So, where in the world have YOU been? ... on your Harley, I mean

[riceless950]

This is Worms, Germany, a long, long time ago.

[Carlo Muro]

Originally Posted by XC Rider

The only Harley dealer I've ever seen in the US that also carried other brand motorcycles (besides Buell of course). This one was in Roswell, NM I think.

Hell, the one in Colorado Springs sells Harley and BMW!

[Waldo308]

Originally Posted by Carlo Muro

Hell, the one in Colorado Springs sells Harley and BMW!

....and Hutchinson's HD in Yucca Valley sells Harleys, Buells, Hondas and Yamahas.

But they have a great collection of historical Harleys including one just like the one Hutch rode as a dispatch rider for the First Cav during WWII in Europe. Also a diner on the front of the shop that sells coffee at 5 cents a cup!

[Fast Ferris]

Originally Posted by Round-I-Go

... How'd you prepare? ... How long did you take? ... What would you do differently?.

The longest ride on the RK so far was a little under ten thousand miles, just about a month on the road. Didn't do much "special" preparation. The left saddlebag houses two "Oh shit!" kits, including 12-volt air compressor, etc. The right saddlebag houses stuff that I need to access more often - different gloves, clothes for layering, camera, food, water, etc.

On short trips the right saddlebag also houses my RKA (magnetic) tankbag, but for the long trips I made a custom base for it so the bag can sit up on the tank like a normal tankbag, albeit the custom base lifts everything high enough off the console to clear the ignition switch.

On shorter trips I'll bungee a large Ortlieb dry bag down on the back seat, using the factory grab handles that I added for Denise as tie-down points. On longer rides when I need more carrying capacity, I chuck up a factory Tour Pak rack out back, and lash a second matching dry bag to it.

Set up thusly, I can carry a lot of kit, everything protected nicely from the weather.

I bought a Road King over a fairing-equipped Harley because I like the classic look of the RK front end and the big, chrome Hiawatha headlight assembly. The RK comes with a very high quality easy-on, easy-off windshield, but I've only used it twice in 38,000 miles. I don't like looking thru it (especially in the rain), and I dig being in the wind.

Speaking of which: For reasons I cannot readily explain, there is a total lack of wind blast on the RK at speed running sans shield. I can comfortably cruise at 80 mph with just my right hand on the controls, and don't have any significant windblast on my torso to contend with. I think it may be the fact that you sit so low in the bike.

I've had a few motorcycles over the years (I've been an avid rider since 1965), some American (this is my fifth Harley), some Japanese, and one German. The RK is at or near the top of the list as the most comfortable bike I've ever owned. The stock seat is perfect (right up there with the stock seat on my former 1000 V-Strom, and that's saying a lot), and the ergos fit me to a T (I'm 5 feet, 8 inches). My knees are battered from years of manly abuse, and on the RK I can stretch my legs out and give them the break they deserve at my age.

The factory floorboards are the bomb - there are so many different positions you can get your legs and feet into during a long ride - altho the hit you take in reduced cornering clearance is an issue when you're trying to keep your sport bike-riding friends honest.

I'm VERY happy with this motorcycle, and unlike the other four Harleys that I sold off for various reasons over the years (IDIOT!), this one is a keeper.

A few more pix here in just a bit.

FF

[Fast Ferris]

These pix are from some of the early shakedown rides I took on the bike in '06.

This was taken on Sawmill Road near Isabella Lake. I dug the yard art.


This is way up on the side of Greenhorn Mountain in Kern County. This is a pretty little road that probably doesn't see many Harleys.


This was taken looking out a window in an old abandoned farmhouse on Granite Road in Kern County, between Bakersfield and Glennville. I thought it turned out pretty good.

Granite Road is about 20 minutes of the best pavement riding you'll ever do, highly recommended.

[Joe?]

First off, great thread idea and great pictures. Its always refreshing to see fine American machines being used as they were intended (i.e. not bar hopping).

Fast Ferris, any pictures of that sled fully packed? I'm trying to fathom what a clean Road King looks like stuffed with a tour pack and tank bag. I cant quite picture it, but I'm pretty sure I'll like it.

[FX4]

Keep em coming, I glad to see I'm not the only Harley rider on this board and I do ride the hell out of mine. My longest trip to date is about 2600. 1300 in one day.

[V-Twin-Maniac]

Originally Posted by riceless950

This is Worms, Germany, a long, long time ago.

cool dude....thats next to my hometown

[goinsideways136]

the road in Alaska. there are some NASTY frost heaves!

An adventure rider that I traveled from sutton to Glennallen Alaska. very cool dude on a KLR. we are stuck at construction.

a glacier along the way...


made it to Tok and stayed with a buddy thats a customs border agent.

over the Alaskan Canadian border...


On the Alcan. as you can tell it is a really nice road....:


on the first day in Canada I rode from the border to Watson Lake. Can remember the mileage but it was around 600. I remember these are the worst roads of the trip... During this time I had rode thru about 5 hours of rain and my headlight decide to burn up. well I had tried to push to the next big town to buy a new bulb but never mad it. I was stuck out in the wild with no light, gun, and very little food. it was pouring down rain when i set up camp on the side of the road. this was the most miserable day of the trip. Fearing for your life all night long is notfun. I woke up in the middle of the night to something walking around my campsite. I laid as still as I could untill sunrise when i jetted. heres where i camped.

heres some town with a crazy amount of stolen signs.

gonna post more in a minute.

[goinsideways136]

tried to stop and take as many pics as I could but most of the time I just enjoyed it and never stopped. the farther south you rode, the better the roads became....


up in the clouds...


after that night in the wild I only camped in camping in towns...

some buffalo


made it to Calgary where i stayed with one of my SCB buddys Elshawn. very stand up guy and very cool to talk to. and his bikes are amazing!!

the damage
[/

[goinsideways136]

heres in montana mountains



here are some of the guys bikes who i made the 800 mile push from dillion montana to denver colorado...


one of my favorite rides of the trip, riding through idaho and wyoming. it was like i was riding in to heaven...






riding into the storm...

[goinsideways136]

the bike is 2008 1200 nightster and i have about 15,000 on her. I've rode to the north pole all the way to texas. She has seen many dirt roads and has even rode on ice. And the bike in non touring fashion....




the alaskan ocean

[

[Fast Ferris]

Originally Posted by Joe?

Fast Ferris, any pictures of that sled fully packed? I'm trying to fathom what a clean Road King looks like stuffed with a tour pack and tank bag. I cant quite picture it, but I'm pretty sure I'll like it.

Joe, I've dug around in my memory cards and found a decent photo for you; I'll post it up tonight after I get off w*rk.

Best regards,
FF

[Round-I-Go]

I noticed the difference in your exhaust, rigid rear, forward controls/floorboards, etc, from non-touring to touring.
Still, you're a far younger man than I! I really like the Nightster though and it's great you use it as you do.

GREAT pics, GREAT report!

Originally Posted by goinsideways136

the bike is 2008 1200 nightster and i have about 15,000 on her. I've rode to the
north pole all the way to texas. She has seen many dirt roads and has even rode on ice.

And the bike in non touring fashion....

[Round-I-Go]

Very cool!

What with the Letter Jacket, Sportster, Vista Cruiser and Baseball diamond, it could be Kalamazoo!

Originally Posted by riceless950

This is Worms, Germany, a long, long time ago.