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Message started by zipidachimp on 07/14/16 at 00:21:44

Title: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by zipidachimp on 07/14/16 at 00:21:44

I've lived in British Columbia, a mountainous province, for 20 years, but never had a vehicle I could trust to take me to the interior and back reliably. That changed this year. Came back Tuesday from a 2 day trip to Kamloops via the Fraser Canyon and then south on #97 & #3.
When I hit #3, the fun began. This road can best be described as a Roller Coaster for 150 miles From Penticton to Hope. I got the giggles in the first 1/2 hour of downhill blind rights, left downhills that seemed never to end. One moment you're in a deep valley with steep mountains either side, next you're on top of the world with nothing but horizon in front. Thought 'bet I can do these downhills without the brakes', and it worked! Most exciting highway I've ever experienced, truly a drivers' nirvana!

I can probably afford to do this road both ways once a month until the snow flies!

Take a look:
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Hope,+BC/Hedley,+BC/Penticton,+BC/@49.400102,-121.2125906,8.5z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x5483f5ca1983c7d7:0x7797106dac92bc3!2m2!1d-121.4424751!2d49.3829931!1m5!1m1!1s0x5482561ce2b353ff:0x1e9733ac620d2767!2m2!1d-120.076544!2d49.357177!1m5!1m1!1s0x54826277ad3c38b5:0xf46e92d07191569!2m2!1d-119.5937077!2d49.4991381!3e0 8-)

ps: won't do it on my bike because of a droning 2 hour slab of blacktop before I reach Hope. Soul and bike crushing !

Title: Re: New Hobby ?
Post by zipidachimp on 07/14/16 at 01:31:33

Did it in a '12 Civic coupe manual. would love to try it in any of the following:
mustang, miata, 370z, 128i, Crossfire, any 2dr with bags of torque, (Peterbilt?)
This road is truly a hidden gem for people who like to drive. If I could trailer my bike to Hope, the S40 would be funnnnnnnnn! 8-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Pass

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by batman on 07/14/16 at 10:09:13

Your driving a cage in the mts, and now you want to make your bike a trailer queen? shame, shame!I'd suffer the two hours on the slab for a trip to motorcycle heaven!

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by Steve H on 07/14/16 at 18:30:40

Find the regular surface roads that parallel the slab and spend the 3 hours it takes to ride them. Then, you and your bike will be in bike heaven until you have to leave.

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by zipidachimp on 07/14/16 at 20:40:34

Or, I could move to Hope!
Seriously, this is the most spectacular road I've ever driven. At age 72, I'd need to test my mettle before attempting this. RA in hands and feet doesn't help
Q: is my S40 really suited for 2 hours of droning on
at 60mph? 8-)

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by Steve H on 07/14/16 at 21:17:23

It'll do great at 60. 75 to 80 like many places in the US is a little of a stretch. It loves 55 to 60 though.

When you get there look at the oil sight glass. They do tend to use a little oil on long high speed runs. It shouldn't lose much and if you're just around 60, it might not lose any.

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by Art Webb on 07/15/16 at 07:30:17

Seconded, at 60 or below, the S40 is very comfortable, or would be, with a good seat ;)

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by old.indian on 07/16/16 at 08:15:29

Why wear your self out on the "slab" ? Save all your energy for the fun parts..... The nice thing about doing the mountains on a motorcycle is that there are so many places you can pull off and catch your breath, or just enjoy the scenery. At our age (74) we don't need to prove ANYTHING to these young twinkies.
8-)

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by zipidachimp on 07/17/16 at 02:13:39

Woke up this morning and my fingers are sore as h*ll with RA, even 12 hours later. May try 7/8" bars over the winter with adjustable levers,unless someone knows where I can get 1" adjustable levers.
I've had RA for 20 years, mainly symptom free with proper medication, today's an anomaly. Takin' the bike out Sunday. 8-)

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by mpescatori on 07/18/16 at 01:14:31

524158414C494B40414558280 wrote:

Sorry to hear about your RA.

Have you considered oversize grips? So you won't have to squeeze the grips as much?

http://www.classicbikeshop.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/640x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/b/e/beston_twist_grip_1.jpeg

My Savage has oversize steel&rubber ring grips, they may look "hard core" but they work a charm.

http://https://www.beedspeed.com/images/sundance-orings-coloured.jpg

By comparison my BMW with thin rubber grips will give me cramps...

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by old_rider on 07/18/16 at 21:35:32

For my Ninja 300 I purchased some over sized foam grips. You just slide them over top of your current setup.

They are called "Grip Puppies"

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by zipidachimp on 07/19/16 at 03:36:00

Guys, I've got the fat grips, I'd like to bring in the clutch lever closer. Took an Aleve Sunday morning, spent 2 hours ridin' around Sunday aft, was OK. 8-)

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by verslagen1 on 07/19/16 at 07:43:04

I think you can make 1 bend in the lever w/out annealing it as long as it's slight.

Title: Re: New Hobby ? Most Magnificent Highway!
Post by BSTON on 07/19/16 at 12:10:32

5C5F4A535F500A063E0 wrote:

Your driving a cage in the mts, and now you want to make your bike a trailer queen? shame, shame!I'd suffer the two hours on the slab for a trip to motorcycle heaven!

With a 2 hour "commute", I'd rather take a nice car than the savage too. It's just not smooth enough or comfortable enough.

My car of choice for that ride and road would probably be an E90 M3 (at least if we're just talking about semi-attainable cars). The Miata wouldn't be far behind as long as it's not too cold out. Extra points for the Miata if the suspension has been upgraded.