DFW to Talimena and back...

Yesterday... started at 7 AM (met at Rudy's in Frisco for some breakfast tacos - I learned something new, and it's good ) to about 7:30 PM. I had 523 miles on the clock for the trip.

Few thoughts:

- Bike performed flawlessly; awesome machine!! Climbing hills etc... just shrugged it off...
- I am thinking that I need to do some windshield research; it was not bad but at times, with HWY and some side wind, I got buffeted a bit. Not eye pinball but still...
- Crampbuster ROCKS!
- Passanger pegs rock! (for me) It allows me to change position significantly and be quite comfortable...
- Beadrider seat cover rocks!

The route taken is here:

http://tinyurl.com/talim-09

If you are nervous about clicking on those - you can preview it here:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/talim-09

Started bright and early:



Rudy's breakfast tacos... mmmm... 3 of us went:



Started kind of boring:



I think it is Oklahoma:



Getting somewhere:





Somewhat blurry, but one of many bridges we went over:



My buddies behind me:



It was just an awesome day:



Started on the Talimena Byway from Mena:



Sharkey likes!



Trees etc:



Nice road eh:





Sharkey likes!



Some sort of watch tower:



Awww, I likes:



Various:





Ah the smell of pine needless:





In lower areas already:









Yeah definitely getting close to Texas now:



Blurry but it says Welcome to Texas:



It ended on a somewhat dramatic note with storms rolling in from the South:



It started raining as I was pulling into the garage; I am guessing my two buddies got rained on...

It was fun!

You need to try a Madstad bracket for your V-strom before you start changing windshields.

Kidder said:

You need to try a Madstad bracket for your V-strom before you start changing windshields.

Click to expand...

Yeah... I need to go do some research, that's what I need It's definitely an option though - thanks!

I love the graphic on your bike!! Too cool!! Glad you got a nice ride in to the Parkway. It's still our favorite destination! Thanks for sharing.

Good write-up! The roads looked to be in very good condition which always makes for a nice ride. Dodging pot-holes bites!

BobGeisel said:

Good write-up! The roads looked to be in very good condition which always makes for a nice ride. Dodging pot-holes bites!

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Oooohhh... look who joined our little forum!! Hi, Bob!!

Very nice, and thanks for posting the route. Back at the end of the year when I did my book trip, I was looking at just this type of ride to Arkansas and back in a day. I didn't have any decent routes so I did my alternate plan. I'm definitely marking down your route for a future getaway. With a new baby in the house I can really only steal away for a day at a time at the moment...maybe. Thanks again, and the pics are great.

bigboy292000 said:

Yeah... I need to go do some research, that's what I need It's definitely an option though - thanks!

Click to expand...

I spent quite a bit of money going full circle on my ex '06 DL1000. What worked for me in the end was putting 5/8" spacers at the bottom of the shield, with it in the middle position. I round tripped to Central California with that set up with no problems or wants for anything else. Might try this before spending any money on new shields.

achesley said:

I spent quite a bit of money going full circle on my ex '06 DL1000. What worked for me in the end was putting 5/8" spacers at the bottom of the shield, with it in the middle position. I round tripped to Central California with that set up with no problems or wants for anything else. Might try this before spending any money on new shields.

Click to expand...

+1!!

That is actually what I am in the process of testing now; I put it on the highest "magical hidden 4th position" + some spacers... Some more tweaking is required. I have few more ideas to try + I have an idea to make a bracket that will help me test even more.