Ducati Monster Forum

Hi everyone,

I regrettably haven't posted here in a while and thought this story would make for a nice return to the board. In August of last year, I decided to move from NYC to California and figured the best way to do so would be to ride my Monster 620 across.

The trip took me 11 days to cover approximately 4,000 miles. I headed south from NYC so I could ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and then head west. I travelled as straight as possible through Missouri and Kansas so I could spend more time in Colorado and Utah. I've been posting all my pictures and thoughts on a blog so I'll just link that here. The posts get increasingly longer in length and the amount of photos as they go on.

Day 1 - NYC to Exmore, VA (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/08/day-1-hardest-day-down.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/08/day-1-hardest-day-down.html))
Day 2 - Exmore, VA to Boone, NC (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/08/day-2-actually-going-west.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/08/day-2-actually-going-west.html))
Day 3 - Boone, NC to Nashville, TN (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/08/day-3-tired.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/08/day-3-tired.html))
Day 3 - Part 2 (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-3-part-2-more-photos-details.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-3-part-2-more-photos-details.html))
Day 4 - Nashville, TN to Springfield, MO (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-4-rain-on-my-parade.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-4-rain-on-my-parade.html))
Day 5 - Springfield, MO to Pratt, KS (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-5-rolling-hills-prairies-fields-and.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-5-rolling-hills-prairies-fields-and.html))
Day 6 - Pratt, KS to Alamosa, CO (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-6-finally-in-colorado.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/09/day-6-finally-in-colorado.html))
Day 7 - Alamosa, CO to Cortez, CO (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/10/day-7-up-down-through-colorado.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/10/day-7-up-down-through-colorado.html))
Day 8 - Cortez, CO to Kayenta, AZ (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/10/day-8-utah-arizona-rain.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/10/day-8-utah-arizona-rain.html))
Day 9 - Kayenta, AZ to Las Vegas, NV (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/11/day-9-through-zion-to-vegas.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/11/day-9-through-zion-to-vegas.html))
Day 10 - Las Vegas, NV to Morro Bay, CA (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/12/day-10-to-pacific.html (http://vishwacorp.blogspot.com/2014/12/day-10-to-pacific.html))
Day 11 - Morro Bay, CA to Mountain View, CA (soon!)

I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. The monster didn't let me down and the few problems I did have were tackled easily by some zip ties and duct tape.

This was my route
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yQ8hN4MX1mwZgxz-T991Nx-f77SLSiv8WjPnwtP80EiX_UUZZF22u-u7QujdPI20bNMW=w2560-h1196)

And here are a few photos
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1FDI3LUmYhk/U_VvhLd5XZI/AAAAAAAASdA/jEeFepsKrOk/s1600/IMG_20140820_191813.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iP8uuQIC4Ok/VAqbkOaesOI/AAAAAAAATQQ/BB88oub7v2c/s1600/BRP%2BBridge%2B1.png)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8i3Wc5J8qyU/VBI1iGVVP2I/AAAAAAAATmc/ivVHmavC0J8/s1600/DSC00098.JPG)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7wVMWDZqjo/VEAIQo15OWI/AAAAAAAAU38/5jqYVbdvuhA/s1600/Day%2B7%2B-%2B04.jpg)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Iw5U4PhIAU/VEG6ncFqe1I/AAAAAAAAU98/lXJ8MeRck3c/s1600/Day%2B8%2B-%2B01.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7r_fp7oELI/VEG6vwF3ssI/AAAAAAAAVAY/dSSVJmpTdWU/s1600/Day%2B8%2B-%2B22.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LghMEDp3ZCU/VE_itFNn87I/AAAAAAAAVWE/xkZy7dIbRps/s1600/Day%2B9%2B-%2B35.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FwY6qtgHqNo/VE_jG0NaHKI/AAAAAAAAVZE/-zV-zdjOAk8/s1600/Day%2B9%2B-%2B60.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lB_B5YtMXKQ/VJe1Ou8slLI/AAAAAAAAWtI/biph0kHg70w/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-07%2Bat%2B9.54.32%2BPM.jpg)

Thanks!

 [thumbsup]

So much awesome  [beer]

You riding back?

Great pics.

HELL YES  [clap]

Nope, it was a one way trip.

did you have to ride home after that? or just ship the bike bike? I'm looking forward to a similar trip i always just worry about the return trip

oh, nevermind lol

Enjoy the warmth V. [beer]

So, I guess you won't be showing up at the DESMO oil spill?  We'll miss you.  Enjoy your new snow free home!

