The 2010 X Arrives :)

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - July 29, 2010



The 2010 Yamaha WR250X - Early pic in showroom stock condition other than the addition of a Giant Loop tank bag.

What began as a long term review of possibly the premiere 250 dual sport in North America turned into something quite different and by far a lot more interesting.

Let us spell out the results up front. In the 250cc segment, we have ridden the XT, CRF, and the KLX. With those rides behind us, the current best quarter liter Dual Purpose Supermoto is the 2010 WR250X. The fuel efficient on-road based WR250X has a crisp yet fun handling nature to tackle the surface streets of your daily commute while offering the ability to head off-road (albeit easy terrain) when the need arises. If you need to hop a curb, traverse a grassy median, or head down light trail to explore, the WR250X is ready to take you there with a simple turn of the bars and a twist of the throttle. Finally, this is the first quarter liter I would have no qualms riding from the depths of Death Valley to the top of Pike's Peak as its FI engine adjusts automatically vs. a carbureted bike running out of steam after a minimal 5,000' elevation change. At the end of the day, the smile on your face will remind others of what you thought of your ride on the best in class WR.

While not a perfect -- no bike is -- for a larger rider, the WR250X offers class leading performance and the most relaxed seating position of any competitor. What that means for you is an all-day riding capability without feeling cramped.

Features and Highlights

As written within the 2010 Yamaha WR250X Review Has Begun piece, the 250 cc motocross bike derived WR250X deserves the accolades above thanks in part to its modern yet comfortable 10.6” of suspension front and rear, rare for the class fuel injected engine which allows a surprisingly potent midrange on up to its 10,000 RPM red line, a top speed north of 80 mph and an ergonomic layout that rivals and in some cases exceeds some of the world’s best Adventure bikes.

In addition, a reasonably low total cost of ownership is guaranteed thanks in part to a maintenance schedule calling for the first valve adjustment at an amazing for a bike, 26,000 miles!

The final piece of the puzzle comes about by the WR’s ability to hit triple digits… Not the speed kind but the Fuel Economy kind. 100 mpg when ridden to its limits gives its rider the peace of mind that he or she is treading lightly on the environment while enjoying the outdoors in a manner few automobile drivers will ever experience. Think of a convertible with the ability to go anywhere and do anything and you have a good idea of what the WR is capable of :)


2 topoff to MT tanks - 433 miles on 4.218 gallons of fuel.

All said, the 2010 Yamaha WR250X is greater than the sum of its parts and will bring many miles of smiles to its owners. And it will come about no matter if you are tackling the harshest inner city environs or the wide open spaces on an exploration with a yet to be determined destination.

Minor Detriments

With a long legged stature, some shorter riders may find its ride height and reach a bit beyond their body size. Like all bike customization, there are lowering solutions of up to 5” for this.

The OEM Odometer as equipped is almost dead on but the speedometer reads as much as 10% low of actual (verified via GPS) off the showroom floor. Again, there are customizations that can cure the WR250X of one or the other but not both unfortunately.

In its OEM non-modded state, the top speed with rider in an upright position was found to be 82 mph. While plenty fast enough for any road in America, what I have not taken into account in the past is headwinds or grades which can bring the quarter liter to its knees while you are asking everything from it while falling below the 70 mph mark. And again, there are cures but not without expending some serious cash. This is not an oversight by any means but simply a limitation of what the most potent .25L can provide in its OEM stock form. Place yourself on a lesser capable quarter-liter and the wakeup call comes the first time you hit the Interstate with a head wind or grade to climb.

Due to the low inertia single cylinder of the WR250X, the throttle’s tip-in from Injectors on to off to on again can be abrupt. While taller gearing can remove some of the hit, an hour or two in the saddle reduces this to a non-event. For the first ride however, it is different than most bikes we have ridden and something to be wary of.

There is no tach in the modern digital instrument display. I am not sure why it is missing but it is surely missed.

Finally we have the seat. Like all Dual Purpose bikes with a history beginning on the Motocross track, the WR250’s seat is good for about 75-miles after which your rear will be requesting a serious respite as the day comes to a close. The WR is no different than any quarter-liter through single liter bike dual purpose. This is something the manufacturers really need to put behind them… No pun intended ;) After 100 + years of motorcycling history, all manufacturers should see their customers riding long distance in comfort, not distress.

The Challenge Ahead

Yamaha sent us this bike for a thorough review and unfortunately it is now time to take it back to Yamaha HQ near LA. In doing so, we set it up a Continent Crossing Ride with light modding to match the ride comfort and capability of other ultra expensive Adventure Touring bikes but at a fraction of the cost. And while we are at it, why try and hold onto its 100 mpg capability from sea to shining sea!

100 mpg on a bike rated at 71 mpg? What is so hard about that?

The 2010 Yamaha WR250X is rated at 71 mpg “unadjusted” city. What does unadjusted mean? While we have laid out the details how CAFÉ is based on pre-1985 city and highway Fuel Economy and Emissions test cycle(s), unadjusted FE ratings can be understood a lot easier if we consider it in terms of a car we all know. Namely, the 50 mpgUS rated 2010 Prius. The 2010 Prius’ is rated at 51 mpg city and 48 mpgUS highway after “adjustments” including offsets to account for the new 08 EPA cold, hot w/ A/C and high speed testing regimens. Per CAFÉ, the Prius is rated at an astounding 71.95 mpg unadjusted city and 69.64 mpgUS unadjusted Highway. It should be clear as to what unadjusted Fuel Economy means in relative terms… And to the matter at hand, does anyone know of a third generation 2010 Prius that has breached 100 mpg while crossing the country? While we have been beyond 100 mpg for a short period, It us a stretch goal that only the 2000 – 2006 Honda Insight w/ a stick has breached while driving across and that car is the Thoroughbred amongst all hyper efficient automobiles we have had the opportunity to own and drive over the years.

Now you know how the MPG ratings of bikes stack up against what we are familiar with and what is actually reported is really “out there”!


Like any vehicle, there are items that we feel the need to change. Why? To make it our own with a personal touch or to make it fit our needs through any number of add-ons or subtractions. In the case of a car, it could be new mats, new wheels, a steering wheel cover, gear shift knob, wood-inlays inserted around the interior or even a DVD infotainment system for the kids… In the case of the 2010 Yamaha WR, it is all about fitting the bike to our needs and adding some utility for that long and lonely stretch of highway some call home.

Riding Gear - The Gold Standard in riding apparel happens to come from Aerostich. In this case, the Darien Jacket and Pants. From the CleanMPG Review and subsequent rides since, it has proven itself ready to cross counties, states, continents and even the world.

