March 10 & 11, 2012 Weekend Ride?

[troy]

My wife and daughter are visiting family up in IL this Thur - Sun, so I have the weekend wide open for a moto adventure. So what to do?

Dualsport on the F800?
Trail ride the 450EXC?
Road ride Sat then trail ride Sun?
Overnight dualsport adventure? Motel or camp?

I checked the weather forecast for this weekend--head East and you'll have rain and cooler temps. Head West and the weather looks to be amazing this weekend!
http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/Ma ... S+USKS0358

I've always wanted to visit the cool motorcycle museum in Marquette. Folks I know give it praise.
http://ksmotorcyclemuseum.org/

Marquette is so far away from the KC metro, it would take all day to dualsport there....so if I wanted to see the museum, I'd have to hit some pavement or leave REALLY early Sat morning--I'm open to either.

I built a 90 mile dualsport loop out of Leavenworth heading West I need to explore, too.
http://dualsportmaps.com/?link=102833

I built some tracks to explore some rugged forest roads near Jasper, AR, but the weather does not look great that direction this weekend.

What to do and who wants to go?!

Troy

[Foster]

Are you thinking of leaving Saturday morning despite the chosen route? Which direction is most likely? When you say "trail ride" where are you thinking? I am interested, but I need to check on some other plans. If I go, I would prefer to camp. I have a ton of rides planned this year and the cheaper I make them, the more I can go on , I also love camping...

[allkidd]

When your wife and children are out of town you've got to take advantage! Wish I could join guys but I've got something going on saturday evening. ( my wife and kids are not out of town!) This coming week is spring break for my son and I so we are headed down to link's Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and maybe Wednesday. Supposed to have severe rain down there on Sunday so not too excited about the stream crossings!

[jasoomian]

Hmm, I also love camping. I also have a garage full of camping stuff that it is itching to be used.

Unfortunately this weekend just won't work in my schedule, at least for something that far away, but, if you find yourself itching for another ride, latter part of March or later, that involves a night of camping, count me in.

That museum looks pretty nifty though.

Take a little more video this time

Enjoy the ride!

[troy]

Are you thinking of leaving Saturday morning despite the chosen route? Which direction is most likely? When you say "trail ride" where are you thinking? I am interested, but I need to check on some other plans. If I go, I would prefer to camp. I have a ton of rides planned this year and the cheaper I make them, the more I can go on , I also love camping...

As for "trail" riding, I mean off-road on my KTM dirtbike (street legal, however). I have one invitation to ride on a friend's private land, but other than that, School Creek at Milford, Chadwick, etc.
Places to ride off-road
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1156

As for timing, I want to ride Sat & Sun...so yeah, leaving Sat morning is the most likely departure. I guess I'm leaning towards a 2 day F800 mini adventure because the family is out all weekend, and I have a great trail ride coming up end of March.
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1372
WUDI
I know a big bike adventure severely limits participation because lots of folks have street-legal dirtbikes and lots of folks have street bikes, but the "adventure" bike niche is even smaller---bikes you are willing to ride 400+ miles a day with most of that gravel.

Time is running out...I'll look at weather and options more today and post up this evening with my "plan". Keep the thoughts coming!

[ozarksrider]

I'll ride the husky to Marquette, if it's more gravel than pavement. 2 days would make that easier.

I'd take the GS if I can find some knobbier tires between now and then. Not sure I can get it through something like that crossing we did with the missing bridge on the way back from white cloud. The down hill is easy, gravity will take care of that....

[troy]

I'll ride the husky to Marquette, if it's more gravel than pavement. 2 days would make that easier.

I'd take the GS if I can find some knobbier tires between now and then. Not sure I can get it through something like that crossing we did with the missing bridge on the way back from white cloud. The down hill is easy, gravity will take care of that....

You did notice I was running the stock tires on my F800 which are basically street tires--no knobs. My next tires will be knobbies, but I got through all that stuff last Sunday with relative ease.

OK..I'm still trying to figure this out--I'm not set on a plan yet, but...
It's over 200 miles and 3 hours to Marquette from the KC metro taking the Interstate--which I'm not going to ride on a joy ride. In my experience, on a ride of that length, taking more gravel than pavement, you'll increase miles by at least 50% and the time by at least double. So...let's backtrack...museum closes at 5pm on Sat. I want at least 2 hours at the museum, which means we need to arrive no later than 3, and that is pushing things. Assume we can get there in 7 hours taking a more enjoyable route and an hour of downtime for lunch, pee breaks, etc, we need to leave by 7am.

So how many riders are scared off by a rough plan that looks like this:

• Meet in Lawrence Sat morning. Kickstands up at 7am (Yes, this means riding to Lawrence very early)
• Backroad route with lots of gravel to Marquette, KS (I'll include all the min maint I can along the way)
• Enjoy the Kansas Motorcycle Museum until it closes at 5pm
• Check into the Viking Motel in Lindsborg (Little Sweden)
• Eat supper at one of the many eateries in Lindsborg
• Sun morning breakfast at 7:00am at a Lindsborg cafe
• Kickstands up by 8:00am
• Longer backroad route home with lots of gravel and all the min maint I can include along the way. We'll run just N of Lindsborg to see Coronado Heights
• Home by about dark Sun night

Morning temps forecast to be mid to upper 30s. Highs forecast for low to high 50s. Slight chance of rain, but winds look to be low for the weekend.

This ride requires you to bring a pair. NO WHINING!


...OR, I can just come up on Sat and lead a 90 mile dualsport loop out of Leavenworth.

