Motorcyclin' from Michigan to BRC

Eunos94 · Post by **Eunos94** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:02 am

56 days until I leave for the playa! ...my brain is *so* ready to go.

I'm riding my motorcycle from Michigan out to the playa, leaving August 21st and arrving on playa on the 26th. I'll be running I-80 pretty much the whole way out. I figured I'd reach out to the community and see who is along the way. I'd love to meet fellow burners or even caravan out with people who might be traveling that same route. I'm camping the whole way out and back so if anyone has suggestions for camping spots too, I'd love to hear about them.

I'm seriously looking forward to hitting the road, seeing the country, and meeting amazing people in BRC. Say "Hi!" if you see me rolling across the country heading to the home I've never been to yet. ;D

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 12:20 pm

I gotta admit, I'm a little jealous. I've been wanting to ride my bike to TTITD for several years. I think it would be an EPIC adventure.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 1:15 pm

Well someone's gotta at least mention it...
You do understand the necessary logistics in BRC like shade and water, right?
I've had people camp near me who came on a motorcycle. They had a pretty miserable week, because they couldn't carry adequate supplies. The playa did not provide.

Ratty · Post by **Ratty** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 2:05 pm

Arriving on playa on the 26th. You have early entry and support from a camp or department.

tatonka · Post by **tatonka** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 4:21 pm

I brought most everything on my HD last year . People I camped with helped alot . Main thing was dust going right thru my tent fabric, you could zip it up good and dust would still get thru. I also had a tarp for shade and wind protection , but the winds swirled all over and I ate dust every night

Previous 2 years I came out in a camper and it kept the dust out and I had a better time sleeping.

bluemiragemi · Post by **bluemiragemi** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 5:55 am

This man is amazing and a bestie and he's got his shade and food and water covered

It's been a crazy fun logistical nightmare figuring that out! Thanks to the Videogasm truck, we can ship big items from Michigan. Most of my supplies are in a storage unit in Reno. I typically fly to Reno from Michigan and will be grabbing his water and some food along the way. We are building a monkey hut this year and will be shipping that with the Videogasm crew.

Oh, burning from halfway across the country.

Please let him know if you would be interested in connecting or providing a place to crash along the I-80 way

<3

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 7:25 am

I still don't think this has been thought out.
What if there's a swarm of killer bees in Rock Springs, Wyoming?

Rice · Post by **Rice** » Sat Jul 02, 2016 1:33 pm

bluemiragemi wrote:This man is amazing and a bestie and he's got his shade and food and water covered It's been a crazy fun logistical nightmare figuring that out! Thanks to the Videogasm truck, we can ship big items from Michigan. Most of my supplies are in a storage unit in Reno. I typically fly to Reno from Michigan and will be grabbing his water and some food along the way. We are building a monkey hut this year and will be shipping that with the Videogasm crew.

Oh, burning from halfway across the country.

Please let him know if you would be interested in connecting or providing a place to crash along the I-80 way

<3

The original poster mentioned that they were going to be arriving at BM on August 26th. That is several days before people without Early Entry Passes are allowed into Burning Man. Does he have an EA? He will get sent back to Reno if he does not...

bluemiragemi · Post by **bluemiragemi** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:34 pm

I think he mixed the dates up, no EA at the moment

bluemiragemi · Post by **bluemiragemi** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:34 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:I still don't think this has been thought out.
What if there's a swarm of killer bees in Rock Springs, Wyoming?

Very true, you never know! Or a flock of vindictive birds.

Eunos94 · Post by **Eunos94** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 9:18 pm

Hey, all. Yeah...arrival date was a typo. Not sure where that came from. Hehe. Estimated arrival is actually late the 30th or early the 31st.

