Long trip coming.

[Firea100]

Well I've secured a deal with a fellow in Boise Idaho for an even swap trade for my 2005 Dodge Rumble Bee pick up truck for a 2000 Valkyrie Interstate with California Sidecar Trike. My truck has 150K miles, no rust or accidents. The Valk has 44669 miles and by the pics I've seen seems to be in pretty fair shape. I've done a TON of buying over time from Craigslist and eBay. I can say happily that I've never been burnt by the seller. I don't want comments, necessarily, about the value of the trade. What I'm concerned about is the 2000 mile trip home in the saddle solo.

The current owner says we can go over anything that I want to ensure it's in tip top shape to make the trip. The fellow is a "chapter leader" in the Christian Motorcycle Association in Idaho. Seems like a straight shooter. I get feelings about things like this. I'm comfortable with it. I'm going to take my trailer that I pull behind my standard in the back of the truck so I can come home with more stuff (tools, warmer clothes, lighter clothes and anything else I think I might need) My longest ride was from Detroit to Ashville with the guys from the Rogue Riders here in the Detroit area to Inzane 14 two years ago.

I intend to take I-80, basically, across from Indiana. I guess I'll open it up to comments about the ride home. Any constructive comments are welcome. I plan on leaving the Detroit area on Sunday 10-18 and want to arrive back in Chicago sometime on Friday 10-23 for the weekend with family there. My wife, daughter and grandson will meet me there by cage. Then Sunday, I'll (we) will finish the trip back home to Detroit. Questions, comments?
Thanks,
Larry in East China Mi.

 

[Gorilla]

Larry sounds like you got it under control. As far as the ride back 400 to 500 miles a day is doable. The only thing to be concerned about I would think is your fuel plan. I would suggest setting up what your mileage will be for the first couple of fill ups. Be conservative and fill up early until you can be sure of the MPG. Also verify with the seller what size the tank is 5 or 6 gallons. I expect you will be stopping for gas at 150 miles or less. That means 3 to 4 stops a day. Stay hydrated and keep your energy up. If you feel tired STOP and rest arrive safe.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Sounds like a fun ride. You might want your chase vehicle to carry an extra gallon of gas for you. Just in case.
FYI. I think you made a good deal.
Try not to pay attention to dashboard things you are not as familiar with and watch the road.

 

[Firea100]

Regarding the chase vehicle, I don't have one. I'm driving my truck to trade and riding the Valkyrie home. I'm an early riser, so I'll be getting on the road at sunrise BUT won't drive at night. I'm going to take a 1 gallon gas can with me, just in case. I have one of those tire plug guns that will be coming also. A Mopar air compressor that replaces some spare tires in some of their smaller cars. It has two air lines one for just air and one for injecting tire "Slime" that can seal leaks in tires. I also have a Porsche scissor jack. The reason that I mention that is it's aluminum. Weighs about a pound and a half! I'll be carrying a spare hub assembly for the trailer.

 

[Ozarkryder]

You may want to re-think the part about hitting the road at sunrise and have a nice leisurely breakfast and take some time getting ready for the day. As you are going west to east, you'll be riding into the sun. Not good for safety. I like the early start, too, but when it is into the sun I like to wait until the sun is shaded by my helmet visor without having to unnaturally tip my head down.

And a few things you might consider as "must have' for your trip:

 

[Firea100]

Definitely agree about the sun rising in the East. Had not thought about that! Guess that's why I'm glad I posted on the board, to get thoughts and ideas from our group of riders!
THANK YOU!!
Naturally, I'll have a cell phone, cash and cards. I was considering some sort of personal protection, but alas, I don't own one and would never borrow one.

 

[chris vickers]

A list of potential Motorcycle repair shops along your ride might not hurt just in case. Tools is an obvious, maybe a can a fix a flat. Extra Battery, You think Im joking but recently had to get a buddy to drive 40 miles to get me one, If the battery or alternator go out you will wish you had a extra battery

Safe Travels

Oh yeah, One of those chargeable units that you can charge your phone from

 

[Marc H]

you probably already did this but make sure the trike has a trailer hitch.It would definitely be a major surprise to get there and find out it didn't.

 

[Gorilla]

Just a thought if you have Roadside Assistance (you should get it) make sure it will cover your trike. Also make sure you get the best coverage because you might be in an area where 35 miles just will not hack it. The knowledge of the good coverage is worth the peace of mind.

