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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Today's the Bentley's anniversary when I rolled out of the dealer as mine. I've done a daily average of 78 miles a day to achieve this and every mile has been the best. Just 4 months ago I rolled 75,000 miles coming across the loneliest road in America. I've gone through quite a few tire and oil changes. Just one belt so far, to which I have 40,000 miles on this one now. Replaced my exhaust a few months ago and had to replace the fuel pump back in the spring.
I'm running bone stock as far as the engine goes and it still runs solid as a rock. Just thought I'd share this with you all so you know that you've got a good bike. I do not keep it in a garage, but sits out under the oak tree in the front yard. We had a bad storm roll through and the lights went out, but it didn't know any better and it is doing just fine. I hope to have many more miles and expect to hit the 100,000 mile mark around June of next year.
Cheers! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | whew, your post count is getting up there like your mileage. have you checked yourself lately to make sure you will make it to the rebuild of the bentley. I just wanna make sure you will make it into your yonder years together in happy bliss on the front porch. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ...hmmmmm, that's a good question...my wife keeps telling me to go to the doctor and I keep telling her that I don't want to go because they might find something wrong with me. It is how I treat my bike, if it ain't broke, why would I mess with it and break something. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Got my Vis the same day Chris got his and am proud to say we passed 45398 this afternoon on a lunch ride. Yeah I know that's only half of Chris' mileage but I'm very happy with what we've done together and look forward to many more sMiles.
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I was waiting for you to chime in Luke and want to say Congrats to you. 45,000 is a good chunk of miles in 3 years. I remembered around the 54,000 mile mark last year I was talking to a Harley rider who threw his chest out and said his '06 Harley had 26,000 miles on it and commented how he was one of hard riders. Without throwing my chest out I said I had 54,000 miles on mine and turn the key so he could see it. His look was priceless. Keep on riding my friend and I still look forward to the day that we can have a cup of Joe together. |
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Tourer
Posts: 495
Carrollton, TX | Congrats Varyder!! You are an inspiration and I am working on catching up on you. I’m wondering about all the great roads, awesome sights of nature and warm small towns that made up all those miles. I’m at 57,000 miles in 33 months (990 days) and I have cherished every mile and look forward to each new mile. If I only had more time and money… |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | cheers... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | When I got my Vision I thought 20,000 miles per year is what I would rack up. I'm at 59,000 miles with a few days to 3 years on Dec. 3rd. I'm curious Chris, did you have any idea that you would rack up the 85,000 miles in 3 years? Thanks for all the input here at Vision-Riders, I've enjoyed your ride. Did you get the Bentley a special treat? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 72
| Varyder,
When I climbed on my Vsision the other day to come to work I actually realized for the first time in 9 moths that iahve owned her why you call her your Bentley. I particularly love how you dumpster dive for your lost keys, that shows committment! And the fact that you go until your tires are bald (not recommended I know) To me all this combined shows me how much you love riding your vision, and I'll bet everyone you run across during all that traveling enjoys the experience. All I know (not to make your head fat) you are what I hope to grow up to be sometime once my training wheels come off my Bentley. Hope to catch up with you on the road someday, and if you are ever out in southern california give me a holler you have a place to stay at our house, I will even let you park your Bentley in my garage, or under our oak tree which ever you feel more comfortable with.
Peace Brother,
PCNova |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I hit 3 years this month. My first headlight bulb went out today.
Edited by SongFan 2010-11-17 7:03 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | varyder: That my man is truly getting with it. Applaud !!!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | varyder,
You are an inspiration to us all!
Ride on! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | PCNova - 2010-11-17 7:46 PM
Varyder,
When I climbed on my Vsision the other day to come to work I actually realized for the first time in 9 moths that iahve owned her why you call her your Bentley. I particularly love how you dumpster dive for your lost keys, that shows committment! And the fact that you go until your tires are bald (not recommended I know) To me all this combined shows me how much you love riding your vision, and I'll bet everyone you run across during all that traveling enjoys the experience. All I know (not to make your head fat) you are what I hope to grow up to be sometime once my training wheels come off my Bentley. Hope to catch up with you on the road someday, and if you are ever out in southern california give me a holler you have a place to stay at our house, I will even let you park your Bentley in my garage, or under our oak tree which ever you feel more comfortable with.
