travel across US

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

Hi. I have 1982 cb900f. I am a college student and i am going to transfer to CA from NY. I am thinking to sell my cb900f but now I am thinking to travel to CA by motorcycle. Would it be possible? I know this sounds Crazy but I love this motorcycle and traveling.

the bike has 20.000 miles, new rotors new sparkplugs.
how long would it take????

Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 11:37 am

I'd shoot for 5 days, but then I like to look at the scenery. This would be all daylight riding.

Riding at night is dangerous enough, but add into that unfamiliar roads and lots of wildlife looking to cross them. Not good even in a car or light truck.

You could always have your bike shipped out.

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

I would agree with the wildlife issue. I just got some pics of a deer that ran across a runway when a AWAC (Boeing 707) was landing. It was enough of an impact to fold the nose landing gear. If you want to see send me an email. If it could do that to a big jet, I would hate to see what it would do to me on a bike.

Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 5:44 pm

In 1971, I traded my cb 450 scrambler in on a new gold cb 750. Left Chicago and rode to Phoenix. 2 days of trying to ride on a seat as hard as bricks. Be well prepaired with water and snacks and most of all check your route before you leave. Get a map form mapquest.com. If you have the street address of your destination they can route to the place you want to be. Oh yes I was a lot younger when I did my trip, and determined to get there asap. The speed limit was 70mph but 90mph was my average. There wasn't much traffic back then, and not many interstate hiways. The 2-lane roads of the day were quite good. Have a safe and happy trip.

Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:43 pm

If you decide to ride (as I'm sure you will), and you plan a route that includes I64 or I57 in southern Illinois, let me know. I might tag along for a few, or you can crash for the night.

BTW: I don't know what your plans for a vehicle in Cali might be, but if it's SoCal, you'll wish you still had your bike. Mild year round with a zillion miles of highway.

Guder

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

Thanks Everybody!　 Very Happy

I decided to go to California!

I think it will be very nice chance to have such a good experience.
I will learn how this country is, especially because of I am Japanese. I came here 2 years ago to go to college for learning english first. and now I major in Computer science and learning both.

To Guder:

I am not sure which route I would go, I am going to plan soon though.
As I checked the route with mapquest it did not show route 67 or 54.....but 80 to across IL.
But that is so nice offer so I will probablly take I-54, 67.
I prefer to do that but I will let you know after I really decide to take that.

mnn..but how can I find you?? where are you going to be??
I am Japanese and 20 years old. My cb900f is red and black.
I am planning to leave here, Amsterdam NY, on August 2nd.

the destination is San Jose, CA. I live in Amsterdam NY which is about 50 miles north from Albany NY.

I hope both my body and my bike will be fine untill San Jose...
I changed my mind to not to hurry, I will enjoy the sceanary and see this country. I don't know much about motorcycle, almost nothing about repairing but I do my best to take care my bike.

thanks guys!

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

I doubt that you will be anywhere near North Texas considering that you are going to San Jose. But if you are and run into problems let me know, if you have access to the internet. I check my email throughout the day and night.

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2003 1:38 am

yuth wrote:

I am not sure which route I would go, I am going to plan soon though.
As I checked the route with mapquest it did not show route 67 or 54.....but 80 to across IL.
But that is so nice offer so I will probablly take I-54, 67.
I prefer to do that but I will let you know after I really decide to take that.

About 10 years ago I rode my Triumph Bonneville from St. Louis to Denver and back several times. I-70 through Kansas is, frankly, a horrible stretch to suffer. Colorado, up until you almost reach Denver, is no better. I went through Nebraska on I-80 once to avoid it, but all I remember of it was the wind going straight up my helmet and trying to rip me off the bike, or my head off my neck. It might be nice ride, though, and dropping down through Denver and the Rocky Mountains is probably not something you should miss.

