The Old Guy on a Bike is riding down the twisties of retirement road.
I love motorcycle camping. There is nothing better than cooking and eating outdoors. Will travel as far as I can while trying to make my footprint on this world a little lighter..
Slowly working my way into truly being an Old Guy on a Bike! Also getting into drone cinematography.
I now have a Mini Mate tent trailer that I haul with the bike. Doing some upgrades to make it more comfortable and efficient.
Yes, I made it home and it's going to make an interesting series of videos. You never know what will happen when you step out the door but that won't stop me from stepping out the door. A lot of adventuring after I stopped in Sault Ste. Marie.
That's ok... I am back in Newfoundland now and I was overwhelmed by the support. The last two weeks on the road were enjoyable as the pressure was off.
Glad you're home Jim and thanks to those "decent 2 star" hotels........That start issue is a very rare overall but glad you figured it out......I would just wire in a generic one and that will never happen again........Well fall has set in so cozy up inside with lots of coffee and start editing...........can't wait to see it.......
I've already got replacement relays and will put them in over the winter and won't have to worry for another 30 years. I'm looking forward to the editing and story telling.
Glad to see that you made it home Jim! Again, next time you are in Cedar City Utah, look me up on the ST Owner's forum: "SupraSabre". We've got an extra bed and if your bike needs work, I've got a nice garage for that! :)
A Canadian claims a "A cold wet morning in Virginia " ? Holy-cow it must have been really cold. I'll bet it was SO cold that, Justin Trudeau had to put his hands in his OWN pockets.
lol... maybe. The last week on the road I had to wait til 9:30-10 to let the sun get warm enough to ride. That turned out to not be my coldest morning.
I was overwhelmed by the support. Make the last two weeks riding home so much more comfortable as the temps were getting too low to be sensibly camping.
@@OldGuyonaBike Ever considered a trike, we love out wing trike, 05 is plenty, at 76 dont need a new one to satiate my biking onsessions. Take care mu friend. Hope the coffee helped.
Good to see you made it home, Jim. Next year, it sure would be nice if you could quit proving Murphy's Law. Kudos to you for another season of 100+ days on the road 😁👍👍
Very glad to hear you made it through the troubles. I have been worried about you. I myself am doing without three Social Security checks due to a supposed overpayment and regret that I am was not able to help. Don't worry about the reverse; what's behind you doesn't matter!
I've already got a replacement relay for the reverse and thank you foreven thinking about helping. I was quite overwhelmed by the number of people who could help. Adventure is always good when you actually are home and can think about it when sitting in a comfy chair.
Glad you're ok jim . First thing take the front brake covers off as they keep heat in then Put EBC HH sentered brake pads on the bike.Ithe advantage is they are ready to use if its 0 degrees or 130 degrees. I just ride 9,000 miles in 16 days. Oklahoma to southern ca. To sanfransico ,Yosemite, lake tahoe,yellowstone,bearthoot pass ,red lodge, glacier, lolo pass ,kawlona ,calgary, saskatoon ,sturgis and home .
I just did 24,000 km/15,000 miles with EBC pads on and they are still fine. I hit something on the road in Utah that punched a hole on the inside of my left saddle bag and ripped out the rear brake line. Crossed Oklahoma without a rear brake. Good thing it's flat. You did a lot of the same roads I did this summer. Can't wait to edit the video.
Glad you made it home buddy I was thinking of you this morning it was-2 here this morning glad you got the problems fixed on the bike take care have a great weekend
I've upgraded most of my 20 amp to 40 amp and will complete that. Have the new starter and reverse relays on the coffee table. Install then over the winter.
At least you have a great bike for cold riding! I have an Aerostitch electric vest I thought was the best thing ever, until I got heated grips.. I pulled up to breakfast one morning at about 19F wearing deerskin gloves, a literal ball of frost, and was fine. I switched to warmer gloves and was cold the rest of the day. I had gotten some mylar heating elements for a snowmobile that go under your existing grips. Heating the blood in your hands spreads to everywhere else. I had put extra lighting on my '95 1500, so I put in a Compufire larger alternator. The next year LED bulbs started to spread. I would have go that route, lowering the electrical demand, over increasing the alternator. My philosophy is if my lights ignite a deer at 100 yards: I don't have enough light yet! They are kinda pretty to watch bounding though the forest on fire though... Glad you made it home! {!-{>
I did not have time to get heated grips last spring. On my list for the winter work. I was very pleased with the wind protection of the Goldwing. The ST was great, this is better.
Glad you made it home safe and sound. Hopefully you can address some of the issues you've discovered with the newish bike, so next year she's really ready for a long trip. Maybe stock up on some relays and items before heading out. Stay safe and warm during the winter. On a side note, maybe see what the tongue weight of the trailer is on the hitch. I feel it might be too heavy and affecting your front wheel/feeling. I could be wrong, but it would be interesting to know the down pressure of the trailer on the bikes hitch.
