Successful SS 1000

I Made It!!!

A successful SS 1000 to Mitchell Indiana. It was heavy rains most of the way, and then couple that with the riding all night and I made quite a few stops after midnight.

Total elapsed time ended up being 23 hours, so I used most of my available time. I did pretty good the first 6 hours but as the rain moved in newar Newburg NY, and then stayed with me all the way to Akron Ohio, I started to lose time. It was heavy at times and the truck traffic just put up a spray to blind the rider from seeing the road more that a few feet... I naturally slowed down.

Good ride overall and upon my arrival, I found Barb Smith to sign my witness sheet. Barb had done a SS herself the previous day!

Next up, Labrador and the TLH!

Pat in NH

Ready For SS1000

Hi Everyone... I am way behind in keeping this up and I apologize... I have some updates to do that will be backdated to fit in, specifically related to the "Grasshopper" (My F650GS and upcoming Labrador trip...) Suffice it to say, the bike and gear are all ready for that trip...

Tomorrow, Thursday June 11th, I leave for Indiana. I will be departing at about noon from work and planning to do an Iron Butt Certified, SS 1000. Thats 1000 miles in less than 24 hours.

I will be riding straight through all night and planning to arrive in Mitchell Indiana on Friday late morning.. The event I am attending is the annual Founders Feast for the MTF. I will return home beginning Sunday and take 2 days to make it back.

I have the SPOT tracker set up at http://jasonjonas.org/spot/tripViewer.do?id=1649
You can track me out and back via this link.

I will attempt to update this tomorrow after my arrival!

Pat in NH

Installing the Bar Risers

Mentioning comfort... I am also sending my seat out for a little work. That actually will go out onMonday to Spencer in Florida. There are surely other better options but they are all so pricey... Everyone I know who has a Spencer Mod at least says it was improved... No, it will never rival a Renaczo or Russell, but for the price I am anticipating it will be enough improvement.. If I want to ride 1000 miles a day, I am takingthe Wing...

Now to the bar riser...here are the simple parts.....

First .. removed the 4 screws holding the plastic housing with the ABS and Hazard flash switches...Then I removed the 4 bolts from the cap on the bars...

At this point the bar (according to the directions) just lifts off... Not Mine!! I was at my 2nd job last night when I started. I had nothing to try and knock it off. The parts are cast aluminum and I did not want to pry for fear of cracking them.I dropped a note to 2TTW for his opinion and he was thinking making just some corrosion.I suggested a mallet maybe to tap them off and he concurred, so I put it all back together and roadhome late at night.Today,I took it all apart again.... it still would not loosen, so I went and got the "persuader"

I tapped at the bars with little to no success, so then I tapped the caps from the side. I got them loosenedbut the bar still would not lift out.With the caps removed, I was able to tap on the right side of the bar, it broke loose and then the left followed..

Disassembly is complete...

Next up, I will put it all back together......

Pat in NH

F650 Improvements in 2009

Here is the bike somewhat as it ended last season..



So far this year I have added:Full size Cee Bailey (already mentioned)Tourtech Fairing GuardRam Mounting for a SPOT Tracking UnitSpoilers for the Hand Guards.Touratech Tank bag with Tank Panniers.. A friend gave me the TT bag wth panniers. I had been looking for some tankpanniers to use with my BMW tank bag... I tried this and liked it so I will be using it on the trip.The tank panniers actually knock some of the wind off of the legs.

I have also added Cee Bailey Headlight GuardClear Aircraft Grade

I then ordered ...TT Rain Cover for the tank bag...a bar riser from Twisted Throttle

a set of cheap Highway pegs... The bars of the engine guard are too small for mounting pegs.. I plan to get a hose (or some other such object) approx 1" OD and a 1/2" ID to use as a spacer.Split it, slide it over the bar and then tighten the peg on over it for clamping.

I also bought some items from Powerlet to "electrify" my tank bag. With this kit, the tank bag will plug into the accessory outlet and inside the bag will be electrical connections for my GPS, Heated Liner,and cell phone charger.

Next .. Installing the risers....
Pat in NH

F650 Farkles....

Ok, as most of you know, I picked up a used "stock" F650 GS last year... love it so much I am planning a trip to Labrador this June.. via the Trans Labrador Highway.. unlike what we consider a highway.... now, my disclaimer... I am not the prolific writer as some are here ... nor the photo man extraordinaire as we also have here... But I wanted to share as best I can .. how my ride has transitoned from stock to my TLH Pack Mule...
Here it is.. as naked as can be....






I added a BMW engine guard... along with a set of Caribou Panniers which I really do like...Picked up a used set of BMW hand guards (not great, but better than nothing...( I added air spoilers to them this season)




I hated the stock windscreen, tried a dakar and it was better, then got a cut down Cee Bailey from 2TTW to try and it was much improved. At the end of last season, picked up a Laminar Lip used for the stock WS but planned to add it the cut down CEE when spring arrived. I still have it sitting there, unused, as I stumbled on an uncut neearly new full size 22" Cee Bailey which is now mounted and a "keeper".





I also added a Kildala Tail Rack which I really like. I can strap on a carry bag, my lunch bucket for work, firework for camp.








Here is a shot with the Caribou Panniers, the Kildala and a Lee Parks bag that bungies right to the Kildala





I later added some reflective tape to improve visibility








Ok, next I will move into what I am doing this year....

Pat in NH