| Author | Message | ||
     Etennuly |
Having owned my faster orange Uly for two years and four months I guess it was time for a real adventure ride. I was meeting with Orangulius and Gotj for breakfast and a drivers meeting. Long story short I worked late, got up late, arrived late, hadn't fueled the bike or had breakfast. Met them at the IHOP and headed out to the bikes. Since I missed the meeting of the minds I asked George where we were heading and his reply was something to the effect of "Follow me it will be alright". After a gas stop we headed on to several twisted back roads from Maryville South towards Tellico. Mark and I had discussed cruising the Cherohala, so I assumed we were heading that way......but NOOOOOOO.....george and that damn GPS had other plans. We turned South on what he told me was "old rt 68". It was so old it never got paved! He stopped about two miles in and asked Mark and I if we should continue. George was on his Multi Strata, so to back away had to be his decision. On we go. It was really quite a nice gravel/rock road, very little actual dirt and little mud. There was water however. None of us had done any real water crossings on our adventure bikes to this point. The first one looked to be about fifty feet across and after tossing some stones in, I figured no more than two feet at the deepest. I had done lots of water years ago on my dirt bikes, but these Michelins/and scorpions, are much more like street tires. After a round of who is going first, I fired up my Uly and stood on the pegs, crossing as water flowed over the top of the front tire, clutching it to keep the speed down and the RPM's up a little. It crossed with no problems, very little tire slipping and a little steaming, but no problems. Then George crossed and it was Marks turn. Mark's phone was the only camera and he wouldn't throw it across, so we didn't get much in the way of pictures. After two more crossings and many more miles of dirt/gravel roads we popped out on the real rt 68. I am one who likes to keep the bike on the pavement, primarily so that I don't have to do extraneous maintainance and wash the bike more than once a month. We still wanted to hit the Cherohala, as it is one of our favorite rides, so we head East on 294 and into Robbinsville. As we went through town I looked down at my ODO. 135 miles. Hmmm 65 miles back to Tellico. Puts me at 200 miles, we have been riding slow so should be a non issue. We pass through town without stopping. Got on the Cherohala and we were having a ball flying up the ridges. About half way up, on the NC up side, my fuel light comes on. WTF!! only 157 miles!! It will usually go 165 to 170 even with the alcohol reduced gas. Quick mental calculation, about 45 miles to Tellico. Reserve has proven to be good for 35 miles at the most. Should we turn back to Robbinsville, now 20 miles behind us or party on? The ride up is always so sweet I didn't want to stop, so what the heck, it is on! Super conservative mode will have to kick in at the top. Started riding real smooth, no hard pulls, no fast shifting, just smooth. Then I remembered George saying that he had about a gallon more gas than the Uly so I figured this was his fault with that damn GPS and our off road adventure taking more gas than twistie cruising. If we run out he can get us some gas to make it to Tellico. I started running up to about 65 mph and coasting into corners rather than braking, then I would run on to a down hill, pull in the clutch letting it idle while lying down on the airbox to be as aerodynamic as possible. George and Mark got gas five miles before I did in the morning, so I figured Mark would run out first. They said it took them five miles to figure out what the heck I was doing with my new riding style. It had to seem quite unusual to those people parked in some of the overlooks as first an orange Uly comes by at about 60 mph with no engine noise, and then a red Duc in the same mode, followed shortly by Mark in his super reserve mode orange Uly. Most bikes make noise, right? They probably thought we were running something electric. Go like hell, clutch, lay down, coast. I think I passed three bikes on the way down idling! The bike is totally different through the fast corners when not under power, interesting lesson. 40 miles or so later we are at the Exxon in Tellico Plains and breathing a sigh of relief that we didn't run out. I was amazed at how much it saved. I filled up and still had .4 gallons left! I think Mark was at 4.1 gallons on his fill up. Then we hauled butt on 360 back to town and a stop at Smoky Mtn HD. Great adventure, great ride, great day, five hours late getting home. I had stuff to do ya know!  | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
I love it ....LOL LOL..... mental note... camera... always bring camera.... the water pic's for the wall of shame/fame.... priceless.... Cheers....pete | ||
| Orangeulius |
