The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => Ride Reports and Event Reviews => Topic started by: rev_mook on December 18, 2012, 08:06:01 PM

Title: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: rev_mook on December 18, 2012, 08:06:01 PM
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F12%2Ffinal_trip.png&hash=4586cbc50bd30dfa78ad5a30815e39b754716d4a)

When I first started riding motorcycles I was 17.  Since then I knew that one day I would take off on a long motorcycling adventure.  13 years later, I was able to make it happen when I found my R65 with 9K original miles in a warehouse in Downtown LA.  I thought to myself, "This should work".  I spent a couple months working out the bugs on the bike, then quit my well paying job and moved out of my apartment.  My friend, who just learned to ride a motorcycle a week prior on her $1000 craigslist bike wanted to come along to Portland with me, so August 1st, we took off.

Bye!
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F12%2Fmotorcycle.jpg&hash=d5b0e5baf33c00f5761b825ef8fbc404cdbfaa80)

Here are both of our bikes, somewhere along the California coast.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2F7ADT4950.jpg&hash=d9bb989fd1a03eb2f9c1df8f5e0fefd0276de141)

We camped on the side of the road quite a bit.  I was traveling for 3 months and only got 4 or 5 nights in a hotel.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2F7ADT4947.jpg&hash=430fb51cac8e5bad381573a4ba98016058841bbf)

Did an oil change at my buddies house in Colorado.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FP8220055.jpg&hash=edf869c66972cea9d97cc70e9936ce8451c00c34)

Met some friends.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FP8190041.jpg&hash=e57ad990ab62b5a569f94a33351e02ef07b85bce)

Got stuck in the desert.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F10%2FPA190045.jpg&hash=b8dc63de1db3818044fd02ea86837376e18a9308)

Discovered "Near Beer", experimented with it and found it doesn't really work well.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FP8240070.jpg&hash=dbfc033e051011adf2f2e91f1fa945529155ff81)

Somewhere in middle America.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.benmook.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F08%2FP8240064.jpg&hash=85350012a20f2f69642e3b6c29bb86df930919cc)

I spent 3 months on the road, traveling around, couch surfing, sleeping on the side of the road.  A truly life enriching experience.  I can't wait to do it again at my next opportunity!

You can find more about this trip by visiting my blog.  More photos and lot of maps.  I really wanted to take tons of photos and write more than I did, but I think my experience would be different if I tried to accurately document every little detail.

http://blog.benmook.com/category/maps/

more stuff that might not be tagged right:
blog.benmook.com

~Mook

Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: steve hawkins on December 19, 2012, 05:35:52 AM
A trip of a lifetime.

I am not jealous.......Much

Thanks for sharing.

Rev. light
Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: MR.E on December 27, 2012, 09:47:23 AM
that looks like an amazing trip
Is that you taking a wash with Grizzlies in the background??

Well done.
Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: nhmaf on March 24, 2013, 09:39:55 PM
Aaaah, to be young(er) and carefree !

Good job!!!    Some of us have to wait until retirement to contemplate something like this, though retirement may be a pipe dream anyway, LOL!
Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: Ed Miller on March 25, 2013, 10:50:37 AM
Why does she have a bull horn on that Honda?

Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: NC Steve on March 27, 2013, 05:07:31 PM
Excellent story and link!
Thanks much! 8-)
Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: CaptainSlow on April 15, 2013, 04:05:22 PM
Another great adventure, thanks for sharing, really inspiring - can't believe your friend did that a week after passing her test!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: montmil on April 15, 2013, 04:17:06 PM
I like your Lone Ranger six-shooter full of Silver Bullets... of the Coors caliber.
Title: Re: 10K on a '83 R65LS
Post by: rev_mook on April 23, 2013, 12:17:01 PM
Everyone needs a bull horn at least once, never leave home without one!  I'm back in the working world wishing I took a job that I wouldn't feel bad about quitting.  Instead I landed a job that is aligned with my "career" goals...  Secretly, I wish I never came home to LA and that was still meandering around the country aimlessly on an old airhead.