Preparations - Part 2

A couple of additional modifications (i.e. farkles) I've included on the bike:

Givi Engine Guards: 
Purpose: Added protection in the event of a drop.
Time: <2 hours
Cost: $160

Capa Monokey Hardshell Cases (w/Givi rack)

Purpose: Storage, protection, and security of gear. 

Time: ~2 hours

Cost: $350

Givi Rear Fender Hugger: 

Purpose: Protection of underside from dirt/road debris

Time: ~10 min

Cost: $95

Others to follow....stay tuned!

-MB

The 2015 RVH Route

So... I finally got around to mapping out the route I'm planning on taking. Here it is:

https://goo.gl/maps/Gg0hW


As one can tell, it's basically a large "loop" that starts in my home town - Monterey, CA - and proceeds north up through Gold Country (hwy 49), onto the northern Sierras, around Lake Tahoe, and south through the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada range. It then continues south-west where I'll arrive back on the coast in beautiful San Louis Obispo before heading home to Monterey up Hwy 1.

My next task is to map out my hiking points along this route. Stay tuned...

-MB

Preparations - Part 1

Preparing for this kind of adventure basically occurs on two levels; the preparations one makes for the hiking part of the journey (more on that a bit latter) and those made on the riding side - mainly those preparations (modifications) made on the bike. That's the subject of this post.  So, over the last year or so, I've been completed a few modifications on the V in order to set it up a bit closer to my specific riding needs. Here are just a few of them (in no particular order):

12 Volt auxiliary power supply (located inside L-side fairing)
Purpose: For "in-flight" charging of devices (mainly phone)
Time: <1 hour
Cost: $35.00

12V Power Supply

Lowering Blocks for Foot Pegs

Purpose: To stretch the legs out a bit (approximately 1 inch) for greater leg/knee comfort while riding for long periods of time. 

Time: <30 minutes

Cost: $49.00

Lowering Foot peg blocks

Zero Gravity Taller Windscreen 

Purpose: Improved wind protection at higher speeds

Time: <1 hour

Cost: $125.00

Taller Windscreen

OEM Handguards 

Purpose: Improved hand protection (road debris, bugs, etc.) also protects the levers in the event of a drop.

Time: < 2 hours

Cost: $185

Kawi Handguards

44 Tooth Rear Sprocket

Purpose: Improved gearing at highway speeds

Time: < 2 hours

Cost: $45.00

44 t Rear Sprocket

More mod descriptions comming soon!

-MB

  

The Launch

Well....
Here I am at the start of what I hope to be a most enjoyable summer of outdoor adventure to include some epic motorcycle riding and amazing hiking through some of California's most gorgeous wilderness. Alas, I'm calling this little adventure Riding "Versys" Hiking. A bit of a play on words actually...for no other reason than the fact that I will be riding my trusty 2013 Kawasaki Versys 650 (pictured below) and completing a series of hikes in and about the Sierra Nevada mountain range (hence: "Riding Versys (versus) Hiking")

This is the plan. During the next several weeks (prior to my departure), I'll use this space to describe the planning tasks, bike modifications, the gear I'll take, and the routes I plan to travel as I prepare for my journey.  Once the journey is underway, I'll continue to journal my experiences at least once a day for the entire week out. The concept is simple really. Each day during the week's adventure will afford me the opportunity to clock approximately 4 hours of riding along with another 4 hours or so of hiking throughout the Sierras. This is the framework for my adventure this coming July and I will use this platform to document and journal my experience throughout this journey.

Alright. I'll be the first to admit the obvious. This trip might not sound like the most adventurous, epic motorcycle journey one has ever embarked on (and by all measures it simply isn't). I think of all of those truly adventurous types who have gone out on some serious touring in far way and remote areas around the globe. But simply put, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to make something like this happen in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, it's a real nice first step.  So, I'll let my humble journey begin with this, the first entry in what hope will be an interesting story leading up to and including my time away, alone, riding my motorcycle and hiking for a single week during this, the summer of 2015.

-MB