Transcontinental ride (July 1, 2011)

[djez]

I wish i can make a ride report as good as this I will try my best once i finished my trip. I'm finalizing the video from Beartooth pass although its not HD.

[djez]

http://youtu.be/O-HfXlFDl0Q
Here is the video, we made the right call to spend the night in Cody before doing the pass( huge black clouds on top of the mountains). The weather did caught us at red lodge.

[Vlad]

Your route was fantastic! Thanks for the pics Vlad. Good ride report. Glad Jesse is ok. I rode with friends out to the westcoast last year. Can't wait to do it again next year. So many places to see.

Thank you for reading/watching and commenting. You are right about so many places to see. I couldn't imagine this continent would be so entertaining. I guess we all fall for stereotypes like the "boring prairies", but I proclaim that no road is boring if you have a powerful enough bike and can ride it in any way you feel entertaining. In other words, give me the prairies of South Dakota or the deserts of Arizona and new Mexico any time.

great ride report, Vlad! I've gotta do one of these trips sometime in the future.

Thanks and go for it. If you step out of your comfort zone, don't wait for the right circumstances, don't over-plan or over-think, everything falls into place as you go. All challenges, mishaps and bad days eventually turn out to be the best part of the story. I know I'll remember 47 degrees through Albuquerque and miserable 400Km through the Rockies at 9 degrees, rain and fog as much as I will Beartooth and Crater Lake. I'll never forget the face of the gas station attendant in Nipigon when I told him I intend to sleep in my own bed that night - it was 10 degrees and the fog/drizzle was so thick I barely found the way out of the parking lot 1200Km from Toronto. Stubborn as I am, I kept plowing until the weather got better and arrived home safe and sound.

http://youtu.be/O-HfXlFDl0Q
Here is the video, we made the right call to spend the night in Cody before doing the pass( huge black clouds on top of the mountains). The weather did caught us at red lodge.

Awesome video Jesse, the best one so far! It made me want to hit the road immediately.

[Carmen]

Thanks for sharing Vlad. I read it all and really enjoyed it.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to do a similar trip some day.

[Vlad]

Thanks for sharing Vlad. I read it all and really enjoyed it.

I'm glad you liked it Carmen. Knowing other people are inspired by it makes the sharing worthwhile.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to do a similar trip some day.

I'm sure you will. Remember, it's much easier than it seems and you don't have to spend a lot of time or money. Obstacles are all in our head and - they are nothing but excuses.

[Carmen]

My Bandit has 63,00 kms and like yours it has proved very reliable. I'm curious about the work you've had to do on your bike considering it has 130,000 km. Have you had to replace your alternator, starter, or other electrical issues?

[Vlad]

No issues whatsoever Carmen, reliable as an anvil. I've done a few mods over the years, but no major parts needed to be replaced yet. Of the things that needed work most notable are:

- One of the front disks recently became loose, rattling like a tambourine . I banged the rivets into submission until I replace the whole wheel with a spare better one I have.

- I've disassembled and cleaned the forks last year and they are OK, but I'm considering replacing them with a fresh set I already have and doing the valve mod this winter.

- I never had any electrical issues but still did a major harness overhaul two winters ago. You can read all about it here.

- Bandit headlights are a well documented Achile's heel. I refurbished mine twice, but they are still far from good. Luckily, I don't ride at night that much.

- Rear and then front wheel bearings were replaced just as a matter of regular maintenance. I had no problems with them.

- Steering stem bearings were shot and replaced with roller bearings last winter.

- I have purchased a manual cam chain adjuster and will probably put it in soon. I think I hear some valve-train noise that wasn't present before, but the bike runs like a dream.

Other than those, it's been just regular maintenance and a ton of little mods, from handlebar riser to grip heaters to air horn to oil drain valve to oil filter adapter to... I have to admit that I have somewhat neglected regular valve adjustments and carburetor synching, but it never caused any problems. The last valve check was done after 24,000km but everything was within accepted tolerances. It's been 30,000Km now and I think I pushed it far enough . To my defense, I always used only the best oil and filters and changed them in regular intervals.

137,577Km and counting

P.S. You can join my little group of bandits for a ride and see for yourself. Just shoot me an e-mail.