Sunday, August 5, 2012

Hard To Stay Focused

It has been a challenging week after being on the road for 26 days. Sitting in my office, my mind keeps drifting to sights, sounds and smells along the road from the trip. My commute seems way too short and even the longer "scenic route" has lost some of its appeal. I think I have become addicted to motorcycle trips. Or maybe just traveling in general but riding does seem to add a lot to the experience. I was surprised to see that I've put on almost 2000 miles since Williams Lake, BC, when the bike turned over to 70k miles.

I posted on one of the BMW forums asking about my weird "shimmy" on fast sweeping turns such as you find on Interstate highways and one of the first responses asked if I had any load up high and behind the rear wheel. Such as a top box. I think that I will spend some time this winter trying to get my Reynolds rear rack installed as that would put the top box about 4" further forward and all of the weight would be supported directly by the rear subframe instead of the seat pan. To use the Reynolds rear rack, I would either need to find their rear bag mounts or modify the stock ones.


Yesterday evening, I finished unpacking the bike and removed the passenger backrest and top box and re-installed the factory rack. The bike looks smaller without the top box though I don't expect much, if any, change in handling. Plus we have no high speed highways up here. I also, believe it or not, washed some of the dirt and bugs off. Still can't see much through the windshield but the painted parts almost look shiny. They really don't design motorcycles to be easy to clean. I don't know how some people keep their bikes so spotless.

I just ordered another Heidenau K60 rear tire from Adventure Cycleworks here in town since they were willing to order the tire and not charge me extra for shipping. I'm not in a hurry to get the new tire. Next Spring would be fine. The Shinko that I picked up in Corvallis is fine for the wonderful roads in the lower 48 but every time I've hit dirt or gravel, the rear end wants to misbehave and go its own way. On the way down, I didn't have to do much when I hit gravel sections on the road including an unexpected section in the middle of a curve.

17 comments:

  1. I feel the same way after every road trip, I never want it to end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Much more so after the bike trip. I've taken the same trip many times in a car/truck/suv/RV and even though I didn't want those trips to end either, it was easy to get back to the routine. Less so with the bike.

      Delete
  2. I have yet to experience a long ride, but even after a day on the bike my 15 minute commute seems dissatisfactory and almost a bother for the amount of gear I am putting on. Today I was on the bike all day & it was hot.

    Richard what is the difference between the Shinko and heidenau tires?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Heidenau K60 is a dual sport tire. Not a knobby but a much more aggressive tread. The Shinko has very little tread but it works great on pavement.

      Delete
  3. I so know how you feel!! I could easily do another 50 days on the road.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember thinking that your 7 weeks was a much more reasonable duration. After hitting Santa Cruz, my turn around spot, it was a little depressing to think that the trip was half over.

      Delete
  4. I wanted to hop back on the bike and turn around the instant we came home. Still haven't washed it though, waiting for rain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's how I felt. I didn't get enough riding in I guess. Need a longer trip....

      Delete
  5. Yep.moilburner and I understand and agree. How bout we all form a roving band of riders?

    I'm glad you spent a little time lavishing some attention on the bike. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beemergirl - would to be part of the band of moto rovers.

      Delete
    2. Sounds like you two (three) are forming some sort of "gang".

      Not much lavishing going on around here yet. Still waiting for parts to get here from where ever I ordered them from.

      Delete
  6. My comfort limit for time gone from home is not as long as some peoples. After 2 weeks on the road, I begin to miss home. I'm OK with longer distances, just not long away times I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know what my comfort level is but I was wondering why you had gone back home before travelling west again to Sturgis. Now it makes sense.

      Delete
  7. It's tough heading back to the work routine after a nice vacation.


    ...that reminds me....Sam hasn't had her bath yet this year...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Still haven't gotten back into the "routine". Maybe I need a vacation...

      Delete
  8. I soooo hear you! After 28 days on the road - on the 29th day post-trip-partum depression set in again for me. The bike was unpacked, covered and I wondered if there was any reason to get out of bed, really? A little ride just doesn't cut it - you need a goal, a real destination, and days and days and days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Post-trip-partum depression". That is a good way to describe it.This evening, there is a meet-up with other BMW airhead riders. Maybe that will help....

      Delete