7 days, 2100 miles

cliffh

cliffh

Joined
Oct 15, 2021
Messages
133
Location
NE Ohio
I just returned from a trip across Ohio, West Virginia, down the Blue Ridge Parkway and around the Smokies. I had a fantastic time. I've done this trip once a year for the last 31 years. Most trips were on my Goldwing, the last 3 on my NT700. The only real change on the NT700 was a larger windshield which made a huge change in my comfort.

Not much else to say about the bike. It performed flawlessly, handles excellently and was a joy to ride as usual. I am very happy with the bike.

BTW, I'm 75 years old and still enjoy long trips;)
 
cliffh said:
I just returned from a trip across Ohio, West Virginia, down the Blue Ridge Parkway and around the Smokies. I had a fantastic time. I've done this trip once a year for the last 31 years. Most trips were on my Goldwing, the last 3 on my NT700. The only real change on the NT700 was a larger windshield which made a huge change in my comfort.

Not much else to say about the bike. It performed flawlessly, handles excellently and was a joy to ride as usual. I am very happy with the bike.

BTW, I'm 75 years old and still enjoy long trips;)
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Cliff, I'm with you there! I too am 75 and love long trips on the bike. The NT is a superb machine. Keep on keepin' on....

Mike
 
I have just completed a charity ride for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health to Port Douglas in far North Queensland Australia. I rode from Crib Point in Southern Victoria and the return trip was 7358 km or 4572 miles in your speak in 14 days. My NT handled it better than I did I think - it could keep going but I need the rest 😛 compared to the many big BMWs and typical Harley cruisers my NT always had strangers come up and tell me about their fond memories of their NT’s or how it looked far better as a touring bike than the others.IMG_2535.jpegIMG_2548.jpegIMG_2508.jpeg
 
Great pix! Thanks for sharing! Out of curiosity, what organization sponsored the charity ride? Each year I participate in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride put on by the Movember Foundation. The proceeds from which also go to men's prostate cancer and mental health. The DGR however is only about 30-40 miles and lasts several hours.

Mike
 
Hi Mike, it’s called the Long Ride and was set up by a retired Air Force Warrant Officer Chris Dunn and his wife Gail. Aligned to the Prostate Cancer Association and the Returned Services League here in Australia it is run every two years to a different far flung part of Australia. Riders generally leave their states as a group and all come together at a point along the route. The longest distance this year was to some from West Australia riders who did well over 13000km in about three weeks to join in. If you do a google for “Long Ride 2024” it will get you to the page. This year raised $130000 Aus, and over the past 16 years over $2.4 million. Many of the riders are retired from all walks of life but also lots like me had to turn around and high tail back to work.
 
Good cause! Lots of my friends have had prostate cancer. At 75, I am still cancer free with no family history. I have had the 4k score test, the 3T MRI, blind biopsy and lots of PSA tests. Nothing.
Lots of good research happening.
At 75, I like a good 385 mile day max...325 is better....two lanes best. Getting ready for our rally in Spearfish. Gonna take the VFR this trip.
a chris.jpg
 
Mwethers said:
I have just completed a charity ride for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health to Port Douglas in far North Queensland Australia. I rode from Crib Point in Southern Victoria and the return trip was 7358 km or 4572 miles in your speak in 14 days. My NT handled it better than I did I think - it could keep going but I need the rest 😛 compared to the many big BMWs and typical Harley cruisers my NT always had strangers come up and tell me about their fond memories of their NT’s or how it looked far better as a touring bike than the others.View attachment 21855View attachment 21856View attachment 21857
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Hey Mike, you might have seen my other post on buy & sell looking for left pannier lid. I see you have crash guard installed, but can not see anything to protect the panniers? I feel any time I drop the bike, the pannier is going to shatter, which makes me nervous.

On the side note, just came back from an 3000 mile trip from Ontario, crossed into the States, climbed the Mt. Washington, back into Canada to ride the Cabot trail (Where I dropped my bike). The NT did everything I asked her to do. It's just I failed her and crashed the lid.

Before the crash.
IMG_4151.jpg

The crime scene.
IMG_4160.jpg

The after mess.
IMG_4195.jpg

And the duct tap job that got me home.

IMG_4211.jpg
 
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I also have a big roll of red cloth tape for that exact same purpose.
My thinking with the crash bars is that they would hopefully allow me to keep the bike going after a relatively minor accident and get back to civilisation. Luggage I can deal with if need be.
I like tinkering and I am thinking about making molds from my lids and reproducing them in carbon fibre or fibre glass. Whilst they would still be vulnerable at least I would have a chance of repairing or replacement.
After reading about this across the country ride I am feeling enthusiastic enough to at least plan a similar east west ride here in Aus from Byron Bay to Steep Point in west Australia. A bit of a challenge with a couple of thousand km of dirt roads and long stretches between anything to deal with. But I know the bike could do it…maybe 😉
 
Humm....I replied earlier, but something happened and it doesn't show. Anyhow, I have made repairs like that rather inexpensively IF you still have all the pieces.
Buy a fiberglass repair KIT. It will have the fiberglass tape, resin and hardener. The kit is easy to use, but stinks. Put the repair on the INSIDE of the bag cover. Then, take the lid to a decent body shop and have them fill the cracks that remain on the outside and respray the lid. When finished, the lid will be stronger than when it was new.

To save even more, Bondo the cracks yourself and order a can of matching red spray paint from Honda. If I did it, it wouldn't be perfect, but it would certainly be good enough.

Cliff
 
Several years ago, a guy from this Forum, said that he was thinking about building pannier lids. I had a set that I had used (big lids, I think), and he said that he'd make the molds and give me the first set of replacements. I sent them to him, and then a couple of month later, he told me he was working on them.

Then he disappeared. I don't remember his name or address since I had it in my iPhone and somehow it dropped all my notes (including my passwords). I wish he might see this discussion and answer that he's got them done.
 
Phil Tarman said:
Several years ago, a guy from this Forum, said that he was thinking about building pannier lids. I had a set that I had used (big lids, I think), and he said that he'd make the molds and give me the first set of replacements. I sent them to him, and then a couple of month later, he told me he was working on them.

Then he disappeared. I don't remember his name or address since I had it in my iPhone and somehow it dropped all my notes (including my passwords). I wish he might see this discussion and answer that he's got them done.
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Did you get your lids back that you sent him to make the molds?

Mike
 
I didn't get the lids back, BUT I did find a letter I'd written to him in 2021 and that gave me his name and where he lives. That let me find him on Facebook and I messaged him there a few minutes ago. It will be interesting to see if he responds. The letter let me know that I had sent him the lids in 2016.

I'll be very interested to see if he responds after all this time.
 
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