Trip to east, summer 2025?

[pdedse]

I'm in the initial stages of planning a cross country trip from Oregon to "back east" for next summer. Even though I'm leaning towards using my Kawasaki W800 instead of the CB1100 (yet that could change to the CB), I'm reaching out to CB1100 owners because I "know" folks here, and I'd love to meet a few, several, of you on the way there or back. This could be for lunch, then escort me for an hour or two along a local favorite route.

Or, if anyone's willing to offer up a tent space or couch for a night, that would be cool. I love solitude, but I've also done a number of long distance trips and it's great to meet people along the way.

I've always wanted to do an west-east-west trip across the U.S. and the logistics are lining up:

1. I have the time
2. My son's GF, likely future daughter-in-law's parents have invited my wife and me to to visit over July 4, and they live somewhere around Syracuse, NY
3. My sister lives in Cape Cod and wants me to visit as well
4. My soon to be 100 year old mom says don't forget about her (Illinois)

My route east is generally northern U.S. Idaho, MT, ND, Minn, Iowa, Illinois where I visit Mom if she's still with us. Then I'd like to scoot back north and ride left side of Lake Michigan and then back south on the right. Then Ohio, Penn, and NY. Alternatively, I could go OR, ID, UT, CO and then KS where I have a couple brothers, then up to Illinois to visit mom, then the lake thing.

Sometime after the 4th, head for Canada to visit New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. After, back to U.S. to visit my sister in Cape Cod.

And this is likely where I'll take a break. Sister says I can leave the bike there and I fly back to Oregon. Then after Labor Day, I fly back to Cape Cod and continue the trip. Generally, I ride to Misourri and Kansas area to visit family (again?) there. But depending on how I feel and time, I may swing south to the Virginias and Carolinas. After the midwest, NM, Utah, NV and then home.

OR: I may leave the bike with a brother in Kansas. He loves the W800 and I might just park it with him because he has a huge barn, and he's helped me lots mechanically with cars/motorycles over the years. He would love to enjoy the bike for awhile. In this case, I leave the bike with him kinda "permanently" so that as I slip into retirement I have a bike there that I can use when I visit family. That way, I also reduce the "fleet on hand" to just two bikes as my wife and I downsize to smaller house with likely less garage space.

Anyway, that's the look of things. I'd welcome ideas on routes, "don't miss" places. And I have great flexibility with the route. If you're interested in meeting up, let me know. What might be difficult is to make a definitive plan with someone and say in early spring "I'm gonna meet with you on X date" because things can change en route, but if one's got some flexibility, let's talk.

I'm hopeful of the idea. I feel like I can still do something like this. If I wait another 5 years, who knows. I'm not too concerned about riding "the best bike" for this trip. I more like the idea of using what I got, adapting to the bike's limitations and making it work. The CB1100 is a better long distance traveler for me than the W, but the idea that I could leave the W with my brother who would really appreciate it is a fun thought. But I'm going to do some over night trips on the W in the spring to see what it feels like to ride 10 hours on it 2, 3 days in a row. Maybe that makes me reconsider and with the CB...we'll see!

Let me know what you think. And...if anyone ever visits Oregon and would like to meet up or even needs an overnighter...just let me know. My cat don't bite.

[the Ferret]

Well if you cut through southern Ohio, I have a spare room you can use for a day or two. Can show you some great southern Ohio/ northern Kentucky roads., and treat you to local delicacies like Skyline Chili and Graeters Ice Cream. Could even meet you in Portsmouth Ohio, take you to the best steak place you've ever been to, show you the famous Mural Wall, then lead you on some great roads thru Shawnee State forest, and then the Ohio River Scenic Byway over to my house.

I think Dac lives in Dayton, and RickCB and Sneaky Fast in Coumbus and 3rd Gear Steve in Cleveland so we should have Ohio covered. Offroad lives in Indiana and Empty Sea lives near Chicago Illinois.

[peterbaron]

I'm in the initial stages of planning a cross country trip from Oregon to "back east" for next summer. Even though I'm leaning towards using my Kawasaki W800 instead of the CB1100 (yet that could change to the CB), I'm reaching out to CB1100 owners because I "know" folks here, and I'd love to meet a few, several, of you on the way there or back. This could be for lunch, then escort me for an hour or two along a local favorite route.

