[emrat:7058] Trip Report: August 1964

Bob Vermeulen’s trip report, plus the information from Jay Clawson about camping, sent me down memory lane for my first long-distance trip. . .

 

The bike: 1964 Honda Super 90, single-cylinder, 8 hp.

 

The ride: Manhattan KS to Stillwater OK, about 240 miles.

 

Duration: eight hours.  Yes, that works out to . . . 30 mph average with stops.

 

Weather conditions: hot, humid with a 40 mph wind out of the south.  I don’t think I ever got into 4^th gear.

 

Camping gear: Army surplus pup tent and sleeping bag.  Boy Scout rucksack and canteen.  Note homemade tent pole.

 

Incidents: hit in the head by a bird while wearing a pudding-style helmet and face shield.  I remember the bird’s innards dripping down across the face shield as I rode.

 

Conclusion: Buy a bigger bike!  Which was a 1965 Honda Superhawk, twin carbs and twin cylinders, 28 hp and top speed of 100 mph and which the following year I rode roundtrip from Manhattan KS to El Paso TX.  I never thought I would need a bigger, more powerful bike.

 

We all have to start somewhere . . . .

 

Dan