This was an exceptionally adventurous summer for my Ex and myself. A vacation that encompased 8 states ,4 thousand miles over two months ,and a lot of exhiliration. I would be lying If I said it was all fun and safe, but nonetheless a great summer and one to remember and one for the record books!!!

On to the flight plan:



My odyssey began in West Palm Beach Florida, were I set out to Charleston West Virgina on The first of july.My odometer read in the 13's. I stopped in what some of you east coaster may know as Pedro Land? Basically, it is a South of the Boarder Themed Disney world. It is an audaciously theatrical rest stop which's only authenticity can be derived from the greasy food and general uncleanliness. Nevertheless, it beats camping...Maybe???

I Hit Charleston, wv were I enjoyed a week or so of laid back fishing and disgraceful gluttony on the local cuisine with some relatives. I don't remember the Fourth but I think it rained? I wasn't on a strict schedule but I was really anticipating seeing my brothers in Tennessee, so I set out at once. The ex was running strong at this point but I planned to overhaul her along with my brothers when I reached southern tennessee.

I arrived with roughly 15k on my odometer and she wouldn't get much more on her until I made my way back to florida a month later. The reason being a disastrous undertaking of doing 2X(valves,oil,airfilter,carb sync,broken spedometer cable recievers, sparkplugs) and my brothers my ex500's particular needs: newchain, brakes, sproket, cush drive. It took a month due to the fact everything that you would imaigend to be rusted, siezed, and stripped on 14 year old 500 was...oh and a whole lot of apathy!! My brother's 95' Ex really was a piece ,but I'll give it some respect only because it at least had 25,000 miles(with a broken spedometer reciever) on it and technically "ran".

1 month later....after some concerts, r and r , and general prolonged leisure, the bikes were running and we still had time for Sturgis......just kiding.


I actually wanted to ,but unfortunately my old riding buddies and brothers' enthusiasm never materialized. So alas, but I was still in Tennessee and there was still plenty of mountain riding to be had. 1500 miles actually. I visited Realfoot lake, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and all those points in between.

My summer at this point is about to conclude when I have a pretty serious wreck due to Dirt/Gravel on a normally desolate mountain descent.

The pictures will illustrate:




The pictures do some justice, but the damage was exstensive.

I managed to make it home a week later after bending out the handlebars and replacing the light module(thanks chris).

The return trip (820miles) was an experience in itself. If you remember Fey while sitting in your suburban haven, ....well I had to drive through its moist extremeties on my mighty Ex (fully luggaged at this point) which I have come to refer as Foon Pschy (G Gundam thing). It was bad, but I timed my trip well, anticipating it would be moving across west florida when I predicted it to. So i basically grazed a bullet. Surprising, I had to share the glory with one other gentlemen driving a Harley, who I guess was equally as sane as I was.

Made it back in 16 hours (not accounting the time zone)

In conclusion, the ex500 is as capable as you are willing. It can take anything you can throw at it even a guard rail...seriously. So don't be hesistant of taking a chance on a great
vacation while taking your beloved 500 with you.

Signing out,
temest

 

Thanks for the report and photos, and sorry I couldn't help you out with a tank & fairing.

You aren't missing much in Sturgis.
I went there in '92, '93 & '94, and it's mostly a bunch of old rich guys trying to outspend each other. All the real fun is in the big campgrounds like Buffalo Chip, where they have bars and live bands.
I nearly got raped by this hugely obese lady who was a nurse in a Canadian logging camp. She was so strong, I couldn't get away from her (I was pretty drunk) and when I asked my friends for help, they just laughed and laughed.
Then another time I was hanging on the rafters of the large fest tent and my friend Mike sprayed me with his beer, then everyone joined in and I was completely soaked with beer. Then later that night (about 4am when everyone is asleep or passed out) some guy yelled out "FAAAAACK YOOOOUUU!" and it echoed so beautifully across the hills that everyone started doing it and laughing their heads off; there were like a thousand different people, in various levels of earnestness yelling "faaack yooou!"
That was back when BMW had just unveiled their new oilhead boxer, the R1100RSL and I got to test ride it twice. It was hard to ride back home on my Sportster after riding that awesome bike.
Thanks again and safe riding!
-CCinC

 

That Sounded like a blast. I did participate in a new up and coming rally this summer. Have you ever heard of "Thunder on the Rock"? Depending on your answer, that may be for some good or more inevitably for the worst. I like to rationalize the event with an equally theatrical get-together I am familiar with, of course I mean Daytona:

twice the bikes, twice the music

+

half the girls, ( with twice the facial hair )

= numerous brawls (all variable on time of day and beer)

Sooooo, I guess just any ole' bike rally. But fortunately for me I was not the recipient of any hazing, but my guest did prove the widely speculated theory that bikers fight to the fervor. To make it short, my "friend" found it quite necessary to antagonize the other patrons on their choice of leather couture.....to ill effect. I really would have liked to support my "friend" on this one ,but fortunately my father taught me to chose my fights wisely namely not fighting with anyone remotely resembling a hell's angel; anyways I was with the bikers on that one.....Chaps RULE!!!


I did end up finding a tank and plastics, not just that but I am better off now in some respects to my prior tank which was the proud bearer of dings. So I feel at least complacent now in respect to how things ended up (crossing my fingers).


As to your brush with a beamer. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN.

It shouldn't be taken lightly to saddle up with a beamer. Especially in light to a motorcyclist susceptabilty to trends, change, and well the general glory that is any bmw.
Many riders, at my school are lucky enough to own and operate such a prestigous machine. It make me envious just thinking about them with their damn 1200's and 1150's boxers. My strongest argument I can make here is well...............maybe next post.


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