Or, if anyone's willing to offer up a tent space or couch for a night, that would be cool. I love solitude, but I've also done a number of long distance trips and it's great to meet people along the way.

I've always wanted to do an west-east-west trip across the U.S. and the logistics are lining up:

1. I have the time
2. My son's GF, likely future daughter-in-law's parents have invited my wife and me to to visit over July 4, and they live somewhere around Syracuse, NY
3. My sister lives in Cape Cod and wants me to visit as well
4. My soon to be 100 year old mom says don't forget about her (Illinois)

My route east is generally northern U.S. Idaho, MT, ND, Minn, Iowa, Illinois where I visit Mom if she's still with us. Then I'd like to scoot back north and ride left side of Lake Michigan and then back south on the right. Then Ohio, Penn, and NY. Alternatively, I could go OR, ID, UT, CO and then KS where I have a couple brothers, then up to Illinois to visit mom, then the lake thing.

Sometime after the 4th, head for Canada to visit New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. After, back to U.S. to visit my sister in Cape Cod.

And this is likely where I'll take a break. Sister says I can leave the bike there and I fly back to Oregon. Then after Labor Day, I fly back to Cape Cod and continue the trip. Generally, I ride to Misourri and Kansas area to visit family (again?) there. But depending on how I feel and time, I may swing south to the Virginias and Carolinas. After the midwest, NM, Utah, NV and then home.

OR: I may leave the bike with a brother in Kansas. He loves the W800 and I might just park it with him because he has a huge barn, and he's helped me lots mechanically with cars/motorycles over the years. He would love to enjoy the bike for awhile. In this case, I leave the bike with him kinda "permanently" so that as I slip into retirement I have a bike there that I can use when I visit family. That way, I also reduce the "fleet on hand" to just two bikes as my wife and I downsize to smaller house with likely less garage space.

Anyway, that's the look of things. I'd welcome ideas on routes, "don't miss" places. And I have great flexibility with the route. If you're interested in meeting up, let me know. What might be difficult is to make a definitive plan with someone and say in early spring "I'm gonna meet with you on X date" because things can change en route, but if one's got some flexibility, let's talk.

I'm hopeful of the idea. I feel like I can still do something like this. If I wait another 5 years, who knows. I'm not too concerned about riding "the best bike" for this trip. I more like the idea of using what I got, adapting to the bike's limitations and making it work. The CB1100 is a better long distance traveler for me than the W, but the idea that I could leave the W with my brother who would really appreciate it is a fun thought. But I'm going to do some over night trips on the W in the spring to see what it feels like to ride 10 hours on it 2, 3 days in a row. Maybe that makes me reconsider and with the CB...we'll see!

Let me know what you think. And...if anyone ever visits Oregon and would like to meet up or even needs an overnighter...just let me know. My cat don't bite.

If there are no obstacles*, I may meet you in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia = this is my most favorite long distance trip!!
If all the stars align, you might also meet two other forum members, Alain Lee and GoldOxide!?
IMHO, choosing the CB guarantees a hassle-free trip.
My calendar is already marked around July 4th
* my son is getting married on June 29 and I will have family from Europe at home for about 3 weeks

[Whoops]

We’ve have of course already met, but if you do decide to come through Salt Lake, you’re welcome to use a guest bedroom and park your bike in the garage. You can also do laundry, use our Wi-Fi, etc.

[pdedse]

Whoops, Ferret, PB, thanks for the offers, comments...greatly appreciated! I'll keep it all in mind as the time gets more near and I start defining the route better. PB...the CB does inspire more confidence, and it hums nicer at 75-80, and I might use it if a trial run on the W brings up whispers of worry.

[peterbaron]

Pdedse, hope your plans will materialize..
I was wondering if you'll just be leaving Oregon around July 4th or if you'll already be in the Maine, NB area?
The later you come to Canada, the better chance we will be able to meet due to my son's wedding and family visit.
See post #3*

[pdedse]

Pdedse, hope your plans will materialize..
I was wondering if you'll just be leaving Oregon around July 4th or if you'll already be in the Maine, NB area?
The later you come to Canada, the better chance we will be able to meet due to my son's wedding and family visit.
See post #3*

I noticed the date when I started the thread, Nov 16. Within a week my lower back issues started, I may have mentioned something in another thread. Long story short, MRI shows "severe narrowing of the spinal stenosis". A drawing shows it better than one can explain:


Right before my CR trip, Doc set me up for visit with neurosurgeon day after I get back. She said mc riding wouldn't make it worse, so to use my judgement and keep riding, doing activity that doesn't make it obviously worse. And guess what one activity doesn't bother me at all...yep, motorcycle riding...oh, and swimming. But walking, standing, hard chair, laying down can bring on back pain and make my legs go numb.