Here is a link to the water crossing pics. http://gallery.mac.com/markrlarsen/100213#grid It really was hilarious as we coasted down the Cherohala. We are bent down over our handlebars to cut down on wind resistance. As we pass by the other bikers stopped at various places you can just see the looks...WTF? Then George whooshes by WTF? And I add the final whoosh and WTF? Next time we do this I'll bring my HD camcorder and get some video of the water crossings minus the whoosh. Did I mention that vern just washed his Uly? Heh, heh. | ||
| Florida_lime |
Sounds like a great trip. My '07 would have been close to the fuel light at 135 miles; it was at 136.6 miles yesterday when it came on.  Is there still a lot of loose gravel on the repaved section of 143 between Robbinsville and where the Cherohala actually starts ?  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Nice pics but you'd better inspect them bearings both fore and aft. | ||
| Orangeulius |
FL, there was plenty of gravel. Lots of gravel road hookups will keep it that way. I'm finding that if the gravel has been on the road for awhile it generally gathers in the center of the lane as more car traffic rearranges it. I tend to ride to the left of the gravel near the center line. I've put about 2k miles on my Pilot Road 2's and really like them. A vary confidence inspiring tire. I'm surprised how well they did in the streams and on gravel roads. | ||
| Etennuly |
Fl, Yeah, the new pavement is awesome, but every inside corner is strewn with gravel. Electro, Wheel bearing check, you bet. It will be interesting to see if water did get in. It did not submerge the rear axle but I want to know. | ||
| Florida_lime |
Orangeulius, I try to do the same in lane positioning, but some tight corners just west of the Thunder Mountain General Store (where you could have filled up on gas  ) had the gravel EVERYWHERE this summer.  At least the pavement is better than it was in June when they sprayed the tar and scattered the crushed rock ! I'm hoping it's cleaned up some more by my next trip up in October. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
I started running up to about 65 mph and coasting into corners rather than braking, then I would run on to a down hill, pull in the clutch letting it idle while lying down on the airbox to be as aerodynamic as possible. verrrrn, aerodynamic!!! who are you kidding. the closest you'll ever come to being aerodynamic is to put one of those rubber racing suits on and lay on your back, letting gravity do it's thing.  btw, were you up there yesterday or sunday. we crossed over the blueridge a few times yesterday. | ||
| Etennuly |
verrrrn, aerodynamic!!! who are you kidding. the closest you'll ever come to being aerodynamic is to put one of those rubber racing suits on and lay on your back, letting gravity do it's thing. Well it was my pointiest roundness that I leaned into the forward position. I hadn't thought about it until now, but it would have been really hilarious to those watching us fly by with no sound, if only I had been slathered with the smell of Ben-Gay. To have that aroma linger behind as we whooshed by would have been priceless! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
no doubt it would have been vern. how you doing up there vern. looks like i'll be heading back to tampa to work this week and besides reaching your age on sunday i also found out that i'll be a granpappy. | ||
| Sekalilgai |
Sounds like good fun guys... spent my weekend riding around with the 'others'...bimmers and FJRs ...might need new rubbers for Buelltober... | ||
| Etennuly |
Hey Neil, Well happy antiquated birth day old man!  And don't worry, they are still making new numbers in case you run out! Congrats on the Grandbaby. They are more fun than your own!  We were way South of the BRP. Sure was a beautiful summer day to be riding! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
thanks vern. i'll be heading back to brandon tomorrow to start work out in mulberry monday. i will miss the area considerably and once i get some good experience built up, i'll be back in the area soon i hope. | ||
| Orangeulius |
Neil and ken, hope to see you both at Buelltoberfest. Times are tight and I have actually considered selling my Uly.....Argh! Hopefully I won't have to. Best to you both ! | ||
| M_singer |
Sounds like a great ride! Were one of you guys heading north on Alcoa hwy at 6:00 PM last Sunday? | ||
| Orangeulius |
Hey marty. That would have been vern. Sorry I didn't call you for the ride. If we go again would you like to join us? Orange | ||
| Nevrenuf |
mark, i hope you don't have to sell it. that would tear me up to have to get rid of one our bikes. i hope things pick up for ya soon. at this point, i don't think i'm gonna make it because of another new job,but because i'm looking at being back up in greenville to pack up the rest of the stuff that same weekend, i might be able to slip over for a little bit before i head home to tampa but i'll have to play that one by ear. | ||
| Etennuly |
Marty If that was you riding a slower black Uly in the opposite direction not too far from the Home Depot, that was me! We keep this up we might actually meet someday.  | ||
| M_singer |
Yeah that was me going the other way on the black Uly. Give me a shout next time you guys go for one of those rides |