Alpinestars SP8 Glove – An all-leather, full protection gauntlet glove for a reasonable price. Early impressions are that they offer great protection while still being comfortable for the middle temperature ranges from 55 to 75 degrees F.

Arai XD-3 Helmet – One of if not the best Dualsport helmets available period! With its incorporated peak blocking the afternoon sun and HQ design protecting ones head in a worst case scenario, few if any can match the XD-3 for both its dual purpose form and function.

A long distance rider without a long distance hydration system is asking for trouble. Thanks to the efforts of a company called CamelBak, a 70 ounce HiViz rear pack was picked up and with it, a simple yet effective on the road drink solution is now part of the arsenal. In addition, the HiViz CamelBak with its easy to see color and reflective elements is a must have for anyone taking a long slab ride with night riding included.

The Scala Rider G4 is an advanced communication system from a company named Cardo Systems. While providing rider to rider communication gear (something we will unfortunately not have the opportunity to test out :(), the system offers Bluetooth Cell Phone to interior of the helmet connectivity while on the bike and heading down the road. In addition, the small headset incorporates an FM receiver used to hopefully pick up the latest weather information from local stations. There are a number of other features that the Scala Rider incorporates including the fact it is now SW upgradeable and can be used with an i-Phone or MP3 and synch up to a GPS Navigation unit for turn by turn announcements that can be heard from within one's helmet.

While not on the initial segment, the Gerbing’s heated gear will be on the second segment as we climb over the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada’s – When the road or trail ahead includes colder temperatures, Gerbing’s gear has saved many a rider from the elements over the years. While the fit is certainly right, I have not had them “lit up” and have no early impressions as of yet.

Bike add-on’s – Low cost additions that make your everyday routine commute exactly that, a routine non-event for lack of a better phrase.

The Giant Loop Great Basin rear soft luggage will be left behind for the first shorter stretch from Boston to Chicago but it will be a vital part of the second segment from Chicago to LA as it can be packed with over a weeks’ worth of gear and camping equipment while keeping everything out of the elements. The Fandango Tank bag however is a must have as it carries the quick access items I need when stopping for a fill up, grabbing a snack or simply pulling over to make a call.

With the OEM 2.0 gallon tank leading to a max range in the 210 to 220 mile range, a little bit more never hurt. Especially when out west where the distance between stations at night can be a long one. Which brings us to the IMS Fuel Tank. The tank is an OEM fitment that offers up to 3.0 gallons for either the WR250 R or X. Our early prototype holds 2.8 gallons and those .8 gallons will surely come in handy while traversing the more desolate areas of the West.

A 30-ounce MSR bottle was found and strapped on in the toolkit location. For one of those "ah-oh, I am out and there is nothing ahead for 25-mile" moments. While I hope not to have to use this extra amount of fuel, it is better to be safe than sorry…

The WR’s ergonomics and utility were improved with the addition of Promoto Billet/Fastway F5 platform pegs that lower the base by.75” and their almost museum piece quality aluminum rear rack for carrying the load. This is hands down the highest quality and best looking rear rack I have ever seen on a bike!

While meant to improve the engine protection of the WR bikes, we had something different in mind when we searched for a skid plate. Namely, an easy to install addition while improving the under engine aerodynamics. A plate was found that meets all the requirements and more from Richochet Skid Plates. Not only is it well made but it is one of the few WR skid plates that cover the underside almost to the swing arm pivots. Nice looking and very functional for both the on and off-road riders specific needs.

A small reach extension for the taller folk was found from RoxSpeed FX and their Anti vibration 2” bar risers. The risers allow a rise and setback of up to 2” for an even more comfortable seated position. In addition, the risers also reduce vibration through the bars with hard rubber isolation for a more relaxed all-day ride. In addition, RoxSpeedFX also sells soft cell Spider grips to reduce the bikes vibes felt through the hands even further.

The next item is a low cost add-on that reduces the battle with both straight line and buffeting winds that every non-screen equipped rider has experienced in the past. The Slipstreamer Spitfire Windshield reduces the buffeting, adds road debris protection and even improves aerodynamics slightly while taking just 30-minutes to install.

A really nice addition came in the form of taller gearing. Yamaha's OEM gearing included a 13/43 front and rear sprocket set tuned for all out performance. I was looking for a more relaxed 50 to 70 mph RPM gearing and Yamaha provides through their OEM GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) accessory unit. With the addition of a 14/40 F/R sprocket set, the effective final ratio was increased 15.1% allowing for that more comfortable higher speed ride. Another benefit is that the speedometer now displays from 1 to 3 mph under actual between 30 and 80 mph vs. 6 to 8 under off the showroom floor. While I do have to take into account the odometer's newly created lack of accuracy with an 11.573% delta at each fill, the speedometer is a lot closer to actual now.

And finally a homegrown addition thanks to my mom’s unique capabilities and ingenuity. Scott, only you could love a seat mod like this While it is not the coolest looking addition (in no uncertain terms ), it certainly meets the requirements for making a 75-mile seat into a 4,000-mile one as seen in the photo above ;)


The “Iron Butt”

First, we are headed to Boston to see friends. Home of the Tea Party, the Big Dig and the Red Sox Green Monster, it is a worthy destination. Since we are headed that way to, why not make it an “Iron Butt” Ride attempt! What is an “Iron Butt” Ride Attempt?

There are over 50,000 members of the “Iron Butt Association or (IBA)” that are dedicated to safe, long-distance motorcycle riding. While based in the United States, there are thousands of enthusiastic members across the globe! One of their more popular slogans is, "The World Is Our Playground."

They host a number of rides with the most notable being the 11-day, 11,000 + mile Iron Butt Rally. In addition, the Iron Butt Association hosts the Saddle Sore 1000 (1,000 miles in a 24-hour period ride ), the Bun Burner 1500 (1,500 miles in 36 hours), the Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in 24 hours), the 50cc Quest (Cross Country in 50 hours or Less), the National Parks Tour Master Traveler Award(visit 50 parks in at least 25 states), the coveted 10/10ths Challenge (10 consecutive 1,000 mile days) and the almost-impossible to get into 100K Club (100,000 miles or more in one year).

The Iron Butt Association does not have a membership in the traditional sense as there are no yearly dues, formal meetings or a monthly newsletter. The IBA is a little more loose knit organization with members that earn it through completing an Iron Butt Ride or Rally.

