OP
@jess avatar
UTC

Petty Tyrant
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Petty Tyrant
@jess avatar
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UTC quote
All of us back at home want to live vicariously through your upcoming adventure. We have a ready audience hungry for news of your daily exploits as you make your way across the continent. So before CB10 starts, I'm going to set up a thread here in General Discussion to track your daily progress, allowing us to follow along.

I would be extremely grateful to those of you bringing gadgets along if you could post updates to the thread. We would be thrilled to have text updates on your personal experiences, photos, and even SPOT messenger updates mailed to the thread. I will turn on location tracking for the progress thread so that we can see your position on a map (via SPOT messenger or geotag information from your pictures). All you have to do is email your text and photos to the thread.

Smartphones with cameras are especially effective here. Even if it's just you guys having a beer in the parking lot after a long day, we want to see it. Pictures of roadside repairs? Even better. This is far more interesting to us spectating than you can imagine.

And if my pleadings aren't enough, I will happily bestow MV swag to those who send updates.
@jimmytwonutz avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
LX150, GTS300(black & white), GTS300(red)
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Location: Menifee, CA. (Land of the Dirt People)
 
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@jimmytwonutz avatar
LX150, GTS300(black & white), GTS300(red)
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UTC quote
Harumph Clap emoticon
@jimmytwonutz avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
LX150, GTS300(black & white), GTS300(red)
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Location: Menifee, CA. (Land of the Dirt People)
 
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@jimmytwonutz avatar
LX150, GTS300(black & white), GTS300(red)
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UTC quote
@starreem avatar
UTC

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07 GTS250(RIP), 07 LX150, Several Lambrettas
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Location: Raleigh, NC
 
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@starreem avatar
07 GTS250(RIP), 07 LX150, Several Lambrettas
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UTC quote
Is this that thread for updates?
OP
@jess avatar
UTC

Petty Tyrant
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Petty Tyrant
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UTC quote
starreem wrote:
Is this that thread for updates?
Nope. I'll open a fresh one a few days before the event starts. I'm going to be attending the start of the event in Vancouver, so I'll probably open it before I leave. This is just a heads-up to those participating that they have an audience cheering for them.
@starreem avatar
UTC

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07 GTS250(RIP), 07 LX150, Several Lambrettas
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@starreem avatar
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UTC quote
Cool. See you in Vancouver then.
@bklwashere avatar
UTC

Addicted
2006 Piaggio BV250
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Location: Columbia, MD
 
Addicted
@bklwashere avatar
2006 Piaggio BV250
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UTC quote
If I had hair, it would on fire
Got an email from Forward Air that my container is ready to receive the bike, so I'll be heading over there tomorrow afternoon to load her up.

So, what did I forget?
OP
@jess avatar
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Petty Tyrant
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Petty Tyrant
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UTC quote
Re: If I had hair, it would on fire
bklwashere wrote:
So, what did I forget?
A pan to catch the oil that you're supposed to drain?
@tomjasz avatar
UTC

Grievance Farmer
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Grievance Farmer
@tomjasz avatar
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UTC quote
Could someone post dates and final route. A few of us would love to watch the end of a leg through MN.
@oopsclunkthud avatar
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UTC quote
Re: If I had hair, it would on fire
jess wrote:
bklwashere wrote:
So, what did I forget?
A pan to catch the oil that you're supposed to drain?
Right! Like anyone actually does that.
@scooterme avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
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Location: Portland, ME
 
Hooked
@scooterme avatar
GTS 250ie
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Location: Portland, ME
UTC quote
Obsessively worrying about what to pack!!!
I plan to post some pics as I go along from my iPhone. Hopefully not too many of me, or my scooter broken down by the side of the road.

See you in Vancouver!
@harvey avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2016 Honda NC750XD, 2007 GTS (sold),
Joined: UTC
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Location: Canada
 
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@harvey avatar
2016 Honda NC750XD, 2007 GTS (sold),
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Location: Canada
UTC quote
Pistol Pete has his blog up:
http://cannonball08.blogspot.com/

Which includes a google map of the rally.
@bklwashere avatar
UTC

Addicted
2006 Piaggio BV250
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Posts: 910
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@bklwashere avatar
2006 Piaggio BV250
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UTC quote
Re: If I had hair, it would on fire
jess wrote:
bklwashere wrote:
So, what did I forget?
A pan to catch the oil that you're supposed to drain?
Uh, yeah... right at the top of my list

Actually, just got a message from Forward Air saying my container was damaged so now I have a couple more days wait while they move a new container to BWI.
@bklwashere avatar
UTC

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2006 Piaggio BV250
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@bklwashere avatar
2006 Piaggio BV250
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UTC quote
louisq wrote:
Could someone post dates and final route. A few of us would love to watch the end of a leg through MN.
Dates are September 9th through September 18th.