As bluemiragemi said, I'm staying with a theme camp and have been doing a lot of logistics work to ensure that while my trip out and back are pretty self-supported on the bike, the time on the playa has a bit more to it. I'm bringing a good amount of the gear to survive in the desert with me since I'm camping my way to BRC, but I've also got more kit joining me there. With two big plastic bins of food/clothes/supplies/Figjamcooler/etc... heading out on a truck, plus a galaxy hut that I'll share with bluemiragemi, and then coordinating with the camp, I feel pretty prepared. I've been **more** than blessed to have stumbled into a camp of brilliant people and kind souls. So far my plan for the burn has been infused with some amazing wisdom from people who have a long history on the playa. Without them, this entire endeavor would be a totally different animal. Connecting with them was my signal from the universe that after many years dreaming about it, the burn was meant to be this year for me.

I've talked to a couple people about riding the bike to the playa. The 2,200 miles to get there will be fairly tough, but I suspect the last 90 from Fernly to BRC will be the most challenging. It's the part of the trip I do have some lingering anxiety about. It can be done. Many people have done it. With proper planning and prep, it's doable. The questions is "can *I* do it?", which is kind of why I'm trying. Seems silly sometimes, but there is a certain draw for me to push myself way outside my comfort zone and try something hard. That being said, I feel pretty prepared.

Honestly, it's the mental game that's going to be the toughest. Many days alone on the bike, spending all that time in my head. Pushing myself outside my physical and social norms on the playa. Many days alone on the bike riding home. Adventure calls, eh?

Anyway, if anyone along the way wants to meet up, I'm sure I could use a friendly face and some conversation.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:45 pm

Eunos94 wrote:... ...The 2,200 miles to get there will be fairly tough, but I suspect the last 90 from Fernly to BRC will be the most challenging. It's the part of the trip I do have some lingering anxiety about. It can be done. ... ...

Hey Nathan! This your bike?

Eunos94 · Post by **Eunos94** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 3:57 am

I wish, Elliot. That's amazing! lol

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 5:21 am

The other thing to consider is corrosion. Playa dust is horribly corrosive and it's not gonna be good for your bike. If you really like your bike, it's something to know about before you bring it.
I spend forever with gallons of Simple Green, WD40, soap, pressure washer, and whatever else I can find to clean my truck back up. I don't mean one afternoon either. I mean I'm at it for days on end. I love burning man but I hate that fucking playa.

some seeing eye · Post by **some seeing eye** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 6:23 am

447 from Fernley shouldn't be that busy by Tuesday. You might talk to people who do exodus on a bike though. The routes through Oregon are much less busy, but longer. You might give son thought to where you are going to shower and do laundry outbound.

Eunos94 · Post by **Eunos94** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 6:58 am

@Captain Goddammit - I hear you. I like the idea of hitting the bike with some Simple Green as soon as I can. I've been talking to a lot of guys over on ADVRider (an adventure motorcycle site) about the desert. I've gotten some tips on helping the bike survive the playa. It was good to find people who live 24/7 out in NV/AZ/UT who have first had experience with the unique dust environments. I even went as far as removing all of the painted body panels on my bike and covered them with Plasti-dip, while i had the tank off for a new fuel filter and rebuilding the fuel lines. It should make her weather the scouring of the dust much easier.

@some seeing eye - Yeah, my route back home hasn't been hammered out yet. I'm still debating that one. I do like the Oregon idea though. I'll look more into that. Thanks! I have a friend in SF that I may try and stay with after the burn too. If I make it to SF, I'll have ridden all of I-80 from NYC to SF in this summer. Might be fun to put that feather in my cap. My current plan has me around until the bitter end to let the traffic clear out. My air-cooled bike will *not* like waiting in lines. I'll let everyone clear out, lend a hand where I can helping people clean up, and then make my way out after everything has settled down.

FlyingMonkey · Post by **FlyingMonkey** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:50 am

bluemiragemi wrote:
Captain Goddammit wrote:I still don't think this has been thought out.
What if there's a swarm of killer bees in Rock Springs, Wyoming?
Very true, you never know! Or a flock of vindictive birds.