In our case, the ride from the IL/WI border to Boston is a scant 1,065 miles away… And we have less than 24-hours to get there on the WR250X Adventure Touring Bike :rolleyes:


Planned to loosely follow US Route 20, the highway is the longest contiguous east–west highway in the US at over 3,365 miles. U.S. 20 is a coast-to-coast route but because the Yellowstone National Park roads do not have signage for U.S. numbered highways, a gap exists that splits the route into two sections as it runs smack dab through the middle of Yellowstone.

As of today, the highway's eastern terminus is in Boston, Massachusetts, at Kenmore Square near the Atlantic coast with its western terminus located in Newport, Oregon, at the intersection of U.S. Route 101, less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean.

It’s time to put up or shut up… And find out what that 2010 Yamaha WR250X is really worth while on a ride across the states and not just a ride across a state line.

Hi All:

A bit about the IB ride… First, it was one very long day. I packed up the bike, uploaded some News, and sent out my final E-Mails. With ~ 2-hours of sleep, it was time to head out. I topped her off at a Shell in Gurnee, IL located about ¼ of a mile from the I-94 East On-ramp near the IL/WI border at 05:44 AM CST.

2010 Yamaha WR250X – “IB” Ride Details

Fill Location|Date|Time|Odometer|*Actual Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Trip A/B Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Notes

Gurnee, IL|07/30/2010|05:44 AM CST|923|923|Reset|Reset|NA|NA|Initial Top Off|Begin the “IB” Ride.

Elkhart, IN|07/30/2010|09:21 AM EST|1,066|1,082|142.6/142.6|159.1/159.1|30.4|33.9|2.525|Made it through Chicago.

Genoa, OH|07/30/2010|12:52 PM EST|1,196|1,226|129.6/272.1|144.6/303.6|8.9|9.9|2.178|Took an hour break.

Kingsville, OH|07/30/2010|03:43 PM EST|1,338|1,385|142.4/414.6|158.9/462.6|19.7|21.9|2.290|Tail wind :)

Cuba, NY|07/30/2010|06:24 PM EST|1,468|1,516|129.8/544.4|144.8/607.4|16.5|18.4|2.382|Ascents and Descents in earnest.

Nichols, NY|07/30/2010|08:58 PM EST|1,579|1,640|111.4/655.9|124.3/731.8|7.5|8.4|2.134|Getting Cold at night in the mountains on I-86/88.

Rotterdam, NY|07/30/2010|11:38 PM EST|1,714|1,790|134.3/790.2|149.8/881.6|27.3|30.4|2.425|SP8’s and Aerostich liner are barely doing the job. Ramped up speed a touch before it gets to cold.

Charlton, MA|07/31/2010|02:08 AM EST|1,831|1,921|117.7/908.0|131.3/1,013.1|1.4|1.6|2.038|Cold and slowing down even more to stay warm :( It is 59 degrees F now.

Chicopee, MA|07/31/2010|03:30 AM EST|1,876|1,971|--/--|--/1,063|NA|NA|NA|NA|Arrived at friends home after figuring out how to turn around on the Mass Pike.

* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

1,013 miles on 15.972 gallons = 63.43 mpgUS. The 1,063 miles included the last 50-miles were to a friend's with no fill needed.

All said, there is no other 250 I would have liked to do this on thanks to its stretched out ergo and enough cost effective farkle's to make it happen without the least bit of concerns.

“100 mpg Adventure Touring Project Bike" X-Country ride

Wayne

Hi All:

So Monday was the day… After thanking Jesse and Heather for their gracious hospitality and tips to a number of locations to get a shot of the bike actually in the Atlantic, I was on my way.

I rode around Hull, MA area for almost 2-hours until I found a gap in the wall to private (or maybe it was public?) beach and I rode the mighty WR right on in

I asked a scantily clad beach goer to snap a pic and she obliged :) Thank you anonymous beach goer!


About 5-minutes after this pic, I dropped the WR in the sand at ~ 2-mph while trying to ride back out to the road. The OEM BT90 road tires just could not get any traction

Wayne

Hi All:

After I left Hull, MA, it was time to fill up and begin the 100-mpg X-Country attempt. I found a station just outside of downtown Boston, MA which set in motion the journey with the odometer at 1,993 miles. It was ~ 13-miles to the park at the beginning of Commonwealth Avenue to I rode up Beacon Street where Commonwealth crossed creating the Terminus of Hwy 20. I snapped a pic a few blocks down the road at the first Hwy 20 only sign in downtown Boston I rode by…

The Escape from Boston was somewhat uneventful as Hwy 20 is simply stop light to stop light and the further away from Boston you get, the less congested it becomes. Very nice ride other than the hard work to keep the FE numbers up in downtown of course.

I rode 20 almost back to Chicopee where it turned onto I-291 and I left the Interstate after about a mile. This is where the Garmin decided to quit for a bit. I pulled in to a Legion Hall while trying to get the Garmin to reboot. Finally after 45-minutes, she came back and I have not seen the trouble since???

I let the Garmin loose with Fuel Saving Routes and no Tollways which took me on "Wild Routes" all the way to Schenectady in order to visit with a friend for the night.


Low fuel just appeared after almost 200-miles and pulling into Schenectady for the night.

Wayne

How's the bike holding up with over 600 miles in a day? (I'm going on a big one like that soon so I sorta want to know!!)

Hi Medski:

You are going to have no problems. Unless you have a flat that is.

I had one three days ago near the PA/OH border in which a can of Fix a flat would not seal around a small nail that went into the rear tire.

A heads up. You can get the axle out but not the chain adjusters with the OEM tool kit so take a complete set of Metric wrenches with you for the ride.

Good Luck

Wayne

Hi All:

To begin Day 2, I was looking over the maps and it looked like SR 5 heading West towards Geneva, NY was one of the best before tying back in with US 20 and heading south towards Hornell, NY and then Pittsburgh, PA at Geneva.

I pulled in for the first stop at Palatine Bridge, NY with the Odometer at 2222, Trip A/B showing 229.8 miles indicated and low fuel on for 30.6 miles. After the 11.57% adjustment, the WR covered 256.4 miles on 2.315 gallons for 110.75 mpgUS top off to top off. This is about where the headwinds started at 10 + mph and held all the way until Geneva. The station (a Gulf IIRC?) had just 87 and 89 with the bike requiring 91 to 93… I put in what they had and moved on??? After nightfall, the winds subsided and the roads became more hairy :)

While riding SR5, I pulled into a McDonald’s for lunch in Oneida, NY where a lady named Mary was kind enough to give me not only the location as I was on the Cell with Al in Pittsburgh but gave me some insight into the local town’s history. Not far from Oneida in Pratt’s Hollow which she said was the geographic center of NY. She also has a friend that rides in the “American Legion Riders Club” with a number of lengthy weekend rides all over NY.

