My first "real" XJ road trip!

Just returned from a weekend road trip. Here's the basic info, without doing a full write-up.
It was just me, my wife, and the XJ. We left Friday afternoon and returned today (Sunday) at 4pm. 740-750 miles, toured a lot of Northern Lower michigan. Other than wanting to make sure we did the 'Tunnel of Trees' route north of Harbor Springs, we didn't have a fixed plan. Stayed in a hotel both nights, no reservations, just decided when to stop for the day and then found a place to stay. Mostly on two-lane blacktop. No freeways at all. Beautiful scenery.
We did mostly 57-59 miles per hour, 4800 RPM, just below the 'buzzy' RPM range. Averaged about 48-50 MPG at this speed. 65 MPH is also a nice two-up cruising speed on my bike, did plenty of that, too. Bike was perfectly reliable. Tried to get gas every time the trip meter reached 80-100 miles, just because you never know when the next gas might be in the northern country! Kept fatigue down by taking a few minutes to stop, stand, stretch about once per hour. Sunday's ride was a bit more tiring, because the wind was more choppy and we were getting tired faster. I look forward to getting the project bike ('79 XS1100 Special with full touring gear) up and running to see how a bigger bike compares to my 650.

 

glad you didnt run into any deer along the way.

you gotta hit the yoop next time around. its beautiful there.

 

Yes, I was watchful for deer. One of the reasons I am OK with not doing higher speeds. I see those deer signs* and figure reaction time is better at 55 than 70! Surprisingly didn't see any deer, except for a few dead ones. Kind of an up north veteran, had a close call when pulling a snowmobile trailer a long time ago, but never hit one with car or bike. I agree about the UP, would definately love to do a bike tour. Been all over the eastern side by car and on snowomobiles, but never on a motorcycle.

*Ever hear that radio bit where some lady calls in and asks why to they put the deer crossings on such busy roads? It's a hoot!
http://fox4kc.com/2012/10/18/woman-misu ... hem-moved/

 

Glad you had a good, safe trip. Taking a road trip of my own next weekend. My son-in-law and I are riding our bikes down to my brother-in-law's place in Indiana, PA while the women drive the cagers. It's about 185 miles one way. Right now, the weather forecast is looking good.

 

We didn't take a lot of pics, but here are a couple from the trip.

 

Looks like a nice weekend!

Our XJs will stand up with the best of them. My son and I had a nice 2700mi ride a couple months ago. The Seca was a champ and the boy was a trooper.

 

Sounds like a great ride! The most I've done is about 160 miles in a round-trip, but every weekend I'm aiming for more on my 650

How is the stock seat treating you for long-distance riding? Any soreness/discomfort?

 

Why, yes, that's part of what the hourly breaks are for
Maybe someday i will get better shocks and seat foam, but not until I get the 1100 on the road.

 

Nice PBJ, my son and I went on a trip through Harbor, up 119, to mackinaw, down to cheboygan and then home on friday. But we live right around where the 'O' pin is on your map, so it's not too far to go.

I'm hoping to make a trip through H-58 in the UP and a M-22 trip before he ships out for basic on Sept 16.

Holler next time you're on a northern trip, and we can count off a few miles with you.

 

Yeah, the little 2 track between munising and grand marais. We drove it in a minivan 15 years ago or so, and it was pretty rough. I heard it's paved now, and a motorcycle heaven road.

 

That is really beautiful country.

I drove from NY through the Finger lakes and on up to Harbor Springs back in 1987 then back to Niagra falls and back down to NY. Friends had a lodge on the shore of lake Michigan about 5 miles outside the Harbor.

If I recall the best bar was the Last Call Harbor Bar? Nice folk and good food.

Great road trip,

 

My son, daughter and I just ran that trip again on Wed. Beautiful weather, and great spin. About 140 miles from home to petoskey, up to mackinaw, down to cheboygan then home. I'll post some pix shortly.

* edit * and here they are.

Heading out of Harbor Springs:


Several of the gorgeous road:



And a few of my son on his VS800 Intruder:











For some reason I didn't get any pix while in Mackinaw. derp.

I suppose I could add, my daughter was on the back of my bike taking these pictures, not me riding one handed and distracted =).

 

PJK. man that is some sweet road. I'd love to cruise that!

 

Yeah, it's a treat. 20 miles of almost the same type thing, then another 20 or so up to mackinaw, along lake michigan in many spots. Nice.

Ha, funny thing I just remembered: about halfway through the trip on this thin winding road, we come around a bend and there's a HUGE volvo truck, taking about 80% of the road. We swished by, but what a suprise. Semi truck / trailers are not allowed on the road, but I guess box vans are allowed.

 

Went on my first "real" road trip this weekend. My wife's family has a Labor Day re-union down state, so this year my son-in-law and I rode the bikes. About 400 miles round-trip. My wife and daughter followed with the "support" vehicles. (The kayaks wouldn't fit in the saddle bags.) My Maxim performed flawlessly.
Did learn some things.
#1. The seat sucks. I was good for about an hour then my rumpus started to ache. Going to look at a gel pad or sheep skin.
#2. It was more comfortable to have my feet on the regular pegs than the highway pegs. With the highway pegs, there was too much weight on my tailbone and my calves had a tendency to cramp.
Oh, well. Things to look into before the next trip. I'm just happy that the "Good Reverend" ran without one single hiccup.

 

glad to hear you had a good trip. Seems the only way to figure out the "real" comfort issues is to go for that long haul. Tack the experience up on the safe trip board.