Longest Ride?
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 714
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Longest Ride?
My best friend and I are going to take a cross country trip next year. I wasn't planning on using the Hawk but I think it would be cool to try it or just a fairly long ride up the East Coast. We were thinking about doing about 500 miles a day. Anybody on here ever go for an extended ride on their VTR? What mods did you do? Any problems?
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MotoGP
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,553
From: South Texas
The longest day I've done is 650 but I had mine setup for touring: VFR tank, vfr seat with sargent foam, db screen, superbike bar kit, throttle lock, and lowered pegs. That day was part of a 1600+ mile weekend.
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Superstock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 266
From: Portland, OR
Well, he's got me beat by about double, considering my longest has been around 300, as part of a 900ish mile weekend. But the only thing I've done to my bike is Moriwaki rearsets. Considering you have to stop every 140 miles or so, it's not -to- bad, and considering cross-country typically includes leisurely, you'll prolly be able to stop for more than just long enough to fill up the tank.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 147
longest ride
I did it 9 years ago on a stock cbr600F3 (Virginia to Sturgis and back in 2 weeks). All I can say is get a sergeant seat. We averaged 9 hours a day on the bike and the only thing that really hurt was my rear....if you know what i mean. The seat and the handlebars are the biggest improvements you could make.
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World Champion
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 105,287
From: Fulton, MO
985 miles in 14 hours, straight through from St. Louis to Charleston, SC. Sargent seat saved my life. Stock bars were fine but fighting the air for that long put a crick in my neck that lasted a day.
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 714
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Thanks for the replies. I've had a few 400 mile Sundays in the mountains. So I guess I'll get a good seat before I plan a long weekend. I'm really eyeing the Triumph Sprint for my cross country trip. It's the best looking non I-4 sport tourer I can find.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 203
From: Belgium
One day: 1150 km in one day with cracked in crash cranckase cover plugged with "liquid weld", right fairing held with cable ties and right footrest composed of remains of original, 3 meters of wire and 2 alien keys. And still Shawk ate less oil than old R1 
Multidays: 3700+ km out of which only 200-300 km was motorway, rest local roads and canyons (Alps) in 6 days. No probs at all - Shawk is up for it.
Multidays: 3700+ km out of which only 200-300 km was motorway, rest local roads and canyons (Alps) in 6 days. No probs at all - Shawk is up for it.
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Squid
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 32
From: Shreveport, Louisiana
I purchased my '98 SH on the last Tuesday of May this year. I got on it Thursday afternoon and rode it to Houston, Tx. from Shreveport, La. Got up Friday morning and rode from Houston to Austin, Tx. to attend the ROT Rally for the third time. Rode all over Austin Friday and Saturday. Got up Sunday morning and rode it back home to Shreveport, La. I had a great time and it wasn't all that bad on the ***!! My right wrist does seem to want to go numb though. All in all it's a great ride! I will confess that I may be more partial to my '85 VF1000R though.....I can go a hell of a lot farther before having to fuel up!!
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 701
From: Athens, GA
we did an atlanta to tybee island ride this past weekend...that wasnt too bad, but my leg started cramping up on me on the way home... i did athens to tampa, fla and back once and that was torture because i was by myself...so boring.....as long as im riding with people i have fun but long trips by yourself suck! i dont mind the fuel range so much, because usually by the time i burn through a tank im ready to get my *** off the seat and give it a rest...and have a smoke.
Last edited by Condor; Oct 9, 2007 at 06:09 PM.
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MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,547
From: Way Out West
My longest day on the VTR was about 400 miles. I could do a lot more OK as long as I took plenty of breaks.
My longest straight through trip was from Mpls Mn. to Philly on a 750 Commando. About 1300 miles by the route I took. Rained on me for the last 500 miles.
My longest straight through trip was from Mpls Mn. to Philly on a 750 Commando. About 1300 miles by the route I took. Rained on me for the last 500 miles.
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Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 229
From: Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
I did 1900km (1200 miles) in 2 days on my totally stock VTR earlier this year. The only pain was because I had my weekend's clothes, and wet weather gear, and 10lb of paper for the seminar I was conducting, in a backpack whose straps were too short to let me rest it on the seat, so by 200 miles from home, my shoulders were really feeling the pain.
The bike loved it all.
The bike loved it all.