The Garmin was let loose again and onto country roads, back roads and even some unpaved back roads while still hoping to keep the 100 mpg attempt moving forward. The Garmin in Fuel saving route mode and no highways can really go nuts so sometimes I followed and sometimes I did not.
I made it to Arkport, NY a little after 10:00 PM and filled at a closed Sunoco. Trip A showed 193.1 miles (215.44 miles actual) where I topped off with 2.118 gallons for a 101.72 mpgUS tank.


Soon after crossing the border, I was lead down an unpaved, off-road mountain trail that in some places was so steep I was on the pegs and looking back through the windshield at the instruments while attempting to stand upright! In addition, the road/trail was heading up above 2,000’ elevation and torn up so bad I should had been on knobby tires as the road tires were breaking loose every which way.

I was following the Navi blindly at this point and should not have been as it was neither fuel efficient or a shorter route! In actuality, the route was a short route but the routing was insane as there was no car that would have made it up and then back down that mountain trail. It was by no means a road

After riding all night long, I pulled into a friend in Pittsburgh at about 08:30 AM the following morning. And boy was I ready for a lengthy nap after that all-night ordeal.

Later that day after Al got back home from work, we went out to a local Applebee's for one of the best steaks I have had. One more day and 450 + miles ticked off with the following to be yet another long one...

Wayne

Hi All:

About the bike and its equipment so far…

The WR250X has been performing spectacularly. Need a little kick to pass or climb, downshift and add some throttle and it moves without hesitation. And it is doing so while achieving better FE than the OEM Review! The more I ride some of the back country, the more I realize what a long legged WR setup for the street can do. Very quick handling for the hundreds of 90 degree turns I have taken transitioning from one road to a perpendicular yet not jittery at higher speeds. And the tall layout really helps stretch the longer inseam riders out to make a 5-hour bike into a 10-hour one. The seat is still a PIA but there are any number of remedies available to cure that from the aftermarket. All told, the WR 250X is a lightweight yet reasonably powerful point and shoot and you are already thinking about the next turn ¼ mile ahead.

And the Yamaha WR250X’s YGTR OEM taller gear set is so good I have to question why a road rider in particular would reduce gearing through other aftermarket solutions. With the Avon Distnzia’s, the taller gear set was just about right. With the OEM Bridgestone’s, I could use another 2 to 3% but I am certainly not complaining as the 14/40 is a vast improvement over the 13/43 OEM sprockets.

The Cardo Scala Rider G4 allows the ability to tie your Bluetooth phone to your interior mic and speakers plus any Bluetooth enabled player can be listed to seamlessly. Above 60 mph however, the speakers need to be jacked up to max to hear (I am wearing ear plugs). The Speakers are set back from my ears about an inch so with some foam moving them closer, I am sure they would work better at higher speeds. Below 60 mph and the speakers work very well. While in Bluetooth mode, the Li-Ion batteries will allow a single unit to run for about 4-hours. When not in Bluetooth mode and listening to the FM radio, I have had over 10-hours of play time before the Li-Ion gives up the ghost. I have the second unit with me and with it charged, I can make it to the next stop before having to charge both. The way I wired them in the Arai is to loop the left speaker wiring between the foam and attached it to the inside with the speakers Velcro backing. For the right speaker wire, I inserted under the Arai’s rear rubber edge to the right side and routed the wiring between the foam inserts. So far, it is holding well.

While I am not answering my cell on the road due to the shortened Bluetooth hours of use, I am listening to FM stations while crossing the great divide. The Tuner cannot pick up stations that far away as even in Chicago where the Car tuner will pick up maybe 50 stations, the G4 will pick up only 6 or 7. It does pick them up cleanly however. To turn the volume up or down, you simply tap the front (up) or back (rear) button on the unit and it drops down about 10 dB. A guess as to the drop. I really like the Auto Gain Control as you slow down or stop and then take off and increase speed, the volume automatically decreases or increases depending on the exterior ambient noise level.

I wish there were a way to swap out a separate power unit instead of swapping out the 2” x ½” inch by ½” clip in G4 unit for longer ride times with Bluetooth enabled.

The Promoto Billet/Fastway F5 pegs are just too darn good to describe in words. While I am up on the pegs to stand up stretch out every 10 or so miles, just lifting to cross over a set of rail road tracks or when on the pegs for a significant amount of time while on the off-road roads ;), the flat platform and lowered height are a very welcome addition. And something I still think about every time I get up on the pegs. For cruising, they hold their own without a thought.

The Promoto Billet rear rack still looks brand new and I have had the bungies holding the Sealline bag (see the photos) attached and detached about every 200-miles. With its multiple points to attach, I can bungie just about anything up to the WR250X’s rear rack weight limit. I almost hate to place the bag(s) on it because it looks so good darn good all by itself

The Slipstreamer Spitfire windscreen while already showing wear thanks to the WR’s front brake cable continuously rubbing the plastic is a must have inexpensive add-on that not only protects the rider from road debris and bugs at night but takes some of the chill out of the ride when temps fall into the high 50’s and low 60’s. It is small enough to not look overly obtrusive or like you are riding a road bike but large enough to protect and deflect for an aero, colder temperature and protection improvement. An easy bolt on solution as well!

The RoxSpeedFX risers are working as expected. They help with my arm reach yet soften the blow of impacts and reduce vib’s. You can pull at them and there is movement so a hardcore track rider may find them a bit to spongy but for riding the slab, they are working as expected for both ergonomics and long hour ride vibration reduction. I have not yet had any tingling in my hands and forearms which the RoxSpeedFX risers were meant to reduce or eliminate.

The Ricochet skid plate is doing its job for the aero improvement and was there when the rocks were being kicked up on the dirt trail. The only thing that came up was when doing an oil change. The hole is plenty large for a socket to get to the drain bolt but when the WR250X is on its kickstand and as the last bit of oil begins to drain, it comes to the edge and some finds its way onto the top of the plate vs. dripping through the hole. A minor problem that a paper towel will cure but something I noticed during its first oil change before I left for the east coast. All other plates would have a similar issue.

