new-to-me '19 R1250GSA

[MrVvrroomm]

It's not an RS, but I still like most of you guys/gals on this forum.

Did a fly-n-ride Monday. Jumped on flight from Minneapolis to Augusta, GA via Atlanta. Not a big fan of flying during the pandemic, but I was determined to get this in my garage.

Arrived in Augusta around 1230 on Monday. Seller picked me up at airport in Tesla Model 3, nice! Seller was insistent payment be made in cash. Was going to stop at local bank in GA, but with pandemic going on, banks want everything done via drive-thru.

Cut to the chase: I boarded plane in Minneapolis with two fat stacks of cash.

I was heading north & west from seller's place before 1400. Not sure if any of you have been paying attention to the weather earlier this week, but there was this tropical storm called Cristobal. Yes, that one.

I had to either cross it or get ahead of it. My plan was to just slab it home. I just wanted to get it in my garage.

I made it over 500 miles Monday without getting too wet. I spent the night just south of Paducah, KY.

Was off like a prom dress Tuesday morning by around 0700. I was resolved to make it all the way home. 750 miles.

I came up 300 miles short in Iowa City. I walked into hotel lobby with a trail of water behind me. I have one piece Aerostich which is actually very waterproof if properly sealed.

The spray from the 18-wheelers was overwhelming, literally. Some how the spray started coming off my helmet, down my neck. I couldn't have gotten any wetter if someone stuck a garden hose down the top of my Aerostich. I had an inch of water in my waterproof Goretex boots.

I was able to mostly dry my Aerostich hanging off luggage cart in my room in front of HVAC wall unit modulating between super cold a/c to heat.

I was on the road Wednesday morning by 0500. Arrived home and in garage by 1000.

I have huge pics from my phone, but it's a 2019 R1250GS Adventure HP model with low suspension (same as my '18). Bike came with all three BMW black aluminum cases and Nav VI. Left sellers driveway with 2700 miles on her.

It's everything my '18 is, but with more motor. Those of you that have met my wife Dawn and me know that there's no way I'm handicapping her that much horsepower.

I have a meticulously cared-for 2018 R1200GS Adventure (low suspension) with TFT with under 10K miles and 9 months of remaining warranty for sale.

[Grumpy Goat]

I came up 300 miles short in Iowa City. I walked into hotel lobby with a trail of water behind me. I have one piece Aerostich which is actually very waterproof if properly sealed.

The spray from the 18-wheelers was overwhelming, literally. Some how the spray started coming off my helmet, down my neck. I couldn't have gotten any wetter if someone stuck a garden hose down the top of my Aerostich. I had an inch of water in my waterproof Goretex boots.
...
I have huge pics from my phone, but it's a 2019 R1250GS Adventure HP model with low suspension (same as my '18). Bike came with all three BMW black aluminum cases and Nav VI. Left sellers driveway with 2700 miles on her.

Nice story, Bruce. Sounds like your wet weather setup needs a strom collar - see my video here https://youtu.be/EDo12hJv0cw. I also rode through heavy rain with this and it definitely kept the rain out from going down my Klim suit - video here https://youtu.be/0A5zsY_N0gM.

Bruce - if you like you can email me the photos and I will size them and put them up for you. I am sure all would like to see what you got.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

A little off topic, but we are all going to be wanting to travel soon . . . How did you find the motels you stayed in? Did you feel they were keeping you safe from the 19?

Congrats on the new bike. I had an '05GS and it was a great bike.

[MrVvrroomm]

A little off topic, but we are all going to be wanting to travel soon . . . How did you find the motels you stayed in? Did you feel they were keeping you safe from the 19?

I had no problems with the places I stayed.

I stayed at an old school motel in Kentucky. I don't need anything fancy. The room was clean. I was there for less than 8 hours.

The second night of my trip I spent in Iowa City. It was a Hilton right off the freeway. It was very highly rated on Booking.com. I was very surprised it only cost me $75 for the night. I booked the room from a gas station right down the street. Their restaurant was even open for dine-in, but with social distancing.