 

[Firea100]

Mark H. Yes I have a new battery ready to go with me. I have Progressive Insurance, the roadside assistance covers the trike. Trike has a hitch, talked at length about different trailers with previous owner. My plan is to keep on I-80 most all of the trip. I'm bringing my snowmobile suit, rain gear, flannel lined jeans, regular jeans, long and short sleeved tee shirts, sweat shirts, all kinds of different gloves and different thicknesses of socks.

 

[Firea100]

Well I left out of the Greater Detroit area about 1500 hrs. It's mid-night Detroit time and I'm sitting at the Iowa-80 truckstop having breakfast! I've put on almost 450 miles so far today. I think I'll find a quiet parking space and try to get a little shut eye. Prices on fuel is about $2.18.9 a gallon. Not bad. That's what I was able to get it for in Detroit. I've averaged 16.7 MPG on this tank. A lot of city expressway type driving. Once I get out on the open roads, I expect about 17MPG or so. Lots of LEO's on these roads. I've resigned to the fact that I'm not going to try to beat any land speed records on this trip! Definitely don't want any tickets. I'm able to drive at night in the cage (pick-up) but will not do any night driving on the trike on the way home. Well my breakfast is here so I'll stop typing and start eating! Next installment tomorrow!
Larry from East China Mi.

 

[geol]

When you come back on the trike, keep in mind that 25-30 mpg would be expected. Trikes tend to use a lot more gas than a 2 wheeler. When I drove 1500 miles from E. Tn. last weekend that is what I got on my GL1800 conversion. If you see a small bottle of windex, that would be a good idea if there are still bugs out where you are. The windshield on my Goldwing was all the way up and stuck that way. I had to look through it as a result and the evening sun made it miserable into the setting sun. Hopefully you have a power out on the new trike as I didn't and it made it very necessary to keep track of charging in the motel at night.

As far as trading a cage with high miles for a trike... my opinion is that you stole the trike bwhahaha The Valk seems to be one of the finest conversion bases out there! Good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

[Firea100]

I was hoping to get into Utah this evening but I only made it to Rawlins Wyoming. As soon as it got dark i couldn't keep driving. So I've got about 8 hrs left to Boise. I can do that early and be there in plenty of time to do paperwork and get back on the road. I'm sure I'll get out of town and immediatly get a room and start with a full head of steam in the morning.
I'm going to carry an extra 5 gallons of gas. Coming through the mountains showed me that the gas stations are few and far between in that area. If you have a car or truck you have a longer range than with the trike. So I'll post tomorrow when I actually lay my eyes on the trike.

 

[Firea100]

Well I made it safely into Boise this afternoon. The previous owners, Fritz and his wife Marne are really super nice folks. You don't often meet folks this nice. The trike is as described, with some minor scratches and chips to be expected from 40K miles and 15 years of age. Chrome still very shiny and paint is still bright and clean. The trike drives fine, although there is a low speed front wheel wobble. It isn't constant but there at different times. We looked at the triple tree bearings and the front axle bearings, all seemed to be ok. I think it may need a fork brace.

Haven't driven it at high speed yet, but we'll see how that goes tomorrow, I've just got a room a few minutes ago. We were having trouble with the lighting on the trailer, more specifically the wiring on the bike with regards to the pigtail for the trailer connection. We could get running and turn signals but could not get the brake lights to work. We've set up a pair of magnetic lights to work temporarily until get home. Other than that everything seems to work well. I'll report back tomorrow after I have a few miles under my belt on it.
Larry

 

[Marc H]

Nice trike.Enjoy the ride home.

 

[geol]

Most trikes want to bounce around a bit because of the increased rake at very bumpy slow speeds. You should be OK. A fork brace would help that...

 

[kybigmac]

Great looking trike, you done good! My GW trike had that wobble at around 35 mph, I put a fork brace on and stopped about 90% of it. Have a safe trip home.

 

[Firea100]

On my first day on the road I managed 454 miles. Took U.S. 30 East, won't do that again! The scenry was ok, and the lack of gas stations was almost a problem. I am carrying 5 gals.of fuel but still didn't like the feeling of not knowing where there was "civilization" ahead! The trike is averaging about 26 mpg. I'm traveling with a trailer in tow behind it and have been traveling about 70-80 mph. So I guess I shouldn't expect much more than that under those conditions. The Valkyrie Interstate has a 7.5 gal fuel tank where my Valk Standard has a 5.5 gal tank.

