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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Ready to traverse a long and lonesome highway on the steel horse dubbed the “WR”. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=276493)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Yamaha_WR250X_-_Adventure_Touring.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - July 29, 2010

The 2010 Yamaha WR250X - Showroom stock other than the addition of a Giant Loop tank bag.

What began as a long term review of possibly the premiere 250 dual sport in North America turned into something quite different and by far a lot more interesting.

Let's spell out the results up front. In the 250cc segment, we have ridden the XT, CRF, and the KLX. With those rides behind us, the current best quarter liter Dual Purpose available is the 2010 WR250X. The fuel efficient on-road based WR250X has a crisp yet fun handling nature to tackle the surface streets of your daily commute while offering the ability to head off-road (albeit easy terrain) when the need arises. If you need to hop a curb, traverse a grassy median, or head down light trail to explore, the WR250X is ready to take you there with a simple turn of the bars and a twist of the throttle. This is the first quarter liter I would have no qualms riding from the depths of Death Valley to the top of Pike's Peak as its FI engine adjusts automatically vs. a carbureted bike running out of steam after a minimal 5,000' elevation change. At the end of the day, the smile on your face will remind others of what you thought of your ride on the best in class "WR".

While not perfect -- no bike is -- for a larger rider, the WR250X offers class leading performance and the most relaxed seating position of any competitor. What that means for you is an all-day riding capability without feeling cramped.

Features and Highlights

As written within the 2010 Yamaha WR250X Review Has Begun (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32355) piece, the 250 cc motocross bike derived WR250X deserves the accolades above thanks in part to its modern yet comfortable 10.6” of suspension front and rear, rare for the class fuel injected engine which allows a surprisingly potent midrange on up to its 10,000 RPM red line, a top speed north of 80 mph and an ergonomic layout that rivals and in some cases exceeds some of the world’s best Adventure bikes.

A reasonably low total cost of ownership is guaranteed thanks in part to a maintenance schedule calling for the first valve adjustment at an amazing for a bike, 26,000 miles!

In addition, there are currently no Quarter-liter bikes that have the electrical accessory capacity of the WR250X given its stator puts out 350W which is more than enough to power a set of Gerbing's gear (including the jacket liner, pants liner, gloves and boot soles), the lights, FI, GPS and a Smartphone charger.

The final piece of the puzzle comes about by the WR’s ability to hit triple digits… Not the speed kind but the Fuel Economy kind. 100 mpg when ridden to its limits gives its rider the peace of mind that he or she is treading lightly on the environment while enjoying the outdoors in a manner few automobile drivers will ever experience. Think of a 4WD convertible with the ability to go anywhere and do anything. Now you have a good idea of what the WR is capable of!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3457.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3457)
(2) complete tanks - 433 miles on 4.218 gallons of fuel.

All said, the 2010 Yamaha WR250X is greater than the sum of its parts and will bring many miles of smiles to its owner. The enjoyable ride will occur no matter if you are tackling the harshest inner city environs or wide open spaces on an exploration with an as yet to be determined destination.

Minor Detriments

With a long legged stature, some shorter riders may find its ride height and reach a bit beyond their body size. Like all bike customization, there are lowering solutions of up to 5” for this.

The OEM Odometer as equipped is almost dead on but the speedometer reads as much as 10% low of actual (verified via GPS) at top speed off the showroom floor. Again, there are customizations that can cure the WR250X of one or the other but not both unfortunately.

In its OEM non-modded state, the top speed with rider in an upright position was found to be 82 mph. While plenty fast enough for any road in America, what I have not taken into account in the past is headwinds or grades which can bring the quarter liter to its knees while you are asking everything from it and falling below the 70 mph mark. Again, there are cures but not without expending some serious cash. This is not an oversight but simply a limitation of what the most potent .25L can provide in its OEM stock form. Place yourself on a lesser capable quarter-liter and the wakeup call arrives far sooner. As in the first time you hit the Interstate with a head wind or hit a grade to ascend.

Due to the low inertia single cylinder engine incorporated into the WR250X, the throttle’s tip-in from Injectors on to off to on again can be abrupt. While taller gearing can remove some of the hit, an hour or two in the saddle reduces this to a non-event. For the first ride however, it is different than most bikes we have ridden and something to be wary of.

There is no tach in the modern digital instrument display. I am not sure why it is missing but it is surely missed.

Due to the high compression high tech engine, Premium fuel is required.

Finally we have the seat. Like all Dual Purpose bikes with a history beginning on the Motocross track, the WR250’s seat is good for about 75-miles after which your rear will be requesting a serious respite as the day comes to a close. The WR is no different than any quarter-liter through single liter bike dual purpose. This is something the manufacturers really need to put behind them… No pun intended ;) After 100 + years of motorcycling history, all manufacturers should see their customers riding long distance in comfort, not distress.

The Challenge Ahead

Yamaha sent us this bike for a thorough review and unfortunately it is now time to take it back to Yamaha HQ near LA. In doing so, we set up the WR250X as a Continent Crossing bike with light yet inexpensive modding to match the ride comfort and capability of other ultra expensive Adventure Touring bikes but at a fraction of the cost. And while we are at it, why not try and hold onto its 100 mpg capability from sea to shining sea?

100 mpg on a bike rated at 71 mpg? What is so hard about that?

The 2010 Yamaha WR250X is rated at 71 mpg “unadjusted” city. What does unadjusted mean? While we have laid out the details how CAFÉ is based on pre-1985 city and highway Fuel Economy and Emissions test cycle(s) in the past, unadjusted FE ratings can be understood a lot easier if we consider it in terms of a car we all know. Namely, the 50 mpgUS rated 2010 Prius. The 2010 Prius is rated at 51 mpg city and 48 mpgUS highway after “adjustments” including offsets to account for the new 08 EPA cold, hot w/ A/C and high speed testing regimens. Per CAFÉ, the Prius is rated at an astounding 71.95 mpg unadjusted city and 69.64 mpgUS unadjusted Highway. It should be clear as to what unadjusted Fuel Economy means in relative terms… And to the matter at hand, does anyone know of a third generation 2010 Prius that has breached 100 mpg while crossing the country? While we have been beyond 100 mpg for short periods in the 2010 Prius, the stretch goal for the WR will be to match that feat while crossing the Continent! Only the 2000 – 2006 Honda Insight w/ a stick has reached that level while driving with prevailing winds West to East and that car is the Thoroughbred amongst all hyper efficient automobiles we have had the opportunity to own and drive over the years.

Now you know how the MPG ratings of bikes stack up against what we are familiar with and what is actually reported is really “out there”!

The 2010 Yamaha WR250X Adventure Touring Bike - Light Modifications

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Modded_2010_Yamaha_WR250X.jpg

Like any vehicle, there are items that we feel the need to change. Why? To make it our own with a personal touch or to make it fit our needs through any number of add-ons or subtractions. In the case of a car, it could be new mats, new wheels, a steering wheel cover, gear shift knob, wood-inlays inserted around the interior or even a DVD infotainment system for the kids… In the case of the 2010 Yamaha WR250X, it is all about fitting the bike to our needs and adding some utility for that long and lonely stretch of highway some call home.

Riding Gear - The Gold Standard in riding apparel happens to come from Aerostich. In this case, the Darien Jacket and Pants (http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits/darien-jacket.html). From the CleanMPG Review (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=223464) and subsequent rides since, it has proven itself ready to cross counties, states, continents and even the world.

Alpinestars SP8 Glove (http://www.alpinestars.com/SP1_Glove/pd/c/141/np/141/p/355810.html) – An all-leather, full protection gauntlet glove for a reasonable price. Early impressions are that they offer great protection while still being comfortable for the middle temperature ranges from 55 to 75 degrees F.

Arai XD-3 Helmet (http://www.araiamericas.com/default.aspx?pageid=57#/helmets/moto/xd3) – One of if not the best Dualsport helmets available period! With its incorporated peak blocking the afternoon sun and HQ design protecting ones head in a worst case scenario, few if any can match the XD-3 for both its dual purpose form and function.

A long distance rider without a long distance hydration system is asking for trouble. Thanks to the efforts of a company called CamelBak (camelback.com), a 70 ounce HiViz rear pack was picked up and with it, a simple yet effective on the road drink solution is now part of the arsenal. In addition, the HiViz CamelBak with its easy to see color and reflective elements is a must have for anyone taking a long slab ride with night riding included.

The Scala Rider G4 is an advanced communication system from a company named Cardo Systems (http://www.cardosystems.com/us/homepage). While providing rider to rider communication gear (something we will unfortunately not have the opportunity to test out :(), the system offers Bluetooth Cell Phone to interior of the helmet connectivity while on the bike and heading down the road. In addition, the small headset incorporates an FM receiver used to hopefully pick up the latest weather information from local stations. There are a number of other features that the Scala Rider incorporates including the fact it is now SW upgradeable and can be used with an i-Phone or MP3 and synch up to a GPS Navigation unit for turn by turn announcements that can be heard from within one's helmet.

While not on the initial segment, the Gerbing’s heated gear (http://gerbing.com/index.php) will be on the second segment as we climb over the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada’s – When the road or trail ahead includes colder temperatures, Gerbing’s gear has saved many a rider from the elements over the years. While the fit is certainly right, I have not had them “lit up” and have no early impressions as of yet.

The Canari Gel Liner (www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33463) bicycle riding shorts not only help soften the blow to those special areas but also introduce additional comfort and support for the hips and upper thighs.

And to wrap up the rider wear, some IMS Ultimate Motorcycle riding shorts (http://www.evs-sports.com/product/tug-undergear/ultimate-short/). The Synthetic Chamois lined crotch and Breathable Sublimated thigh panels add comfort and support hopefully making the longest days in the saddle bearable.

Bike add-on’s – Low cost additions that make your everyday routine commute exactly that, a routine non-event for lack of a better phrase.

The Giant Loop (http://www.giantloopmoto.com/) Great Basin rear soft luggage will be left behind for the first shorter stretch from Boston to Chicago. It will however be a vital part of the second segment from Chicago to LA as it can be packed with over a weeks’ worth of gear and camping equipment while keeping everything out of the elements. The Fandango Tank bag will be with the WR at all times as it carries the quick access items I need when stopping for a fill up, grabbing a snack or simply pulling over to make a call.

With the OEM 2.0 gallon tank leading to a max range in the 210 to 220 mile range, a little bit more never hurt. Especially when out west where the distance between stations at night can be a long one. Which brings us to the IMS Fuel Tank (http://www.imsproducts.com/). The tank is an OEM fitment that offers up to 3.0 gallons for either the WR250 R or X. Our early prototype holds 2.8 gallons and the extra .8 gallons will surely come in handy while traversing the more desolate areas out West.

A 30-ounce MSR bottle was found and strapped on in the toolkit location. For one of those "ah-oh, I am out and there is nothing ahead for 25-mile" moments. While I hope not to have to use this extra amount of fuel, it is better to be safe than sorry…

The WR’s ergonomics and utility were improved with the addition of Promoto Billet/Fastway (http://www.promotobillet.com/) F5 platform pegs that lower the base by .75” and their almost museum piece quality aluminum rear rack for carrying the load. This is hands down the highest quality and best looking rear rack I have ever seen on a bike!

While meant to improve the engine protection of the WR bikes, we had something different in mind when we searched for a skid plate. Namely, an easy to install addition that will improve the under engine aerodynamics. A plate was found that meets all the requirements and more from Richochet Skid Plates (http://69.94.125.252/store/page255.html). Not only is it well made but it is one of the few WR skid plates that cover the underside almost to the swing arm pivots. Nice looking and very functional for both the on and off-road riders specific needs.

A small reach extension for the taller folk was found from RoxSpeed FX and their Anti vibration 2” bar risers (http://www.roxspeedfx.com/cgi-bin/cart/showitems.cgi?subcat_id=269). The risers allow a rise and setback of up to 2” for an even more comfortable seated position. In addition, the risers also reduce vibration through the bars with hard rubber isolation for a more relaxed all-day ride. In addition, RoxSpeedFX also sells soft cell Spider grips to reduce the bikes vibes felt through the hands even further.

The next item is a low cost add-on that reduces the battle with both straight line and buffeting winds that every non-screen equipped rider has experienced in the past. The Slipstreamer Spitfire Windshield (http://www.slipstreamer.com/Product/Sport/sport.html) reduces the buffeting, adds road debris protection and even improves aerodynamics slightly while taking just 30-minutes to install.

A really nice addition came in the form of taller gearing. Yamaha's OEM gearing included a 13/42 front and rear sprocket set tuned for all out performance. I was looking for a more relaxed 50 to 70 mph RPM gearing and Yamaha provides through their OEM GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) accessory unit. With the addition of a 14/40 F/R sprocket set, the effective final ratio was increased 12.7% allowing for that more comfortable higher speed ride. Another benefit is that the speedometer now displays from 0 to 3 mph under actual between 30 and 80 mph vs. 5 to 8 over off the showroom floor. While I do have to take into account the odometer's newly created lack of accuracy with an 11.573% delta at each fill, the speedometer is a lot closer to actual now.

And finally a homegrown addition thanks to my mom’s unique capabilities and ingenuity. While it is not the coolest looking addition (in no uncertain terms :D), it certainly meets the requirements for making a 75-mile seat into a 4,000-mile one as seen in the photo above ;)

Tear down to completed Adventure Touring Project Bike…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Wheels_Off.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Naked.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Coming_Together.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/2010_Yamaha_WR250X_-_Almost_Ready.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Modded_2010_Yamaha_WR250X_2.jpg

The “Iron Butt”

First, we are headed to Boston to see friends. Home of the Tea Party, the Big Dig and the Red Sox Green Monster, it is a worthy destination. Since we are headed that way to, why not make it an “Iron Butt” Ride attempt! What is an “Iron Butt” Ride Attempt?

There are over 50,000 members of the “Iron Butt Association or (IBA) (http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm)” that are dedicated to safe, long-distance motorcycle riding. While based in the United States, there are thousands of enthusiastic members across the globe! One of their more popular slogans is, "The World Is Our Playground."

They host a number of rides with the most notable being the 11-day, 11,000 + mile Iron Butt Rally. In addition, the Iron Butt Association hosts the Saddle Sore 1000 (1,000 miles in a 24-hour period ride ), the Bun Burner 1500 (1,500 miles in 36 hours), the Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in 24 hours), the 50cc Quest (Cross Country in 50 hours or Less), the National Parks Tour Master Traveler Award(visit 50 parks in at least 25 states), the coveted 10/10ths Challenge (10 consecutive 1,000 mile days) and the almost-impossible to get into 100K Club (100,000 miles or more in one year).

The Iron Butt Association does not have a membership in the traditional sense as there are no yearly dues, formal meetings or a monthly newsletter. The IBA is a little more loose knit organization with members that earn it through completing an Iron Butt Ride or Rally.

In our case, the ride from the IL/WI border to Boston is a scant 1,065 miles away… And we have less than 24-hours to get there on the WR250X Adventure Touring Bike :rolleyes:

2010 Yamaha WR250X Adventure Touring Project - 100-mpg “East to West” Ride Route

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Route.jpg

Planned to loosely follow US Route 20, the highway is the longest contiguous east–west highway in the US at over 3,365 miles. U.S. 20 is a coast-to-coast route but because the Yellowstone National Park roads do not have signage for U.S. numbered highways, a gap exists that splits the route into two sections. And US 20 runs smack dab through the middle of Yellowstone.

As of today, the highway's eastern terminus is in Boston, Massachusetts, at Kenmore Square near the Atlantic coast with its western terminus located in Newport, Oregon, at the intersection of U.S. Route 101, less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean.

It’s time to put up or shut up… And find out what that 2010 Yamaha WR250X is really worth while on a ride across the states and not just a ride across a state line.

Great review...thanks!

Wasn't the CRF a tad bit higher in FE?

Hi Macword:

Yes, the CRF's FE was significantly higher at 128 mpgUS but it lacked the punch needed for the Interstate placing its owners in a predicament when trying to do any higher speed distance rides.

Good Luck

Wayne

Wayne,

Good luck on your bike trips. Maybe I missed it, but when do you leave?

Harry

PS: I finally got the right parts, and my Arai Profile helmet is back together. I can't believe those guys at the races change out a faceshield in seconds.

Hi Harry:

While I have been planning to leave first thing in the morning since last Sunday but little things keep pushing me back a day. From the test rides and adjustments, Avon Disntazia Review, a pinched tube on the swap, to some funky colored Mobil1 Synthetic last night, tomorrow at 04:30 AM is my latest plan. I have a last minute minor change to the seat add-on we are going to perform tonight and then I can officially call it ready... I think ;)

Great to hear about your Aria! I hated seeing you have to burn $’s to purchase that HJC while on the road earlier this month :(

Good Luck

Wayne

Better get some sleep if you're leaving early in the A.M.

Harry

And good luck on the trip!

Good luck on your trip Wayne. If you need anything just call.

Safe travels.

Any updates from Wayne.

Hi All:

Made it from Gurnee, IL to Charlton, MA and turned around to spend the night at Jesse and Heather's home in Chicopee, MA early this morning. 1,056 miles (will spell the details out later) and 21 hours with an hour stop in Toledo and a bunch of screwing around to turn around in Charleton, MA and get some paperwork signed in Chicopee. Currently we are cruising around in Jesse's Prius enjoying the area and will get back on the road to see Ricardo tomorrow. When the 100-mpg challenge begins :)

Good Luck

Wayne

Hello everyone...Jesse here. Wayne hit the road this morning around 10am est. after staying an extra day to explore the Birkshire mountain range. Wayne and I took Heather's 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid for a spin and drove to the top of Mount Greylock, the highest point in MA at 3,491 ft. Wayne should hit Ricardo's sometime tonight.

Wayne called yesterday and he was at JustBringIt's. He told me about some great photos that he has taken. I don't want to spoil the surprise.;) He was going to be leaving and hoped to make it to Pittsburgh yesterday. The MPG is staying within expected parameters. Sounds like a great trip. It is making me want to make a bike journey even more!

I missed the thread and he's a sleep at my place. He was telling me about his 100 mpg + tanks he has been getting. :D

I loved the story on the Garmin GPS taking him down dirt roads
that only a bike like his or a four wheel drive could travel on. :eek:

Now I can't believe that Wayne would just blindly follow anything a GPS unit says.

Wayne asked me to post his tank average 1st tank was 114 mpg and second 102 mpg and the third looks even better than the 1st tank, maybe 116 mpg plus.

The dirt road (Wayne called it a trail) was over 8% grade up and just as steep back down the other side. Lots of ruts and potholes and you have to remember this was at 12:30 - 1:00 am in the morning. Only Wayne would practice motor crossing at one in the morning on a lonely goat trail in the middle of no where.

*knocks* on door -- u there?

Hope he is doing well. The trip West will be long.
Outstanding mileage numbers!

Well he got a flat tire about three hours out of Pittsburgh.

How does he manage all these flats? There has to be a pattern somewhere?:eyebrow:

It must be the GPS!

Hi All:

Just got back and spent a few hours this morning resting up at a Park on the river in downtown Elkhart, IN before making the final ride through Chicago home.

I think I will take a nap now ;)

Tanks so far are 110, 102, 109, 99 and 105 mpg IIRC. Will post the details later. I hope the pics turned out as there were some good ones. Met a ton of great people on the road too. More on that later as well.

Wayne

Hi All:

A bit about the IB ride… First, it was one very long day. I packed up the bike, uploaded some News, and sent out my final E-Mails. With ~ 2-hours of sleep, it was time to head out. I topped her off at a Shell in Gurnee, IL located about ¼ of a mile from the I-94 East On-ramp near the IL/WI border at 05:44 AM CST.

2010 Yamaha WR250X – “IB” Ride Details

Fill Location|Date|Time|Odometer|*Actual Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Trip A/B Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Filled (gallons)|FE (mpgUS)|Notes

Gurnee, IL|07/30/2010|05:44 AM CST|923|923|Reset|Reset|NA|NA|Initial Top Off|NA|Begin the “IB” Ride

Elkhart, IN|07/30/2010|09:21 AM EST|1,066|1,082|142.6/142.6|159.1/159.1|30.4|33.9|2.525|63.01|Made it through Chicago.

Genoa, OH|07/30/2010|12:52 PM EST|1,196|1,226|129.6/272.1|144.6/303.6|8.9|9.9|2.178|66.39|Took an hour break.

Kingsville, OH|07/30/2010|03:43 PM EST|1,338|1,385|142.4/414.6|158.9/462.6|19.7|21.9|2.290|69.39|Tail wind :)

Cuba, NY|07/30/2010|06:24 PM EST|1,468|1,516|129.8/544.4|144.8/607.4|16.5|18.4|2.382|60.79|Ascents and Descents in earnest.

Nichols, NY|07/30/2010|08:58 PM EST|1,579|1,640|111.4/655.9|124.3/731.8|7.5|8.4|2.134|58.25|Getting Cold at night in the mountains on I-86/88.

Rotterdam, NY|07/30/2010|11:38 PM EST|1,714|1,790|134.3/790.2|149.8/881.6|27.3|30.4|2.425|55.38|SP8’s and Aerostich liner are barely doing the job. Ramped up speed a touch before it gets to cold.

Charlton, MA|07/31/2010|02:08 AM EST|1,831|1,921|117.7/908.0|131.3/1,013.1|1.4|1.6|2.038|64.43|Cold and slowing down even more to stay warm :( It is 59 degrees F now.

Chicopee, MA|07/31/2010|03:30 AM EST|1,876|1,971|--/--|--/1,063|NA|NA|NA|NA|Arrived at Jesse’s home after figuring out how to turn around on the Mass Pike.
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

1,013 miles on 15.972 gallons = 63.42 mpgUS.