Always trying to keep the tongue weight down. Right now 60-65 lb and would like to get down to 50-55. I did replace a lot of the old 20 amp relays with 40 amp ones before I left but had not thought of the starter relays. Have new starter and reverse relays to install over the winter.
Glad you made it back. I am always amazed at your "ingenuity" when it comes to making repairs, etc and getting back on the road. Lots of us would just have to call the tow truck and rely on our CAA that has bike coverage.
I like to think I have some mechanical skills and most motorcycles don't require us to be rocket scientists. I'm too stubborn and cheap lol to just get towed to a shop. I really do like to know how things work.
I personally think the GW is better equipped/powered for towing the trailer and gear. Any used bike purchase requires a good shakedown before a 150+ day trip. I would be interested in what the tongue weight of the trailer is. I feel it' might be too heavy and affecting his front wheel steering and braking.
Used ST300s on the island of Newfoundland are few and far between... or non-existant. GL1500's seem abundant and reasonably priced. Honestly the gearing suits the hauling of the tent trailer so much more. My ST was great and did the job but I have grown quite fond of the old Goldwing.
I think the ST was capable but the GL1500 is a better tow vehicle. I'm running 60-65 lb on the tongue same as I was on the ST. The absence of ABS may have been a factor but I felt the GL was a great platform all summer. I only got 1K km on her before heading out so there was a lot to learn on the way.
I have beat that poor Goldwing up so much... she was a trooper and a beast. Looking forward to a couple more seasons on her. Will do the walkabout just for you before the snow flies.
Glad you made it back to the island. I'm sure Gros Morne looked especially nice, even on a cold day. Sorry we couldn't meet up. I look forward to the compilation of videos.
Fantastic journey of yours! Albuquerque here, this Sunday evening at 7:30 -ish,10/20/2024. Stunning scenery here. The weather hopefully will be your friend home, undoubtedly either leading or chasing you. May the full moon light your path! Stay warm and get regular rest. 👍
Thoroughly enjoyed your 106 day adventure(s) Jim. Thank you so very much for sharing. Every single video made me wish I was still able to ride. Boy o boy I sure miss it! Oh yeah… …those “2 mountains” LOL. I might not guess exactly what the locals call them but I will say…they immediately made me think of “my ex wife”. 😂 Stay safe brother and hope you are enjoying that Gold Wing. Road my uncles once was completely blown away by how quiet smooth and stable of a machine it was. The only bike I’ve ever ridden with cruise control and what a unique experience that was.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out how your bread toaster works. It looks like a metal plate with some type of wire rack on top. It appears the bread is quite a distance from the metal plate so I can’t see how the heat source toast the bread, but I will say it is quite ingenious.
Jim I recently stumbled onto your YT channel and I love all the videos…at least the ones I’ve watched and I intend to watch them all (or I’ll try). In several I noticed when you’re just leaving a camp site you have what looks like a semi oval plastic disc or plate with a small diameter rope attached to it with the other end of the rope fastened to your left hand grip…and you’re wrapping the disc with the rope then placing it your tank bag. It took me a while but I think I figured out what you use that plastic disc (or plate) for. You’re placing it under your side (or kick) stand to prevent the kick stand from imbedding into the dirt thus causing your bike to topple over. If I’m right that is just cool man. Wish I had had something like that back when I rode…before health issues that prevent me from riding now. Stay safe big man! 🇺🇸
I've been always enjoy your content. Thanks and ride safe home. If you ride by Burlington, ON sometime in future, I would be happy to host you over night.
About your accident...... I've been watching your videos for quite some time. Jim your rmental faculties are slowing down, as everyone's do as we all age. I'm 65, and am starting to experience it myself. So now especially it's time to NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, and to consciously , every day, plan it all out, in the most realistic way possible. In other words, you gotta make sure the smarter Jim prevails. First of all your decision to ride all the way to Bangor, on as little sleep as you had, was not(being kind now), a wise one. I'm not sugar coat it like when people made all those comments about how glad they are you didn't get hurt. You've gotta do things to keep that old brain going....... or quit riding..... one of the two. You have building skills. One of the best ways to stay young is to have something to get up in the morning for. A part time job would help ALL around. Jim I'm sort of in the same boat. Divorced, meager retirement income, and trying to keep this independence I'm accustomed to. I've dons some traveling on my cycle, three trips from Georgia, where I live to Seattle and back, and plan to do some more... However time is just starting to catch up with me too (you're included), so I'm thinking okay maybe I should be thinking, instead of spending a lot of time on the road, a job, and evening walks, and some healthy cooking to boost the old brain, at least. Maybe even find some honey to come over once in a while and help keep life interesting..... The old saying; "There's snow on the peak, but there's still fire in the furnace" applies. Someone to argue with, and then have makeup smoochin. Not enough of us cool-old-geezers around, hate for you to have a situation in which there's no last video, cause you're dead.
In a lot of ways, that accident was a "one up". I know all about fatigue and even taught a class regarding fatigue safety for first year university theatre students. I am not going to be caught in that situation again.