You might want to try I-40 if you are sticking near interstate highways. I've never rode it myself... anyone else have a suggestion?

yuth wrote:

mnn..but how can I find you?? where are you going to be??
I am Japanese and 20 years old. My cb900f is red and black.
I am planning to leave here, Amsterdam NY, on August 2nd. [/i]

!

I live a few miles from the intersection of I-57 and I-64. If you do plan a route that passes here, let me know about what day you think you'll be coming through. I can email you my cell, home, and work numbers. We can meet up for lunch, you can spend the night and save a little cash, or you can at least have a planned waypoint in case you need to make repairs or service.

Guder

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2003 3:45 am

I agree with the I-70 and I-80 summary. Pretty boring in a car even when you switch drivers, I don't think I could enjoy it on a bike.

I-40, if you want to know the prevailing wind direction, just look at how the trees grow, they have a distinct lean to them.

If I was young and going to make that trip, I would probably steer clear of the major interstates, unless I had a good fairing.

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

Quote:

About 10 years ago I rode my Triumph Bonneville from St. Louis to Denver and back several times. I-70 through Kansas is, frankly, a horrible stretch to suffer. Colorado, up until you almost reach Denver, is no better. I went through Nebraska on I-80 once to avoid it, but all I remember of it was the wind going straight up my helmet and trying to rip me off the bike, or my head off my neck. It might be nice ride, though, and dropping down through Denver and the Rocky Mountains is probably not something you should miss
You might want to try I-40 if you are sticking near interstate highways. I've never rode it myself... anyone else have a suggestion?

Thank you so much for your imformaion!! Very Happy

What is in Denver?

Quote:

I live a few miles from the intersection of I-57 and I-64. If you do plan a route that passes here, let me know about what day you think you'll be coming through. I can email you my cell, home, and work numbers. We can meet up for lunch, you can spend the night and save a little cash, or you can at least have a planned waypoint in case you need to make repairs or service.

Thanks!!! but I still don't know I will go through the route....That would be nice but What I want to go through were NiagaraFalls, Cleveland, Chicago, RapidCity, YellowStone.....

[i]I changed my departure to August 5th becase I'd like to take Full Service before I left here and I made an appointment in this monday. The motorcycle shop"Herba Honda"is so busy now so I have to wait one week..

yuth

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

I am looking on a map for a couple of hours but
It's hard to decide the route......

Whether go thorugh Buffalo, Canada, Detroit, Chicago, Rockford, Madison, RapidCity, YellowStone, TwinFalls, Reno......

or Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, I-57, St. Louis KansasCity, Denver, RockyMtn N.P.,Rapid city, YellowStone, SaltLakeCity......this way it's much longer.

I probablly take first one....because I worry about my motorcycle and days. My cb900f is not very good condition.
I don't him to stop on the way to go there.

I only have 13days since I had to change the departure to 5th. I have an orientation of the School on Aug.18th.

To Mr.Guder, Thank you so much for your offer! you're very nice and kind person. but this tiime, I'll probablly not go through there.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 4:29 am

What ever you choose, keep to the speed limit in Salt Lake City. My boys live there and when ever I go to visit, my radar detector rarely stops and its not false signals. I usually see where they are coming from, (Police cars) and they drive hopped up Mustangs to keep up with the rich kids.

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

what do you guys think for the proper pace for 82' CB900F with 20,000 miles for long trip.

it's like 400 miles/ a day? maybe less?

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

I used to go from Phoenix to Southern California on occassion and it was 350 miles each way. It took me an average of 6 hours doing between 70 and 80. Just be careful and plan out your gas stops. It only takes me 5 1/2 hours in the car but I have to make an extra stop for gas when I am on the bike. I have a friend when he went across the from Phoenix to Georgia, he bought a map that listed the gas stops and how far from each one was so he could plan his stops. This is something you may want to consider getting. But anyways, this should give you an idea on how far you will want to drive per day or can handle.

