TransAmerica Trail -TAT

[Ray Cecil]

I was going to ask to whom we wanted to extend an invitation. On the truck side we could invite those on the Facebook pages. However, we don't know many of those people and don't know how responsible they are. I don't think we want a bunch of cowboys that make a lot of noise and cause problems.

So, how do we figure out who should go? Or, whom we should invite?

Well, lets be realistic for a second. If you got more than 3 or 4 trucks to go, including yourself, Id be surprised. Same on the MC side. Its a big committment time wise. Most guys who can afford the time and cash probably wont be "the rowdy" kind. Although...Gary....I can be a bit rowdy at times. But im 34, and have kids, and a wife, so I aint interested in getting too rowdy.

I think for the first trip, 6 or so trucks, and 6 or so MC riders would be manageable. But I dont think for this first Bull Run we will attract too many participants. Going to need to get through this trip, make a short video, put it on youtube, and expect a larger crowd the 2nd year.

I think the biggest logistical hurdle will be the MC guys getting hours ahead of the truck guys and losing comms.

[Gary Lewis]

Well, lets be realistic for a second. If you got more than 3 or 4 trucks to go, including yourself, Id be surprised. Same on the MC side. Its a big committment time wise. Most guys who can afford the time and cash probably wont be "the rowdy" kind. Although...Gary....I can be a bit rowdy at times. But im 34, and have kids, and a wife, so I aint interested in getting too rowdy.

I think for the first trip, 6 or so trucks, and 6 or so MC riders would be manageable. But I dont think for this first Bull Run we will attract too many participants. Going to need to get through this trip, make a short video, put it on youtube, and expect a larger crowd the 2nd year.

I think the biggest logistical hurdle will be the MC guys getting hours ahead of the truck guys and losing comms.

It is a big time commitment. So I'm thinking we'll have two kinds of people: Those that go the whole way and locals who will do part of the run with us.

Those that go the whole way will probably be well outfitted and may well have more experience than we do. And they'll be riding/driving capable vehicles that don't make a lot of noise 'cause they've learned that noise creates fatigue.

But I think we will attract locals that will ride with us for a while, and they may be the more noisy. We will just have to see how it goes.

Speaking of that, we need to see if we have members along the way.

[Ray Cecil]

It is a big time commitment. So I'm thinking we'll have two kinds of people: Those that go the whole way and locals who will do part of the run with us.

Those that go the whole way will probably be well outfitted and may well have more experience than we do. And they'll be riding/driving capable vehicles that don't make a lot of noise 'cause they've learned that noise creates fatigue.

But I think we will attract locals that will ride with us for a while, and they may be the more noisy. We will just have to see how it goes.

Speaking of that, we need to see if we have members along the way.

Are you worried about noisy vehicles or noise at camp? I have no problem with noise, but I am half your age. I like hearing loud trucks and bikes. So, it wont bother me.

Anyway, the MCs will be long gone most of the day ahead of the trucks. So, we wont be listening to loud trucks anyway.

We will be sort of setting a pace for the trucks to catch up with before night. So, I think fhe first run needs to be at an easy pace, at least the first two days, until we get a feel for it.

Really, the MC guys should plan this trip as though the trucks wont be there. The trucks are for an emergency, and to carry spare fuel, food, water, tools.

We simply wont have a single convoy, the MCs guys wont want to eat dust all day at a snails pace.

[Ray Cecil]

Are you worried about noisy vehicles or noise at camp? I have no problem with noise, but I am half your age. I like hearing loud trucks and bikes. So, it wont bother me.

Anyway, the MCs will be long gone most of the day ahead of the trucks. So, we wont be listening to loud trucks anyway.

We will be sort of setting a pace for the trucks to catch up with before night. So, I think fhe first run needs to be at an easy pace, at least the first two days, until we get a feel for it.

Really, the MC guys should plan this trip as though the trucks wont be there. The trucks are for an emergency, and to carry spare fuel, food, water, tools.

We simply wont have a single convoy, the MCs guys wont want to eat dust all day at a snails pace.

Well, got the tank today. Put it on. Was a pain in the neck. The underside was shaped just enough to make the fit really difficult. I had to wrap a wratchet strap around it to pull it down enough to line up the bolts.

Im kindof debating those graphics now. I like the plain red. Maybe ill put them on though.

[Gary Lewis]

Are you worried about noisy vehicles or noise at camp? I have no problem with noise, but I am half your age. I like hearing loud trucks and bikes. So, it wont bother me.

Anyway, the MCs will be long gone most of the day ahead of the trucks. So, we wont be listening to loud trucks anyway.

We will be sort of setting a pace for the trucks to catch up with before night. So, I think fhe first run needs to be at an easy pace, at least the first two days, until we get a feel for it.

Really, the MC guys should plan this trip as though the trucks wont be there. The trucks are for an emergency, and to carry spare fuel, food, water, tools.

We simply wont have a single convoy, the MCs guys wont want to eat dust all day at a snails pace.

I'm not sure what a "snail's pace" is, but I drove the roads across the Tall Grass Prairie from 30 to 45 in Blue. Not sure what speed I'll want to go in Big Blue, but if I can get the rear suspension softened I should be good for those speeds in him. However, a heavily-sprung rear end will "walk" out on some of the corners so I'll just have to see.

But I understand not wanting to eat dust, so do expect y'all to set your own pace. I'll be along after a bit, relaxed and having enjoyed the A/C in the truck.

As for your bike, I think I'd leave the graphics off for a bit. I kinda like it w/o them, and it is lots easier to put them on than take them off.

