Touring in Northern California
(Reprinted w/o permission as originally published @ http://howto.werideonsundays.com & starry-gurl.blogspot.com/2006/12/motorcycle-touring-in-united-states)
http://starry-gurl.blogspot.com/2006/12/motorcycle-touring-in-united-states.html
Motorcycle Touring in the United States
Motorcycle Touring in the United States is unbelievably fun and many people who have toured Europe and the United States on a Motorcycle often say that they had more fun in the United States. We simply have more scenic highways, roads, forests, canyons and space to do it in than in Europe’s largest countries. Motorcycle touring in the United States is truly the epitome of freedom.
Often as one travels the United States you see folks on motorcycles with saddle packs and gear stopped for a break and when you talk to them you find they are touring our nation on motorcycles. Well at the price of fuel that is a good way to do things. Some of these people are from the United States and some are from other countries enjoying the Euro Strength against the Dollar and they are having a literal blast cruising the highways and back roads of America.
Camping on a Motorcycle
All your camping gear has got to fit inside that limited space.
Camping on a motorcycle can present a real challenge, because you can't carry much weight or volume, and there are few places to store your equipment on a motor bike.Your motorcycle should already have it's own small tool kit, but it could be wise to carry a spare inner-tube and a pump. In case you get a flat tire 50 miles from nowhere. Here's where membership of an auto club would be a good idea, just as carrying a cell phone (mobile phone) would also be cheap insurance.
The only other thing you need when camping on a motorcycle is a sense of humor and a large helping of common sense. You also need to show courtesy for other road users. For camp lighting carry a small flashlight and / or a candle. Some will take a mechanic's 'trouble light' which has a long cord and runs of the motorcycle's 12 volt battery. If you're going to be in a campground with mains electricity, by all means carry a mains-powered 'trouble light'. A change of clothing and extra socks and underwear. Toilet kit - toothbrush, toothpaste or powder, half a bar of soap (or a small cake or soap from a hotel), a small towel, comb, a few band aids, some asprin or Tylenol pain killers, and any feminine hygiene stuff or prescription medicines needed.
Hennessey Hammock Hennessy's 5 hammock models including the 2.5 pound Expedition ($119; 888-539-2930 www.hennessyhammock.com ) can be suspended in less than 3 minutes. You enter the Expedition through a bottom side slit that automatically Velcro's together once you're inside. And you can sleep anywhere there's a pair of trees, over almost any terrain, including the sharp rocks, steep slopes, fetid swamps, and steaming buffalo dung that typically foil tents. Unlike backyard hammocks, the Hennessy has a proprietary "integral ridgeline" design that maintains the shape of the hammock and helps you sleep level on your back and just as comfortably on your side. The Hennessy Hammock is shy on floor space and pretty much useless above tree line, but for solo campers who trek in forested terrain, its birth may mark the end of tent bound nights.
Tires for Street Motorcycles
Buying tires for street motorcycles is only the beginning of the process of owning a pair of tires. It should always be remembered to buy good tires for street motorcycles, and to keep them properly inflated. This is because, however well constructed a tire may be, it may fail in its use as a result of punctures, improper inflation or overloading. New tires should never be subjected to maximum power or hard cornering, as this lessens the life of the tire.
When buying tires for street motorcycles, never mix radials with non-radials. Nor should a tube be fitted in a radial motorcycle tire, nor a radial tire be fitted on a rim requiring a tube. To maintain tire safety and mileage, always maintain the motorcycle’s recommended air pressure in both tires. Riding on tires with too little air pressure is dangerous, builds excessive heat and also increases fuel consumption. Similarly, riding on tires with too much air is dangerous, as the tires may break or puncture on sudden impact. Overloading a street motorcycle causes excessive heat to the tires, which may inflict serious personal injury.
