Any suggestions

[paperlady]

We are taking a motorcycle adventure from Northern Mo to San Diego Ca.
I ride a 2006 Suzuki C50T. We are planning to go through Colorado, down Utah, Nevada, and California. Is there anything I should do extra to my bike to go through the mountains and desert (besides new tires and an oil change.)

[Kodatech]

Make sure ALL of the fluids are full. Coolant, brake fluid, final drive fluid...not JUST the oil. Check the condition as well....is the fluid dirty and in need of flushing?

Check the condition of the tires...Not just the tread...Check for dry rot, cracks, missing wheel weights.

Put the bike up on a lift and check wheel bearings, steering head bearings and all nuts and bolts for proper torque. Maybe its paranoia, but it wouldnt be a bad Idea to take along a small tool kit and a few spark plugs....

Have fun.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Kodatech

Make sure ALL of the fluids are full.

Excellent advice!

Also be sure you know where the air cleaner is and how to clean it.
Your route may take you through some dusty conditions where you should check/clean it each day.

And do NOT ride in a dust storm. No matter how much you think YOU are OK, the sand blast will do all kinds of nasty things to the bike.

[tbone57]

All great advice. I highly suggest taking hwy. 36 through MO and Kansas to Denver. It is great roads, easy riding and easy stops. I take this route every year. Interstate 70 and 80 are just 30 miles away if you like that type of speedway, but too much stress and not as much fun as the Pony Express Hwy. through Kansas. Once at Denver area, you will have to decide on Hwy. 70 through mountains or cutting across via Colorado Springs area on hwy. 50 through the mountains and monarch pass (breath-taking) to Montrose, CO. I've taken both, and they are both breath-taking. Be prepared for temps in the fortys at the tops and 80's - 90's in the valleys. My bike was flawless, but keep the tank topped off, as you will loose about 10mpg through the rockies. Colorado Springs and Denver are both major messes to travel through or around on a bike.

[diamond_jim]

Originally Posted by tbone57

All great advice. I highly suggest taking hwy. 36 through MO and Kansas to Denver. It is great roads, easy riding and easy stops. I take this route every year. Interstate 70 and 80 are just 30 miles away if you like that type of speedway, but too much stress and not as much fun as the Pony Express Hwy. through Kansas. Once at Denver area, you will have to decide on Hwy. 70 through mountains or cutting across via Colorado Springs area on hwy. 50 through the mountains and monarch pass (breath-taking) to Montrose, CO. I've taken both, and they are both breath-taking. Be prepared for temps in the fortys at the tops and 80's - 90's in the valleys. My bike was flawless, but keep the tank topped off, as you will loose about 10mpg through the rockies. Colorado Springs and Denver are both major messes to travel through or around on a bike.

Great post. That's the kind of info that makes this site so great. BTW, Tbone, is that a passenger footpeg below the bottom exhaust where the header and muffler connect?

[tbone57]

If you look in the Volusia c50 Getaway log and search for "Need urgent Seat Help", I'm the 15th post with better pictures. I've built and added these foot rest for the driver to shift positions during a long hall. You wouldn't believe how much these help the back and butt on a long trip. Wouldn't be without them now. Thanks for asking!

[paperlady]

Thanks for the info---one more question. My friend is concerned that my C50T will beat me up through long hauls because of the 2 cylinder motor. (on weekends we ride 4 hours a day and it doesn't bother me.) Should I be looking for a bigger bike for this trip?

[tbone57]

No way, that bike is great for the long hall and I drive 10-12 hour days without a problem.
I usually cruise at 60-70 mph and get 52-55 mpg flat ground. Sounds like your friend may be more jealous than concerned. Bigger cc's isn't always better, and your bike is one that makes many jealous for what is does as a complete package. One thing I added that helps for the long haul is the vista cruise control for about $25, easy to install.

[tallannie]

I agree this is silly...dont worry about a bigger bike...LOL.

Personally I find ANY seat hard to take for long miles.. so I would carry an AirHawk or gel pad or something to change the pressure points occasionally on the ride.

Originally Posted by paperlady

Thanks for the info---one more question. My friend is concerned that my C50T will beat me up through long hauls because of the 2 cylinder motor. (on weekends we ride 4 hours a day and it doesn't bother me.) Should I be looking for a bigger bike for this trip?

[diamond_jim]

Originally Posted by tbone57

No way, that bike is great for the long hall and I drive 10-12 hour days without a problem.
I usually cruise at 60-70 mph and get 52-55 mpg flat ground. Sounds like your friend may be more jealous than concerned. Bigger cc's isn't always better, and your bike is one that makes many jealous for what is does as a complete package. One thing I added that helps for the long haul is the vista cruise control for about $25, easy to install.

25 years ago, people were making the same trip, at highway speed and loaded up, on a Suzuki GS450. And they may have been asking the same questions you are about bigger engine CCs. I used to have a Yamaha Virago 535 (predecessor to the V-Star 650). That bike did everything, including 1,000 mile jaunts across the county. Several times. With a big heavy duffel bag on the back.

Your bike has more than enough power and is more than big enough. I wonder a little if you're getting caught up in the whole engine size "numbers' thing. Bigger bikes and more power has it's advantages in certain situations, such as adding a passenger, trailer and loading up the saddlebags. But unless you're gonna do all three of those things and ride the mountains, your bike will be fine.

[tbone57]

Took my first multi-state ride on a 1974 Suzuki 550 GT two stroke, 3-cylinder and it worked great, but the C50t is a Lexis in comparison.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by paperlady

My friend is concerned that my C50T will beat me up through long hauls because of the 2 cylinder motor.

It is nice that your friend is concerned for you. Maybe you should point out to him/her that you do NOT ride a Harley!!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

[Uncle B]

Carry a coat for riding above 6000Ft.

[paperlady]

Thanks for all the encouragement on keeping my Boulevard!
I do love riding it!
And since he has a "bigger bike"----he can haul the trailer!

[bonesnews]

Hey paperlady,
I have travelled many miles on my bike and the worst thing i have encoutered on a long ride is the scenery gets a little boring in the flatland and my butt gets a little numb but I love my bike too. I highly recommend the mountains in BC for a ride, Jasper and Rogers pass are beautiful.

[mccolo]

I agree with what tbone57 said except there is a third option you could consider, too: take US 285 from Denver over Kenosha Pass to Fairplay, then go south and pick up US 50 at Salida. Here are a couple pages that you might want to look at:
Motorcycle Colorado
Great Motorcycle Roads Near Gunnison - Motorcycle Colorado

Be sure to bring warm clothes. It gets cold at high altitude even in the summer.