The Alpinestars SP8 gloves are a worthy addition to the equipment arsenal. I use the BMW Cross Gloves when above 70 degrees but their hand protection is minimal as are all summer light gloves. At night, I place the all-leather gauntlets with multiple protection points including hard knuckles and layer upon layer of leather types in the palm to not only help keep warm but for that just in case moment… They were a little tight when I first received them but have broken in and are now as comfortable as any other. I even slept with them on in Elkhart, IN while sleeping under the stars to stay warm and keep the mosquitoes at bay. I wonder how many have worn their Alpinestar SP gloves for that purpose ;)

The CamelBak HiViz hydration system. I have gone through 4 complete fillings and that 70 ounces is a necessity for any longer distance rider. The systems isolation and bite tube work great while the support straps makes it feel like it is not even there. I do not know how I could have gone for so long without one!

The IMS 2.8-gallon fuel tank… Oh boy what an improvement upon the 1.9L OEM. Not only is it much lighter and has more capacity, Low fuel to empty appears to be more along the lines of .7 gallons remaining vs. .5 from the OEM. The IMS cap is a simple vented unit and if you do not have a vent tube (tough to do when you have a tank bag), I had to stop fuel slosh from coming up through the vent and onto the base of the Giant Loop Fandango tank bag from an initial top off by placing a valve stem cap over the vent and taping it down with duct tape. It still acts as a vent yet prevents any fuel slosh form dumping onto the exterior of the tank.


The Giant Loop Fandango tank bag... There are not enough superlative's in the world to describe its weather proof utility, toughness and ease of use. From the zip on/off the base for both removal and/or flop over to fill (see photo above as to how that feature works), exterior grab handle to carry it with you or the large volume to place all your "get to" items quickly, it is the best on the market to date.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Wayne

Hi All:

From Ohio to IL and FE data…

Fill Location|Date|Time|Odometer|*Actual Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Trip A/B Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1993|1993|0.0/0.0|0.0/0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.

Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|2,249|229.8/229.8|256.4/256.4|30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!

Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|2,464|193.1/423.0|215.4/471.9|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.

Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|2,735|242.6/665.7|270.7/742.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 :( Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.

Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|2,969|209.5/875.2|233.7/976.5|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(

Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|3,232|235.5/_110.8|262.7/1,239.3|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.

* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

1,239 miles on 11.846 gallons = 104.592 mpgUS from Boston, MA to IL/WI Border and Lake Michigan.

Wayne

Hi All:

I am still making up the itinerary for the second segment with a quick ride down to Colorado Springs to take on Pike's Peak and a trip back up to ride through Yellowstone.
A question to everyone? Has anyone ridden a bike through Yellowstone? Are there Bears that will cause severe problems? I plan on taking a can of mace but with the recent news of the bear attacking two campers, I am questioning my sanity on this one?

Although this is still very preliminary, it is coming together. I have been building the Google Maps a number of times but they will not save for some reason so I am linking the route as it currently stands in the bolded title below.

If anyone has better suggestions, by all means, let me know!!!Leave Aug 24 from Home.
Highway 173 to Hwy 14 to 11 in WI to Hwy 20 in Iowa…

Night of Aug 24-25 at Frank A. Gotch Park - Humboldt, Iowa (42.67687, -94.20720)
Generally on or paralleling Hwy 20 on SR 3 across Iowa.

Night of Aug. 25-26 at Ainsworth East City Park - Ainsworth, Nebraska (42.55023, -99.84517)
Generally on or paralleling Hwy 20 and SR 59 across Nebraska.

Night of Aug 26-27 at Brush City Memorial Park - Brush, Colorado (40.25735, -103.62318)
Head almost due south and then paralleling I-80/76 to Brush, CO.

Aug 27th during the day at Pikes Peak.
Head almost due South on SR 71 to US 24 into Colorado Springs, CO and to the Peak.

Night of Aug. 27-28 at Spurs N Lace B&B in Colorado Springs, CO.
Head almost Due North on US 85 back to US 20.

Night of Aug. 28-29 at Riverside Park - Douglas, Wyoming (42.76256, -105.39190)
Follow US 20 West and break off onto SR 789 heading Southwest to Landers, WY.

Night of Aug. 29-30 at Lander City Park - Lander, Wyoming (42.82454, -108.73690).
Head Northwest on US 287 to Yellowstone, then hook back up on US 20 and follow it down to St. Anthony, ID.

Night of Aug. 30-31 at GuestHouse Henrys Fork Inn in Saint Anthony, ID. I was considering camping in the area but this is the most heavily populated Bear area in the country and that is the last thing I want to deal with when out west :rolleyes: Stay on US 20 to Nampa, ID.

Night of Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Nampa Budget Inn in Nampa, ID with a plant tour of ProMoto Billet on the 1st while I am there. Stay on US 20 to Bend, OR

Night of Sept. 1-Sept. 2 somewhere near Bend Oregon? I am still routing this one?
Stay on US 20 to Newport, OR.

Sept. 2, reach Newport, OR and head up to Seattle and back down to LA where I have to say goodbye to the premiere Quarter Liter available today

All of this is still in flux as I spend a few hours every night tweaking. Attempting to follow US 20 and then dipping down to Pike's Peak seems nuts so I might take US 30 and then come up? Or skip it altogether but the ride up to 14,110' is something I wanted to write about regarding the WR’s performance degradation at altitude... If there is something to write about?

Since this is an Adventure Tour, I am limiting hotels with my limited budget leading the way. Colorado Springs, Anthony, Idaho and Nampa, ID are the three I have planned so far.

Wayne

The bear might think of this as seasoning for his motorcyclist meal....

$35 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Guard-Alaska%C2%99-Bear-Defense-Spray/dp/B0018XTIX8/ref=pd_sim_misc_17

Good luck, have fun, and ride safe.
Thanks for all the great postings.



BTW, I have 12/48 gears. Ain't no bear gonna catch me....

Hi PooTeeTat:

Thanks for the link. I decided to try and stay a night at Yellowstone's Canyon Campground if there are any spots left. That Bear Spray may come in handy but I will lack the time to pull it out and use it so its to the ground with my hands over the back of my head and pray the bear goes for someone else a bit more interesting and tasty

I will leave on the Western leg beginning on the 23rd or 24th while headed across the plains, up to the Beartooths in MT, down into Yellowstone, hit the West coast at Newport, OR, head up to Portland, then Seattle and then back down to LA.