[Foster]

I would pass on the motel but y'all have fun

[troy]

I would pass on the motel but y'all have fun

That sounds weak. Then bring your camping gear and camp Sat night--that doesn't prevent you from riding. That motel can't be more than $50/night for a room with 2 beds. $25 if you share a room---cheap. The ride would cost around $50 in gas round trip plus another $20 to $50 for meals (depending on how fancy supper is) We are talking around $80 if you camp and $105 with motel room...with temps around 35 and chance of rain, motel is easy choice for me.

That said...if 2+ folks say "we'll go but we are going to camp", I'll throw the camping gear in my Giant Loop bag and hit the road with you. I'm flexible, but a plan needs to materialize by end of day today. Camping requires more logistics and will rule more folks out I think with so little time to prepare.

[kendall_smith]

Shot in the dark here, but if you don't get any takers I might be in if we make it the same plan, but Friday/Saturday instead of Saturday/Sunday. I work 4 10's M-Th with my Fridays off, so I'm out tomorrow. Not sure how flexible you are with your schedule, but it might be easier for me to convince Alissa I'm going out of town tomorrow and Saturday since she has to work tomorrow and has plans for Saturday.

Let me know. I might still be in for Sat/Sun, but that will take more explaining! Or I'm in for sure if you do the Leavenworth loop.

[ajayhawkfan]

If you are going to head that way I would recommend seeing Farris Caves N 38° 41.697 W 098° 06.107. Also ride around Kanopolis Lake. There is some very unique geography to see. Another spot you might consider is Mushroom Rock State Park. N 38° 43.568 W 098° 01.783

There is lots of camping around Kanopolis Lake.

[Foster]

I'll work out the motel if that's the group consensus. where are we meeting up? I'm on a drz with stock gas tank. I'll bring small reserves but still have a limited range compared to big ds. Is that going to he a problem?

Sent from Evo. Most likely, with tons of akward auto corrected words.

[troy]

Kendall, I got to work Fri, sorry. You think your ass can do 600+ miles in 2 days on a DRZ? Foster apparently has the iron butt!

I'm leaning towards the 2 day marathon. I guess I'm in the mood. Gas won't be a problem as we'll be able to hit small towns for gas.

I think Lawrence makes a fair meeting point, but where? I like a breakfast before that many miles..and some coffee, so I'd rather the meeting place be somewhere I can kill time with food and coffee. Cafe recommendations for Lawrence?

I'll try to make the route interesting enough that the miles won't feel bad, but we will have to focus on making miles and time rather than looping around to hit scenery.

Eddie, I've done the loop around Kanopolis Lake--some rugged dirt roads on the SW side as I recall. Those big Mushroom rocks are neat. I wouldn't ride 300 miles to see them, but while out there....cool. I'd ask you to join us, but I know you only ride when the temps are between 60 and 70 and never in wind over 5 MPH. I doubt there will be any Starbucks on the route and it might be hard to find 91 Octane, so...maybe next time, Eddie.

[Foster]

Alright. I was trying to get this to work out but a few things at home and Saturday night have come up. Plus, I am rethinking the drz seat for 600+ miles. I have not done that many on it in one sitting just yet, and I'd prefer not to be the weakest link.

I am going to stay local and do some closer stuff. Sorry Troy. Let me get a few more miles on that plank of a seat and a little less going on at home and I'll be in. I might run that river road up to Atchison I missed out on last weekend.

[ajayhawkfan]

Eddie, ........... I'd ask you to join us, but I know you only ride when the temps are between 60 and 70 and never in wind over 5 MPH. I doubt there will be any Starbucks on the route and it might be hard to find 91 Octane, so...maybe next time, Eddie.

That is low even for you.

I hope to be riding but can't leave until about 10 on Saturday.

If weather permits, I'll head north along the MO river. I need to check out a waypoint or two for that (secret) event I mentioned to you on the phone. Around 4:00 on Saturday where ever I am I'll start looking for a TV to watch KU play MU at 5:00 (I hope they both make it if not at least KU ). I'll stay the night there and then take a slow way home on Sunday.

[troy]

I hope to be riding but can't leave until about 10 on Saturday.

If weather permits, I'll head north along the MO river. I need to check out a waypoint or two for that (secret) event I mentioned to you on the phone. Around 4:00 on Saturday where ever I am I'll start looking for a TV to watch KU play MU at 5:00 (I hope they both make it if not at least KU ). I'll stay the night there and then take a slow way home on Sunday.

Damnit, Eddie. You didn't give me that option. Now I want to go with you...are you inviting me?

At this point, I only have one rider who says he'll ride with me on that long ride to Marquette, my friend Michael (redoff). Eddie you mind a rider or 2 tagging along?

[kendall_smith]

Are you still considering the Leavenworth loop if the Marqutte ride falls through? I'm still weighing my options on the Marquette deal- the only part I don't like is leaving Lawrence so early. It might be better to save that for when it warms up earlier in the day.

[ozarksrider]

"..I got through all that stuff last Sunday with relative ease..."

You are a better rider than I am.

"...At this point, I only have one rider who says he'll ride with me on that long ride to Marquette..."

So it's two if you still want to go. Likely I'll put the crash bars on the gs and ride it with the tourances. Heated grips and a windshield sound nice. If we hit big bike unfriendly stuff I'll loop around and we can meet up.

That is unless Nick will change his mind. That DRZ seat is a sofa compared to the husky! In that case I'll ride the husky.

All that said if it doesn't happen I'm going to ride the 90 mile loop. kendall_smith I've got a gps if that happens and Troy doesn't want to go.

[kendall_smith]

Sounds good Chris. I'm 90% out for the Marquette trip. I just can't justify being gone the whole weekend, but I'm definitely up for a day ride. We'll see how it all works out and get a plan going from there.

[Foster]

I'm up for a day ride too if we can get it organized.