10.23.2009

Preparing For a Long Ride with your KZ200

Before all of merzymania going to Bali ride to attending the Bali Merzy Rendezvous in December I will give you suggestion how to Preparing For a Long Ride

Word of warning: This ride is an endurance trip, not a race. You get no prize for taking less than the allotted time.

Let's do a little math. 1500 miles divided by 24 hours equals 62.5 miles per hour. Now that's not an unreasonable speed, and maybe once you could average that if you got a good night's sleep beforehand, and arranged to end the 24 hours before it got dark. Pretty hard to do, and out of the question if you want to do more than one in a row. (Yes, some very healthy, tough, insane folks attempt the three of these rides on three consecutive days.)

So let's give ourselves a little sleep, shall we? 1500 divided by a long day in the saddle, 18 hours, gives 83.3 mph. That's your average, not counting gas and potty breaks. That means you want to pick your highways pretty carefully, lest you receive any performance awards (bikerspeak for speeding ticket) and their attendant delays. What if we compromise and do a really long day, say 20 hours on the road? The average becomes more reasonable at 75 mph. You should be able to get away with that on a lot of open interstates Not too many empty roads.

That leads me to the Three Phases of the Long Ride.

Permission, Preparation, and Production.

Phase One-Permission. (nb-if you're a woman rider, please change all the gender references that follow.) You will not complete this ride without some kind of support group. Unless you're leaving your wife for good, I suggest that you need her support. Moral support, and maybe logistical. Presumably she's your most loyal fan, and more willing to help out than others would be, especially if it calls for weird hours. My motorcycle was a birthday gift from my dear sweet wife, so I have a pretty good start on the permission angle.

You should take her needs into account. Get yourself some really good insurance for the trip, but don't make too big a deal about it. This is to help her over the hump if you mangle yourself; it is not a way to persuade her to let you do it. Unless you're having the problems I alluded to above. Have a serious talk, and find out her actual worries. Your wife is the best person in the world for knowing your weaknesses, and if she has any worries, those are your most important preparation tasks. If she's worried about you being eaten by rattlesnakes if you sleep on the ground next to your bike, arrange to crash (metaphorically) with someone in a motorcycle club. Promise to observe your body's tiredness signals, and describe them to her, so she'll know you're not bluffing. Show her the route. Promise to call. Do some practice trips; get her used to the idea-whatever she needs. They will turn out to be things you also need. Do them, and you, the ride, and she will all be happier. I'll get into some of these things in more detail later, because they fall into the preparation category. A ride is more likely to succeed with a cheering squad at home.

Phase two-Preparation Preparation has three parts-you, your bike, and your logistics, not necessarily in that order.

Logistics: If you want proof that you really rode 1500 miles in 24 hours, If you are is called an extreme ride, You need to have someone (not you), say that you actually started on the ride, and actually finished. Doesn't have to be the same person on both ends of the ride, and doesn't have to be an member of KZ200 clubs, but your witnesses do have to sign the form and be willing to answer a phone call from the Clubs about the ride.

Bike: You're riding a Kawasaki KZ200 or similar touring bike with . Do not attempt this ride on a crotch rocket. Have someone who knows your type of bike give the bike a thorough going-over. And have him do the repairs he suggests. Motorcycles, good as they are, are not as dependable as cars. Sorry, but them's the facts. You can pretty well count on most cars nowadays going 100K miles with nothing but an occasional oil change. Not so motorcycles, even KZ200's. You're about to put a lot of stress on that bike, and nothing ruins a good ride like an unexpected breakdown. Except an accident, but that's different. If you put on new tires, put a couple hundred miles on them before the ride. Gets the manufacturing oil off. If your mechanic's checkup involves any new parts, ride a while to be sure everything's okay, and you're comfortable with the changes. Same thing with new accessories. You want to be sure that new tank bag doesn't have a tendency to slide left all the time. the issue of carrying extra gasoline. An auxiliary tank can reduce the number of stops. Plan out the ride, and include alternatives to your route. Print out maps. Memorize the route. Calculate where you might stop for gas. Program the GPS. Print maps even if you have a GPS. Do not depend on the GPS. Figure out the timing so you're not going through major metro areas during rush hour. If something happens that ends the ride prematurely, you might still have a Saddlesore in there. That's a decent consolation prize. Plan alternative start dates, If you get unexpected bad weather, it's okay to start a day later.