[Nothing Special]

I'm not sure what a "snail's pace" is, but I drove the roads across the Tall Grass Prairie from 30 to 45 in Blue. Not sure what speed I'll want to go in Big Blue, but if I can get the rear suspension softened I should be good for those speeds in him. However, a heavily-sprung rear end will "walk" out on some of the corners so I'll just have to see.

But I understand not wanting to eat dust, so do expect y'all to set your own pace. I'll be along after a bit, relaxed and having enjoyed the A/C in the truck.

As for your bike, I think I'd leave the graphics off for a bit. I kinda like it w/o them, and it is lots easier to put them on than take them off.

It reminds me of a day at my folks cabin when I was in my mid 20s. I had a beater '75 Jeep CJ5, an '81 Yamaha IT-125 (little 2 stroke enduro) and a '74 Kawasaki F11A (bigger 2 stroke enduro, 250 cc). I had a couple of friends with me, one of whom rode a street bike, the other had occasionally ridden mini bikes when he was a kid. The three of us were bombing around on gravel 2-lane roads, switching off who was driving / riding what. No matter what I was on I was the fastest. In the Jeep I could barely pull away from both of the bikes, but if I was on either bike I'd lose the Jeep and the other bike in no time.

Neither of them were used to drifting a motorcycle in a turn, so they couldn't outrun the Jeep. But for me, who was used to riding bikes in the dirt, the Jeep was running at a snail's pace. There's just no comparison between what even an old, clapped out dirt bike like that '74 Kaw, or an underpowered dirt bike like that 125 Yamaha can do on dirt roads vs a truck.

[Ray Cecil]

I'm not sure what a "snail's pace" is, but I drove the roads across the Tall Grass Prairie from 30 to 45 in Blue. Not sure what speed I'll want to go in Big Blue, but if I can get the rear suspension softened I should be good for those speeds in him. However, a heavily-sprung rear end will "walk" out on some of the corners so I'll just have to see.

But I understand not wanting to eat dust, so do expect y'all to set your own pace. I'll be along after a bit, relaxed and having enjoyed the A/C in the truck.

As for your bike, I think I'd leave the graphics off for a bit. I kinda like it w/o them, and it is lots easier to put them on than take them off.

Well...im no ace on a MC, but I dont think any of the 4x4s will keep pace when the roads get rough. Tall Grass Prairie gravel roads arent rough. I think the first couple days we will be able to stay within a couple or few miles of each other. But once we hit the technical stuff, and we can slide past oncoming traffic, and the trucks might have to stop completely and back up at times....we will be at the pub long before you get there....I do plan to hit a few pubs in towns when we stop for fuel in the evenings. Aint nothing like a cold brew fresh from the tap after a long hot day of riding.

Graphics or not...tis the question....I think I'll ride without em for awhile.

Question about MC carb jets. I get mixed opinions online about drilling jets. I have yet to see a drawing or schematic explaining the ID of a jet. Some say they are bored, some say they are beveled and have a venturi effect.

I need to move up a size. Id like to try drilling, I bet Gary, Bill, Jim and Dave know something about that. Edumacate me.

[grumpin]

Well...im no ace on a MC, but I dont think any of the 4x4s will keep pace when the roads get rough. Tall Grass Prairie gravel roads arent rough. I think the first couple days we will be able to stay within a couple or few miles of each other. But once we hit the technical stuff, and we can slide past oncoming traffic, and the trucks might have to stop completely and back up at times....we will be at the pub long before you get there....I do plan to hit a few pubs in towns when we stop for fuel in the evenings. Aint nothing like a cold brew fresh from the tap after a long hot day of riding.

Graphics or not...tis the question....I think I'll ride without em for awhile.

Question about MC carb jets. I get mixed opinions online about drilling jets. I have yet to see a drawing or schematic explaining the ID of a jet. Some say they are bored, some say they are beveled and have a venturi effect.

I need to move up a size. Id like to try drilling, I bet Gary, Bill, Jim and Dave know something about that. Edumacate me.

I wouldn’t drill it.

I would get several sizes up and down from what you have in there and take them on the trip.

 

[Gary Lewis]

I wouldn’t drill it.

I would get several sizes up and down from what you have in there and take them on the trip.

I agree - don't drill the jets. Buy them. Years ago I was planning on drilling jets and someone pointed out a Holley jet chart which showed the diameter of the hole in the jet. And in several cases two jets with different #'s have the same hole diameter. Apparently the difference on those is in the taper going into and coming out of the hole.

I can't say that Honda jets are the same, but jets aren't expensive and I seriously doubt you can drill them and get accurate results. However, if you decide to drill them you'll need a set of numbered drill bits.

As for speed, there will certainly be big differences in rough sections. Plus, I'm a grandpa and won't be trying to push things. I'm out to have fun and see what there is to see. So I'll come along at my own pace and pick up the pieces.

[Ray Cecil]

I agree - don't drill the jets. Buy them. Years ago I was planning on drilling jets and someone pointed out a Holley jet chart which showed the diameter of the hole in the jet. And in several cases two jets with different #'s have the same hole diameter. Apparently the difference on those is in the taper going into and coming out of the hole.

I can't say that Honda jets are the same, but jets aren't expensive and I seriously doubt you can drill them and get accurate results. However, if you decide to drill them you'll need a set of numbered drill bits.

As for speed, there will certainly be big differences in rough sections. Plus, I'm a grandpa and won't be trying to push things. I'm out to have fun and see what there is to see. So I'll come along at my own pace and pick up the pieces.

Yeah, I thought about it. I bought a set of mains. For now I put the factory muffler baffle back in, and using the stock air filter. Its waaaaay too lean with baffle out and UNI foam air filter.

If I dont drill, I still have my stock 150 main jet in case I need to lean it out at higher elevations. Jet kit come with 152, 155, 158, 160 and I think a 162. I doubt I will need larger than 158.