Cat Herders: Shenandoah Valley Inmates

[ONandOFF]

Originally Posted by scott P

Hi everybody ! Mary P. Here. Scott is in the basement and not paying attention to me and left his account up so I hijacked it. ...

Awesome! Looks like you've got some practice at this.

[Skippii]

I'm going out to the west in July for a friends wedding in Las Vegas.

Thinking about taking a month off work and buying a new KLX or DRZ or CRF and doing the TAT to get there.
Otherwise fly out and spend the money on some of the shows and the like.
Opinions?

[Raven457]

Originally Posted by valongbeard

I am sure you could connect with some stickers here, but it might come at a pretty high cost. . .

I ain't skurred... Much. :screwy:

[XC Rider]

Originally Posted by Skippii

I'm going out to the west in July for a friends wedding in Las Vegas.

Thinking about taking a month off work and buying a new KLX or DRZ or CRF and doing the TAT to get there.
Otherwise fly out and spend the money on some of the shows and the like.
Opinions?

Buy a bike & ride it out! Do you really have to ask!?!?!?

I think the DRZ will be the most suited out the the three to be somewhat loaded up for a several week long trip. I haven't personally owned a KLX (I'm guessing you're talking about the 250) or a CRF (I'm guessing you're talking about the 230), but I've seen them around, and while they're great bikes, I don't think that the subframes on them are as beefy as the on the DRZ; then of course the the displacement difference. But then again, I may be wrong; maybe some KLX & CRF owners can chime in on how suited those bikes would be for a trip like the TAT.

Either way you go though, I think you NEED to buy a bike and ride out there on the TAT; trust me, you won't regret that decision!

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by XC Rider

Buy a bike & ride it out! Do you really have to ask!?!?!?

I suppose it's more an issue of, "Is this the right time to do it?" Asking you all about this is, admittedly, rather silly. But I'd still like some perspective on some of the things like:
How close does the TAT go to Vegas? How easy is it to stay on schedule? Getting delayed and missing the wedding isn't an acceptable option, so I'm honestly right now leaning towards the safe and simple plane ticket.
On the other hand, there's a limit to how much time I can take off work and expect to have a job when I return. That would mean doing the TAT next year, when I'll have more time to plan, more money to spare, and more time to do actually do it.

I think the DRZ will be the most suited out the the three to be somewhat loaded up for a several week long trip. I haven't personally owned a KLX (I'm guessing you're talking about the 250) or a CRF (I'm guessing you're talking about the 230),

I was actually thinking about the new street-legal, water cooled, fuel injected CRF250L. It's the cheapest of the bunch but the reviews I've read have been very positive. I will admit that for something like the TAT, I believe that simple is better - I like carbs and air cooled bikes. I rode up Union Springs a few years ago with a guy on a KLX400 or whatever those DRZs that Kawasaki painted green were called, and after watching him catch his radiator on a rock and start spitting green fluid, I told myself that radiators don't belong on light dual sports - even though all the ones I just listed are liquid cooled. But anyway, choosing a bike isn't really the point here - I'm just saying that with all the hours I've been getting in my job (Just over one year of full time employment in my career! ), Purchasing a bike with a warranty is a possibility. At any rate, I'd be doing it on an appropriate bike, and not one with antique plates.

Either way you go though, I think you NEED to buy a bike and ride out there on the TAT; trust me, you won't regret that decision!

I've been telling myself that for a few years. I don't want to put it off, but I'm not sure that this is the year to do it.
Keep in mind I'm also pretty rusty off road. I did the Shen500, Cat Herders, and Laurel fork last year. That's about 5 or 6 days of riding dirt in the last two years. (Man, I miss the Shenandoah Valley) and I don't see myself getting a lot of experience in in the next few months.
I don't want to make excuses to put this off, but I do have concerns. On the other hand, I'm getting older and I'd rather do this before I get actual responsibilities in life.

So, I'm basically just looking for some tough, honest opinions: This opportunity has presented itself, but is this the right one?

[Skippii]

Taking the Ninja is, of course, also an option, but for all the thrilling time I'll be spending on I-40 through states like Oklahoma, I'd probably be thinking how I could be watching Cirque du Solei or Penn & Teller or something.

[LadyDraco]

Skippii.... There are OTHER ways to get across the country..
Like the Blue Highways .... That are really cool...
And well might not lead ya to missing the Wedding..
As the TAT could..
And well with your luck or lac of..
You might want to consider ..

Good seeing ya post...It's been a while...

[LadyDraco]

Originally Posted by valongbeard

I am sure you could connect with some stickers here, but it might come at a pretty high cost. . .




I love u man!

The things guys have to do to get stickers !!!
Us gals have it much easier

[H14]

Everybody go to bed and quit quoting those pictures.

[hppyfngy]

Shit son, fly out, buy a bike and TAT it home.

Problem solved.

(Reading Blue Highways right now LD. )

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by Skippii

I was actually thinking about the new street-legal, water cooled, fuel injected CRF250L. It's the cheapest of the bunch but the reviews I've read have been very positive. I will admit that for something like the TAT, I believe that simple is better - I like carbs and air cooled bikes. opportunity has presented itself, but is this the right one?

fuel injected and liquid cooled is exactly what you want for the TAT, get the Honda.

[LadyDraco]

Originally Posted by hppyfngy

Shit son, fly out, buy a bike and TAT it home.

Problem solved.

(Reading Blue Highways right now LD. )

HB read it back in 83 ?? And I thumbed through it a few times then too..
When we lived in OK...

[B.E. Coyote]

Skippi,

I'm working on my TAT maps right now. Looks like Vegas is about 250 miles south of the closest part of the TAT.

July is a great time to do it cause all the high passes in Colorado should be open. The heat will suck though on other parts of the ride.

[eddie bolted]

Originally Posted by WayneJ

Ya gotta know the right Bastards to get those Bastard stickers.

Hell,it took me 2 years to get a sticker and i am a BASTARD!!!!!

[eddie bolted]

Originally Posted by cyclingtom

Yep. Those stickers are hard to come by.

Now that i'm looking at that picture i realize that this was the last time we heard from that guy (JOHN)!