Wayne

Hi All:

I was planning on beginning the 100-mpg ride attempt ride beginning on Sunday but Jesse’s and Heather’s Altima Hybrid was begging for a ride… Actually I was begging to drive it instead ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Jesse_s_Altima_Hybrid.jpg
2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid on top of Mount Greylock.

Mount Greylock in the Berkshire Mountains is the highest mountain in Massachusetts at 3491 feet. The views were pretty darn good too!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Top_of_Mount_Greylock.jpg
Pic taken from inside the Veteran’s Monument/Lighthouse.

The Veteran’s Monument/Lighthouse guided wary pilot’s to their destinations back in the golden days of flying. Namely, bi-planes when the phrase “Wing and a Prayer” really meant something!

Wayne

Hi All:

So Monday was the day… After thanking Jesse and Heather for their gracious hospitality and a number of locations to get a shot of the bike actually in the Atlantic, I was on my way.

I rode around Hull, MA area for almost 2-hours until I found a gap in the wall to a private (or maybe it was public?) beach and I rode the mighty WR right on in :)

2010 Yamaha WR250X Adventure Touring Project Bike - 100-mpg X-Country Ride Attempt

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_in_the_Atlantic.jpg
Parked in the Atlantic Ocean :D

I asked a scantily clad beach goer to snap a pic and she obliged :) Thank you anonymous scantily clad beach goer!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_I_in_the_Atlantic.jpg
An unknown creature was seen coming out of the Atlantic Ocean this past Monday :D

About 5-minutes after this pic, I dropped the WR in the sand at ~ 2-mph while trying to ride back out to the road. The road tires just could not get any traction from a standstill.

Wayne

Hi All:

After I left Hull, MA, it was time to fill up and begin the 100-mpg X-Country attempt. I found a station just outside of downtown Boston, MA which set in motion the journey with the odometer at 1,993 miles. It was ~ 13-miles to the park at the beginning of Commonwealth Avenue so I rode up Beacon Street where Commonwealth crossed creating the Terminus of Hwy 20. I snapped a pic a few blocks down the road at the first Hwy 20 only sign in downtown Boston I rode by…

2010 Yamaha WR250X Adventure Touring Project Bike - 100-mpg X-Country Ride Attempt

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_on_Hwy_20_in_Boston.jpg
The beginning :)

The Escape from Boston was somewhat uneventful as Hwy 20 is simply stop light to stop light and the further away from Boston you get, the less congested it becomes. Very nice ride other than the hard work to keep the FE numbers up in downtown of course.

I rode 20 almost back to Chicopee where it turned onto I-291 and I left the Interstate after about a mile. This is where the Garmin decided to quit for a bit. I pulled in to a Legion Hall while trying to get the Garmin to reboot. Finally after 45-minutes, she came back and I have not seen the trouble since???

I let the Garmin loose with Fuel Saving Routes and no Tollways which took me on "Wild Routes" all the way to Schenectady in order to visit with Ricardo for the night.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_on_Lake_in_MA.jpg
The WR 250X on the side of the road just before nightfall near a Mountain Lake in Western Massachusetts.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/NY_Border.jpg
Crossing into NY- One down and many many more to go.

Low fuel just appeared after almost 200-miles indicated (222 miles actual) and pulling into Schenectady for the night.

Wayne

Hi All:

To begin Day 2, Ricardo and I were looking over the maps and it looked like SR 5 heading West towards Geneva, NY was one of the best before tying back in with US 20 and heading Southwest towards Hornell, NY and then Pittsburgh, PA.

I pulled in for the first stop at Palatine Bridge, NY with the Odometer at 2222, Trip A/B showing 229.8 miles indicated and low fuel on for 30.6 miles. After the 11.57% adjustment, the WR covered 256.4 miles on 2.315 gallons for 110.75 mpgUS top off to top off. This is about where the headwinds started at 10 + mph and held all the way until Geneva. The station (a Gulf IIRC?) had just 87 and 89 with the bike requiring 91 to 93… I put in what they had and moved on??? After nightfall, the winds subsided and the roads became a bit more hairy :)

While riding SR5, I pulled into a McDonald’s for lunch in Oneida, NY where a lady named Mary was kind enough to give me not only the location as I was on the Cell with Al in Pittsburgh but gave me some insight into the local town’s history. Not far from Oneida in Pratt’s Hollow which she said was the geographic center of NY. She also has a friend that rides in the “American Legion Riders Club” with a number of lengthy weekend rides all over NY.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Mary_and_the_WR.jpg
Mary helping out with directions and local history.

The Garmin was let loose again and onto country roads, back roads and even some unpaved back roads while still hoping to keep the 100 mpg attempt moving forward. The Garmin in Fuel saving route mode and no highways can really go nuts so sometimes I followed and sometimes I did not.

I made it to Arkport, NY a little after 10:00 PM and filled at a closed Sunoco. Trip A showed 193.1 miles (215.44 miles actual) where I topped off with 2.118 gallons for a 101.72 mpgUS tank.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/PA_Border.jpgSome more strange country road routing and I crossed into PA just before midnight…

Soon after crossing the border, I was lead down an unpaved, off-road mountain trail that in some places was so steep I was on the pegs and looking back through the windshield at the instruments while attempting to stand upright! In addition, the road/trail was heading up above 2,000’ elevation and torn up so bad I should had been on knobby tires as the road tires were breaking loose every which way.

Jud, I was indeed following the Navi blindly at this point and should not have been as it was neither fuel efficient or a shorter route! In actuality, the route was a short route but the routing was insane as there was no car that would have made it up and then back down that mountain trail simply beacause it was by no means a road. All told, maybe 15-miles of unpaved roads were ridden with this mountain climb in the middle of the night the most "hair raising" ;)

After riding all night long, I pulled into Al’s home about 08:30 AM the following morning :rolleyes: And boy was I ready for a lengthy nap after that all-night ordeal ;)

Later that day after Al got back home from work, we went out to a local Applebee's for one of the best steaks I have had. One more day and 450 + miles ticked off with the following to be yet another long one...

Wayne

Hi All:

A parting shot and will post more on the first half of the WR X-Country Ride tomorrow…

2010 Yamaha WR250X Adventure Touring Project Bike - 100-mpg X-Country Ride Attempt

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_at_Dusk_on_Hwy_20_in_Ohio.jpg
The WR parked along a lonely stretch of Hwy 20 in North Central Ohio at sunset.

Wayne

So far this is proving to be a great adventure. I wish I was making the trip with you.

Hi Jud:

You would have loved to be on this one with your new ride and it’s not even half over yet! Let us plan another review ride in the future :)

About the bike and its equipment so far…

The WR250X has been performing spectacularly. Need a little kick to pass or climb, downshift and add some throttle and it moves without hesitation. And it is doing so while achieving better FE than the OEM Review! The more I ride some of the back country, the more I realize what a long legged WR setup for the street can do. Very quick handling for the hundreds of 90 degree turns I have taken transitioning from one road to a perpendicular yet not jittery at higher speeds. And the tall layout really helps stretch the longer inseam riders out to make a 5-hour bike into a 10-hour one. The seat is still a PIA but there are any number of remedies available to cure that from the aftermarket. All told, the WR 250X is a lightweight yet reasonably powerful point and shoot and you are already thinking about the next turn ¼ mile ahead.

And the Yamaha WR250X’s YGTR OEM taller gear set is so good I have to question why a road rider in particular would reduce gearing through other aftermarket solutions. With the Avon Distanzia’s, the taller gear set was just about right. With the OEM Bridgestone’s, I could use another 2 to 3% but I am certainly not complaining as the 14/40 is a vast improvement over the 13/42 OEM sprockets.

The Cardo Scala Rider G4 allows the ability to tie your Bluetooth phone to your interior mic and speakers plus any Bluetooth enabled player can be listed to seamlessly. Above 60 mph however, the speakers need to be jacked up to max to hear (I am wearing ear plugs). The Speakers are set back from my ears about an inch so with some foam moving them closer, I am sure they would work better at higher speeds. Below 60 mph and the speakers work very well. While in Bluetooth mode, the Li-Ion batteries will allow a single unit to run for about 4-hours. When not in Bluetooth mode and listening to the FM radio, I have had over 10-hours of play time before the Li-Ion gives up the ghost. I have the second unit with me and with it charged, I can make it to the next stop before having to charge both. The way I wired them in the Arai is to loop the left speaker wiring between the foam and attached it to the inside with the speakers Velcro backing. For the right speaker wire, I inserted under the Arai’s rear rubber edge to the right side and routed the wiring between the foam inserts. So far, it is holding well.

While I am not answering my cell on the road due to the shortened Bluetooth hours of use, I am listening to FM stations while crossing the great divide. The Tuner cannot pick up stations that far away as even in Chicago where the Car tuner will pick up maybe 50 stations, the G4 will pick up only 6 or 7. It does pick them up cleanly however. To turn the volume up or down, you simply tap the front (up) or back (rear) button on the unit and it drops down about 10 dB. A guess as to the drop. I really like the Auto Gain Control as you slow down or stop and then take off and increase speed, the volume automatically decreases or increases depending on the exterior ambient noise level.

I wish there were a way to swap out a separate power unit instead of swapping out the 2” x ½” inch by ½” clip in G4 unit for longer ride times with Bluetooth enabled.

The Promoto Billet/Fastway F5 pegs are just too darn good to describe in words. While I am up on the pegs to stand up stretch out every 10 or so miles, just lifting to cross over a set of rail road tracks or when on the pegs for a significant amount of time while on the off-road roads ;), the flat platform and lowered height are a very welcome addition. And something I still think about every time I get up on the pegs. For cruising, they hold their own without a thought.

The Promoto Billet rear rack still looks brand new and I have had the bungies holding the Sealline bag (see the photos) attached and detached about every 200-miles. With its multiple points to attach, I can bungie just about anything up to the WR250X’s rear rack weight limit. I almost hate to place the bag(s) on it because it looks so good darn good all by itself :D

The Slipstreamer Spitfire windscreen while already showing wear thanks to the WR’s front brake cable continuously rubbing the plastic is a must have inexpensive add-on that not only protects the rider from road debris and bugs at night but takes some of the chill out of the ride when temps fall into the high 50’s and low 60’s. It is small enough to not look overly obtrusive or like you are riding a road bike but large enough to protect and deflect for an aero, colder temperature and protection improvement.

The RoxSpeedFX risers are working as expected. They help with my arm reach yet soften the blow of impacts and reduce vib’s. You can pull at them and there is movement so a hardcore track rider may find them a bit to spongy but for riding the slab, they are working as expected for both ergonomics and long hour ride vibration reduction. I have not yet had any tingling in my hands and forearms which the RoxSpeedFX risers were meant to reduce or eliminate.

The Ricochet skid plate is doing its job for the aero improvement and was there when the rocks were being kicked up on the dirt trail. The only thing that came up was when doing an oil change. The hole is plenty large for a socket to get to the drain bolt but when the WR250X is on its kickstand and as the last bit of oil begins to drain, it comes to the edge and some finds its way onto the top of the plate vs. dripping through the hole. A minor problem that a paper towel will cure but something I noticed during its first oil change before I left for the east coast. All other plates would have a similar issue.

The Alpinestars SP8 gloves are a worthy addition to the equipment arsenal. I use the BMW Cross Gloves when above 70 degrees but their hand protection is minimal as are all summer light gloves. At night, I place the all-leather gauntlets with multiple protection points including hard knuckles and layer upon layer of leather types in the palm to not only help keep warm but for that just in case moment… They were a little tight when I first received them but have broken in and are now as comfortable as any other. I even slept with them on in Elkhart, IN while sleeping under the stars to stay warm and keep the mosquitoes at bay. I wonder how many have worn their Alpinestar SP gloves for that purpose ;)

Both the Canari Gel Liners and EVS Synthetic Chamois shorts work as advertised. Both help to cushion the continuous pounding while helping to increase seating comfort.

The IMS 2.8-gallon fuel tank… Oh boy what an improvement upon the 1.9L OEM. Not only is it much lighter and has more capacity, Low fuel to empty appears to be more along the lines of .7 gallons remaining vs. .5 from the OEM. The IMS cap is a simple vented unit and if you do not have a vent tube (tough to do when you have a tank bag), I had to stop fuel slosh from coming up through the vent and onto the base of the Giant Loop Fandango tank bag from an initial top off by placing a valve stem cap over the vent and taping it down with duct tape. It still acts as a vent yet prevents any fuel slosh form dumping onto the exterior of the tank.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/IMS_Tank_Cap_Vent_mod.jpg
IMS 2.8 gallon Tank - Cap Vent Modification. The Giant Loop Fandango Tank Bag is unzipped part way and flopped over as performed at each fill.

The Giant Loop Fandango tank bag... There are not enough superlative's in the world to describe its weather proof utility, toughness and ease of use. From the zip on/off the base for both removal and/or flop over to fill (see photo above as to how that feature works), exterior grab handle to carry it with you or the large volume to place all your "get to" items quickly, it is the best on the market to date.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Wayne

Wayne,

Sorry I missed your phone call. I just didn't have my cell turned on that day, as I worked in the office.

Good luck with the rest of your trip.

I got a notice from Garmin about a software update, and did that. Is the navigation setting okay? I have mine set for "fastest time." The Garmin is quirky at times, and seems to choose different routes depending on what mood it's in.

Harry

Hi Harry:

I passed through Hornell about 10:30 PM or so and too bad I did not get to stop in and say hello.

Just a few hours after leaving Al’s house in Pittsburgh, I ran into a bit of a tight spot. Namely, a rear flat. She began to do a “jiggle” and I knew what that meant since the road was not that bad. I pulled to a stop in front of the Three Rivers RV and Marine Store in Brighton, PA (http://www.threeriversmarineandrvcenter.com/) and pulled out the can of Slime – Fix a flat. The first blast did not take and I am thinking oh, no, not again. Anyone that watched last month’s 2010 BMW 1200 GS ride down the East Coast knows what that was all about :rolleyes: Second and last blast and she immediately goes flat again :(

Fortunately, one of the sons (Mike) saw what had happened and brought out a compressor. After I told him about the flat, he helped me by bringing a bucket to get the rear end off the ground and a 12 mm wrench to loosen the chain adjuster nuts.

With the tire off, Mike gave me a ride in his "FI Programmable" 7.3L Ford Diesel PowerStroke to Darlington Cycle in Darlington PA for anew tube, bead break and tube install. His 7.3 pulls in the low 16’s when towing boats and RV’s and he has seen up to 25 mpg on the highway in it!!! His brother had a newer Ford with a 6.0L PowerStroke that they purchased as a salvage given it was driven into a creek with the engine submerged. The family pulled the 6.0, installed a 7.3L at their shop and its humming along nicely ever since! IIRC, the Father also owned a 7.3L Ford PowerStroke and all are extremely happy with the performance of their Ford’s for both towing and FE when moving boats and RV’s around the area and/or across the state. Thank goodness for families like this willing to lend a helping hand as it would have been a much longer day without their and especially Mike’s help!

Three Rivers Marine and RV

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Three_Rivers_RV_-_Marine_Store.jpg
Three Rivers Marine and RV storefront sign.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Three_Rivers_RV_-_Marine_Family.jpg
Left to Right – Chris (Sid), Mike (he went way out of his way to help me out thank goodness), their dad Rick and the last son, Rick Jr.

Darlington Cycle

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Darlington_Cycle_Repair.jpg
Darlington Cycle (http://www.darlingtoncycle.com/) – Left to Right – Mark (Owner) and Nephew Don Ehrinberg.

Fortunately, Mark took time during his lunch hour to break the bead, iron off the BT90, install a new tube. They have been in business for 35-years and while the downturn has hurt retail sales, the repair business is up and repeat business thanks to those 35-long years is keeping the shop vibrant as ever.

Mike from Three Rivers then gave me a ride back to his family's shop, helped install the freshly repaired rear tire and I was back on the road...

This could have been a lot worse but thanks to the guys above, it was a two to three hour ordeal vs. the 20 hour one I had last month ;)

Wayne

Hi All:

Less than 30-minutes after getting back on the road from the flat tire experience, the WR crossed into Ohio following the Garmin’s Fuel Efficient and no Tollway/Highway routing instructions…

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike"

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OH_Border.jpg
2010 Yamaha WR250X at the Ohio Border.

While passing through the small town of Wellington, OH, I was stopped by a train and the neatest thing happened. A lady got out of a car and asked is that a 250 from California? The WR has CA plates. I told her I started in Chicago, rode to Boston and I am headed to LA. She said she had owned (5) 250’s and has over 90,000, yes, 90,000 miles on her 250’s plus has ridden in all 48-states with her husband who was still in the car. She had also recently purchased a Suzuki TU250. I am sure with a little research we could find out who she was but I could tell by our two-minute conversation that her and her husband are huge bike enthusiasts and riding 250’s around the country is possibly the best way to experience it with the lowest possible Carbon footprint today. I passed along my card and said we are blogging this trip but I am not sure if she will visit or not?

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Wellington_OH_Train_Crossing.jpg
Train Crossing in Wellington, OH

In your net travels, if you come across a lady that has owned at least 5 250’s and placed over 90,000 miles on them including riding in all 48-states, by all means let me know. She has to post on the net somewhere, right :)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_at_Dusk_on_Hwy_20_in_Ohio_2.jpg
2010 WR250X in Central Ohio at dusk.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/IN_Border.jpg
2010 WR250X crossing the IN border.

I pulled into Elkhart, IN about 03:30 AM after 360 + miles and the flat tire ordeal behind me… Although I did not get to visit with DiamondLarry, I did enjoy a few hours of rest in the park downtown next to the river… With a scant 160 + mile ride including a section through downtown Chicago ahead, it was time to hit the road.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_on_Chicago_Lake_Michigan_Shore.jpg
2010 WR250X on the Shore of Lake Michigan just South of Downtown Chicago.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Chicago_Traffic.jpg
2010 WR250X in a typical Chicago style stop and crawl on or near Lake Shore Drive.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_at_Gurnee_Shell.jpg
2010 WR250X ridden full circle where she started and where she finished the first leg of the 100-mpg X-Country Ride in Gurnee, IL.

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|*Actual Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Trip A/B Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|1,993|0.0/0.0|0.0/0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.
Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|2,249|229.8/229.8|256.4/256.4|30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!
Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|2,464|193.1/423.0|215.4/471.9|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.
Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|2,735|242.6/665.7|270.7/742.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.
Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|2,969|209.5/875.2|233.7/976.5|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(
Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|3,232|235.5/_110.8|262.7/1,239.3|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/42 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

To date, 1,239 miles on 11.846 gallons = 104.592 mpgUS from Boston, MA to near the IL/WI Border and Lake Michigan.

Wayne

Great trip report. 250s are great especially in the respects that they are unassuming, approachable, fun, fast enough to enjoy getting there, slow enough that the scenery isn't just a blur. Oh, and they also use little fuel.

Air transport is for getting there, 250s are for travelling there.

Hi Garth:

Thank you and I could not have said it any better! While the large displacement bikes have their purpose, for most, a relatively high performance 250 is all that is really needed. The only two items I have not experienced yet is to see how its performance changes during the Pike’s Peak climb and if it is truly capable of 100 + mpg across the rest of the country? The head winds experienced from the East Coast to Chicago have not been favorable but the colder temps and huge climbs up the Rockies and across the Sierra Nevada's at night while out west are not going to help either?

What impresses me the most is that with the really low cost and minor add-ons, the WR is a bike I could live with year around with its ability to go anywhere and at any time. I did not mention it in the OP (I'll correct that later), the WR250X's stator puts out 350 W which is more than enough to power a set of Gerbing's gear (including the jacket liner, pants liner, gloves and boot soles), the lights, FI and a GPS.

About the only item(s) I would add or change right now would be transition to a thick yet bottom end form fitting Renazco seat and some strong aluminum reinforced hand guards for off-road protection, some aero improvements and debris/weather protection. I have some super strong and hardened 6061 Aluminum backed ProMoto Billet hand guards but they are meant to affix to an OEM setup and with the RoxSpeedFX risers, they would not fit properly. Some simple YGTR OEM guards or the smaller footprint plastic Acerbis clamp-ons w/out the hardened aluminum bracing would have worked fine for weather protection.

In any case, I plan to continue the trek after the 24th or thereabouts after taking my son to the University of Iowa on the 19th and finishing up a Drive Smart Program we are putting on for one of the City of Milwaukee entities on the 23rd.

I am very much looking forward to meeting you along with doing some real Adventure riding while in North West Washington State :)

Wayne

Wayne,
Great, the end of August, beginning of Sept is typically a beautiful time here. If you'll be going south after Labor Day, traffic along the coast will be much less, adding to the fun.

With the WR being so telepathic in the twisties, Mount Saint Helens and the Pacific Coast will be sheer heaven. Carrying the overall slower speeds through the corners will add up to impressive mileage numbers too.

The weather protection you mention is really the sole reason I still have my Concours (Big Red). The fairing on that thing is just about the best ever in a production bike for protection, an essential ingredient for cool and rainy western Washington state. I keep thinking I'll wear the bike out and transfer the fairing to a first gen Ninja 250 or Ninja 500, but the bike just never dies. 211,000 miles on it and it just runs better and better. Tons of mods available and an unusually active and inventive grass-roots aftermarket customer base. I'm averaging about 54 mpg, so it's pretty darn good for a 1000cc bike, but not good enough for put, put freeway commuting.

I've got a real itch for getting back to my roots on a dual purpose bike again. Maybe as a second bike. I'm actively looking for a fun ride for what's in the fund, about $1200. If I find something, we can both ride some of the Capitol Forest, if not your GPS will be in hog heaven sending you on plenty of dirt roads.

Be Safe!

-Garth

Hi Garth:

54 mpg and 211,000 from the 1L is excellent! And you certainly do a lot of riding :)

I am still making up the itinerary for the second segment with a quick ride down to Colorado Springs to take on Pike's Peak and a trip back up to ride through Yellowstone.