Jim your rmental faculties are slowing down, as everyone's do as we all age. I'm 65, and am starting to experience it myself. So now especially it's time to NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, and to consciously , every day, plan it all out, in the most realistic way possible. In other words, you gotta make sure the smarter Jim prevails. First of all your decision to ride all the way to Bangor, on as little sleep as you had, was not(being kind now), a wise one. I'm not sugar coat it like when people made all those comments about how glad they are you didn't get hurt. You've gotta do things to keep that old brain going....... or quit riding..... one of the two. You have building skills. One of the best ways to stay young is to have something to get up in the morning for. A part time job would help ALL around. Jim I'm sort of in the same boat. Divorced, meager retirement income, and trying to keep this independence I'm accustomed to. I've dons some traveling on my cycle, three trips from Georgia, where I live to Seattle and back, and plan to do some more... However time is just starting to catch up with me too (you're included), so I'm thinking okay maybe I should be thinking, instead of spending a lot of time on the road, a job, and evening walks, and some healthy cooking to boost the old brain, at least. Maybe even find some honey to come over once in a while and help keep life interesting..... The old saying; "There's snow on the peak, but there's still fire in the furnace" applies. Someone to argue with, and then have makeup smoochin.
I'm not so sure if my mental facilities are slowing down... but then again, I would be the last to know. I do a lot of things to keep my mind active and motorcycling is just one of those. We are absorbing information and reacting to it in milliseconds every time we get on a bike. I still have all my fingers so I guess I am doing ok in the carpentry shop as well.
@@OldGuyonaBike Be safe.... If you ever pass a yellow/brownish FJR1300a on the road, and the rider looks like he's got a little "extra" belly on him, and there's a Georgia license plate, well I'll buy the coffee.
Hopefully your future will be smarter. Jim your rmental faculties are slowing down, as everyone's do as we all age. I'm 65, and am starting to experience it myself. So now especially it's time to NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, and to consciously , every day, plan it all out, in the most realistic way possible. In other words, you gotta make sure the smarter Jim prevails. First of all your decision to ride all the way to Bangor, on as little sleep as you had, was not(being kind now), a wise one. I'm not sugar coat it like when people made all those comments about how glad they are you didn't get hurt. You've gotta do things to keep that old brain going....... or quit riding..... one of the two. You have building skills. One of the best ways to stay young is to have something to get up in the morning for. A part time job would help ALL around. Jim I'm sort of in the same boat. Divorced, meager retirement income, and trying to keep this independence I'm accustomed to. I've dons some traveling on my cycle, three trips from Georgia, where I live to Seattle and back, and plan to do some more... However time is just starting to catch up with me too (you're included), so I'm thinking okay maybe I should be thinking, instead of spending a lot of time on the road, a job, and evening walks, and some healthy cooking to boost the old brain, at least. Maybe even find some honey to come over once in a while and help keep life interesting..... The old saying; "There's snow on the peak, but there's still fire in the furnace" applies. Someone to argue with, and then have makeup smoochin.
I did a lot of changes in my planning after that accident. Not so much in the trip planning as in the lead up to the next long ride, i.e. this past summer. By honestly posting about the accident, I can only hope that others heed it's lesson.
Jim I know exactly where you were as you were getting on I-59N (as you left that Waffle House). I can’t count the number of times I’ve been on that stretch of Hwy431. At that traffic light if you had turned right (or South) you would have gone through Gadsden then about 30 minutes down 431 to my home town Anniston. It really is a small world. And after you got onto 59N at the first exit on the right, I used to live about 2 1/2 miles off that exit back in 1988.
I saw you were on I-20 going under the sign to Montevallo Rd. (15:16). I’ve traveled it many times. Parts of my family live in the Birmingham area (Fultondale and Cahaba Heights). I live in Anniston about 55-60 miles east of Bham. And yes sir the highways in Bham will drive a person insane. If you’re only doing the speed limit (usually 65-70) you will get mowed over. It’s dangerously crazy. Glad you made it through safely. I’ve been to Buc-Eee’s many times too.
@@OldGuyonaBike I wouldn’t blame you for trying to bypass Bham…that place is nuts and Buc-Eee’s, I will never forget my first time there. I was blown away by it. Me and my daughters stop there every Thanksgiving on our way back to Anniston from my sisters house in Cahaba Heights. Truly enjoy your road trip adventures. I use to ride although I’ve never taken a road trip anything like yours. I don’t ride anymore. At 70 now I have health issues that prevent me from being able to ride but I sure miss it. Safe travels Jim. Oh and thanks for the link to all those clips. I will surely enjoy them all.
I would like to know which video or videos you posted of your travels in Alabama. I’m from Alabama (Anniston) and would like to watch what parts of ‘Bama you traveled. Most of the videos I’ve been able to find you’re in the northern states. Great videos btw.
Probably this one and the one after. Just was in Alabama again so there will be more riding there edited by.... March 2025??? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dkWQmAY7CCw.html
