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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Edmonton, AB Canada | After a trip of 9 days and 2332 km?s (1450 miles) I have discovered a number of interesting things about my Vision.
1. My wife found it very comfortable and did not want to get off at most stops.
2. I needed to get off about every hour or so. I am told that I need to put some meat on my skinny rear end.
3. The seat and floorboards offer you a wide variety of seating options when you are starting to feel some discomfort.
4. On my last bike risers eliminated the pain in my right shoulder and I have no idea how to get rid of this on my Vision.
5. After the temperature passes 32C or 90F even pulling in the upper air deflectors does not really make a difference.
6. The tip over protectors on both sides work very well.
7. Vented gear keeps you from getting road rash when it is hot.
8. People stop and stare.
9. About half the people who stop and stare also feel the need to wander over for a closer look and a chat. Some even share their life stories with you.
10. Having an iPod full of music is an amazing thing.
11. When you turn the music off and flip up your visors you can talk to your passenger at highway speed.
12. Having the windshield up and the wind deflectors out keeps you dry until you stop.
13. The cruise control work very well up hill, down hill and everything in-between.
14. I think I will need to get a trailer so we can take longer trips.
Our trip took us from Edmonton down through Banff. On through Radium and on to Cranbrook. Into the heat of Osoyoos and Kelowna. Riding into the rain in Kamloops. Past some of the most beautiful mountains around Jasper and back home to Edmonton.
All in all it was a great time and a fun way to actually put some miles on my bike. My wife is now trying to determine where we will be heading next summer.
Here are a few pictures of our adventure.
Ward
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Northern NJ | Beautiful pics! Thanks for the nice write-up. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Lennox, SD | Thanks for sharing.
I found after my lst trip on my Vision(3800 miles in 11 days) that i immediately started planning my next trip.
With my last bike, 06 Kawi Nomad, I didn't even want to think about riding it after a trip.
Enjoy the next trip. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 38
Prince George, BC, Canada | Next time you feel the need to visit BC, make sure you include Prince George on your route. I will gladly buy the first coffee.
Cheers! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | That is a great write up. I would be interested in your use of the tipovers and the protection that the ventilated gear provided.
Ride Safe |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | Thanks |
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Tourer
Posts: 412
Fargo, ND | Hey Ward...Good Job...the photos are a real bonus for the rest of us forumites!
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Edmonton, AB Canada | So, the left side tip overs came in handy as we were slowing down for a stop. We were pulling out onto an approach and about to stop when I hit a small amount of gravel and the front tire locked up and the handle bars pulled to the left and down we went. Since we still had a bit of forward momentum, we both ended up popping off the bike and onto the pavement. The first thing my wife said to me was "So this is why we are wearing our gear!"
If we had not been in our gear we would both be suffering from a small amount of road rash on our left legs and arms. As it turned out we both had a small mark from our elbows sliding inside the jackets. Neither of us had any marks on our jackets or pants, only a bit of dust from the road. When we got the back back up and I looked over the marks on the road, there was a slide mark of about 12" from the front tire, and two marks about 2" long from the bike touching down.
Mental note: slow down early when riding with a passenger and loaded with gear.
The second time we were pulling up to a stop and were turning sharply right. My wife felt the bike lean a little to the right and she said  h,no" and looked over in that direction and with her now leaning we tipped over and since the bike was basically stopped, we simply stepped off. The bike was close to the curb, so I pulled the kick stand down and with my feet against the curb, pulled/pushed the bike back up and off we went.
My wife thinks that these are now just good stories to share with everyone. She was not concerned at all with either situation.
Good Times.
Ward
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| WARD
Back of the neck pain. If thats what you referring to. I used to get it so bad I couldn't turn my head.
Easy fix. Get two weights no more the five pounds if that. I used two springs out of the front on my truck that I lowered. One in each hand and lift your shoulders like you were surging them. Let the weights hang
in your hands. Do this twice a day say 10 to a rep. In a weeks time you will feel a big change when you ride.
Great Great photos. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Litchfield Park, AZ | Ward,
Another thing to consider on your shoulder pain, have you considered getting a Utopia of Victory Rider's backrest. I used to have a lot of upper back and neck pain and once I installed the backrest it has gone almost completely away.....just something to consider. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 99
Cold lake Alberta | Sounds you took the same route almost as us We went from Cold Lake to Radium into the Peacjland/Kelowna are for a few days then hot Kamloops, jspaer, hinton, Edmonton and Home! gone gone 13 days but 5 of them were in Kelowna area
Love my Cycle op lowers and short tinted shield, bike was flawless except the gear indicator flickering.
