I want to ride from Portland ME to San Diego CA

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
On my SV650.

:D

I am moving to the Phoenix area whenever I can find a job (hopefully by next spring/summer)...I would love to take a couple of weeks and ride across the country. I've thought about selling the SV and getting a Concours/etc, but part of me wants to take the bike I have.

Whaddyathink? :p
 

MadAmos

Senior member
Sep 13, 2006
818
0
76
I say go for it. I ride between 15 and 20 k a year on my bike, part commuting with several trips a year to see family from CA to WI and back. You will defiantly have stories to tell. Besides there is no better way to see the country, short of a bicycle and You just won't see as much that way. :D
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
How hard is it to ride one of those tourers for a new rider? I'm thinking of going to SF up PCH from LA and it'd be pretty cool to ride up there instead of drive.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Originally posted by: abaez
How hard is it to ride one of those tourers for a new rider? I'm thinking of going to SF up PCH from LA and it'd be pretty cool to ride up there instead of drive.

I am a new rider - I've put just over 1000 miles on my SV650. It's very easy to ride - I have not ridden a Concours. My uncle has and he loved it..I don't imagine they are more difficult than anything else - probably easier and less touchy than a sportbike.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
22
81
I've got a buddy who has gone on multi-thousand mile trips on an XLCR. There's no way that your SV650 is less comfortable than that.

If you're young and crazy, you shouldn't have a problem doing it.

ZV
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
3,146 miles, eh? I did about 2,500 coming from Atlanta on my Ninja 250 December 20th-23rd 2008. It was so cold that I had to take a more southerly route that added a lot of miles but, if you do it, you've still got me beat by almost 800mi. San Diego is a rider's paradise!
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: abaez
How hard is it to ride one of those tourers for a new rider? I'm thinking of going to SF up PCH from LA and it'd be pretty cool to ride up there instead of drive.

I am a new rider - I've put just over 1000 miles on my SV650. It's very easy to ride - I have not ridden a Concours. My uncle has and he loved it..I don't imagine they are more difficult than anything else - probably easier and less touchy than a sportbike.

Cool, I should clarify that by new rider I mean that I've never ridden a motorcycle before. I may just rent one instead to see how it goes.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Originally posted by: abaez
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: abaez
How hard is it to ride one of those tourers for a new rider? I'm thinking of going to SF up PCH from LA and it'd be pretty cool to ride up there instead of drive.

I am a new rider - I've put just over 1000 miles on my SV650. It's very easy to ride - I have not ridden a Concours. My uncle has and he loved it..I don't imagine they are more difficult than anything else - probably easier and less touchy than a sportbike.

Cool, I should clarify that by new rider I mean that I've never ridden a motorcycle before. I may just rent one instead to see how it goes.

Do you have your license..?
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: abaez
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: abaez
How hard is it to ride one of those tourers for a new rider? I'm thinking of going to SF up PCH from LA and it'd be pretty cool to ride up there instead of drive.

I am a new rider - I've put just over 1000 miles on my SV650. It's very easy to ride - I have not ridden a Concours. My uncle has and he loved it..I don't imagine they are more difficult than anything else - probably easier and less touchy than a sportbike.

Cool, I should clarify that by new rider I mean that I've never ridden a motorcycle before. I may just rent one instead to see how it goes.

Do you have your license..?

He's in California, you can't ticket him for it. :p
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: rh71
that may be fun... for the 1st few hours...

You've never ridden a motorcycle before have you?

no, it was my opinion based on many things I think would be exciting... for the first few moments you do. You've ridden a motorcycle for hours on end? This guy is a new rider too... I wouldn't take a cross-country trip as my first long distance journey.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
I was only planning Los Angeles to San Francisco.. probably about 10 hours with many stops along Pacific Coast Highway.

Decided to nix it anyway as renting a motorcycle was just too expensive for a 4 day trip.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: rh71
that may be fun... for the 1st few hours...

You've never ridden a motorcycle before have you?

no, it was my opinion based on many things I think would be exciting... for the first few moments you do. You've ridden a motorcycle for hours on end? This guy is a new rider too... I wouldn't take a cross-country trip as my first long distance journey.

My first was from West Virginia to Georgia the day after buying it... about 600 miles. :D
I had taken the MSF a couple months prior though.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
126
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: rh71
that may be fun... for the 1st few hours...

You've never ridden a motorcycle before have you?

no, it was my opinion based on many things I think would be exciting... for the first few moments you do. You've ridden a motorcycle for hours on end? This guy is a new rider too... I wouldn't take a cross-country trip as my first long distance journey.

Yes, I have and it is completely different than traveling long distances by any other means. Exploring the country by motorcycle is completely different than doing it by car. You experience the sights, the smells, the sounds, it is much more intimate and IMO enjoyable. It is also an adventure. It's not about getting there, it's about the trip.

Sure, he's a relatively new rider but what better way to get more experience than a road trip?

I'm planning a trip up to central California in the fall with some friends.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Originally posted by: MotF Bane
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: abaez
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: abaez
How hard is it to ride one of those tourers for a new rider? I'm thinking of going to SF up PCH from LA and it'd be pretty cool to ride up there instead of drive.

I am a new rider - I've put just over 1000 miles on my SV650. It's very easy to ride - I have not ridden a Concours. My uncle has and he loved it..I don't imagine they are more difficult than anything else - probably easier and less touchy than a sportbike.

Cool, I should clarify that by new rider I mean that I've never ridden a motorcycle before. I may just rent one instead to see how it goes.

Do you have your license..?

He's in California, you can't ticket him for it. :p

Good luck renting a motorcycle without a license. ;)