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rdsmith3 wrote:

ebiker wrote:.....The Harley Davidson Experience continues in Pennsylvania.

IOn Tuesday, I head into Pennsylvania's Anthracite coal country for a few days, then New York state for Finger Lake Rally.

More to come....

Ed..

Did you ride Route 209 (?) through Jim Thorpe PA down to Pottsville (home of Yuengling Brewery, America's oldest)? There are some nice roads out in that part of PA.

I was staying in the Collegeville/Trappe area, so I rode Rt73 to Rt61, then Rt443, Rt143, Rt309, and I-81 into Wilkes-Barre. It was a nice ride in very light rain!

Wilkes Barre Hooters had a "Tuesday Bike Night" near my Motel, so I rode on over to take a peek. Quite a few bikers were impressed with my GL1800's mileage and that I was on a 7,000 mile trip. A few BMW and Gold Wing riders were REALLY impressed. Several HD riders would only comment with:"Hummph"

Upon leaving W-B a few days later, I took a slow ride up thru Red Rock, Dushore, Towanda and into New York. There was no rain....that came later.

The Finger Lakes BMW Rally had rain all thru Saturday and part of Sunday. It seems that Ernesto was in town and didn't even pay a rally fee, either. Attendance was down a bit due to heavy rain, but I'm used to rain at a BMW rally. The FLR BMW rally is one of only a handfull that I try to attend each year.

The Harley Davidson Experience continued.....

I visited a couple of HD dealers in my ride into New York state and upon on my return ride to Arizona. Although I was riding a Gold Wing, most of the HD dealers thanked me for stopping into their store. Gee wizz, I don't recall ever being thanked by a BMW dealership!

Things I noticed on my 7,000 mile ride across country....

1). Most Interstate highways need repair and are traveled by idiots who don't believe in giving up the left lane. (Truckers are the exception)

2). Young female drivers talking on a cell phone should be required by law to drive only in the truck lane. They are a menace to other motorists in any other lane.

3). Arkansas Interstate roads are still crappy. Pennsylvania Turnpike is next on bad surface list. Nicest four lane roadway were Kentucky's parkways.

4). US two lane roads, IMHO, offer the best way for a motorcyclist to travel the country. The roads are in better condition, there is less cager traffic---you'll make better time and you can experience America as it really is.......or was, depending on your age. However, avoid US40 in Ohio and US30 in Pennsylvania due to urban sprawl.

5). The GL1800 Garmin GPS unit is sometimes useless due to sun glare and an inability to pan the screen while on the move. A good paper map is still necessary. (Tank bag with map pocket on the Wing would help, too---hello Honda)

6). If you own a Shoei Syncrotec helmet, go out and hold that helmet firmly in your hands and with a 10-cent coin tighten the screws that hold the chin piece onto the helmet. Don't ask me why, but let's just say the state of Kentucky has another loose screw lying around.

7). A BMW three season jacket with the enclosed rain cover and warm liner was all I needed for the trip.

Finally, Anti Monkey But powder works as advertised. Nuff said.

More to come....

.....The Harley Davidson Experience continues today as I laboriously scraped off 7,000 miles worth of dried BUGS from the GL1800, before switching over to the FLTRI. A good washing with liquid Dawn, followed by Honda Polish/Cleaner seemed to remove most dead insects. I'll get the rest some other day. (Procrastination is a wonderful thing, eh)

Looked underneath the Harley....hmmm, no oil spots on garage floor. Checked oil level....yep, got oil. Inserted funny looking key, switched on ignition and hit the starter button. Twin-Cam 88 fired right up!! After over a month and a half just sitting in the garage, it started. No flickering ABS light to contend with---no ABS. And nothing rattled loose. But it sure doesn't sound like a Gold Wing or a BMW.

I'll be hitting the Arizona roads this weekend with the HOG Chapter, probably to the tune of 300 or so miles.

More to come, as Ed adjusts to throbbing effects of the Milwaukee Vibrator. (Ah, but the female passengers love it)

Is it just me but I keep thinking Village People?

Just me I guess.

YMCA.....................

gregor wrote:Is it just me but I keep thinking Village People? Just me I guess. YMCA.....................

Eh?? Oh, I guess that was an attempt at British humor..

Anyway....

The Harley Davidson Experience continues Sunday morning 24th, to begin a ONE day 500 mile "leather butt" ride on my FLTRI with the local H.O.G. chapter. (if I can get my lazy a$$ up in time)

Some time late Sunday I'll file a complete report on number of HD bikes that broke down, or lost critical parts while on the run. Be interesting to see how many HD riders show up for the 500 mile ride!!

Sooooo, you lovers of fine German engineered motorcycles, stay tuned!

ebiker - some of us German-engineered machine lovers appreciate Milwaukee iron. With Japanese electronics, Harleys have gotten pretty darned reliable. It's the stuff made in Detroit I tend to steer clear of...

Glad you're enjoying your HD. I've been happy with mine.