A question to everyone? Has anyone ridden a bike through Yellowstone? Are there Bears that will cause severe problems? I plan on taking a can of mace but with the recent news of the bear attacking two campers, I am questioning my sanity on this one?

Although this is still very preliminary, it is coming together. I have been building the Google Maps a number of times but they will not save for some reason so I am linking the route as it currently stands in the bolded title below.

If anyone has better suggestions, by all means, let me know!!!

2010 Yamaha WR250X – Adventure Touring Project Bike – Second Segment Ride Route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Cty+W15%2FN+Hunt+Club+Rd&daddr=13th+St+to:42.67687,+-94.20720+to:620th+St%2FCo+Rd+C66+to:610th+St+to:290th+St%2FCo+Rd+C60+to:NE-59+W+to:872+Rd%2FCounty+Oil+Rd+to:42.55023,+-99.84517+to:NE-7+S+to:Arnold+Dunning+Oil+to:40.25735,+-103.62318+to:Divide,+Pike+National+Forest,+Colorado+80814+to:2829+W.+Pikes+Peak+Ave.+Colorado+Springs,+CO+to:42.76256,+-105.39190+to:42.82454,+-108.73690+to:44.649116,-111.044312+to:115+S+BRIDGE+ST+Saint+Anthony,+ID+83445+to:Nampa,+ID+to:Bend,+OR+to:Newport,+OR&geocode=FZQAhwIdnMrB-g%3BFTQDigIdZmqo-g%3BFYYyiwIdIINi-g%3BFUTWiQIddF1e-g%3BFbSMigIdIIhO-g%3BFdeIigIddBFG-g%3BFb79hwIdmpUr-g%3BFZT6hwIdsBkk-g%3BFdZDiQIdznsM-g%3BFZC0hgIdCPIL-g%3BFXk8ewIdkrwH-g%3BFUZHZgId9NXS-Q%3BFRdcUQIdHJ-7-SG-tPAj74-QkA%3BFcHSUAId1de_-SnnXYG9oloThzEM5H21KCuj5A%3BFUCBjAId5Ni3-Q%3BFVxzjQIdfM6E-Q%3B%3BFYjbngIdJdxX-SkJjX8gZfpTUzHHpQT0aAnO5Q%3BFe1gmAId-mEN-Skp8ZdOaUyuVDFSSjJxY4YZrg%3BFT1GoAIdEuDE-ClR0tOl_8C4VDG00SDHrOeIEA%3BFXAaqQIdNRib-CmNmHxM29XBVDFy-_xh8XIf1A&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=7&mrsp=16&sz=8&via=1,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,16&dirflg=ht&sll=43.802819,-108.748169&sspn=2.953473,7.113647&ie=UTF8&ll=43.802819,-121.442871&spn=2.953473,7.113647&z=8)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/2010_Yamaha_WR250X_Cross_Country_Ride.jpg

Leave Aug 24 from Home.
Highway 173 to Hwy 14 to 11 in WI to Hwy 20 in Iowa…

Night of Aug 24-25 at Frank A. Gotch Park - Humboldt, Iowa (42.67687, -94.20720)
Generally on or paralleling Hwy 20 on SR 3 across Iowa.

Night of Aug. 25-26 at Ainsworth East City Park - Ainsworth, Nebraska (42.55023, -99.84517)
Generally on or paralleling Hwy 20 and SR 59 across Nebraska.

Night of Aug 26-27 at Brush City Memorial Park - Brush, Colorado (40.25735, -103.62318)
Head almost due south and then paralleling I-80/76 to Brush, CO.

Aug 27th during the day at Pikes Peak.
Head almost due South on SR 71 to US 24 into Colorado Springs, CO and to the Peak.

Night of Aug. 27-28 at Spurs N Lace B&B in Colorado Springs, CO.
Head almost Due North on US 85 back to US 20.

Night of Aug. 28-29 at Riverside Park - Douglas, Wyoming (42.76256, -105.39190)
Follow US 20 West and break off onto SR 789 heading Southwest to Landers.

Night of Aug. 29-30 at Lander City Park - Lander, Wyoming (42.82454, -108.73690).
Head Northwest on US 287 to Yellowstone, then hook back up on US 20 and follow it down to St. Anthony, ID.

Night of Aug. 30-31 at GuestHouse Henrys Fork Inn in Saint Anthony, ID. I was considering camping in the area but this is the most heavily populated Bear area in the country and that is the last thing I want to deal with when out west :rolleyes: Stay on US 20 to Nampa, ID.

Night of Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Nampa Budget Inn in Nampa, ID with a plant tour of ProMoto Billet on the 1st while I am there. Stay on US 20 to Bend, OR

Night of Sept. 1-Sept. 2 somewhere near Bend Oregon? I am still routing this one?
Stay on US 20 to Newport, OR.

Sept. 2, reach Newport, OR and head up to Seattle.

All of this is still influx as I spend a few hours every night tweaking. Attempting to follow US 20 and then dipping down to Pike's Peak seems nuts so I might take US 30 and then come up? Or skip it altogether but the ride up to 14,110' is something I wanted to write about regarding the WR’s performance degradation at altitude... Or not ;)

Since this is an Adventure Tour, I am attempting to limit hotels. Colorado Springs, Anthony, Idaho and Nampa, ID are the three I have planned with my limited budget leading the way.

While I am up in your area, you'll get some miles behind the windscreen of the premiere quarter-liter too :D

If anyone else wants to visit along the way, let me know.

Wayne

I'm looking forward to this. Popcorn at the ready.

A question to everyone? Has anyone ridden a bike through Yellowstone? Are there Bears that will cause severe problems? I plan on taking a can of mace but with the recent news of the bear attacking two campers, I am questioning my sanity on this one?



Wayne, I didn't have a bike at the time, but when I visited Yellowstone, I stayed in a motel in West Yellowstone, and that town was full of motorcyclists.

Camping in Yellowstone would involve the usual cautions: no food scents in or amongst your gear.

Harry

All of this is still influx as I spend a few hours every night tweaking. Attempting to follow US 20 and then dipping down to Pike's Peak seems nuts so I might take US 30 and then come up? Or skip it altogether but the ride up to 14,110' is something I wanted to write about regarding the WR’s performance degradation at altitude... Or not ;)



You could skip Pike's Peak and do the Beartooth Pass, instead. Take US 212 south out of Red Lodge, Montana. That would take on some very high riding, 11,000+, and leads right into Yellowstone. It would save some miles, too.

Harry

PS: riding the Beartooth is on my personal "bucket list" of must-do things before I check out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beartooth_Highway

Hi Harry:

Thank you for the input. The Beartooth looks like a fascinating and by far a more scenic ride plus I would be able to capture Yellowstone's North Stone Entrance. The 14K elevation of Pike’s Peak was going to be a relative performance addition or subtraction to the ride report but 11,000' with all the beauty that the upper reaches (mountain passes) that Montana and Idaho have to offer is far better! And probably far less congested as well?

Let me do some work in Google as far as places to stay along that route because you are right, it would be a far better ride than the one down to Colorado Springs and back up to Yellowstone.

The Bear-Tooth pass would also give me a better reason to use the Gerbing's Heated Gear and the balaclava I have at the ready for the colder sections.

You know you could catch up and we could finish off Yellowstone ion Harry’s and Wayne’s Excellent Adventure-III! Maybe Garth would like to ride this section although I can bet he would not be too happy with my usual “fast” pace after leaving Yellowstone ;)

I will begin the legwork because when I read “The Beartooth Highway is an All-American Road that has been called "the most beautiful drive in America," by late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt”, it sounds like something to add to my own Bucket-List!

Wayne

Maybe I could ride the Beartooth next season. I've decided not to retire right now, and so I'll be tied up working and won't be able to do the trip this season. I can retire without penalty in only 1 year, 4 months, not that I'm counting or anything :)

Harry

Hi Harry:

It will come soon enough :)

I reconfigured the route(s) and my stops to accommodate the Beartooth way into the wee hours this morning. The Beartooth sounds like an excellent location for some higher altitude riding for both the bike and the Gerbing write-ups. The change reduced the total miles and reduced the trip length by a day. The new route is linked in the title directly below.

2010 Yamaha WR250X 100-mpg_Adventure Tour (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Cty+W15%2FN+Hunt+Club+Rd&daddr=13th+St+to:42.67687,+-94.20720+to:620th+St%2FCo+Rd+C66+to:610th+St+to:290th+St%2FCo+Rd+C60+to:NE-59+W+to:872+Rd%2FCounty+Oil+Rd+to:42.55023,+-99.84517+to:42.76256,+-105.39190+to:42.858853,-105.709076+to:44.75691,+-108.73989+to:State+Hwy+308+to:US-212+W%2FBeartooth+Hwy+to:US-191+N%2FUS-20+W%2FUS-287+N%2FUS-89+N%2FGrand+Loop+Rd+to:115+S+BRIDGE+ST+Saint+Anthony,+ID+83445+to:ID-78+W%2FMarsing+Murphy+Rd+to:Nampa,+ID+to:Bend,+OR+to:Newport,+OR&hl=en&geocode=FZQAhwIdnMrB-g%3BFTQDigIdZmqo-g%3BFYYyiwIdIINi-g%3BFUTWiQIddF1e-g%3BFbSMigIdIIhO-g%3BFdeIigIddBFG-g%3BFb79hwIdmpUr-g%3BFZT6hwIdsBkk-g%3BFdZDiQIdznsM-g%3BFUCBjAId5Ni3-Q%3B%3BFa7vqgIdzsKE-Q%3BFdIpsQIdZA9_-Q%3BFcj3rQIdgZd0-Q%3BFbABpgIdqLVn-Q%3BFYjbngIdJdxX-SkJjX8gZfpTUzHHpQT0aAnO5Q%3BFXCkkwIdz3AN-Q%3BFe1gmAId-mEN-Skp8ZdOaUyuVDFSSjJxY4YZrg%3BFT1GoAIdEuDE-ClR0tOl_8C4VDG00SDHrOeIEA%3BFXAaqQIdNRib-CmNmHxM29XBVDFy-_xh8XIf1A&mra=dpe&mrcr=3&mrsp=10&sz=11&via=1,3,4,5,6,7,10,12,13,14,16&dirflg=ht&sll=42.868416,-105.505142&sspn=0.374923,0.889206&ie=UTF8&z=11)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/WR250X_Route.jpg

I wanted to follow more of US 20 and come into Yellowstone from the North Entrance as I believe that is the one with the Stone Arched entry I saw in "The National Parks: America's Best Idea (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25416)" series. The Beartooth addition fits those two criteria nicely and still gets me into Nampa, ID Sunday night for a Monday morning interview :)

Now I just have to Priceline some hotels in St. Anthony and Nampa, ID and Bend, OR and hope the schedule can be followed without too much inclement weather getting in the way?

Thanks again for the rerouting advice as it looks like a good one!

Wayne

I'm looking forward to see pictures of this long trip :)

One day I may visit the US, I've already been to China without ever expecting it, after all. You have some really beautiful places there. And much space :)
But before that, Europe is waiting to be explored! I'm too slow at it...

And fingers crossed for that 100mpg!

Hi Alvaro84:

I am still hoping for that 100 mpg run across too ;) I have been watching the weather for the various stops and from Powell, WY almost to Bend, OR temps are in the 30’s at night and between 60 and 85 degrees F during the day. I just know those cold morning temps with the Gerbing’s gear drawing off the stator are going to be trouble let alone the climbs to almost 11,000’ on the Beartooth Pass. The more I read about it, the closer I will have to watch it. It sometimes snows in mid-summer and closes for the year on Labor Day due to weather which is just 6-days after my planned transition across it! :rolleyes:

I still may leave Monday morning instead of Tuesday as it apepars our DriveSmart Program will be cancelled at the last moment.

The latest itinerary and map.

2010 Yamaha WR250X 100-mpg_X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike Ride Route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Cty+W15%2FN+Hunt+Club+Rd&daddr=13th+St+to:42.67687,+-94.20720+to:620th+St%2FCo+Rd+C66+to:610th+St+to:290th+St%2FCo+Rd+C60+to:NE-59+W+to:872+Rd%2FCounty+Oil+Rd+to:42.55023,+-99.84517+to:42.76256,+-105.39190+to:Co+Rd+27%2FTank+Farm+Rd+to:44.75691,+-108.73989+to:45.167515,-109.117584+to:US-212+W+to:Grand+Loop+Rd+to:Yellowstone+National+Park,+Wyoming+82190+(Yellowstone+National+Park)+to:US-191+N%2FUS-20+W%2FUS-287+N%2FUS-89+N%2FGrand+Loop+Rd+to:115+S+BRIDGE+ST+Saint+Anthony,+ID+83445+to:Nampa,+ID+to:Bend,+OR+to:Newport,+OR&geocode=FZQAhwIdnMrB-g%3BFTQDigIdZmqo-g%3BFYYyiwIdIINi-g%3BFUTWiQIddF1e-g%3BFbSMigIdIIhO-g%3BFdeIigIddBFG-g%3BFb79hwIdmpUr-g%3BFZT6hwIdsBkk-g%3BFdZDiQIdznsM-g%3BFUCBjAId5Ni3-Q%3BFSoEjgId1Auz-Q%3BFa7vqgIdzsKE-Q%3B%3BFWLprgId7n5z-Q%3BFSA-rgIdLN1m-Q%3BFc_aqAIdXgxq-SEoj2Y9i0Zpow%3BFRo9pgIdMBpn-Q%3BFYjbngIdJdxX-SkJjX8gZfpTUzHHpQT0aAnO5Q%3BFe1gmAId-mEN-Skp8ZdOaUyuVDFSSjJxY4YZrg%3BFT1GoAIdEuDE-ClR0tOl_8C4VDG00SDHrOeIEA%3BFXAaqQIdNRib-CmNmHxM29XBVDFy-_xh8XIf1A&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=4&mrsp=12&sz=10&via=1,3,4,5,6,7,10,12,13,14,16&dirflg=ht&sll=45.115208,-109.167023&sspn=0.72198,1.778412&ie=UTF8&ll=44.684277,-110.170898&spn=23.264,56.90918&z=5)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/WR250X_Route.jpg

Leave Tuesday Aug 24

A: Wadsworth, IL

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Tuesday Night - Aug 24-25

B: Travel 355 miles to Frank A. Gotch Park in Humboldt, Iowa

Price: $10 or less `
Address: 2568 Gotch Park Rd
GPS Coordinates: 42.67687, -94.20720
Site Type: County Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Contact Phone: (515) 332-9017

Website: Frank A. Gotch Park (tinyurl.com/df4tmp)

Nice clean campground on a bluff overlooking the junction of the east fork and the west fork of the Des Moines River. Attendant on duty, restrooms and two shelter houses. Also a nice playground for the children. Paved entrance road up to the camping area.

Amenities:
Electric
Restrooms
*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Wednesday Night - Aug. 25-26

C: Travel 310 miles to Ainsworth East City Park in Ainsworth, Nebraska

Address: Hwy 20 and Richardson Drive
GPS Coordinates: 42.55023, -99.84517
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Open Dates: May - Oct
Max Stay Length: 14 days
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Website: Visit Nebraska (www.visitnebraska.gov/)

Located just off US Highway #20 at the east edge of Ainsworth, it has 2 separate areas for camping: one to the north side and one to the southeast side. Football field, track, baseball diamond, horsehoe pits, tennis court, swimming pool. Home of the National Country Music Contest in early August and a National Horseshoe Contest. The sites are pretty much scattered on the southeast part. Electric outlets available, park on the grass wherever you like as long as you have a long electric cord. To the north it is more uniform with back-in sites on gravel with spaced electric boxes; again, a long electric cord is desirable. Next to the highway so there is some noise; quieter and shadier to the southeast. Lots of sightseeing (Long Pine, Pine Creek, Plum Creek, Niobrara River opportunities, historical sites, i.e. Sellors Memorial Cabin in the Courthouse Park (at the Junction of Highway 20 and Main Street)). The Coleman House and other buildings owned by the Brown County Historical Society. Nice senior center, Elks, American Legion, friendly town, lots of amenities close to camp.

Fees: $7-$10

Amenities:
Dump Station
Drinking Water
Electric
Restrooms
Shower House
Fire Ring
Picnic Tables
*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Thursday Night - Aug. 26-27

D: Travel 319 miles to Riverside Park in Douglas, Wyoming

Price: Free `
Address: West Grant Street and West Yellowstone Highway
GPS Coordinates: 42.76256, -105.39190
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 16-29
Contact Phone: 307-358-3462

Website: Riverside Park (www.roadnotes.com/info/node/316)

Description: From I-25 Exit 140 follow Yellowstone Hwy east 1.1 miles to Grant St and turn left. RVer reports that the city park has free dry camping. Approximately 20 sites, at least some are pull-thrus. Dump station, drinking water, grills, pay phones, picnic area, restrooms, showers. Park may be full around time of state fair in August (The State Fair will be over a week + before I arrive), as fairgrounds are across the street. One RVer notes that sprinklers may come on in middle of night. Maximum stay: 3 nights. Free. Donations welcomed.

Riverside Park

Located on the east bank of the North Platte River, on the north side of West Yellowstone Highway, Riveside Park is the City's "camping park." Enjoyed by hunters, bicycle tourists, and camping vacationers, this park is a popular overnight camping spot, and for good reason. Amenities include:
Free overnight camping
Restroom & shower building (with hot showers)
Off-street parking area
Shaded picnic tables and camp sites, with charcoal grills
RV dump station
Access area to the North Platte River
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*******************************************************

Friday Night - Aug. 27-28 "WEEKEND"

E: Travel 295 miles to Homesteader's Park in Powell, WY

Price: $10 or less `
Address: Highway 14A, East City Limits
GPS Coordinates: 44.75691, -108.73989
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Max Stay Length: 2 days
Number of Sites: 16-29
Website: Homesteader's Park (www.discoverourtown.com/WY/local-14912.html)

Camp Report: Just east of town on Highway 14A. There are two dozen plus sites. Stayed there for five nights in a class A motor- home and enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful city park. It’s a great little park. Town was quite friendly. Even the groundskeeper was nice. Had only planned for a night or two, but was such a great little park. $5.00 Tent sites, too.

Amenities:
Dump Station
Drinking Water
Restrooms
Fire Ring
Picnic Tables
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*******************************************************

Saturday Night - Aug. 29-30 "WEEKEND"

G: Travel 215 miles across the Beartooths to the Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park

A ride across and up to the North Entrance and down to the campground.

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*******************************************************

Sunday Night - Aug. 29-30 "WEEKEND"

H: Travel 144 miles to GuestHouse Henrys Fork Inn 115 S BRIDGE ST Saint Anthony, ID 83445

Leaving Yellowstone while passing Old Faithful and Fall’s.

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*******************************************************

Monday Night – Aug. 30-31

I: Travel 332 miles to Nampa, ID

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Tuesday Night – Aug 31-Sept. 1

J: Travel 300 miles to Bend, OR

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*******************************************************

Wednesday Day – Sept. 1

K: Travel 180 miles and arrive at the West Coast (Pacific Ocean) at Newport, OR.

And work my way up towards Portland, OR and Seattle, WA afterwards.

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Marc, if you are free and want to ride out for the first segment to Central Iowa, pack up your tent and sleeping bag and come along for the ride :)

Wayne

Wayne-

Would taking an extra battery (gel cell?) to power the gear on colder days or a small charger to top off the battery at night help MPG?

Hi Marc:

A small power supply would take all the load off the Stator but carrying it would be problematic for the cross country ride. I suspect the gear will be put to use (powered) for just 5 to 10-hours in total. The first 2 or 3-hours of each morning once in Wyoming as Douglas on up can see between freezing and the low 40's at night in late August. Once above 55 or so, the liners under my Aerostich gear should be warm enough to do without until maybe noon when I will be removing it and going to either the Darien jacket unlined or just the Fleece Aerostich liner and jacket plus pack the Gerbing T5 gloves and use the Alpinestar SP8’s…

Gerbing's actually does sell Li-Po based packs that can power all of their gear at ~ 1/2 power for upwards of an hour per pack but I did not go that route. (3) of those Li-Po packs would do wonders and you can charge one back to full over 5-hours according to the online docs.

This weekend I have to wire up the Gerbing's Harness to the 12V and power up the gear to make sure everything works.

Good Luck

Wayne

Not that this is constructive at this late date, but I've often wondered if an auxiliary radiator strategically mounted to warm the air in the bubble behind the fairing would be worthwhile. I know with my bike, the great fairing coverage combined with radiator output keeps my legs toasty down to freezing, no electric sox even considered.

For hands consider using handlebar gauntlets instead of heaters to save a few watts over grip heaters. I purchased some cheapies for under 20 bucks and now the heaters are nearly redundant down to about 35*F using summer gloves.

Also consider managing your electricity use by alternating your loads. Run just the pants, then just the vest or jacket, then socks, etc. You could also make it a plug-in hybrid using only batteries for the least demanding loads. Led lights save a few more watts.

Hi Garth:

The Gerbings gear is really well setup as the T5 gloves take just 27W on full power. The Gerbing’s dual digital controller is a “consume what you use” and no more type with two direct outputs to the Vest and Gloves and Pants and Soles. I have read that many are running down below freezing while using only half the power which sounds like they work really well? No grip heaters on the WR but if I were traversing the Alaskan tundra, heated grips and handlebar gauntlets would be a necessity!

While I have not used the Gerbing's gear yet, the stories about the gear are pretty amazing. I posted on the man and woman who took on the Alaska highway in the dead of winter but I do not think they were running Gerbing’s gear. They were really bundled up including gauntlets as well but whatever they were using must have worked really well for the riding they were doing at 20 degrees below 0 F.

