Los Angeles to Santa Barbara back roads riding.....

[BusyWeb]

Hi, everybody.
I made about 225 miles of road trip today, without big plan but with Google Map road direction.
I screen captured Google Map route and added in this post. (last image, image order is reversed)

And Google Map Link.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=L ... 757812&z=9 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Los+Angeles&daddr=Santa+Barbara&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&dirflg=h&sll=34.526924,-118.210144&sspn=1.054456,1.757813&ie=UTF8&ll=34.220887,-118.970947&spn=1.058316,1.757812&z=9)

I bought a windshield from internet, finally (about $70, ebay), and works very well on above 40 mph.
This riding is actually testing Windshield......ha ha ha.
And satisfied at 90%, it can't cover all the wind as size is little bit small. Some mileage per gallon add-up too.

During the riding, I took some pictures and want to share with you members.
Tried to take some good scenes, but its hard to stop when I found good spots while driving.
At the Santa Barbara, I even couldn't take any pictures, however enjoyed some beach road riding.
As I had to hurry back to home. It was about 4 PM when I finished Santa Barbara scene riding.

Started at 10 AM with fill my bike up.
Ended at 7 PM back to home.

Los Angeles to Santa Barbara: 124 Miles (1.56 Gal)
>>>> PCH and back roads.
Santa Barbara to Los Angeles: 99 Miles (?? Gal, don't know yet)
>>>> I took some Freeways and saved some time and mileages.
Freeway riding isn't pleasant riding but I could keep 60-65 mph without big problems.

Only 5 pictures are accepted at one post??

[patrick_777]

That looks like a great ride and fun! There is some good terrain out in CA, which kind of makes me jealous.

I love the half-helmet and goggles look too.

[alanmcorcoran]

Thanks Busy. This was the ride I had planned to do when I first atarting thinking about a bike. That was before I realized how big and scary an 1800cc Gold Wing is and how unrealistic it was I was going to hop on one and head out on the highway.

I still haven't made it, what with the freeway issues and the need (for me) to get all the way across LA County. Knowing you did it already steals a little bit of the thunder, but at least now I know it can be done on a GZ. My daughter was living up in Buellton, but she's back home going to school now so I don't have a good excuse to go up there anymore. But I'll think of something. Maybe they have a Fresh and Easy up that way.

[patrick_777]

Maybe they have a Fresh and Easy up that way.

...or a Whole Foods.

[Jer]

Sounds like a fun ride.

Thanks for sharing!

[alanmcorcoran]

...or a Whole Foods.

Been there, done that.

[BusyWeb]

Hi, there.
It was a fun riding...
By the way, I got almost/over 100 MPG.
Can you beleive it?
Today I went gas station and filled as usual, and ..
0.9 Gallon >> meter says 99 Miles trip meter.

It's amazing, I took only half way to freeways to back to home yesterday afternoon.
Anyone has similar MPG?????

I have another trip report after this post.
I couldn't wait for next saturday.......

Thanks, everyone.

[rusty rider]

Nope! Not even close city riding approx. 50 -60 mpg, and highway riding 67 -70 mpg.

Looks like a great ride :2tup:

[jonathan180iq]

Busy, you always seem to post nice photos of your rides. Keep it up. We need more pictures on this forum.

[Moedad]

Freeway riding isn't pleasant riding but I could keep 60-65 mph without big problems.

I find that at least on our SoCal freeways, when you go over 65, the rain grooves really get to be an issue. No rain grooves - great! Also in some areas the freeway surface has "ripples" - for lack of a better term - that affect handling to varying degrees because they are enough to give you a bit of a feeling like you'll be airborne if you go too fast over the ripples. I guess because they pour the roadway in panels or something? The 605 through Los Alamitos heading north is one stretch that comes to mind. Anyway, it gets annoying and even scarey at higher speeds with such a light bike.

[BusyWeb]

Freeway riding isn't pleasant riding but I could keep 60-65 mph without big problems.

I find that at least on our SoCal freeways, when you go over 65, the rain grooves really get to be an issue. No rain grooves - great! Also in some areas the freeway surface has "ripples" - for lack of a better term - that affect handling to varying degrees because they are enough to give you a bit of a feeling like you'll be airborne if you go too fast over the ripples. I guess because they pour the roadway in panels or something? The 605 through Los Alamitos heading north is one stretch that comes to mind. Anyway, it gets annoying and even scarey at higher speeds with such a light bike.

Yes, the "ripple", I felt that. Sometimes I felt little skid when the bike was on those things.
I really wanted little bit bigger (wider) wheels especially for the back wheel while I riding on the freeways.

Is it O.K. to replace with wider wheels on GZ250?? (or possible??)
If possible I want to replace with it at next wheel maintenance.

[Easy Rider]

Is it O.K. to replace with wider wheels on GZ250?? (or possible??)
If possible I want to replace with it at next wheel maintenance.

No, not a good idea.

Your little bike already has tires as wide as some bikes that weigh almost twice as much. That's one thing I like about it. You could go up a few mm with the tires but that is not likely to make any noticeable difference.

Best to stick as close to stock as possible. Any big change may have a bad impact on handling or suspension travel.

[BusyWeb]

Is it O.K. to replace with wider wheels on GZ250?? (or possible??)
If possible I want to replace with it at next wheel maintenance.

No, not a good idea.

Your little bike already has tires as wide as some bikes that weigh almost twice as much. That's one thing I like about it. You could go up a few mm with the tires but that is not likely to make any noticeable difference.

Best to stick as close to stock as possible. Any big change may have a bad impact on handling or suspension travel.

Um, thanks.
I'll do follow your recommend.
But i'm totally satisfied at local riding with GZ. :roll:
As I do short commuting with it, don't feel need more than GZ, yet. :)