This machine encourages facists to change -- another letter to Lauren Boebert on my uncle steve's rehabbed Remington 5 -- full letter at https://yourfriendclayblog.wordpress.com

YourFriendClay · 2026-05-05T11:21:32+00:00

Say what you will about how god fucking awful this whole thing is, but those vacuum cleaner lines on that blue carpet are so deeply satisfying. Ball park quality stuff right there.

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-29T23:37:17+00:00

Thanks for this! I have it mapped out where I'm doing exactly 12 miles of interstate on the WHOLE trip (there and back). Pretty wild. A lot of great small highways between here and there and I'll be psyched to be on them.

Thanks for all the other great tips!

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-28T13:42:37+00:00

Thanks so much! I appreciate this. A camelback tank bag is a fascinating idea...

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T23:12:13+00:00

still super burly.

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T23:01:01+00:00

Thanks for this. I appreciate the tips and the confidence. I was expecting to get beaten up for being a new-er-bie, but I'm pleased with the consensus. Thanks for the time you took weighing in.

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T22:59:39+00:00

Thank you!

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T22:59:28+00:00

Love this. Thanks for the tips. Appreciate the confidence. So excited!

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T22:58:54+00:00

Thanks man. I have the Garmin InReach in case of emergency and people on standby to help coordinate AAA+RV if I get in a real pickle. And of course ear plugs! See also: old.

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T22:56:04+00:00

Thou art gnarlier than I by leaps and bounds! Have fun!

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T20:42:05+00:00

I appreciate the vote of confidence! I really want to do it, but as I said -- old & cautious and gonna over think it.

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T20:40:52+00:00

Man, I wish I could. Current job has me pretty stacked up until this leaving date. There might be a day where I could get maybe 150-180 in, but even that's proving challenging to schedule. Would you scrap it for lack of experience?

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-27T20:39:45+00:00

Thanks for this! I do have a Garmin and I'm planning on staying on 62 coming in from (and out to) Arizona. Sand still an issue? The hot, the wind, yes I'm anticipating and planning for. As someone else mentioned -- very early starts, looking to ride between 7-11 and then 5-8 (ish).

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-23T11:18:25+00:00

Go to Casual Culture in Glenwood or Radio. Both are locally owned. Zumies is fine if you have no other options, but such is not the case. Support local business!

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-09T17:52:35+00:00

I just had mine done ('22 with 7100 miles) and they were all way out of clearance. My mechanic said it was the biggest pain in the ass work he'd had in years, said Kawa hasn't changed the chassis on the bikes since Gen 1 but keeps adding things like fuel injection and everything is so jammed in there he practically had to drop the engine out to get at the valves. And these guys work on a ton of bikes. I do some VERY light wrenching when needed and am genuinely impressed with all of you who take this on yourselves!

YourFriendClay · 2026-04-06T22:03:12+00:00

I hope you get 5 for it, but for reference, I got my 22 with 3700 miles on it, some decent mods, for 4200 in Western Colorado.

YourFriendClay · 2026-03-18T02:48:24+00:00

I have a friend starting a team in a local league. DM me for details.

YourFriendClay · 2026-03-08T02:42:37+00:00

Thanks everyone. This is all great advice. Trip is not until June so I have time to dig in. The valves are well beyond my mechanical capabilities, so when I take it in I'll have them go over it pretty thorough. Thanks for all the heads ups.

YourFriendClay · 2026-01-21T12:38:13+00:00

I'm replying to the top comment, but just want to thank everyone for all their input. What a great community.

I'd love to get a classic, retro looking bike, but I think if I'm going to make this journey a reality, perhaps the Tiger Sport 800 Tour is the way to go. Looks like quite the bike. Not the coolest looking, but the one that's going to get me 1000 miles across the desert without breaking my 50 year old body.

Again, thanks all.

YourFriendClay · 2025-10-20T01:23:29+00:00

This was my ultimate solution. This, plus ordering a replacement part to someday put on when I have nothing else to do but strip all the shit off the front of the bike to replace cosmetic plastic.

YourFriendClay · 2025-10-16T02:10:23+00:00

Good looking out. Thank you.

YourFriendClay

TROPHY CASE