If you have not seen it yet, it’s a must read: Ice_Road Truckers have nothing on these folks! (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28817)

I am still a little concerned about the Beartooth highway but I have an excellent bike and some of the best gear money can buy so everything should be ok? I hope :D

Per the schedule, I will be in the Seattle area on or around the night of Sept. 2nd or so? If you have a spare space on the floor, I would greatly appreciate it before we head out on some really cool adventure riding in your Washington State locale. I have only been to Seattle once a few years back and with less than a day, I had a nice lunch at a restaurant that was near an I-5 bridge going over a bay or river and up in the space needle for about an hour and a half before I had to grab a cab back to the airport :(

Wayne

Hi All:

I was following up on the Beartooth Highway and it appears that it is open until Mid-October, not just after Labor day as one site suggested. Summer season is the best time to ride of course with a check in at the local Ranger Stations in September just to make sure everything is good to go. I am so stoked about that section of road right now! Harry, you should be an official BMW Rider Tour Guide :)

Wayne

Wayne, I'm envious of your Beartooth adventure. I'm sure you'll have a great time on your trip, especially that part of it. Take lots of photo's.

Harry

Wayne, the 2nd or so will be great. We'll be home getting projects done before fall, so the break will be welcome! Please excuse the construction, but we'll make a good place for you to sleep. I hope you don't mind dogs and cats, two each.

I stumbled across the Gerbing factory here in Tumater last spring, about 10 mins away. They recently moved into an new facility, and I was very impressed with the variety and quality of products. They even have battery powered heated bleacher pads - just the thing for those cold, wet soccer games. Since my 14 year old Widder electric vest bit the dust, I'll try out the Gerbig gear now.

Also, I gave into the motorcycle porn of the cheap Chinese bikes and bought a 2006 Zongshen Sierra 200. $650 brand spankin new with 3.7 miles on it. The importer couldn't sell it because it wouldn't idle. I found this morning that the pilot jet was plugged! Crossing my fingers. I was worried about licensing, but got the plates yesterday.

It's a low tech machine with a very good copy of the Yamaha TW200/TTR225 design elements and many mechanicals actually interchange, electrics are a bit different though but seem to be good quality. Many good rider reports show these to be pretty reliable rides. Initial impressions are that the quality is identical to the entry level Japanese bikes. Parts are available the non-traditional way, ebay and cross referencing to genuine Yamaha parts.

We can break it in on the trails behind the house! :Banane05:

-Garth

Hi Garth:

Sounds Great! Harry, if you want to make a last minute blast out west, you know my number :)

I just finished up its oil and filter change and wired up the Gerbing's dual digital controller (it powers up the gear) so that is set. All that is left is to pack it up and she's on her way early next Monday morning.

Good Luck

Wayne

Sorry, haven't been following the thread and didn't realize what was going on. Just to let you know my thoughts on your route through Oregon:

From Nampa to Bend, there's a lot of mountains and desert, leaving only a handful possible routes that don't take you far out of your way:

US 20 all the way, as you have already mapped. The Oregon section from Nampa to Burns mostly follows the curvy Malheur River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malheur_River) through mostly-uninhabited desert canyons. From Burns to Bend is wide open desert (lots of folks drive 80-100mph here) punctuated by a few buttes here and there. Be aware that there are only about a couple places to buy gas (Riley for sure, maybe Hampton and Brothers) on this 130 mile stretch.
From Vale, head NW through Ironside to US 26, passing through Prairie City, John Day, Mitchell and Prineville. The first section will be very desolate and hilly desert, followed by deep canyons (but much more populated and agricultural than US 20) much of the way to Prineville. This is only about 50 miles longer than #1.
From Jordan Valley, head south on US 95 to Jordan Valley and Burns Junction, then west on OR 78 to Burns and US 20 from there to Bend. This is even more remote and spectacular country - the heart of the Oregon desert. Not too many ups and downs but lots of beautiful mountains (http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150771/steens-mountain.html) and formations (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome,_Oregon) to take in along the way. Make sure to gas up at Burns Junction (so remote it's named after a town 90 miles away) because there's no gas between there and Burns unless you're very lucky and find the pump open at Princeton. This route is only about 30 miles longer than the full US 20 trip, and if I had the extra time I'd go for it.
An alternate route from Burns to Bend would be to head NW on the Hines Logging Road to Izee and Paulina, then west to Prineville and Bend. Rather than the flat open desert of US 20 (I find it beautiful, agoraphobics find it terrifying, some others find it merely boring), this route takes you up through beautiful ponderosa pine mountains and then out through a fairly remote semi-desert valley surrounded by beautiful peaks. About 40 miles longer than US 20 from Burns to Bend. It's slightly possible there might some gravel, though I kind of doubt it -- I've bicycled from Burns to Izee and I know that's paved, just not 100% positive about the section from Izee to Paulina.

From Bend to Newport there's at least one alternative worth mentioning: OR 242, the Old McKenzie Highway. Rather than US 20's route over Santiam Pass, this splits off at Sisters and takes you over McKenzie Pass (http://www.planetoregon.com/mckenziepass.html). At times you'll be driving between walls of lava, and at the pass there's a visitor center built entirely of lava that's not to be missed, with a great view of numerous volcanoes and a 65 square mile lava flow. Otherworldly is a good way to describe it.

If you have the time for this detour, I'd continue west on OR 126 (lovely drive along the McKenzie River), through Eugene (great town for a visit) and on out to Florence (http://www.florenceoregon.net/) on the coast. Worth detouring 5-10 miles south to view the towering dunes, then back north for a spectacular coastal ride to Newport.

Bottom line ... If I only had time to do one deviation from the pure US 20 route in Oregon, I'd do the above (Bend-McKenzie Pass-Eugene-Florence-Newport). It adds about 60 miles but well worth it for the pass, the McKenzie River and the awesome coastal section IMO. The extra 30 miles of the US95/OR78 from Nampa to Burns through Jordan Valley and Burns Junction is also incredibly spectacular, but you're not missing as much by skipping it because US20 is plenty beautiful from Nampa to Burns in its own right.

Hi Dan:

While I was supposed to be in Elkhart Lake, WI tonight, the wife messed that up a bit so I had time to look over your additions. I think I will take all of them!

Actually, I routed from Nampa, ID to Jordon Valley, OR down US 95 and back up OR 78 to Burns, OR. From Burns, I will head towards Paulina, OR but instead of passing through the Ghost Town of Izee, I am considering a more direct path although it takes me across what is called Nat For Dev Rd 43? I checked Google Earth and the Google truck did drive down it as it looks like a one lane road through the Ochoco Forest that is “sort of” paved? At most, this is a 20 mile section so it should not be too bad? I will stay in Prineville, OR after that length of desolate roadway.

From Prineville, OR, I will take your advice for the second scenic route detour on OR 126 to OR 242 back to OR 126 to Florence, OR with a 40 to 50 mile run up the 101 to Newport.

I will catch the Dunes on the way back down a few days later.

The Route is finally set (nothing is really ever finally set) with an early Monday morning launch. The latest thanks to Harry and your help as the second half of the country ride nears.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_WR250X_Final_Banner_600x133.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Yamaha_WR250X_X-Country_Route_Final.jpg
2010 Yamaha WR250X 100_mpg Adventure Tour Project Bike – Second Segment Ride Route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Cty+W15%2FN+Hunt+Club+Rd&daddr=13th+St+to:42.67687,+-94.20720+to:620th+St%2FCo+Rd+C66+to:610th+St+to:290th+St%2FCo+Rd+C60+to:NE-59+W+to:872+Rd%2FCounty+Oil+Rd+to:42.55023,+-99.84517+to:42.76256,+-105.39190+to:Co+Rd+27%2FTank+Farm+Rd+to:44.75691,+-108.73989+to:State+Hwy+308+to:US-212+W+to:Grand+Loop+Rd+to:Yellowstone+National+Park,+Wyoming+82190+(Yellowstone+National+Park)+to:US-191+N%2FUS-20+W%2FUS-287+N%2FUS-89+N%2FGrand+Loop+Rd+to:115+S+BRIDGE+ST+Saint+Anthony,+ID+83445+to:9th+Ave+S+to:OR-78+W%2FSteens+Hwy+to:OR-380+W%2FSE+Paulina+Hwy+to:44.295273,-120.846992+to:OR-126+W%2FRte+F+to:Newport,+OR&geocode=FZQAhwIdnMrB-g%3BFTQDigIdZmqo-g%3BFYYyiwIdIINi-g%3BFUTWiQIddF1e-g%3BFbSMigIdIIhO-g%3BFdeIigIddBFG-g%3BFb79hwIdmpUr-g%3BFZT6hwIdsBkk-g%3BFdZDiQIdznsM-g%3BFUCBjAId5Ni3-Q%3BFSoEjgId1Auz-Q%3BFa7vqgIdzsKE-Q%3BFRwrsQIddBN_-Q%3BFWLprgId7n5z-Q%3BFSA-rgIdLN1m-Q%3BFc_aqAIdXgxq-SEoj2Y9i0Zpow%3BFRo9pgIdMBpn-Q%3BFYjbngIdJdxX-SkJjX8gZfpTUzHHpQT0aAnO5Q%3BFej4mAIdcV0N-Q%3BFcZ0kAIdGKn1-A%3BFYlroQIdDXbZ-A%3B%3BFVS0nwIdQuKh-A%3BFXAaqQIdNRib-CmNmHxM29XBVDFy-_xh8XIf1A&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=7,8&mrsp=21&sz=16&via=1,3,4,5,6,7,10,12,13,14,16,19,20,22&dirflg=ht&sll=44.298667,-120.84094&sspn=0.011441,0.027788&ie=UTF8&ll=44.298667,-120.845039&spn=0.011441,0.035963&z=16)

Leave Monday Aug 23

A: Wadsworth, IL

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Monday Night - Aug 23-24

B: Travel 355 miles and arrive at Frank A. Gotch Park in Humboldt, Iowa

Price: $10 or less `
Address: 2568 Gotch Park Rd
GPS Coordinates: 42.67687, -94.20720
Site Type: County Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Contact Phone: (515) 332-9017

Website: Frank A. Gotch Park (tinyurl.com/df4tmp)

Nice clean campground on a bluff overlooking the junction of the east fork and the west fork of the Des Moines River. Attendant on duty, restrooms and two shelter houses. Also a nice playground for the children. Paved entrance road up to the camping area.

Amenities:
Electric
Restrooms
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Tuesday Night - Aug. 24-25

C: Travel 310 miles and arrive at Ainsworth East City Park in Ainsworth, Nebraska

Address: Hwy 20 and Richardson Drive
GPS Coordinates: 42.55023, -99.84517
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Open Dates: May - Oct
Max Stay Length: 14 days
Number of Sites: 30 or more
Website: Visit Nebraska (www.visitnebraska.gov/)

Located just off US Highway #20 at the east edge of Ainsworth, it has 2 separate areas for camping: one to the north side and one to the southeast side. Football field, track, baseball diamond, horsehoe pits, tennis court, swimming pool. Home of the National Country Music Contest in early August and a National Horseshoe Contest. The sites are pretty much scattered on the southeast part. Electric outlets available, park on the grass wherever you like as long as you have a long electric cord. To the north it is more uniform with back-in sites on gravel with spaced electric boxes; again, a long electric cord is desirable. Next to the highway so there is some noise; quieter and shadier to the southeast. Lots of sightseeing (Long Pine, Pine Creek, Plum Creek, Niobrara River opportunities, historical sites, i.e. Sellors Memorial Cabin in the Courthouse Park (at the Junction of Highway 20 and Main Street)). The Coleman House and other buildings owned by the Brown County Historical Society. Nice senior center, Elks, American Legion, friendly town, lots of amenities close to camp.

Fees: $7-$10

Amenities:
Dump Station
Drinking Water
Electric
Restrooms
Shower House
Fire Ring
Picnic Tables
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Wednesday Night - Aug. 25-26

D: Travel 319 miles and arrive at Riverside Park in Douglas, Wyoming

Price: Free `
Address: West Grant Street and West Yellowstone Highway
GPS Coordinates: 42.76256, -105.39190
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Number of Sites: 16-29
Contact Phone: 307-358-3462

Website: Riverside Park (www.roadnotes.com/info/node/316)

Description: From I-25 Exit 140 follow Yellowstone Hwy east 1.1 miles to Grant St and turn left. RVer reports that the city park has free dry camping. Approximately 20 sites, at least some are pull-thrus. Dump station, drinking water, grills, pay phones, picnic area, restrooms, showers. Park may be full around time of state fair in August (The State Fair will be over a week + before I arrive), as fairgrounds are across the street. One RVer notes that sprinklers may come on in middle of night. Maximum stay: 3 nights. Free. Donations welcomed.

Riverside Park

Located on the east bank of the North Platte River, on the north side of West Yellowstone Highway, Riveside Park is the City's "camping park." Enjoyed by hunters, bicycle tourists, and camping vacationers, this park is a popular overnight camping spot, and for good reason. Amenities include:
Free overnight camping
Restroom & shower building (with hot showers)
Off-street parking area
Shaded picnic tables and camp sites, with charcoal grills
RV dump station
Access area to the North Platte River
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Thursday Night - Aug. 26-27

E: Travel 295 miles and arrive at Homesteader's Park in Powell, WY

Price: $10 or less `
Address: Highway 14A, East City Limits
GPS Coordinates: 44.75691, -108.73989
Site Type: City Park
Status: Official
Max Stay Length: 2 days
Number of Sites: 16-29
Website: Homesteader's Park (www.discoverourtown.com/WY/local-14912.html)

Camp Report: Just east of town on Highway 14A. There are two dozen plus sites. Stayed there for five nights in a class A motor- home and enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful city park. It’s a great little park. Town was quite friendly. Even the groundskeeper was nice. Had only planned for a night or two, but was such a great little park. $5.00 Tent sites, too.

Amenities:
Dump Station
Drinking Water
Restrooms
Fire Ring
Picnic Tables
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Friday Night - Aug. 27-28 "WEEKEND"

F: Travel 215 miles across the Beartooths and arrive at the Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park

A ride across and up to the North Entrance and down to the campground.

When leaving Yellowstone, will pass by Old Faithful and the Fall’s.

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Saturday Night - Aug. 28-29 "WEEKEND"

G: Travel 144 miles and arrive at the GuestHouse Henrys Fork Inn (www.guesthouseintl.com/hotels/stanthony ) - 115 S Bridge St. in Saint Anthony, ID 83445

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Sunday Night – Aug. 29-30

H: Travel 335 miles and arrive at the NampaInn (www.nampabudgetinn.com) - 908 3rd Street South - Nampa ID

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Monday Night – Aug 30-Aug. 31

I: Travel 335 miles and arrive at the Crook County RV Park (http://www.hikercentral.com/campgrounds/109514.html ) - 855 S Main St - Prineville, Oregon

*******************************************************
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Tuesday Night – Aug. 31-Sept.

J: Travel 242 miles and arrive in Florence, OR on the Pacific Coast.

Afterwards, work my way up towards Portland, OR and Seattle, WA to visit friends, ride the Mt St. Helen’s area and head back down to LA afterwards.

*******************************************************
*******************************************************

Regarding weather, the current 10-day out forecast has got to be an omen as it is pretty spectacular. Other than the one night when it will approach freezing in Yellowstone along with the rain. Probably snow in the Beartooths? That one is going to be a bit rough as my 30 degree Slumberjack bag sure does not feel like a 30 degree sleeping bag. Lots of fleece layers and the Balaclava will be the order of the night.

Weather Forecast

Google Map Location|Start Location|Date|Night Low/Daytime High Temperature (degrees F)|Weather Conditions
A|Wadsworth, IL (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USIL1216)|Aug. 23 - Monday Day|64/78|Sunny

B|Humboldt, IA (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USIA0405)|Night of Monday Aug. 23/24|66/77|Partly Cloudy

C|Ainsworth, NE (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USNE0003)|Night of Tuesday Aug 24/25|52/79|AM Clouds/PM Sun

D|Douglas, WY (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USWY0047)|Night of Wednesday Aug. 25/26|52/91|Sunny

E|Powell, WY (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USWY0137)|Night of Thursday Aug. 26/27|60/84|Partly Cloudy

F|Yellowstone National Park (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USWY0183)|Night of Friday Aug. 27/28|36/62|Isolated T-Storms

G|St. Anthony, ID (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USID0225)|Night of Saturday Aug. 28/29|45/75|60% chance of Showers

H|Nampa, ID (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USID0178)|Night of Sunday Aug. 29/30|53/78|Mostly Sunny

I|Prineville, OR (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USOR0281)|Night of Monday Aug. 30/31|41/NA|NA

J|Florence, OR (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USOR0123)|Arrive Tuesday Aug. 31|NA/NA|NA

It is close to finalized. Now if I can just keep from having a flat tire on the way across :rolleyes:

Wayne

Sounds like a great route through Oregon, Wayne. If you had to shorten it, I'd probably do the direct Burns-Bend route rather than the forest road/Paulina route which will be scenic (in a different way than US 20) but probably pretty slow. But if you have enough time it'd sure be great to do the whole thing as planned. Have fun!

On the phone with Wayne... He's been to two McDonalds so far and neither have wifi, so the updates will be 'manual' (call in and we type) until tonight.

First tank was smashing. Hardly any wind, temps 75-85. It was the best tank so far. 244.78 miles, after 11.75% offset. At fillup, in Olewin, Iowa, measured fuel consumed was 2.15 gallons top off to top off, for a total of 113.75mpg !

Then the bad news. He passed through a storm front, and he was in heavy rain for almost 90 minutes heading into Humboldt, Iowa - with a 20mph headwind. So he camped overnight in Humboldt, and as of today, has reached Lemar, Iowa. Filled up in Lemar.
238.54 miles after 11.75% offset
2.603 gallons
Worst tank of the entire trip. 91.64mpg. :(

Heading onward, it looks like a 10-15mph headwind ahead riding toward and across Nebraska, so this is in no way a done deal, yet...

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|*Actual Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Trip A/B Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|1,993|0.0/0.0|0.0/0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.
Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|2,249|229.8/229.8|256.4/256.4|30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!
Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|2,464|193.1/423.0|215.4/471.9|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.
Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|2,735|242.6/665.7|270.7/742.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.
Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|2,969|209.5/875.2|233.7/976.5|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(
Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|3,232|235.5/_110.8|262.7/1,239.3|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.
Olewin, IA|08/23/2010| n/a | n/a | na / na |244.78/ na | n/a|n/a|2.15|113.75|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F
Lemar, IA|08/24/2010| n/a | n/a | na / na |238.54/ na | n/a|n/a|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain/20mph headwind

I calculate 103.75 mpg total so far.

Those are some fantastic numbers! I was guessing about 80mpg or so, buy hey, Waynes riding it. I shouldn't have been such a pessimist.

Is there any average speed data? I was just wondering how the speeds compare to "normal" driving speeds.

I'm curious about his methods... he's a genius, not a simple expert :D

Wayne called in. He is currently in Lusk, WY and heading onto Douglas, WY where he will stay for the night.
On US20W from 20 miles inside Nebraska to his current location, Wayne says he saw more trains than cars. Maybe five cars over 40 miles?
Stopped near Lusk and got a few photos of antelope in the field alongside the road. We're waiting to see how they come out when he finds a wireless connection so he can upload the photos. No Wifi at the Golden Arches anywhere in Nebraska, so as he presses on, he's keeping an eye out for a hotspot.
On the last tank, he had strong winds from the side, but not direct headwinds, thankfully. Temps earlier today were in the 90s. And he climbed 2500 feet leaving Nebraska. Two miles from the border of Wyoming is actually at an elevation of 4980 feet.
Because US20 is so desolate over the last 200 miles, he was working to overcome the previous two bad tanks. This last tank shows how to do it!

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|*Actual Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Trip A/B Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|1,993|0.0/0.0|0.0/0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.
Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|2,249|229.8/229.8|256.4/256.4|30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!
Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|2,464|193.1/423.0|215.4/471.9|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.
Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|2,735|242.6/665.7|270.7/742.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.
Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|2,969|209.5/875.2|233.7/976.5|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(
Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|3,232|235.5/_110.8|262.7/1,239.3|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.
Olewin, IA|08/23/2010| n/a | n/a |244.78/ na | na / na | n/a|n/a|2.15|113.75|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F
Lemar, IA|08/24/2010| n/a | n/a |238.54/ na | na / na | n/a|n/a|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain/20mph headwind
Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010| n/a | n/a |218.8/ na |237.42/ na | n/a|n/a|2.415|98.311|
Lusk, WY|08/25/2010| n/a | n/a |240.1/ na |267.879/ na | n/a|n/a|2.497|107.28|Strong sidewinds, temps 90+F, 2500ft elevation increase

Hi All:

A few more pics… I was at a Subway in Lusk, WY that had WiFi. The first stop that had a hot spot in three days so I took all off three hours to do the work and get these up… I should not have stayed until past closing time (10:00 PM) as I was only 45 miles from Douglas, WY. I should have ridden the rest of the distance in daylight without worrying about getting run over by one of those super fast little forest dog SOB’s. Damn those Pronghorn Antelope are fast!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Wisconisin_crossing.jpg
Wisconsin.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Iowa_Crossing.jpg
Crossing the Mississippi...

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/SD_Crossing.jpg
Crossing into South Dakota.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Nebraska_Crossing.jpg
Nebraska next...

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Flooded_Missouri.jpg
Flooded Missouri River while parked on a bluff just inside NE.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Camp_Yamaha.jpg
Camp Yamaha in Ainsworth, NE.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Garmin_FE_Routing_Road.jpg
This is a Garmin No Tollways, No Highways and Fuel Efficient Route???