Edited to remove link to wrong route.
⚠️ Last edited by bklwashere on UTC; edited 1 time
OP
@jess avatar
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Petty Tyrant
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Petty Tyrant
@jess avatar
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UTC quote
Re: If I had hair, it would on fire
oopsclunkthud wrote:
jess wrote:
bklwashere wrote:
So, what did I forget?
A pan to catch the oil that you're supposed to drain?
Right! Like anyone actually does that.
My only point of reference is that jrsjr did when he shipped Nazgul to SF for CB08. I brought him oil and tools and helped him rehydrate.

The floor of the container was slick with oil, too -- presumably from open drain plugs dripping the last dregs of oil out.
OP
@jess avatar
UTC

Petty Tyrant
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Petty Tyrant
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UTC quote
bklwashere wrote:
louisq wrote:
Could someone post dates and final route. A few of us would love to watch the end of a leg through MN.
Dates are September 9th through September 18th.

Link to the approximate route.
Heh. Approximate is right. Day one and part of day two appear to be in the wrong country.
@bklwashere avatar
UTC

Addicted
2006 Piaggio BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 910
Location: Columbia, MD
 
Addicted
@bklwashere avatar
2006 Piaggio BV250
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UTC quote
jess wrote:
bklwashere wrote:
louisq wrote:
Could someone post dates and final route. A few of us would love to watch the end of a leg through MN.
Dates are September 9th through September 18th.

Link to the approximate route.
Heh. Approximate is right. Day one and part of day two appear to be in the wrong country.
Stupid Google. This is closer to reality:
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
⚠️ Last edited by bklwashere on UTC; edited 1 time
@tomjasz avatar
UTC

Grievance Farmer
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Grievance Farmer
@tomjasz avatar
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UTC quote
Got it...
@theoz avatar
UTC

Sir Frets-A-Lot
Vespa GT250ie/L, Honda Ruckus 50, Honda NT700V, Honda CB125
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Location: Bee eff eee.
 
Sir Frets-A-Lot
@theoz avatar
Vespa GT250ie/L, Honda Ruckus 50, Honda NT700V, Honda CB125
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UTC quote
Fuck man. I'm really, really starting to panic. Hah.

I have all of the arrangements set. Now it's just route polish.

My bike... I keep thinking of Rob on day 10. That would break my heart. That's my biggest fear. Hard core. That and running out of gas. Might want a spare can in the truck just in case.....

Sigh.
@mogeewogee avatar
UTC

Beer Fairy
GTS-"Cannonball Bettie" Member Iron Butt Association
Joined: UTC
Posts: 851
Location: Seacoast New Hampshire USA
 
Beer Fairy
@mogeewogee avatar
GTS-"Cannonball Bettie" Member Iron Butt Association
Joined: UTC
Posts: 851
Location: Seacoast New Hampshire USA
UTC quote
time for the plan to come together....yikes!
The problem has not been staying focused on CBR prep, it has been trying to focus on anything else.

OK one week from the trip west....

no I-phone here, will bring a laptop, which one? still dunno.mapsource has been a bust. ok ok MEMORIZE the routes , ok I can do that , ahhh all better...

the things that keep me awake:
>>dreams of clamoring in and out of motel rooms each day with all my un needed shite that I am bringing.
>>removing the muffler roadside and not getting it back on.
>>>Sasquatch
>>> Limeys drive on the other side

Cheers
@oopsclunkthud avatar
UTC

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UTC quote
TheO.Z. wrote:
Fuck man. I'm really, really starting to panic. Hah.
I had a dream last night I was going on this cannonball. Haven't preped a bike, was there at the starting line as everyone was leaving and I was working on putting my LX back together.
@theoz avatar
UTC

Sir Frets-A-Lot
Vespa GT250ie/L, Honda Ruckus 50, Honda NT700V, Honda CB125
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Sir Frets-A-Lot
@theoz avatar
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UTC quote
oopsclunkthud wrote:
TheO.Z. wrote:
Fuck man. I'm really, really starting to panic. Hah.
I had a dream last night I was going on this cannonball. Haven't preped a bike, was there at the starting line as everyone was leaving and I was working on putting my LX back together.
Ride the GT, bunk with Aaron and I.
@harvey avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2016 Honda NC750XD, 2007 GTS (sold),
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@harvey avatar
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Joined: UTC
Posts: 3517
Location: Canada
UTC quote
TheO.Z. wrote:
Fuck man. I'm really, really starting to panic. Hah.

