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I just "Had" to do it... bought a bike
- Thread starter Capt Steve
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Capt Steve
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Bike and trailer update....
It's been a few months and I am having more fun than ever riding every week a couple of times, thoroughly enjoying my BMW. Since summer recently arrived here in southern Arizona with a vengeance - we are seeing record highs from 105 - 109 this week - there is one simple solution: Pack up the motorhome, hook up the trailer, load up the BMW and head for the high country!
We are heading up to Greer, Big Lake and Alpine in eastern Arizona for a beat the heat week at 8,400' to 9,200'. Highway 191 (between Springerville and Safford), is reputed to be the ultimate motorcycle road in the continental US and has been at the top of my must rides for far too long. I'm thinking an early morning roundtrip ride for Thursday.
It took a 5.25" riser under the ball to get the trailer level. I have a tri fold aluminum ramp (yep, Harbor Freight $79), that you can just make out folded flat and vertical on the curbside of the trailer. Trailer and bike weigh in at 850# so I don't anticipate any problems for the 6.8L V-10.
Anyway, here are a couple of shots of RV, trailer and bike all ready to roll:
Should be a great trip/ride(s) and I'll report back upon our return. Life is good.
It's been a few months and I am having more fun than ever riding every week a couple of times, thoroughly enjoying my BMW. Since summer recently arrived here in southern Arizona with a vengeance - we are seeing record highs from 105 - 109 this week - there is one simple solution: Pack up the motorhome, hook up the trailer, load up the BMW and head for the high country!
We are heading up to Greer, Big Lake and Alpine in eastern Arizona for a beat the heat week at 8,400' to 9,200'. Highway 191 (between Springerville and Safford), is reputed to be the ultimate motorcycle road in the continental US and has been at the top of my must rides for far too long. I'm thinking an early morning roundtrip ride for Thursday.
It took a 5.25" riser under the ball to get the trailer level. I have a tri fold aluminum ramp (yep, Harbor Freight $79), that you can just make out folded flat and vertical on the curbside of the trailer. Trailer and bike weigh in at 850# so I don't anticipate any problems for the 6.8L V-10.
Anyway, here are a couple of shots of RV, trailer and bike all ready to roll:
Should be a great trip/ride(s) and I'll report back upon our return. Life is good.
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Snapping Twig
Member
Excellent ride!
Here's mine. 2012 R1200R.
Here's mine. 2012 R1200R.
pluspea
Member
Did not want to spend a lot on a bike, been years since I've ridden. I was the only bidder (ebay) on this 2005 Vulcan 800 and paid 2350.00 for it and 22,000 on the spedo, had to rent a uhaul and drive to another state to get it. Changed the oil and coolant this week, ready to ride if it wasn't so hot. It has vance and hines pipes and plenty of power for this old man, right about having to watch for distracted drivers, they are plentiful.
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Hey Steve, are you sure that much fun is still legal??!
Big Cholla
Member
Steve: I have too much on my plate to get over there and make that ride, but sure wish I could. You have the ideal family rig to go to Utah's 'Color Country' and ride all those great roads. IMHO, the greatest is Utah Highway 12 from just South of Panguitch up past Bryce Canyon on to Torrey. There you pickup St. No. 24 to Sigurd. Then US. 89 back to Panguitch. You can park the RV at Panguitch or at Ruby's Inn Campground. It will take all day to make the circle because there are so much beautiful scenery with great pullouts for a picture taking pause. The picture taking doesn't take long, but visiting with people from all over the world at each pullout will eat up a bunch of time. The word is out all over Europe about UT. ST. 12. 
It is a far better and prettier ride than the "Tail of the Dragon" or the Blue Ridge Parkway......and I have ridden all of them. ............
It is a far better and prettier ride than the "Tail of the Dragon" or the Blue Ridge Parkway......and I have ridden all of them. ............
F75gunslinger
Member
Congrats on the new ride ! I had a few bikes in my early years, let em go when my daughter was born. Got back into it a few years ago and have never second guessed the decision. Just watch the car drivers and enjoy the 2 wheeled life !
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Capt Steve
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I'm back....
