Planning my route...

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#1 Unread post by **yoda731** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:29 am

Hey, folks. Sorry I have been "quiet" on the boards as of late. I had my CX500 "out of service" for about three weeks in June, to change both the tires, check the bearings, brakes, check & grease the shaft drive...

I'm back on the road now and loving it again. I have to say that good tires make a WORLD of difference. I bought the bike with a set of Cheng Shins on it, which someone on the form referred to as more of "rim protectors" than tires. I can feel why now. My first ride with the new tires (Bridgestone Spitfires, per suggestions from some of you gurus...) felt better than any ride I had taken before that. I could immediately feel the bike "grabbing" the road better on turns, even at my low-speed skill level.

The brakes are also significantly improved for having new shoes and pads. I did the shoes myself, and the old ones looked glazed on the surface, although they still had a bit of thickness on the braking surface. I had to take the bike to a shop for the front tire change (I could not BUDGE the axle bolt, and about toppled my bike several times trying to do so...) so I had the fellow there replace the pads. Again-- so much better than before...

Feeling more confident with these changes, I finally hit the highway this past Sunday. Did an 80 mile loop around Orlando, via the 528, I-4, 417, and 408 back to where I live. Highway driving was so much more relaxing than what I had been doing around town. I guess I was waiting to try it because of the higher speeds, but it seems so much safer due to road conditions, less stopping & turning...

So...I am going to ride the bike to Greenville, SC, this weekend to spend a week with a buddy before his wedding next weekend. Planning my route, deciding between two different options. The mapquest recommended way is to take all Interstates-- 4, 95, 26, 85-- to Greenville. It is shorter timewise by probably two hours or so. But, I also know these roads to frequently be six or eight lane divided highways, lots of trucks and traffic.

So, I am considering doing a different route, still mostly Interstate-- I-75 to Macon, GA, rural highway up past Athens, GA, then onto 85N to Greenville. This will add a couple of hours, but Interstate on the route is more low-key and (for a new rider like me) perhaps more low stress.

What are the thoughts on this from your collective experience? Have you folks come to favor less time, or less traffic?

Mustang · #2 Unread post by **Mustang** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:59 am

I'm all for taking a little more time if it relieves some stress or gets me off some crowded highways. I've taken two roadtrips so far and wanted to enjoy the ride rather than worry about the traffic around me....

I found this after my trips, but its a great resource....
How to Plan a Road Trip

and something thats an absolute must for anytime and especially for road trips
In Case of Emergency Card

I keep mine positioned so its the first thing someone sees when they open my wallet......

Good luck with the trip...I'd be lying if I didn't say I was jealous

Mr_Salad · #3 Unread post by **Mr_Salad** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:12 am

I live in DC, but my parents house is in Frederick, MD (North-west MD) and I bought my bike from a guy in Arlington, VA. Instead of taking the beltway around DC and up one of the most dangerous highways in MD (270), I took some smaller roads through VA and back to the 'rents place to show my dad (who used to ride) the new bike.

This was my first bike so I was naturally scared of big city traffic. The roads I took instead (Rt. 7 and Rt. 15) were much smaller and low-key. It added about an hour to my trip total. This I didn't mind because it was my first time on the open road, and I wanted all I could get. The only bad part were the stoplights that littered these two smaller highways. I was stopping and starting about every 2-5 minutes. This irritated me after awhile. So my suggestion to you would be to try to find some smaller roads that do not have a stoplight every block, since you are going such a long distance.

Good Luck.

Mag7C · #4 Unread post by **Mag7C** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:25 pm

I'm with Mr_Salad on this one. Definitely worth it to go on the quieter roads.

#5 Unread post by **yoda731** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:35 am

Thanks for the input, folks. I have made up an ICE card for my wallet, and am planning my trip on the longer route. I'm going to leave Friday afternoon and drive til I get tired, stop somewhere for the night, and then finish it up Saturday. Pretty excited, as this will be my first motorcycle trip. I'll be in SC for a week or two, and my wife is going to fly up next weekend for my friend's wedding. Depending how everything works out, I may dog leg over to Nashville for some time before I head back down to Orlando.

It is sure to be an adventure, especially on a 25 year old CX500. The mechanic I took it to (who, by the way, seems like a dream mechanic-- old guy, has worked on metrics since before I was born, and actually charged me only HALF of the up-front quote because some of the work wasn't required!!!) said the bike is in perfect running condition. He followed up to say that sh** happens, and who knows if something will go wrong tomorrow...but for now the bike is ready to roll. His words to me were "Quit worrying about it and have some fun on it..."

More soon.
JC

DieMonkeys · Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:15 am

Hey, I live right in Charleston (about an hour from Greenville but I don't remember whether north or south of it). If you want to stop by and show off your bike to me, maybe get a nice cool drink, whatever, send me a PM.

#7 Unread post by **yoda731** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:46 am

Hey, DieMonkeys. That sounds like a plan!

On the way up, I'm going to miss Charleston by going through Georgia to Macon then up to Greenville. But I think I will be going home (at some point) via I-26, through Charleston. I will keep you posted. It would be good to actually meet a TMWer face to face!

JC

Mustang · #8 Unread post by **Mustang** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:29 am

Have a great trip and make sure you bring back pictures!!!!

#9 Unread post by **9000white** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:51 pm

your best route if time is not a consideration is to take I 75 to Macon and get on U.S129 to Athens.continue on 129 through Athens to I 85.go north on I85 to Greenville.i would not go through Atlanta as they are working on all the interstates here.there is no good time to ride through atlanta on the interstate.you will gain much more useful riding experience on the back roads and get to see something besides pine trees and road signs.

#10 Unread post by **yoda731** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:02 pm

9000white wrote:your best route if time is not a consideration is to take I 75 to Macon and get on U.S129 to Athens.continue on 129 through Athens to I 85.go north on I85 to Greenville.i would not go through Atlanta as they are working on all the interstates here.there is no good time to ride through atlanta on the interstate.you will gain much more useful riding experience on the back roads and get to see something besides pine trees and road signs.

Great minds think alike...or maybe I just overachieved on this one, lol... This is my exact planned route. I'm going to leave around 3pm on Friday, drive til I get tired (hopefully to Macon at least, but that's optimistic) then finish it up on Saturday.

I agree about Atlanta. I don't enjoy driving it in a cage. I would dread doing it on my '81 500cc bike. I could do it, but I know it would be nerve-wracking. And if I wanted nerve-wracking, I would just take the shorter but busier route up 4 to 95 to 26 to 85...

I think I-75 will be fine, also. Its interstate, but pretty straight and rural, especially through backwoods Georgia. Lots of interesting signs to read for "Cafe Risque" and whatnot as well...