Pre trip planning/mindset...

So what kind of process do y'all go through before gettin' in the wind?

Mental checklists, physical and mechanical checklists, or both?

Just curious to see which sort prevails...

scoot

Checklist

I actually try to do both... Not always able to though...

Take A Look At Her, Look For Leaks, Hop On And Go And Hope To H@#l I Get There In One Piece:d

I hear ya, Sportsterboy, I've ridden with a few like that and USUALLY they get there in one piece..

chuck, I think you're right. Good thing you have her to look out for ya!!

scoot

Lowell T

Back when I was a cub, I met a guy named Lowell T. He was an old greyback that had been riding since he came back from Korea. He was also the first true Nomad I ever met. He was Irish Apache and always stressed to me that ANY ride no matter if you thought you were just gonna go to the store, could end up being a cross country jaunt. So like the Boy Scouts say (or at least did, but that's another subject) Be Prepared. So except for what I have in the saddle bags, not much is different in what i do before a trip to Sturgis and going to work. Keep things tight, adjusted and lubed. Give things like the brake light and all a look see when I crank up. I keep a log book in the garage where I list stuff I have done and what needs looking after when. Lowell T was the kind of guy that would stop at a bar and change his oil cause it was time. A lot of that rubbed off. So I guess I am a super maitanence kind of guy as I like to think of myself as, or as the ex claimed suffer from OCD with a motorcycle fixation. I do the mental thing but I do like lists....since I grew up in the 60's I trust a list better, <smiles>.
Ride Free.......

Greybear,

Sounds like we need more Lowell T's in the world. Reading that made me think of my grandpa, he was always with the logbooks, too. (Guess that's why I've carried a little green memo pad in my pocket my entire career!!)

scoot

Lowell T

Yeah he was a great dude. Taught me a lot of the things that young dumbasses need being taught. If hadn't been for him a couple of time I might be riding with a lot of my friends and partners in that never ending sky highway....funny after Korea and all and racing and tripping all over the US Canada and parts of Mexico, being a high steel worker and all...it was some bad fish that did him in. Ya just never know....so raise a glass to lowell T and the rest of the old timers that are not here.....
Ride Free

Next time I raise a glass...you got it.

If It Wasn't For Allthose Ol' Time'ers Us Young Pups Wouldn't Have Anyone To Look Up To Or Learn From. Cheers Up To You Greaybear

Thank ya

Sportsterboy: Thank ya. Maybe we can share a brew and some highway sometime.....
Ride Free.......

If Your Up In My Neck Of The Woods, Spokane. Give Me A Hollar

Come On Now, Do We Realy Look Every Thing Over Before We Ride? Granted Certian Things Stay On Our Mind, Like Me, I Know I Need A New Tire, Same Tire Since 03, It's A 03. I Look At It All The Time But Can't Afford A New One Yet. It Stays In The Back Of My Mind, But It Does'nt Stop Me From Ride'n. I Don't Have Ride'n Buddy's So It's Mainly Back And Forth To Work.

Come On Chucktx, Every Time Just Kidi'n:d Gave Us Somethin To Type About A' .

For me it’s a Zen thing, I know every nut and bolt on my cycle, I’m tuned into any new noise it makes, and I keep every thing at the correct specs, (air pressure, tensions, torque’s). I will admit though, I do let the back tire get thin at times, BUT never on a road trip. Zen.

Zen thing

Yeah I check things out EVERY day. Not Everytime I fire her up. But ya get to know your bike like ya do your woman, ya can sense when somethings not quite right. And usually when ya get that feeling and ignore it...theres hell to pay and it costs ya three times as much. Sportsterboy, back in the 70's I had a few extra bucks in my jeans, was riding a shovel pan, and needed a rear tire. Instead I wound up getting an Andrews A grind cam, figured the tire could make it a few more miles. Well I got the cam in and off to the bar now one thing about tires the harder you dog the bike the less they last. It was slick enough that burnouts were really working for me....until I burned out lifted the front wheel a few inches in 2nd....and the freaking tire went south. Now instead of drag racing I am flat tracking...not fun. Kept it up managed not to soil my shorts and had to push it to a phone and call someone to come get me. Lowell T showed up and looked at the tire and then gave me one of those Red from that 70's show "Dumbass" looks. Lesson learned.
Besides like Chuck said sitting in the shop listening to some music and drinking a cold on as ya wrench on your pride and joy is a GOOD thing.....
Ride Free

Yanno,

There worst time, I have discovered, to find out that you forgot to tighten up that pesky exhaust flange nut it when you're out on the road really gettin' on it and appreciating that nice new exhaust note you have.

Sheesh.

scoot