I made the long ride

deputydogg2763 · 04-06-2009, 12:08 AM

Just a short while back, I asked if the GZ could make a long trip. I have only been riding a motorcycle since Sept. 08. I mainly commute back and forth to work. The longest trip that I have made until now has been 3 hours one way. I am proud to say that I made the trip of 500 miles one way with no probs from the bike. I invested in a throttle lock ($40 well spent), installed it with no problem, loaded up a backpack, strapped it on and headed out to Oklahoma City from Memphis. I got a late start on a Saturday and rode about halfway, got a room and got some rest. I got up early the next day and continued the adventure. I took I-40 all the way there and stopped when I needed a stretch and had a great time. I stayed in Oklahoma City until the following Friday and loaded up and headed home. I left early enough that I could make the entire trip in one day if I wanted to. I decided to get off the Interstate some and enjoy the ride a little more. I took I-40 to Sallisaw, Oklahoma, then got off on Highway 64 (which runs parallel to I-40 for about 140 miles). That was nice and relaxing except for hitting Fort Smith, Arkansas right at rush hour on a Friday. Once I got through Fort Smith, it was smooth sailing and nothing but pure riding joy. I took Highway 64 all the way to Conway, Arkansas, and then got back on I-40 the rest of the way back to Memphis. My only complaint is that the ride ended while I was still having a blast, wish it could have been a little longer. My advice to anyone planning a ride like that is to layer (which I did and was very grateful that I did), plan your stretch breaks, don't get in a hurry, and enjoy!!!!!! :cool: Thanks to everyone who gave some good advice before I headed out. This is a great place to come and get info and enjoy some wisdom from those with a few more miles under their belt. :2tup: Hope there are many more enjoyable rides!

Water Warrior 2 · 04-06-2009, 12:52 AM

Awesome ride. Never let anyone say the GZ won't go places. Lynda rode her GZ over 5000 KMS(3000miles) last summer and had a blast during the whole trip. Had 3 weeks of riding and visiting. Looking forward to more ride reports.

mr. softie · 04-06-2009, 01:10 AM

Sounds like you had a great time deputydogg. Glad to hear the trip went well. I always trusted my GZ, and enjoyed the trips I took it on.

BusyWeb · 04-06-2009, 02:20 AM

Wow, that's a ride!
And, it seems that all the GZ are waking up from the Winter time....

alanmcorcoran · 04-06-2009, 02:59 AM

Good ride.

Moedad · 04-06-2009, 12:23 PM

Outstanding, DD! Well done. That's the way to enjoy your GZ. Love seeing all the ride reports cropping up.

deputydogg2763 · 04-06-2009, 10:25 PM

Actually, I never put it up for the winter. I rode it back and forth all winter, minus a couple of weeks when there was snow or ice on the road. I grew up in Nebraska and kinda enjoy the cold sometimes. I know now that it fully capable of some long rides, and plan on making more. Got a bike, might as well ride it as much as possible!

GZ250 · 04-26-2009, 12:34 AM

Awesome. I do ride long but this is something. Never tried on GZ on interstates because of speed. By the way when you ride on I-40 or any highway at what speed you normally ride?

Thanks

04-06-2009, 12:08 AM	#1
deputydogg2763 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: memphis Posts: 14	I made the long ride Just a short while back, I asked if the GZ could make a long trip. I have only been riding a motorcycle since Sept. 08. I mainly commute back and forth to work. The longest trip that I have made until now has been 3 hours one way. I am proud to say that I made the trip of 500 miles one way with no probs from the bike. I invested in a throttle lock ($40 well spent), installed it with no problem, loaded up a backpack, strapped it on and headed out to Oklahoma City from Memphis. I got a late start on a Saturday and rode about halfway, got a room and got some rest. I got up early the next day and continued the adventure. I took I-40 all the way there and stopped when I needed a stretch and had a great time. I stayed in Oklahoma City until the following Friday and loaded up and headed home. I left early enough that I could make the entire trip in one day if I wanted to. I decided to get off the Interstate some and enjoy the ride a little more. I took I-40 to Sallisaw, Oklahoma, then got off on Highway 64 (which runs parallel to I-40 for about 140 miles). That was nice and relaxing except for hitting Fort Smith, Arkansas right at rush hour on a Friday. Once I got through Fort Smith, it was smooth sailing and nothing but pure riding joy. I took Highway 64 all the way to Conway, Arkansas, and then got back on I-40 the rest of the way back to Memphis. My only complaint is that the ride ended while I was still having a blast, wish it could have been a little longer. My advice to anyone planning a ride like that is to layer (which I did and was very grateful that I did), plan your stretch breaks, don't get in a hurry, and enjoy!!!!!! :cool: Thanks to everyone who gave some good advice before I headed out. This is a great place to come and get info and enjoy some wisdom from those with a few more miles under their belt. :2tup: Hope there are many more enjoyable rides! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-06-2009, 12:52 AM	#2
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: I made the long ride Awesome ride. Never let anyone say the GZ won't go places. Lynda rode her GZ over 5000 KMS(3000miles) last summer and had a blast during the whole trip. Had 3 weeks of riding and visiting. Looking forward to more ride reports.
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04-06-2009, 01:10 AM	#3
mr. softie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bucks Co. PA Posts: 361	Re: I made the long ride Sounds like you had a great time deputydogg. Glad to hear the trip went well. I always trusted my GZ, and enjoyed the trips I took it on. __________________ The real money in a gold rush is in supplying liqueur and women to the miners.... May the wind always be at your back and the sun overhead as you make your way down the ever winding, smoothly paved, traffic free road! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-06-2009, 02:20 AM	#4
BusyWeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 626	Re: I made the long ride Wow, that's a ride! And, it seems that all the GZ are waking up from the Winter time.... __________________ BusyWeb
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04-06-2009, 02:59 AM	#5
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: I made the long ride Good ride. __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More… Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-06-2009, 12:23 PM	#6
Moedad Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 642	Re: I made the long ride Outstanding, DD! Well done. That's the way to enjoy your GZ. Love seeing all the ride reports cropping up.
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04-06-2009, 10:25 PM	#7
deputydogg2763 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: memphis Posts: 14	Re: I made the long ride Actually, I never put it up for the winter. I rode it back and forth all winter, minus a couple of weeks when there was snow or ice on the road. I grew up in Nebraska and kinda enjoy the cold sometimes. I know now that it fully capable of some long rides, and plan on making more. Got a bike, might as well ride it as much as possible!
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04-26-2009, 12:34 AM	#8
GZ250 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 334	Re: I made the long ride Awesome. I do ride long but this is something. Never tried on GZ on interstates because of speed. By the way when you ride on I-40 or any highway at what speed you normally ride? Thanks __________________ “God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” “People understand me so poorly that they don't even understand my complaint about them not understanding me.” --- Søren Kierkegaard ---
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