deacon
07-05-2011, 02:24 PM
Ok, let me start by giving you some basics about our ride:
me: 250 lbs (I'm not fat, just under tall) yeah ::)
Son: 6'2" 200 lbs (he doesn't suffer my plight)
gear: about 60 lbs
GYTT: 35 psi (new tire)
2006 Nomad, Mustang seat
My son plans to enlist in the Air Force after graduation next year, so this was a chance to create some memories http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif. We left Friday morning to travel up the coast of Maine. The tire ran well at 50+ mph. The roads were ok/good. I found I was bottoming out frequently and didn't have a pump to check or add air to the shocks. We spent the night in Bar Harbor. Harley rider at the motel had a pump but I wasn't sure how much to put in, I thought I had read that the max psi was ten ::). There was only five psi in each shock. I brought it up to seven ::). ( I now have a pump and 30 psi in each shock). Rode up Cadillac Mt. Saturday morning. Some tight corners riding up and down the mountain. Spent Saturday riding mostly route one up the coast, not very good road. My brother-in-law wanted to add air with a pump at the gas station but I said I would wait, although I was tempted, my back was taking a beating! Up around Ft. Kent (about as far north as you can go) the roads were crap! Cracks (which the GYTT liked to follow) heaves in the road, even a section that was shaped like a "W" (more curvy then pointed) in both lanes. The GYTT did NOT like riding on that, I was swerving back and forth trying to control the bike! Sunday afternoon we rode 225 miles in the rain, I didn't notice any difference in how the bike handled the wet road. Monday we rode to the Rangley lake area. Beautiful country, nasty roads. We rode RT 2 west, then RT 17. Route 17 had some magnificent views, but the worst road I have ever driven! We were in first gear diving back and forth trying to avoid the worst parts of the road (remember I only had seven pounds in my shocks). For a tourist area one would think the roads would be in better shape. From there the ride home was very nice, all good roads in northern NH. I reduced the air pressure in GYTT to 33 psi today, I haven't ridden much since then but it seems a little better handling. I was reasonably comfortable on the Mustang seat, some butt burn but not any worse then I expected for so much saddle time. My son found the rider pillion to be a real pain for him, I had a couple on sheepskin pads that he used along with tylenol. All was good except the shocks and the rain on Sunday.
me: 250 lbs (I'm not fat, just under tall) yeah ::)
Son: 6'2" 200 lbs (he doesn't suffer my plight)
gear: about 60 lbs
GYTT: 35 psi (new tire)
2006 Nomad, Mustang seat
My son plans to enlist in the Air Force after graduation next year, so this was a chance to create some memories http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif. We left Friday morning to travel up the coast of Maine. The tire ran well at 50+ mph. The roads were ok/good. I found I was bottoming out frequently and didn't have a pump to check or add air to the shocks. We spent the night in Bar Harbor. Harley rider at the motel had a pump but I wasn't sure how much to put in, I thought I had read that the max psi was ten ::). There was only five psi in each shock. I brought it up to seven ::). ( I now have a pump and 30 psi in each shock). Rode up Cadillac Mt. Saturday morning. Some tight corners riding up and down the mountain. Spent Saturday riding mostly route one up the coast, not very good road. My brother-in-law wanted to add air with a pump at the gas station but I said I would wait, although I was tempted, my back was taking a beating! Up around Ft. Kent (about as far north as you can go) the roads were crap! Cracks (which the GYTT liked to follow) heaves in the road, even a section that was shaped like a "W" (more curvy then pointed) in both lanes. The GYTT did NOT like riding on that, I was swerving back and forth trying to control the bike! Sunday afternoon we rode 225 miles in the rain, I didn't notice any difference in how the bike handled the wet road. Monday we rode to the Rangley lake area. Beautiful country, nasty roads. We rode RT 2 west, then RT 17. Route 17 had some magnificent views, but the worst road I have ever driven! We were in first gear diving back and forth trying to avoid the worst parts of the road (remember I only had seven pounds in my shocks). For a tourist area one would think the roads would be in better shape. From there the ride home was very nice, all good roads in northern NH. I reduced the air pressure in GYTT to 33 psi today, I haven't ridden much since then but it seems a little better handling. I was reasonably comfortable on the Mustang seat, some butt burn but not any worse then I expected for so much saddle time. My son found the rider pillion to be a real pain for him, I had a couple on sheepskin pads that he used along with tylenol. All was good except the shocks and the rain on Sunday.