See the dark road surface climb up ahead? It was all soft dirt and about a 10% grade carved through the hill by a huge bulldozer of some kind. This was also part of the route? While fun, it was not quite what we could call fuel efficient :) I should have simply stayed on US 20 for that segment.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Wyoming_Crossing.jpg
Crossing into Wyoming.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_Train.jpg
WR and a train in Wyoming.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Antelope.jpg
WR and some Antelope... Which just a few short hours later proved to be my nemesis :(

Iowa's central counties appear to have some serious problem with the early floods taking out their corn crop. I felt sorry for some of the farmers with 5' tall stalks that had but nubs for corn attached :( Some fields were decimated.

If anyone believes NE is flat, ride US 20 across it sometime. I climbed from ~ 700' ASL to 4,980' ASL just before crossing into WY. I have some more pics of NE I will post later...

Wyoming is absolutely spectacular wrt its vista's as I was heading west into the sunset!

Good Luck

Wayne

I just spoke with Wayne -- it seems he got just a little bit too close to the local wildlife this morning around 12:30AM. Who knew wild beasts were so enthusiastic about Wayne's mad hypermiling skills?

After he posted the pictures above he left the Subway and headed out toward the camp grounds. He was still within Douglas, WY city limits and about 5mi from the camp when he saw three antelope cross the road ahead of him. A short time later a fourth decided to cross right where Wayne was and knocked him clean over. The bike only suffered a bent clutch lever but its rider came out a bit worse with 3 or 4 breaks and a chip or two in his left clavicle. He's currently in the hospital and though he understandably doesn't feel the best, he's in good health and good hands.

As he can't lift his left arm and the bone hasn't been set yet we don't know when he'll be able to resume his ride. We hope it will be relatively soon. He needs his rest right now but will try to check in later today.

Please keep Wayne in your thoughts and prayers for a rapid recovery.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/Douglas_WY.jpg (http://tinyurl.com/22r7dxj)

:eek: Wow! Talk about the Wild Wild West!

Will do! Wow! Sounds like he really got in touch with nature!

So sorry to hear that. Glad it wasn't more serious! When riding motorcycles, it's a matter of WHEN not IF you get into an accident.

Wayne, what can we do to help? Not that you're quitting, but if need be I'm a looong days drive away and have a truck.

-Garth

Whoa! Wow, wishing a rapid recovery. I've had a couple of somewhat calls with antelope, but yikes.

Get well enough* soon, Wayne.
Get well soon after.

At least it wasn't an Impala.

Interesting facts:
- Wyoming has more pronghorn antelopes than people.
- They can reach speeds of over 60mph

* to ride

Please keep Wayne in your thoughts and prayers for a rapid recovery.


I do so!

I'd have never thought he'll have to go on a break (pun not intended) :eyebrow:

Wayne, get well soon!

I am sure we will all get a FULL in depth review of the safety gear he was wearing. This is going to the extreme for a review though!:eek:

- They can reach speeds of over 60mphI've witnessed at least 50mph personally. Once while I was driving a backcountry road at 40-45mph, I spotted a couple of pronghorns running along about 100' off to the side of me, angling in from behind and to the left. They quickly passed me and crossed the road in front of me.

Wow! Good luck Wayne for a speedy recovery! Good thing he wears good safety gear, or it could have been much worse.

Sorry to hear of your mishap, Wayne. Get well soon.

I'm determined to ride pretty much that same route, and ride the Beartooth Highway, visit Yellowstone and the Tetons, and possibly go on to visit my brother in Washington state. It may have to wait a year or two, but I'll do it soon enough. I might get to do it next summer, but if not, due to being too busy at work, I'll do it the following summer for sure, since I plan on being retired by then.

One thing I won't do is travel in the dark on my motorcycle. That's just a bit too risky due to animals wandering across roads. I've had a couple of close calls in the daytime, having to make all-out stops to avoid hitting deer.

I feel bad about your coming so close, but not making it to the Beartooth. I had a trip planned a couple of years ago to attend a BMW rally at a campsite just south of Red Lodge, and ride the Beartooth, but had to call it off due to a medical issue. That only makes me more determined to make that trip.

Get well,

Harry

I talked to Wayne tonight at the hospital. He is doing well and though the physical therapist says "NO" to riding, Wayne says he feels pretty good. Camping and the rigors of the road may be a bit much though, he admits.

After lengthy discussion and evaluation of life with the family and work, I had to back out of driving 1100 miles one-way to pick up Wayne. It's probably the best, because an injured Wayne trying to ride a bike is not healthy.

If there is anyone close that can help out, PM Wayne. He did say that there is a biker at the hospital that offered to help get the bike back to a Yamaha dealer to send back to Yamaha USA. Also, everyone at the hospital has been very helpful. The food is excellent as well!

I guess the Beartooth will remain elusive for yet another rider, but there is a silver lining to it all. Now Harry and Wayne can try it as a team in a year or two.

OMG sorry to hear about this Wayne. Hope you get better fast.

Oh wow, Wayne must be really bummed. So the trip is over? I suppose it would take at least a few weeks to recover to the point of being able to ride that much mileage, and by that point the weather situation is going to get difficult. Once you get past Labor Day, sub-freezing nights are fairly WY, ID and eastern OR ... and once you're into October, snow on the passes starts to become a real possibility. Dang.

Any word from Wayne. How is he doing.

Received a voicemail from Wayne about 3 hours ago. He had just landed in Milwaukee and was headed home to recuperate.

Hi All:

While at home, I will see a doc later tomorrow. If they do not have to operate, I might just continue this little quest with a flight back out to Casper, Wyoming and back to Glenrock where the bike is currently sitting at a Yamaha dealership. To make it within 900 miles of the coast at ~ 103.5 mpg and all that effort seems like such a waste :(

Good Luck

Wayne

Hi All:

I think some will like this one… If you have a weak stomach, you may want to turn away :D

Dateline: Aug. 25th, 2010 at ~ 11:15 PM -- 5-miles east of Douglas, Wyoming.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Non-Modded_Riding_Position.jpg
This

+

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Pronghorn_Antelope_at_Full_Speed.jpg
This

=

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Reenactment.jpg
This (my reenactment of the event anyway :))

Which results in…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Broken_Collar_Bone.jpg
This! My latest left shoulder X-Ray taken a few hours ago.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_stripped_to_OEM.jpg
Although there are some scratches to plastic, the bike is actually running well and not even a mirror or hand lever was broke off!

Wayne

Ouch.

:ccry:

I'm glad you can joke about it, Wayne! Get well soon, hear?

Ouch! !

Ouch! Left collarbone, too?

Hi All:

An update on the gear... Besides the busted up collar bone and a bruised ego, everything else survived better than I did... Sort of ;)

My Arai XD-3 is still in Wyoming and after I post a pic of it next month, you will swear it was run through an industrial strength shredder! The Aerostich Darien gear held up amazingly well with only a small pinhole where the left pocket zipper wore through while I was sliding along the pavement. You can see where the pavement added black marks up and down the left shoulder, sleeve and left thigh area but that only adds a little flavor to my gear :)

I was wearing the Gerbing's T5 gloves (not plugged in) and they did not even receive a scratch!

The left front portion of my BMW GS boots took a little scrape but they are ready to do battle for another day.

The GiantLoop GreatBasin rear bags saved the entire rear end as the left side only shows a little road scuffing while the rest of the rear of the bike including the plastic remained unscathed.

The SpitFire windscreen took quite a pounding. While scraped up, it can still deflect wind and is in one piece so it survived as well.

All said, I will have to replace the Aria but everything else other than my collar bone came out of the wreck with little in the way of damage.

Good Luck

Wayne

Will you buy another Aria XD-3, or something else?

Hi Andrew:

This Aria XD-3 was a review unit so it was a freebie... Coming up with the $450 + for a new one might not be on my "Next Thing to Buy" list unfortunately. That said, while I liked the Shoei Hornet DS, the Aria XD-3 was a better helmet for "my needs" and is my "#1" dual sport helmet pick. Being able to purchase one on my wage is an entirely other matter of course :(

Wayne

Holy antelopes!! Just saw your post on ADVRider. Heal fast.

Helmet choice seems to be more about fit than anything else. I have a Shoei shaped dome.

Hi Jsmithy:

Both the Shoei Hornet DS and the Aria XD-3 fit very well :)

A few more to add to the list…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_Cows.jpg
This country has to have more cows then people as I saw them in every state for thousands of miles so far!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_old_RR_Bridge.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/RR_Bridge_Converted_to_Walkway.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/NE_Rest_Area.jpg
A Nebraska Rest Area along US 20 consisting of an old picnic table, garbage bin and 150’ of old US 20 …
The RR Bridge from yesteryear was kind of cool and updated but I wonder why they added hand rails?

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/NE_Scenic_Overlook.jpg
Nebraska Scenic Overlook.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Cheyenne_Outbreak.jpg
Cheyenne Outbreak of 1879.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Wyoming_Plaines.jpg
The Plaines of Wyoming go on for practically ever! Just as the WR does :)

Wayne

Hi Andrew:

This Aria XD-3 was a review unit so it was a freebie...You should send it back to them and tell them it works. :rolleyes:

Are there any changes you can make to your gear to provide better impact protection, or is this sort of injury just part of leaving the cage behind?



These pictures have me thinking I should make the time for a nice, slow camping trip to the West Coast. :flag:

Are there any changes you can make to your gear to provide better impact protection, or is this sort of injury just part of leaving the cage behind?


@Robert-

The gear is changeable. In a couple years, street versions of airbag-equipped leathers will even be available.

That having been said, while Wayne rides ATGATT, riding protection is often a trade off between $, hassle to suit up, being able to work at the other end, comfort, and protection.

As a commuter, I need something that will protect me, will easily store away for all-day business at the end of the ride, and won't overheat me in traffic on hot days. Unfortunately, due to $, right now I'm limited to the safety vest, a heavy coat on colder days, and the Mk 1 eyeball for protection.

And yes, if you ride, eventually you WILL go down. Its just a matter of when and how bad. A good crash is any one you can walk away from. A great crash is one where you can actually use the bike again.

@Wayne-

I think you still have the Hornet, but if you don't, I've got 2 Large HJC helmets if you need to borrow one to tide you over.

Hi Robert:

Aria is going to get a nice write-up due to the fact I walked away and did not even have a headache! I wish I would have taken a pic of that helmet as it was a scarred mess along the left side. I doubt Arai will send me another however :(

Regarding camping, by all means, your Insight is perfect for this kind of adventure! The camp ground in Douglas was absolutely spectacular (even though I only got to drive by it on my way to the airport :() and I cannot wait to get back there in a little over three weeks to have at it again!

There is one other investment I can make in addition to what I have already and that is a chest/back/shoulder pad protector. I was considering one for the next segment but the Aerostich gear already incorporates the shoulder and massive back pad and it would be adding to much bulk to get all of my gear on. The Aerostich with the liner is already like wearing a very thick snow suit and did very well from a protective armor aspect. The Collar bone however is going to be vulnerable on any get off while on a bike…

The cumulative total FE so far:

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.

Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|229.8|256.4 |30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!

Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|193.1|215.4|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.

Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|242.6|270.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.

Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|209.5|233.7|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(

Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|235.5|262.7|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.

|||||||||

Gurnee, IL|08/23/2010|3,103|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Odometer and Trip A/B recorded at Gas Station on 08/06/2010. Bike sat in the garage from previous top off.

Olewin, IA|08/23/2010|3,322|219.4|244.78 |xx.x|xx.x|2.15|113.85|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F

Lemar, IA|08/24/2010|3,536|213.8|238.54|xx.x|xx.x|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain and 20mph headwinds.

Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010|3,749|212.8|237.42|32.8|36.6|2.415|98.311|5 to 15 mph headwinds and some Off-road. Temps 60 to 95 degrees.

Lusk, WY|08/25/2010|3,989|240.1|267.88|42.3|47.2|2.497|107.28|Strong side winds, temps 70 to 90 + F, 2500ft elevation increase
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

Cumulative mpg: Total Distance = (2227.52 miles)/Total Gallons = (21.511 gallons) = 103.553 mpg

Marc, I can pick up an HJC CL15 for < $50 but will tough it out with the Arai w/ the bill until I make it across. I need that bill for the late afternoon riding as the sun is just brutal for about an hour while heading due west into the late evening sun. One blow is supposed to be all she wrote but it was not so much a blow as it was a scrape along the pavement that makes the XD-3 look so rough. Glad it was not my head!

Wayne

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_old_RR_Bridge.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/RR_Bridge_Converted_to_Walkway.jpg

The RR Bridge from yesteryear was kind of cool and updated but I wonder why they added hand rails?


I really like this bridge, nice bridge, seems to connect nowhere to nowhere :D

Another one I got liking to:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_Train.jpg

I've never been to the US, but it feels very American for me. Could have been composed better, but the lights are good and it has a feeling in it :)

Hi Robert:



There is one other investment I can make in addition to what I have already and that is a chest/back/shoulder pad protector. I was considering one for the next segment but the Aerostich gear already incorporates the shoulder and massive back pad and it would be adding to much bulk to get all of my gear on. The Aerostich with the liner is already like wearing a very thick snow suit and did very well from a protective armor aspect. The Collar bone however is going to be vulnerable on any get off while on a bike…


Wayne


Wayne,

If you decide to wear full upper MX gear, just take the pads out of the jacket and wear it over the armor like you would a riding jersey. Common practice in ADV riding and works well.

Hi Alvaro:

I only wish I had 1/10 of your skill as a photographer and if any of them caught your eye, it was by pure luck on my part :)

Regarding he WR250X and the train, how would you have set that one up? I saw the train coming, immediately rode into the weeds near the edge of the drop-off, jumped off as fast as I could, pulled the camera and got back a few feet just in time to snap it.

The bridges are interesting as there are a lot of them. The new US 20 paralleled old US 20 and an abandoned train track. The tracks and the ties have mostly been removed but about every two miles you would see these overpass crossings. On the other side were ranch’s so I am assuming the ranchers needed these bridges to get their cows under and out from one pasture and walk them over to the one possibly across the road?

Today’s ranchers would not be doing that of course but I liked these bridges. And why this one had the hand rails? I suppose knowing full well there would be people like me pulling off at this rest area and walking over and then across the bridge for some pics?

Jsmithy, good point about the upper MX gear! Not sure I can afford to pick a good one up and remove the shoulder and elbow pads from the Darien but it sure makes sense. That would probably improve mobility under a jacket like the Darien as well?

Good Luck

Wayne

I'm glad to see that Wayne will be back at it in three weeks or so. Getting back on soon after sometimes creates a little uneasy feeling which is healthy. But melts away gradually.

It's always good to be reminded of how vulnerable we are while riding. I want to ride until I'm 90, so now while 46 years old I ride like I'm 90 just to make it there. (Usually.)

Great pics Wayne. A slow blue road tour on two wheels is a great way to travel given the time to do so, despite the risks. The next time I need to travel alone, I'll plan a little extra time to do it this way.

Regarding he WR250X and the train, how would you have set that one up? I saw the train coming, immediately rode into the weeds near the edge of the drop-off, jumped off as fast as I could, pulled the camera and got back a few feet just in time to snap it.


Nothing mystical, I can't relevate the Word :D
It's just that your bike just touches the train: shiNIN just informed me that the correct name is a 'tangent problem' for it (she's learning to draw). They should overlap each other in a visually pleasing way or have space in between. I'd vote for the latter this time. Just a few steps and maybe a dirrefent zoom setting (I'm quite sure your camera has a zoom lens, most have).

Of course I'm also in trouble when I don't have time to compose the picture (and I don't do it too scientific either, just try to achieve something that pleases my eyes).

Hi Alvaro:

I only have this other one which seemed a bit "busy" with one train passing another and the horizon erased.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_Trains.jpg

I cannot wait to get back out west to take some more :)

Wayne

Hi All:

Just a quick update. I am confirmed on a flight from a press launch in Dallas to Denver and back to Casper, Wyoming on the morning of Sept. 23 to put the bike back to Adventure Touring Spec. Thanks in part to John Moulton of Glenrock Motorsports who is holding the bike in storage along with my gear until I get back out there.

Glenrock is about 40-miles from Douglas which is about 50-miles from Lusk, WY where I topped off the tank originally. I am thinking get the bike back to Touring status, ride back to Lusk, top off and head back to Douglas for the night. I remember seeing a lot of fuel on the ground coming from the tank cap as the bike was laying on its side for over 15-minutes after the Antelope hit. With a fresh fill at Lusk, I will have a top off to top off calculation vs. the fuel I lost on the ground and the 45-miles or so missing when the bike was transported from the individual’s home it was sitting at just east of Douglas, WY to Glenrock, WY in the back of Rick's (one of the night Orderly's who rides from the Hospital) P/U Truck.

Wayne

Wow Wayne, glad to hear you're expected to be healed enough to ride soon!

One caution, though: you'll need a warmer sleeping bag! if you were dreading the mid-30s lows that were forecasted for a couple of the nights this past week, late September will be a whole different deal. You should expect most nights to be below freezing in Central and Eastern Oregon that time of year, and also in most places between Wyoming and Oregon for that matter. 20s are pretty typical for lows, though it CAN drop into the teens. I'd recommend a bag rated down to 15 or 20 degrees. Remember that (at least to me -- and I'm a known "furnace"!) the degree rating only seems applicable if you're wearing warm clothes and have the sleeping bag zipped all the way up and the draft collar pulled tight around your neck.

By the way, I just drove part of your route today -- coincidentally, the day you were previously scheduled to ride it yourself. My son and I had been camped in the Sisters/Bend area, then headed up over McKenzie Pass. I hadn't been there in 15 years, but I can definitely confirm that you will be stunned by the transition from dry, open eastside forest in Sisters to a vast volcanic, barren moonscape at the pass to dense, towering rainforest further down. You'll also be stunned by the incredible descent off the pass, with dozens of tight turns NOT-conservatively posted as 15-20mph. It's quite a blast (I doubt I even averaged 30mph) though possibly not so fun on a bike if it happens to be wet. Good thing is that except for a couple of brief sections you can make it down from the pass (5400') to the OR 126 jct. near McKenzie Bridge without using a drop of fuel.

And if it's any consolation, we've had a spell of unseasonably cold, wet weather the last few days, and you would have been MISERABLE going over McKenzie today. It was dry from Sisters on east, but at the pass it was about 40 degrees with strong winds spitting rain sideways, and further down on the west side it was still fairly drippy. No guarantees (again, today's weather was unseasonable) but late September is usually dry and nice where you'll be riding, with warm dry days and (dare I say again) cold nights.

By the way, we will be out of town for the last week of September, so unfortunately we won't be able to see you unless you are coming through Portland on or after the 3rd of October.

Hi Dan:

Thanks for the heads up and I can only hope it will be good riding weather in just 3-short weeks from now. I will probably be doing a bit more Hotels given I will not be anywhere near 100% but the Riverside campground in Douglas, Wyoming on the North Platte was so darn inviting I just have to stay there now! If the BearTooth is open, I am going to run from Powell, WY across the BearTooth, through Yellowstone and right to St. Anthony as I want nothing to do with Canyon Campground in Yellowstone if temps are below freezing. I was expecting to see 36 as a low last week and I can bet it will be in the 20's by the 25th or 26th and that just is not comfortable with a 30 degree Slumberjack bag. My 0 degree Slumberjack bag would be fine but it is too darn big to sit up on the bike with all my other gear :(

I have a request in to a guy on the ADV forum that lives in MT (he has posted here as well) and hopefully he will have some idea as to a site that will show if the BearTooth is open or closed when I finally get up there… If I ever get up there :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance for your pre-scouting work two weeks ago. You would make a heck of an Adventure Tour Trip Planner!

Wayne

Yup, the one that you posted earlier is much better, the setting sun colors the scene in a very idillic golden orange and the grass gives it a fluffy texture :)

I understand you can't wait to get back :)
Riding in the sunset feels great.
(And I'm a little bit annoyed then that I still can't really ride and take photos at the same time... I feel many times that "this WAS the picture" but I already rolled away and did not stop... sometimes it's just too fast.)

And I'm glad to hear you're OK enough to plan on a quick resume :)

Hi wayne, finally wandered over from the WR250R/X boards. Glad to see you're healing up well and are getting back on the road soon. Did you get your helmet situation sorted?

As far as taking pics while riding... it helps to have a small point and shoot camera you can operate with a gloved hand. I got weird looks at the camera store trying out cameras, but the pics I get with a quick reach into the tank bag were more than worth it.

Hi Skierd:

Welcome aboard and great to see you over here!

While I am healing up slowly, the put up and or shut up period is fast approaching again. My tickets to Casper , WY are purchased so I either get on and finish the ride or somehow get the bike to LA and me to Chicago... That leaves me with really only one choice :)

I am going with my scraped up Arai to finish off. I have call into Shoei to see if I can get the Hornet DS I reviewed about a year and a half back, back but I do not think that will be part of the plan either :(

Good point about the camera. I have a point and shot Canon that has taken all the shots shown but is a right hander so taking shots while going down the road is risky at best.

In any case, in just a week from today and I will be in Dallas for the 2011 F-150 w/ the 3.5L EcoBoost and 3.7L launch and two days later, in Casper and starting the WR250X ride back up all over again.

Good Luck

Wayne

Hi All:

I am getting very close to “X-Country Ride-III, The Aftermath”. I am not sure what to call it but whatever :)

Although 10-day out forecasts are about as accurate as predicting this year’s Super Bowl contenders, let alone winner, I am seeing that Douglas, WY on the 23rd will have sunny skies and a high low of 72/40. Not to bad to start…

Date|Location|Conditions|Hi/Lo Temp (F)
Sept. 23|Douglas, WY|Mostly Sunny|72/40
Sept. 24|Powell, WY|Mostly Sunny|68/46
Sept. 25|Yellowstone National Park|Mostly Sunny|28/55
Sept. 25|St. Anthony, ID (I am riding through Yellowstone, not stopping given the temps :()|Sunny|69/38
Sept. 26|Nampa, ID| -- | --
Sept. 27|Prineville, OR| -- | --
Sept. 28|Florence, OR| -- | --

The Gerbing’s heated gear is going to get a hell of a workout I guess??? It will also be interesting to see how it effects the bikes FE as it has a 350W stator that will have probably a 200 to 250 W continuous draw. Some of the WR guys are saying the bikes total output is run through a cheap regulator which dumps any spare watts not used as heat so maybe I will be cranking her up ;)

Wayne

Some of the WR guys are saying the bikes total output is run through a cheap regulator which dumps any spare watts not used

:eek:

I hope not! It would be a really dumb design choice :eek:

Hi Alvaro:

It would be a very cheap design choice but I am not going to say it was a dumb choice just yet.

