Cross Country Trip/Advice needed

[JohnEE]

So long story short, broke up with my gf of five years and figured there is no better time than now to cross off cross country ride on my bucket list. I've only taken one day off all year so I should be able to swing the vacation time. Now, I need a trusty steed for this adventure and this is where I need your help. My S2R1k is awesome but not 500 miles a day awesome and I don't want be putting that many miles on my baby anyways. My only criteria are, comfortable for long miles, decent power, and space to hold the stuff one would need camping across the country(cheap and good MPGs are bonuses). Budget is <7k. Right now i'm leaning towards air cooled cyclops multistradas, there are plenty available around where i live at various points around my budget. A Kawi KLR  650 would be another option also. I don't know how fun the thumper would be across the country thought.

As for the route I only have a couple places picked out for stops at the moment. This will all depend on how much time I can get off.

Start in Massachusetts
Yellowstone park
then go west to the pacific coast HW
ride that all the way to LA(good friend lives in LA)
Vegas(got a friend in vegas)
then tail of the dragon

I'm open to ideas and hopefully I can pull this off.

Thanks in advance
-John

[ducpainter]

A well maintained ST2 would be my choice and should fall within your price range.

You should be able to do the trip with no maintenance

[Raux]

Get a later model 3phase though.

[the_Journeyman]

I would go with the Multi or ST2 as mentioned.  The thumper may get a little buzzy at extended highway speeds.  This may be borderline blasphemy on here, but a V-Strom 650 is another good choice.

JM

[d3vi@nt]

An ST would fit the bill well. My only reservation, from experience, is range; I'm looking for a fill-up around 160 miles and getting nervous by 180.

BMW F650 GS might be a good option and in your price range. Nowhere near as fun as a Duc, and not the best at highway speeds, but...

[d3vi@nt]

One other note... the lights on the early STs are bad. If you plan to do any riding in the dark, you'll need something better.

Unfortunately, DucatiDesigns is no longer manufacturing the upgraded lights so you'd have to find an alternate option.

[Raux]

You can change out stock st low beam with stock 848 low beam with a small mod.

[Dirty Duc]

I would go with the Multi or ST2 as mentioned.  The thumper may get a little buzzy at extended highway speeds.  This may be borderline blasphemy on here, but a V-Strom 650 is another good choice.

JM

This is a good answer... but don't limit yourself to the 650.  I like my big one.  They are plentiful and dead reliable, with little maintenance requirements.  I have done nothing but changed oil, filter, chain, sprockets and tires as necessary for nearly 30k miles.

The only niggle is that if you put too much chain lube on, it will gum up the clutch pushrod and leak.

[SpikeC]

 If someone stole my DB5R I would not hesitate to take an ST2 or 3 on that trip. There are so many nice roads to ride and although many bikes would do a satisfactory job of it, the sport touring Duck really puts the sport into the equation without sacrificing any of the touring part!

[JohnEE]

A well maintained ST2 would be my choice and should fall within your price range.

You should be able to do the trip with no maintenance

Added to the list.

Get a later model 3phase though.

3 Phase alternator and regulator I assume? What year did they make the switch?

I would go with the Multi or ST2 as mentioned.  The thumper may get a little buzzy at extended highway speeds.  This may be borderline blasphemy on here, but a V-Strom 650 is another good choice.

JM

Bring on the non ducs!! Added to the list.


Thanks for help everyone
-John

[pitbull]

I've done cross country twice on an 01 M900 and it wasn't horrible, especially the second time with a sargent seat. The biggest issue touring on a monster, for me, is the cramped leg room, which hurts my knees and I only have a 30'' inseem.

I've also done cross country on a 98 ST2 and it was the perfect bike, although I had the DD headlight. I still would have done it with the stock headlight though.

I now have an 00 ST4 and while I like the extra HP, it's no more capable than the ST2.


My other choice would have been a 1st gen multi, but the ST's came up cheap and local. I think I would have preferred the more upright position on the multi, but I put bars on the ST which sits it up higher. I also put a desmo Times peg lowering kit on it, which makes a big difference for leg room.

Below is a pic with the bars on the ST2

[pitbull]

As for your route, if you're hitting Yellowstone on your way out, make a short detour to ride beartooth pass.


On your way home, if you're coming through Vegas, hit Grand Canyon if you haven't already seen it. It really is that awesome.

I would also see monument valley in Arizona and then choose one of two ways from there.

 Either continue east into New Mexico and tour along 64 into Taos and then continue east on 64, up towards Raton and then east through Kansas.

   OR

 Head east/north out of Mexican hat and make your way to 550 in western Colorado, up to Ouray. I would then head east through Gunnison and wind your way through Colorado from there.

[eric]

I agree a Monster is not an ideal bike for continuous 500-mile days. But if you have time, limiting yourself to about 300-400 miles a day would be much more fun since it gives you more time to check things out and for detours. Even then, springing for another bike would not be a bad idea.

I would not miss southern Utah / the Grand Circle region for the world. It would also be a logical area to head to after Vegas. I've ridden my Monster pretty much all over the Southwest and California so I'd be more than happy to give you specific routes/suggestions.

Oh and if you do pass through Chicago, beers are on me 

[stopintime]

"Grand Circle"? 

[eric]

Basically, all of the National Park Service areas in southern Utah / northern Arizona, plus Monument Valley.

I think it's called that because it's a roughly circular region encompassing the four states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico where erosion due to the Colorado River and other waters have exposed just about every geological layer in every fantastic way possible. So within a day or two travel of each other you have the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Mesa Verde, and a whole host of other spectacular areas.

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/grand_canyon/grand-circle-itinerary.htm

A description from another site:
"The forces of wind and water, and the sheer age of the exposed rock, have created a phantasmagoric land of natural arches, bridges, balanced rocks and basaltic dikes which amaze and delight the eyes and hearts of travelers."

http://www.desertusa.com/grand-circle.html#ixzz3bYjSq2IV