I have a bunch of favorite rides in these friendly old Appalachian Mountains and I enjoyed a great run up a good part of Route 16 in NC, VA and WV. I normally would stay overnight to continue further, but needing to be home before dark thirty deer o’clock I headed back after making a nice loop through coal country backroads.
The MPG, comfort on long rides, etc., etc., keeps coming up and is a bit subjective for sure, but here are my observations that apply to this as my longest day ride and are consistent with many 200-300 mile rides on mostly twisty mountain 2 lane roads.
I started with a full tank of premium grade non-ethanol gas and stopped twice to fill up on premium ethanol blend gas and made it home on the third tank/second fill up. I did the math on both fill ups and both freeway and tight mountain roads I was right at 49.X MPG and there was a majority of time on the back roads at 2500-3800 RPM range ( I looked often as that question has come up previously), and I’m still in 250 LBS range and temps were in mid 70’s to low 80’s (f) all day.
I intentionally cut across back roads to include some Interstate miles . I joined I-77 from near I-40 in Statesville, NC and rode it through VA to near Princeton, WV for approximately130 miles. There was approximately 10-15 minutes of stop and go for construction, but otherwise speed limits are 65 or 70 m.p.h., and traffic ran at or above the limit with several roll ons to approximately 100 m.p.h.
After a short run on mostly 4 lane highway to get to Route 16 near Tazewell, VA, I spent the remainder of the day on 16 and some neighboring roads and then returned taking 16 to the Hickory, NC area near I-40 and then again cutting cross lots to get home.
I don’t take a bunch of breaks, but did stop for lunch and then two 10-15 breaks to get a good stretch and check for messages, etc. I do stand on the pegs now and again and do that on all of my bikes due to an old injury. I was not overly stiff when I got home, but did feel a bit “buzzy” in my feet that I’m guessing was caused by the lighter soles of my summer/lighter weight boots providing less protection or maybe just the extra hours of exposure?My arse was very ready to be done for the day around 300+ miles. The front fender is pathetic, the few short sections of runoff that crossed the road left crap everywhere and I was going very slow.
Many compliments at the few stops I did make and she did very well on very technical roads, a great roadster in disguise.
The MPG, comfort on long rides, etc., etc., keeps coming up and is a bit subjective for sure, but here are my observations that apply to this as my longest day ride and are consistent with many 200-300 mile rides on mostly twisty mountain 2 lane roads.
I started with a full tank of premium grade non-ethanol gas and stopped twice to fill up on premium ethanol blend gas and made it home on the third tank/second fill up. I did the math on both fill ups and both freeway and tight mountain roads I was right at 49.X MPG and there was a majority of time on the back roads at 2500-3800 RPM range ( I looked often as that question has come up previously), and I’m still in 250 LBS range and temps were in mid 70’s to low 80’s (f) all day.
I intentionally cut across back roads to include some Interstate miles . I joined I-77 from near I-40 in Statesville, NC and rode it through VA to near Princeton, WV for approximately130 miles. There was approximately 10-15 minutes of stop and go for construction, but otherwise speed limits are 65 or 70 m.p.h., and traffic ran at or above the limit with several roll ons to approximately 100 m.p.h.
After a short run on mostly 4 lane highway to get to Route 16 near Tazewell, VA, I spent the remainder of the day on 16 and some neighboring roads and then returned taking 16 to the Hickory, NC area near I-40 and then again cutting cross lots to get home.
I don’t take a bunch of breaks, but did stop for lunch and then two 10-15 breaks to get a good stretch and check for messages, etc. I do stand on the pegs now and again and do that on all of my bikes due to an old injury. I was not overly stiff when I got home, but did feel a bit “buzzy” in my feet that I’m guessing was caused by the lighter soles of my summer/lighter weight boots providing less protection or maybe just the extra hours of exposure?My arse was very ready to be done for the day around 300+ miles. The front fender is pathetic, the few short sections of runoff that crossed the road left crap everywhere and I was going very slow.
Many compliments at the few stops I did make and she did very well on very technical roads, a great roadster in disguise.
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