Very Boring Rally

[Ripshod]

Does anyone plan to attend the Rider's Wearhouse VBR (http://vbr.aerostich.com/) In Duluth in August?

[Ripshod]

I guess not.

[Mellow]

I guess not.

LOL... possibly a marketing flaw? :think1: :dizzy1:

[Ripshod]

Heh. I like the name. It goes right along with my sick sense of humor.

I don't normally go for rallies and I never do group rides but it just so happens that my Big Trip this year puts me there at the time so, why not? This is one rally that might be about my speed. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Aerostich factory.

And I've always wanted to see a trials competition. Again, just about my speed.

[Mellow]

If I were closer I'd probably give it a try.. I'm with you on group rides and rallies...

[BJFazio]

I would also attend if it were closer, especially since the Lake Superior area has become one of my favorite places since attending YooperSTOC last summer. It's THE place to be in July if you live in Louisiana & the temperature & humidity are the same (100) (degrees & percent).

[Ripshod]

No way I'd even consider it as a special trip but since I'll be riding the U.P. in August it would hardly make any sense to pass it up. Maybe they'll have a factory second Roadcrafer that I can get real cheap. Well, a guy can dream.

[dannyk]

No way I'd even consider it as a special trip but since I'll be riding the U.P. in August it would hardly make any sense to pass it up. Maybe they'll have a factory second Roadcrafer that I can get real cheap. Well, a guy can dream.

If your not subscribed to their e mail list you might want to get on it as they have clearance sales on all kinds of stuff including darien and roadcrafter suits, about once a month or so it comes out. Danny

[dannyk]

Its a 5 hours ride for me, may drop in for a bit or maybe overnight, time will tell.

[R80Dave]

Ripshod,

I hope to go. I went to Duluth a few years ago for the trials competition and it rained all weekend. I'd like to go again and that park would be a beautiful place to camp. Also, on Friday nights 7 miles away they have 410 sprint car races on a 1/2 mile dirt track.

The roads around there are nothing to sneeze at either.

[Tx White Knight]

Welcome R80Dave

enjoy the site and tell us of your tales :)

:tent8:

[Motocentaur]

I'm considering it, as my Big Trip this summer will be taking me in that general direction. I enjoy their catalog and products, so it might be fun as a sort of arbitrary destination or stop.

[wrk101]

Yes, I plan to go and take the GL1800 and the bunkhouse. I also want to do a side trip to Angle Inlet, MN. If you are not familiar with this little town, you have to go through Canada to get to it. Google it.

[Ripshod]

Finally got an email update on the VBR. It looks good. They have some fantastic door prizes and it's only $47, including two meals, camping, good entertainment and some swag. Check it out. (http://www.boringrally.com)

[Alan]

I received the same e-mail. I choose to pass on this because it is not a rally, they are not doing much riding. Mostly it looks like listening to music and drinking. If that floats your boat, fine, but not interesting to me.

[Motocentaur]

I'm toying with the idea. I do plan to take a trip in a more or less westerly direction this summer towards Michigan, and I'll admit to being a 'Stich fanboy and general gear whore.:)

I don't know if I can slip away for that many days guilt-free when leaving my wife home to deal with a two-year-old by herself. Any trip over five days in duration is sort of pushing my luck and taking advantage of her good nature. I think a trip like that for me would require 7 or more days, if I were taking in the whole event.

[Paper]

Sent my pre-reg in last week. I wanted to get to the VBR-I, but couldn't due to scheduling..

The last time I went to the store, I was greeted by Andy himself!! Great guy!!!

I'm a proud wearer of a very old Darien and a pair of very new AD1 pants, a couple Aerostich heated vests, as well as other trinkets that make riding and camping FUN!! Andy sells primo quality stuff and stands behind what he sells, and he services it, too..

I'll be there on the KLR and will be camping, enjoying the seminars, and drinking a few beers too..:)

[Ripshod]

I received the same e-mail. I choose to pass on this because it is not a rally, they are not doing much riding. Mostly it looks like listening to music and drinking. If that floats your boat, fine, but not interesting to me.

I can see your point since you're not too far from Duluth. I'll be riding about 1500 miles to get there, then almost 2000 to get home. I think I'll be ready to spend a couple or three nights in one place by the time I arrive. Drinking and listening to music will be a good way to spend some time at that point. The trials competition will be fun to watch too. I just got my registration in yesterday.

My buddy and I will be vying for the 'coolest campsite' award. I'm looking forward to showing off how much gear I can cram into one X-large MotoFizz seat bag. As long as they have a non-trailer class I might have a shot at it.

[Ripshod]

... The roads around there are nothing to sneeze at either.

Yeah, I hope to take in some of the best they have to offer. We'll be riding through Michigan, across the Mackinac, and the U.P. to get there. (No slab allowed, of course!) After the VBR we'll head out to Bemidji , turn left and follow the Mississippi as far as Memphis before heading home. I just can't wait.

Of course, having said that, I just have to wax a bit braggadocious because I live in East Tennessee and haven't yet found any roads better than those within a couple hundred miles from home.

[Paper]

I received the same e-mail. I choose to pass on this because it is not a rally, they are not doing much riding. Mostly it looks like listening to music and drinking. If that floats your boat, fine, but not interesting to me.

It doesn't say that it's a ROAD Rally.. I went to BMW and Guzzi rallies for over 20 years before actually going to a road rally..

Road rallys are for riding.. The Boring Rally and most other typical motorcycle rallies are for BS'in and having fun.. Two different animals.