At no time during my trip home did I feel unsafe or at-risk due to the virus.

Each state is handling things differently. I stopped in Galesburg, IL for a rain break, gas, food. We have been there before, so I remembered a nice little pizza joint downtown https://sperlinspizzahouse.com/
I was able to order a pizza but had to eat it outside in the rain. They let me plug in my phone and use their restroom. The owners are great people.

I was nervous before I left. I'm confident we can travel now.

[Duccrazydave]

Excellent report, Bruce! I can't believe I haven't heard this one before, lol -
"Was off like a prom dress Tuesday morning by around 0700."

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Thanks for the info. High hopes for the Gunnison!

[Lee]

A little off topic, but we are all going to be wanting to travel soon . . . How did you find the motels you stayed in? Did you feel they were keeping you safe from the 19?

Debbie and I went to a funeral yesterday in Hastings Nebraska. Stayed in a motel Friday night. Felt strange to travel and Debbie's first time out of the town limits in 3.5 months.
The Quality Inn was not the same one I thought we stayed at for the last family event there so we looked at a few others in case we stay there on the way to Colorado in July.
The Quality Inn only had 4 cars in the parking lot and one belong to my sisters. The front desk was not maned and you phone if you needed anything.
When we went to look at the Holiday Inn Express the lobby was locked and you had to call to get in. Only a few cars in the parking lot at 6:00.
Comfort Inn looked like they had no guests.
Our Quality Inn was clean but hard to say how thorough they are on a regular basis.
Room was $55 plus tax.

This last week when I google motels and restaurants for our July trip I still see a lot of restaurants with take out only and some motels show prepackaged items for breakfast.

Hoping things will be a little better in a month.

[Lee]

Cut to the chase: I boarded plane in Minneapolis with two fat stacks of cash.

I thought $10,000 case was the limit you could carry on??
Did you have to declare you had the cash?

Edit: Google tells me there no limit on domestic flights.

[Olgry1]

Galesburg Illinois - The Mayor of Galesburg is a frat brother from Knox College located a few blocks from from the pizza place where you ate. The college hangout was the "Downtown Lounge" in the same block as the pizza place. I spent too much time on that block in college Small world

[Olgry1]

Congrats on the new bike Bruce and good luck with the sale!

[Ray]

o Augusta, GA via Atlanta. Not a big fan of flying during the pandemic, but I was determined to get this in my garage.

Well done Bruce.

Good to know that with all that gear, knowledge, and experience, you can still get hammered by a tropical storm on the interstate like the rest of us. Water coming off a tractor trailer at speed will always find a way through after an hour or two.

As regards the topic of safety - I agree with you. Science and logic will set you free. Learn a little bit about how contagious this bug is and how it's best transmitted and we can carefully wander about.

Did over 1100 (surprisingly dry) miles this weekend in a meandering St. Louis, Toledo, Chicago loop to catch up with family. I avoided the elevators at the completely full Marriott - especially as I watched a hoard of maskless revelers exit the tiny space.

It helps that I enjoy the stairs and I'm not especially sociable.

If we're going to get out this year, it will have to be this summer and early fall. Watching the behavior of the folks who insist on keeping the virus replicating this summer has be convinced it's going to hit hard for Christmas. (Right in time for flu season.... Get your shots this year.)

Y'all stay safe.

...by the way - it strikes me that you're telling a story about an epic trip in the rain on the RS site - isn't this tale of suffering and grit more to the taste of the GS crowd? Of course, I've seen their fora; you would have prompted 200 posts from guys who'd want to tell you their favorite storm-filled story and point out how they could have done it better, dry, and while smoking a cigar....

[Duccrazydave]

...by the way - it strikes me that you're telling a story about an epic trip in the rain on the RS site - isn't this tale of suffering and grit more to the taste of the GS crowd? Of course, I've seen their fora; you would have prompted 200 posts from guys who'd want to tell you their favorite storm-filled story and point out how they could have done it better, dry, and while smoking a cigar....