Americade 2009

[GreatWhiteHunter]

I'm going again this year, first week in June. Plan the same sort of thing. Demo rides and hit the expo.

Who's with me?

[lakeaffect]

So what is this Americade all about

[GreatWhiteHunter]

It's a gathering of all things motorcycle in Lake George, NY.

Here's a link - Americade 2009

[Adirondack Man]

It is a great time.  I do not know what day I will be making it down there, but I will hit it for at least one day.

[2008RenegadeX]

Is this a day trip or a weekend trip?

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Is this a day trip or a weekend trip?

Americade starts on Monday and goes through Sunday so you could really do it any way you wanted. I have that week off so I'll go up during the week when the traffic isn't so congested. Being there on the weekend will afford you the best ability to see the most bikes, but that also means the longest lines. It's worth seeing at least once and even if you can only go for one day. That many bikes in one place is just cool.

[2008RenegadeX]

i might be intrested in a day ride but i can't make much more than that because of working. Crazy work always gets in the way of having fun.

[GreatWhiteHunter]

I'm back. Wow, what a week. People, bikes, bikes, more bikes, some FANTASTIC roads and a moose later and I'm stoked that I went.

First things first, the demos. I rode a total of 4 bikes and passed on two more (didn't make the scheduled time for departure). The bikes I rode, in order:

KTM 690 Enduro



Kawasaki Concours 1400



KTM 990 Adventure



Yamaha FJR1300



The 690 made me believe that I will skip the DRZ400 that I was thinking about buying and just get the KTM instead. The 990, well, it was sweet, but it didn't offer me anything that I don't already have in my Strom. I wouldn't take the $14000 KTM off-road any more that I take my Strom, so what's the point? The Connie, well, it has a sweet motor and drive-train but damn, you have to be a midget to be comfortable! The FJR was smooth, fast, handled better than the Connie (IMHO) and was BORING. Boring to look at, boring to sit on and just plain BLAH. I like a bike with character and my Strom redlines higher to boot! Yeah baby!

That's about the best I can do for reviews. I was only interested in comparing the bikes to what I currently ride (with the exception of the 690) and I found that I already have the best ride, for me. So, that made it worthwhile. Fun too. Talking with other folks about their thoughts/feelings about the bikes makes you think and that's always worthwhile.

There was this one thing that happened. On the way back on the Kaw demo, this trike blasted through our group (we were turning left into the ranch, he was turning right, leaving) he lost it and went right through our group! No idea what happened, just that he ended up in the ditch on the opposite side of the road. He went right between me and the Connie behind me. Luckily the guy behind me stopped and was missed. I have no idea how close he got to the bike I was on and don't care. Some people have NO business on anything, three wheels or not.

I'll post some pix that I took later. You might find them a little boring as most of them are bikes! 

[JoeR]

Nice report.  I'm going to have to make it out there for one of those eventually.  I had a lot of buddies ride out for a day or two.  Last time I was there was 19 years ago!
Holy CRAP! I'm getting old.

Joe

[Phantom]

690 KTM is sweet... If I was in the market for a bigger bike that would be on my short list. Service intervals on the Euro machines (as well as cost) keep me away though. I like the Japanese way of doing things... add fuel and ride.

[GreatWhiteHunter]

690 KTM is sweet... If I was in the market for a bigger bike that would be on my short list. Service intervals on the Euro machines (as well as cost) keep me away though. I like the Japanese way of doing things... add fuel and ride.

They're supposed to be getting better, but I'm not sure how much. I thought I knew the retail on the 690 when I made the above post but I was a little off (in my head that is). You can buy 3 DRZ's (used of course) for the price of that 690! I just can't justify that, no matter how nice it was.

Oh well, it was still fun to ride. 

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Here are some of the bikes that I came across...













The FJR that I rode...



The 690...





All the KTM's...



As always, more available here ==>LINKY<==

[Adirondack Man]

Nice pics!  Did not make it down to Americade this year, but vtprairie, and I, are doing a day trip to Laconia, NH on Sunday.  I have never been to that gathering.  I hear it is a bit wilder than Americade.  I am looking forward to finding out. 

[Thefox]

Again I did not make it, maybe next year.  I did get close again though; I rode to Vermont the weekend before and cam back through Lake George so I got to chat with some people as they were headed in for the week. 

GWH, I am surprised at your description of the FJR, I have heard they are a nice bike and do a decent job of bringing "sport" riding to a touring bike.  As for the Kawi, that seems to be what I hear about it as well, the new generation being a better bike but still not there.  My brother just bought an 06 Honda ST, one of those 3 bikes will probably be the replacement to my XJ some year down the road.  Test riding is one of the main reasons I want to get to an event like the Americad.

[GreatWhiteHunter]

GWH, I am surprised at your description of the FJR, I have heard they are a nice bike and do a decent job of bringing "sport" riding to a touring bike.

In all honesty, I think it was just me. I really think that I wanted to be "blown away" by the sport tourers. I believed them to be so much better at being sporty while providing that long distance capability. Better that is than the v-twin that I'm currently riding. I believed the Strom to be a compromise on sportiness so that it could get some of the "dual-sport" features/benefits. What I found was that the Strom is not a compromise at all. My Strom is right at 100hp (now), has a serious red-line, some rather nice suspenders and some super sticky tires. It's taller than the two sport tourers mentioned above but damn, there are no compromises! Unless you consider a ~130mph top speed a compromise. For me, it's not.

What happened to me was the phenomena of too much reading. Reading stories, bench marks, tests, owner reports, etc. I let all that lead me to believe that these two bikes were so amazing at what they do (and they probably are, don't get me wrong) that I would instantly see just how amazing they are. I just didn't see it. Then again, it's not like I got off a Harley and then onto one of these, that would have been a major difference for sure. Instead, I came from a bike that, with what it comes with stock combined with the enhancements I have made, is one hell of a sporty-tourer and just so happens to meet and exceed every want/need I have for sporty and/or long distance riding and then some. Not to mention how much money I still have in my pocket when you compare costs.

Now, having said all that. If Suzuki were to make the Strom a 1200 and shaft drive, well, I'd upgrade in a hurry! That or a Kawasaki Versys 1200 with that shaft final drive from the Connie, hell yeah!

There has to be one more, right?