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

Hi, everybody! I decided the route for this trip!
I'll go through
(with taking route 5 most, and sometimes 90) Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Erie,
(withtaking route 20) Cleveland, (taking 90-80)Toledo, Chicago, (take 90 to)Rockford, (90-94 to)Madison, (61 to)La Crosse, (taking 90 to)AlbertLee, Mitchell, RapidCity, Gillette, Worland, YelloStone N.P., Grand Tention N.P., (taking route20 to)Idaho Falls, (86 and 84 to)Twin Falls, (93 and 80 to)Elko, (80 to)BattleMountain, Fallon, Farson City, Sacramento, Dakland, San Jose!!!! Cool

If anybody know some good motorcycle shop on the way to those cities, would you let me know please?

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

I am leaving tomorrow's noon!! I am so exciting and cannot sleeep!!!!
I will be very careful and have a fun! THANKS GUYS!
talk to you guys later!!! Cool

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2003 6:32 am

Yuth,
Hope you get this message before you leave. When you get to Carson City, NV, or near there, and you need a place to stay, I am in Reno, just 30 miles north of Carson, and you are welcome. Also, I can tell you or maybe show you (if I have the time) a great way to get from Carson to San Jose.

Good Luck and have a great time

Melvis

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

I get almost to Chicago! I am in Three Oaks, MI.
I am having so much fun!

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 11:19 pm

Cool. I envy you. A friend just returned from a 5 week trip around the US. This is something I would love to do myself. Just too many obligations as I get older. I did a great deal of travelling when I was younger and worked in bands, but there is a big difference between a tour bus and a bike. Enjoy yourself. You are on a trip of a lifetime.

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

How much distance are you covering per day?

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

Hi. I am in Iowa Falls, Iowa now.
This is great trip. Yesterday I was going acrross IL with route 20 probablly
That was so beautiful!
I bought some sweet corns on the way this was so delicious!

I had been through Chicago yesterday too. That city is nice! nice lake!
but sometimes traffic jam bother me..... I really hate it.

well, approximately I write down my distance I went/ a day here.
I started to travel at 3:00pm August 5th because I had to wait for herba honda motorcycle shop to change the backtire.

First I had 20620 miles on it.
08/05/03 Amsterdam,NY -> Red Creek, NY. only about 170 miles on this day. one guy in this city gave me dinner and let me take shower. that was nice.

08/06/03
I had been through Niagara Falls, went through Canada, and west of St.Thomas. One woman in a store gave supper and let me take shower again! this is awesome. I slept in her yard. I had 240 miles on this day.

08/07/03
I had been through Detroit, and wait for like 2 hours to get back to USA.
been to Henry Ford Museum. that was nice I wish I could stayed longer.
Oil was leaking from the engine one bolt of the engine was different from others and leaked from there like crazy. Oil leak isn't good plus it speread all over my leg and motorcycle body..... but one shop in Ysplicion(?) changed this bolt and add some oil for free. then oil was not leaking anymore. the shop's name is C&J.
I had been through 94 highway -> 99 -> 60 then I seted up my tent and slept in a park.
I drove about 300miles

08/08/03
I used Route 60 -> 94->90-> 41 and go through the One of the Great Lake in Chicago. Lake Orienta?? the lake was beautiful.
then go through 90, go through rockford, -> route 20, and slept in a park again. this day I had more than 400 miles.

and today i drove about a hundread.
now I have 21858 or something
If I could, I wanna go to Rapid City today! probablly i don't reach there....

Have a good day

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 5:59 pm

I also envy you. I made a few long distance rides when I was younger, bu nothing like a transcontinental trip. Reading your posts and feeling your excitement makes me feel old. Good luck and enjoy every second of your trip

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 8:59 pm

Keep up the posts Yuth, you do not make me feel old, although at 49, I guess I am in your eyes, you make me smile. I can only imagine the memories you are making. Hopefully you have a camera with you. It is amazing how people treat you when you are travelling. Makes one proud that real, honest, and caring people are still alive and well.

