Apparently I spend a lot of time on volcanoes lately

"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
05/29/2018 at 15:35 • Filed to: None

Pics from an awesome weekend at Paulina Lake in Central Oregon. Newberry National Volcanic Monument. And my first hot springs experience (don’t worry, no half naked pics of me ). And yeah, the pics get better than this first one.

2up on the #advmonster, 450 or so miles round trip.

And yeah, we were both comfortable. This bike handles everything I throw at it.

From up here we could see as far as Ranier to the north and Shasta to the South

Why am I here?

Obsidian flow, super cool to see

Newberry volcano between the two lakes

Little chipmunk friend on the stump!

View from the hot springs

The hot springs were amazing. Lake was ice cold since it’s feed by snowmelt, but the hot springs were right around 100 degrees freedom units. Totally exceeded expectations. Words cannot describe. I posted a video of the hot springs on my insta @this_account_is_mt

DISCUSSION (44)

HammerheadFistpunch > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 15:43

Looks pretty great!

lone_liberal > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 15:52

Beautiful pictures! When I saw your picture of the obsidian flow the first thing that popped in to my head was “clear cut”. I’m glad reality is much cooler.

Future Heap Owner > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 16:09

Nice, this looks gorgeous! I want to try some hot springs besides Breitenbush, so thanks for putting this on my radar.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > lone_liberal
05/29/2018 at 16:17

Sure looks like clear cutting especially from further away. But if you look closely you can see swirls in the obsidian!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Future Heap Owner
05/29/2018 at 16:18

Crap! Not trying to let the secret out!

Totally with the trip. We scored the hot spring out during the day and went back to soak at dusk. Not many people there and even made some new friends!

BobintheMtns > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 16:45

“advmonster”... love it!

WRC541 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 17:19

I have lived in Bend my whole life. We did the hot springs there at the end of last summer. Happened to be the night of the meteor shower. Hot springs + meteors + Jameson = Epic. I can send you to some other breathtaking spots also :) Cheers!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BobintheMtns
05/29/2018 at 17:20

Installed a radiator guard last week to protect from rocks and am putting a new scorpion trail tire on the front next week. Then, more dirt will be had! The pirelli Corsa tire doesn’t like dirt it when I make it get dirty, but I make it get dirty anyways!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WRC541
05/29/2018 at 17:27

That does sound amazing!

Yes please! All of the breathtaking spots please!

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 17:36

*adds to list of places to check out*

Have not really done any exploring east of Portland, hoping to see some cool stuff out there on my Bonneville ride in a few months

Kinja'd!!!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/29/2018 at 18:15

84 is fine, fast, decent sights, but nothing amazing. I suggest stopping by the painted hills. But central and eaten Oregon are so vastly different from what we have up here. You’ll love it. I’m still hoping to join on this trip.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 18:26

I’ve gone about halfway that distance out 84 for trackdays, it’s decent slab, but yeah nothing too memorable. Lots of good river views without anything that really made me pull over and take photos. I’m planning to bring a decent camera with me for the salt flats at least.

I’m also thinking of picking up a cheap fuel injected metric cruiser for the trip. Did a 400 mile trip (mostly highway) on the Triumph Sunday, it wasn’t ideal..

AestheticsInMotion > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 18:37

Go figure, right when I’m about to swap the winter tires out and lower the suspension

That place looks beautiful. Adding to the Oregon list. I think this January I’m going to throw the lift on the Miata and do a hotsprings adventure tour....

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/29/2018 at 19:42

Potato pics are good enough for me! That being said the pixel has a pretty great phone camera.

Not comfortable enough? If that’s the case I’m even happier I bought the monster instead. It’s been so universally good. What do you have in mind?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion
05/29/2018 at 19:54

Do it! There’s a dirt road going to the top of this peak that I’m sure you would love in the miata. The wasn’t a lot of traffic even though it was a holiday weekend. But we hiked it so I can’t say for sure.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/29/2018 at 20:03

It does! But it’s been a while since I’ve dusted off my SLR, seems like a good enough reason.

A few things. First the weight, it’s too light for any long haul riding. Being fairly light myself, I get blown around pretty easy. It gets remarkably tiring after 5+ hours. Second is the wind, which would be fine with a screen, probably. Finally the ergos are a little tight for long highway riding. She needs to lean!

The criteria I’m thinking is 1400cc+, fuel injection, and reliable. There are plenty of mid 2000s Japanese bikes that fit that and are basically bottomed out, price wise.

Another consideration I had, was that I want to spend at least a night camping on the flats, and parking for the event is out on the salt, after growing up on the east cost, I don’t want anything I intend to keep long term anywhere near a giant salt bed (especially when I routinely take those things to triple digit speeds)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/29/2018 at 23:11

SLR!? You should’ve told me you had a McLaren!

You sound like you need a Goldwing. Those are all mild issues on the monster too. Mild. Easily overlooked. Part of the experience. And coming from Harleys with no windshields, wind doesn’t bother me.

