cntrailrider
07-27-2009, 03:48 PM
This has got to be one of the best websites I've ever found. Been hovering on it constantly for the past month. Time to quit lurking, and introduce myself
About 3 months ago, I bought my first bike in 36 years. '94 Goldwing SE with only 8,600 miles. I live in El Paso but am employed by an air cargo company in the Detroit area. The bike belonged to our owner who is 82, and sat in a back room (un-ridden) for the past 10 yrs. I wasn't seriously shopping for a bike, but some things are meant to be, and it fell in my lap for a price I can't post. Carbs rebuilt, tires, flushes fluids etc and PRESTO ;) basically a new Goldwing, ready to rock
It was 1900 miles home to El Paso. During that ride I realized I was still as hooked as I was at 18. I'm 54 now, the big difference being I know when to 'back off' (I didn't then - but somehow lived - that's another whole story). Safety is now the priority. I'd guess several of you have been down that road, and re-discovered safe responsible riding later in life. I put 8,300 miles on it during the first eight weeks. Most recent trip was from El Paso to PA and back (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=El+Paso,+TX&daddr=McKinney,+TX+to:Hope,+AR+to:Memphis,+TN+to:M cMinnville,+TN+to:roanoke,+va+to:Manheim,+PA+to:To wer+City,+PA+to:Mentor,+OH+to:cincinatti,+oh+to:Mc Minnville,+TN+to:trenton,+ga+to:Meridian,+MS+to:ja ckson,+ms+to:Shreveport,+LA+to:Dallas,+TX+to:El+Pa so,+TX&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=36.432515,-91.443055&sspn=16.765316,39.331055&ie=UTF8&ll=37.892196,-89.648437&spn=16.446592,56.074219&z=5) (5100 miles) to pick up a used Bushtec trailer. When I first looked at trailers I about fell over from sticker shock! The Goldwing already had a receiver/hitch installed, but $4K+ for a nice bike trailer?! Kept searching and eventually found a combo the seller was willing to split - 15 miles from where I grew up. Hadn't been back to visit family or friends for about 5 yrs, and the message was becoming clearer... $1600 plus another $600 for matching paint was a good deal for a Bushtec. It was color-matched when I arrived in PA to pick it up. Trails like it's not even there, even at 80. I wondered about backing up a trailer with a bike....but it's easier than I would've thought
http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/cntrailrider/NewTrailer2.jpg
(the day I picked up the trailer 7-9-09)
The whole point being, I wanted to travel cheap, but not uncomfortable. I refuse to spend $50 every night on a motel room. I camped in rural PA as a kid, alone and with buddies, and backpacked with our rag-tag Boy Scout troop. Many of the best times growing up were on camping trips. Later got into sailing/cruising, which is camping on water (sold the boat when I moved to El Paso). And still later, got hooked on budget RVing in a home-converted hi-top Dodge van. Necessity is the mother of invention, and camping sharpens ones self-reliance. Camping brings unexpected rewards, never knowing what you'll encounter. Plus the satisfaction of beating conventional travel costs - with a little taste of adventure at the same time. Times of perfect solitude in a remote paradise are always remembered. The long cold wet nights are remembered too
So much for the long-winded & philosophical self-intro. I'd like to thank you folks for sharing your experiences, lessons, and advice, so newbie moto-campers like myself can learn from them. I sense enthusiasm in your posts - this is a great forum with fun-loving members & LOADED with good info and encouragement. I will try to keep you posted on where I go from here -
Safe Riding
Steve in El Paso TX
About 3 months ago, I bought my first bike in 36 years. '94 Goldwing SE with only 8,600 miles. I live in El Paso but am employed by an air cargo company in the Detroit area. The bike belonged to our owner who is 82, and sat in a back room (un-ridden) for the past 10 yrs. I wasn't seriously shopping for a bike, but some things are meant to be, and it fell in my lap for a price I can't post. Carbs rebuilt, tires, flushes fluids etc and PRESTO ;) basically a new Goldwing, ready to rock
It was 1900 miles home to El Paso. During that ride I realized I was still as hooked as I was at 18. I'm 54 now, the big difference being I know when to 'back off' (I didn't then - but somehow lived - that's another whole story). Safety is now the priority. I'd guess several of you have been down that road, and re-discovered safe responsible riding later in life. I put 8,300 miles on it during the first eight weeks. Most recent trip was from El Paso to PA and back (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=El+Paso,+TX&daddr=McKinney,+TX+to:Hope,+AR+to:Memphis,+TN+to:M cMinnville,+TN+to:roanoke,+va+to:Manheim,+PA+to:To wer+City,+PA+to:Mentor,+OH+to:cincinatti,+oh+to:Mc Minnville,+TN+to:trenton,+ga+to:Meridian,+MS+to:ja ckson,+ms+to:Shreveport,+LA+to:Dallas,+TX+to:El+Pa so,+TX&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=36.432515,-91.443055&sspn=16.765316,39.331055&ie=UTF8&ll=37.892196,-89.648437&spn=16.446592,56.074219&z=5) (5100 miles) to pick up a used Bushtec trailer. When I first looked at trailers I about fell over from sticker shock! The Goldwing already had a receiver/hitch installed, but $4K+ for a nice bike trailer?! Kept searching and eventually found a combo the seller was willing to split - 15 miles from where I grew up. Hadn't been back to visit family or friends for about 5 yrs, and the message was becoming clearer... $1600 plus another $600 for matching paint was a good deal for a Bushtec. It was color-matched when I arrived in PA to pick it up. Trails like it's not even there, even at 80. I wondered about backing up a trailer with a bike....but it's easier than I would've thought
http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/cntrailrider/NewTrailer2.jpg
(the day I picked up the trailer 7-9-09)
The whole point being, I wanted to travel cheap, but not uncomfortable. I refuse to spend $50 every night on a motel room. I camped in rural PA as a kid, alone and with buddies, and backpacked with our rag-tag Boy Scout troop. Many of the best times growing up were on camping trips. Later got into sailing/cruising, which is camping on water (sold the boat when I moved to El Paso). And still later, got hooked on budget RVing in a home-converted hi-top Dodge van. Necessity is the mother of invention, and camping sharpens ones self-reliance. Camping brings unexpected rewards, never knowing what you'll encounter. Plus the satisfaction of beating conventional travel costs - with a little taste of adventure at the same time. Times of perfect solitude in a remote paradise are always remembered. The long cold wet nights are remembered too
So much for the long-winded & philosophical self-intro. I'd like to thank you folks for sharing your experiences, lessons, and advice, so newbie moto-campers like myself can learn from them. I sense enthusiasm in your posts - this is a great forum with fun-loving members & LOADED with good info and encouragement. I will try to keep you posted on where I go from here -
Safe Riding
Steve in El Paso TX