12 hours of riding

[solman]

2 Bandits and a V-strom rode approx 580 miles today.  Started out in Phoenix, road to Gila Bend, and then on to Tucson.  We then went to Sierra Vista, Brisbee, and then on to Tombstone.  After all that, we went back thru Tucson and back to Phoenix. 12 hours worth of riding and surprisingly enough, I wasn't totally exhausted as I thought I would've been.  I think that is the most miles that I have ever ridden in a day.

[gunz]

I went to Daytona on back roads and came home on slab, It was almost 700 there and  right at 600 coming back. No iron butt, but it was some fun riding anyhow.

[banditone1250s]

  I live  in Nashville, Tn and we go to Memphis often and we usualy go the slab on the way and do the back roads on the way back.. And that's just to eat lunch at ur favorite BBQ place...Banditone1250s.

[txbanditrydr]

Anything over 500 in a day is quite a feat in my book.  The most I've done is 540 but everything was clicking and more importantly the temperatures weren't too hot or too cold.  Could have ridden another 50 or so without complaint.

That said... there's been some 300 mile days that wore me out. 

[Truckracer]

I've done several  750 to 800 mile days on the Busa. Pretty comfortably.

The key for me is to ride shorter distances regularly before taking a long trip.

[LowRyter]

gawddd......I did about 550 that day we met up in Ark.  I think it was about 100 (+) in the heat of the day.  I needed that last stop & downed my water plus all of Dutch's Gatorade.  I didn't even see you when I passed you...i was looking for you at the motel.  Then I jumped in the pool & we got those frog's legs....good times. 

Anything over 500 in a day is quite a feat in my book.  The most I've done is 540 but everything was clicking and more importantly the temperatures weren't too hot or too cold.  Could have ridden another 50 or so without complaint.

That said... there's been some 300 mile days that wore me out. 

[Sven]

  I live  in Nashville, Tn and we go to Memphis often and we usualy go the slab on the way and do the back roads on the way back.. And that's just to eat lunch at ur favorite BBQ place...Banditone1250s.

What's your "favorite BBQ place"?

[banditone1250s]

    The name of the place, if my aging memory serves me correctly is "The Barbecue Shoppe on Madison Avenue. Does that make sense? That's the best that I can remember.Banditone1250s......

    There is a thin line between fear and respect...Feel free to cross it every now and then...

[Sven]

The name of the place, if my aging memory serves me correctly is "The Barbecue Shoppe on Madison Avenue. Does that make sense? That's the best that I can remember.Banditone1250s.

I couldn't find a reference to that in the online yellow pages.  Darn!

We have so many BBQ places in Memphis that we've sent more places to Nashville than the other way around.  Bar-B-Cuties came to Memphis and built a new place (customized to look like their Nashville place)...the service was good, the food was good, but they just couldn't beat the dozens of really good places we already had.

If you think of the name, I am still innersted, so I can try it next time I go up.

Before Preds games, we  have taken to eating at Ted's Montana Grill in the Vanderbuilt area.  I eat at Ted's in Atlanta and DC a lot, too.  The are a very moderately-priced restaurant that offers a more expensive-type experience.  Beautiful "clubby" design, very attentive service, and really good bison dishes.  I recommend it to anyone.  Try to the "short ribs" and the bison pot roast!

[banditone1250s]

    I was correct. I called my riding buddy (he's from Memphis) and asked him and I was correct. It was The Barbecue Shoppe of Memphis on Madison Avenue. You know you are close to it when the streets have the trolleys running through them. We went around to the back door and for a second or two I was sort of wondering if we should have been there at all.. Ha Ha Ha !!!!!! Any way the food is excellent, not very expensive at all. And any way, isn't it all about the ride any who????????/ Banditone1250s...

  There is a thin line between fear and respect....Feel free to cross it every now and then...

[Sven]

I was correct. I called my riding buddy (he's from Memphis) and asked him and I was correct. It was The Barbecue Shoppe of Memphis on Madison Avenue. You know you are close to it when the streets have the trolleys running through them. We went around to the back door and for a second or two I was sort of wondering if we should have been there at all.. Ha Ha Ha !!!!!! Any way the food is excellent, not very expensive at all. And any way, isn't it all about the ride any who????????

Oh, I misunderstood.  I thought you said you ate in Nashville, or somewhere between Nashville and Memphis which is why my reply above mentioned *going to nashville to eat* and *nashville restaurants*.  I getcha now.

I haven't eaten at the BQ Shop here in Memphis.  But I'll give it a try now that you recommend it.  Frankly, there are so many GOOD BBQ places here, it's hard to pick one...or three...or seven...as the best.  I judge by what the meat tastes like *without* sauce on it, and then by what they have as side items.  The more variety the better.  Next time you are here, try Three Little Pigs or Pig'n'Whistle.

Thanks for the recommendation.

[banditone1250s]

    Yeah, we are planning to go back down there in the spring and if all goes well maybe we can try one or maybe both of those places while we are there. We are planning Memphis in May and there should be plenty of it down there then.. You don't by any chance know the addresses of either of those places do you? I could plug it in to my GPS and it will ride me right there..Banditone1250s...

[Sven]

Yeah, we are planning to go back down there in the spring and if all goes well maybe we can try one or maybe both of those places while we are there. We are planning Memphis in May and there should be plenty of it down there then.. You don't by any chance know the addresses of either of those places do you? I could plug it in to my GPS and it will ride me right there

Well, as I said, I judge BBQ based on how the meat tastes before it has sauce, and the variety of side dishes.  So my top two recommendations are:

Germantown Commissary--located in an old general store next to the railroad tracks in the heart of historica Germantown.  Great onion rings, banana pudding is a must.  The website has hours, locations, etc.  http://www.commissarybbq.com

Three Little Pigs--Really ggod BBQ, make the best BBQ nachos.  Not as many side-dishes, but they do have breakfast.  Visit the website for info at http://www.threelittlepigsbar-b-q.com.

On the other hand, I have never been a real fan of the Rendezvous (downtown, across the street from the Peabody), but the readers of Southern Living magazine just voted it the best BBQ in the south.  Along with Corky's this is the place all the guidebooks send tourists to.  So I suppose I need to give it a fresh look.

However, if you've not tried Bigfoot Lodge (burgers and similar food), I recommend it.  Try the 4-pounds of beef Sasquach burger or the 17-scoop Yeti ice cream sundae!  There are alwasy a few motorcycles parked out front...we went there on New Year's Day.  See their menu and directions at http://www.bigfootlodge.net.

PM me next time you plan a ride down this way and we'll meet up.  Be great to see the big 1250, too!

[allan4169]

Many years ago I road from Canberra to Brisbane in Australia that was about 1,300 to 1,400 kilometers all in one go. I was riding a Suzuki GSX 750 back then. It took me about 14 hours and when I finally got home about 9pm I was falling asleep walking around to the back of the house. Interesting thing happened on the way home though. I was coming into a little town in the back of New South Wales ( I took the inland route up to Brisbane) and at every intersection before town there was cops everywhere. As I rode into town there wasn't a car in sight but all the townfolks were on the sidewalks like they were waiting for someone. So I proceeded to slowing ride down through the main street visor up, just wondering what in the hell was going on. Cops on every corner, really weird. So I kept going and eventually left the town but not a few miles later I passed a couple of cop cars. some unmarked cars, and a few Rolls Royse vechicles. Talked to my mother the next day and she said it was Prince Charles visiting a friend of his. So surreal. Nobody stopped me. It was so strange going through town as everybody was looking at this guy on a bike ride on by them. You never know what can happen riding in the back of nowhere.