All street motorcycle tires have the tire size specified by the manufacturer. The letters S, H, V and Z found after the size marking on tires are the speed ratings. It is very important to correctly match front and rear tires, as riding motorcycles with improper mix of radial construction tires is dangerous. Even fitting a new front tire with a worn rear tire may cause instability. All tire manufacturers recommend their tires not be used in excess of legal speed limits. This is because riding at high speed is dangerous, and can cause motorcycle accidents. Some tires for street motorcycles have letters bearing ‘speed rating’ designations that indicate the tires’ design speed capability. This is to allow comparison of the different speed capabilities of tires, to replace speed-rated tires with another tire of the same speed rating.
How To Repair Motorcycle Saddle Bags
Motorcycle parts like saddles are provided with products that can make them look new and desirable again. These repairs are very easy. In fact, sometimes it only takes a visit to your reliable motorcycle store or home depot.
Saddle bag with cracks on it are not pleasing to the eyes. In addition, it contributes to the overall unattractiveness of the bike.
How do I do repairs? Actually, a friend taught me how to. First, for cracks, you can use tape on the inside and pressurize thick glue with a piece of flexible plastic into the crack. You need not use sand paper because the glue and plastic will be almost unseen. For best results, you can use plastic pipe glue that can be found in the plumbing section. This glue dries up even without heat application.
ABS shavings can also be used to repair saddle bags. It dissolves effortlessly into the liquid within five to ten minutes. If you want a richer mixture, add more shavings. Mix it properly. To make the surroundings of the crack rough, use some 220 grit sand paper. When it is already rough, apply the mixture over and into the repair area. In order not to seep out or at least minimize the chance, begin from the inside of the bag and place some foil on the other side. You can clean messy edges with wet or dry sandpaper. Make sure that ventilation is good. If you can have a fan blowing away from you - the better. It helps in achieving easy and mess-free repairs.
Other miracle products are the liquid plastic by melting ABS in a solvent, thick black plastic that repairs without the application of heat and black ABS Cement. Repairing can be that easy even without heat!
I have repaired saddle bags before - some having cracks and some are far worse. My tools are the tape, plastic pipe glue, shavings and the likes. They can make miracles. Fiberglass is also a solution. Nonetheless, it is hard to have permanent bonding to the plastic since it is slippery. However, you can try them too.
http://starry-gurl.blogspot.com/2006/12/motorcycle-touring-in-united-states.html
Motorcycle Touring in the United States
Motorcycle Touring in the United States is unbelievably fun and many people who have toured Europe and the United States on a Motorcycle often say that they had more fun in the United States. We simply have more scenic highways, roads, forests, canyons and space to do it in than in Europe’s largest countries. Motorcycle touring in the United States is truly the epitome of freedom.
Often as one travels the United States you see folks on motorcycles with saddle packs and gear stopped for a break and when you talk to them you find they are touring our nation on motorcycles. Well at the price of fuel that is a good way to do things. Some of these people are from the United States and some are from other countries enjoying the Euro Strength against the Dollar and they are having a literal blast cruising the highways and back roads of America.
Camping on a Motorcycle
All your camping gear has got to fit inside that limited space.
Camping on a motorcycle can present a real challenge, because you can't carry much weight or volume, and there are few places to store your equipment on a motor bike.Your motorcycle should already have it's own small tool kit, but it could be wise to carry a spare inner-tube and a pump. In case you get a flat tire 50 miles from nowhere. Here's where membership of an auto club would be a good idea, just as carrying a cell phone (mobile phone) would also be cheap insurance.
The only other thing you need when camping on a motorcycle is a sense of humor and a large helping of common sense. You also need to show courtesy for other road users. For camp lighting carry a small flashlight and / or a candle. Some will take a mechanic's 'trouble light' which has a long cord and runs of the motorcycle's 12 volt battery. If you're going to be in a campground with mains electricity, by all means carry a mains-powered 'trouble light'. A change of clothing and extra socks and underwear. Toilet kit - toothbrush, toothpaste or powder, half a bar of soap (or a small cake or soap from a hotel), a small towel, comb, a few band aids, some asprin or Tylenol pain killers, and any feminine hygiene stuff or prescription medicines needed.