I asked the guy that made the statement for some clarification because I would not have thought this to be the case. The question came up when someone wanted to shut down their front headlight and the individual stated that even if you pulled the plug, the regulator is going to throw the excess away as heat so you are not saving any Watts.

For me, this solution is ideal as there is no penalty for heated gear (+ lights and the bikes draw up to the stators maximum output at a given RPM anyway).

Regarding the left shoulder, with the strap brace on it, I rode my Mountain bike around the neighborhood today with only some minor discomfort. With the brace strap off however, it was an entirely different matter.

Wayne

Hah! When I had a similar brace strap I did not try riding my MB without it...

And indeed this design is convenient now (if really it's the case), but FE could have been a bit better so far with a more clever one. I think.

Hi All:

The Gerbing’s heated gear is going to get a hell of a workout I guess??? It will also be interesting to see how it effects the bikes FE as it has a 350W stator that will have probably a 200 to 250 W continuous draw. Some of the WR guys are saying the bikes total output is run through a cheap regulator which dumps any spare watts not used as heat so maybe I will be cranking her up ;)

Wayne

I have ridden a lot in snowy cold weather sub 20's and I was comfortable as long as my fingers and toes were warm. Leave the jacket and pants unplugged or at least cycle it off and on.

The gloves and innersoles would be plugged in all the time for me.

What all pieces of it do you have?

A set of Amour All could add to the comfort too.

Hi Mike:

I have the works inlcuding the heated T5 Winter Gloves, jacket liner, pants liner and even the heated soles but I cannot find the soles they sent to me seperately :(

Wayne

Good luck Wayne.

Hi Jud:

Thanks! Are you sure you don't want to hop on your 650 and head on out to finish the ride with me? Your 650 could use a good workout and you may as well knock out your first IB while you’re at it :)

Wayne

Have a great trip! Sorry we won't be able to meet up with you (again, we'll be out of town the last week of Sep).

I hope the weather holds up for you - September is reliably nice in the Pacific NW most years, but thanks to the current La Nina event we're having a cool and rainy one this time around. Hoping you get a break in the weather as you come through.

Wayne is back up and running, broken collar bone and all.

The motorcycle dealer was able to help him put everything back together on the bike, and he went back to fill up the tank where he left off before his encounter with the antelope.

He was camping in Douglas, Wyoming, last night. He was supposed to head for Powell, Wyoming, today and on to the Beartooth tomorrow. I took a look at the Beartooth on Mapquest -- WOW! That is really some road.

It's a bit more chilly than a month ago, but so far OK.

LadySpirit (Wayne's mom)!

Hi Jud:

Thanks! Are you sure you don't want to hop on your 650 and head on out to finish the ride with me? Your 650 could use a good workout and you may as well knock out your first IB while you’re at it :)

Wayne

Too bad I couldn't make this one, but count me in for the next trip.

Forecasts are looking better and better. Despite our cold and crappy September so far, it's suddenly warmed up (we hit 79 today), and supposed to be REALLY nice the next few days. Here's an update to Wayne's table

Date|Location|Conditions|Hi/Lo Temp (F)
Sept. 26|Nampa, ID|Sunny| 85/52
Sept. 27|Prineville, OR|Sunny| 83/51
Sept. 28|Florence, OR|PS, 20% chc| 66/54
Florence is on the coast, but most of Wayne's riding that day will be inland, where it should be beautiful, in the upper 70s to low 80s. Niiiice!

Also, we've changed our plans, and expect to be at home in Portland through at least Tuesday. We should be able to see Wayne if he sticks to his schedule.

Hi All:

I stayed in Yellowstone last night (barely made it before dark due to the scenery and lack of open campgrounds) so am a day behind. Fuel Economy is through the roof. I'll post in a few and quite a few beautiful pics too. Harry was right, the Beartooth was spectacular!

And it sure is nice to be in a hotel w/ Internet Access. The hot shower after three days on the road and nights in the tent w/ the busted wing is nice too :D

Wayne

Hi All:

To begin anew, John Moulton of Glenrock Motorsports helped put the bike back to X-Country shape and away I went.

I rode back to Lusk, WY in order to start the segment just as I had finished before the Antelope Attack. After filling up at the exact same station and while riding back to Douglas, I had to take a pic of this. Notice the Population :D

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Lost_Springs_WY_-_Pop_1.jpg

Wayne

Hi All:

Douglas, Wyoming's Riverside Park has to be one of the best Campgrounds in all of WY. And can you believe it, they do not charge a cent!

2010 Yamaha WR250X in Camp Yamaha

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Camp_Yamaha_-_Douglas_WY.jpg
Douglas, WY's Riverside Park.

The North Platte River was soothing compared to the bikes drone and sleep was comfortable other than the 35 degree overnight temps :rolleyes:

Wayne

Hi All:

Douglas, WY to Powell, WY... The Sheep and Pronghorn Antelope were all over this route!!! One of the Pronghorn started running and would not jump the fence but paralleled me for about 1.5 miles before heading away??? I was traveling over 40 mph and the damn thing was running just ahead about 50 yards and to my right about 100 yards!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Garmin_Chosen_Road_with_Sheep.jpg
Sheep in my way until a few horn beeps cleared them.

As well as the sheep and Pronghorn, I let the Garmin loose w/ Fuel Efficient Route and this was the road. Notice the width and consistency? It ended ~ 10-miles later with a dead end fence :mad:

After turning around, it wanted me to make turns back to the Interstate that were nothing more than paths! One did lead back to an open fence to an Interstate on-ramp.

Wayne

Hi All:

The Campground in Powell was just OK so I did not take any pics… I found a patch of grass in the gravel RV Camping parking lot and that was it.

After leaving Powell, the Garmin did not want me to take WY 295 up to Red Lodge, MT for the start of the Beartooth even though my Atlas showed a nice route right into Red Lodge. Whoops, WY 295 did end at a refinery but I continued on for about 2-miles there was only dirt paths and oil well service paths in a 1000’ or more deep quarry. Not good. I headed back to the refinery to find another way as the Garmin was doing its Cow path road RE-ROUTE solutions AGAIN???

The Road… Ever try to run on a hardwood floor scattered with marbles? That is what riding a bike with road tires on gravel is like.

Anyway, heading back to the Refinery, I stopped to snap some pics of the road (refinery ahead) and the wildlife along the way ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/When_WY_295_ended.jpg
The Refinery ahead... A Few cows and gravel as usual :ccry:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Cows_on_the_Dirt_Road.jpg
Cows and Oil Rig along the gravel road…

Wayne

Hi All:

I was back at the refinery when I saw a sign that said Red Lodge this way… The Garmin did not like it but what the hell, I am already about 15-minutes into this re-route non-sense :rolleyes:

I can see why so many Four Wheel Drive Trucks are sold in WY and MT if this is the standard ;) Anyway, instead of a nice pretty road with a beautiful sign saying welcome to MT, this is what I experienced. And the road of gravel and dirt for ~ 15-miles while heading North from where WY295 ended :confused:

Ever try to keep your fuel economy up over 100 mpg while riding across this? Fortunately I had an ~ 10 to 15-mph tail wind which helped until I turned West towards Red Lodge.

Welcome to Montana!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Welcome_to_MT.jpg
Who said this was not going to be an Adventure Ride :D

Wayne

Hi All:

On my way to Red Lodge, MT, I rode up on the Smith Mine Disaster. If you cannot read the sign, let me know and I can post an even closer shot.

Smith Mine Disaster

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Smith_Mine_Disaster.jpg

Wayne

Hi All:

This is a bit better...

Smith Mine Diaster Sign and Details

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Smith_Mine_Disaster_2.jpg

Wayne

Hi All:

If you have not ridden out west, the beautiful peaks go on for 100’s of miles! The pics cannot describe the vista’s…

2010 Yamaha WR250X and Montana

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Riding_up_to_Red_Lodge_-_MT_Beauty.jpg
A few miles outside of Red Lodge, MT looking south.

Wayne

Hi All:

Made it to Red Lodge, MT and does anyone notice the little sign to the left side of the pumps ;)

2010 Yamaha WR250X filled in Red Lodge, MT.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Red_Lodge_MT_Fill_-_No_Ethanol.jpg
No ethanol in Premium ;)

Wait until you see what that last tank allowed :)

Wayne

Hi All:

While the pics can in no way do the Beartooth justice, here is just a small inkling of what is up there! Pics are shown in the sequence taken and I took the best of the batch… Yeah, I know. I am not that great when it comes to pictures :(

Oh my, the Beartooth! Everyone needs to ride (or drive) this road once in your life!

The Beartooth!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_1.jpg
About 9,000 feet give or take…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_2.jpg
Even higher!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_3.jpg
Looking over the edge at a Beartooth mountain lake.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_4.jpg
The WR250X climbs like a Billy Goat thanks to fuel injection.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_5.jpg
Above the last remnants of last year’s snowfall ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_6.jpg
Off the road and at the top! 10,900 + feet.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_7.jpg
I Wish I had a wider angle lens to capture the true reality of the Beartooth Peaks!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/The_Beartooth_8.jpg
The WR250X can go where the cars cannot so I took it up there for these shots :)

Wayne

Hi All:

After the Beartooth and between Cooke City, MT and Yellowstone, I came across this. Anyone know what peak it is as it was really cool ;)

Peak on the way to Yellowstone

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Heading_to_Yellowstone.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Heading_to_Yellowstone_2.jpg
I liked this Shot for some reason ;)

Wayne

Hi All:

Made it to Red Lodge, MT and does anyone notice the little sign to the left side of the pumps ;)

2010 Yamaha WR250X filled in Red Lodge, MT.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Red_Lodge_MT_Fill_-_No_Ethanol.jpg
No ethanol in Premium ;)

Wait until you see what that last tank allowed :)

WayneThat pump looks ideally suited for you.

A friend of mine once ran in to car trouble in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming, when he put 85 octane in his Taurus, which needs 87. What is the 85.5 octane stuff good for, anyway? Carburetors?

As a cyclist with 25mm wide tires, I feel your pain on the gravel. That stuff is awful for stability and rolling resistance.

Take lots of pics of the Big Sky State. It's very beautiful so far.

Hi All:

And then we have Yellowstone. Pics do not do it justice either :rolleyes:

The Park was free to enter yesterday thanks to National Parks Day. I went to 5 Campgrounds in the park with all but Tower Fall’s either closed or full. WTF!!! Tower Fall’s was full but had two Bicycle/Hiker spots open and the Ranger said those are motorcycle spots so go ahead and take one. Just $5.00 too… No running water however, just Purell in the single Men’s/Ladies bathroom.

Yellowstone!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_and_the_Buffalo.jpg
About 10 miles into the park and a whole line of cars were stopped by a Buffalo herd crossing the road.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_s_Grand_Canyon.jpg
Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_s_Grand_Canyon_2.jpg
More…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_s_Grand_Canyon_3_Loking_back_at_Lower_Falls.jpg
Yellowstone’s Lower Fall’s can barely be seen at the top of the pic…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_and_the_Elk_in_Mammoth_Hot_Springs.jpg
WR250X and the Elk at Mammoth Springs.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_-_North_Entrance.jpg
WR250X at the North Entrance.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yellowstone_-_Tower_Falls_Camping.jpg
Camp Yamaha at Yellowstone’s Tower Falls Campground.

Wayne

Hi Robert:

Boy do I wish all of us had access to this non-ethanol laced fuel! Since the WR250 is spec’ed for Premium due to its high compression ratio, I was so glad to see it! I thanked the attendant for having it too :)

The 85.5 stuff can be used at altitude as std. engines can get by with no pre-detonation.

I hope you liked the Yellowstone pics.

Wayne

Hi All:

And the real reason for the Cross Country Attempt.

The cumulative total FE so far:

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.

Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|229.8|256.4 |30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!

Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|193.1|215.4|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.

Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|242.6|270.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.

Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|209.5|233.7|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(

Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|235.5|262.7|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.

|||||||||

Gurnee, IL|08/23/2010|3,103|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Odometer and Trip A/B recorded at Gas Station on 08/06/2010. Bike sat in the garage from previous top off.

Olewin, IA|08/23/2010|3,322|219.4|244.78|xx.x|xx.x|2.15|113.85|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F

Lemar, IA|08/24/2010|3,536|213.8|238.54|xx.x|xx.x|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain and 20mph headwinds.

Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010|3,749|212.8|237.42|32.8|36.6|2.415|98.311|5 to 15 mph headwinds and some Off-road. Temps 60 to 95 degrees.

Lusk, WY|08/25/2010|3,989|240.1|267.88|42.3|47.2|2.497|107.28|Strong side winds, temps 70 to 90 + F, 2500 ft elevation increase.
|||||||||
Lusk, WY|09/23/2010|4,085|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Topped off anew for the last segment… Hopefully?

Buffalo, WY|09/24/2010|4,330|221.3|246.90|28.5|31.8|2.329|106.01|Half heavy headwinds/sidewinds, other half tail winds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 300 ft elevation decease.

Red Lodge, MT|09/25/2010|4,549|219.0|244.34|16.8|18.7|2.256|108.31|More heavy head and sidewinds than tailwinds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 1000 ft elevation increase. Filled w/ no ethanol fuel. Watch next tank!

St. Anthony, iD|09/26/2010|4,838|288.2|321.54|62.2|69.4|2.642|121.70|More headwinds than tail winds. 40 to 70 degree temps. Multiple climbs above 8,500’ and falls back to 5000. Net 1,000 ft elevation decrease.
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

Cumulative mpg: Total Distance = (3,070.3 miles)/Total Gallons = (28.738 gallons) = 106.838 mpg

That last tank was a blowout and I had a lot of headwinds too! You just have to love the low density air and non-ethanol laced fuel! And thousands of feet elevation climbs and descents allowing probably 20 to 30-miles of FAS'ed based riding. I was not sure if I was going to have another chance at a 300-mile tank so I risked it. The last 60 + miles were not only on low fuel but directly into a 15 + mph headwind!

Wayne

Wow, Yellowstone is something I should really see one day... (and Death Valley too) - very nice pictures.

Glad that you're riding again, and your FE is impressive again (I'd have been really happy to have your worst this weekend - we went on our usual East Hungary trip to deal with shiNIN's heritage, 2-up, on freeway, rain on the whole way back (and very variable wind), which resulted in a very disappointing 3.65l/100km (64.4mpgUS) - this year's absolute worst... and it wasn't even cold, 13-18C (55-64F)...)

I'd love to try a WR250X. I read a review of it on a Hungarian site a few weeks ago, they liked it pretty much, too (it's just a bit tall for me. I've never tried a bike from which I can't set my feet on the ground so far).

Hi Alvaro:

If you ever make it over this way, be sure to stop in Chicago so I can give you a tour! It will be nothing like the west but it might be a change of pace ;)

Just as I am headed out to grab a bite and afterwards, pack up and get on my way, this was the Idaho crossing while on US 20. Just one more to go before reaching the coast!

Welcome to Idaho!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Idaho.jpg
Continental Divide – 7,072 feet.

Idaho is where my Insight lived with its first owner. :)

Wayne, I'm really glad your trip is continuing and you are able to share it so well. These types of motorcycle trips have so many unexpected great moments as well as so many unexpected bad ones.

Riding amplifies life in my approximation about 1.75 times our normal reality. The sun is hotter, the cold is colder, the rain wetter and the scent of the land is stronger. Riding a motorcycle anywhere puts the rider in intimate contact with the surroundings. It can be mind blowing inspiring and it can break your bones. There is nothing like it, his trip is proof.

Are you still planning to make it to Washington or just head south once you make it to Oregon? Our house is still open to you in Olympia.

-Garth

About the 85.5 octane fuel. Engine octane requirements decrease at higher altitudes due to the less dense air and corresponding decreased cylinder compression pressure. While vacationing in MT last spring I had a 32+ tank at 70mph in our '02 Honda Odyssey on 85.5 fuel. My best ever at that speed.

Hi Garth:

Still heading North to visit so hopefully the rest of the trip is uneventful on my way up to your area ;)

Wayne

Welcome to Idaho!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Idaho.jpg
Continental Divide – 7,072 feet.

Some people get to have all the fun. :D

Wayne, I think I have already mentioned this but you will have a difficult time obtaining non-ethanol gas in Oregon unless you know where to go. There are only a handful of stations selling (premium) E0 in the whole state, and none from the Idaho border until you hit Central Oregon. For that matter, I'm pretty sure Idaho is almost entirely E10 as well. Here are the ONLY E0 stations on or near your route in Oregon:


Prineville Reservoir Resort, 19600 SE Juniper Canyon Rd, Prineville. Could be boat-in only, and could be a bit remote, about 15 miles SSE of town. If you're coming in from Post/Paulina on OR 380 it will be about 8 miles off your route BEFORE you hit prineville.
Quickway Market, 690 NE Butler Mkt Road, Bend. VERY convenient location on the north end of town. I bought E0 here a month ago and got a spectacular tank out of it.
Mathers Market, 38477 McKenzie Hwy, Springfield. About 12 miles east of town.
Fuel-N-Go Eugene, 33100 A Van Duyn Rd, Eugene. Sounds like this might be a cardlock location -- which in Oregon (a no-self-serve state) may mean it isn't open to the general public. On the east side of the Coburg exit off I-5 (a couple miles north of town).
Noti Market, 22528 Noti Loop Rd, Noti. About 20 miles W of Eugene.
ABHI's One Stop Market, 85039 Hwy 101 S, Florence. A couple miles north of the 126/101 junction.
Sandlake Grocery, 20960 Sandlake Rd., Cloverdale. This is about 5 miles off US 101 about 20 miles south of Tillamook, should you happen to go that far north on the coast.
Quality Gas LLC, 2385 Salem Dallas Hwy, Salem. On OR 22 in West Salem about 2 miles west of downtown.
Lincoln Store, 5925 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem. About 10 miles north of West Salem on OR 221.

Hi All:

Idaho has the sweetest smelling air. I do not know if its potatoes, sage or what it is but it’s just sweet.

Lava Fields in ID?

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Lava_Fields.jpg
Tens of miles of them and it looked like it happened just yesterday given nothing grows in it apparently?

Dan, I made it to Bend last night in fact and am on absolute fumes so the Quickway Market station sounds like the place to go in a few…

The place I stayed in Nampa had no Internet Access so am just now going to post a few… The access at the hotel I am currently in sucks too :rolleyes:

I stopped at Pro Moto Billet in Nampa and received a warm welcome from Ben Gowers, the sales director of a company that made the very pegs I am standing on and the rack my gear is stored on. I met the owner/inventor/engineer and CEO, Lynn Hodges as well as the entire staff. This is a really Great small company and I have over two hours of notes for a full write-up later.

CleanMPG’s visit to Pro Moto Billet

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/PMB_Ben_Gowers.jpg
Ben Gowers, PMB’s Sales Director with a marketing guy smile :)

FE is still up there but once the non-ethanol laced fuel was gone, the big numbers went away as I hit low fuel at just 187.x miles (208 + actual on ~ 2.0 gal) last night on the Jordan Valley, ID garbage gas :(

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.

Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|229.8|256.4 |30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!

Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|193.1|215.4|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.

Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|242.6|270.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.

Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|209.5|233.7|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(

Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|235.5|262.7|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.

|||||||||

Gurnee, IL|08/23/2010|3,103|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Odometer and Trip A/B recorded at Gas Station on 08/06/2010. Bike sat in the garage from previous top off.

Olewin, IA|08/23/2010|3,322|219.4|244.78|xx.x|xx.x|2.15|113.85|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F

Lemar, IA|08/24/2010|3,536|213.8|238.54|xx.x|xx.x|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain and 20mph headwinds.

Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010|3,749|212.8|237.42|32.8|36.6|2.415|98.311|5 to 15 mph headwinds and some Off-road. Temps 60 to 95 degrees.

Lusk, WY|08/25/2010|3,989|240.1|267.88|42.3|47.2|2.497|107.28|Strong side winds, temps 70 to 90 + F, 2500 ft elevation increase.
|||||||||
Lusk, WY|09/23/2010|4085|0.0|0.0| -- | -- | -- | -- |Topped off anew for the last segment… Hopefully?

Buffalo, WY|09/24/2010|4330|221.3|246.90|28.5|31.8|2.329|106.01|Half heavy headwinds/sidewinds, other half tail winds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 300 ft elevation decease.

Red Lodge, MT|09/25/2010|4549|219.0|244.34|16.8|18.7|2.256|108.31|More heavy head and sidewinds than tailwinds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 1000 ft elevation increase. Filled w/ no ethanol fuel. Watch next tank!

St. Anthony, iD|09/26/2010|4838|288.2|321.54|62.2|69.4|2.642|121.70|More headwinds than tail winds. Multiple climbs above 8,500’ and falls back to 5000. Net 1,000 ft elevation decrease.

