was rebuilt with some parts dust painted yellow to stand out. It has the axle of a car and driveshaft driven verses a chain. He has 5 or 6 of these trikes made from a 650cc Suzuki. Why from a Suzuki verses a Harley was the Harley he had difficulty hooking up the driveshaft verses a chain. He wanted the driveshaft look..

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[usnavyret]

god bless your son. my son just joined the army and he went sniper so i to feel what your feeling.

[chaz12]

Ya, people do not realize how hard it is on you. Thinking it might be the last time seeing your son alive. It makes one look at life alot differently. God bless your son too.

[piccola]

Chaz,
That is a really NEAT trike. Did your grandmother ever ride on one of the trikes?

Hope both the boys will be safe where ever they are sent.

[chaz12]

No, my grandmother was just sitting on it. She is 92 this year. A little to old for riding. Thanks for being concerned about my boys. I pray it all ends quickly, so they don't have to fire weapons.