.....The Harley Davidson Experience continued Sunday morning at 7 when I met 11 other happy souls for the start of a 500 mile ride thru south central Arizona.

First, and let me get this out of the way..... There are ideal ways to ride a motorcycle 500 miles or more within a short period of time. Doing it with a group of other riders of questionable riding experience on urban and suburban two lane roads, IMHO, should be suggested only by those who delight in feeling mental and/or physical pain along with a constant feeling of frustration. Now when I ride a motorcycle, I do not remain planted in one lane position, I move around in my lane, which I believe makes me more noticable to oncoming traffic and to vehicles behind me. I imagine cagers looking at me and thinking:"Why the f*ck is that motorcyclist moving around in his lane, let's keep some distance from him". Perhaps this goofy lane maneuver of mine has never prevented a crash, but it IS a decades-long habit that I cannot break. However, I feel it may frustrate other motorcycle riders ahead or behind me, therefore I always ride alone.

Ok...12 Harley Davidson "baggers" consisting of three road glides, two heritage softtails, one Porsche designed V-ROD (required German content) with HD Beetle bags and several Ultra glides started out from Tucson and got about 50 miles when two Ultras dropped out. One with electrical problems and the other rider with passenger who couldn't "keep up". Temperature was in the high 50's might have been a reason.

No other mechanical problems were reported as we made the 491 mile ride in about 11 hours to include around two hours for lunch and assorted pit stops. No oil leaks, no broken or dropped parts and no need for a pickup truck towing trailer!

At speeds of 50-55MPH, my Road Glide delivered 53-57MPG much to my amazement.

On the subject of riding comfort, I believe the Road Glide stock seat was designed by the same mad German inventor who thought out motorcycle seat plans for the BMW K100RS and K1100RS. Between bouts of insanity he might have also designed the German "Seitz Bath" as a way of relief for BMW's long distance riders.

Sunday evening, the Seitz Bath gave me some relief, while I asked myself if I would again ride 500 miles with the H.O.G. chapter.

I don't believe anyone cares to know the answer......?

Pairing up in one lane scares me to death! I get HD riding in groups doing that all the time! I always take the utmost rear, or lead bike in those crowds.

I want my OWN lane thank you!

When you're in a group ride with people that understand how to hold a stagger formation, it isn't that big of a deal.

fnfalman wrote:When you're in a group ride with people that understand how to hold a stagger formation, it isn't that big of a deal.

We were riding "staggered lane" on Sunday and I was at tail end. (My safest position, I feel) In past years I've attended Philadelphia area FOP sponsored Police Survivor Rides. I rode my K100RS among upwards of 14,000 other motorcycles, so I know the pitfalls of being in a group ride. My problem on Sunday was being stuck behind a novice rider who would suddenly change speed. (Rather have him ahead of me than behind me) A group maneuver which really pi$$ed me off was riders ahead of me "SLOWLY" passing another vehicle on a two lane road, which a few times left me out in harms way!! Novice rider did the same slow passing moves on four lane roads which had cagers crawling up my a$$. When I pass a vehicle, I move out and move on!! I just completed a 7,000 mile cross country round trip with less sweat.

NOPE, in the future I'll ride alone!

BTW, I saw a blue colored 2007 K1200LT. Beautiful fit and finish, by far tops the HD and the Honda GL1800. Was told by dealer (Iron Horse) for 2007 BMW has discontinued the "servo assist" brake gizmo on all bikes, except the KLT. Took the Germans five years to realize that "power brakes" on a motorcycle was a mistake.

I feel your pain about the group ride deal. I don't do group rides unless it's with a few people that I trust. They either pass traffic too damn slow like you said or go willy nilly every stinking where. Not to mention blocking traffic and get the cagers irated.

The only big group ride that I do nowadays is the annual Toy Ride. It's a charity event that generates toys for needy children during Christmas times.

.......The Harley Davidson Experience continues as I attended a HD gathering thursday night at a local watering hole just outside Tucson. The usual "suspects" were there: a few spit & polish "trailer queens" just uncovered from a dark garage for a short ride, a couple of multipainted custom bikes that look to me like a "Rolling Easter Egg", one black color German designed motored V-Rod and several daily commuters: the bug splattered, high mileage, dust covered baggers----next to where I parked my Road Glide.

I got to talking with the local HD dealer sales manager who admitted to taking in several BMW motorcycles as trades for new Harley's. He said one tradein was a K1200LT. (Local "wit" sitting next to me remarked that wasn't a good trade...."a light truck for a tractor".) HD sales manager was NOT amused!!

After some food and a mug of Guiness, I departed with the group, except I headed for the Interstate to let the Road Glide stretch it's legs. Very light traffic on I-10, so I cranked the TC-88 up to about 105MPH and began to enjoy the superb handling of the frame mounted fairing, when suddenly that black color V-ROD flew by me in the left lane like a freight train passing a bum! Not to be seen again.

