US MotoGP D-Day minus 3

Today I had business in Dallas all day so I didn't get much time to work on the bikes until I got home. We have the bikes pretty well all set to go with just a few minor details to attend to. Here is some of the modifications we have done for the trip.

Navigation
I am a pilot so have been using GPS navigation for years in my airplanes. After trying several different units on motorcycles over the years I have settled on Garmin for my GPS equipment. On my bike I have mounted a Garmin 276C. It is a marine unit that also can be used for vehicle navigation. It is water, shock and dust proof so is well suited to the rigors of motorcycle use. I have used this unit extensively off-road and it is bulletproof. I put in a Powerlet plug on my left front fairing panel so that I could plug the GPS into motorcycle power. A RAM mount bolted to the front brake reservoir holds the GPS. You can't even tell it is there when the GPS is off the bike. Adam has a Garmin 60c that is battery powered. He is also using a RAM mount. With only 56MB of RAM the 60c doesn't have enough memory for all our maps but at least he can get some for key areas. The 276C has a 256MB data card so I can load detailed topographic maps for just about our entire route. I love using a GPS for motorcycle navigation. It allows me to see the roads and curves ahead, where the roads lead, if there are upcoming intersections or towns, and make decisions before I get to a crossroads rather than while I am driving through the crossroad. I just won't hardly travel without one.

Radar Detector
We both are using Escort radar detectors on our bikes. We have the H.A.R.D. Helmet Assisted Radar Detector system that provides wireless radar notification to your helmet display. There is a HARD transmitter wired in-line to the radar detector, and a HARD receiver that velcro's to your helmet. A small red LED runs inside your helmet and lights up when the radar detector goes off. If you slam on the brakes immediately, viola! No ticket. Motorcycles have such a small radar cross section that if you are smart and use other traffic as a "radar shield" you are pretty well invisible to radar. You can detect the radar well before they can detect you. Even with the instant-on systems, if there is any traffic around, you will see the cop flash their radar at the vehicles ahead, so you have plenty of time to slow down before he flashes you with the instant on radar.
What I have read is that you have about 1-2 seconds to get your speed down before the radar can lock on you. Hence, my philosophy is if the light flashes the brake smashes. So far I have never even been pulled over when using the HARD system. You have to be smart and not just speed oblivious to your surroundings, but if you are smart, use traffic to your advantage, watch out for eyes in the sky, you can regularly make good time and significantly reduce your risk of getting a citation.

Tank Bag
In the past I have used all types of tank bags, ranging from strap on to magnetic. I like the magnetic bags the best, but the CBR has a plastic faux tank so magnetics don't work. I hate having those straps all over the bike, plus they tend to rub the paint off. I found these Luggage Locker lock on tank bags that don't touch the paint and lock onto the bike. They look a bit strange but seem to work just fine. I have only used mine on one trip so far but I think it is going to work out OK. You install the mounting ring by removing three bolts on the gas tank port. When you get back from your trip, just remove the mounting ring and you are back to stock condition.

Hope this works out well. I think it looks kind of ugly when off the bike but I like the fact that it doesn't scratch the tank and seems pretty sturdy. It is easy to remove so I think it is going to be fine.
Luggage
I have tried all types of luggage over the years, from soft to hard bags, factory and aftermarket. Adam had a set of Coretech sportbike bags that I really liked so I got a set also. His worked great when we went to Birmingham for the AMA Superbike races at Barber. It poured rain on us for 6 hours, coming down in sheets. He put the covers on his bags and they stayed as dry as could be. They also look pretty cool. We both have the tailbag and the saddlebags. I decided to get me a set and try them out. The CBR and most late model sport bikes have a very wide rear tail section so it is a bit of an awkward fit. I to like the center up exhaust and the fac that that the CBR exhaust is tucked in tight. This saves the luggage from exhaust burns. When I looked at bikes I really liked the looks of the Yamaha R1, but the center up exhaust on that bike really didn't work well for soft luggage, so I ruled it out.

Adam Sick

My really big worry at the moment is that Adam has been really, really sick for about a week now. He has a severe sore throat that has kept him from eating. He has lost 14 lbs from his 162 lb frame, so he is just skin and bones right now and is very weak. We took him to the doctor on Saturday and to the ER on Sunday. After the medication they gave him he is starting to feel slightly better, but he is really weak so I am quite concerned about being able to leave on Friday. I don't want him riding a high performance sportbike when he is on painkillers or otherwise not feeling up to snuff. Today he was much better than yesterday, so hopefully he will be recovered enough by Friday so that we can keep our original schedule. If not we may have to delay our departure a day or so for him to fully recover.

Packing

Both bikes are packed and pretty well ready to go. We did oil changes and new tires last week so the only thing left is just a few minor details and final packing. We plan to tent camp for most of our trip. Our tents and sleeping bags are made for backpackers, so they are light and compact - great for a sportbike. We will eat in restaurants so we won't have to carry food. We will be in our riding gear most of the time so the only clothes we are taking are some hiking pants that you can zip the legs out for shorts, along with socks, tshirts and underwear. We just take enough for about 5 days and then hit the laundromat on the way. All our stuff packs up small and tight so we can fit it in the Coretech luggage. Rain gear is essential for a long trip, so we have some good rain gear that has proven reliable in multiple downpours. I am taking a very small Sony laptop and my Nikon D70 digital camera so that I can update our blog while on the road. I also have a point and shoot Canon, but I hate point and shoot cameras so decided to make room for the SLR even if it means leaving something else at home.

We are both pumped and ready to go. Adam was home sick again today so he got to watch motorcycle shows on cable all day. He said that helps him get fired up and hopefully get over being sick.

Three more days and hopefully we will be on the road!