Trip to the Gap

nutmegchoi · 01-02-2005, 05:09 PM

Me and my 3-4 friends are planning to go to the Gap sometime next March.

There will be 4-5 people with 4-5 bikes. They are SV650S, Ducati748, VFR, HawkGT and GSX6R.

We don't want to ride up there. We are planning to drive all day and stay over, ride all day and drive back on the third day.

But we don't have any trucks. One of the guy has an old Jeep SUV.....

Any idea how can we take 4-5 bikes up there without riding??

kawgrl · 01-02-2005, 06:24 PM

Rent a U-Haul?

**kurt** · 01-02-2005, 06:49 PM

Will the SUV pull a trailer? Get a $20/day trailer, borrow a ramp and straps and get busy.

JeffB · 01-02-2005, 10:48 PM

I have a truck. No M/C trailer though. Have a 24' enclosed trailer that would need additional tie downs for bikes. Think I could make that trip though.

Jeff

nutmegchoi · 01-02-2005, 10:55 PM

Thinking about somewhere around March 19th-21st. I need to talk more details with my buddies.

HiSPL · 01-02-2005, 11:28 PM

xtalman · 01-03-2005, 12:18 AM

Renting a trailer is probably the cheapest. U-Haul has a motorcycle trailer they rent for $15/day. I don't know how many bikes it can hold, though. Also, you have to return it to the place you rented it from.

You don't really need an SUV to tow a trailer. I've got a compact car ('93 Subaru Legacy, 135hp, 5 speed) and have towed ~2,000 lbs behind it several times. I installed a hitch on it without any trouble, but went to U-Haul to get it wired for the trailer.

nutmegchoi · 01-03-2005, 12:22 AM

There will be five bikes and a trailer. I would guess it's gonna be at least 3500-4000lbs plus 5 people. I think that's a lot for a small car.

The motorcycle trailer holds about two bikes. I might be wrong, but that's what I've learned from this research.

Now I'm thinking about rent a SUV and a trailer....

xtalman · 01-03-2005, 12:40 AM

Five bikes is definitely too much for a small car. Two should be fine. I was more suggesting taking a couple of cars with a couple of trailers.

**Tourmeister** · 01-03-2005, 12:43 AM

Be aware that the weather in March can really really suck there! I rode in sleet at 38 F on the Blue Ridge Parkway in late May a few years ago. In March they weather is extremely iffy. The average high temps are around 50F, even colder if you get up in the mountains. Also, if you don't have much rain riding experience, be warned that it almost always rains on a trip there! I have been to the area numerous times and it has rained every single trip atleast several days. Even if not raining, the area is extremely moist and there is often water on the roads.

Lastly, the Gap is a fun ride, but is not even close to being the best road in the area. It just has the reputation, and the LEO presence that goes with such reputation.

Adios,

Bagwell · 01-03-2005, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourmeister

Be aware that the weather in March can really really suck there! I rode in sleet at 38 F on the Blue Ridge Parkway in late May a few years ago. In March they weather is extremely iffy. The average high temps are around 50F, even colder if you get up in the mountains. Also, if you don't have much rain riding experience, be warned that it almost always rains on a trip there! I have been to the area numerous times and it has rained every single trip atleast several days. Even if not raining, the area is extremely moist and there is often water on the roads.

Lastly, the Gap is a fun ride, but is not even close to being the best road in the area. It just has the reputation, and the LEO presence that goes with such reputation.

Adios,

I was going to mention this, but scott beat me to it

Personally, I would figure on may and later. I hope it doesnt rain this year.

Tx Rider · 01-03-2005, 11:25 AM

Yup I'll third it, watch the weather in March.

As for getting there, a u-haul and a rented truck sound like your best bet.

Personally I'd rather ride out there, there's a lot of good roads around that area but there is a lot of long flat miles in between here and there.

nutmegchoi · 01-03-2005, 09:11 PM

My friend who lives 18 miles away from the gap did tell me about that. He said March sometime snows and sometime goes over 70's. What he said was don't worry too much about the weather. It's all gonna be upto your luck. Ha!

budzrex · 01-03-2005, 10:20 PM

They are right about the iffy weather in March I lived in Atlanta for 2 years and the weather in the mountians was always changing. I seldom rode up there without rain, and the LEO has really cracked down on the Gap and Suches area. Check out Georgia Sportbikes for some maps and routes of good roads that are more lightly patrolled. I spent most of my riding time in northern Alabama which has good roads light patrols and side trips to Barber's Mueseum and track if you catch a track day there. The Gap if you go is a zoo on weekends try to run it during the week, also the roads there tend to get a lot of gravel in turns after rains as runnoff pushes it down to the road. Have fun and be safe. Check out Cruise America for an RV rental that can haul bikes as well

