Just recently I was lucky enough to obtain a 2001 Suzuki SV650s (Blue) model and soon was asked to join a few other riders for trip to Knoxville, Tenn. for the Honda Hoot event and for a week of riding through the Smokies and of course the legendary Deals Gap. I decided to join as it was an offer I couldn't resist.

But as I had just gotten into motorcycling, I needed some gear for the ride. So I spent many hours comparing locals dealer prices and prices on the net and over a month period had obtained all the gear I had needed (almost). I had a had tail pack that was bought for carrying things around town when needed but knew it was not enough storage space for a week travel. So after considering adding tank bag, buying a backpack, or adding saddle bags to my ride... I decided to get the saddle bags as they offered most storage area plus I was able to find a nice set made for sport bikes in the color I wanted. Someone with a small buissness on ebay was selling these nice Nelson-Riggs bags for $79. Then I decided to get a rain suit as weather was looking mighty bleak for that week of travel. I decided to go to my local dealer for these so I could check size and hold. I ended up buing a nice jacket and pant suit made by Techniks that worked well for the $39 price. They even had stirrups for pants legs to keep from rising up and jacket had a velcro flap that covered zipper to help prevent leaks and kept zipper from scratching the tank. Also had wanted a little more rider protection in case of a spill so I opted to get the Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket (mesh textile with armour) which was very comfotable with exception of the little vinyl tethers that are added to main zipper for easy grap. I was a little annoyed as it flapped in the window a bit much. Also, added a Suzuki gel seat purchased for $99 that prooved to be nice idea. The seat takes out much of the vibration and adds much more comfort but it may not be as comfortable as the Corbin seats but still better than stock seat.

Trip ended up being only three riders including a Honda Magna, Honda Goldwing, and myself on the 01 SVs. With rain gear packed away in saddle bags, 5-6 days worth of clothing, a towel, a tooth brush and other bathroom nescessities, and a minidisc player, we start our journey on interstate 75 south. Within the first hour of travel, we run into a downpour and pull off side of road to jump into rain gear. This is where I realize my first mistake in my gear list. I had neglected to bring rain boots of some variety. So, I throw the pants on and throw the jacket over top my Joe Rocket Pheonix jacket. We are back on the road in a matter of minutes splashing our way through the steady rain for about 35 minutes and finally get a break. So as rain lifts and sky looks less threatening, we stop for gas and remove rain gear. My high-top tennis shoes now soaked... I realize I must get rain protection for feet when chance becomes available.

Back on the road, the rain has lifted and I start to dry out. The rain gear had been removed during lunch break and still riding with Joe Rocket mesh jacket. It isn't long however, when we pull over once more off I-75 as the rain begins to pour once again. The temperature drops after the last rainfall and the air cools so I leave the rain suit on for remainder of the trip into Knoxville, TN. Once at our destination, I remove bags and inspect. The saddle bag over muffler had dropped a bit over the ride and was resting on the canister. Surprisingly there was no damage to the material of the bag. The Nelson-Riggs bags are very heat resistant. Plus they hold an a very large amount of gear as I find out later when I expand bags and add 2 cans of spray, rubber boots, and a leather jacket.

After resting after from the Monday ride, Tuesday we head for the Honda Hoot location. We find the park and note the layout. Then we head for Pigeon Forge area. The traffic in Pigeon Forge is horrible. This is not the place to come for a cruise because of the relentless bumper to bumper traffic. We find the road that leads up through the Smokies Park area and decide to investigate. Another mistake as lots of traffic with many people stopping traffic to see animals such as bears. I never got bike past second gear during the several mile journey up and down a hill at speeds no faster than 20mph. I just don't think SVs were ever meant to travels that slow for such long perioids lol. This was a workout on the arms as I was almost always pushed forward near the tank from the engine braking or rear foot brake taps. This is where the Corbin seat would have been a bit more comfortable as it has a shape that helps keep rider from sliding forward as much. My most memorable thought from the Smokies was "What is that smell, is that my bike?". Due to always being held up by traffic... I remember smelling cooked brakes from the cars in front of us riding their brakes rather than downshifting their automatic transmissions. It was a funny thought as I hardly ever touched brakes and just rolled off the throttle as needed. Not the most exciting day really. I did learn that my chain was rusting when I finally got down the mountains during a rain storm. Apparently the chain lube I used last (blue label PJ1) washed off from the several storms I had traveled through previously and my chain was singing like a bird on the way down the Smokies. I pull over for fuel at a nearby gas station as I was reaching 95 miles (I get 110-140 normally depending on the riding). While inside the station, I look at their oil. I really needed something to put on chain because of the severe orange rust look I had seen upon inspecting after fuel up. It is then I spot 3 and 1 oil. I remember using this for lots of things. I look and it states that it helps prevent rusting. So I decide to go with a bottle of this. I apply to all visible parts of chain outside generously. Then we head back home still in the rain. I notice the chain is much quieter now and even looks better upon arrival 30 miles later when we arrive at the loaned home in the eve. My buddies even note the chain looked better.