So anybody have any "severe narrowing of the stenosis" experiences they care to share? On another forum a rider told me that after surgery and PT, he was as good as new. A PT friend thinks several months of PT could put off surgery for a number of years.

So...yes! Still thinking about the trip, but my likelihood percent went from 90% to...hafta wait till my appt end of this month.

But if it does happen...I would be leaving future in-laws place in upper NY around July 10 with no deadline to arrive anywhere. I'm hopeful, but we'll see.

[peterbaron]

OK, take care of your health, exercise to achieve the best possible regeneration.

[Gone in 60]

I'm in the initial stages of planning a cross country trip from Oregon to "back east" for next summer. Even though I'm leaning towards using my Kawasaki W800 instead of the CB1100 (yet that could change to the CB), I'm reaching out to CB1100 owners because I "know" folks here, and I'd love to meet a few, several, of you on the way there or back. This could be for lunch, then escort me for an hour or two along a local favorite route.

Or, if anyone's willing to offer up a tent space or couch for a night, that would be cool. I love solitude, but I've also done a number of long distance trips and it's great to meet people along the way.

I've always wanted to do an west-east-west trip across the U.S. and the logistics are lining up:

1. I have the time
2. My son's GF, likely future daughter-in-law's parents have invited my wife and me to to visit over July 4, and they live somewhere around Syracuse, NY
3. My sister lives in Cape Cod and wants me to visit as well
4. My soon to be 100 year old mom says don't forget about her (Illinois)

My route east is generally northern U.S. Idaho, MT, ND, Minn, Iowa, Illinois where I visit Mom if she's still with us. Then I'd like to scoot back north and ride left side of Lake Michigan and then back south on the right. Then Ohio, Penn, and NY. Alternatively, I could go OR, ID, UT, CO and then KS where I have a couple brothers, then up to Illinois to visit mom, then the lake thing.

Sometime after the 4th, head for Canada to visit New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. After, back to U.S. to visit my sister in Cape Cod.

And this is likely where I'll take a break. Sister says I can leave the bike there and I fly back to Oregon. Then after Labor Day, I fly back to Cape Cod and continue the trip. Generally, I ride to Misourri and Kansas area to visit family (again?) there. But depending on how I feel and time, I may swing south to the Virginias and Carolinas. After the midwest, NM, Utah, NV and then home.

OR: I may leave the bike with a brother in Kansas. He loves the W800 and I might just park it with him because he has a huge barn, and he's helped me lots mechanically with cars/motorycles over the years. He would love to enjoy the bike for awhile. In this case, I leave the bike with him kinda "permanently" so that as I slip into retirement I have a bike there that I can use when I visit family. That way, I also reduce the "fleet on hand" to just two bikes as my wife and I downsize to smaller house with likely less garage space.

Anyway, that's the look of things. I'd welcome ideas on routes, "don't miss" places. And I have great flexibility with the route. If you're interested in meeting up, let me know. What might be difficult is to make a definitive plan with someone and say in early spring "I'm gonna meet with you on X date" because things can change en route, but if one's got some flexibility, let's talk.

I'm hopeful of the idea. I feel like I can still do something like this. If I wait another 5 years, who knows. I'm not too concerned about riding "the best bike" for this trip. I more like the idea of using what I got, adapting to the bike's limitations and making it work. The CB1100 is a better long distance traveler for me than the W, but the idea that I could leave the W with my brother who would really appreciate it is a fun thought. But I'm going to do some over night trips on the W in the spring to see what it feels like to ride 10 hours on it 2, 3 days in a row. Maybe that makes me reconsider and with the CB...we'll see!

Let me know what you think. And...if anyone ever visits Oregon and would like to meet up or even needs an overnighter...just let me know. My cat don't bite.

I can vouch for Pdedse as a mighty fine house guest! I like the idea of adapting what you’ve got. I’m going through that with my commute right now.