Mountain Home, ID|09/27/2010|5057|219.1|244.45|16.0|17.8|2.104|116.18|Calm to Moderate headwinds all the way…

Jordan Valley, ID|09/28/2010|5206|148.8|166.016|NA|NA|1.388|119.61|Calm to Moderate headwinds all the way and Ethanol laced garbage. Last gas for > 100 miles.
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

Cumulative mpg: Total Distance = (3,480.77 miles)/Total Gallons = (32.23 gallons) = 107.998 mpg

Wayne called this morning at about 8:45am PST.
"It's Finished!" Trip complete.
A few quotes taken from the chat with Wayne:
"Oregon, on the MacKenzie path, is one of the most beautiful rides!"
"Something that Harry needs to experience! - It's as good as the Beartooth!"
And "Thanks to Dan for his help in mapping out the path through Oregon - it was a great help."

[center]"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes
Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.
Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|229.8|256.4 |30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!
Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|193.1|215.4|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.
Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|242.6|270.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.
Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|209.5|233.7|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(
Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|235.5|262.7|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.
|||||||||
Gurnee, IL|08/23/2010|3,103|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Odometer and Trip A/B recorded at Gas Station on 08/06/2010. Bike sat in the garage from previous top off.
Olewin, IA|08/23/2010|3,322|219.4|244.78|xx.x|xx.x|2.15|113.85|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F
Lemar, IA|08/24/2010|3,536|213.8|238.54|xx.x|xx.x|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain and 20mph headwinds.
Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010|3,749|212.8|237.42|32.8|36.6|2.415|98.311|5 to 15 mph headwinds and some Off-road. Temps 60 to 95 degrees.
Lusk, WY|08/25/2010|3,989|240.1|267.88|42.3|47.2|2.497|107.28|Strong side winds, temps 70 to 90 + F, 2500 ft elevation increase.
|||||||||
Lusk, WY|09/23/2010|4085|0.0|0.0| -- | -- | -- | -- |Topped off anew for the last segment… Hopefully?
Buffalo, WY|09/24/2010|4330|221.3|246.90|28.5|31.8|2.329|106.01|Half heavy headwinds/sidewinds, other half tail winds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 300 ft elevation decease.
Red Lodge, MT|09/25/2010|4549|219.0|244.34|16.8|18.7|2.256|108.31|More heavy head and sidewinds than tailwinds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 1000 ft elevation increase. Filled w/ no ethanol fuel. Watch next tank!
St. Anthony, iD|09/26/2010|4838|288.2|321.54|62.2|69.4|2.642|121.70|More headwinds than tail winds. Multiple climbs above 8,500’ and falls back to 5000. Net 1,000 ft elevation decrease.
Mountain Home, ID|09/27/2010|5057|219.1|244.45|16.0|17.8|2.104|116.18|Calm to Moderate headwinds all the way…
Jordan Valley, ID|09/28/2010|5206|148.8|166.016|NA|NA|1.388|119.61|Calm to Moderate headwinds all the way and Ethanol laced garbage. Last gas for > 100 miles.
Bend, OR|09/29/2010|5457|251.4|280.487|63.7|71.1|2.7|103.88|Another tank of E10 :(
Florence, OR|09/29/2010|5618|160.6|179.18|NA|NA|1.524|117.57|Running on E0, as the FE shows. Trip finished!
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

Here's an update. Bear with any typos because I have no "normal" Internet here and am posting from an iPhone.

We just saw Wayne off a couple of hours ago. He made it to Florence on the Oregon coast Wednesday evening and started up the coast from there. The sea mist became difficult to ride through after nightfall and he spent the night in Newport.

Yesterday he dipped his wheel in the ocean for the finishing photo-op, then continued up the coast, ending up riding the entire northern half of our coast from Newport to Astoria. He was blessed with exceptional weather, low weekday traffic and a liesurely ride on the twisty coastal highway. From there he came inland and zipped up to Puget Sound on I-5, then taking the ferry to here on Whidbey Island (about 40mi north of Seattle) in the evening. We weren't able to meet up at our home in Portland, but we were fortunate to be able to host him last night at my in-laws' cabin where we are spending a few days. We had a great time chatting about the trip and various other topics and kept him up way too late!

I regret this last part, not realizing at the time that he needs to be in LA at 5pm tomorrow!
That's 1200 miles from here, so he's got some serious riding to do. Hope it goes well, but at least he should continue to have spectacular weather.

- Dan

Update: Wayne called me at about 5:30pm on Saturday to let me know that he made it back to Yamaha in LA on time.

Hi Dan:

Thanks for updating the thread. I got back home about 11:00 PM last night and then up again at 04:30 AM to complete a DriveSmart America program in Milwaukee today. I got home and went through about 200 E-Mails and should be back on it again in an hour or two… Boy do I have a lot to do to catch up :(

Wayne

Great trip Wayne.

Hi Jud:

I wish you were with me on this one as it was the best ride... Heck, best all-out effort yet extremely enjoyable trip in my life!

More Idaho

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Idaho_Sunset.jpg
An Idaho sunset about 30-miles from Nampa, ID.

After visiting ProMotoBillet in Nampa, I came across this sign just before leaving town… Forgive them for they do not know what they do…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/No_Roundabouts.jpg
No Roundabouts :(

And this was yet another one of those Garmin – No highways and shortest routes from Nampa to Bend OR :rolleyes:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_the_Canyon_near_Nampa.jpg

The Canyon was cool as hell but a car would never make it without a bunch of busted parts!

Wayne

Hi All:

Welcome to Oregon!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Welcome_to_OR_2.jpg

With the last few bastions of civilization still in view, I saw the following along the side of the road.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_Cattle_Drive.jpg
Just cows on the side of this OR State Route, right?

Take a closer look…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_Cattle_Drive_Closeup.jpg
Real cowboys driving their herd!

After leaving Jordon Valley, OR, you follow a short run on US 95 heading Southwest before heading Northwest on OR 78… Both are about as desolate as you care to get. Other than maybe US 50 or 6 in NV, this desert road was out there with no cars, trucks or bikes for 30 or more minutes between sightings! There were not even power lines or ranches for tens of miles to give you an idea as to how “out there” it really was.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_78_West_-_Desolate.jpg
OR 78 – Parked in the middle of the straight road and in the middle of nowhere.

When you are in the middle of nowhere, a sign, any sign is worth stopping to take a pic of I guess :)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Pacific_Time_on_OR_78.jpg
PST – Set your watch back an hour.

Do we really need gas?

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Next_Gas_120_miles.jpg
120 miles of nothing between Burns and Jordon Valley, OR…

Wayne

Wayne:

I bet you weren't scared of that 120 mile no-gas sign :)

Do we really need gas?

Wayne:

I bet you weren't scared of that 120 mile no-gas sign :)

"Trust me..." ;)

"Trust me..." ;)

Groan. :p

Hi All:

Thanks to Dan (Wri Consult’s) scouting report, the WR received its last drink of non-ethanol laced fuel in Bend, OR before we would reach the Pacific. And she needed it too as I was deep deep deep into the low fuel range and on absolute fumes thanks to the E10 forced upon her in Jordan Valley. Although a bit expensive at $3.65 per, when you are at 110 to 120 + mpg while on it, the extra $0.65 per really does not add up to much ;)

Bend, Oregon

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Bend_OR_-_Non-ethanol.jpg
Who does not love it when you see a pump stating non-ethanol fuel!

Another highlight from the Bend, OR area was when I was able to meet up with Harold and Dave of Giant Loop. They are the ones who made the soft rear bag (the Great Basin) and the tank bag (Fandango) that made this ride easier and much more enjoyable. The rear soft bags helped protect the rear of the bike during the “Antelope incident” in Douglas, WY with not even a scratch to the rear! In addition to the carry everything without knowing its back there, the tank bag carrying all the quick get to items and the ability to be zipped off and carried into the eating establishment of choice was a perfect idea for this trip let alone many others to come…

Giant Loop Owners

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Harold_and_Dave_-_Giant_Loop.jpg
Harold and Dave of Giant Loop

Harold’s sunset orange BMW F 800 GS was sitting in the Giant Loop shop with its bright orange Great Basin and Fandango tank bag attached and I just knew it wanted to come along to finish out the ride ;)

Along with Dan’s pre-scouting of the McKenzie pass, Dave said, "You have to ride OR 242 up to the McKenzie pass as the road was brand new asphalt and was like riding on glass." I will have a full Review write-up on the Giant Loop Great Basin and Fandango tank bag later but as a prelude, this trip would not have been possible without hauling all the gear I did and the Giant Loop gear made it a dream.

And now for something completely different???

Next up was an interesting stop that has little to do with the Yamaha WR250X Adventure Review but is certainly worth telling people about. That is a small BBQ joint located in the heart of Oregon.

While in Dallas for the 11 F-150 Press Launch two weeks back, Jeff Johnston, a co-host of Rollin’ On TV (www.rollinontv.com) out of Eugene, OR and I were talking about the last leg of the 2010 WR 250X’s journey. He said since you will probably be passing through Sisters, OR, you just have to stop by a BBQ joint next to a Shell Station in downtown. He was not sure of the name but it would be impossible to miss.

Meet Slick’s Que Co. in Sisters, Oregon

A BBQ place in Oregon? When I first heard of "a BBQ joint in OR", I thought of the old Picante commercial with a bunch of cowboys sitting around the campfire. It goes something like this:

Cowboy: Hey cook, more Picante sauce.

Cook hands cowboy a jar of “something”: Here

Cowboy: Hey, this isn’t Pace Picante sauce?

Cook in a grumbling tone: What’s the difference!

Second Cowboy reading the label: This stuff’s made in NY City?

Group of Cowboy’s stand up in unison: “NY City”!

A third cowboy says, “Get a rope”

Levity aside, my first impression was that Slick’s smelled great as I pulled into the parking lot with the smoker strategically placed out in front smoking tomorrow’s BBQ delights. As I pulled off my gear and walked in, my next thought was this really is an authentic Pit based BBQ establishment. The “Real Deal” in no uncertain terms to put it lightly! From the aroma of freshly smoked BBQ fixin’s to the thick picnic tables adorned with paper towels on the roll and even some light country music playing in the background, I knew this had to be good.

While trying to decide what to order, I was offered a sampling of their finest including Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork and Smoked Turkey Breast. All three were delicious with the Beef Brisket being my choice.

As I sat down to enjoy the best meal I had in weeks, I snapped a pic of the interior and pulled out my notepad to write down some thoughts on the character of the place. The owner’s wife Kim came over and we struck up a conversation about the BBQ establishment and of course my own X-Country ordeal. And this is what I discovered.

Kim asked how I heard of Slick’s and I told her about Jeff’s description of this must visit BBQ place. While Central Oregon probably does not conjure up the idea of great BBQ, its owner, Roy Slicker, currently sits on the board of National BBQ Association (yes, there is such a thing) and presides over the largest Western States district. Therefore he has to know what he is doing, right? I can say without hesitation given the taste of the “Que”, he most certainly does!

Slick’s Que Co – BBQ

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Sisters_OR_-_BBQ4.jpg
The mighty WR250X parked in front of Slick’s Que Co.

The restaurant was opened in 2009 and has quickly gained a reputation as a “must visit” place in central OR. One of the secret’s to Slick’s Que success is the founder’s absolute attention to detail. While I have little to offer as I am the last person on earth that could be described as a food critic (I have a hard enough time doing that with bikes, cars and trucks let alone my penchant for McDonald's and Burger King :rolleyes:), according to Slick’s, their BBQ is a “St. Louis-Texi-Memph” style mix served with simple sides and a drink in a Texas Southern Tradition.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Sisters_OR_-_BBQ2.jpg
Slick’s Interior

What really impressed me however was Kim’s description of Roy’s search to find the best “wood” to smoke the BBQ with. Roy travels as far away as Louisiana to pick up pecan wood which adds a slight "buttery flavor" to the meats being smoked. He also picks up apple wood from Washington State to add a slightly "sweet flavor". Quoting one of the menu boards slogans, “It’s like a rodeo in your mouth” was as true a saying as I have ever come across in my 48-years behind the dinner plate.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Sisters_OR_-_BBQ3.jpg
Kim Slicker of Slick’s Que Co.

Another story was while Roy was on the road (possibly in Louisiana again) when he came across one of the best bread pudding’s ever created. He asked the cook for the recipe and the cook said give me 4-hours of your time and you have a deal. After 4-hours behind the stove, Roy walked away with a recipe that truly is the “best bread pudding” I have ever eaten!

While I could write for another hour about Slick’s, if you have the opportunity to visit, a person you have to ask about is “Charlie”. Let us just say “Charlie” adds a little more than character to the place. Along with the family dog, “Charlie” is Roy’s constant road companion and provides laughter to all that have met him. Trust me; he will surely bring a smile to your face as well :)

All in, "Damn that was good" is an understatement!

Wayne

Hi All:

After the little sampling of BBQ, is anyone ready to hear about Oregon?

Wyoming provided a warm yet rustic appeal from its citizenry to its landscape. This included my close contact with the people in both Douglas and Glenrock as well as Yellowstone’s beauty which simply cannot be described in pictures or words.

Montana offered a more rugged perspective given the off-road miles ridden and the beautiful Mountain passes of the Beartooth.

Idaho offered a sense of entrepreneurship with ProMotoBillet’s excellent forward looking motorcycle and ATV products to Nampa, Idaho’s vibrant downtown and surrounding area.

And then we have Oregon. Following Dan’s suggestion to head south on US 95 into the Oregon desert, and back up towards Burns on OR 78, across US 20 to Bend, onto Sisters and up OR 242 through the McKenzie pass, following OR 126 to the Pacific coastal town of Florence, OR and afterwards, riding the 101 while following the Pacific Coast from Florence to Astoria proved to be a highlight of the crossing.

There is something about riding a motorcycle that cannot be described in words but only imagined by those that do not ride. Garth’s earlier post put it best when he said the following:


The sun is hotter, the cold is colder, the rain wetter and the scent of the land is stronger. Riding a motorcycle anywhere puts the rider in intimate contact with the surroundings. It can be mind blowing inspiring and it can break your bones. There is nothing like it.
Oregon was like the crescendo of the challenge ride with so many different topographies, microclimates, and overwhelming additions to the senses that can only be experienced by hiking, cycling or riding a motorcycle. Again, words will never be able to describe the sights, sounds, aromas’s and feel of what the state of Oregon has to offer unless you were to get out and as Dan would be inclined to say given his employment with Nike, “Just do it”!

The last leg, the final segment, the home stretch of the of 2010 Yamaha WR250X X-Country ride…

While I do not believe I have mentioned it previously, with temps in the mid-90’s, the Oregon desert’s sage was filling the air with a sweet aroma that surpassed even Idaho’s sugary smell. The quote above from Garth again comes to mind as the Hepa and carbon filtered air and environment we call the car will never allow in what cannot be described in words. The Oregon desert and Sister’s Slick’s Que Co BBQ was just the first of a multitude of overwhelming scents that was experienced while riding the 2010 Yamaha WR250X across the state.

Has anyone ever felt they were in the right place, at the right time and on the right mode of transportation to enjoy whatever vista was about to be unveiled? I felt this exact sensation when the WR250X began the climb to Oregon’s McKenzie Pass immediately after leaving Sisters, OR. It was late in the season as the pass will be closed in just another two or three weeks, very few people were on the route given the tourist season is over, the unseasonably warm temperatures made the ride that much more enjoyable and the panorama that was passed by was truly spectacular.

Oregon's McKenzie Pass

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_McKenzie_Pass_Redwoods.jpg
Parked on an almost empty OR 242 while enjoying the sights and smells of the Redwood forest during
the climb to the 5,000 + foot summit of McKenzie pass. The wood scent was stunning!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_McKenzie_Pass_Lava_Fields1.jpg
Parked amongst the Lava fields near the peak of McKenzie Pass.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_McKenzie_Pass_Three_Sisters.jpg
Two of the three Sisters and just a small portion of the lava fields they produced!

Wayne

Hi All:

After leaving the McKenzie pass with the 3,000’ climb behind me and over 5,000’ of elevation to fall from, the ride allowed ~ 15-miles worth of FAS based silent running while traversing switch back after switch back on my way West towards Eugene and the Pacific Coast. The 100 mpg run was all but guaranteed and all I had to make sure I did not ride off a cliff while enjoying the scenery, get hit by a cage on the last leg to the coast or heaven forbid get to know one of the larger indigenous species on a personal basis as I did in Wyoming :rolleyes:

The McKenzie River

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_McKenzie_River_Covered_Bridge.jpg
You do not see one of these everyday! I did not really concern myself with the “No Parking” sign
given the light traffic in late September ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/OR_McKenzie_River.jpg
Following the McKenzie River for tens of miles… The leaves were changing colors
with many drifting down from their perches to the roadway ahead and behind.

Wayne

Hi All:

And the final run to the Coast… While there was not much left other than to get through Eugene, OR as the sun began to set, a sense of accomplishment that the challenge set forth was a "Done Deal" began to be felt. The goal proved to be not only surmountable (I had my doubts after that 91 mpg tank in Iowa :rolleyes:) but the Yamaha WR250X bested my own expectations given the 102.x mpg it allowed over two tanks while being ridden to some of the more scenic areas of both Chicago and Milwaukee during our initial review ride.

As I rode through Eugene with a euphoric sense of accomplishment, another sense began to invade my psyche. That being that the hardest but best ride or drive of my life was nearing its conclusion. The only thing left to do was ride the last 50 or so miles to the coast, fill up and calculate the final tally.

Final Fill of the 2010 Yamaha WR250X 100 mpg X-Country Challenge Ride – Florence, OR.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Final_Fill_in_Florence_OR.JPG
Final fill in Florence, OR - 179.2 miles after 11.57% offset on 1.524 gallons of fuel = 117.6 mpg.

"2010 Yamaha WR250X - 100-mpg X-Country Adventure Touring Project Bike FE Details"

Fill Location|Date|Odometer|Trip A/B|*Actual Miles Traveled|Miles into Low Fuel|*Actual Miles into Low Fuel|Gallons Consumed|MPG|Notes

Boston, MA|08/02/2010|1,993|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Top off fill ~ 10 miles from downtown Boston.

Palatine Bridge, NY|08/03/2010|2,223|229.8|256.4 |30.2|33.7|2.315|110.756|Best tank yet!

Arkport, NY|08/03/2010|2,416|193.1|215.4|6.0|6.7|2.118|101.70|Closed Sunoco with Open Pumps.

Rochester, PA|08/05/2010|2,658|242.6|270.7|39.9|44.5|2.558|105.825|Only had 89 Octane??? Tough on and off-road and mountainous ride.

Ridgeville, OH|08/06/2010|2,862|209.5|233.7|29.8|33.2|2.354|99.278|Stronger headwinds the whole way :(

Gurnee, IL|08/06/2010|3,103|235.5|262.7|44.8|49.9|2.501|105.038|Lighter headwinds and worked my @$ off through Chicago again.

|||||||||

Gurnee, IL|08/23/2010|3,103|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Odometer and Trip A/B recorded at Gas Station on 08/06/2010. Bike sat in the garage from previous top off.

Olewin, IA|08/23/2010|3,322|219.4|244.78|xx.x|xx.x|2.15|113.85|Best tank so far! Hardly any wind, temps 75-85F

Lemar, IA|08/24/2010|3,536|213.8|238.54|xx.x|xx.x|2.603|91.64|Worst tank so far. Thru heavy rain and 20mph headwinds.

Ainsworth, NE|08/25/2010|3,749|212.8|237.42|32.8|36.6|2.415|98.311|5 to 15 mph headwinds and some Off-road. Temps 60 to 95 degrees.

Lusk, WY|08/25/2010|3,989|240.1|267.88|42.3|47.2|2.497|107.28|Strong side winds, temps 70 to 90 + F, 2500 ft elevation increase.
|||||||||
Lusk, WY|09/23/2010|4085|0.0|0.0|NA|NA|NA|NA|Topped off anew for the last segment… Hopefully?

Buffalo, WY|09/24/2010|4330|221.3|246.90|28.5|31.8|2.329|106.01|Half heavy headwinds/sidewinds, other half tail winds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 300 ft elevation decease.

Red Lodge, MT|09/25/2010|4549|219.0|244.34|16.8|18.7|2.256|108.31|More heavy head and sidewinds than tailwinds. 50 to 70 degree temps, ~ 1000 ft elevation increase. Filled w/ no ethanol fuel. Watch next tank!

St. Anthony, iD|09/26/2010|4838|288.2|321.54|62.2|69.4|2.642|121.70|More headwinds than tail winds. Multiple climbs above 8,500’ and falls back to 5000. Net 1,000 ft elevation decrease.

Mountain Home, ID|09/27/2010|5057|219.1|244.45|16.0|17.8|2.104|116.18|Calm to Moderate headwinds all the way…

Jordan Valley, ID|09/28/2010|5206|148.8|166.016|NA|NA|1.388|119.61|Calm to Moderate headwinds all the way and Ethanol laced garbage. Last gas for > 100 miles.

Bend, OR|09/29/2010|5457|251.4|280.487|63.7|71.1|2.700|103.88|Mostly desert ride with slight head and side winds and temps in the 90’s. Just filled with the good E0 stuff too.

Florence, OR|09/29/2010|5618|160.6|179.181|NA|NA|1.524|117.573|It is finished with an ~ 2,000’ descent out of Central Oregon to the Pacific Coast.
* Gearing Change from OEM 13/43 to YGTR 14/40 adds 11.57% more actual miles to Odometer/Trip A/B/Low Fuel Distances.

Cumulative mpg: Total Distance = (3,940.438 miles)/Total Gallons = (36.454 gallons) = 108.093 mpg

Wayne

4k miles on a 250! WOW! Great Job!

Hi Ricardo:

As you wrote, 120 miles did not bother me much but I was already over 150-miles in on the tank and not sure how far to an open gas station? I filled up in Jordan Valley early just in case ;)

Andrew and Sean, “I should have trusted the CleanMPG Force” as I would have had possibly 5-miles to spare when I arrived in Burns, OR. Or maybe not :D

Mike, I can only thank you and the rest of the guys for keeping the place alive and well while I was out having the time of my life and working harder and longer than I ever have before. Thank you all.