Welcome to CA & back to board, and congrats on the journey!

that arrival in Morro had to feel pretty frickin awesome.

 [thumbsup] &  [beer]

and love the blog & pics, glad you just ran into bugs in CO & no hail/afternoon showers!

Impressive journey.

PhilB did the opposite trip. he went from San Diego to New Hampshire.

Unfortunately not howie. But I'll keep an eye on the boards if any rides/meetups coincide when I'm visiting home in NY.

Thank you! It definitely felt great, and then I had a nice ride up the PCH after that. I definitely got lucky with the weather.

I did something similar back in the 90s... but MOST of it was on Route 66 (or what sections still exist and the roads that were laid over it) and when I got to CA I turned around and came back to PA.

Oh, and I did it on a Harley RK, so I betcha I was a tad more comfortable.

Gonna do it again someday, once our kids are old enough.

There's nothing like some of the beautiful country out west.

Glad you had such a fantastic trip!

what was your avarage speed? I was worried that my s2r800 would be too high strung at 85-90 for an extreemly long trip like this, did you use a different sprocket? how was the factory seat?

Nice pics and a great report.

That sounds wonderful. I already can't wait to do something similar again. Maybe the northwest?!

Average speed was probably 70 or so. I had a 14-tooth sprocket in the front. Honestly, I just wanted to go fast enough so I wasn't being overtaken by the tractor trailers on the interstates and that's it. The wind would tire me out after a whole day of riding so any faster would probably be even worse.

Factory seat I decided would be horrible so I bought a Sargent beforehand. I'm very glad I did.  :)

If you have made the mods to make your 800 responsive, I suggest you not try to exceed 100 miles per gas stop.

I average 60mph on long rides... Like 700 miles in a day... The worst gas mileage was Gallup to st. John's... The light came on at 105, but I had a firm grip on the loud handle.

That's funny, im actually near gallup, albuquerque. thanks for the heads up, I might try a sergent or corbin but that's pretty far down on the list of things i need soon. i've got quite a few mods on the 800, air filter, full arrow exhaust, ECU race flash.. okay so i have 3 mods. tomarrow will be my first long ride i'll see how she does.
thanks for the info

That was great, thanks for sharing.  [beer]

Re: the 6th pic in your post (riders POV looking straight down the road).

A life size poster of that pic would sell. Well... at least one to me.
It would help daydream away my current outdoor reality.

EPIC !  [thumbsup] [Dolph] [clap]

I'm impressed. I could use a referral to the chiropractor who works on your lower back  ;D

:D Chronic lower back pain.  It hurts if I ride, it hurts if I drive, it hurts if I stay home.  It hurts less if I can adopt a posture that reinforces the muscles... knees are also an issue, but they also hurt regardless of my activity choices.

Aleve is my friend.

I also ride with purpose... not saying the journey isn't the goal, just that long rides in my world always have a destination and usually a timeframe in mind.

I can't do back to back 700 mile days... that requires a younger body than I have.

What were you using for your pictures? GoPro?

Awesome trip and great write-up!

Great blog, and awesome trip!  I would love to do something like that someday!!

Thanks Ducatamount,

Unfortunately that is a screenshot of the video from my Sony Action Cam so I don't have a higher resolution version. I can send you that file regardless since you like it.

Thanks! Most of the photos are just screenshots of the video I recorded with my Sony Action Cam (the HDR-AS100V model). I had a helmet mount, a handlebar mount, and a chest mount for it.

Thank you! Please do share when you go on your trip.

Awesome.  I wish to emulate this trip sometime

Fantastic and nice to see it done on the monster. Great pics too!



I've ridden from Toronto to Colorado and back a couple times, on the old 01 monster and, like yourself, found the bike as reliable as any other.


Now that I'm a couple years shy of 50, and years of abuse has taken it's toll on the shoulders and hips, I have an ST4 to do the job.  However, the last time I was out west on the ST, there were several times I was wishing I was on the monster.

Wow, I don't even have my Monster anymore but your adventure has me inspired to do the same on my Diavel. Great recounting!

Great Blog, love the format.  [thumbsup]

Very nice. A dream ride. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. I definitely plan on revisiting Colorado. It was a beautiful state to ride through!


A diavel with some saddlebags sounds like an awesome bike for such a trip actually :)