01-02-2005, 05:09 PM	#1
nutmegchoi Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Rochelle, NY Posts: 721	Trip to the Gap Me and my 3-4 friends are planning to go to the Gap sometime next March. There will be 4-5 people with 4-5 bikes. They are SV650S, Ducati748, VFR, HawkGT and GSX6R. We don't want to ride up there. We are planning to drive all day and stay over, ride all day and drive back on the third day. But we don't have any trucks. One of the guy has an old Jeep SUV..... Any idea how can we take 4-5 bikes up there without riding??

01-02-2005, 06:24 PM	#2
kawgrl Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anderson, Tx Posts: 56	Rent a U-Haul? __________________ Tracy '89 Ninja 500

01-02-2005, 06:49 PM	#3
kurt Administrator Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 17,308	Will the SUV pull a trailer? Get a $20/day trailer, borrow a ramp and straps and get busy. __________________ 100 million gun owners didn't kill anyone last week.

01-02-2005, 10:48 PM	#4
JeffB Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston-Oak Forest Posts: 157	I have a truck. No M/C trailer though. Have a 24' enclosed trailer that would need additional tie downs for bikes. Think I could make that trip though. Jeff __________________ '04 Black Bonneville-Sadly Deceased (9/3/2006) '00 TTR250 '73 CB450 '04 Sprint ST (Ridden very regularly) 2003 Monster 620 Dark - Sold What's Next?

01-02-2005, 11:28 PM	#6
HiSPL Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 751	__________________ Weaver Imaging

01-02-2005, 10:55 PM	#5
nutmegchoi Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Rochelle, NY Posts: 721	Thinking about somewhere around March 19th-21st. I need to talk more details with my buddies.

01-03-2005, 12:18 AM	#7
xtalman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 50	Renting a trailer is probably the cheapest. U-Haul has a motorcycle trailer they rent for $15/day. I don't know how many bikes it can hold, though. Also, you have to return it to the place you rented it from. You don't really need an SUV to tow a trailer. I've got a compact car ('93 Subaru Legacy, 135hp, 5 speed) and have towed ~2,000 lbs behind it several times. I installed a hitch on it without any trouble, but went to U-Haul to get it wired for the trailer.

01-03-2005, 12:22 AM	#8
nutmegchoi Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Rochelle, NY Posts: 721	There will be five bikes and a trailer. I would guess it's gonna be at least 3500-4000lbs plus 5 people. I think that's a lot for a small car. The motorcycle trailer holds about two bikes. I might be wrong, but that's what I've learned from this research. Now I'm thinking about rent a SUV and a trailer....

01-03-2005, 12:40 AM	#9
xtalman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 50	Five bikes is definitely too much for a small car. Two should be fine. I was more suggesting taking a couple of cars with a couple of trailers.

01-03-2005, 11:25 AM	#12
Tx Rider Join Date: May 2004 Location: Grapevine Posts: 2,863	Yup I'll third it, watch the weather in March. As for getting there, a u-haul and a rented truck sound like your best bet. Personally I'd rather ride out there, there's a lot of good roads around that area but there is a lot of long flat miles in between here and there. __________________ Formerly known as Dyna Sport 2004 KTM 625 SXC 2004 FZ1 1996 KTM 620 RXC Grapevine, Tx.

01-03-2005, 09:11 PM	#13
nutmegchoi Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Rochelle, NY Posts: 721	My friend who lives 18 miles away from the gap did tell me about that. He said March sometime snows and sometime goes over 70's. What he said was don't worry too much about the weather. It's all gonna be upto your luck. Ha!

01-03-2005, 10:20 PM	#14
budzrex Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Braunfels Texas Posts: 2,992	They are right about the iffy weather in March I lived in Atlanta for 2 years and the weather in the mountians was always changing. I seldom rode up there without rain, and the LEO has really cracked down on the Gap and Suches area. Check out Georgia Sportbikes for some maps and routes of good roads that are more lightly patrolled. I spent most of my riding time in northern Alabama which has good roads light patrols and side trips to Barber's Mueseum and track if you catch a track day there. The Gap if you go is a zoo on weekends try to run it during the week, also the roads there tend to get a lot of gravel in turns after rains as runnoff pushes it down to the road. Have fun and be safe. Check out Cruise America for an RV rental that can haul bikes as well

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