The no salt thing has me thinking now... What kind of bike do you have in mind? K1600? M109? Rocket?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 00:20

Wow amazing spot.

This is kinda random, is that a Northface tent? I’m looking for a 2 person later this summer. How do you like it?

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 00:33

Wow, this new kinja bug is infuriating

I used to do a lot of film photography, If I can fit it I’d like to bring some of that along with me. As for DSLRs, yeah, my phone takes good enough digital pics for me most of the time.

I’ve got a few leads, C90s, VTX1800s, Vulcan 1500 and 1600s, and Roadstar 1700s. All fit the bill of being cheap, reliable, and something I wouldn’t feel bad about riding on salt. It’s been the better part of a decade since I owned a v-twin cruiser, but that is what I started out on. Might be fun for nostalgia reasons.

Now I’ve got some interesting stuff I’m keeping an eye out for too. I’d love to do the trek on a triple, so I’m keeping my eyes open for 1050 Sprints, and Tigers. Wouldn’t mind a Bonneville (for obvious reasons). Keeping my eye out for Honda VFRs and Ex-Sheriff BMWs also.

There’s also an Ural for sale pretty cheap right now... but taking a 1940's Russian motorcycle based on a 1930's German design on a 1600 mile road trip is crazy... right?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/30/2018 at 01:53

It is, stormbreak 2 to be exact. It’s fantastic. Sets up in minutes. Easily backpackable. Keeps out wind and rain no problem, but breathes very well and doesn’t get stuffy. Two decent sized porch/patio areas for storage and enough room inside to sleep two with room for more stuff. Zero regrets, would buy again. Found this one on sale from Dick’s sporting goods online for way cheaper than anywhere else, REI member discounts and sale included.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 01:57

Super frustrating.

I know nothing of photography, but the will certainly be excellent photo ops along the way.

How cheap are you looking? I saw some interesting options in a quick 5 minute search.

I think the only problem with the Ural would be lack of power. So obviously you will either need to busa swap it or turbo it. Then it’s all good. Brakes and suspension were about 80 years ahead of their time, so really you’ve got nothing to worry about with that option.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 02:11

I literally Lol’d at that!

Price wise, soft limit of $5k, but I’m pretty sure something that fits the bill will pop up around $3k. More important than price is that it is bottomed out depreciation wise. Ideally something I can buy in a month for “x”then turn around and sell at the end of summer for “still x” after adding a bunch of miles.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 02:21

Yeah I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that list of criteria.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 02:31

Obviously, I’m kind of drawn to the idea of getting something interesting... But “interesting” is usually code for fixing “interesting” things in the side of the road. Hence the predisposition, in this case, for fuel injection and Japanese origin.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 10:10

Fuel injection will also be very nice for the big changes in elevation.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 12:05

As much as I’d love to rejet twice on this trip. Oh, wait, that actually sounds terrible. NVM.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 15:02

But the old Harley guys say you should always have a little bag with a few different jets in it and that’s just part of riding!

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 16:12

Hmmm, fun. That Ural is getting more and more tempting :p

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 16:19

Norge!!! Or forget your metric requirement and get a Ulysses!!!

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 16:23

I’ve been looking at the Norge too. They seem, surprisingly reliable.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.... Buell... Hadn’t considered Buell. I hear part availability is starting to get a bit challenging

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 17:15

I was browsing with your criteria lady night and a Ulysses or two popped up. They look kind of cool and bonus because buells are cheap! Who needs parts anyways? You’re an engineer, just make some!

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 17:27

Heh, a pack of zipties should work, right?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 17:36

Maybe a pack of gum too!

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 18:12

Oh! And vicegrips! I don’t own, or intend to own, any SAE tools :p

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 18:32

That’s fine some metric stuff is close enough. Certainly within working tolerances for Haney engineers!

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 18:34

Awesome, I can just use my metric vicegrips then.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 20:30

Crescent wrenches and hammers are equally effective.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 20:50

Thanks

I used to do one camping trip a summer, but always car camping. When a friend asked about going backpacking this summer, i swung by ems. Its crazy how nice they are now (also crazy how much you can spend if go all in).

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/30/2018 at 21:25

So nice and so well designed! I really want a Tentsile tent, but those are really expensive. I remember tents when I was younger being nightmares to set up and they would all either leak or build up a ton of condensation on the inside but even an entry level name brand tent from an actual sporting goods store is a thousand times better today.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/30/2018 at 21:28

You mean pipe wrenches, right?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/30/2018 at 22:11

Hey whatever works! Even a hot wrench!

Did you get your panniers yet?

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/31/2018 at 00:45

Not yet! They were back ordered, so should ship this week.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters
05/31/2018 at 01:11

Exciting! You’re going to love them. I’m pretty sure I’ve exceeded what their designers ever intended but handling everything I throw at them without complaint.

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/31/2018 at 01:44

Very much excite! I was super impressed with the integration on yours. And if I never have to wear a backpack again on a motorbike it’s totally worth it.