R1200s ride : route advice OKC to Denver?

[smddanny]

Well it looks like I am going to fly to Oklahoma City and pick up my new R1200S. I've ordered some grip puppys, throttlemeister and a tourmaster heated jacket liner to take along with me and install before the ride. Those are the things I think I need to be comfortable on a 600 mile early winter ride. The rest of the clothing should do fine. The plan is to leave her in Denver for the winter so I can visit my favorite places in Utah in the spring

The bike has the BMW system cases mount installed, but no cases. An ideas on what I can strap on the back using this rack would be appreciated. I don't have a tank bag either...

Also local knowledge of the route would be nice too. I would love to go through Taos but I know the mountain passes can be closed or difficult this time of year.. as in this weekend. They look clear as of today. I favor heading west to go through the northern part of New Mexico but that leaves me traveling due north through the mountain passes to Denver.

Any route or packing advice much appreciated. Or of course I am sure no one is none to shy to chime in and say what a daft idea all this is.

[Guest24]

I can't think of much between those two cities this time of year.

[Rick Lee]

You are gonna be cold. I just got summoned to Denver for a business trip and really wanted to ride the bike until I looked at the weather in Denver.

[spoilsport]

The weather can be fantastic or very nasty. So, be patient and flexible. Last winter, one of my best rides was the last weekend in November. It was in the 50's in the mountains.

The fist map is a "safe" route that avoids the passes but has some interesting scenery, too. This route avoids the dreariest part of I25, Pueblo to C Springs, by continuing west and then turning north along the foothills. If the weather is really nice, instead of turning north at Penrose, CO, you could continue to Canon City and up Big Sheep Canyon to HiWay 9 and then on to Denver (the second map). This would get you into twisties that will blow your mind and give you a chance to really work out your new bike before you put it in the barn.


[IMG]Oklahoma City, OK to Denver, CO - Google Maps[/IMG]


Extra Credit Twisties - Two passes - avoid if icy! (Raton, Wilkerson):

[IMG]Oklahoma City, OK to Denver, CO - Google Maps[/IMG]

[smddanny]

Spoilsport:

Thanks for the great route advice! I like the swing west to avoid the boredom due north towards Denver. I took a look and the routes seem to overlay unless I am missing a finer detail but the intermediate points and directions seem remarkably similar. I was hoping to swing thru Taos but I do remember the passes to the north get cold and snowy. Checking weather and it looks ok for this weekend.

[Dave Bowen]

Silly suggestion.
Make sure the stock power outlet has been rewired directly to the battery, or your electric jacket will not work. The amp output of the socket can't keep up with the jacket draw and will trip the Canbus system. At least that is the case with a Gerbing jacket.

[smddanny]

Yes, have been advised that the canbus factory connector won't supply that kind of current. I've been advised to connect direct to the battery terminals and that I don't have to take off the tupperware to do so. Hope that is so.

[Dave Bowen]

If you want to be really fancy - take the switched power wire from your power socket (that is now extra), and use it to power your radar detector.

[spoilsport]

OK, fixed the first map link. Now, you should have two different maps. Here's the route I like for Taos. It's very risky this time of year, but you might get lucky. The last time I rode through Angel Fire was early last May. It was cold. I had an electric vest, TourMaster winter gloves (great), a bacalava, wool long johns, BMW liners, and a down vest over the electric vest, and I needed all of it!

[IMG]Oklahoma City, OK to Denver, CO - Google Maps[/IMG]


Angelfire - May 2010

[AndrewA]

Originally Posted by smddanny

Yes, have been advised that the canbus factory connector won't supply that kind of current. I've been advised to connect direct to the battery terminals and that I don't have to take off the tupperware to do so. Hope that is so.

That is correct. The battery posts are readily accessible once the seat is removed.
You'll just need a Philips screw driver.

[ckcarr]

Nothing like South Park with a wind and snow blasting sideways on a road that turns to ice. It's fun. Make sure you have a one-hour shower of extreme hot water if you make it to Denver under bad weather.

[sfarson]

smd... Congrats on the R12S. I once bought an R11S from a dealer in Tulsa and brought it home to the Colorado mountains.

Check out this link for the latest Colorado road conditions... Road Conditions, Speeds, Travel Times, Traffic Cameras, Live Streaming Traffic Cameras, Road Closures and Road Work Information provided by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a branch of Colorado Department of Transportation

If you were to try for a mountain route tomorrow, it would be "memorable". But 50's/60's down low are the forecast towards the end of the week (perhaps 40's at my elev) and over the weekend. I probably won't get out tomorrow after today's snow, but I'll make it out on Thursday for several days of riding before the next front comes through.

[smddanny]

Am looking forward to the "route", will start Friday and get to Denver before the next front arrives hopefully. Might have to stop at a hot spring along the way. Bringing GPS and phone with google map app to. Hope them mountain passes stay free!

The pic from Angel Fire looks gorgeous, I need a couple hundred miles like that to decompress on.

[spoilsport]

If you take the Taos route and come up 285 and 17, there are two great Hot Springs on your route. The famous Mt. Princeton Lodge and Hot Springs is at the base of the Chalk Cliffs in this photo. It's just a few miles west of US285 in Nathrop, CO (so. of Buena Vista). The other one is Joyful Journey which is near Villa Grove, CO off hiway 17 north of Alamosa.

The Chalk Cliffs, with Mt. Princeton looming in the background.

[bikerfish1100]

decent weather through Sunday, but the mntn passes will still be c-c-c-cold. if that's what you do, be sure you're catching them between 11a and 3p to grab the sun benefit. Woodland
Park/Pine/Deckers is a really sweet route, and elevation is not too extreme (6-7,000' range would be my estimate.)
post up in the spring time, sfarson and i and some others would be happy to run some roads with ya.

[pwillikers]

623 miles.

[pwillikers]

1597miles

[smddanny]

All:

Thanks for the great advice on routes, times of travel weather and gear. I am programming the hot springs in the gps and with luck and good weather will find one or two.

Just got a powerlet male modified to power a UBS at 5 volts for the gps, won't do the phone though...

Electric jacket and lots of leather and thermal stuff, should be ok if it is not too harsh.

I am leaving the bike in Parker Co and am planning a trip in May through the S.W. specificially Utah / Az. would love to have some company. Already have a 650GS signed up.

[smddanny]

Went as far as western tx panhandle yesterday. On to cimaron today and will then have another look at the weather. The r12 is more nimble. Front sag and preload is all wrong, lots of hobby horsing, crows foot adj tool for spring is not in kit.

[bikerfish1100]

i would not delay all that much, and i would forego the curvy/scenic mntn routes in favor of teh dry and dark (as opposed to white) route. the high country is expecting 1-2 feet by Monday. the warm weekend we were expecting does not seem to be materializing.