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Prepping for the ultimate riding season - have I missed anything?

H

Hitch-A-Ride

New member
By way of introduction, let me say that my name is Pete and I'm a new member, although I've been browsing this site off and on for the last 3 years. I previously rode motorcycles throughout my teens and 20's, going from a minibike to a Honda 360T to a Kawasaki 750 Spectre, before finally succumbing to a 30 year "kid gap". With the final one approaching college graduation, I purchased my 2022 Spyder RTL new in February of 2023. Looking for a way to combine my love of riding with my love of camping, a Toy-Hauler found its way into my driveway later that November. I've tested my setup with trips to Texas, Georgia and Michigan and believe I have worked out most of the kinks of loading, transporting and unloading the Spyder. During the past 3 seasons I've only managed to ride about 5000 miles, which maybe puts me into a "recreational" riding category, but I'm ok with that.

20231104_201258.jpg 20230224_194127-r.jpg

During this time I've had no major issues or complaints, although I have noticed the traction of the OEM tires leaves a little to be desired and the suspension is a bit mushy in the wind and on the country roads. Which brings me to the point of this post. This summer I will be embarking on a "bucket list" trip of sorts, taking my rig from Indiana to Seattle via the northern route, down to San Francisco and back through the middle states. The primary focus of this trip, other than visiting relatives in the Pacific Northwest, will be the endless search for the ultimate motorcycle road. I may start another thread under ride reports to dive into this, but the route includes stops for the Black Hills, Beartooth Hwy, Lolo Pass, Hwys 1 and 101, the Hogback and Million Dollar Hwy, among others. I've decided that to get the most out of these riding experiences, it's time to invest in some upgrades and accessories.

Here's what I've done for the Spyder so far:
  • New battery (last one didn't survive the winter)
  • Oil change, multipoint inspection
  • Vredestein Quatrac SL front tires (165/60 R15)
  • General Altimax RT45 rear tire (215-60 R15)
  • Driver's backrest
Planned upgrades:
  • Baja Ron Ultra Sway Bar (Currently out of stock. Will be riding many of these roads 2up.)
Current gear/accessories:
  • Xumo XT
  • Cardo Freecom 2
  • Full cover (plus 4-sided easy-up "garage")
  • Battery pack/pump combo
  • Tire repair kit (because having it guarantees I won't need it)
Planned accessories:
  • Insta 360 style camera
  • Reda type spare gas cans

Am I missing anything? Thanks in advance for any tips/suggestions you might have. Also thanks to the Forum for all the expert advice and opinions already given.

Pete
 
I remember driving Beartooth Highway. :oops:

I was in a Geo Tracker with 4WD, which was a really good thing.

It was late June and while trying to get through the pass I was caught in a snow storm and was very glad the roadway was marked with tall orange poles. When I got down out of the snow I pulled over on a turn out, and started clearing the snow off my Tracker. While I was cleaning it off, and catching my breath, not a single other vehicle came down out of the pass.

Good luck and stay safe.

Edit: I just asked Google about Beartooth Pass...

Road Conditions and Access

- Operating Season: Generally open from late May (Memorial Day) through mid-October.
- Conditions: Snow is common, even in July, and the road can close suddenly during, storms
- Driving Experience: Features steep grades (up to 10%) and sharp, 20+ switchbacks. It is not recommended for large RVs or trailers during high-wind conditions.
Click to expand...
 
I ditched all that and put a trailer hitch on my spyder, hooked a camp trailer to it and took off. Snow? When we got to the snow, we checked into a hotel or motel with a covered parking lot and sat it out. The itinerary trips are a thing of the past now.
 
Does it back in on it's own, or do you winch it in. E-track and traps over the tires is the best way to secure it to a trailer. I had the yellow Erickson wheel chocks front and back of the front tires, and it would spin the rear wheel trying to back out of the chocks. So I switched that to a short flat track. The strap over the rear tire is a bit of a pain to install.

You can reverse the front lower shock bolts and install ring bolts. If you use that as a front tie point, do not cross the straps, as that can cause the wheels to be moved in when hitting bumps in the road. I use them as secondary tie points on long trips with tie points on the trailer deck. Belt and suspenders for a 1500 mile road trip.

I believe I was the first to do that. I got them from Amazon and I think Lamonster has similar ones now available.

I was towing the Spyder back and forth between Wa and Az. I could see in my mirror the Spyder moving on 'it's' suspension independent of the trailer movement on it's suspension. So it got a nice smooth ride.

