First "Test" Tour on the Raider

Heidi and I just finished a 2+ day, 500 mile test "scoot" on the Raider... and for me... that Star Motorcycle has proven its mettle as a good base for a Touring Motorcycle... and soon to be... with a few more accessories and bits... my Best Touring Motorcycle...

We rode like we like to travel... Let them Iron Butt fellas see how much they can endure... we prefer to go a couple hundred miles a day... stoppin' along the way to smell the roses a bit...

Climbed over Cameron Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, the grade up to the Eisenhower tunnel, and Vail Pass... Rode through the cold and snow on top... and the warm down in the Valleys... hitting too many digits on the speedometer, on Rabbit Ears pass to really "Please" herself... :o) ... and still the fuel Mileage exceeded what Yamaha/Star rates it at... (which I'm assuming is figured on a solo rider)

Both seats... the factory drivers seat... and the Bitchn Stitchn custom passenger seat... proved comfortable for miles and hours, in the saddle.

I was wonderin' how the posture I sit in would "wear"... after riding hours, Splittin' the Wind... and I gotta say... No Complaints... My arms, shoulders back and butt... were just fine... NO... Complaints! ... Sweet! ... so... I'm thinkin' my plans to change out the handle bars for a bit more pullback... are on the back burner... I have an appointment at Bitchn Stitchn to recover the front seat... and add a gel pad...

I'll wait to see how that all rides... before I do anything else with handlebars or such.

The only Black Cloud on the whole trip was a lil' didoe... just north of Walcott. We'd pulled into an "overlook" to watch some people doin' Zip Line traverses... across a lil' canyon... the ground in that overlook was all rough, humped up and badly uneven...

Not sure what exactly happened... but the end result was... my foot slipped and that top heavy Red Beauty... leaned over pretty hard, comin' down on the left drivers peg...

Took me 'bout 10 miles to figure out that it was busted... It got pretty clear... when the sucker fell off! :o)

So... pulling out that fancy Droid "Smartphone" I'm carryin' now... I located a Yamaha Dealer back 50 miles or so, up the Interstate... that offered to sell me a foot peg off a brand new Raider, sitting on their showroom floor.

I suppose for a kid... riding 50 miles or better, with your left foot hangin'... would be no big deal... and it wasnt' for me either... till long about 40 miles... I gotta tell you... that sucker started gettin' heavy! Tryin' to keep it off the pavement, got to be work! :o)

But... the guys at Silverthorne Power Sports took good care of me... Let me buy that peg off their New Bike... and then discounted a shirt 40% to boot! :o) Awesome... So... if you're ever in the Silverthorne area... on a Yamaha... and need some help... give 'em a ring... they might be able to keep you rolling too!

What I did learn from the trip was... My Raider is going to serve me just as superbly as I thought it would... for Motorcycle Touring the way I want to roll... Especially, once I get the Custom Saddle Bag mounts for it completed... and get the Saddle Bags Mounted!...

I'll also be shopping around for a small... to medium sized tail pack... to sit on that tail rack I added a couple weeks ago...

... 'cause... I'm workin' hard at tryin' to get her set up... for a mid summer run (end of July) to... ALASKA!

Suh-Wheet! :o)

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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