The GS, camping gear and Vermont roads....

[Guest]

All loaded up and ready for a getaway with the 1000G pack mule. I hope to cover some of the nice roads closed due to flooding last year on a previous bike trip. 80 degrees expected tomorrow, light weekday traffic conditions, and my pick of tent sites at Branbury St Pk before the school summer crowd lets out. I hope to get some nice pics while scouting out the "gaps" in VT. The adjustable backrest works pretty good for extending the luggage rack...and we'll see if my sleeping bag makes for a comfy rest for the back.

[bonanzadave]

1000G pack mule.

Nice load ! Have fun in the great outdoors. Post the pics ASAP...

Q: Ive seen a bunch of theses "pack mule" photos and have wondered if a plastic tote would be an option to keep your gear out of the weather and road dirt .

[lurch12_2000]

OK, some pics. Just an ordinary roadside pit stop shot along Rt 4A in NH before crossing into VT in 1st pic, but I could hear water in the woods, and it wasn't my pee. A 5 minute goat shuffle down a steep embankment and through the woods and I found the hidden 50ft waterfall in the second pic....





In Quechee, VT I found another classic....a '58 Caddie to pose with my classic GS....more pics to come.

[lurch12_2000]

Past Hartford, VT along Rt 14, the White River ripped up a lot of debris from last year's storm, but the road is a nice bike route in good shape, with a few narrow underpasses to watch out for, one with sand right on the curve under it so be careful.

[lurch12_2000]

Again further up on VT Rt 14 before hitting Rt 107 and onto Rt 100, a BMW that lost it's engine...literally.

[lurch12_2000]

VT 73, Brandon Pass, nice road in good shape but not real twisty. A pic at top with Mt Horrid as backdrop. Oh, and the blue sky turned dark grey on the other side of the pass, rain soaking me before getting to my campsite!

[lurch12_2000]

Camping for the night at Branbury St Pk, sunset at Lake Dunmore after the showers cleared out. I couldn't get the bike down by the shoreline for the pic. VT 53 was another nice bike road. All pics taken with my iPhone...maybe a few more to add.

[gregzbutt]

Beautiful!

[cowboyup3371]

Great pictures so far

[azr]

Fantastic pictures. Love and hate this time of year, everyones getting out and posting great pictures, but everyone is getting out while I'm sitting on the couch looking at my computer. Hey, how is your suspension holding up? what if anything has been done to the suspension, front and back. Looking forward to the rest of the thread, thanks for posting and the bike looks FANTASTIC!

[lurch12_2000]

Fantastic pictures. Love and hate this time of year, everyones getting out and posting great pictures, but everyone is getting out while I'm sitting on the couch looking at my computer. Hey, how is your suspension holding up? what if anything has been done to the suspension, front and back. Looking forward to the rest of the thread, thanks for posting and the bike looks FANTASTIC!

The bike has 21k on it, of which 7k are mine logged in the 14 months I've owned it. Would have been a few thousand more but I was using my other bikes too. I put new Bridgestone Spitfires on when I first got it and the rear is down to the wear bars now, so about a 7k mile usable life span. The front is a 110/90-19, has plenty of tread but a slightly taller (3/8") tire than a normal 100/90-19, but these were the new unmounted tires I got with the deal and just used them. I have a set of Shinkos going on soon rather than stretching the front for more miles. I'm going back to 100/90-19 front and staying with 130/90-17 on rear.
I put in Progressive fork springs soon after buying the bike and use 10w fork oil. The rear shocks are the original stockers dialed to the max of 4 for dampening and the springs are set at the stiffest setting. They are getting tired but even with load or a passenger the bike is stable through all the exhaust and peg scrapings in the turns. I tried a new take off set of rear 13.25" shocks from a Harley but one of them blew out after 500 miles leaking oil everywhere, so they wound up in the trash and I put the stockers back on. I would have thought the Showa Harley shocks would have supported the much heavier weight of a HD but I must have been on too many rough back roads or they're made for leisurely Sunday rides? The ride was better with them than GS stock but they were junk! I did have to cut the small stop tab on the swingarm for the longer shock length (stock is 12.75") and it did help keep from scraping anything with the added clearance. Have you modded your 1000G?

NOTE: I started with 1.75" PVC spacers with the new fork springs but cut them back to 1.25" after checking proper sag while sitting on bike. They were too stiff with the longer spacers. The stock springs use a 3" metal spacer. Also, use zero air pressure with the progressive springs' setup.

[lurch12_2000]

Final few pics...I'll spare you all the nice scenery shots.

The bike in the "driveway" next to home for the night. I upgraded to a leanto for a few extra $ because of the rain, but this was a nicer leanto than I'm used to.


Morning hike up through the woods to Silver Lake for a sunrise....happened before I could get there and the bike wouldn't make it up the rocky trail!

[lurch12_2000]

Last photo I think, just back into NH on RT 112 looking down towards the White Mts. I think VT has better biking roads overall but NH has better places to stop for views. After awhile I just wanted to enjoy the ride and not stop for pics.

[azr]

Looks like you've had a good trip, great views of the rolling hills. My own 1000G is in the process of being put back together, just finished the POR-15 chassiscoat on the frame and bits and pieces yesterday. The top end is all done just waiting to go back in. Your bike is giving me the motivation to get it all finished. Not planning on doing any mods, just a nice stock bike. I won't be able to paint her this year, she's currently a brown colour, but eventually she'll be either your blue or the nice stock red colour.

[Bookmon]

Thanks for the vicarious thrills