Erickson tie down.jpg - Rear tie down.jpg - Tie down Ring cropped.jpg - Front straps.jpg
 
For some good roads to check out in Northern Ca. There's Hwy 299 Between Redding and Arcata. Then Hwy 36 (which is one of my favorites) Between Fortuna and Red Bluff. Also, there is Hwy 199 that starts just above Crescent City and goes to Grants Pass Ore. This one takes you through one of the Giant Redwood groves. Then there is the Avenue of the Giants, which is South of Fortuna (another one through giant redwoods) that I'd highly recommend taking. It's an experience like no other. It's like riding in a "cave" with the trees making a canopy over the road. Then further South, there is Hwy 1 out of Legget. The views when you get to the coast are awesome. Hwy 1 is another one of my favorites. I like heading to Bodega Bay and taking it North from there. I live further South in the Central Valley. I've been riding for over 50 years, and Northern Ca is my favorite area to ride in.
I'd suggest looking at a map and planning ahead though. Picking a spot to park the Toy Hauler and head out on the Spyder.
Safe travels and have a good time.
 
Kromm said:
For some good roads to check out in Northern Ca. There's Hwy 299 Between Redding and Arcata. Then Hwy 36 (which is one of my favorites) Between Fortuna and Red Bluff. Also, there is Hwy 199 that starts just above Crescent City and goes to Grants Pass Ore. This one takes you through one of the Giant Redwood groves. Then there is the Avenue of the Giants, which is South of Fortuna (another one through giant redwoods) that I'd highly recommend taking. It's an experience like no other. It's like riding in a "cave" with the trees making a canopy over the road. Then further South, there is Hwy 1 out of Legget. The views when you get to the coast are awesome. Hwy 1 is another one of my favorites. I like heading to Bodega Bay and taking it North from there. I live further South in the Central Valley. I've been riding for over 50 years, and Northern Ca is my favorite area to ride in.
I'd suggest looking at a map and planning ahead though. Picking a spot to park the Toy Hauler and head out on the Spyder.
Safe travels and have a good time.
Click to expand...

I spent my last year and a half in the USCG at Point Arena Loran A Station, Summer of 1967 to Jan 1969. So I have driven Hwy 1 a lot. In 2024 on my relocation trip of my first Spyder from Az to Wa, I came up Hwy 1 North of San Francisco. I had forgotten how twisty it was when you leave the coast heading over to 101 at Leggett.

Mountain View Rd from Boneville on Hwy 128 to Hwy 1 was another fun 24.6 mile road.
 
racoon said:
I remember driving Beartooth Highway. :oops:

I was in a Geo Tracker with 4WD, which was a really good thing.

It was late June and while trying to get through the pass I was caught in a snow storm and was very glad the roadway was marked with tall orange poles. When I got down out of the snow I pulled over on a turn out, and started clearing the snow off my Tracker. While I was cleaning it off, and catching my breath, not a single other vehicle came down out of the pass.

Good luck and stay safe.

Edit: I just asked Google about Beartooth Pass...
Click to expand...
We did Beartooth Pass last May. I think it had been opened the week before we got there. Plenty of snow on the sides, but the roads were clear. The other roads posted by the original poster are all great. The Black Hills and such were good, but after doing the Million Dollar Highway and Beartooth Pass, pretty much everything else was beneath it. When we were leaving the NorthEast entrance of Yellowstone and were about to start up Beartooth Pass, I asked a couple in an SUV if there was snow in the upper regions. They smiled and said, "no everything is great". It was, but I did not expect the 10' snow drifts on the side of the road.
 
@racoon, @blacklightning - Good information about the weather conditions at Beartooth. Barring some development of a 3x3 conversion kit for the Spyder, I'll just have to cross my fingers for fair weather. I'll be there for 2 days in late July, so here's hoping. This did get me thinking that I should get some decent rain gear in case I run into bad weather. Up until now, I've just avoided riding on rainy days, but I may not have that luxury on this trip.

@2dogs and @Calimusjohn - I hear you about streamlining things and maybe someday I will take a long freewheeling trip on the Spyder. For now, two golden retrievers travel with us, so the truck, camper, and itinerary will be too.

@Mikey - I expected to get your suggestion about shocks, but I'm already way over budget with this trip. Tires and sway bar seem to be the consensus bang for the buck beginner upgrades.

@Snoking1127 - Thanks for the details on your trailering setup, looks fantastic and I have no doubt she is secure back there for you. I'm basically following the Owner's Manual and using ratchet straps through the rims secured to the D-rings in the garage floor of the Toy Hauler. Two on the rear to prevent aft movement and side-to-side shift, and one on each front to keep her from sliding foreward under stopping conditions. I may add a chock on the rear wheel this round for extra security. I back it in under power up the ramp and into the garage. Hoping for better traction with the new Altimax to make this a bit less of an "adventure".

@Kromm, @Snoking1127 - I'd love to spend weeks exploring these roads in Northern California, but unfortunately only have 2 days. We're staying 3 nights in Myers Flat, so one day will be up through the Tunnel of Trees, maybe around Mattole Road, and/or out 36, for a few miles at least. The next day will be South for the section of Hwy 1 from Leggett to Fort Bragg. I've been using greatmotorcycleroads.com as a reference and salivated a bit watching their video of California.


Thanks again everyone. Keep 'em coming.
 
If you've got time while you're around the Beartooth Hwy, see if you can fit in Chief Joseph Hwy (Hwy 296 between hwys 212 and 120)
 
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