Axman88 wrote on Yesterday at 07:59:36:[color=#0000ff]
I'm also skeptical that there exists any place in the USA that can only be reached by superslab, other than the rest stops on the expressways. It may be a lot easier and simpler to go that way, but is it really the ONLY road?
There certainly are times/places where the Superslap is the only "reasonable" option....or when it becomes a necessity.
MMRanch will remember the time he rode his Savage and met me at the Kickstand Lodge in Stecoah, NC for a few days of riding. The morning after his arrival we discovered the rear pulley teeth were worn to a knife edge, and we knew it was not going to last 4 days of riding in the mountains. We left around 9AM and took a nice relaxing back road trip to his house so we could trade the Savage for his Moto Guzzi. It was around 4PM when we got to his house - if we returned to the campground using the same route....we would not get back until 10PM! So as much as we hated to - we took the highways including a ride through Chattanooga.
And when we are riding in the mountains of TN/NC/GA and want to go explore published rides that are not near the campground - we often will take the back road scenic route to get to loop....then take the highway home so we can get back before it gets dark and the deer start running around. MMRanch, my neighbor Bruce and I had that occur last year when we rode the Rattler. The ride out was nice - then as we got to the beginning of the Rattler the rain started, and unfortunately it never let up. The rain caused us to ride the route much slower than normal, and at 8PM we realized we were cold, wet and a long way from the campground. We told the GPS to take us home the quickest route...and even on the 4 lane highway it took us 90 minutes to get back to a warm shower. If we had taken back roads home we likely would not have arrived before midnight! (Unfortunately MM and I sometimes ride too far away from camp and get home much later than we would like...sometimes it is just too fun to stop).
I do enjoy a small motorcycle for my local rides and where I have infinite control over the roads and can pick and choose where I ride. When I am riding in places far from home where I am not familiar with the area - I want a bike that can get me home at highway speeds when needed.....and I want a bike that can do it comfortably at half throttle!
Having a "capable" bike doesn't mean you have to buy something exotic or expensive. A stock Savage can do a decent job and my little 250 Ninja could go anywhere. MMRanch's Royal Enfield 350 Meteor was really comfortable to ride - however the engine was just a bit shy of the needed power provided by the factory (in my opinion)....and evidently MM felt the same as he changed the cam, exhaust, air cleaner and was considering a piston/cylinder upgrade.
I just want folks to consider that it may be necessary to ride on a highway now and then and maintain a steady 60-70mph - they should consider that when choosing a motorcycle.
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