G19Tony
Well-known member
First big trip on the CT. 181 miles total. The last fuel bar had been flashing for a couple of miles, as I pulled into the gas station in Overton. I didn't note how much I put in, but my starting and ending mileage worked out to 110 miles. I began the day with a full tank. The morning started off cold, so I was running my heated jacket and gloves. Plugged into the SAE connector with an adapter. When I shut the bike off for a restroom break, I noted the voltmeter at 9.8. When I turned on the key, I got the pinball effect on the speedo, so I used the Auxiliary Starting Device (ASD),
and it started first kick. The rest of the day was normal ops with the Primary Starting Device. Takeaway from that was, don't run heated gear.
I rode Northshore road around Lake Mead to Overton. I was able to try out my Military ID on the Ranger at the Fee Booth. She looked at my ID, and gave me a Military NP Pass. Thank you President Trump.
The dirt road where I had the battery issue was Boxcar Cove Road. I just went down it to see how close I could get to the lake. I got pretty close, a few folks camping. I turned around and headed back to the main road.
My next stop was Stewart's Point, where again, I got right down to the lake. This would be a good moto camping spot. There were also trailers there, with people camping. This was also where I started taking pictures. I had 3 GoPro's on the bike. Once I figure out how to download them, I might have some video, but I don't think it will be that interesting. I'm a total NoObassnoOb at this.
I went down another dirt road to St. Thomas, a Mormon settlement that was covered by the lake. The drought has caused some of the foundations to surface. I wasn't equipped for hiking, so didn't make the 2.5 mile loop. You can tell the lake was there, but you can't even see the water now.
The next stop was a run through Valley of Fire. Always neat to see. It was fairly crowded. The Fee Booth was closed, so I had to use the envelope. The fee is $10. I owe the state two bucks.
From there I buzzed into Overton. I passed a UP train sitting at a siding loading gypsum. I thought that that would be a cool photo op, when I came back through. I heard him blow the horn for departure while I was at the gas station, and he was gone when I went back through. I stopped at a popular pullout called Redstone. The NPS is pretty good about putting latrines at most stops along the road. I pulled in, and was immediately set upon by 3 guys on Harley's and a dude on a Tenere asking about the CT. We had a pleasant conversation, then I made my way home.
Aside from the battery issue, the bike ran great, all the pouches stayed on and nothing else fell off. I'm not that good on the dirt, so I took it slow. I didn't bottom any suspension out, so I'll probably leave it alone. I'm not an agressive rider. Next event is an oil change and magnetic drain plug install. If you've stayed with me this far. Well done.
I rode Northshore road around Lake Mead to Overton. I was able to try out my Military ID on the Ranger at the Fee Booth. She looked at my ID, and gave me a Military NP Pass. Thank you President Trump.
My next stop was Stewart's Point, where again, I got right down to the lake. This would be a good moto camping spot. There were also trailers there, with people camping. This was also where I started taking pictures. I had 3 GoPro's on the bike. Once I figure out how to download them, I might have some video, but I don't think it will be that interesting. I'm a total NoObassnoOb at this.
I went down another dirt road to St. Thomas, a Mormon settlement that was covered by the lake. The drought has caused some of the foundations to surface. I wasn't equipped for hiking, so didn't make the 2.5 mile loop. You can tell the lake was there, but you can't even see the water now.
The next stop was a run through Valley of Fire. Always neat to see. It was fairly crowded. The Fee Booth was closed, so I had to use the envelope. The fee is $10. I owe the state two bucks.
From there I buzzed into Overton. I passed a UP train sitting at a siding loading gypsum. I thought that that would be a cool photo op, when I came back through. I heard him blow the horn for departure while I was at the gas station, and he was gone when I went back through. I stopped at a popular pullout called Redstone. The NPS is pretty good about putting latrines at most stops along the road. I pulled in, and was immediately set upon by 3 guys on Harley's and a dude on a Tenere asking about the CT. We had a pleasant conversation, then I made my way home.
Aside from the battery issue, the bike ran great, all the pouches stayed on and nothing else fell off. I'm not that good on the dirt, so I took it slow. I didn't bottom any suspension out, so I'll probably leave it alone. I'm not an agressive rider. Next event is an oil change and magnetic drain plug install. If you've stayed with me this far. Well done.
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