The latest itinerary and map.
Leave Tuesday Aug 24
A: Wadsworth, IL
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Tuesday Night - Aug 24-25
B: Travel 355 miles to Frank A. Gotch Park in Humboldt, Iowa
Price: $10 or less `
Address: 2568 Gotch Park Rd
GPS Coordinates: 42.67687, -94.20720
Site Type: County Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Contact Phone: (515) 332-9017
Website: Frank A. Gotch Park
Nice clean campground on a bluff overlooking the junction of the east fork and the west fork of the Des Moines River. Attendant on duty, restrooms and two shelter houses. Also a nice playground for the children. Paved entrance road up to the camping area.
Amenities:

• Electric
  
• Restrooms
  

*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Wednesday Night - Aug. 25-26
C: Travel 310 miles to Ainsworth East City Park in Ainsworth, Nebraska
Address: Hwy 20 and Richardson Drive
GPS Coordinates: 42.55023, -99.84517
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Open Dates: May - Oct
Max Stay Length: 14 days
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Website: Visit Nebraska
Located just off US Highway #20 at the east edge of Ainsworth, it has 2 separate areas for camping: one to the north side and one to the southeast side. Football field, track, baseball diamond, horsehoe pits, tennis court, swimming pool. Home of the National Country Music Contest in early August and a National Horseshoe Contest. The sites are pretty much scattered on the southeast part. Electric outlets available, park on the grass wherever you like as long as you have a long electric cord. To the north it is more uniform with back-in sites on gravel with spaced electric boxes; again, a long electric cord is desirable. Next to the highway so there is some noise; quieter and shadier to the southeast. Lots of sightseeing (Long Pine, Pine Creek, Plum Creek, Niobrara River opportunities, historical sites, i.e. Sellors Memorial Cabin in the Courthouse Park (at the Junction of Highway 20 and Main Street)). The Coleman House and other buildings owned by the Brown County Historical Society. Nice senior center, Elks, American Legion, friendly town, lots of amenities close to camp.
Fees: $7-$10
Amenities:

• Dump Station
  
• Drinking Water
  
• Electric
  
• Restrooms
  
• Shower House
  
• Fire Ring
  
• Picnic Tables
  

*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Thursday Night - Aug. 26-27
D: Travel 319 miles to Riverside Park in Douglas, Wyoming
Price: Free `
Address: West Grant Street and West Yellowstone Highway
GPS Coordinates: 42.76256, -105.39190
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 16-29
Contact Phone: 307-358-3462
Website: Riverside Park
Description: From I-25 Exit 140 follow Yellowstone Hwy east 1.1 miles to Grant St and turn left. RVer reports that the city park has free dry camping. Approximately 20 sites, at least some are pull-thrus. Dump station, drinking water, grills, pay phones, picnic area, restrooms, showers. Park may be full around time of state fair in August (The State Fair will be over a week + before I arrive), as fairgrounds are across the street. One RVer notes that sprinklers may come on in middle of night. Maximum stay: 3 nights. Free. Donations welcomed.
Located on the east bank of the North Platte River, on the north side of West Yellowstone Highway, Riveside Park is the City's "camping park." Enjoyed by hunters, bicycle tourists, and camping vacationers, this park is a popular overnight camping spot, and for good reason. Amenities include:

• Free overnight camping
  
• Restroom & shower building (with hot showers)
  
• Off-street parking area
  
• Shaded picnic tables and camp sites, with charcoal grills
  
• RV dump station
  
• Access area to the North Platte River
  

*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Friday Night - Aug. 27-28 "WEEKEND"
E: Travel 295 miles to Homesteader's Park in Powell, WY
Price: $10 or less `
Address: Highway 14A, East City Limits
GPS Coordinates: 44.75691, -108.73989
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Max Stay Length: 2 days
Number of Sites: 16-29
Website: Homesteader's Park
Camp Report: Just east of town on Highway 14A. There are two dozen plus sites. Stayed there for five nights in a class A motor- home and enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful city park. It’s a great little park. Town was quite friendly. Even the groundskeeper was nice. Had only planned for a night or two, but was such a great little park. $5.00 Tent sites, too.
Amenities:

• Dump Station
  
• Drinking Water
  
• Restrooms
  
• Fire Ring
  
• Picnic Tables
  

*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Saturday Night - Aug. 29-30 "WEEKEND"
F: Travel 215 miles across the Beartooths to the Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park
A ride across and up to the North Entrance and down to the campground.
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Sunday Night - Aug. 29-30 "WEEKEND"
G: Travel 144 miles to GuestHouse Henrys Fork Inn 115 S BRIDGE ST Saint Anthony, ID 83445
Leaving Yellowstone while passing Old Faithful and Fall’s.
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Monday Night – Aug. 30-31
H: Travel 332 miles to Nampa, ID
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Tuesday Night – Aug 31-Sept. 1
I: Travel 300 miles to Bend, OR
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Wednesday Day – Sept. 1
J: Travel 180 miles and arrive at the West Coast (Pacific Ocean) at Newport, OR.
And work my way up towards Portland, OR and Seattle, WA afterwards.
*******************************************************
*******************************************************

I will be lucky if I can find someone to stay with near St. Anthony, ID, Nampa, ID and Bend, OR.

Wayne

Hi All:

The Route is finally set (nothing is really ever finally set) with an early Monday morning launch.


Leave Monday Aug 23

A: Wadsworth, IL

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Monday Night - Aug 23-24

B: Travel 355 miles and arrive at Frank A. Gotch Park in Humboldt, Iowa

Price: $10 or less `
Address: 2568 Gotch Park Rd
GPS Coordinates: 42.67687, -94.20720
Site Type: County Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Contact Phone: (515) 332-9017

Website: Frank A. Gotch Park

Nice clean campground on a bluff overlooking the junction of the east fork and the west fork of the Des Moines River. Attendant on duty, restrooms and two shelter houses. Also a nice playground for the children. Paved entrance road up to the camping area.

Amenities:

• Electric
  
• Restrooms

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Tuesday Night - Aug. 24-25

C: Travel 310 miles and arrive at Ainsworth East City Park in Ainsworth, Nebraska

Address: Hwy 20 and Richardson Drive
GPS Coordinates: 42.55023, -99.84517
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Open Dates: May - Oct
Max Stay Length: 14 days
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Website: Visit Nebraska

Located just off US Highway #20 at the east edge of Ainsworth, it has 2 separate areas for camping: one to the north side and one to the southeast side. Football field, track, baseball diamond, horsehoe pits, tennis court, swimming pool. Home of the National Country Music Contest in early August and a National Horseshoe Contest. The sites are pretty much scattered on the southeast part. Electric outlets available, park on the grass wherever you like as long as you have a long electric cord. To the north it is more uniform with back-in sites on gravel with spaced electric boxes; again, a long electric cord is desirable. Next to the highway so there is some noise; quieter and shadier to the southeast. Lots of sightseeing (Long Pine, Pine Creek, Plum Creek, Niobrara River opportunities, historical sites, i.e. Sellors Memorial Cabin in the Courthouse Park (at the Junction of Highway 20 and Main Street)). The Coleman House and other buildings owned by the Brown County Historical Society. Nice senior center, Elks, American Legion, friendly town, lots of amenities close to camp.