Hennessey Hammock Hennessy's 5 hammock models including the 2.5 pound Expedition ($119; 888-539-2930 www.hennessyhammock.com ) can be suspended in less than 3 minutes. You enter the Expedition through a bottom side slit that automatically Velcro's together once you're inside. And you can sleep anywhere there's a pair of trees, over almost any terrain, including the sharp rocks, steep slopes, fetid swamps, and steaming buffalo dung that typically foil tents. Unlike backyard hammocks, the Hennessy has a proprietary "integral ridgeline" design that maintains the shape of the hammock and helps you sleep level on your back and just as comfortably on your side. The Hennessy Hammock is shy on floor space and pretty much useless above tree line, but for solo campers who trek in forested terrain, its birth may mark the end of tent bound nights.
Tires for Street Motorcycles
Buying tires for street motorcycles is only the beginning of the process of owning a pair of tires. It should always be remembered to buy good tires for street motorcycles, and to keep them properly inflated. This is because, however well constructed a tire may be, it may fail in its use as a result of punctures, improper inflation or overloading. New tires should never be subjected to maximum power or hard cornering, as this lessens the life of the tire.
When buying tires for street motorcycles, never mix radials with non-radials. Nor should a tube be fitted in a radial motorcycle tire, nor a radial tire be fitted on a rim requiring a tube. To maintain tire safety and mileage, always maintain the motorcycle’s recommended air pressure in both tires. Riding on tires with too little air pressure is dangerous, builds excessive heat and also increases fuel consumption. Similarly, riding on tires with too much air is dangerous, as the tires may break or puncture on sudden impact. Overloading a street motorcycle causes excessive heat to the tires, which may inflict serious personal injury.
All street motorcycle tires have the tire size specified by the manufacturer. The letters S, H, V and Z found after the size marking on tires are the speed ratings. It is very important to correctly match front and rear tires, as riding motorcycles with improper mix of radial construction tires is dangerous. Even fitting a new front tire with a worn rear tire may cause instability. All tire manufacturers recommend their tires not be used in excess of legal speed limits. This is because riding at high speed is dangerous, and can cause motorcycle accidents. Some tires for street motorcycles have letters bearing ‘speed rating’ designations that indicate the tires’ design speed capability. This is to allow comparison of the different speed capabilities of tires, to replace speed-rated tires with another tire of the same speed rating.
How To Repair Motorcycle Saddle Bags
Motorcycle parts like saddles are provided with products that can make them look new and desirable again. These repairs are very easy. In fact, sometimes it only takes a visit to your reliable motorcycle store or home depot.
Saddle bag with cracks on it are not pleasing to the eyes. In addition, it contributes to the overall unattractiveness of the bike.
How do I do repairs? Actually, a friend taught me how to. First, for cracks, you can use tape on the inside and pressurize thick glue with a piece of flexible plastic into the crack. You need not use sand paper because the glue and plastic will be almost unseen. For best results, you can use plastic pipe glue that can be found in the plumbing section. This glue dries up even without heat application.
ABS shavings can also be used to repair saddle bags. It dissolves effortlessly into the liquid within five to ten minutes. If you want a richer mixture, add more shavings. Mix it properly. To make the surroundings of the crack rough, use some 220 grit sand paper. When it is already rough, apply the mixture over and into the repair area. In order not to seep out or at least minimize the chance, begin from the inside of the bag and place some foil on the other side. You can clean messy edges with wet or dry sandpaper. Make sure that ventilation is good. If you can have a fan blowing away from you - the better. It helps in achieving easy and mess-free repairs.
Other miracle products are the liquid plastic by melting ABS in a solvent, thick black plastic that repairs without the application of heat and black ABS Cement. Repairing can be that easy even without heat!
I have repaired saddle bags before - some having cracks and some are far worse. My tools are the tape, plastic pipe glue, shavings and the likes. They can make miracles. Fiberglass is also a solution. Nonetheless, it is hard to have permanent bonding to the plastic since it is slippery. However, you can try them too.
Labels: camping, maintenance/wrenching, touring
posted by DAbbott @ 5:59 PM
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