New Windshield is Great

I took the GT out yesterday for my first test ride with the new Aeroflow windshield. I kept the shield in the low position and proceeded to highway speed. The first thing that I noticed was surprisingly there was only a small increase in road noise. Once I raised the shield to just below eye level (it’s electrically operated) the noise was roughly equivalent to that at lower speeds and there was no wind buffeting on my helmet. What a difference there is between the stock windshield and the Aeroflow windshield.

Bike-to-Bike Communications

I’ve been spending the past couple of days deciding whether to get a portable CB radio to mount on my GT for bike-to-bike communications while traveling. Having the ability to talk back and forth came in handy and even provided entertainment when I’ve ridden on my Goldwing with others that have CB radios. However, I’m taking the GT for this trip. I bought an inexpensive portable Midland CB on Amazon.com where you can find just about anything. Now I must get the remaining components that will be required to integrate it with my GPS and helmet headset. I’ll post my solution once I get everything working.

Trip Planning

Rich and I had our first trip planning session. We expect more as time get closer. Here are some of our ideas to date. (Click on them to get more info).

Chief Joseph Scenic Highway-Bighorn Mountains
Sturgis to Devils Tower
San Juan Mountain Skyway
Mexican Hat to Bryce Canyon
Monument Valley

Oh yes, our first challenge is to get to the Sturgis bike rally in Sturgis, South Dakota for the last day of the rally on August 11th. We plan to make Rapid City, SD our home base for a couple of days. We will have 2 days to travel from Maryland and need to cover 1,600 miles. This will be the only sustained “in the saddle” part of the trip planned. For those not familiar with the Sturgis Bike Rally you may want to check out their “official” site here http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/. I suspect this will be my first real photo opportunity. (Although it will not be of the landscape variety, I can’t pass it up.)

While in Sturgis we will also get out to see the following:

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial

New Windshield

The new AeroFlow windshield that I ordered arrived yesterday and I installed it this evening. I needed a quieter and taller windshield and based upon the info that I’ve read on biker forums like K-Bikes, this shield should fit the bill. I will check it out this weekend when I go out for an extended test ride. Those interested can check out their site here Aeroflow Screens.

Now, two for the ride

Its official, my friend, Rich, will be joining me on the trip. (His wife gave the OK) He's preping his Goldwing as I speak (write).

First Post

Well, I’ve created a blog. I am going to try and maintain it throughout my trip. Keep in mind the trip is supposed to be FUN and I don’t want maintaining the blog to become a chore. I will post photos and other info as my trip progresses. I’ve been asked by my friends which bike am I going to take - my Honda Goldwing GL1800 or my new BMW K1200GT. After riding the GT in the Great Smoky Mountains during the first month of ownership the decision was easy. I can’t wait to experience the Black Hill of South Dakota, the formations in Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, the canyons in Utah, and many other sights in Colorado, and New Mexico and only nineteen days to it!

Stay tuned for info about my route.