My GS cronicles (Ride around Lake Michigan)

[Joe Nardy]

Nice short trip, enjoy.

I guess 'short' is a matter of opinion. I'd say a trip around Lake Michigan, which is around 1,000 miles, is a long ride.

A short ride would be one where the trip to the hospital is longer than the ride on the bike, but that's just my opinion.....

Joe

[bomber737]

To answer your questions before I go on to day 4. All of the roads were nice pavement and we ran into no road construction. hwy 8 is quite straight but once you get into upper Michigan the roads are nice and curvy. Most are lined with trees on one side and the lake on the other. Once we got into Lower Michigan the roads were mostly gentle curve and tree lined. The road through the national forest was straight for the most part but hilly and you pass over many little rivers and no towns. I find it very interesting to see the houses that people live in way out there in the woods, miles away from the nearest town. Like a little slice of paradise if you ask me. I was also surprised that we did not see any police unless we were in larger towns but we weren't speeding anyway since we were riding for enjoyment and what a bummer it would have been to get a ticket. Really the worst roads were when we were leaving Milwaukee. I don't know what happens to the highways there but they are really crap.
On to day 4. We started the day early at the hotel with a nice breakfast and a leisurely packing up of the bikes for the days riding. I chose a route to the museum which was mostly interstate but because of road construction we had to find another way. Unfortunately the back way to the museum took us through some of the seediest parts of south Milwaukee. But we made it un-accosted and in one piece. We arrived at the museum at 9:30 in the morning and they have parking for bikes right by the front door of the museum. Nothing like first class treatment, even if we were riding UJM's. It was kinda funny to see out UJM's sitting out front there right next to all those Harleys, yes we were the only ones. I think it brought some class to the place. The museum is certainly worth the stop if you are ever in the Milwaukee area. I think my favorites are the ones made before the 40's. They have serial number 1 sitting right as you enter the exhibit.
Not all the parts are from the very first but it's as close as you can get.


A really cool aspect of the museum is they have a bike from every year that Harley produced a bike. They even have one of Elvis's, and a few that have been bling blinged out by people. They have a copy of Capt America. If you want to see the real one you have to go to Anamosa IA. We spent about 3 hours going through the museum and I am including a few of the bikes I found most interesting.






From the museum we left for home. Thinking we only had about 7 hours a head of us we pulled out of Milwaukee and headed up Hwy 94 towards the Twin cities (Mpls/St. Paul) and our own beds. By this time we were ready to be home and decided on this route since it was the fastest way home. We stopped in the Dells for a late lunch and of course 2 hours outside of there we ran into the first stop and go traffic. There was a horrific accident on the freeway and after an hour we got to a frontage road and got going a descent speed again. Right outside of Tohma WI my girlfriends bike decided to have fuse problems. So we stopped and unloaded all the backpacks and saddle bags off of it and replaced the fuse. Loaded the bike back up and she started it and moved 5 feet and it blew again, what a pain in the ass. So back off went all the stuff, replace the fuse and try again. And again move 5 feet and out it went. It was then I realized she was handing me 15W fuses and it needs 30. No wonder it went out and that was when I found out we were out of 30 amp fuses. So with trucks screaming by and a state trooper we sat on the side of the road while my sister went into the next town to find us a proper fuse. By the time she got back and we were back on the road it was getting late so we decided to stop for the night in Black River Falls.
Finally on day 5 we made it home with no further issues. Total trip was 1432 miles in 5 days.
My final thoughts on the trip. I absolutely love my GS. It performed flawlessly and gets good gas mileage and the seat is quite comfortable. The trip I took last year I took my 81 Honda CB750 Supersport let me tell you, that seat leaves a lot to be desired. The GS's seat was comfortable for extended periods of time and there is so little vibration its almost like the engine is not running. The bike has plenty of power for passing and the brakes are very good. I put the 530 chain conversion on my bike and I put a x-ring chain on it. I did not have to tighten the chain once and I have been trying to stretch it. Infact I like the bike so much I just purchased a 81 GS1100E for my next project. We had 5 days of great sunny weather and the temperatures warmed up considerably once we were on the south part of the trip. Another thought, If you are going to travel with other people it is really nice when all the bikes have the same range. The Virago my sis was riding only got 45mpg and it has a 3.8 gallon tank. We could only go about 130 miles between fill ups and I would put 2 to 2.5 gallons in every fuel stop. What a pain. My next trip is already planned for August. I will be riding the GS out to Wyoming to go climb the Devil's Tower and doing an Iron Butt on the way back. My friends are both Harley riders so I am hoping the cycle gods help them not brake down, and or they have their AAA memberships paid up so I don't have to tow them to the shop. Thanks to all who have added to my story and to those who have read it.