Hello!!! Are we forgetting the Sharknadows that whip up out of nowhere on the salt flats? (birds.....Humpf).

Sounds like a fun adventure as long as you thought out the logistics & have others bringing some of your stuff. I would probably intentionally take that scary as hell steep pass in to Salt Lake City if I had my cycle. But in a bus or truck & trailer I wimp out & take the bypass.

I wouldn't mind that ride some day, but the thought of the several hour traffic jam on entry, riding the clutch in the crawl, & the inevitable overheating would probably really suck. And yes, there is the harsh dusty Playa all over & in every orifice of your bike

Early entry would be the way to go as long as you have everything you need for camp once you get there. I remember people were getting pissed off at the motorcycles passing all the stopped traffic last year but I can't blame them either. Heck, I've seen some drivers be bigger asshats then the riders that passed us by.

The folks that I've met from Videogasm are awesome+++

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:26 pm

Well... am I going to have to tell them what flavor motorcycle you ride, or will you get around to it yourself? There are some serious gear-heads here, ya know!

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:58 pm

Well, since he's on ADVrider, I'm guessing it's not a Harley. Probably a Beemer R1200 or some such. Could be a Tiger or (gasp) a KLR 650.

Personally, I'd love to ride my KLR to the burn but I'd need the Captain to bring in my water for me.

Ratty · Post by **Ratty** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:09 pm

I'm just a bit puzzled. I rode a bike for 30 years. In California you can legally 'split the lane'. Bikes always ride up to the front at a red light. Do most people expect them to wait on the highway as if they were a car? It's too hot and too much work to hold up that bike for hours. Once the traffic stops I would expect them to proceed with caution. Am I wrong?

Once we are off the pavement I would thank them to wait their turn. But that's just me.

Eunos94 · Post by **Eunos94** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:19 pm

@FlyingMonkey - Sharknados? I think I'll need a bigger bike.

I've gotten mixed messages on the line situation coming into the playa. I'll probably be arriving late Tuesday or early Wednesday. I'm hoping lines will have died down some, but a few campmates have said that talking to BM staff and asking for some consideration since it's an air-cooled bike and no where to stow away people has gotten others in quickly. I'm sort of playing it by ear. I'll listen to BMIR when I get close and see what the traffic sounds like and make the call then. *fingers crossed* Fortunately for me, my early arrival campmates will already be there and have camp shade structures up. I can scoot my bike right to the back of camp, throw my tent up, and get right at it. Whatever *it* is...

@Elliot - I'll do you one better, here's a picture of Rhiannon from last night when I was trying to figure out why her new fuel lines weren't flowing very well. (Diagnosis = new fuel lines are too long, kinking slightly, and restricting flow. Treatment = Get a knife.)

IMG_4998.JPG

@TT120 - A KLR 650 would be sweet. None of that big old BMW stuff for me. Too cushy (and rich) for my blood these days. Now the BMW R80/7... *drool* What is it with me and bike with...uh...character?

@Ratty - California is the only state in the country where splitting is legal. As a Midwest resident I've never actually tried it, so I'm not sure how I feel about it. I understand that logically it makes sense and is safer for everyone, but there's that Midwest "no cutting in line" voice in the back of my head that keeps in inline with other cars. Lots of people that I've talked to so far say don't lane split until you're off the road, then it should be fine. Guess I'll find out soon.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:05 pm

Finally... the Goose arrives on ePlaya.

Very clean-looking motorcycle, that one.

I used to have a 1983 BMW R100. That's the strictly air-cooled 1000cc boxer known as Airheads. Mine was originally an R100RT, but the fairing had been removed when I bought her, so she -- Beate (Beh-AH-teh, a Norwegian name) -- was a "naked" and clean-classic-looking machine. Health and money forced sale -- to a guy who showed up driving a truck with "Tesla Motors" on the doors. Said mine ran surprisingly strong and smooth (not a good bargaining tactic), and he was comparing her to several Airheads he already owned. Yeah, I miss Beate. Fabulous motorcycle with vintage class for $2,500. All the Airhead weaknesses are now well known and perfectly correctable, thanks to the online owner community. (All the photos died in a hard-drive crash, alas.)