Peace Brother,
PCNova
We've certainly been through a lot over the 3 years. I had a high school teacher that used to talk of her bentley when she lived in england. I always hoped one day I could afford one. After getting the Vision I man commented on how he liked my "Bentley". I told him it was a Victory and he says "I know, it's the Bentley of motorcycles."
I rode several years back having gone through a divorce and all I had left to get around was a CB750 that I rode everyday for a few years. I didn't ride for about 17 years when I picked up riding again, but I made conscience decision to ride everyday. At first I thought I would get tired of it, especially in the cold and rain, but found myself facing the challenge to dress for the occassion. Whenever I talked to riders that rode all the time, I paid attention, a lot of knowledgeable folks on the road. I met quite a few that I want to be like when I grow up.
Thanks for the hospitality PCNova and hope to take you up on it, same here if you can make it to Va. I was in Barstow back in June/July for about two weeks riding the Bentley. I rolled over 6,000 miles on that trip and got to see Wolf Creek Pass, Grand Canyon, Mother Highway, Sierra Nevada, Lonelist Road in America, the Rockies, tractor trailer tipped over on I-70 in Kansas, and an Indian named Kix in Nevada.
I also got to meet a guy on a Harley who was on his last 90 miles to home in central kansas after visiting his brothers in NC that he hadn't seen in 10years. He said he had 5 days vacation and his mother-n-law was coming to visit. He had just recovered from surgery and his wife told him "you've been wanting to ride that durn thing, go ride" So he rides two days straight to visit with his brothers one day that he hasn't seen in ten years and then rides two days back.
VT - I had rode my old goldwing for two years with much mechanical issues but I was still able to roll 38,000 miles in those years. I found I was average about 75 miles a day on the days that I could ride. In doing the math I figured I could top that with the Vision and set a target of 30,000 miles a year which I met on target at one year. I was on my way back from south Texas and was somewhere in Tennessee when that took place. The following year I only rolled 28,000 miles and this year only 27,000 miles, but I was down about 3 weeks with the fuel pump issue. With the exception of the trip to Cali, Texas, Detroit and Florida, I just roll like I did when I just had a cage.
Congrats to SF for the 3 years, and the rest who are at a milestone.
Edited by varyder 2010-11-17 8:17 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Congrats on your riding experiences.
I put 38,000 miles on my last bike (Burgman 650 Executive) in 3 years and 4 months covering 31 states.
I'm retired and only ride for pleasure.
Being that I live in northern Ohio, there are a few days each year when it's not a good idea to go riding.
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Whoaa dude, slow down! Congrats! Enjoy your ride, life is way too short not to smell a few roses. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | Congratulations varyder! That's some ridin'.  |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | coming from you that is an Steve. Thank you, but you're the one with some riding'. I hope I'll be able one day to have 16 consecutive days in the saddle to travel over 10,000 miles, dude, that's some ridin' |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | I know its been a long time since i checked in or even posted anything, but i had to agree with the miles and the bliss. i hit 40K with my 24 month aniversary. Looking to adding another 10K just this coming summer again. I have been forced to temporarily put her in storage in TX till i can get back down there. I had a job in Gillette, WY and was to risky this time of year to take her up there and have to put her in storage there if i had to leave. I dont mind riding in all the weather, i just draw the line at ICE. Congratulations there Chris. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks and I'm glad you are staying in touch David! You're doing what you have to do, try not pine too much over the bike, you'll find it sweeter when you get on 'er again. There's no way I would ride living up in that area during the winter. I lived in Wisconsin one good winter and DOT would make sure they had ice on the road at stop signs and curves by putting down the chemical to melt the snow. At -20 degrees, melted snow turns to ice when the chemical quits doing its job, but I guess they wanted to keep the hospitals and wrecker services in business. If you get a chance, share a little more about your rides this past summer, I think you mentioned cris-crossing around Arizona, Colorado and Texas the last I remember. Peace to you.
Edited by varyder 2010-11-21 6:46 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 196
| Well guys, my VV is celebrating it's 3 year anniversary of being in our family TODAY! I picked her up on Nov. 21, 2007, and haven't looked back yet.
I don't have the miles Varyder has but, I'm sure I enjoy the ride just as much! :-) |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | SongFan - 2010-11-17 7:03 PM
I hit?3 years this month.? My first headlight bulb went out today.
i would love to see a headlight bulb change out video! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | wrr1home - 2010-11-21 8:35 AM
Well guys, my VV is celebrating it's 3 year anniversary of being in our family TODAY! I picked her up on Nov. 21, 2007, and haven't looked back yet.