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KZ200 Riding and Ownership - What You Need to Know

Motorcycles are a popular means of transport today, especially of kawasaki kz200 and for those who crave a little danger in their lives, as they are great fun to own and ride. If you are considering getting a motorcycle for yourself, you will find the following tips useful.

Cost - Motorcycle prices vary from dealer to dealer depending on the brand and its specifications. Used motorcycles can be accessed at a cheaper price. However, it is advisable to first have a reliable mechanic evaluate the second-hand bike before you buy it.

Handling - A motorcycle's handling is mostly a matter of personal preference or rather what feels right for you. Here are some basic things to remember when choosing your bike.

• You should be able to have both feet touch the ground while seated on the bike
• The seat should be comfortable and big enough to fit two
• It should have foot rests that allow moving of the feet for added comfort
• You should be able to lift the bike easily in the event of tire changes
• The bike should start easily and without any smoking.

Helmet - Motorcycle helmets come in a variety of shapes and colors. Most dealers offer a free helmet for every motorcycle purchase, but you will want to buy a second one for your passenger as well. For maximum protection go for the full-face helmet that covers your entire head and also comes with a face shield to keep out flying debris and bugs. Some helmets have a venting system which will keep air flowing in and a quick switch face shield so you can easily switch from a clear to a tinted shield. Ensure that the fit is snug enough such that the helmet can not be turned when it's on your head.

Gear - Protective leather is the most highly recommended material for riding apparel as it is stronger, moderately flexible and much tougher than others. Protective leather for motorcycle gear such as jackets and pants is usually pre-tested for impact abrasion, cut, tear and burst resistance. The jacket is also usually fitted with heavy padding on the spine, elbow and shoulder regions to provide added protection in the event of an accident. Some gloves come with carbon fiber for knuckle protection, while boot heels are designed to fit on the bike's footrests so as to provide ankle support.

Maintenance - Regular maintenance and occasional servicing will ensure that your motorcycle remains safe for both you and your passengers. Ask the dealer's mechanic to teach you how to change the oil, filters and brakes. Learn how to lubricate the bike's chain and check fluid levels.

Riding with a passenger - It's advisable to have enough solo riding experience before carrying a pillion. When you're ready, try practicing in a low-traffic area with an experienced passenger weighing 50kg or less to get a feel for how a motorcycle handles with two people on it. Once you feel comfortable enough to take on a passenger, remember the following:

• If required, modify the suspension to handle the additional weight of your passenger and be sure to add the recommended amount of air to your tires.

• Give complete instructions before you start off even if your passenger is an experienced rider. To help communicate during the journey you may want to devise some signals beforehand such as a tap on the leg could mean "hold on tighter" or should your pillion need you to slow down, a firm squeeze around your middle can signal that.

• Always provide your passenger with a helmet.

• Raise the stand, securely brace the bike, start it and point it in the direction you want to go then have your passenger get on.

• Ask your passenger to sit as far forward as possible without crowding you. He should then hold tightly around your waist and stay directly behind you, leaning as you lean and avoiding any unnecessary motion that could affect your ability to safely control the motorcycle.

• Instruct your passenger to keep both feet on the footrests at all times.

• Adjust to the passenger's weight. Notice that the extra heaviness changes the way the motorcycle balances, turns, speeds up and slows down. Operate at a lower speed particularly on curves or bumps and start slowing down earlier than usual when approaching a stoplight.

(source : ezine articles)


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