Lemon Heights, CA to Cressey, CA – 330 miles
Bike packed and ready. Everything tested good on the garage lift and on minor rides around town. This is the V-Strom #2’s shake down cruise.
I’m carrying the Continental TKC80 Twinduro Dual Sport rear and front tires. This is a heavy load for the bike! But I have loaded an identical VStrom with the same load before.
First day’s goal is Cressey, CA, 20 miles north of Merced. This is the central San Joaquin Valley ranch where I grew up. Left Tustin at ~9:00 AM. My SoCal escape route (to avoid downtown LA traffic) is 22 west to the 57 north to 210 west to I-5 (Sylmar). Then I-5 north over the Grapevine to the 99 north to Atwater, north to Winton then along the Santa Fe Drive to Cressey. Bike and load rode and handled well at freeway speeds. However at slow speeds going into gas stations, the handle bar has a loosey-goosey, wobbly feel. At one pull off, the front end went into a mini tank slapper. This is not good!
Marlene, Dad & Dean
Dad just turned 90 this week.
Recent Comments