Our First "Big" Trip on The ST! Texas, Here We Come!

[Elmo]

My Better Half and I are leaving this Saturday, July 15 for Aransas Pass, TX. This will be our first big trip on the ST since I bought it new this past February. I've adjusted the rear suspension spring pre-load to the near high setting and ditto for the rebound damping as we will be fully loaded with luggage. Tires will be at, or near 42 PSI. For you veteran ST owners, I welcome any other suggestions you may have in helping me prepare the bike for the trip.

Our route down will take us through or near the following areas; Nashville and Memphis, TN; Little Rock and Texarkana, AK; Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, TX.

My wife will be flying back on the following Saturday, but I will be leaving on Friday, July 21. My return trip will take me through or near Houston, TX and all along (or near) Interstate 10 through LA, MS, AL and FL up to Pensacola or Panama City Beach.

If anyone would like to PM me with a name and phone number should I (in the unlikely event) run into an emergency in your area, it would be appreciated. I have already printed out the locations of several Honda dealerships along the way.

Mid-July... Texas... we should get plenty of opportunity to try out our new cooling vests...

Elmo

[STCPO]

Let us know if you have time for a visit when you are in Dallas. We can get some of the local folks together for a coffee, lunch, breakfast, whatever.

Have a great trip.


Pete

[sherob]

I'm in Katy outside of Houston... I'll PM you my info just in case. ;)

[Littlejohn64]

Im just north of Houston. Ill PM my info for emergencies, or even to hook up for a short ride together.

[sherob]

LJ... we need to get this guy some food! :D

[DataHawk]

When you are down there don't forget to eat at least one meal at the Big Fisherman in Rockport...they say Rockport but it is probably closer to Port Aranasas.
At the ferrry go to the head of the line if you are on the bike.
When you leave stay on Hwy. 35 when heading to Houston, much nicer ride than cutting up to Victoria and taking Hwy. 59. In fact don't even go to Houston, go through Galveston and take the ferry or plan on spending mucho time in heavy traffic and crazy drivers.

[msnyder755]

I live in San Marcos just outside austin on 35 so give us a jingle and we can get some good BBQ in lockhart

[Dketchum]

I am in San Antonio. I will pm you contact information just in case. I also have a trailer to haul bikes, if needed (lets hope not)
If you would like to spend some time in/see San Antonio..let me know..A lot can be seen in a few hours or a day. We have a spare bedroom and a big swimming pool also.

And yes, It is f##### HOT!

[robertwy]

I live just west of Fort Worth. Just wondering if you've checked the weather reports for Texas for July. You can expect at least 100 degrees. It's not very comfortable riding.

Personally, I'm heading to Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montanna.

Have fun anyway. Ride safe.

Robert

[STCPO]

Texans sure are a friendly bunch!

[Littlejohn64]

LJ... we need to get this guy some food! :D
Now your speakin my language!!!!!!! LOL

[Elmo]

I really do appreciate all the responses I've got, both by posts and by PM's. I don't who all, if any of you, I'll actually get to meet, but it's sure nice to know you're there if I need ya! :bow1:

From the sound of things, if I go hungry in Texas I'll have no one to blame but myself.. :)

By the way, I've got a Camel Bak to help keep us in plenty of water. I know that riding in hot weather can really dehydrate you in no time flat!

You guys are great! This site is great! Life is good! ;)

Elmo

[JReviere]

Elmo: Suggestion: AVOID I-35... go west a bit from DFW take either US 281 or better yet, TX 16 to San Antonio..... I-35 is heavily traveled and BORING...getting thru WACO and AUSTIN are a PIA. 281 takes you along the edge of the TX Hill Country... 16 right thru it... some of the best riding to be found between the Mississippi River and the Rockies. AND... Heed the advice to avoid HOUSTON.... It's about 80 miles of solid city with 'hell-on-wheels' traffic... rush hour begins about 04:00 and doesn't end until about 03:30 the next morning... Once past Beaumont haded east, your choice is I-10 and I-10...just grin and bear it until you are about to exit Baton Rough... bear left on the I-12 which bypasses New Orleans and rejoins I-10 at the Mississipi border..... EXPECT to SWEAT...

JR

[Elmo]

I got back home on July 24. Had a great time... 3,179 miles. What a rush! :D

Elmo

[MidLife]

I got back home on July 24. Had a great time... 3,179 miles. What a rush! :D

Elmo

And let us know about your thoughts on your cooling vest performance on this trip.

[Elmo]

And let us know about your thoughts on your cooling vest performance on this trip.

We thought they worked very well when the temp. got to 97 degrees or higher. I would have hated to be without mine on the way down.

We had temps. consistently in the 103 to 105 range and topped out in Dallas at 107. However, with that kind of heat and cruising around 80 mph, they did need to be "recharged" about every 2 or 3 hours.

You don't want them to dry out... they'll add to the problem by blocking the wind flow through the mesh jackets!

I did not use mine on the way back... temps. were usually in the low to mid 90's.

Elmo

[DataHawk]

I got back home on July 24. Had a great time... 3,179 miles. What a rush! :D Elmo

Hey it was great meeting you and spending a little time chatting. Hope you got out of town before the rain hit that afternoon. Did they get the throttle rocker installed for you?

kim

[Elmo]

Hey it was great meeting you and spending a little time chatting. Hope you got out of town before the rain hit that afternoon. Did they get the throttle rocker installed for you?

kim


Kim,

Turns out that the one they had would not work :mad: . Wound up getting another Throttle Rocker at the Yamaha shop.

As far as the rain is concerned, I had to battle a few showers :rain1: (and some downpours!) all along the return trip. Sure glad I got those new tires! :bow1:

One more thing... I can't remember if I told you about going through the :twist1: whirlwind on my way to Frisco from Texarkana! :eek: That was a very interesting experience. I saw up ahead in the distance what appeared to be several birds flying in a circle. As I was wondering what in the world they were doing, I realized about 2 seconds before impact that they were not birds, but debris.... it really gave the bike a wobble or two!

Again, thanks for the chat time... nice meeting a fellow ST'er!

Elmo

[DunanyQC]

A cooling vest... huh?...you Texans are funny

I can lend you some cold...just put my ST away for 5 months

Quebec. Canada