An Unlikely Pair- The 2007 Seneca Ride

[SamM]

On Saturday June 23rd, pumpkin and I took a nice little ride through the West Virginia countryside. We had decided earlier in the week that we needed a day away from the madness of work and our very loving families. Time away is as good thing, especially on a bike. It puts everything into perspective. We decided the bikes and the mountains would be a great escape. We had originally decided on a longer trip but reality set in and thankfully we didn't travel as far as we had first planned.

The Unlikely Pair are our bikes. My bike is a 2005 KTM Adventure S. This bike is called a big trailie. A name that is probably doesn't fit. As this bike doesn't see much trail use. She is big though but much too big for that!. It is a very high quality bike and I enjoy riding it. Pumpkin's bike is a 2006 American Lifan GY-5. The Lifan bikes from what I can see are a GREAT value for the entry fee required to get one. Pumpkin has had a few small issues with this bike but it has been VERY reliable transportation for him. My KTM has also been reliable, but... I too have had some issues. Right now, I'm waiting on parts from Austria for 3 recalls the bike currently has. The rear brake does not work and the tank vents need looked at. The front tire is also worn out. However, this ride report isn't about the KTM. It's more about the Lifan and how the Lifan kept up with the KTM, hence the name the Unlikely Pair! Sure, I could have run away from him at anytime because it's a 950 but the Lifan, like a trooper kept right up. I was VERY impressed with it's behavior on the highway. I took a leisurely pace, riding mostly between 40 and 65 mph. The Lifan was right behind me the whole time. In total we racked up over 275 miles and visited some great places. We started out at what we call the Top-Of-The-World. It's an emergency communications tower located not far from my home. We had to go back to my house, as I forgot my digital camera. :?

Here is a view from the top of... the Top-Of-The-World






After the Top-Of-The-World went rode to Grafton and hit Route 50 to Cool Springs Park. Route 50 is a classic West Virginia ride route. If you ever make it to WV and don't ride this road, it was a wasted trip for you! Seriously, it's a great road. We had lunch at the 1950's style diner/roadside rest stop/convience store/fruit stand. This place has personality and is a step back in time. This was a favorite stop for my family back in the 60's and 70's when we lived in Virginia. This was before the interstate made the trip shorter and not much fun for a carload of young boys. I believe, it was during these later interstate trips that me and my little brothers started hitting each other. Yep, I blame it all on the interstate system! :wink: I can still hear it. "Dad, tell him to stop touching me!" Dad's reply, "IF I STOP THIS CAR I'M GOING TO TOUCH ALL THREE OF YOU... REPEATEDLY!" 8O D'oh!


The bikes at Cool Springs. Pumpkin actually washed the Lifan just for this trip!


Our next stop was in Canaan Valley. As we were dropping down into the valley a large 450 lb. black bear ran across the road just in front of me about 40 yards out. This was actually the first bear that I have ever seen in the wild. My camera was the the glove box on the KTM, not that I could have got to it in time or anything. He was moving out! It was an awesome sight. As I said we stopped in Canaan Valley. Unfortunately, none of my pictures of the valley turned out for some reason. Next, we went to Seneca Rocks and fueled up at Harper's Store. Seneca Rocks is a popular eastern climbing spot and is very busy this time of year. I wish I would have taken more pictures. There were bikes everywhere!

A pic of Seneca Rocks.


More later!

[AZ200cc]

NICE!
Some great photos so far.

[FMYStreetRacer]

nice pics. i love your bike!

[ambassador]

Awsome, Great pics...
Want to hear your ride report when you do that trip with the Viva...

[SamM]

The Viva probably won't be called on to do this type of trip.

[pumpkin]

my only complaint about my lifan is what a hard seat. i would do it again in a heartbeat. SamM thanks for a great ride.

[madmaximum]

pumpkin, if you rode 275 miles, your seat must be like heaven compared to my Roketa seat!

[pumpkin]

nah! my dad believed spare the staff(or in my case belt) spoil the child. so i thank him and my bad ways as a kid for my iron butt.

[pumpkin]

i also stood up alot

[madmaximum]

I just mapped your town, you are 175 miles from me. I wonder how far away mdsuave is? Maybe we could get together for a ride sometime this summer

[SamM]

Here are the last of our trip pictures. After leaving Seneca Rocks we traveled down Route 33 and turned onto the road to Spruce Knob and Spruce Knob Lake. Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia. At around 4800' more or less it's not very high compared to many places in America. However, remember that our Appalachian Mountains are much, much older than the Rockies and have eroded over time much more than those mountains have.

Part of the way up Spruce Knob the road turns from paved to gravel. We traveled this road for probably close to 30 miles up to Spruce Knob and then over to Harman, WV. The KTM did well but was a handful in the loose gravel. Pumpkin had a much easiler time of it with the lightweight Lifan.

Here they are!

The valley near Seneca Rocks.


Seneca Rocks


A nice pic of Pumpkin and the bikes on Spruce Knob.


Spruce Knob


More of the view from Spruce Knob. You can see three different States from here.


Spruce Knob Lake


The bikes on the side of the road on Shavers Mountain.


On our next trip, I hope to get my camera out and take a few from the riding position. That way you can see more of the great views we have and the great roads. We have some of the best roads in the Nation. Many people don't know that.

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures and the trip report. We were gone most of the day and it was great fun. I was wornout by the end of the trip and I just wanted to get home and rest. Hopefully we get another ride in this summer and post some better pictures.[/list]