New Jersey to Alabama: my ride. (PHOTO intensive!)

[ozyran440]

Ah, and such a fun ride it was! After getting on the Greyhound in Opelika, AL and getting off the bus (24 hours and 25 minutes later!) in Mt Laurel, NJ, I was ready to take my first interstate ride - from New Jersey to Alabama.
I wish I had stopped to take more pictures, but I was pressed for time as it was, and cut my photo-taking short.

So, here they are!

April 29th, 9:05 AM: The journey begins in Opelika, AL aboard Greyhound:


April 30th, 9:40 AM: The journey ends with my stop at Cycle World of Cherry Hill (CWCH) located in Cherry Hill, NJ. I was very happy to get off that bus!


However, someone had dropped the ball prior to my arrival. So, I had the pleasure of seeing my bike almost literally from birth:


While waiting for the bike to get put together, I met one of the locals, who was pretty cool, I think:


I also saw a nice piece of classic steel. She was a 1951 VW Beetle...


...with a 224 hp EFI turbo 4-cyl!

(needless to say, he'd killed a couple of SRT's)

Prior to completion, the techs at CWCH installed a 12V outlet for free, once I had purchased it:



Finally, the bike was assembled. I mounted my Cortech saddlebags, my TomTom, and I was ready to roll!


I hopped on I-295 south, and made my way to Delaware before needing to make my first refueling stop:

[ozyran440]

Once I had filled up, I rode to Cycle World of Brooklyn, Maryland for my first oil change - at 121 miles. They fit me in no problem, gave me no trouble whatsoever, and had a pretty nice selection of bikes and gear:


And spotted a nice ZX-11 outside the shop:


After I was done there, I rode on through to Virginia, where I stopped for the night at a Comfort Inn just off of exit 126. I got done there, and took off southbound. I had made my way past Richmond, got on I-85 southbound, and decided to hit a back road for some nice scenery and a small change of pace. I wound up on Flat Rock road, just off of Exit 34 on 85 South:



Once I got back on the road, I made my way into North Carolina. I stopped in at a cycle dealership in Durham, called Kawasaki and Suzuki of Durham, NC. The service staff there was very friendly, and quickly fit me in for my 500-mile service. After servicing my bike, I was off again, on my way south, where I stopped in at the North Carolina transportation museum:


Unfortunately, they were 15 minutes from closing, so I was only able to get that picture. I got back on the road, and burned I-85 south all the way to the state line:

Unfortunately, it was the only state line sign I had thought to get a picture of.

On my way to the GA state line, you'll find the world's biggest peach...butt?

Every time I pass it I chuckle.

I was riding about 40 miles away from the GA state line when I encountered these two individuals on the highway, who invited me to ride with them:

That's Joe on the left with his VTX 1800 and Mike on the right with his 1-month-old HD Road King. Both of them are retired USMC, Joe was a CH-47 pilot and Mike was an MH-53 pilot. They also got a shot of me, wired up on MD Amp and ready to ride:


And now, two days after the trip began, she's home:


So, that was my ride. Two days. 928 miles. And it was a blast! I just wish I'd had more time.

[Kawasaki ZX600r]

Looks like you had fun Someday I am going to ride my bike from MN to take on the dragon That will be a few years though.

BTW, COOL bike

[ozyran440]

Thanks man. I appreciate the comment. Actually, Joe and Mike were on their way to Deal's Gap, NC; I was hoping I'd be able to go, but right now I just flat out don't have the finances. It was a trip.

[downtown_donna]

Thanks for all of the pictures, sounds like a successful retrieval! Hope you have many thousands of miles goods times with the new bike.

[Tod]

Way cool. Thanks for sharing the pics, and the running commentary of your journey.

The Versys looks really good with those bags on it, and to hear you say it has such nice road manners speaks very highly of it's design.
Any thoughts on getting a different seat, or is the stock seat pretty decent?

[cmptrmn.1]

Fantastic. Must have been a great ride according to the pics. And the Versys does look good.

[ozyran440]

Originally Posted by Tod

Any thoughts on getting a different seat, or is the stock seat pretty decent?

Well, once I set aside the money, I'm definitely planning on replacing the stock seat with a better one. The stock on is good for about 1/2 an hour, and beyond that, it begins to lose effectiveness.

And you're welcome for the pics; I'm happy to share

[xeon]

Looks like a great ride, wish I could have ridden with you a bit through VA, but it didn't work out. I have to ask... did they give you a really good deal or what is the story in buying it out of NJ?

[ozyran440]

Originally Posted by xeon

Looks like a great ride, wish I could have ridden with you a bit through VA, but it didn't work out. I have to ask... did they give you a really good deal or what is the story in buying it out of NJ?

Actually, I found the bike on eBay. Brand new, from the dealership, through eBay, I got it for $5695.00 + $495.00 destination + $95.00 for a price of $6300.00 out the door. They just happen to have another one going for the same price. Bit of a ride, but to me it was worth it for the purchase price, and for the sheer experience of the ride!

And yes, I wish that I could have ridden with you through part of VA. I love to ride, but having a riding buddy helps everything to be just that much more fun.

[A2rider]

Thanks for the pics! Glad your new baby is home. Sounds like you had a good trip.

[Spok]

great photo essay. how did you enjoy the versys on the road comfort wise? thanks for taking the time to share the ride

[fretbuzz]

Excellent thread, man. There is nothing like a great road trip and the people you meet along the way.

[GeorgiaRider]

Thanks for the pics of the journey. Looks like a great time.

[ozyran440]

Yeah, it really was an awesome trip. I can't wait until later on this summer, when I make my trip to take on the dragon!

You know, I was beginning to lose faith in Harley guys until I met Mike. He was one of the seemingly few Harley riders I've met that didn't think less of someone because they didn't ride a Harley - I guess being in the service kinda keeps you from that mindset.

[ozyran440]

Originally Posted by Spok

great photo essay. how did you enjoy the versys on the road comfort wise?

Thanks. The Versys was pretty nice on the road for about 1/2 an hour, then it began to get a little uncomfortable on the highway. once I was on it for an hour it began to get stiff, and beyond that I started getting sore. It could have been my posture, though; after I dismounted the bike the soreness went away pretty quickly and I wasn't sore for very long at all after arriving home in Alabama.

[Michael600r]

My stock seat was pathetic. I replaced it with a Corbin, a world of difference. For longer trips I throw a gel pad on top of that.

[anamosity]

Nice write up with great pictures and explanations.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.

[koga]

Great thread, awsome pics

[stoneage]

just saw this bike in person at my local bike shop today, it's a nice looking machine.