We had 5 Visions in Radium 2 from Cold Lake, one from Edm, one from Red Deer and another from Kamloops, flock of visions. On the way to WestBank we saw a pack of 4 close to vernon..awesome to see!
3654 kms
Edited by salty 2010-08-13 9:48 PM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Edmonton, AB Canada | I actually have a Victory back rest. The problem is that, how do I say this without getting into trouble, my wife does not fit between the backrest and the trunk. On my own I use the back rest all the time. With her I can't.
Looks like I may have to take the exercise suggestion and go with that!
Ward |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | TMOE4U - 2010-08-13 10:52 PM I actually have a Victory back rest. The problem is that, how do I say this without getting into trouble, my wife does not fit between the backrest and the trunk. On my own I use the back rest all the time. With her I can't. Looks like I may have to take the exercise suggestion and go with that! WardBut with your wife on back, you have a built-in backrest! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | my wife makes a very nice backrest... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Litchfield Park, AZ | TMOE4U - 2010-08-13 7:52 PM
I actually have a Victory back rest. The problem is that, how do I say this without getting into trouble, my wife does not fit between the backrest and the trunk. On my own I use the back rest all the time. With her I can't.
Looks like I may have to take the exercise suggestion and go with that!
Ward
I have the EXACT same problem. Wife won't let me use the rider's backrest 2-up and my back is feeling it. As for the little Mrs being a good backrest, mine is 5'nothing and 100 pounds soaking wet......if I use her as a backrest I'd break her......I could say more but I see this going downhill quickly. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | Ward.... first off, please let me say that forum handles are free... even the ones that make sense. 
I live in the same state as the world famous Tail of the Dragon. I would drive right by that area to ride in yours. Without a doubt (in my feeble mind, anyway) the Canadian Rockies in the summertime is the most magnificent place in the world to do damn near anything you'd want... including a bike trip. Thanks for sharing. Seeing pics like those is always bittersweet, but I gobble it up anyway.
Edited by trailbarge 2010-08-16 12:08 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | erg.... double post. my first
Edited by trailbarge 2010-08-16 12:09 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | I've been wondering since I saw your pictures...are you really going ~120 mph in the third picture? The speedo sure looks like it is registering close to 120. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | VisionTex,
Someone from Alberta would be setup for 120 Kilometers per hour....but you know that! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Edmonton, AB Canada | So, to respond to a few items.
Lone Ranger and varyder - My wife is an excellent back rest for my upper back and shoulders. Not so go for the lower back where I need it.
trailbarge - My forum name comes from something my brother-in-law called me. He referred to me as "The Master Of Everything". I tend to read about anything and everything and as a school shop teacher, I tend to be able to make, build and fix most things I get my hands on.
VisionTex - As radioteacher said, it would be km/h.
For everyone else, thank you for the nice comments about the pictures my wife took off the back of our bike.
Ward |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 9
Prince George B.C. Canada | Also from PG and second the beverage suggestion. Done the Rockies many a time. Easiest way for me to get South is east to Jasper and down through the park.... Did some of that in July after crossing from Munroe Wash across Hwy 20, A VERY nice ride, to Glacier NP then up through the KOOTNEYS then home via HWY 5 to 16, total 2800 or so KMS and 36000 kms on an early 08 SSG. Cannot get enough time off to ride where the wifey wants to go!!!!!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 72
| Sounds like good times, can't wait for our first long raod trip, just moved grandma into a assisted living facility so now the Vision can get more use, both wife and I spent alot of time caring for her. Enough opf that and back to those waesome pictures, looks like beautiful country. Wishing you and the misses many more miles together in the future, hope to meet up somtime.
Peace,
Martin |
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Cruiser
Posts: 131
Edmond, OK 2012 Vision, 2012 Cross Country | Great pics, I told my wife today as we were looking at them this is the reason she needs to carry the camera when we are riding and she agreed. My wife also makes a good back rest and I love her all the same she is just beautiful to me and that is all that maters anyway. I like to have her with me as often as possible. As far as the looks, questions, stares and stories.... welcome to the life of a Victory Vision rider. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Stay off the front brakes at slow speeds and you won't have to test the tip over protection anymore.
Nice pics
Next trip try Southern Utah and the 4 (States) corner area.
Dixie National Forest, Moab, Arches, Natural Bridges, Bryce Canyon, Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Gooseneck, etc. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Re: 2. I needed to get off about every hour or so. I am told that I need to put some meat on my skinny rear end.
Fix is simple - just throw a sheepskin on the seat for long rides. And leave it there - no one will take it. And you won't have to fatten your ass.
Added advantage: A white sheepskin keeps the seat cool when you leave the bike parked in the sunshine.
Another advantage: nice to throw on the ground when you hear the call of the 'wild' to lay on....
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Road Trip Thoughts
