Longest Ride to date - 100 miles!

[azcycle]

There was a mountain biking race/festival going on this weekend North of Tucson out in the middle of the desert at Willow Springs Ranch, just south of the famous Biosphere 2. While I didn't participate in the race, I took the opportunity to take the r65 on it's longest run to date.  100 miles out and back, including about 20 miles of rutted, washboard dirt road.  Those dual-sport knobbies that my father in law put on there sure came in handy.  

Passed one guy on a new F650GS and he gave me a double-take. Young guy taking the entry fee to the race said "wow, that bike looks like an antique!"  Of course, it probably IS older than he is.

Got back home a little saddle sore and ears ringing from the wind (even through my full-face helmet) and loud exhaust.  Next time definitely ear plugs...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I LOVE my earplugs!!!

Congratulations on the ride!




E-A-R Soft Grippers

[Lucky_Lou]

Congratulations...when i finished my restoration i had a few tentative rides increasing the distance as my confidence grew...i would take the bike anywhere now without batting an eyelid, dont know about off road though I'm built for comfort dirt tracks seem unappealing somehow.
Lou

[JDS]

put a bike rack on the back of the r65 and race next time. you wont notice that 28lbs on the back riding

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[msbuck]

We used to have a fellow that would bring his bike in for service...with his bicycle strapped on back.  Don't really remember how he accomplished this, though.

[nhmaf]

Yes, DO use earplugs with your helmet, especially on high speed highways/long rides to avoid nerve deafness.   On 500+mile days, I also feel much less tired/more alert when my ears aren't ringing from wind noise.

[azcycle]

I've actually been thinking about a bike rack for the back. I've seen a couple ways to do it. One fellow in my mtn biking club has an older (81ish) Silverwing and managed to strap a car's bike trunk rack to it somehow.  I've got a trunk rack but it's an older model that doesn't actually have a way of securing the bike to it, just a couple open hooks.

[JDS]

I just rebuilt some old Mt Bikes and would rather take the bicycle to the trails on the R65. I like that idea Rob pictured.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Folks have been carrying bicycles on their motorcycles for several years, now, that I know of.

The first one I saw was a picture from a National rally, sometime in the last 10 years.