I have all of the arrangements set. Now it's just route polish.

My bike... I keep thinking of Rob on day 10. That would break my heart. That's my biggest fear. Hard core. That and running out of gas. Might want a spare can in the truck just in case.....

Sigh.
I'd be more worried about Day Nine- breaking down in a foreign country? Serious shit, dude! Do the natives even speak Californian?
Clown emoticon
TheO.Z. wrote:
wait, what?

canada what?
@theoz avatar
UTC

Sir Frets-A-Lot
Vespa GT250ie/L, Honda Ruckus 50, Honda NT700V, Honda CB125
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Sir Frets-A-Lot
@theoz avatar
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UTC quote
Is that the part where they think they're speaking French for some reason, even though it's clearly not?
@harvey avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2016 Honda NC750XD, 2007 GTS (sold),
Joined: UTC
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Location: Canada
 
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@harvey avatar
2016 Honda NC750XD, 2007 GTS (sold),
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Location: Canada
UTC quote
Yeah, where you're nodding and smiling at them but you don't understand WTF they're saying- and then you find out you've married somebodies great aunt. Crying or Very sad emoticon
@scutrbrau avatar
UTC

The Beer Guy
2010 GTS 300 Super and 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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Posts: 4744
Location: Nelson County, VA
 
The Beer Guy
@scutrbrau avatar
2010 GTS 300 Super and 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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Location: Nelson County, VA
UTC quote
Nah, looks like you're gonna miss the French speaking part. You'll be buying your gas in liters though for probably just under a dollar per.
@ritchj avatar
UTC

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One of each
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Location: Ranura de Monedas, NorCal
 
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@ritchj avatar
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UTC quote
TheO.Z. wrote:
My bike... I keep thinking of Rob on day 10. That would break my heart. That's my biggest fear. Hard core. That and running out of gas. Might want a spare can in the truck just in case.....

Sigh.
Day 10? You're not even going to half way there at that point, I'd be more concerned about day 19 Razz emoticon

More power to ya' Oz...... I know who I'm rooting for.
@stickyfrog avatar
UTC

Moderatus Rana
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
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Location: Nashville, Indiana
 
Moderatus Rana
@stickyfrog avatar
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
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UTC quote
This route includes a border crossing.
This route has tolls.
This route includes a ferry.

sounds like fun! except the tolls... godspeed cannonballers.
@redcatjack avatar
UTC

Addicted
65 SS180; 79 P200E, 65 Fuji Rabbit Superflo, 07 GTS 250, 12 BMW C650GT
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@redcatjack avatar
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UTC quote
Harvey wrote:
Yeah, where you're nodding and smiling at them but you don't understand WTF they're saying- and then you find out you've married somebodies great aunt. Crying or Very sad emoticon
That sounds a bit like Kentucky, but I'm sure the route is further north than that...
@bklwashere avatar
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2006 Piaggio BV250
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@bklwashere avatar
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UTC quote
Bike is packed and ready (I hope). Shipping in ~12 hours...
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Baart-less
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Location: 56°58'34.49"N x 111°29'38.40"W
 
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UTC quote
Damn it, damn it, damn it! Starting from my home and I'm 2000 odd km North East working.

