My First ADV Ride.....Trinidad 2 Trinidad

[Wikedhd]

T-Minus 8 days till departure
Ok where do I start?? I’m a 43 year old man from southwest La. Born and raised here. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle off road before, This will be a new experience for me. Have ridden Harleys for the last 10 years. But as I see and feel now, this will be a definite learning curve...
A very good friend of mine, 5kadv, has ridden over 250k miles and is promoting a new business that he is thinking about starting. So I guess I am going to be his so called guinea pig...
This all started one drunken evening sitting on a balcony in the French Quarter, with my wife, 5kadv, a friend and a bottle of vodka and Redbull. We all started talking about life and then how they all say I was going thru a mid-life crisis...Which they are probably right.. But that is definitely another story...
So back to the ride. We started looking for a bike to buy. Eventually we found the '08 XR650L. thank goodness I’m 6'2"!!! That is a very tall bike, my Harleys have always been slammed customs! bikes you had to sit down on and not have to climb up on... So i ordered parts, to get the bike up to specs, as per Mr. 5kadv... Ebay really loves me now!! You can see on an earlier thread all the upgrades I did to the bike. So now the riding classes!! I never knew that riding a bike would be such a work out!!!! and I only have 8 more days!!!!
Enough for now, I will be posting everyday till we return from our 5000 mile adventure...
***Trinidad 2 Trinidad***

[Wikedhd]

[Wikedhd]

Originally Posted by Wikedhd

[stevh0]

Looking good!

Give us some more pictures.

Cheers

[Wikedhd]

Originally Posted by stevh0

Looking good!

Give us some more pictures.

Cheers

Hello,
I'm new to this adding pic. So please bear with me
I'm learning how to add pics from my iPhone, I will not have my computer for the ride.

[Wikedhd]

Garmin Zumo 450
Dave's Mod
Uni filter
DG exhaust
Smog delete
Renthal 1 1/8" twinwall bars
Outlaw risers
Aceris 5.8gal tank
Cycra hand guards
ProTaper grips edit
TCI engine, headlight & rear master cyl. guards
Kenda tires
Enduro rear light
New O-ring chain
14 tooth sprocket
MSR shifter
Carbon fiber case protector
Wolfman Expedition duffle, tank & saddle bags
Gussets welded to sub-frame
Spare cables zipped tied

[Wikedhd]

Arai XD3
AlpineStars Tech 7 boots
AlpineStars Gloves, hot & cold
Sedici ACS textile pants
Joe Rocket textile jacket
Klim camelback
BigAgnes tent & pillow
REI sleeping bag
And BIG enuf Balls to jump head first into my
Very first adventure ride. Thanks to my wife (Wikedhdwifey)
& my friend (rtwpaul). Without them it wouldn't be possible!
And Oh yea me having to sale my '51 HD Panhead! ;(;(

[what car??]

Wikedhd,

Questions for ya; where you going? Maybe I missed it, but it didn't mention where you're going. When I first saw the post, I thought you were either from Trinidad/Tobago or from Trinidad, Colorado. Trinidad, Colorado is where I grew up, so where did Trinidad 2 Trinidad come from? Just curious. Have a great ride!!

Oh, on a side note: awesome looking HD. Too bad you're selling it, that would be a bummer to let go of such a cool bike!

[Wikedhd]

Originally Posted by what car??

Wikedhd,

Questions for ya; where you going? Maybe I missed it, but it didn't mention where you're going. When I first saw the post, I thought you were either from Trinidad/Tobago or from Trinidad, Colorado. Trinidad, Colorado is where I grew up, so where did Trinidad 2 Trinidad come from? Just curious. Have a great ride!!

Oh, on a side note: awesome looking HD. Too bad you're selling it, that would be a bummer to let go of such a cool bike!

This is the route, starts in Trinidad, Co and makes a large circle back to Trinidad.....
Trinidad 2 Trinidad.....
We are trailing from Lake Charles, La to Trinidad. Leaving Lake Charles wednesday evening. 945 miles.

[Wikedhd]

Cant do any riding this weekend, Storms rolling thru and trying to finish last minute details on the bike....
Replaced the fuel lines, added carbon fiber case protectors and mounted tank bag.

[srad600]

Originally Posted by what car??

Wikedhd,

Questions for ya; where you going? Maybe I missed it, but it didn't mention where you're going. When I first saw the post, I thought you were either from Trinidad/Tobago or from Trinidad, Colorado. Trinidad, Colorado is where I grew up, so where did Trinidad 2 Trinidad come from? Just curious. Have a great ride!!

Oh, on a side note: awesome looking HD. Too bad you're selling it, that would be a bummer to let go of such a cool bike!

Same here, except I grew up in Trinidad & Tobago and was wondering how the heck you were going to get your bike there from Venezuela...cool report either way.

[Wikedhd]

Originally Posted by srad600

Same here, except I grew up in Trinidad & Tobago and was wondering how the heck you were going to get your bike there from Venezuela...cool report either way.

Wish I was going to Trinidad/Tobago! But that might be later! ;)

[Wikedhd]

Took a ride this evening. Bike did good. Not to bad at 70 mph.
It defentely not a Harley. Try to gt some more seat time tomorrow after work

[elgato gordo]

Speaking of seat time what do you think of the XR seat? You two are going to get real close in the next few weeks. I used to commute about 50 miles a day on my XR and after about 25 miles my butt was asleep. Might consider an aftermarket seat and maybe have it shipped to a stopping point on your trip. Just sayin.

Have a great time and good luck. That XR is bullet proof so you should not have any issues.

[Wikedhd]

Originally Posted by elgato gordo

Speaking of seat time what do you think of the XR seat? You two are going to get real close in the next few weeks. I used to commute about 50 miles a day on my XR and after about 25 miles my butt was asleep. Might consider an aftermarket seat and maybe have it shipped to a stopping point on your trip. Just sayin.

Have a great time and good luck. That XR is bullet proof so you should not have any issues.

Yea, I've heard it's not very comfortable, was thinking about replacing it but looks like I've run out of time.
I'll see how much I can take and decide then.
Thanks for the concern.