Tanooki
07-26-2009, 10:43 PM
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0385.jpg
So today was my first "Long Ride" on the new bike. I hadn't been any long distances aside from the ride back from the dealer on the freeway. So I decided to make the loop from Provo, Utah south through Payson Canyon, Nebo Loop, and back through Nephi, Utah. Round trip is about 130 miles? I went just with my friend on his 09 R6 (his first bike) and myself. My wife wanted to sit this one out.
The trip started going out going south on I-15 taking the first Payson exit. We got off and headed East down main where we would eventually enter the mouth of the canyon. The road starts out as more of a rural road with houses scattered here and there, but then you pass the "Uinta National Forest" sign and you are instantly in the wilderness. The Nebo Loop and mouth of Payson Canyon is only 20 minutes south from my home so it really isn't far, but is far enough that it doesn't get very congested. The route has many twisties, a nice wide road, and tons of scenery including a few lakes. The road climes to around 9500 ft and twists back down. The roads are well maintained with some gravel and a few cows here and there, but you can move fast or slow through the entire route. It was good because my friend is a beginner and needed something with some challenging sections that he could take at his own pace. It was also nice being able to open up the bike a little.
As for my learning on the bike:
1. ESA is really cool. I could set the comfort specs for the freeway and sport for the rest.
2. I keep thinking its a touring bike, but getting on it a bit today and shifting it side to side really made me realize its a lot more of a sport bike than just a touring bike. The long wheel base really didn't take that much away from the ride for me.
3. The bike feels great after about 8k rpms? I wasn't watching the tac but I am pretty sure that's where the power band really stepped up.
4. My bike is way better than that 09 R1 I just sold!
well enough talk, here are some pics!
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0321-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0323.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0326.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0327.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0342-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0349.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0350-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0373-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0377.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0378.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0380.jpg
So today was my first "Long Ride" on the new bike. I hadn't been any long distances aside from the ride back from the dealer on the freeway. So I decided to make the loop from Provo, Utah south through Payson Canyon, Nebo Loop, and back through Nephi, Utah. Round trip is about 130 miles? I went just with my friend on his 09 R6 (his first bike) and myself. My wife wanted to sit this one out.
The trip started going out going south on I-15 taking the first Payson exit. We got off and headed East down main where we would eventually enter the mouth of the canyon. The road starts out as more of a rural road with houses scattered here and there, but then you pass the "Uinta National Forest" sign and you are instantly in the wilderness. The Nebo Loop and mouth of Payson Canyon is only 20 minutes south from my home so it really isn't far, but is far enough that it doesn't get very congested. The route has many twisties, a nice wide road, and tons of scenery including a few lakes. The road climes to around 9500 ft and twists back down. The roads are well maintained with some gravel and a few cows here and there, but you can move fast or slow through the entire route. It was good because my friend is a beginner and needed something with some challenging sections that he could take at his own pace. It was also nice being able to open up the bike a little.
As for my learning on the bike:
1. ESA is really cool. I could set the comfort specs for the freeway and sport for the rest.
2. I keep thinking its a touring bike, but getting on it a bit today and shifting it side to side really made me realize its a lot more of a sport bike than just a touring bike. The long wheel base really didn't take that much away from the ride for me.
3. The bike feels great after about 8k rpms? I wasn't watching the tac but I am pretty sure that's where the power band really stepped up.
4. My bike is way better than that 09 R1 I just sold!
well enough talk, here are some pics!
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0321-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0323.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0326.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0327.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0342-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0349.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0350-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0373-1.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0377.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0378.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt312/1984Corolla/DSC_0380.jpg