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Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 121
From: Ohio
I went from Ohio to Knoxville, N.C., the wound my way back into Ohio in 3 days. The GPS logged just over 2300 miles. All on a stock VTR, including bars and seat, only thing I did was make luggage tie-down "arms" in place of my rear pegs. They went all the way from the peg mounts to the tail light, and are quick disconnect. Worked out great to tie stuff on. Had a sleeping bag, 4 man tent, fold-up chair and huge duffel bag on the back seat all strapped to this thing. Also wore my backpack, made a nice backrest....
I made them in about 1 hour, very simple plan. Aluminum angle iron, a block to take place of pegs, all thread to keep them spaced, and some eye hooks to bungee on to. I can post a couple pics if you want an idea of what they look like.
I made them in about 1 hour, very simple plan. Aluminum angle iron, a block to take place of pegs, all thread to keep them spaced, and some eye hooks to bungee on to. I can post a couple pics if you want an idea of what they look like.
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 714
From: Fredericksburg, VA
My first street bike(if that's what you want to call it) was a KLR650. It was kind of like riding a scooter. Fun but I didn't want to anybody to see me on it. I was much happier a couple of months later when I got an F4i. KLR's seem to be more popular these days, but it takes all they've got to get to 70 and they are way too bulky for the dirt. VTR's are pretty cheap I here and people say they are amazing machines. 
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Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 121
From: Ohio
My two biggest things for the KLR are this:
1. I live out in the country, and love to travel gravel roads.
2. I ride all year long, including cold, snowy Ohio winters.
I need a bike with off-road ability, cheap and great mileage. It pretty much covers all those bases.
A buddy of mine bought an '08 KLR he let me take for a spin. What a machine, much nicer than the older model. I hit 110 very quickly, considering it's a thumper dual-sport.
The only thing that has kept me off a bike the past two years were ice storms. Snow, rain, wind, hail and Godzilla aren't all that bad if you have the right gear (and heated grips!). The ice is just too risky for me though.
But...I wouldn't trade my VTR for one. I would rather chew on broken glass than get rid of my baby.
1. I live out in the country, and love to travel gravel roads.
2. I ride all year long, including cold, snowy Ohio winters.
I need a bike with off-road ability, cheap and great mileage. It pretty much covers all those bases.
A buddy of mine bought an '08 KLR he let me take for a spin. What a machine, much nicer than the older model. I hit 110 very quickly, considering it's a thumper dual-sport.
The only thing that has kept me off a bike the past two years were ice storms. Snow, rain, wind, hail and Godzilla aren't all that bad if you have the right gear (and heated grips!). The ice is just too risky for me though.
But...I wouldn't trade my VTR for one. I would rather chew on broken glass than get rid of my baby.
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Superstock
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 427
From: Covington, Georgia
1300plus from Myrtle Beach to Key West and back to Myrtle Beach in 24 hours. One of the stupidest thing's I ever did. Iron Butt Challange. 1000 miles in 24 hours
Last edited by Hawk9807; Oct 11, 2007 at 10:13 AM.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 203
From: Belgium
My two biggest things for the KLR are this:
1. I live out in the country, and love to travel gravel roads.
2. I ride all year long, including cold, snowy Ohio winters.
I need a bike with off-road ability, cheap and great mileage. It pretty much covers all those bases.
A buddy of mine bought an '08 KLR he let me take for a spin. What a machine, much nicer than the older model. I hit 110 very quickly, considering it's a thumper dual-sport.
The only thing that has kept me off a bike the past two years were ice storms. Snow, rain, wind, hail and Godzilla aren't all that bad if you have the right gear (and heated grips!). The ice is just too risky for me though.
But...I wouldn't trade my VTR for one. I would rather chew on broken glass than get rid of my baby.
1. I live out in the country, and love to travel gravel roads.
2. I ride all year long, including cold, snowy Ohio winters.
I need a bike with off-road ability, cheap and great mileage. It pretty much covers all those bases.
A buddy of mine bought an '08 KLR he let me take for a spin. What a machine, much nicer than the older model. I hit 110 very quickly, considering it's a thumper dual-sport.
The only thing that has kept me off a bike the past two years were ice storms. Snow, rain, wind, hail and Godzilla aren't all that bad if you have the right gear (and heated grips!). The ice is just too risky for me though.
But...I wouldn't trade my VTR for one. I would rather chew on broken glass than get rid of my baby.
To be fair - on DR800 I do 400 km to reserve between fill-ups and seating position is sooo relaxed I can do loads of miles. But high-speed it is less fun. So - each bike for different riding. Plus 2-up on DR800 is a pleasure ride.
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