Fees: $7-$10

Amenities:

• Dump Station
  
• Drinking Water
  
• Electric
  
• Restrooms
  
• Shower House
  
• Fire Ring
  
• Picnic Tables

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Wednesday Night - Aug. 25-26

D: Travel 319 miles and arrive at Riverside Park in Douglas, Wyoming

Price: Free `
Address: West Grant Street and West Yellowstone Highway
GPS Coordinates: 42.76256, -105.39190
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 16-29
Contact Phone: 307-358-3462

Website: Riverside Park

Description: From I-25 Exit 140 follow Yellowstone Hwy east 1.1 miles to Grant St and turn left. RVer reports that the city park has free dry camping. Approximately 20 sites, at least some are pull-thrus. Dump station, drinking water, grills, pay phones, picnic area, restrooms, showers. Park may be full around time of state fair in August (The State Fair will be over a week + before I arrive), as fairgrounds are across the street. One RVer notes that sprinklers may come on in middle of night. Maximum stay: 3 nights. Free. Donations welcomed.

Riverside Park

Located on the east bank of the North Platte River, on the north side of West Yellowstone Highway, Riveside Park is the City's "camping park." Enjoyed by hunters, bicycle tourists, and camping vacationers, this park is a popular overnight camping spot, and for good reason. Amenities include:

• Free overnight camping
  
• Restroom & shower building (with hot showers)
  
• Off-street parking area
  
• Shaded picnic tables and camp sites, with charcoal grills
  
• RV dump station
  
• Access area to the North Platte River

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Thursday Night - Aug. 26-27

E: Travel 295 miles and arrive at Homesteader's Park in Powell, WY

Price: $10 or less `
Address: Highway 14A, East City Limits
GPS Coordinates: 44.75691, -108.73989
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Max Stay Length: 2 days
Number of Sites: 16-29
Website: Homesteader's Park

Camp Report: Just east of town on Highway 14A. There are two dozen plus sites. Stayed there for five nights in a class A motor- home and enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful city park. It’s a great little park. Town was quite friendly. Even the groundskeeper was nice. Had only planned for a night or two, but was such a great little park. $5.00 Tent sites, too.

Amenities:

• Dump Station
  
• Drinking Water
  
• Restrooms
  
• Fire Ring
  
• Picnic Tables

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Friday Night - Aug. 27-28 "WEEKEND"

F: Travel 215 miles across the Beartooths and arrive at the Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park

A ride across and up to the North Entrance and down to the campground.

When leaving Yellowstone, will pass by Old Faithful and the Fall’s.

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Saturday Night - Aug. 28-29 "WEEKEND"

G: Travel 144 miles and arrive at the GuestHouse Henrys Fork Inn - 115 S Bridge St. in Saint Anthony, ID 83445

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Sunday Night – Aug. 29-30

H: Travel 335 miles and arrive at the NampaInn - 908 3rd Street South - Nampa ID

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Monday Night – Aug 30-Aug. 31

I: Travel 335 miles and arrive at the Crook County RV Park - 855 S Main St - Prineville, Oregon

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Tuesday Night – Aug. 31-Sept.

J: Travel 242 miles and arrive in Florence, OR on the Pacific Coast.

Afterwards, work my way up towards Portland, OR and Seattle, WA to visit friends, ride the Mt St. Helen’s area and head back down to LA afterwards.

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Regarding weather, the current 10-day out forecast has got to be an omen as it is pretty spectacular. Other than the one night when it will approach freezing in Yellowstone along with the rain. Probably snow in the Beartooths? That one is going to be a bit rough as my 30 degree Slumberjack bag sure does not feel like a 30 degree sleeping bag. Lots of fleece layers and the Balaclava will be the order of the night.

Weather Forecast

Google Map Location|Start Location|Date|Night Low/Daytime High Temperature (degrees F)|Weather Conditions

A|Wadsworth, IL|Aug. 23 - Monday Day|64/78|Sunny

B|Humboldt, IA|Night of Monday of Aug. 23/24|77/66|Partly Cloudy

C|Ainsworth, NE|Night of Tuesday Aug 24/25|52/79|AM Clouds/PM Sun

D|Douglas, WY|Night of Wednesday Aug. 25/26|52/91|Sunny

E|Powell, WY|Night of Thursday Aug. 26/27|60/84|Partly Cloudy

F|Yellowstone National Park|Night of Friday Aug. 27/28|36/62|Isolated T-Storms

G|St. Anthony, ID|Night of Saturday Aug. 28/29|45/75|60% chance of Showers

H|Nampa, ID|Night of Sunday Aug. 29/30|53/78|Mostly Sunny

I|Prineville, OR|Night of Monday Aug. 30/31|41/NA|NA

J|Florence, OR|Arrive Tuesday Aug. 31|NA/NA|NA[/table][/center]

It is close to finalized. Now if I can just keep from having a flat tire on the way across

Wayne

Hey Wayne,

With family in N.H. and me in LA I am following your cross country trip with a lot of interest. I have had an '09x for six weeks and in the early stages of my mods and will post them soon.

Good Luck with your trip and am looking forward to the rest of your cross country trip/posts.

Thanks for so much comprehensive info.

Bruce

Hi Bruce:

Thanks for posting and I hope to meet up with you in LA later next month due to the following

I think some will like this one… If you have a weak stomach, you may want to turn away

Dateline: Aug. 25th, 2010 at ~ 11:15 PM -- 5-miles east of Douglas, Wyoming.


I am headed back out to Glenrock, WY in a bit over three weeks where the WR is currently parked at the local Yamaha dealership to finish off the ride to the Pacific. I am simply to close to let a little old thing like a multiple-fractured collar bone get in the way She is holding onto 103.5 mpg from Boston to Douglas, WY so far...

Wayne

Ouch, sorry to see that Wayne! Damn giant fast forrest rats.

You seem to believe in ATGATT, so that's the only real injury?

ouch.... glad you had just some minor injuries.

Hi Wayne,

Yeh, I was following your other thread and caught the news. Ouch is right... but I bet the frustration is worse.

Glad to see you are back at it again.

Bruce

Hi Deerhater:

Besides the busted up collar bone and a bruised ego, that was about it.

