US MotoGP D-Day minus 4

Well folks, this is my first blog. Hope you like it.

My son and I have been planning a motorcycle trip from our home in the Oklahoma City suburbs to watch the MotoGP races in Monterrey California. We will both be mounted on 2004 Honda CBR1000RR's. My son Adam has the slower red one, while I have the much faster silver one;) I purchased tickets in October 2004, 10 months in advance.

We are really pumped and have scheduled 17 days for our trip. The goal is to ride every twisty, crooked, switchbacked piece of pavement we can find between OKC and California, then ride north to Washington and do the same thing on the way home. This ain't no sissy ride. Our goal is to ride the wheels off the bikes. No sightseeing (except from the bike at high rates of speed), no setting at starbucks waiting for it to warm up, no stopping to visit or shop - just ride, ride, ride. Hopefully we will wear the edges of our tires off by the time we get to Laguna Seca and have to put a new set on for the trip back.

Today I put a new Bridgestone Battleax 012 on the rear of my CBR. The OEM tire was only worn about 1/2 down, but I wanted new rubber for the trip. I kept the old tire and will probably use it up when I get home.

Anybody dealt with these new bike-specific tires? Adam's CBR came with Pirelli Diablo Corsa's and mine with the Bridgestones. Both tire manufacturers make tires specifically for the CBR1000RR only. I was unable to find replacements locally for a decent price so I had to purchase the generic tires - 190/50's. While the OEM tires are the same size, they have a G designation making them bike specific. You can see the OEM tire has a flatter profile than the generic tires. Adam has had the generic Corsa's on his bike for a couple of weeks and he said it changes the handling, makes the bike prone to turn in.

Anyway, tonight I mounted the new rear on my bike. 95 degrees makes for a hot job. I have included some pictures of me getting my bike ready.

Adam's bike in the garage, packed with bags and just about ready to go.

Mike bike waiting on the rear tire. It is nearly 100 degrees today, I am NOT looking forward to this.

My tire is ready for mounting. The OEM tire I plan to remount when I get home since it has about 50% tread left. Maybe use it for a track day.

Boy, got that job done. It was pretty easy but HOT. I have been impressed with the CBR, Honda just has good engineering.

Hope you don't mind my screwed up pictures, this is my first try at blogging so I am still figuring all this out.