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

I wish that I could go on a trip like that as well, hopefully the best I can do if things work out is to go to some motorcycle race in Alabama in September with a friend from Phoenix.

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 2:07 am

I think that is the way i'd like to see the United States. Once im outta uni and have made a bit of cash i reckon flying to the east coast - hiring a nice touring bike (something like a VFR) and riding all the way to the west coast seeing all the sites along the way would be awesome. Not sure how i'd go hiring a bike and leaving it thousands of miles away but ill work it out later Smile

(in like 5 or so years when im actually gonna be able to)

Tho i guess i could take twice as long as yuth and go there and back via different routes and see more cool stuff

And it'd be something that not many Aussies could say they did!

Ben.

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 12:15 pm

I wish I had kept up with this thread. If you went from Rockford, IL to Madison, WI on Interstate 90 you went through Janesville, WI and that is where I live about a mile off the interstate. If you stopped in Rockford for the night that is so close Janesville about 20 miles north. I would have been glad to have spend the night at my house.

Sorry,
Mike

MB-5 Joined: Jul 18, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: san jose, CA

Hey, everybody!! Cool

I was amazed and glad that this many people posted to this forum.
Now, I am in Reno, Nevada. I am staying in my firend's house who I knew in this forum! Actually I just met him on yesterday..
This person is very nice he treated me like his own nephew or somebody.
Today, He let me shoot the gun that is first time for me(it's very illegal to even have a gun in Japan), shotting a gun is so interesting. it's a lot of fun

I drove in very good pace, cb900f is very comfortable motorcycle.
I take a plenty of rest time but I feel more tired when I am resting... Confused

I went through Mt.Rushmore, YellowStone.
The presidents' faces in Mt.Rushmore, SD was great, but be honest with you guys, I was more moved by the scenes of the road to get to Mt.Rushmore .

Yellowstone national park, this place is absolutely Great!!
If you have never been there and if you have a chance, I definitelly reccomend you to go there.
that's really nice place.
I spend time for like 8 hours but still felt needs more time.

But I was worry about my motorcycle because it started some strage noise from gear. Then, I was little bit in hurry and did not want put extra miles if I could.

Tomorrow, I will go through Lake Tahoe, and get to San Jose if nothing happen to me,,,

I noticed that this kind of motorcycle,mine is 1982 cb900f, is very EXCELLENT!! Strong and fast! and this motorcycle is very good on gas!(every motorcycle?) mine was like 50miles/g sometimes. mostly, 45-50 miles/g though.

I was gonna sell this if i get to san jose and get a cheaper insurance one.
But now I want to keep this as much as I can.
A couple of days, probablly 6th and 7th, I drove like 500miles/a day.

There are so many beautiful scences in this trip, met with very nice people. I feel I learned a lot.

I will post more about this trip later after I get to san jose! Smile

I bring a digital camera with me..
I would like to make a Homepage for this trip so that I can share pictures of this trip with you guys, people I met, my friends and family .

To Mike, I am already in Reno, I just read your post.
Thank you for your offering anyway.

Now I can tell you one thing, if you have any chance to go to a long distance trip like this, you gotta do it!!

Very Happy

yuth

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

At times I wish I was back in Phoenix, my brother was at Yellowstone recently and took some awesome pics. I want to go for a ride there now, it has been so long since I have been there. I will post a pic that my brother sent me in the gallery.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 1:41 pm

Yuth,

Wecome to America! Beautiful place eh? And you can can own and shoot a gun to to boot...

Martin

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 1:21 am

Just got home after 12 days touring. Toronto to Evansville, Indiana, to visit Alan. He has been very helpful since I bought my cb900f and started watching this site.

3,000 miles. The bike runs better than ever. Showing 60,000 Kilometers, about 40,000 miles.

Boy those twisties in Northern Kentucky are some special.

Gord