n.c. pavement ride advice? (nonklr)

[bryanonfire]

Presumably a lot of people on the list bought a KLR to fullfill a dream of roving far, maybe even "trip of a lifetime." At the same time, most of them have had the "never do anything alone" mantra drilled into them, be it river running, backpacking, motorcycle riding, backcountry skiing, whatever. I'm all with the poster who says go alone even if it is exactly what you are not supposed to do by conventional wisdom.   I bought my first KLR because I wanted more range than I had in boats or on foot, but I also wanted to live closer to the bone than I did traveling in my van. Since then I've ridden it 17,000 miles of mostly backcountry roads out west from the Canadian to the Mexican borders. (Not much, I admit, but I put even more time in on rivers!) Two years ago I bought a second KLR over in Europe and have ridden that one another 4,000 miles of back roads and cart tracks in the Balkans and central Europe. US or Europe, I've always ridden alone. This past August I did 3,000 solo miles on some pretty rough roads in countries where I didn't speak more than six words of the language. Two places I camped at said I was the first American they had ever met in person. I slept outdoors, very comfortably, 19 out of 21 days. I never felt at risk, I had no mishaps, and best of all, I had no gear I didn't use (except First Aid and tools) and no gear I was missing. Practice makes pretty good. It was a perfect trip, and it never could have happened if I wasn't willing to go solo.   If you wait around for the perfect bike, perfect stove, perfect tent, perfect riding partner... you'll never leave home. Go simple. The perfect bike is a used $3,000 KLR with improvised saddle bags. The perfect stove is a tuna-fish can and a bottle of isoproyl alcohol, along with some handy rocks. The perfect tent is a tarp. The perfect riding partner is inside your head.   So, what if you aren't that skilled? It's like being a kid learning to camp. Start in the back yard, then a nearby state park, then further from the trailhead... small steps mean small mistakes. Lots of baby steps add up to the skills and will to march out deep into the unknown. Begin with short trips where self-rescue or calling in a friend is not out of the question, and you'll soon be ready to roam far, or at least realize you picked the wrong dream and motorcycle touring isn't for you. Granted you should have the skill and will to splint or relocate a broken wrist, sprained ankle, or dislocated shoulder, not to mention change a tire, but then again, alone makes you really cautious.   Going alone is the only way to really be free to make the miles and destinations you dream about. Waiting for perfect will just kill the dream.   Bryan

[ron criswell]

I'm with you. Riding alone works for me also. I have ridden all over the place with just me. Lotta dirt biking completely alone in all kinds of weather riding WFO. Lotta miles on the hwy ....alone. I like riding in groups also kinda.....until the male egos start to ride....er....stupid.....and people following ride stupider....until someone gets hurt (or killed). When you ride alone it teaches you self sufficiency taking care of all your issues. That said.....some folks I have ridden with are better tire fixers than me......the Bent Nail Club know who you are. When you ride alone, you get to eat where you want, drink what you want, sleep where you want (either tenting or moteling), and the TV channel or alarm is always set where you want. But....if you ride with others more familiar with the local area than you can enrich the experience. Life is always a trade off and a compromise in some way or other. Criswell Sent from my iPad

On Oct 19, 2013, at 8:52 PM, wrote:

  Presumably a lot of people on the list bought a KLR to fullfill a dream of roving far, maybe even "trip of a lifetime." At the same time, most of them have had the "never do anything alone" mantra drilled into them, be it river running, backpacking, motorcycle riding, backcountry skiing, whatever. I'm all with the poster who says go alone even if it is exactly what you are not supposed to do by conventional wisdom.   I bought my first KLR because I wanted more range than I had in boats or on foot, but I also wanted to live closer to the bone than I did traveling in my van. Since then I've ridden it 17,000 miles of mostly backcountry roads out west from the Canadian to the Mexican borders. (Not much, I admit, but I put even more time in on rivers!) Two years ago I bought a second KLR over in Europe and have ridden that one another 4,000 miles of back roads and cart tracks in the Balkans and central Europe. US or Europe, I've always ridden alone. This past August I did 3,000 solo miles on some pretty rough roads in countries where I didn't speak more than six words of the language. Two places I camped at said I was the first American they had ever met in person. I slept outdoors, very comfortably, 19 out of 21 days. I never felt at risk, I had no mishaps, and best of all, I had no gear I didn't use (except First Aid and tools) and no gear I was missing. Practice makes pretty good. It was a perfect trip, and it never could have happened if I wasn't willing to go solo.   If you wait around for the perfect bike, perfect stove, perfect tent, perfect riding partner... you'll never leave home. Go simple. The perfect bike is a used $3,000 KLR with improvised saddle bags. The perfect stove is a tuna-fish can and a bottle of isoproyl alcohol, along with some handy rocks. The perfect tent is a tarp. The perfect riding partner is inside your head.   So, what if you aren't that skilled? It's like being a kid learning to camp. Start in the back yard, then a nearby state park, then further from the trailhead... small steps mean small mistakes. Lots of baby steps add up to the skills and will to march out deep into the unknown. Begin with short trips where self-rescue or calling in a friend is not out of the question, and you'll soon be ready to roam far, or at least realize you picked the wrong dream and motorcycle touring isn't for you. Granted you should have the skill and will to splint or relocate a broken wrist, sprained ankle, or dislocated shoulder, not to mention change a tire, but then again, alone makes you really cautious.   Going alone is the only way to really be free to make the miles and destinations you dream about. Waiting for perfect will just kill the dream.   Bryan