Dave
@maroy avatar
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MP3 250
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Location: San Carlos CA
 
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@maroy avatar
MP3 250
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UTC quote
Here is photo of Alice's and my gear, expecting Bagel's stuff on Tuesday, Oz and Aaron's on Sunday

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
@bklwashere avatar
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2006 Piaggio BV250
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@bklwashere avatar
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UTC quote
Locked and Loaded
Loaded up in the crappy Forward Air container.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
@maroy avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 250
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Posts: 999
Location: San Carlos CA
 
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@maroy avatar
MP3 250
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UTC quote
Re: Locked and Loaded
bklwashere wrote:
Loaded up in the crappy Forward Air container.
Did the doors stay closed? Last time I used Forward Air the can was so beat up a guy had to come out with that saran rap stuff used on pallet loads to keep the doors closed The combo locks were useless. My flight home was leaving in a few hours they had no extra cans so I just went with it. Worked out in the end.
@maroy avatar
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MP3 250
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Location: San Carlos CA
 
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@maroy avatar
MP3 250
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UTC quote
Re: Locked and Loaded
bklwashere wrote:
Loaded up in the crappy Forward Air container.
One more thing is that the "large size" can or the "medium size" It looks like a large to me.
@bklwashere avatar
UTC

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2006 Piaggio BV250
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@bklwashere avatar
2006 Piaggio BV250
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UTC quote
Re: Locked and Loaded
Maroy wrote:
bklwashere wrote:
Loaded up in the crappy Forward Air container.
Did the doors stay closed? Last time I used Forward Air the can was so beat up a guy had to come out with that saran rap stuff used on pallet loads to keep the doors closed The combo locks were useless. My flight home was leaving in a few hours they had no extra cans so I just went with it. Worked out in the end.
Actually, getting one of the doors to open was a problem. A hammer had to be invoked, but eventually everything got squared away. The doors did shut, but the locks I had brought with me didn't work (the shackles were too long). The only info I was given by Forward Air was "use combination locks." Real helpful. For future reference, 1" shackle locks (combo or keyed- they didn't check) work fine. Fortunately there was a locksmith in the same office park as Forward Air, so I ran down there to get some new locks.

Yes, that is a large can. It seemed to be even bigger than the specs on the website, which means I probably could have gone with the medium size since there was only one dimension I was worried about. But this gave me plenty of room to jam my other crap in there (spare wheels/tires and riding gear).

Also, the oil that you are supposed to have drained from the bike before shipping? I think everyone does their draining IN the container. Talk about a mess...
@maroy avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 250
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Location: San Carlos CA
 
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@maroy avatar
MP3 250
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Location: San Carlos CA
UTC quote
Re: Locked and Loaded
bklwashere wrote:
Yes, that is a large can. It seemed to be even bigger than the specs on the website, which means I probably could have gone with the medium size since there was only one dimension I was worried about. But this gave me plenty of room to jam my other crap in there (spare wheels/tires and riding gear).

Also, the oil that you are supposed to have drained from the bike before shipping? I think everyone does their draining IN the container. Talk about a mess...
Ya I was able to get my 7 foot MP3 in the medium can but I had to remove the windscreen and aux fuel tank. I forgot about oily mess on the floor, I had a trap which I laid out after the bike was in the can. I then put all my extra paraphernalia around the scoot.
@pdxscoot avatar
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BV500 - GTS250
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Posts: 548
Location: Portland, OR
 
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@pdxscoot avatar
BV500 - GTS250
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Posts: 548
Location: Portland, OR
UTC quote
Warning for road conditions in North Dakota
I just rode highway 12 across the country last month. We rode from Portland OR to Portland ME.

The entire roadway for highway 12 is completely gone for about 10 miles past the Montana / North Dakota border. When we went through it had recently been removed and was loose. It may be better by now.
We had to rescue a Harley and rider from the soft berm after a sand worm grabbed his front tire and pulled him down.

Also please remember to check the hardness of the asphalt before relying on your scooter stand. We had two bikes go over on hot, soft asphalt when they punched through the soft surface. One of them was even on its center stand!

Be careful out there and have a great ride!
@scooterme avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 318
Location: Portland, ME
 
Hooked
@scooterme avatar
GTS 250ie
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Posts: 318
Location: Portland, ME
UTC quote
Picked up my scoot from her final, pre-cannonball service.

New tires front and rear, spare and spare spare. Check
Replacement belt and rollers, Check.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Gas Can rack. Check (no the snowblower is not attached!)

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Anti Monkey-Butt Cushion. Check

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

What did I forget?
UTC

Hooked
Vespa LX 50 - Oriana
Joined: UTC
Posts: 396
Location: Rhode Island
 
Hooked
Vespa LX 50 - Oriana
Joined: UTC
Posts: 396
Location: Rhode Island
UTC quote
That's a kick ass gas can rack...

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