IMHO, Harley Davidson must install that Porsche designed motor into the touring line for 2008.

And scr*w those Harley nuts who are thrilled with the "potato-potato" sound.

....more to come.....

ebiker - to be honest with you, I think the V/Street Rod motor sounds better. I test rode a Street Rod in the summer of '05 and loved it. It actually vaguely reminded me of my SV650 in that it felt like a low, long version of it.

ebiker --

Thanks for writing about your adventure.

Like many others, I also ride with some Harleys. I too enjoy being at the end of the line during our rides up north. Well, except when I know some curves are coming then it's off to the races; I do wait for them to pass when the run is over so I can take my position at the end of the line. BTW -- my HD friends understand that I need to exercise my boxer during the ride The other group I ride with are very experienced BMW riders; I ride alone all of the other times

ProductUser

I traded my Dyna Glide for an R1150R on the spot the first time I rode one. Best thing I ever did.

Maybe a week after I got my BMW, I was having coffee one Sunday morning where the bikers in my small Western Massachusetts town hung out. Most of them were friends, and a lot of them were giving me a bit of generally good-natured ribbing about my defection from the Harley fold. But one guy, who I hadn't met before, was making disparging comments about my new Beemer. I didn't pay much attention to him as he challenged me to race (I didn't think that happened much after high school) and decided to head out. At the first light, the dude pulled up in the lane next to me and started loudly revving the motor on his Dyna Glide Sport. Obviously, he wanted to force the issue.

The light turned green and he opened up that sucker. And it stalled. I just smoothly accellerated away. He was still at the light when I lost sight of him.

The Harley Davidson Experience continues with 5,000 miles on my 2006 Road Glide (FLTRI). No oil leaks, no oil burning, no broken parts, no factory RECALLS, in fact there are no problems of any kind. I have NOT installed the "Screaming Eagle Stage one" kit. I believe the TC88 is fine as it came from the factory with stock air cleaner and stock mufflers. Next week I'll have the 5K service performed.

The following link will take you to a project bike....a HD V-ROD, turned into a touring motorcycle....

http://www.partsmag.com/0501/V-Rod-Proj ... -0501.html

Any thoughts on what might someday be in Harley's touring line up? Certainly would be more reliable than a Buell.

...more to come...

That´s funny - in the US you guys tell each other also that Harley sucks...!
After riding halreys for the last years I had enough people arround telling about their experiences with Harley and how unreliable Harley are...!

To be honest - I mad some experiences with my tuned up Halreys tat made me mad - but I still love the sound, the look and feeling...

I thought that Harley´s reputation would be good in the US - but it look´s like Harely drivers go through hell here, too!
:-)
Wrecking wouldn´t be so bad if your freinds wouldn´t get to know it!


dirk

perfectstranger wrote:That´s funny - in the US you guys tell each other also that Harley sucks...!
After riding halreys for the last years I had enough people arround telling about their experiences with Harley and how unreliable Harley are...!

To be honest - I mad some experiences with my tuned up Halreys tat made me mad - but I still love the sound, the look and feeling...

I thought that Harley´s reputation would be good in the US - but it look´s like Harely drivers go through hell here, too! :-) Wrecking wouldn´t be so bad if your freinds wouldn´t get to know it! dirk

At risk of my being called a "Wise A$$", may I ask if you have any experience with using a Spell Check?

Sorry, never heard about it....!
I assume it is a program to avoid mistakes in the wording - right?
I´m sorry, if my english is not as good as your´s...I´ll try to improve it as soon as possible!

dirk

--> please let me know how to use "spell check"

perfectstranger wrote:Sorry, never heard about it....!
I assume it is a program to avoid mistakes in the wording - right?
I´m sorry, if my english is not as good as your´s...I´ll try to improve it as soon as possible!

dirk

--> please let me know how to use "spell check"

Now that you've included your location in your profile, I understand the misspelled English. I hope you can understand that I did not intend to ridicule your postings.

BTW, my use of "the German" is nowhere as good as yours!

How many of us wish we had purchased stock in the Harley Davidson Motor Company in the 1980"s??
.....................
"Harley-Davidson 3Q profit rises 18 percent as motorcycle sales up"---Associated Press, Miami Herald, October 12, 2006....

MILWAUKEE - Harley-Davidson Inc. said Thursday third-quarter profit jumped 18 percent, lifted by a rise in retail sales of its namesake motorcycles.

Shares of the company rose more than 4 percent to $65.75 in pre-market trading after the news.

Net income for the quarter ended Sept. 24 totaled $312.7 million, or $1.20 per share, compared with a profit of $265 million, or 96 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue climbed 14 percent to $1.64 billion from $1.43 billion last year.

Analysts expected a profit of $1.10 on revenue of $1.58 billion, according to a poll by Thomson Financial.

Worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 8.9 percent. Shipments grew 10.8 percent to 97,046 units.

Looking ahead, Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson said it expects earnings growth between 11 percent to 17 percent annually through 2009.