[oldrookie]

Nice report. Enjoyed the story.

Grew up in northern MI and used to spend time in Traverse City. Our house was on the edge of the Manistee National Forest. Spent a lot of time learning to ride in the sand on the two-tracks that wind through the forest. There are some great places to explore on a bike up that way.


Look forward to your ride report next summer.

[airbornespud]

next ride

it's too bad you didn't have time to stay in Petoskey. you passed right by me. if you do come back around, hit me up ahead of time and i will give you a place to take a break, and if i can swing it, ride with you up M-119. some of the best riding anywhere along the shore, and Leg's Inn in Cross Village has amazing Polish food. it's a biker staple on road trips up here. i know... you can't hit everything everywhere you go, but that just gives you something to look forward to next time.

[bomber737]

Thanks for the invite. We will prob take you up on it. If anyone ever gets into my neck of the woods PM me and Ill show you some great roads right by my house. Prob next year as I am out of vacation and my aug trip will be a sick call.

[airbornespud]

Thanks for the invite. We will prob take you up on it. If anyone ever gets into my neck of the woods PM me and Ill show you some great roads right by my house. Prob next year as I am out of vacation and my aug trip will be a sick call.

alright, i'm going to pencil you in. that will give me some time to get my "collection" whipped into shape...

[bomber737]

Ha me to. I just picked up that 81 gs1100E. Gonna be a buuunch of work. And I picked up a gs850 im going to build for my girlfriend for her birthday next year. She's finally going to get that white bike she's always wanted.

[airbornespud]

Ha me to. I just picked up that 81 gs1100E. Gonna be a buuunch of work. And I picked up a gs850 im going to build for my girlfriend for her birthday next year. She's finally going to get that white bike she's always wanted.

pearl white? just a thought... i sold my 83 Kaw KZ550Ltd. for two 82 GS*L's, an 850 runner and a 550 project bike. i've been riding the 850 every day possible, and once i get a few minor issues cleaned up, i'm going to start work on resurrecting the 550. not sure what the end result will be, but it's more about the journey anyhow.

[bomber737]

Yep Pearl shimmering white or something along that line (It is for a girl). Prob more of an metallic flake pearl white but well see what PPG has to offer in the color books.

[7981GS]

The '33 H-D that you saw at the Museum looks strangely familiar.
It looks a lot like the '36 Indian that a gentleman rode to Bike Night this evening...



Of course, this one had been converted to left side shift with a Triumph tranny...



Eric

[rustybronco]

She lives just south of Hwy 8 which was to be our road for the day.

That route would have taken you through Crandon the town My parents live in.

Also, I picked up my 80 GS850 in Rice lake. Small world isn't it?

[airbornespud]

Yep Pearl shimmering white or something along that line (It is for a girl). Prob more of an metallic flake pearl white but well see what PPG has to offer in the color books.

and some pink ghost flames? ok, now i'm getting carried away...

[bomber737]

Oh ya I've been to Rice Lake myself. It is a small world, that's why I try not to **** people off. You never know when they might turn out to be your boss. You drove quite a way for a gs. No pink, she's not that girly of a girl. Now I have a reason to buy a polishing wheel.......and learn how to use it. Love that Indian. Thanks for sharing pictures of it. It was a scout wasn't it? Surprised to see a battery, I though they had a magneto (dynamo) and a 6v generator when they are that old.