Cost to Coast ... to Coast on 1977 GS750 and GS550

[sam000lee]

haha NICE! thats it? goes to show you how reliable these bikes are... and i bet you are running on stock motor that is over 40 years old with no refresh at all? I think that says a lot

I that dyna ignition is probably like a dream come true! now the spark plugs were totally fouled out? sometimes you can just hit em on a wire wheel with some brake clean after and they come right back to life. iridium's (cant do the wire wheel trick) should last you a lifetime.

6k miles for a chain and sprockets seems kind of short honestly, are you leaving enough slack?

Yup stock engines. The spark plugs were never totally fouled from the altitude alone and I was happy to just replace them for ~$10 as we obviously didn't have constant access to other tools. 6k for chain/sprockets is definitely a short lifespan - we had bought cheap-o chains and also have since replaced them with much better X-ring chains and swapped out the sprockets again.

[GabrielGoes]

Yup stock engines. The spark plugs were never totally fouled from the altitude alone and I was happy to just replace them for ~$10 as we obviously didn't have constant access to other tools. 6k for chain/sprockets is definitely a short lifespan - we had bought cheap-o chains and also have since replaced them with much better X-ring chains and swapped out the sprockets again.

Thanks for the replies,

Now what is the one (or more) thing(s) that you absolutely WISH you would have brought and packed along to make your life easier?

[sam000lee]

No worries!

I wish I had brought more film! And maybe an extra tube...

A warming sleeping bag would have been nice, too - but that takes up more space so nevermind.

[limeex2]

Well written and documented thread!!! Reminded me of a trip I took to Tennessee on a 82 Katana with my girlfriend who was on her GS550. I dressed the same( kinda 80's punk/new wave) and was a unforgettable trip. The rock star coat is gone, The Katana was run over by a neighbor and I married my GF. All are gone but not forgotten. Like the gentleman said on your trip...Making memories.

[Big T]

Sam are you going to finish your travelogue?
I could have given you a number of better roads in OR, on the warm side