I wish the trike had a 10-11 gallon tank. I hate stopping so often. I'm hoping, now that I'm out of the big mountains that I'll get a little improvement ( also the farther East you go the speed limits start to lower from 80mph down as low as 65mph.) It's not a money issue more of a "wonder if I'll get to the next fuel stop issue". Then I find myself filling at 1/2 tank,which wastes time in my opinion.

The trike is performing really well. Although the low speed tire wobble will have to be corrected when I get home. Another issue is the exhaust system, the PO has 4" "shotgun" pipes, with I don't know what kind of mufflers ahead of them, in the system. I know all the talk about "loud pipes save lives" BUT the drone from the exhaust system is deafening!

They also hang quite low at the back end. I've scraped them on several occasions, not paying attention to the driveway ramps. But for a trike that someone else has owned, it is a very nice ride. I will be adding the Goldwing reverse to it over the winter. Three people have run over to help me push, asking if it was broke! Well it's daybreak so I'll end this post until i stop for the night.

Larry from East China, somewhere in Wyoming!

 

[Firea100]

Well, got about 300 miles in before it started raining THEN Started sleeting!! Sitting in an Iron Skillet restaurant, waitress said my bottomless cup of coffee would hold me until Saturday!! Trying to look at my options, not a lot of them!

On the plus side the trike did well on the rain soaked road!

 

[Papa Zook]

So now you're gonna have to stop every 50 miles to pee...

 

[geol]

I helped my Mom move from Ohio to Florida by driving up to Ohio on my 82 GS1100. I drove up from Maryland where we lived. Got her truck packed and her and my sister on the road and was getting ready to get back to Maryland. Temps dropped and it started raining... temps were in the 50s, no windshield and only a rainsuit with a light jacket.

Stopped at first opportunity and bought a bunch of Sunday newspapers and rolled the papers around me under jacket and under rainsuit. I rode pretty much non-stop all the way back home except for gas as I looked like the Pillbury doughboy and was still cold. Got a ticket on IH270 above DC by a MD state patrol for going 85 mph. That was over 30 plus years ago... to be young and foolish!

Hope the trike provides better protection than an unfaired GS1100 bwhahaha

 

[Firea100]

Did 434 miles today in the rain, sleet and snow! I'm in Big Springs Nebraska for the night, trying to dry out and warm up! Been here about an hour, still shaking! Looks to be more of the same going into Chicago. I'll dress differently, i'll wear snowmobile suit then rain gear over it to try to keep it dry. Just looked at tomorrow's weather. Looks like no rain in my general direction. Cross my frozen fingers!!

 

[Firea100]

Of course the previous owner wanted to have a toast before I left!!!
...Just kidding!!!:LooksGreat:

 

[Firea100]

Well I made 386 miles today. 1278 total for the trip thus far. Great riding weather today. Partly sunny, a little breezy but the trike acted like it was on rails! The wind did not effect it at all! The only thing that bugs me is the wobble at low speeds. I don't know, could it be the raked triple tree? Other than that I'm really happy with my trade!

Should hit Chicago tomorrow then on to East China Mi. on Sunday.

This morning as I entered the expressway I was behind a semi. We were in single file because of construction. Once it opened up to full lanes I continued to "draft" him (at a safe distance) and he knew I was there. I went 148 miles on that fuel fill up.

My mileage had been averaging about 26-27 mpg. When I did the math on the "drafting" fill up, I averaged 33.72 mpg!!!

The next fill up with no drafting gave me 28.36 mpg. I guess that stuff really works!!

I think once I shed the trailer the mileage will get even better.

Next report, tomorrow.

 

[gerald martin]

long trip coming

Haven't heard about the rest of your trip. how did you make out. Nice trike by the way. I ride 2015 freewheeler but if I didn't have that the Valkyrie would be my next choice, then if I couldn't get that I would build a Frankenstein

 

[Firea100]

Well, I'm writing this from my LazyBoy in my own living room! I arrived some time after 6pm safe , sound and half deaf!! I really have to do something with it! From what I can see, I have the 3 exhaust tubes going directly into a 4-5 ft long 4" "shotgun" tube! My ears are still ringing. Anyway the trike ran great and I'm really happy with it!Can't wait 'til tomorrow to go to breakfast and show it off to my buddies! Road grime and all, hey, I earned it!!!

Nighty Night Time, from East China Mi.