Eunos94 will be fixing bicycles at Elliot's for a shift or two. That's how I knew about the Moto Guzzi.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:30 pm

A couple years ago, a gent from the East Coast was here on ePlaya talking about his upcoming motorcycle trip to TTITD, and he rode a BMW "Oilhead" -- a newer style boxer such as the R1200 mentioned earlier.
I supplied his water and a bicycle.

When he picked up the water and bicycle shortly after arriving, he asked me in a wonderfully honest and straight-forward tone... why I was nude. He was clearly shocked. I don't remember what I replied, but when he returned the bicycle at the end of the week, he said he understood now. So... even people from (redacted) can be enlightened!

Eunos94 · Post by **Eunos94** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 1:36 pm

Okay, so things just took a strange turn. In the course of the last 48 hours, I placed a couple calls, talked to some trusted friends, and a big change has come to my journey. My 2013 Guzzi has suddenly morphed into a 2016 Triumph Bonneville T120.

The beloved Guzzi decided she needed to find a new home and I'm adopted the Bonnie to take her place. Since she's a sparkling new bike, I've decided that I'm nto going to ride her all the way out on to the playa, instead she'll head into storage in Reno and I'll ride the Burner Express in. Still going to be an epic motorcycle ride out and back. Probably north of 5000 miles total, but I'll miss actually riding on the playa. Alas...

Side thought, they *are* running Speed Week this year in Utah. Time for the new Bonneville to meet her namesake?

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 3:19 pm

I love those new bonnies! Such a sweet retro bike.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 5:19 pm

Some years ago, I spent the full Bonneville Speed Week as a journalist, embedded with a Lakester team. For serious gear-heads, it's a Do-Not-Miss event. Every car is home made, with no two cars alike.

I spent many hours by the Long Course, out in the 200-300 MPH realm, leaning on my tripod -- and loved every minute of it, just like patrolling the BRC Perimeter.

The look of the place is similar to Black Rock Desert, though without mountain range on one side.

The surface is salt, bright white, and will sunburn you from below if you are not prepared.

Unlike Black Rock Desert, no-one stays on the salt after dark. The pit area is secured around 7 p.m., and everyone goes to Wendover for the night.
Also, a rain-shower does not soak in like it does on Playa, and can shut down the event completely. Some years they don't even hold the event at all.

But WOW, what a fabulous gathering of mechanical treasures, and the folks who build them.

Dang, I "need" to go back to Bonneville!

Edit to add:
Embarrassingly lousy shot with inadequate lens, and I see I didn't bother to clean the slide before scanning it.
But that's my friends popping the chute on a disappointing run of 230 mph or so.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 5:28 pm

If I have a bucket list item, Bonneville Speed Week is it.
Maybe we'll both go. Burning Man is jumping the shark anyway.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 5:34 pm

Speed Week is August 13 - 19. I'd simply go straight from Bonneville to BRC.
But cannot do it this year.

DoctorIknow · Post by **DoctorIknow** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 9:18 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:Burning Man is jumping the shark anyway.

Lovin that quote.

Right up there with "It was better next year."

shark.JPG

burner von braun · Post by **burner von braun** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 9:48 pm

Speaking of motorcycles and Bonneville, I ran across a pretty good show the other day, entitled Out of Nothing that you might enjoy. It's well made and effectively draws you in; it certainly piqued my interest anyway. It seems to be airing on one of the sports channels these days, in fact it may have aired again this evening, though I missed it this time around.

I drive past the Bonneville Salt Flats each time I go to the burn. It is almost like a rite of passage for me now, no turning back after running through that landscape. Kind of like 'not being in Kansas anymore!'

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