Steve and Jims adventure?

[Randolph Peters]

Hey guys,
Although largely a lurker, I enjoyed reading your accounts of trips made this summer and the photos (Cinci, etc.) that y'all shared.
I also did a long ride two weeks ago: New Orleans to Fort Lauderdale, about 800 miles on the ZZR 1200. Split into two 400-mile days both ways.th
Had to do business there so I decided that it was time for a long run.  Strapped on a pair of humongous Givi monokeys. (those thinks stick out there so much that it;s like turning a pickup into a duallie) and a tank bag.
The ZZR is not as smooth as the GPZ. You have to be doing 90 plus to achieve comparable silkiness and then above 110 it becomes a hooligan again.
I took the super slab, I-10, I-75, Florida turnpike, so there were no rewarding sightseeing stuff or interesting landscapes (except perhaps the rolling hills? hillocks? of the first 30  miles of the FL turnpike going South) so there are no photos to post.
It was strictly man and machine, tarmac and lurking cops, focus and reverie/introspection. 
So as a strictly riding experience here are some issues that may interest listers:
Convertibars rock! That added height and with a d.i.y customizing of the notorious ZZR seat (add a gel pad and additional foam in the butt area, then staple/hand sew another vinyl seat covering over the original) resulted in surprising lack of back or butt aches at the end of the day for this sixty-plus rider.
However, the back of the thighs from the butt six inches down, by the end of the day was literally on fire! Most of the day it was around 95 degrees and I was wearing jeans.  
For the return trip, I bought a pair of out of season fleece pants and changed to boxers. That helped, but only a little.
WHAT ARE THE REMEDIES FOR THIS AFFLICTION AMONG LISTERS? does talcum powder help? ice at the end of the day?
Secondly, if you are not averse to riding in the rain, get a Triumph rain suit.  This is the best of several I've tried. It's a one-piece that zips up funny (you start at the ankles and zip up to the neck) but boy, I rode in tropical storm weather - black sky, Niagara rain, lane-change  winds - from Orlando to Ocares on the way back and the only discomfort was soaked gloves. They cost about $100 and are available online.
IS IT AN ILLUSION OR IS VISIBILITY IN THIS TYPE OF WEATHER REALLY BETTER ON THE BIKE THAN IN A CAR?
Lastly, has anyone found a pair of Ipod head phones that can stay in place when a helmet is pulled on? Music would have certainly been an improvement on my ear plugs.
Thanks for your patience if you have read this far.
And thanks for continuing to give me access to this great list.
Randy in New Orleans.
----- Original Message ----
From: Rob Schwartz <coldinvt at gmavt.net>
To: Kawasaki GPZ1100 discussion <gpzlist at micapeak.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 1:02:34 PM
Subject: RE: Steve and Jims adventure?

Feckin' sweet!!  Good luck with the rest of your epic ride!!

Michelle & I just completed ~700 miles over 5 days on the FJR Garmin-chasing around VT, NH, ME, VT, NY, VT, MA & VT.  Great stuff, mostly, but I recommend against riding in NH until they invest in some repaving!  Roads that could have been worth the trip on their own were downright awful.  I swear that state needs to start charging a sales tax.

-Rob


-----Original Message-----
From: blackgpz at rochester.rr.com [mailto:blackgpz at rochester.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:11 PM
To: dominatr37
Cc: Kawasaki GPZ1100 discussion
Subject: Re: Steve and Jims adventure?


Greetings from Newfoundland! We completed our traverse of the the Trans-Lab Hiway without incident, nobody crashed no flats no nothing (knock wood). Took the overnight ferry from Goose Bay to Cartwright yesterday and rode to Blanc Sablon where we took another ferry across to Newfoundland last night. Rode around "the rock" today, main highlight was the Norse settlement where they believe Lief Erikson landed. Tomorrow we will spend more time on the Viking Trail and catch a late night ferry to Nova Scotia where we will ride the Cabot trail and head into ne Brunswick. All the bikes are running great and I'm liking the KLR more and more each day. It's quite a workhorse. Wish us luck with the rest of our trip!

Steve
---- dominatr37 <dominatr37 at optonline.net> wrote: 
> Anyone hear from Steve or Mason yet ?
> 
> 
> Ralph L. Angelo Jr.
> Author of "Help! they're all out to get me!
> The motorcyclists guide to surviving the everyday world."
> ISBN# 1-4137-6187-9
> http://helptheyreallouttogetme.com
> Check out 
> LIMELongriders NEW site; 
> http://LIMELongriders.info