Now that the WR250X has reached the Pacific coast, what’s next?

After the Florence fill, I turned my attention northwards with a bit more relaxed riding style as the X-Country goals (100 + mpg and making it from Coast to Coast while loosely paralleling US 20) had been met. I still wanted to snap a pic of the US 20 Western most terminus which was in Newport 50-miles to my north, still wanted to get the WR250X onto a beach somewhere and snap a pic of it in the Pacific and then take a little ride up to Seattle to see Dan (Wri Consult), Garth (Beatr911) and a UK Times reporter if any of them were available and then ride back down the coast towards LA to drop my trusted steed back off at Yamaha’s HQ in Cypress, CA where her own journey began just a few months prior.

Immediately heading north along the Oregon Coast on US 101, the fog was growing thick. I reached Newport but by the time I did, the fog was so thick it was all but raining and I could not keep my shield clear. Riding with my shield up for the last 3-miles was the best I could do to keep the road in sight so I was essentially out of action and had to stop for the night. Not being able to see the Pacific anyway, it was probably for the best but it set me behind yet another day just as the looping of Yellowstone added a day to my travels…

I took some pics of the WR250X parked at the corner of the US 20 and US 101 junction that night but the pics were not really discernable...

2010 WR250X and US 20 - The Beginning and the End

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_on_Hwy_20_in_Boston.jpg
US 20 West in Boston, MA.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Newport_OR_-_US_20_East_Begin.jpg
US 20 East in Newport, OR.

Looking back, it did not seem that long of a ride but I had two breaks (collar bone included ;)) to get across.

While I was looking for a beach to snap a pic of the WR250X in the ocean, I was also looking for beachgoers that could possibly snap a pic of me and the WR at the water’s edge just as the woman did when we left on the Adventure Ride in Hull, MA just outside Boston, MA. Fortunately, I came across a somewhat populated public beach in Rockaway, OR and there was an older gentleman and his wife that not only were helpful in taking some pics but had a large rock that I could use to get the bike to stand on its own kickstand in the soft wet sand.

The Beginning and the End

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_in_the_Atlantic.jpg
The Beginning - Parked in the Atlantic Ocean in Hull, MA.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Riding_into_the_Pacific_Rockaway_OR_2.jpg
The End - Parked in the Pacific Ocean in Rockaway, OR.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/WR_and_I_in_the_Atlantic.jpg
An unknown creature was seen coming out of the Atlantic Ocean this past August…

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Riding_into_the_Pacific_Rockaway_OR.jpg
The same unknown creature was seen entering the Pacific Ocean late last week :D

Wayne

Hi All:

Goals continued to be met and now all there is left is the ride to a destination and the sightseeing… And once again, pictures and words cannot describe the beauty of the rugged but beautiful Oregon coast.

After finding a place in downtown Newport the night before, I had a pleasant sleep and waited until the fog burned off the next morning in order to see what beauty the Oregon’s Pacific Coast would provide… And boy oh boy was the ride and the view out of this world! Curve after coastline curve and a new view of the Pacific appeared with each turn of the bars.

The Pacific along Oregon’s Coast

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Pacific_off_OR_coast.jpg
Just one of hundreds of overlooks and a straight out look into the deep blue Pacific.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Looking_back_at_OR_coast1.jpg
Looking back at the Oregon Coast… What a view!

Wayne

Hi All:

After passing through Astoria, OR, I began heading west on US 30 towards the faster but far less scenic I-5 while headed towards Seattle. Dan and Krissy invited me up to stay with them at their vacation home on Whidbey Island for the evening. As night took over the day, I reached the ferry in Mukilteo, WA for my first ferry ride across Puget Sound. While dark, I had no idea what was in store the next morning and I am still ticked I did not take a single pic of their backyard view over the Sound with Mt. Baker in the background :ccry:

The WR250X goes on a Ferry Ride

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Ferry_to_Clinton_WA.jpg
I really need to learn how to focus this Canon manually in strange lighting :rolleyes:

Dan, Krissy, their son Johann and their dog Rocky (I think their pup’s name was Rocky?) were there to greet me as I rolled into the neighborhood. And although already late in the evening, they waited to have dinner until I arrived.

And I was provided yet another fantastic feast! Maybe it was too many breakfast bars and fast food on the way across but the excellent BBQ the day before and real home cooked dinner and a huge breakfast the next morning was a welcome addition to the end of the Adventure :)

That night, Dan and I stayed up until almost 04:30 AM while having the best and most engaging conversation I have had had in months. While way too late for the next day’s almost 1,200 mile ride to LA, I would not have given up that time for anything in the world. Thank you Dan for the hospitality, discussion and view that I wish we all had a chance to experience when we wake up in the morning :D

Dan (Wri Consult’s) Family

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Johann_-_Dan_-_Krissy_-_Rocky.jpg
Johann, Dan, Krissy, their dog Rocky

After saying my goodbyes, it was time to hit the road and hit it hard. The Garmin showed 1187 miles to Cypress, CA and it was already noon with a wait for the Ferry and ride across the sound before I could really get moving. In addition, it was Friday (think Rush hour) and I was going to try and meet up with Garth in Olympia after traversing downtown Seattle on the I-5. I had already decided it was best to skip a meeting with Mark Harris of the UK Times so off I went.

I was on dry land and moving by 01:05 PM. I arrived in Olympia at 02:30, well after my intended meet with Garth so that was a lost opportunity. I still have to apologize to Garth for that one…

This portion of the adventure was almost a blur and not a very fun one at that by comparison to my previous weeks with the WR250X. Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, WA as well as Portland, OR were in my rear view well before sunset. Portland traffic on late Friday afternoon was a bit intense but nothing I have not experienced in Chicago thousands of times before… Eugene was hardly a bump in the road as the time flew by. The only time to rest occured when filling with fuel.

Through the evening, Medford, OR was reached and into the wee hours of the morning, Redding, CA was in my sights.

Somewhere about 100-miles north of Sacramento, my Gerbing’s heated gear controller gave out. It is still in CA and until I get it back, I will not know what went or maybe it was a simple connection. In any case, I decided to stop for a few hours of rest (almost four to be exact) on a picnic table at a Rest Area on I-5. I woke up to the sun just creeping over the horizon and began the trek anew.

Sacramento, Stockton and Bakersfield came and went and while crossing the Tejon pass, the Garmin showed 1,091 miles traveled as the clock ticked by the 01:05 PM starting point from the day before. That is the farthest I have ever ridden in just 24-hours and it was actually easier than the WR250X’s first Iron Butt ride from Chicago to Boston performed two months prior.

With a little rain on the pass to wash 5,000 miles of road grime and dust off the bike and myself, it was down into LA where Lane splitting helped me through traffic jam after traffic jam. Riding a bike in LA is like no other experience on the North American Continent. “Amped Up” would be a mild description of what it is like to slice and dice with the cagers at 70 + mph on a wall to wall packed Interstate system (the Slab).

I reached Yamaha HQ at 03:10 PM (an hour early actually!) where Yamaha Security was awaiting my arrival.

It is sad to say goodbye to a trusty steed

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Yamaha_HQ_in_Cypruss_CA.jpg
The mighty 2010 Yamaha WR250X at Yamaha HQ in Cypress, CA.

I pulled all the accessories off that I could leaving the pegs and tank for their techs as I sent the OEM gear to Yamaha a month ago and did not have access to complete the conversion. At ~ 05:00 PM, I said goodbye to the WR for the very last time and headed off to a bus stop in order to get back into downtown LA to meet up with Tarabell for the night.

LA Public Transit System -- Let us just say I love the LA public transit system as you can traverse the entire county to get from point A to B. The time to travel those 25-miles on three different busses exceeded 3-hours however… I was grateful for the ride in any case.

The next dinner -- After arriving at Rani’s home in downtown, she suggested we go to a local Korean restaurant. Not being a connoisseur of Korean cuisine, I had no idea what was in store but just like the BBQ in Sisters, OR and both the dinner and breakfast at Dan and Krissy’s vacation home north of Seattle, I was in for yet another treat!

While I still cannot pronounce the name of the dish, it was a fantastic soup with chunks of Prime Rib, bamboo shoots, noodles and some kind of green vegetables thrown in for good measure. In addition, there was a sampling of 7 or 8 dishes on the side with 5 of them being to fantastic for words. I hope the next time we are all out in LA we can visit the same place again!

With almost 1,200 road miles and 4-hours of sleep behind me, 2-hours of wrenching on and under the bike with the broken wing on a cement floor, a 3-hour + bus ride and a dinner meant for a very overweight king, I was simply exhausted :D

Early the next morning, it was off to LAX for a noon flight (a seat was broken and we had head winds so did not get in until almost 07:00 PM) and yet another BBQ dinner (a local place called Famous Dave's) with my mom and aunt as they picked me up from Milwaukee’s Mitchell field…

Tarabell at her home in LA

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Rani_at_her_home.jpg

The only thing left are the conclusions...

Wayne

Welcome back :)

(Which is a bit ironic to say as I'm at a very different point of the Earth :D)

I'm back from the Eastern side of Hungary too, got rain on the way back but my 'new' boots proved much better than the previous one. And avoiding the freeways Ciliegia didn't give the lows Teresa reached on our last such trip (3.065 and 3.31l/100km - 76.7 and 71mpgUS respectively). It was cold on the way though and unfortunately we have to start heating in the house, it was 14C (57F) in the warmer room when we got back :eek:

I have a favourite among your new pics too: the last Oregon coast shot :)

Whew, heck of a trip Wayne. I'm tired of sitting in the saddle just reading about it. I'm really glad the rest of the trip went off without problems.

Deepest restpect for the tenacity of completing this endurance ride! The drone down I-5 is terribly boring and after starting from an already tired state, my hat is off to you! Sorry we didn't hook up, but glad you got to stay with Dan and family. Maybe some other time/place.

Wayne, as a reference to other bikes in similar conditions, what were the speeds and mileage figures while blasting down I-5? I'm sure you weren't hypermiling this leg so it won't be held against you.

At 80+mph the Concours drops from 54mpg to a paltry 38, so I'd guess about 60mpg for the WR250X at maximum speed?

Hi Alvaro:

It sounds as if you had an interesting adventure of your own across Hungary last week :) And thanks for the welcome back!

After completing a true adventure to wherever we are headed in life, I am sure most think to themselves that it was too long and arduous a journey to conceive of doing it again in their lifetimes. With a few days of rest and looking back with a fresh perspective, the hope and dream to do something similar again begins anew.

Thinking back to the 450 mile hypermiling ride through the night to Al’s home in Pittsburgh, PA, the flat near the PA/OH border, the lengthy ride into the wind and rain through central Iowa, the “Antelope Incident” in Douglas, WY, the reversal of fortunes in order to begin the quest again late last month, the multitude of unpaved roads encountered, the almost desperate search for a campground in Yellowstone, and even the almost inconceivable 26-hour, 1,187 mile ride from north of Seattle to south of LA, they were all simply small hardships that provided flavor to an Adventure I would not have traded for the world. Well maybe not the “Antelope Incident” anyway ;)

In each case, I learned about the capability of a bike that in the world of motorcycling would not normally be given a chance to achieve the goals we set out to achieve plus I learned a little about my own endurance along the way. To see, smell, feel and experience the USA along with meeting and talking with its diverse citizenry in a manner like never before makes the adversity encountered seem like nothing more than a speed bump in addition to making the Adventure’s conclusion that much more enjoyable. In other words, when can we do it again and who else wants to come along :D

Garth, I am so sorry I did not get to meet you while passing through the Olympia, WA area twice! It may be a while before I get out that way again so a visit with you will be my highest priority the next time I am in the Pacific Northwest. I was so darn close yet could not connect and it was simply excuses that got in the way. Please accept my apologies as I so much wanted to go riding with you given the plans you had made.

Regarding the FE during the "Race Back to LA", during one 130-mile stretch, I was almost WOT pushing 75 mph for most of the distance. The climbs were WOT and either in fourth or fifth to maintain a higher average speed in fact! While I did not have time to record any of the tanks distance and fuel consumption details, I did do mental calc's at each fuel stop. That single almost WOT run achieved a pitiful ~ 53 mpg IIRC :rolleyes: The best was 84 mpg so although I am not complaining, after that "worst tank" I backed it down to the mid 60 mph area on the flats and backed it way down in the truck climbing lanes over the many ascents encountered near the Tejon Pass area for the rest of the trip to LA...

Good Luck

Wayne

Not really an adventure, it's more a necessity.

(It takes ~5 hours - more like 6 in the darkness/rain - by motorcycle so I don't even think about going by public transport - it would include a bus thats schedule has 2-3 hour holes, a train, then underground, and 2 more trains or buses, would take a whole day and a price that could reach or exceed the expenses of the 2-up ride including maintenance and a proper share of purchase price and taxes. Enough to scare us away... And if it doesn't rain and I don't suffer from massive sleep deprivation from the 'nigh shifter' week I can even enjoy the ride itself :D)

When we go on an adventure, I'll let you all know ;)

But that 26-hour, 1,187 miles sounds really something... and now that I heard the 'run like crazy' mileage of the WR250X I'm even more curious about your techniques when reaching those 100+ mpg tanks... a year and a half ago I had a similar run with Teresa as an experiment (mostly ran at 130-140km/h by speedo, sometimes over, once I even tried her top speed of 175km/h indicated at the 7000rpm redline) and got a pretty similar FE.

"After completing a true adventure to wherever we are headed in life, I am sure most think to themselves that it was too long and arduous a journey to conceive of doing it again in their lifetimes. With a few days of rest and looking back with a fresh perspective, the hope and dream to do something similar again begins anew."

True words!!! After circumnavigating the eastern half of Austrailia on a 400 in 1990 I vowed to ride around every continent in the world before I die. Not much progress made yet. I've now become a little more obsessed with NOT burning fuel for my own enjoyment, or maybe it's an excuse because now I'd rather spend time with my family. I don't know for sure, probably some of both.

Wayne, no apology needed. Things have been a little stressed around the house what with the construction and whatnot. Other folks in the house didn't really want to present to a guest such disarray, so it's probably just as well. I'm just glad the ride went well. There are always future possibilities.

I ran across this thread while researching the WR250X, debating between it and a KLX250SF for a commuter. This thread is epic, and I have made up my choice now.

Lots of incredible pictures and information in this thread, but I think the most incredible fact is you broke your collar bone and somehow got back on a bike a month later. I broke my collar bone about two years ago and after a month I had just manned up enough to put my shirts on without wincing.

Hi Poik:

Welcome to CleanMPG and you are not going to go wrong with the Yamaha WR250X. It is truly an exceptional bike amongst a sea of pretty good ones. Namely the KLX 250S and SF.

Regarding the collar bone, let's just say I am both stubborn and stupid because the darn thing still hurts like hell when I take the brace strap off ;)

Good Luck

Wayne

Hi All:

My approval for the first 1,070 mile Iron Butt Ride from the IL/WI border to Boston was approved!
Dear Wayne Gerdes:

You are receiving this e-mail because of your application for a ride certification. This note is to let you know that your ride has been approved and although your ride documents may take a few more weeks to arrive, your membership has also been approved and entered into the Iron Butt Association's member database.

Welcome to the Iron Butt Association!
I did not bother with the second 1100 mile IB ride from north of Seattle to south of Los Angeles during the same Adventure because it was redundant.

In any case, a Yamaha WR250X can do the distance just like the big bore bikes when pushed and did so quite easily as well :)

Good Luck

Wayne

Hi All:

To conclude the 2010 Yamaha WR250X Cross Country ride write-up, the IB certificate for the Chicago to Boston segment along with the associated magazine arrived in the mail today.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Iron_Butt_Saddle_Sore_Certificate.jpg

Wayne

hey, that was awesome, but you cant get out of it that easily...

I'd luv 2 kno some details...

*lookin at all those mods and dyno work those guys are talkin bout in the WR250R/X forums, my head is still spinnin round. Maybe this forum can clear things up a little. I am no techie but I reckon most of the performance mods detailed there are designed to get more air into the engine. Is this true? And how does this increase performance anyway? I am thinkin that the way the fuel injection is programmed is what is causing the performance increase - if it senses more air it injects more fuel. Is this true? and would that be detrimental to the engine and reduce its lifespan? I read somewhere that it wouldnt because the engine would run cooler. What do you guys think? If this is true, I am assuming this is because the engine does not expand and contract as much. True? I suppose if we look at the total cost to the environment we have to consider these points as well.

*following on from this...is the better performance gained at the cost of fuel efficiency? could the rider modify riding style to maintain the original fuel efficiency, but still have the better performance at hand when they need it?

*if the mods do decrease fuel efficiency, what is the effect then of introducing a new fuel programmer and adjusting the map? Sounds like you go the full circle. Back to square one! Why do the mods in the first place? Rhetorical question.

*somethin else i read - one guy (admittedly only one) somehow accidentally discovered a 10mpg increase in fuel efficiency when he left the lid of his airbox:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/wr250x-7134.html

When he put the lid back on it dropped back down. That's gotta be worth investigating! and kinda opposite of what i read in this forum.

*do fuel injected systems require alot of maintenance to keep them at their optimum performance? seems to me with all the electrics, sensors, computer chips, propper air flow etc there are a multitude of things that can go wrong and tryin to find a replacement sensor in the middle of the Gibson desert...well, thats another story.

*so of-course, my own selfish reasons for posting will now be revealed - i am gonna buy a WR250R coz i think they would make an awesome adventure bike. For me, anything bigger is overkill and i absolutely luv the versatility, fuel efficiency of smaller bikes. Also, they're quieter and less intimidating - good for nature and small peaceful villages. I'm planning some rides in the australian deserts and central asia. Both environments require at least 500km range (more on some tracks in oz, and at least a couple of roads I know of in western china, but this is what i am going with). So, I'm thinkin 14lt tank, 5lt fuel bladder, 1lt that comes with my stove (for emergency). 500km / 20lt = 25kmpl (hence my interest in fuel economy). But we're talkin off-road, off-track, single-rack, corrugations, sand, bull-dust, altitude etc. Hey, but not all the time. Alot of the time decent hard surfaces. Anyway, given this scenario, i think maybe gearing (front/rear sprockets) should be my focus. What do you guys think?

Oh, and weight.

cheers,
regie

Airflow increases did help for power on engines with carburetors. More air could be pulled through the venturi and draw more fuel through the jets. Add bigger jets and it could add more power up to a point.

Pulling more fuel is the negative effect of what we are shooting for. More air could help efficiency to a point as well.

Hi Regie:

More air into the engine provides more HP but not FE as long as there is no constraint that would create more pumping losses.

Running an engine at higher HP and torque for performance always reduces lifespan. Having extra HP and torque capability and not using it does not reduce engine longevity.

More Performance and FE? It depends. Simple airbox mods will improve performance but FE will stay the same. Change gearing or tires for more performance and you will see a huge loss in FE as demonstrated with the Avon Distanzia tires we attempted to use initially.

Mods on the WR are to improve performance first and foremost. Anyone performing them has generally seen a loss in FE.

FI is far more robust than a carb. It is also far more fuel efficient no matter the altitude traversed. This is one of the Yamaha WR250X’s secrets. Climbing from sea level on the Atlantic coast to over 11,000’ while crossing the Bear Tooths and back down to sea level on the Pacific with no screwing around with jets and no loss in performance other than the thin air reducing maximum HP is FI’s ace in the hole.

Yes, the WR would be a great addition to your transportation fleet. If there was one fly in the ointment, it would be its top speed while running the wide open spaces of Australia’s outback. Tapped out in a tuck, she’s good for over 80 mph/130 kph but any headwind or grade and she will drop back to much lower speeds.

Good Luck and you will indeed love your WR :)

Wayne

New guy,

Buying a used 2009 wrx--ordered the 14 tooth--digging around for a 40 tooth.
Thanks for the fantastic info which has saved me sooooooooooooooooo much research and trial and error.
I will be using the bike primarily for commuting. 35 miles one way-60 hwy 40 city.
Maybe an occassional Blue Ridge Run. I am about 120 miles for the parkway.
Getting rid of my 900 lb Royal Star Venture (2000)
11 Mororcycles in 8 years. Quest for a bike I can keep.
Goals-Ergos that fit /economy. Sat on the wrx--will get the risers you suggest,
Sprockets-Risers-windscreen-brush guards-in that order.
I left Hammond Indiana in 1966-drafted-now live in Williamsburg,Va.
Question-oem chain ok on the 14/40?
Thank you
again
ED

Hi Ed:

Sorry I missed your post earlier… The 14/40 Sprocket combo fits with the OEM chain just right.

And you are going to love the WR250X for a commuter bike. It will not be an all-out speed demon as mentioned throughout the thread but it has enough to get out of its way and does so while offering a good deal of fuel economy and "fun" in the process :)

Good Luck

Wayne

Thank you again
I will keep you posted on my progress and my experiences.
ED
:flag:

Hi All:

An eerily familiar incident only this one was caught on tape…

http://www.youtube.com/v/S2oymHHyV1M?version=3

Evan van der Spuy, a mountain biker competing with Team Jeep South Africa, was hit by an antelope while racing through the savanna of KwaZulu-Natal province. The video has went viral on YouTube garnering over ten million views and counting.

As seen on the video, Van der Spuy is riding through the Albert Falls Dam and Game Reserve when a Red Hartebeest appears from outside the view of the camera and t-bones the unsuspecting rider.

Van der Spuy is thrown completely off his bike and is slammed to the ground with the wild buck landing on top of him. The cyclist was treated for a minor concussion and whiplash and released from the hospital. He sent out a message via Twitter letting his followers know that he was doing well, except for a stiff neck.

Fortunately he faired a bit better than I did but oh boy do I know how that one felt...

Wayne

I will also point out that van der Spuy has credited his (now-destroyed, of course) helmet with saving his life.