Quote:
Originally Posted by golem
How realistic is it to make a trip from coast to coast on a GZ? I saw the thread about the person who did a trip to Alaska and back on a 30 000 miles old GZ but the man seems to be a riding machine.. Is the GZ able to handle some off road conditions?
|
Yes and no is the answer. This answer also applies to the rider too. Coast to coast is a long hard ride on a smaller bike.
No freeway travel as the GZ won't do the continuous higher speeds required. Stick to secondary hiways and enjoy the view. And will the rider be tough enough?? Depending on your endurance level and ability to deal with changing weather and road surfaces you may find a long ride a real challenge.
Another factor is your mode of sleeping arrangements. Camping and tenting means a lot of packing/unpacking and the time it consumes. This shortens your riding time and is another energy user which is better spent(in my case)in a hotel with a shower and a TV.
Offroad...............a gravel road is about as offroad as you may want. We found out that a freshly graded gravel road with a week's worth of rain is a real challenge but we made it without falling. Stick to paved roads for a more peaceful ride. The GZ will also be better riding on pavement as the suspension is not really great at soaking up potholes and bumps like an enduro.
If the bike is in good condition and the rider is younger with a sense of Adventure just go for it. Just take lots of pics to prove you did it to back up your stories.