The next day was the Honda Hoot. I bring my saddle bags with rain gear as skies looke gloomy and unpredictable once again. I also consider the fact that I may make a purchase or two and need some luggage room anyways. When I arrive, the lot is just beginning to fill with motorcycles. It was a good mix many styles of rides with a majority maybe going to the Goldingers. We spend aboujt 30-40 minutes in lines just to get registered and enter the park

As we finally enter, vendors begin greeting you and asking to see there wares. I quickly realize that some vendors are just individuals trying to market their custom parts and some are businesses selling a variety of goods. I note a vendor with some nice rubber pull-over boots for $25 close to the entrance. I make a mental note on this. Quickly I see another vendor selling gloves and at a cheaper price than I get online. I make another mental note. Then bam... again I run into another vendor with leather jackets for just $99. I inspect and find one in the color and size I like. It had a pair of front and back ventilation zippers, a zip out lining, mesh liner behind that, a neck warmer, zippered sleeves, inside pockets and 2 outside pockets. Its a heavyweight jacket probably 1.4mm or thicker and seems worth the price so I immediately purchase but leave with them for pickup later. I notice another vendor selling same jackets for $60 more than I had paid once I get outside the registration building.

I walk by the Honda tent and was amazed how the Sponsor's vendor tent was so small and so packed with items. This was not a place to visit if closterphobic because the tents become elbow to elbow with only single walkways and loads of Honda items. I just had to take advantage of their sale on Honda Cleaner in spray can. That stuff works wonders for a quick clean up on a bike or car. See several vendors selling just custom Honda Goldwing accessories and some selling a variety of aftermarket parts. Its not long I pass a vendor selling progressive springs and I stop again. I ask if they have a set of springs for my SV. Luckily they have one set with them... I ask for the price. A lady quotes me $125 installed. It is then I met a guy affiliated with the vendor who also has an SV. He shows me his ride and noted how he like them. He notes that I should get preload caps from an '02 model and put on my '01 with the springs. I decide to have the springs done and they book me for a 3:30 spot. I continue my walk around the park.

Its only about a few minutes of browsing my interest is caught by the sound of a very small engine being revved. Then I happen to walk up on a guy in leathers who hops on a pocket rocket bike and was taking it for a spin around the first two aisles. Kinda funny to watch but then again I also wanted to try it like a big kid. I stop by a tent and watch a guy preparing a saddle bag for cutom airbrush work. Suddenly I am remembering my airbrush kit that sits at home never used since doing a jacket after college. Ideas start running through my mind and now a custom paint job is stuck in my mind.

I run into one of riding buddies who just returned from a demo ride and we walked back to the lot. So I could get my bike to drop off for the fork job. The lot was now almost full of motorcycles and many people were browsing the different rides in the lot. They stared in amazement at the various models from all over the US. Soon I ride back to the vendor with my appointment and leave bike for service. I then continue browsing the other vendors. I was able to fetch my recent leather jacket that was purchased earlier and store it in my saddle bags thanks to their great exapnability. I was a bit worried leaving so much stuff unattended in bags without security but didn't want to carry bags all around with me either so I left them with bike as they had sat in parking lot. Its then I learn from my riding buddy that Honda had started new rule with their demos rides. He had been signed up for a ride when Honda rep told him he was disqualified for not having over-the-ankle shoes or boots. None of the other manufacturers demo rides asked for this so it was a bit odd especially comsidering one of their leaders was wearing only low cut tennis shoes on the rides. Its not long we gather for free ice cream as people gather for a demonstration put on by some local police motorcyclists. We watch for a few minutes and decide to call it a day as we had covered the whole event.

