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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Just got back from a ride to the Tri-Cities and back here in WA State, to catch the Unlimited Hydros on the Columbia River. Went over Chinook Pass, which has to be one of the most gorgeous scenic passes on the planet (in the top 50, anyway), it still has snow on the side of the road even in August. 70's on the west side, 98+ on the east. 486 miles overall, hardly an iron butt run, but with the wife on the back, and with both our aged backsides in our mid fifties, each leg of the trip was about right. If I'd been in England, I might've been knighted, even-"Sir Chafesalot." LOL
Some observations...Rolling across the desert, about 80-84 mph seems to be about as good as I want to ride, as this unit seems more easily upset by crosswinds than, say, my ancient '83 Yamaha Venture was. My Vic is an '08 Street, and so doesn't have a trunk, but it still seemed to get a bit light at those speeds. I guess the old Hot Rodders' axiom holds, "You'll put up with a lot to look cool." And judging by the looks we got, we were certainly that. Could've been more buttoned down to prevent fatigue, however.
Also, I've read about exhaust leaks on this blog before, and can't really tell if that's what makes mine "chuff" when under load or not. When Idling or revving the motor when stopped, I haven't been able to actually feel anything by waving my hands around the exhausts, but still, the motor, which is stock, seems to make a lot of "chuffing" racket when pulling through the gears or up a hill. Anyone else notice this? I've got S1L2 pipes, which are straight through, but still pretty quiet. I just feel I shouldn't hear any racket from up front, should I? Or should I?
Also, I've got 11,500 on the scoot now (I know, I know, but it rains a lot here), and I've been waiting for those spur cut gears in 4th to mate and quiet down, but they seem to steadfastly refuse, and continue to squall annoyingly when traffic forces me to ride in 4th. 5th is silent and wonderful, but is it really that much stronger to spur cut gears when helical seems so much nicer? I mean, c'mon! Also, the primary gears are distractingly noisy over time, but hey, at least they're not a chain.
And while the rig is very smooth overall, I remember reading that the factory actually messed with the balance shafts to create some vibes so it would have some soul, and avoid the "appliance" feel which occurs when a bike is TOO smooth. I do wish they hadn't picked 3300 rpm to do it at, since that's about where I wanted to cruise-around 85mph. Boohoo, right?
Other than that, even though my wife informed me that 4 1/2 hours is about it for riding time for her, and my butt was a bit chapped from the heat, I noticed that the next day as I cleaned off the bugs, that I would have felt fine taking a little trip further.
And that is a rousing endorsement, in my book. This thing didn't miss a beat at any time over the Cascade Mountains and back, with hours of steady 75-85 mph cruising in 98 degree heat, and slogging around town in between. It carried all the clothes we needed, looked great the whole time and achieved 45.4 mpg while doing it. What's not to like? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | Great post When I have Donna on we try to drive 2 hours then I hit a Diner ,gas station or rest area. Worked well driving west and east across NY State . Donna sometimes falls asleep in the rear seat. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Chinook is just about my favorite ride. 
Glad you had a great time. Little windy across the flats this weekend, wasn't it? I was over there in the cage and we were getting blown around quite a bit.
Next time you cruise by give me a shout. |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Where in western Wa are you? Are you out in the Roy "Y" area? I think I remember someone from around the Parkland/Spanaway area.
Edited by rainryder 2011-08-04 1:10 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Sounds like time for you to give RICH'S a call in Kingston, take the boss with you, and get the seats redone and gelled, no more napping buns or walking like Grandpa McCoy-
Been following the Unlims since I was a teeny squirt and the pits were @ Mt. Baker (like 1953) crewed on a boat, now I just sit @ home and watch in A/C chilled splendor.
If any of you want to see what it looks like to 185 on the water and turn left try www.H1unlimited.com and watch a heat from the horizontal stabilizer of an unlimited going 185 (and pay attention to how much the boat flexes as it runs!)-KIRO7TV.com will carry the Race Sunday starting @ 0700 PST-skip Pocono and you'll still be able to get the NHRA finals on ESPN2 |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | rainyryder - at the foot of the pass in Enumclaw. |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Breaker:
We got friends in Greenwater. Maybe we can all hook up at the Cheese for a cold one sometime? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | We're gonna do the 'Olympic Peninsula' this weekend - spend Sunday night in Ocean Shores. Just a beautiful, lazy, Washington cruise!
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Swing by the USFS park @ Lake Ozette, from the parking lot it's about 1 mile on cedar planked walkways to Cape Alava and a short stroll up the beach to Ozette villiage which got completely covered by a Tsunami about 600 years ago, it's an on going archaeological site. Lake Ozette is pretty cool too! Camped there several times years ago. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | SYNSTR - 2011-08-05 7:30 PM Swing by the USFS park @ Lake Ozette, from the parking lot it's about 1 mile on cedar planked walkways to Cape Alava and a short stroll up the beach to Ozette villiage which got completely covered by a Tsunami about 600 years ago, it's an on going archaeological site. Lake Ozette is pretty cool too! Camped there several times years ago. Thanks for the tip, Bill. Looks interesting a well worth a small detour! We'll check it out. |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Donetracy:
Just got on here this morning, and missed you guys's trip. I got a cousin down in Open Sores-er-Ocean Shores just down the road from the casino. Always a good time down there. Hope the weather was good for you! Did you go around the whole peninsula on 101, or just slab it down I-5 to 12? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | How do folks in Ocean Shores A) keep windows in their houses? and B) what does glass insurance there cost? Every time I've been there all it did was blow,HARD!! Is it because Clallum County sucks? |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Nah. It blows. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 52
DeRidder, LA | That was me from the Roy Y area.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | LOL You guys crack me up. Does everyone call it 'Open Sores'?
rainyrder, that would be great. Give me a holler.
I'll be off the bike for a few more weeks, but I can always cage it. If I have to. At least I can roll the windows down and stick my head out. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Only if, like me and apparently RAINRYDER too, you have warped and twisted anxieties. Personally, I've never been afraid to call a spade a friggin' shovel! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | GOOGLE Jack Ross and his version of Cinderella. I first heard this as a kid in 1962 @ the Seattle Worlds Fair, and every time it knocks me off my chair-'mean old mepstothers and sistyuglers' |
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Hydros