[Larry Hall]

Well said Bryan.It was a little wet in North GA yesterday and I woke up with a moment of hesitation on taking a backroads ride down to LaGrange.What a ride I would have missed if I'd not pushed myself to go - not to mention upsetting my KLR who did not hesitate at all. Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: bryantburke@... Date: 10/19/2013 9:52 PM (GMT-05:00) To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] NKLR. Was riding with others, is riding alone   Presumably a lot of people on the list bought a KLR to fullfill a dream of roving far, maybe even "trip of a lifetime." At the same time, most of them have had the "never do anything alone" mantra drilled into them, be it river running, backpacking, motorcycle riding, backcountry skiing, whatever. I'm all with the poster who says go alone even if it is exactly what you are not supposed to do by conventional wisdom.   I bought my first KLR because I wanted more range than I had in boats or on foot, but I also wanted to live closer to the bone than I did traveling in my van. Since then I've ridden it 17,000 miles of mostly backcountry roads out west from the Canadian to the Mexican borders. (Not much, I admit, but I put even more time in on rivers!) Two years ago I bought a second KLR over in Europe and have ridden that one another 4,000 miles of back roads and cart tracks in the Balkans and central Europe. US or Europe, I've always ridden alone. This past August I did 3,000 solo miles on some pretty rough roads in countries where I didn't speak more than six words of the language. Two places I camped at said I was the first American they had ever met in person. I slept outdoors, very comfortably, 19 out of 21 days. I never felt at risk, I had no mishaps, and best of all, I had no gear I didn't use (except First Aid and tools) and no gear I was missing. Practice makes pretty good. It was a perfect trip, and it never could have happened if I wasn't willing to go solo.   If you wait around for the perfect bike, perfect stove, perfect tent, perfect riding partner... you'll never leave home. Go simple. The perfect bike is a used $3,000 KLR with improvised saddle bags. The perfect stove is a tuna-fish can and a bottle of isoproyl alcohol, along with some handy rocks. The perfect tent is a tarp. The perfect riding partner is inside your head.   So, what if you aren't that skilled? It's like being a kid learning to camp. Start in the back yard, then a nearby state park, then further from the trailhead... small steps mean small mistakes. Lots of baby steps add up to the skills and will to march out deep into the unknown. Begin with short trips where self-rescue or calling in a friend is not out of the question, and you'll soon be ready to roam far, or at least realize you picked the wrong dream and motorcycle touring isn't for you. Granted you should have the skill and will to splint or relocate a broken wrist, sprained ankle, or dislocated shoulder, not to mention change a tire, but then again, alone makes you really cautious.   Going alone is the only way to really be free to make the miles and destinations you dream about. Waiting for perfect will just kill the dream.   Bryan

[mark ward]

when people see a Corvette they see SPEED, When the see a large truck, they see POWER, when they see a Harley, they see REBELING AGAIST ABUSIVE ATHORITY.   When they see a Jeep OR KLR650 THEY SEE ADVENTURE!!!  ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, .....A TRI-SPORT, THAT ALSO CROSSES WATER.     When they see it LOADED, THEY FEEL THE DREAM SWELLING UP, OF WANDERING/ ROVING THE WORLD. (as stated in Brian's 1st paragraph)   THEY SEE A THRU WILD HOG ADVENTURE, NO DEAD LINES, NO SCHEDUAL, NO "PLAN'S TO FAIL AT, JUST SLEEP AND EAT WHERE EVER YOU DESIRE.   How often threw out our whole life, do we have PLANS....GOALS, THAT "MUST BE MET", and on the path to achieve them we see something GREAT yet refuse to stop and smell the roses, do to, A NEED TO ACHIEVE THE "GOAL".   Staying at a job WE HATE, because we have been there a few years.    WEARING WHITE BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY OR AFTER LABOR DAY.   The number 1, selling and worn pants.......BLUE JEANS, THE KLR OF CLOTHING. (it's OK if they are NOT pressed, it's OK IT THEY ARE WORN, OR HAVE A HOLE IN THEM, OR EVEN STAINED FROM THE "PATH TAKEN" IN YOUR LIFE.    