I don't have the miles Varyder has but, I'm sure I enjoy the ride just as much! :-)
Congrats Bill. Are you doing the New Years' ride this year, uh, next year?? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 196
| Chris,
Probably.... as long as there is nothing falling... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
Ennis, Tx | Congrats.... I'm into my 6th month on our Vision putting 7500 miles on her so far.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Always makes me laugh when folks celebrate mileage on their bike, if it was a cage we'd be crying about loss of value. Just the same I understand the significance of mileage achievements. A young man I met some 5 years ago just achieved the million mile mark, on three continents, in a tad over 7 years (he doesn't work). He does the ride eveywhere, all the time thing as I use to. So when he wrote me to inform me of his milestone I had a chuckle and thought back to when I reached that mark, pretty cool.
Anyhow, good bit of riding VA and I wish you many more safe and pleasant miles. I'll be waiting for that million mile post, so get busy, lol..... comes up quicker than you think. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Young man rides 1,000,000 miles in 7 years or 143,000 per year and he avg. 50 mph let's say. That's 2857 hours riding a year every year for 7 years...or ~8 hours per day every day for 7 years. Damn, this guy must have an iron butt. For a varyder mileage rate to make a million miles it would take...35.29 years. Teach, how long did it take you to reach the million mark? It's one very impressive accomplishment! You get a couple stars. 
Edited by VisionTex 2010-12-11 5:02 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| VisionTex, I'd say it took me a little over 11 years to hit the first mill mark. Wasn't trying to reach that mileage it just happened. It wasn't until a few of us that I ride with were talking about miles ridden that I even realized I'd passed that mark. I don't ride that sort of mileage these days, but still put on my fair share. For example the new HD had 6k miles on it by the 3rd week of ownership. My 08 Vision had somewhere around 4k at the same point but it really just comes down to what type of rides you are taking and can't really be averaged out to miles per day or hours in the seat. For example when the Mrs and I go out for an evening putt, it normally involves around 130-150 miles of just jumping on roads we are not familiar with. She'll say turn right or go left and we just putt along until we get sick of riding and decide to head for home. Then there are "destination" rides in which the cruise can be set and interstates so as to get the miles behind you knocked out. Lastly I ride what I call "trip" miles. I rarely use interstate when travelling on a MC trip and prefer to ride secondary roads so as to enjoy more of the scenery as I pass the hours. As a rule I can wrack up as many miles a day on secondary as I can on interstate, all be it a couple extra hours riding... but regardless it isn't unusual to run up 700-800 a day on trips, destinations around 900 a day if I really want to get there.
I don't want folks to think I'm running up 100k a year or anything these days, I've cut back considerably. I normally ride about 5k a month starting in June and ending in August with annual rides to certain areas, to meet with certain riding folks I've met through the years. If I'm having a real bike oriented year I'll ride some (a couple thousand miles) in the 2 months leading up to June, and after August, but riding is normally a summer thing these days. I've ridden a little over 2.5 mill in some 40+ years, 1 get off at slow speed which was in my opinion my own fault and I've riden on at least 5 continents, 103 countries (yep I've gotten around). Now days I spend more time riding around the states, mostly on the east coast.
As for the young man in question, quite the accomplishment for sure. He began riding in 2002 on a lite cruiser, switched to a dual sport style bikes after the first year (2 bikes) and some 200k miles and hasn't looked back. His pictures and stories of his rides are fantastic. He hasn't participated in any "Iron Butt" events but he plans to in the near future, another milestone to add to his experiences. He did have a get off in 2003 which got him a broken collarbone (slid out) but he was only down long enough to get the bike repaired. He isn't one of my favorite people, but his accomplishments are noteworthy.
I've always been of the opinion that there are MANY types of riders. Some ride to the bar and home, others ride hundreds of thousands a year and others in between. At the end of the day we all ride, have our own habits and goals. Guess thats what makes it such an interesting hobby. I guess this is what makes VA's accomplishments on the Vision noteworthy. He set a target for himself and his new bike and has stuck to it for the last 3 years. For some folks it is a destination or a bike trip to somewhere and for VA it was a mileage target which as an aside has taken him on some wonderful trips. I wish him many more happy miles and interesting rides, whatever his goal is. |
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36 Months/85,000 Miles