[Ripshod]

Ripshod,

I hope to go. I went to Duluth a few years ago for the trials competition and it rained all weekend. I'd like to go again and that park would be a beautiful place to camp. Also, on Friday nights 7 miles away they have 410 sprint car races on a 1/2 mile dirt track.

Thanks for the heads up on that Dave. I found out that on there'll be a race on Thursday night at Proctor Speedway (http://www.proctorspeedway.com/). Sounds like a hoot. We'll see.

And - Paper and wrk101 and anyone else who's planning to make it - would like to meet up, drink a beer or three and tell some camping/road stories. We'll have about 1500 miles worth of new ones to relate at that point. You can find our campsite pretty easily:
I ride a black ST1300http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Z6BPf_00C9ffPM:http://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/2007/24166_0_1_2_st%25201300%2520pan-european_Image%2520credits%2520-%2520Honda.jpg, my buddy rides a red Pacific Coast http://www.ekho.com/elton/PC800/images/NEWGIVI_small.jpg
and we'll have a gray-blue rain fly (Noah's Tarp) http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:9Gz0W8KVhDlHmM:http://www.hikers.co.jp/goods_image/A157_Z1.jpgpitched high on four gold poles
and two Kermit chairs http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:aLTZLgipzaR1lM:http://www.sitemason.com/files/dD4b7O/burkesville%2520067.jpg/main.jpg.

Come on by!

[Paper]

Sounds good!!
I'll be there and I'm 95% sure I'll be there on my KLR (the other 5% would be that I'd be on my 2008 Wing).. I was just at Aerostich last Saturday, and here's a pic of my KLR in front of Aerostich..

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/IMGP1129.jpg


And this is my typical camping setup.. The GOT BACON on the windshield kinda lets you know it's me..:rolleyes:

And yes, that's Mr. Happy on the mirror..:D


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/IMGP1142.jpg

[Ripshod]

I like those tank panniers on your KLR. Tell me something - do they just hang from an attachment at the top or do they have some kind of bracket or tie-through at the bottom? I'm considering an unorthodox mounting behind my legs, hanging from the rear seat area. In fact, while at the VBR I'm sure I'll be tempted to buy a pair and play around with them to see if it'll work. I think they might fit between my legs and the side bags.

[Paper]

The ones on my KLR are actually copies of the Aerostich bags. Mine are from KLR650.com and run about 2/3rds the price of the Aerostich. I'm not proud to say it, but I thought I'd make sure you understood they're not the originals.

With that, Yeah, there's a loop behind the neoprene backing of each bag that has an adjustable bungie that attaches to whatever you can find. Also, the top straps are adjustable for length with very wide and strong velcro.

A buddy of mine has actual Aerostich bags and they're pretty much exactly the same as my copies. Quality on the copies hasn't been bad, and they've been on the bike for 3+ years now and other than they're faded a bit, they work as well as the first day I put them on.

Here's another photo so you can see the straps and bungies a bit better.

I'm pretty sure what you're trying to do would work perfectly!!

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/IMGP1394.jpg

[Ripshod]

It seemed like a pretty good plan until I actually used a tape measure. I'm trying to add more storage between the back of my leg and the front edge of the sidebags on my ST1300. Since I always ride one-up it seemed to me that there was a lot of unused space there. When I measured I found that it isn't as much room as I'd imagined. So I got a really crazy idea last night and googled "bicycle panniers" and came up with these puppies:

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/250/NA-ECCP-BKTI-ANGLE.jpg
Here's the site (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600066&subcategory=60001004&brand=&sku=15439&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Panniers). I think I can adapt them to work and at $40 plus shipping, it's hard to come up with a reason to hold back and I can always send them back if it's clear that it just won't work. They're still pretty big as you can see here:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/232036554_190eaa0cf1.jpg?v=0/
but I think that if I turn them around backwards so the concave side faces the rear they might wrap around the front of the sidebags and leave enough room for my feet to reach the pegs. That picture shows them empty and when they're stuffed full they'll be a lot skinnier.

The reason for this is that I just bought some more nonessential gear (http://www.gcioutdoor.com/topshelf.html) and needed a place to put it. With the little kidney bags I can take a lot of the smaller stuff out of the big bag and make room for the big heavy and completely frivolous stuff that makes camping just that much more comfortable. I'll post about it in a more appropriate thread when I get them.

By the way, when I was googling around last night I learned that bicyclists have a lot of really cool luggage out there to choose from. I mean, how cool it this?
http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/xm28/images/xm28_black.gifhttp://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/xm28/images/xm28_yellow.gif
And check this (http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/backpack/overview.asp?fl=1&site=)out. I think that if I ever have a bike that I have to add sidebags to, I'll probably try to rig a bicycle style bag mount because there is some really nice gear out there.

[Paper]

Here's a few of my photos from the rally..

http://www.klrforum.com/showthread.php?t=4738

[STrep]

Paper, some great pics! 1000 KLR's wow.

[seamus]

Those are great pics! I might go if I can condense it into a trip to my Sister and Brother-in-laws place in Ontario. Hi everyone! I see a few familiar faces like Ironhead Ziggy from the Roadrunner forum.

[Trailace]

Welcome to the site seamus.

[Ripshod]

Those are great pics! I might go if I can condense it into a trip to my Sister and Brother-in-laws place in Ontario. Hi everyone! I see a few familiar faces like Ironhead Ziggy from the Roadrunner forum.

Sorry Seamus, the VBR was last August. Welcome to the forum!

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome seamus! Lots of great folks here, and tons of info too!