The following day, Thursday, we leave Knoxville and head for Deals Gap at route 129. Most of the trip I rode wither second or last in the pack behind the Magma and Goldwing but they tell me to take the lead once we reach 129 as I would be the faster of the three in the twisties. So I lead and take a nice brinsk pace. Soon I get into a few tight turns. My pace is quick but not really as fast I could have gone as I was carrying 50 lbs. in my saddle bags and was still getting used to new fork springs. After first 5-10 tight turns, I soon get my groove and quickly I arrive behind another SV rider. He gives me the wave to pass as he is traveling a bit slower pace than I so I gladly pass as I find safe area. Soon I jump behind a sport tourer of some make. He waves for me to pass too but it was too hard to find nice spot to pass as we just entered the tightest area of the Gap and I just settle right behind him as he was very close to my original pace anyhow. I focus more on the technique as I am not pushing as hard. Finally I exit the twisties and arrive at the Resort/Gas Station/Gift Shop at the junction to 128. I pull over and admire the mass of bikes. Soon the rider I had passed and my other riding partners come down the hile and park also. My arms burned as if I had been lifting weights but its was a nice burn because I new I had conquered and rode quiet well, one the most challenging roads on the east coast. What a rush and sense of accomplishment. I park and remove my gear. Its then I notice all the really cool bikes from ohers around such as a RC-51 with nice exhaust, GSXr600, a few CBRs, a couple of other SV's, a few older bikes and a couple cruisers. Its not long before I get someone checkin out my ride... I think it might have been the other SV rider I had passed. He checks out the custom cut dark smoke windscreen I had. Before we leave I go in and grab a shirt for a souvenier. Still glad I had room in saddle bags as shirt was squeezed in.

Then we decide to head off down 128 towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. 128 prooved to be nice ride as it allowed us to open it up a bit more with the long sweeping curves. And a hop and a skip later we are heading up the mountains on the BRP. Anther nice ride with constant radius sweepers that were a blast traveling at 50-60mph. The temp dropped 20 degrees as we climbed and it wasn't long before we stopped and added rain gear for warmth. You could feel the lack of air in the carbs as we near the highest point. Bikes felt just a little sluggish. We stop at a couple of points once meetings a couple of guys on cruisers (one with really rusted chain) who were admiring the landscape at an overlook.

After riding a portion of the BRP... we head to Ashville, NC. We spend the night in a Quality Inn after a Renaissance Hotel wanted to rent us a really small office with no beds and couch for $79 a night. What a joke. The next morning we head up route 23 back towards Ohio. Route 23 was nice cruise at 75mph with very wide roads and perfect pavemnt that carve through many mountains making gorgeous scenery. We had planned to stop for another night but we are making such good time and the such nice weather... we ride straight through to Ohio. Yes it was a bit tiring as I am guessing about 400-500 miles but I used a throttle rocker and spent much time laying on the tank and sometimes one handed. It was only in my home state I almost have an accident. I was last in pack of 3 riders and we were stopped in traffic on route 41 and I notice red Dodge Durango coming up fast. They locked up the brakes and stopped just a couple feet from my rear wheel. Scared the piss out of me as I look back and see a lady with what looked like a family sitting there. I throw up a finger and as traffic had just taken off... gun the bike around second place rider and jump behind leader for rest of way home. The red Durango then came up on us again as lady must had been doing 80mph+ to have caught us. I would have thought her unattentive driving that almost hit me some miles back would have spooked her as it did me but apparently not. We pulled off for gas and she passed. Of the whole 1300+ mile trip... that was the only time I thought I was in trouble and might get hurt.

After getting home, I must have slept for around 8 hours on the couch. During the ride, I learned that a good "sticky" chain lube is really needed if riding in the rain and I learned a lot about riding in a group as well as just building my confidence on a bike. This SV was my first bike and had just put 4000 miles on it before this ride. Now, I come home to the same back roads I learned to ride on near my city and I can tackle them with utmost ease and none seem near as demanding or challenging as what I encountered on the trip. Now I contemplate the idea of moving south for easy access to that motorcycle playground.