Phoenix to Colorado trip

[xtxn]

If anyone is interested in joining us for a ride from Phoenix to parts of Colorado on 8/27 - 9/1 they are welcome to ride in the best area of the southwest.

We will be heading out on 8/27 from Phoenix and will be using the Hampton Inn in Montrose, CO as our base camp. From there every day will be smaller roundtrip rides on average of 300 - 400 miles. On 9/1 we will had back south to Phoenix.

Total ride is usually around 2500 miles...

This is a sport bike ride with a mid to fast pace with plenty of stops for sight seeing along the way. We ride with radar detectors and 2-way frs/gmrs radios to communicate with each other.

[ÜberDoober]

I was all over Colorado when I had my Wing. Musta been up and down the Million Dollar Highway half a dozen times and places in between. There's some major cool stuff up there. I went to a Rider magazine rally in Steamboat Springs and rode all over that neck 'o the woods too. Made it home from there in one ride, half of it in the rain. It was like 800 miles or something? I stopped in Globe and seriously questioned if I should try to make it home as I was dangerously exhausted but switched on the GL's autopilot and made it.

So, tell about your frs/gmrs radio setup. What kind of kit does it take to get hooked up with this?

[xtxn]

I use the Autocom system that connects my music(Ipod), cell phone, 2-way(Motorola), radar detector(V1), and passenger(when I carry one). I also use Etymotic noise canceling earphones. This is the best system that I have used and I have tried 3 other brands and they just don't offer the quality of the Autocom. i.e. talking on the phone to the wife at 120+ mph and it's crystal clear conversation.

I think that the hardest stretch of roadway is on the return trip from Payson to Phoenix, as you start getting back into the heat and we usually time it to arrive at evening rush hour, as I live on the far west side of Phoenix in Goodyear...

[ÜberDoober]

I looked up the Autocom stuff and man, it's pretty pricey! It's cool though.

[xtxn]

It is pricey, but I can tell you that I have spent more money buying all of the other types of communication equipment before buying the Autocom. The sound quality and performance will prove themselves the first time that you ride with it.

[Cornbread Red]

I communicate with all THREE of the people on my Guzzi, Me, Myself, and I.. without the use of high tech stuff..

I've had some very interesting conversations and karaoke-like sing-alongs with the other two guys on those long rides..

:D

[xtxn]

On long road trips I can't seem to remember enough songs to sing inside of my helmet, so the Ipod is the only way to go.:p

[ÜberDoober]

I loved the audio stuff on my Gold Wing. You could adjust the intercom so that you really could hear yourself sing along with your music. You could harmonize with your passenger and it was either fun or annoying. I had the CB that kept me in touch with the other bikes on GWRRA rides and on top of the trucker chatter while on the open road. I installed a radar detector override device from J&M so that I could hear alerts in my helmet and other than having to fumble with cassette tapes at 80 mph, the system was completely flawless.

I don't think I've ever listened to music while riding my 900? It's so loud I always use earplugs.

[xtxn]

Loud??? That is why I use noise suppression earphones - Etymotic ER6i


with on I only have to use 1/4 volume on the Ipod.

http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/sealed-and-noise-canceling/

[ÜberDoober]

Man, those aren't cheap either!

I don't even have an ipod. I've got a couple hours of music on my phone that works fine in my car but it doesn't use a regular jack and the accessory earbuds stickout too far to work under a helmet.

For now, I'll just stay with Chips me, myself and I plan. An intercom would be nice but my g/f has only ridden once this year and she's ready to stop for the day after 100 miles so even a simple intercom system is hard to justify.

Sounds like you're having some SWR company for your trip? That's cool.

[xtxn]

I guess that I should have also included the www.buy.com website as they sell them for less. My 1st pair was only 1/2 price.

The SWR guys have not really made the full commitment to the ride, yet. It might just be the wife and I on this year's ride. We did change to a less expensive cabin to stay in this year instead of the hotel - $35 vs $105 per night.