From: andersen@me.udel.edu (Stephen Andersen)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: RCR Ride Report and Ducati touring impressions
Date: 31 Jul 92 19:42:53 GMT
Organization: Department of Mechanical Engineering/University of Delaware

Here is my version of the RCR report, including 
some info on the performance of my Ducati on the
trip:

	My wife (Jen) and I awoke on Friday morning to prepare
to leave for the RCR.  While preparing to leave I was watching the
weather report.  It appeared as if there was a major storm system
located directly over the Northern MD, W. VA area that we were
headed through.  I installed my carbon fiber luggage rack on my
Duc and mounted my tank bag, CH Aeropac saddlebags, tent, sleeping
bag, bike cover, and 12qt. cooler onto the bike.  Can you say 
Ducabago?  I knew that you could...

	Ian pulled up right around 8 am on his Yamabago FJ1200
and strapped our 2nd sleeping bag onto his pillion.  We decided to 
take I-95 to and through DC to try to get south of the weather.  
We finally got going around 8:40 AM after fueling up, etc.  Needless
to say, we took a wrong turn into DC and ended up wasting almost
two hours trying to find our way out of the city.  For the first
time since I'd had my Duc I actually got my dry clutch to 
squawk a few times while sitting in the hot traffic and trying
to pull out fully loaded (including a passenger).  When we finally got
out of DC it began to rain, then it began to pour.  We pulled over,
donned our rainsuits, and decided to find the nearest slab.

	We hopped onto I-66 and headed northwest to Front Royal
to pick up I-81.  We got back to making good time and ended up stopping
in Woodstock, VA. for lunch.  While sitting in McDonalds Ian apparently
saw Seth "Roid" Zirin and Marc Fusco pull out of a gas station.  After 
eating we maintained cruise speeds of about 85 mph in a vain attemp to 
catch up to them, however they exited before we did.  We rode for another
hour or so and it was time to stop for gas the second time (the first
was just after we got on I-81).  We filled up and headed for I-77 to take 
it over to the BRP to finish up the ride.  We stopped for dinner in Galax
just off the BRP.  We finally hit the Blue Ridge at about 8PM with 60
miles to go before our exit.  

	I guess Ian was feeling good at this point because we were
keeping a decent pace.  We were just cruising at around 65mph
rolling on and off the throttle for the turns. Shifting?  Wussat? Braking?
Wussat? :-)  When we got off the BRP it was dark.  We followed the directions
for the campground and prayed.  It was quite dark at this point and the roads
to the campground were twisty, gravelly, poorly marked, and riddled
with furry critters.  After getting lost, making wrong turns, and generally
being clueless, we pulled into The High Country Cycle Camp just after 10PM.
We set up camp, chatted a bit, and went to bed.  

	The next day was spent walking to the falls, and generally just
hanging out with the denizens who had already arrived.  You have all
already heard about THE WRECK on the way to Blowing Rock, so I'll forego
the details (wouldn't want to remind Jonathan once again...).

	The FEED on Saturday was quite enjoyable and the food was 
yummy.  Unfortunately sleep was not an easy thing to get that night
due to the "non-quietness" of a certain Harley riding, Tude Bearing
denizen from Joisey.... :-)

	I was quite disappointed at how early everyone left on Sunday
morning to head home.  By about 9 AM the only ones left were myself, Jen,
Ian, and Mr. Bill.  We spent a relaxing day riding into Wilkesboro, fixing
Mr. Bill's brakes with Duct tape, carbon fiber kickstand pads, and wire,
and hanging out at the waterfall getting stung by bees, swimming in
frigid water, and attempting to decipher the "conversation" of the 
local mountain people.

	We headed home on Monday morning.  I must say that I-77 and the 
southern sections of I-81 definitely qualify as nice interstate.  Proof
of this can be found on Ian's back tire which has 3 flat spots, one 
from straight up, and one on each side from the 85mph mile+ long
sweepers.  We finally hit home on Monday night around 8PM after travelling
1300 miles over the four days (about 525 each way and about 250 miles
of BRP and twisties near the campground down there.)

	My feelings on the Duc:

	I am now even more happy with the bike than i was before.
I am quite proud and happy with my wife for enduring 1300 miles
on the pillion.  She even admitted that it wasn't that bad.  I think
that with a Corbin saddle and a throttle lock that I/We could endure
about as much as any sane person (as evidenced by Jim and Marc who
said that even they were wearing after 500-600 mile days on their
Beemers).

	With the addition of my luggage rack the bike even had an 
astounding luggage carrying capacity that could easily rival ANY
bike that was there.  Once I get my hard bags finished I'd even 
put it against a lead wing or a fisher-price laden FJ...

	The bike performed flawlessly giving a nice ride all week.
I am also thankful for the ground clearance that the bike has, 
and its cornering abilities considering that I made it through the 
turn that took Jonathan out.  This  with a passenger on the bike at a
speed which, at least for me, was ridiculous for the turn.

	The trip also settled an ongoing question between myself
and Ian about gas mileage.  My Duc got about 52mpg on previous trips
one-up with limited luggage at speeds of 80-85mph combined with 3rd
and 4th gear twisties.  My Duc got about 50-51 mpg on this trip
while carrying me, Jen, and probably about 75-80lbs of luggage,
and maintaining the same speeds and some more twisties.  About 
this I could not be happier...

	I will reiterate what I have said before, that I am happier
than I could have imagined with this motorcycle, and I would not
hesistate to buy it again if something happened to this one.
It filled its two-up sport-touring duty like I never imagined possible.
I think that if my wife was shorter (she's 5'7") we could have even
gone longer between stops (footpegs are slightly high).  Usually
we went about 1.5-2 hours between stops with little difficulty.

	For anyone contemplating purchase of a 907 (I know who you 
are), here is one more positive experience to add to the collection
and make your decision a non-decision...

It was GREAT meeting you all!!!!!  Hope to see you next year!!!!!

BTW I will try to scan and upload a picture of my loaded Ducabago 
to cerritos ASAP...

Steve
-- 
 Steve Andersen  DoD #0239                               andersen@me.udel.edu
 (302) 324-0888                                     andersen@zr1.ccm.udel.edu
 1992 Ducati 907 I.E.                                      1987 Yamaha SRX250
 "Life is simply a consequence of the complexities of carbon chemistry..."