Just returned from our 6 day "beat the heat" - take the bike camping, trip and we had a blast. While Tucson roasted at 106 - 110 all week we enjoyed mid 80's (9,200' campgrounds will do that for ya), with a nice breeze and cool nights with lows in the upper 40's. Morning and evening campfires were great, all the wood you want to pick up is just lying there for the taking.
The great experiment to see how well the bike/trailer combo and the motorhome would match up was an awesome success. I literally could not tell the trailer was back there as you can't see it in the mirrors except on a 90 degree turn. My mileage remained at our average of 9.5 mpg and that included 3 hours of generator time. Once offloaded it was easy to move the trailer, I just parked it sideways behind the coach. Here is a shot of our campsite:
I/we rode every day logging 300+ miles. My bride had not been on a bike in 39+ years but with some borrowed safety gear she hopped on and was as comfortable and smooth as ever. This week we will be headed back to Cycle Gear to get her own helmet, armored pants/jacket and gloves. No way she is going to let me have all the fun.
Lots of great roads to ride including two brand new (recently paved), that connect Big Lake with the Sunrise ski resort and another that connects to 191 just north of Alpine. Much to my delight both of these were every bit as exciting and beautiful as 191.
But the big attraction for this trip was the 191 and it did not disappoint, WOW, what a road. I got up Sunday morning (Fathers Day), at 0515 and rolled out of the campground at 0545 (coasting down to the main road on the lake as a courtesy to my fellow campers before lighting the bike off), heading for Hanagan Meadows on 191 south of Alpine. Had to dodge 4 deer along the way and at one point couple dozen cattle that had taken residence up in the middle of the road. Always a thrill to come around a corner on a new road and find the highway looks like a cattle drive.
Stopped in at the Bear Wallow Cafe in Alpine for another excellent breakfast on the ride back to camp. Everywhere we went the bike drew a crowd, not many could believe it was 28 years old and I got to talk to a lot of nice folks.... some bikers, some just curious about the old airhead Beemer.
Yep, looks like the bike and trailer are going to be regulars on our future camping trips. Northern New Mexico, Colorado and Utah are scheduled for this summer with northern California on tap for September. Can't wait!
Life is good!
Just returned from our 6 day "beat the heat" - take the bike camping, trip and we had a blast. While Tucson roasted at 106 - 110 all week we enjoyed mid 80's (9,200' campgrounds will do that for ya), with a nice breeze and cool nights with lows in the upper 40's. Morning and evening campfires were great, all the wood you want to pick up is just lying there for the taking.
The great experiment to see how well the bike/trailer combo and the motorhome would match up was an awesome success. I literally could not tell the trailer was back there as you can't see it in the mirrors except on a 90 degree turn. My mileage remained at our average of 9.5 mpg and that included 3 hours of generator time. Once offloaded it was easy to move the trailer, I just parked it sideways behind the coach. Here is a shot of our campsite:
I/we rode every day logging 300+ miles. My bride had not been on a bike in 39+ years but with some borrowed safety gear she hopped on and was as comfortable and smooth as ever. This week we will be headed back to Cycle Gear to get her own helmet, armored pants/jacket and gloves. No way she is going to let me have all the fun.
Lots of great roads to ride including two brand new (recently paved), that connect Big Lake with the Sunrise ski resort and another that connects to 191 just north of Alpine. Much to my delight both of these were every bit as exciting and beautiful as 191.
But the big attraction for this trip was the 191 and it did not disappoint, WOW, what a road. I got up Sunday morning (Fathers Day), at 0515 and rolled out of the campground at 0545 (coasting down to the main road on the lake as a courtesy to my fellow campers before lighting the bike off), heading for Hanagan Meadows on 191 south of Alpine. Had to dodge 4 deer along the way and at one point couple dozen cattle that had taken residence up in the middle of the road. Always a thrill to come around a corner on a new road and find the highway looks like a cattle drive.
Stopped in at the Bear Wallow Cafe in Alpine for another excellent breakfast on the ride back to camp. Everywhere we went the bike drew a crowd, not many could believe it was 28 years old and I got to talk to a lot of nice folks.... some bikers, some just curious about the old airhead Beemer.
Yep, looks like the bike and trailer are going to be regulars on our future camping trips. Northern New Mexico, Colorado and Utah are scheduled for this summer with northern California on tap for September. Can't wait!
Life is good!
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