[b]From:[/b] "bryantburke@..." [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Saturday, October 19, 2013 9:52 PM [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] NKLR. Was riding with others, is riding alone   Presumably a lot of people on the list bought a KLR to fullfill a dream of roving far, maybe even "trip of a lifetime." At the same time, most of them have had the "never do anything alone" mantra drilled into them, be it river running, backpacking, motorcycle riding, backcountry skiing, whatever. I'm all with the poster who says go alone even if it is exactly what you are not supposed to do by conventional wisdom.   I bought my first KLR because I wanted more range than I had in boats or on foot, but I also wanted to live closer to the bone than I did traveling in my van. Since then I've ridden it 17,000 miles of mostly backcountry roads out west from the Canadian to the Mexican borders. (Not much, I admit, but I put even more time in on rivers!) Two years ago I bought a second KLR over in Europe and have ridden that one another 4,000 miles of back roads and cart tracks in the Balkans and central Europe. US or Europe, I've always ridden alone. This past August I did 3,000 solo miles on some pretty rough roads in countries where I didn't speak more than six words of the language. Two places I camped at said I was the first American they had ever met in person. I slept outdoors, very comfortably, 19 out of 21 days. I never felt at risk, I had no mishaps, and best of all, I had no gear I didn't use (except First Aid and tools) and no gear I was missing. Practice makes pretty good. It was a perfect trip, and it never could have happened if I wasn't willing to go solo.   If you wait around for the perfect bike, perfect stove, perfect tent, perfect riding partner... you'll never leave home. Go simple. The perfect bike is a used $3,000 KLR with improvised saddle bags. The perfect stove is a tuna-fish can and a bottle of isoproyl alcohol, along with some handy rocks. The perfect tent is a tarp. The perfect riding partner is inside your head.   So, what if you aren't that skilled? It's like being a kid learning to camp. Start in the back yard, then a nearby state park, then further from the trailhead... small steps mean small mistakes. Lots of baby steps add up to the skills and will to march out deep into the unknown. Begin with short trips where self-rescue or calling in a friend is not out of the question, and you'll soon be ready to roam far, or at least realize you picked the wrong dream and motorcycle touring isn't for you. Granted you should have the skill and will to splint or relocate a broken wrist, sprained ankle, or dislocated shoulder, not to mention change a tire, but then again, alone makes you really cautious.   Going alone is the only way to really be free to make the miles and destinations you dream about. Waiting for perfect will just kill the dream.   Bryan

[none]

Still catching up on all the posts since I left on my trip in May. So excuse the necro post, please. Wish I had seen this earlier. Up in Meadows of Dan, VA there is a wonderful motorcycle only campground. Willville. Any kind of riding you want to do is right there. And Will and other guests, will be very helpful. Cheap as well $15 for a solo person, $22 for two up, bunkhouse and cabin also available. Comes with a free cup of coffee in the morning and lots of other extras. Did I mention wonderful showers. Hope it helps for the future. -----Original Message----- From: On Behalf Of mark ward Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 11:14 PM To: List KLR Subject: [DSN_KLR650] N.C. pavement ride advice? (NONKLR) Hey All who KNOW the southern states. My Cousin Leaves near Hickory N.C. (20miles west) And has very very little riding away from hm., Mostly day trips ending at hm. (1 RT trip to Ohio area for a week) He lives fairly close to the Blue ridge Park way, so has ridden on it SOME. I get him for 7-8 days, Mid to late. October, and he will be on a street bike. (Budget!, camping, cheap motels, etc.) I'm hoping for a destination point to wonder to, that will leave him with the WOW Factor, and stories to tell. He just lost his Father, so I know he needs a "GREAT EXSCAPE" RIDE. I debated wondering for 3 days,(1000miles+-) to Morgan LA, a day in the area for Jambalaya, Seafood, ETC., and a TOTALY different landscape, then semi, Push to get hm. Or, East to the nature preserve park on the Ocean, (400+-) ETC. ?? Add advise here .............. As Usual THANKS. Mark West Mi. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Members Map https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212558560286766214899.0004d0fa9f1732283 bb6f&msa=0&ll=38.522384,-109.489746&spn=6.831383,9.624023Yahoo! Groups Links