~ A Legend called Road Star ~

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" ~ John Muir

My 2007 Yamaha Road Star below Mount Whitney.

Honestly, I do not know if I can ride 200 miles on my new 2007 Yamaha Road Star without wimping out. 

I do not want to call my wife and say, “Please bring our Toyota Tundra to the road, such and such, because I couldn’t make it.”  Those words ran through my mind several times before I realized I could make it.

My ride from Three Rivers to Pinnacles National Monument is only 275 miles but for me, an eternity.  Once I got here, I thought, OK I feel good, let’s go back.  And that is what I did on my first long-distance cross-country trip on my new 2007 Yamaha Road Star.   It was a 550-round trip taken in one day.  I felt like a real biker, or so I thought.

The Yamaha D&E mechanic told me when I bought my motorcycle, “These Road Stars are bulletproof, change the oil regularly and they will run forever.”  

I did not know what he meant by “forever” but I figured that was a long time and then some.  So I did what he suggested, I began to change my oil and oil filter about every 5,000 miles.  I’d also cleaned the air filter and that was about it.  At 5,000 miles, the bike ran flawlessly.  

I once had a friend who recorded 10,000 on his Yamaha 305cc.  In the day, that was considered a big deal.  And here I was half of his amazing accomplishment.  His name was Gene Christiansen and he was a good friend and the only guy I knew to ride 10,000 on his motorcycle.  A legend was born and this was the 60’s.  We took many trips together, mostly from our hometown in Barstow to Big Bear.  We loved to camp and soon we had several of us who rode the Yamaha 305cc.  We fondly called ourselves the “Yamaha Gang.”  Gene, without ever voting, was our leader.

From left to right, Robert Griego, Gene Christiansen, and John Lopez on Yamaha 305cc.
The original "Yamaha Gang."

Gene was reported missing in action in 1968 in a faraway place called Vietnam.  His riding days were over.  Yet, he was still our leader.

I do not ride a mile without thinking about him. 

OK, back to my Yamaha Road Star.

I now have 20,000 miles on my Yamaha Road Star and I love it.  I have taken several trips out to New Mexico and ventured out to Utah several times.  I travel light and almost always take the back or slow roads.  I camp lightly on the land and rarely take a tent on my journeys.  I sleep on the ground and usually have a small fire by my camp.  My camp is usually on USFS or BLM land and rarely see other campers.  I love to look up at the stars and offer my thanks for the trip, and I always, thank my motorcycle for the journey.  My sleeping bag is normally a few feet from my bike and looking up at the night stars always puts me to sleep.

The miles keep rolling by and my mind continues to wander.  I once took a trip to Sturgis and experienced some major rain and hail along the way.  Soon my sister Paula asked, “What is it like out there.”  So without any meaningful intentions, I began to record my trips on paper with a few pictures to spice it up and I told her about the hail bouncing off my helmet.  "How did you keep the hail from hurting you? She asked.  It is hard to explain to someone like her, but you simply ride through it. Soon, I began to get the same questions, “Where are you going next?”  They seem to want to hear about my trips which to me were only miles across our country.  More letters and more pictures.  Even now, I see the miles rolling past in the back of my mind. 

That was the beginning of MyMotorCyclesTales --  a blog about my motorcycle trips.  At the time, I did not even know what a blog was.

Once on a trip out to Abo Ruins in New Mexico, my brother-in-law asked, “How many miles Robert?”  “80,000” rolled off my tongue without much thought.  He offered me a tarp for my travels which came in useful near Pie Town in a horrendous New Mexico rainstorm.  Honestly, I was shocked by my answer of 80,000 miles.  I had not really thought about it much as I was riding past El Morro National Monument.  By now, I had changed my oil and oil filter many times.  I also changed the spark plugs every 16,000.  I changed my tires about every 10,000 miles until I found out about the Michelin Commander II tires which lasted 24,000 miles.  Unheard of on motorcycle tires but true.  Oh yes, I needed a new battery along the way.  I always calculate my MPG and that has come in very useful in some tight spots where gas stations were sparse.

 

80,000 miles on my 2007 Yamaha Road Star.

On a trip back from Sturgis, the odometer read 99,995 miles.  How can this be, I told myself?  As I watched my odometer roll past 99,999 miles, I pulled over near Tehachapi, California for a picture.  I once told myself, “When you hit 100,000 miles it is time for a new motorcycle.”  I kept this thought for another 20,000 miles when I began to seriously look at a replacement for my Road Star.   It is very hard to let go of something that has brought you so much joy.  A legend for sure.

 

100,000 miles on my 2007 Yamaha Road Star.

I was shocked to find out from D&E Yamaha that Yamaha was no longer making the Road Star 1700cc.  If they were, I would, without a doubt, buy another.  Recently, I found out that Yamaha is rolling out its 2018 Star Venture.  I might just have to go take a look at it when it rolls into town.

This is when I began to seriously look over the new motorcycles on the market to continue with my trips across America.  I looked at the Harley-Davison Road King and the Indian Springfield.

Decisions are hard with such quality, reputable motorcycles. 

I am now approaching 135,000 miles as I find myself test-riding the 2017 Indian motorcycles – I focus on the cruiser.  The Thunder Stoke 111 is now running beneath me and I’m excited to ride this demo motorcycle at the Hollister Motorcycle Rally.  Actually, it is a 2017 Indian Springfield at the Power Sports Dealer in Hollister. 

135,000 miles on my 2007 Yamaha Road Star.

Today, I will test ride five different Indian Motorcycles in a short three hours.  I pull towards the Indiana Springfield.  I feel this could be my next motorcycle but we’ll see.  Smooth.  6^th gears.  Thunder black.  Thunder stroke 111.  I can’t wipe off the smile on my face even if I tried.

The Indian Springfield has an 1811cc engine built by Polaris.  I love the hard saddlebags and how the lines of their saddlebags flow.  Smooth.  I could see myself on these motorcycles, and then some.

It is then that I look over to my Yamaha 1700cc Road Star sitting ready for me to fire it up.   The doubt crosses my mind.  “How can you let go of a motorcycle that has taken you 135,000 miles?”

My motorcycle has no feelings says the manufacturer, but I sense differently.  There were countless times when I shouted, “Pull me out of this, and I will be forever grateful.”  In my most difficult moments, my bike pulled through.  In ten years and 135,000 miles, it never once faltered.  It was always there ready for me to ride.   A legend was born.

This is a personal moment for me, but important to share.  

It has allowed me to fulfill my dream; my mantra – “The Wind, the Open Road, and my Motorcycle.”

Robert Griego with my Yamaha Road Star at 135,000 miles.

Today is a for my 2007 Yamaha Road Star.  An awesome motorcycle.  Tomorrow is a new day.  We'll see what it brings.  

Right now, I'm getting ready for another ride out to Zion National Park in Utah and Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

Stayed tuned.