The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Ride Reports and Event Reviews => Topic started by: Matt Chapter on April 04, 2016, 10:14:47 AM
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Here's a photo album of my recent trip to New Mexico. The trip stats: 1780 miles in 53 hours.
Left Austin 2 pm 4/1, arrived at Brantley Lake NM 1130 pm - 480 miles.
Left Brantley Lake 730 am 4/2 round tripped through White Sands to Santa Fe National Forest and back to Brantley Lake arrived 1245 am - 762 miles
Left Brantley Lake 800 am 4/3 to Austin arrived 7 pm - 538 miles.
11 stops for gas, so I averaged ~160 miles between fill ups. Some fill ups were strategic to get into and out of White Sands. There's not much in that part of New Mexico except jackrabbits. Worst mileage was 150 miles to reserve, on TX 176. Spent that whole tank of gas at 6k+ rpm in top gear.
No major mechanical issues although I did experience some intermittent vibration that I'd like to figure out. Lost both valve cover center nuts. Bike stayed upright for the duration which is always a plus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77662887@N05/albums/72157666696943146
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Ain't no stankin' sloppy shift lever gonna keep me off the road!
Better to lose the center stud nuts than those little 10mm jobs on the ends of the valve covers. They're the ones that really do the work of keeping the oil where it needs to be. Give a shout to Austin's Lamont Sandfurd. Larry's likely got some nutz on the cheap.
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Ain't no stankin' sloppy shift lever gonna keep me off the road!
I just checked it when I remembered about it, and tried not to think what it would be like to lose the shifter bolt a thousand miles from home. Pretty sure I hand tightened it at least three times. And boy do I have some things to talk to Larry about!
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You've got to plan out your route, with your range of fuel here in the southwestern / western US .
If you stay off of the interstate highway system, you can find yourself hours between fuel stations .
Last time I was in central New Mexico on US 60 left Socorro, NM going westbound and about an hour later, saw two HD riders on the side of the road, one was out of fuel and the other was on reserve .
Siphoned fuel from my Honda CRX and got both of them filled up .
They were Sportsters with small fuel tanks, not a great choice for long distance riding !!!!!!! ;D
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If you stay off of the interstate highway system, you can find yourself hours between fuel stations .
That was the key. I only was on I25 between 380 (south of Socorro) and Santa Fe. And a brief exit ramp hop near Big Spring, TX to catch 176 from 87. The rest was mostly state highways, and just because the sign gives mileage to the next "town" doesn't mean that town has a gas station!
I definitely was wondering how I could add more range, one fill up the pump registered 5.6 gallons which made me question a lot of things!
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The single petcock R65 tank has a second reserve of fuel. It's stored on the right-side saddle of the tank. Slosh about a quart or so to the left side and you may not have to walk as far.
Another good reason to do an annual tank drain n' dry. Water collects on both sides and makes a poor substitute for petrol.
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The single petcock R65 tank has a second reserve of fuel.
Mine's a dual petcock. Monoshock and all. But I only use the left side, because I'm lazy. And just in case I want that reserve. I experimented with switching to the right side at reserve, and I think I need to acid wash and reline my tank.
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... I think I need to acid wash and reline my tank.
Forgot you ride the pogo stick.
Another item on the Chore List. :P