My Arai XD-3 is still in Wyoming and after I post a pic of it next month, you will swear it was run through an industrial strength shredder! The Aerostich Darien gear held up amazingly well with only a small pinhole where the left pocket zipper wore through while I was sliding along the pavement. You can see where the pavement added black marks up and down the left shoulder, sleeve and left thigh area but that only adds a little flavor to my gear

I was wearing the Gerbing's T5 gloves (not plugged in) and they did not even receive a scratch!

The left front portion of my BMW GS boots took a little scrape but they are ready to do battle for another day.

The GiantLoop GreatBasin rear bags saved the entire rear end as the left side bag only shows a little road scuffing while the rest of the rear of the bike including the plastic remained unscathed.

All said, I will have to replace the Aria but everything else other than my collar bone came out of the wreck with little in the way of damage.

Bruce and Matty, thanks! I hope to be back in the saddle of the Iron Horse called the WR in a few short weeks to finish off this ride!

A few more pics… Just before the accident, I was at a Subway in Lusk, WY that had WiFi. The first stop that had a hot spot in three days so I took all off three hours to do the work and get these up… I should not have stayed until closing time (10:00 PM) as I was only 45 miles from Douglas, WY and should have ridden the rest of the distance in daylight without worrying about getting run over by one of those super fast little forest dog SOB’s. Damn those Pronghorn Antelope are fast!


Iowa's central counties appear to have some serious problem with the early floods taking out their corn crop. I felt sorry for some of the farmers with 5' tall stalks that had but nubs for corn attached :( Some fields were decimated.

If anyone believes NE is flat, ride US 20 across it sometime. I climbed from ~ 700' ASL to 4,980' ASL just before crossing into WY. I have some more pics of NE I will post later...

Wyoming is absolutely spectacular wrt its vista's as I was heading west into the sunset!

Good Luck

Wayne

xcel wrote:

Just before the accident, I was at a Subway in Lusk, WY that had WiFi. The first stop that had a hot spot in three days so I took all off three hours to do the work and get these up… I should not have stayed until closing time (10:00 PM) as I was only 45 miles from Douglas, WY and should have ridden the rest of the distance in daylight without worrying about getting run over by one of those super fast little forest dog SOB’s. Damn those Pronghorn Antelope are fast!

After replying above, I left work yesterday about 5 minutes before sunset time, but still daylight my whole 10 kms ride home. The last 4 kms is through the Ottawa 'Greenbelt', forrest lined on both sides. I counted 7 deer in 3 spottings. I'm on the 11:30 - 19:30 Emergency Recovery shift again today, I think I'll drive the truck (means I have a 1/2 km walk from back of parking lot instead of at-the-door motorcycle parking.)

I hate deer because they have the trifecta covered: Big, fast, and Stupid. I cover only 2 of 3.

Those pronghorns are sneaky buggars...ran over enuf of them in the truck when I was down south.

Hi Deerhater:

Leaving the bike at home with that kind of deer population sounds like the right thing to do!

SheWolf, thanks for taking care of a few of the damn things… Can you head out to Wyoming and clear out another 50 to 60,000 before I begin heading West again

A few more pics to add to the list…


The cumulative total FE so far:


Fill Location|Date|Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.

Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|229.8|256.4 |30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!

Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|193.1|215.4|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.

Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|242.6|270.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.

Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|209.5|233.7|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(

Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|235.5|262.7|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.

|||||||||

Gurnee, IL|08/23/2010|3,103|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Odometer and Trip A/B recorded at Gas Station on 08/06/2010. Bike sat in the garage from previous top off.

Olewin, IA|08/23/2010|3,322|219.4|244.78|xx.x|xx.x|2.15|113.85|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F

Lemar, IA|08/24/2010|3,536|213.8|238.54|xx.x|xx.x|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain and 20mph headwinds.

Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010|3,749|212.8|237.42|32.8|36.6|2.415|98.311|5 to 15 mph headwinds and some Off-road. Temps 60 to 95 degrees.

Lusk, WY|08/25/2010|3,989|240.1|267.88|42.3|47.2|2.497|107.28|Strong side winds, temps 70 to 90 + F, 2500ft elevation increase

* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

Cumulative mpg: Total Distance = (2227.52 miles)/Total Gallons = (21.511 gallons) = 103.553 mpg

Wayne

Great pictures, Wayne! Take care and heal quick.

Sarah

Hi Sarah:

A belated thank you and I am just about ready to mount the Iron Horse called the WR once again.

Regarding the left shoulder, with the strap brace on it, I rode my Mountain bike around the neighborhood today with only some minor discomfort. With the brace strap off however, it was an entirely different matter. I will be in Chicago tomorrow, Dallas on Tuesday and Wednesday and then Casper, WY on Thursday morning where I can hopefully catch a ride back to Glenrock to put the bike back together, backtrack all the way back to Lusk, WY to fill her up and start that last tank from the same gas station I filled it up at before. When that damn Pronghorn took me down, I remember seeing quite a bit of gas on the ground and still coming out of the IMS tanks plastic cap for the 15 minutes or so that the poor WR was taking an asphalt nap.

You do not know how much it sucked having to ask for help because I could not pick the WR back up after going down :(

I am getting close to “X-Country Ride-III, The Aftermath”. I am not sure what to call it???

Although 10-day out forecasts are about as accurate as predicting this year’s Super Bowl contenders, let alone the winner, I am seeing that Douglas, WY on the 23rd will have sunny skies and a high low of 72/40. Not too bad to start… I will probably camp there but the rest of the trip looks a bit too cold so hotels may be my only hope. I am probably about three weeks too late in the year for WY, MT, ID and OR camping let alone a still semi-busted left wing but we’ll see.

Itinerary for Segment #3

Date|Location|Conditions|Hi/Lo Temp (F)
Sept. 23|Douglas, WY|Mostly Sunny|72/40
Sept. 24|Powell, WY|Mostly Sunny|68/46
Sept. 25|Yellowstone National Park|Mostly Sunny|28/55
Sept. 25|St. Anthony, ID (I am riding through Yellowstone, not stopping :()|Sunny|69/38
Sept. 26|Nampa, ID| -- | --
Sept. 27|Prineville, OR| -- | --
Sept. 28|Florence, OR| -- | --

The Gerbing’s heated gear is going to get a hell of a workout more than likely given those nightly temps creeping into the early morning hours when I have to hit the road. It will also be interesting to see how it affects the bikes FE? Or if it does given the Headlight thread discussion earlier this afternoon?

Wayne

I don't recall my electrics giving me any negative impact on my FE when i was running them, and i was running heated grips, vest and seat.