XT break in is complete

Another amazing November day, low 60’s, a bit hazy, no wind. I got out there early today, so psyched that today I would reach 600 miles on the odometer and I’d be done breaking in the XT.





On Buzzell Road somewhere between Sycamore and Burlington, I came upon a Llama farm. Buzzell road started really nice, but went to crap, with big chunks of gravel. I realized something today, big chunks of gravel or deep gravel suck even on a dual sport.



Buzzell Road nice section



Buzzell Road nasty section



That’s some big gravel





Darnell Road had two pretty good curves, the gravel got really deep in the second turn, Mt. Hunger road also had a turn or two. I also rode many badly paved roads. Its impossible to figure out which roads are dirt and which are paved using maps, the state maps don’t have these little roads and my Illinois Atlas shows them all as paved. The only way to know for sure is to ride them all.



This above was Roosevelt Rd, and it was pretty cool even had a turn, it went on for like a mile or two and then all the sudden I was in someone’s driveway. That always kind of sucks. Some of these dirt roads lead to people’s farms and houses, they have street signs on them, they look like regular roads.



The sun again hangs low on the horizon, time to head home. I did 180 miles today and got home with 598 miles on the odometer. I carried some stuff today just to see how much stuff I can strap on to the bike, my old Chase Harper tail bag is a bit too small and my Nelson-Rigg tail bag is to big. I used my Chase Harper bag today but not much stuff fit in there. Funny, when I started touring, all I'd have is that tail bag and a tank bag. Now it seems I bring a lot of stuff with me and require larger bags.



Today I tried wearing my Dragon goggles, it’s so cool that I can wear goggles with the Arai XD helmet.





Shield open and closed with goggles

Geneva, IL

Another beautiful day, even warmer then yesterday. I started the day by practicing for adventure riding.



Today’s ride was a short one, though the cornfields and back to the suburbs. It’s so funny, I live so close to Geneva but I‘ve never been to see it.

I couldn’t believe there was so much treacherous terrain in the center of town, what an eye sore, but fun to ride through.





Fox River





Cool.... a kayak place



A light tower



A really cool windmill standing near the river off of RT 25





Sunset over the Fox River

Oregon, IL: Devils Back Bone Rd

Happy Thanksgiving! It was a high of 60 degrees today, so of course I went riding. In the last few years it has either been snowing or in the 20’s on Thanksgiving, the last time I remember riding on Thanksgiving day in Chicagoland was 2001. I usually tow the bike somewhere warmer so I can ride, no need this year, it’s going to be in the high 50’s for the next four days.

I took the XT225 for a long ride today, I’m still breaking it in and since December is approaching fast, I really need to get that done so I can bring the bike in for service before the snow hits and do a few mods before my big dual-sport ride end of December.

I didn’t buy this bike to ride so far on paved roads, but I want to be done with the break in already, so I headed out to Oregon, IL where there is a road that I’ve tired to ride before, but when I got there I realized it was a dirt road. The Devils Back Bone Road is less then 3 miles long, but has a few nice corners on it, so I could practice my cornering. Also, this road has some mild elevation changes, nothing major, but fun for me since I’ve never been on dirt prior to getting this bike.



I’m trying to get as much experience on dirt before I head to Texas at the end of December to ride in the Chisos Mountains. Unfortunately, Illinois is flat, so the dirt roads around here are not very challenging, if I was to head out to the Iowa border or up to Wisconsin, there are some nice dirt roads there, but that’s a bit far of a ride end of November.





Straight dirt roads and empty fields near Chana, IL









Devils Back Bone Road

Since I had some time to explore, I went and checked out White Pine State Park and Castle Rock State Park.



Castle Rock State Park and Rock River



On RT 2 near Oregon, IL

After that I headed over towards Byron Nuclear Generating Station, I love the whooshing sound of the two pressurized water reactors. There are a few good paved roads around here, but you can’t get too close to the nuclear generating station, even on this road dirt road, there was a no trespassing sign posted, I turned back around, last time I went taking pictures near the station, a car pulled up and a man with a machine gun told me stop taking pictures and to leave. Apparently since 9/11, taking pictures of a nuclear plant is a no-no.



Today I was going to try Spring Creek Road, it looked like it had a few curves on a map, and it did, nothing great, this is the flat Midwest, it did offer some nice views of the steam stacks.



Byron Nuclear Generating Station

The rest of scenery around here is pretty dull around here, fields and more fields. These cows were making a lot of noise though, I’ve never head so many moo so loud.



The sun sets now at 4:30PM, so I started to make my way back home, 60 miles from home I witnessed a wonderful sun set.



Then the sun went down and so did the temperatures, the next hour and half was a bit rough since I was cold, but once I entered the suburbs, the temperature rose a bit. I got home at 6:30PM chilled to the bone, but it was worth it and now I have 360 miles on the odometer.

I did 230 miles today, this is what I’ve noticed:

The XT will go as fast as 66MPH on a downhill, 57MPH on an uphill and 63MPH on a straight road, mind you this is Illinois, I didn’t ride any steep roads.

After riding for a few hours at 50 degrees and 60MPH without a windscreen or heated grips or a heated vest, it’s COLD! I’m so spoiled having all the goodies on my other bikes.

Even though the clutch on this bike is the softest that I’ve ever seen, when you pull it in a gazillion times, your left hand starts to hurt just like on any other bike.

At 60PMH I think this bike feels very stable on pavement, even going though the corners.
The headlight is pretty good on this bike

This bike is not very comfortable for long distances, it’s really not the seat that bothers me, but more so the upright seating position, the only way to be comfortable is to slouch, but after a few hours my back starts to hurt. Also. My knees were bothering me after all those hours, I’m definitely more comfortable on a sport bike and having my feet up higher and towards the back.

Munich: Castle Neuschwanstein

Today was our day off and tomorrow we are flying home. Two other co-workers and I rented a car and drove to the Lechtal and Allgäu Alps where the Castle Neuschwanstein (New Swan Castle) is located. The castle was built between 1869 and 1886 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and is now under consideration to be one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". Not only that, but the Disney castle was designed to look like the Neuschwanstein castle. It’s really an amazing place, I’m so glad I got to see it.

Read more info about the castle here:
http://www.neuschwanstein.com/english/index.htm









Some towns we passed on the way



Even though today was only in the low 50’s and drizzling, I think I rather be riding like this guy



The castle from the road



The castle is near the town of Fussen, which is near the Austrian border









Fussen







Village of Hohenschwangau



Castle Hohenschwangau built by Ludwig’s II father



This is how we got to the castle

We did a tour of the castle, it's the only way to see the inside. It's amazing, although there was no photography allowed inside accept from the windows, so you’ll just have to go there yourself if you want to see it.











Castle Neuschwanstein







Views from the castle

We walked all the way down to the car, the road is very steep, it got dark and it was drizzling again.



Castle Hohenschwangau at night