aldrichster
Member
We picked up our bikes on Thursday at noon, and we second everything positive ever said about Jerold and Renaa and the whole gang at D&H - just great to do business with. Our first day's ride took us west through some great motorcycling country just out of Cullman, on US 257. The bikes were all we had expected, powerful, responsive, comfortable and spirited. At the Mississippi border I got into a soft clayey wet muddy shoulder and tried to do a 90 degree out of it - big mistake - down she went. Luke helped me pick 'er up, thank goodness we were riding together. Now she sports a scuffed right pannier, fairing edge and mirror. The Skyway slider that D&H had installed prevented further damage. First day and I dropped her - aargh.
Later that day we were 15 miles west of Greenville Miss. where we planned to stop for the night. But we didn't quite make it until a fierce thunderstorm cell descended on us and made those last 15 miles rather dicey. As it turned out, despite storms all through the south, that was the only bad weather we encountered. On Friday we rode through So. Arkansas to Texarkana where Tony was able to get our bikes into his service dept for the 500 mile oil change (actually 537 miles from Cullman). Tony took a look at my damage and claimed laconically "it's just a motorcycle after all". From Tony's we veered north into Oklahoma and rode on some fun back roads angling towards OK City. The forecast was for a big storm on Saturday so Luke decided to head on home, while I spent the night in the hamlet of Atoka. It did pour all night but by Sat. it was pretty much over. I made it to Luke's place Sat. morning and then we rode together one last time for a ways past OK City where we said our good byes and I continued my journey on west. Last night I spent the night in Liberal Kansas and today I am riding into New Mexico to a friend's near Taos. I have put 1135 miles on the bike in three days with another 2500 to come before I make it home to Seattle.
Impressions: great long distance cruiser. I am not even tapping into the capabilities as I am content to stay below 70 and get used to the bike first. My right hand got numb a bit on the first day but that has gone away, thanks in part to a Vista Cruise installed at Tony's. The seating position with the bars in the furthest back and the seat lowest suits me great (6' 250). Unfrotunately the trunk I had ordered could not be installed due to a missing mounting bracket, so I am bungee'ing my duffle bag to the passenger seat and tail rack. That is working OK. This is the first long-distance ride of my life and I didn't really know what to expect. So far, it is exceeding all expectations, thanks to this marvellous machine. Just got to stay out of soft wet shoulders.
Better get going, got a long ride ahead. Pictures to follow when I get home. I may update this journal later this week if I get a chance.
~Murray
Later that day we were 15 miles west of Greenville Miss. where we planned to stop for the night. But we didn't quite make it until a fierce thunderstorm cell descended on us and made those last 15 miles rather dicey. As it turned out, despite storms all through the south, that was the only bad weather we encountered. On Friday we rode through So. Arkansas to Texarkana where Tony was able to get our bikes into his service dept for the 500 mile oil change (actually 537 miles from Cullman). Tony took a look at my damage and claimed laconically "it's just a motorcycle after all". From Tony's we veered north into Oklahoma and rode on some fun back roads angling towards OK City. The forecast was for a big storm on Saturday so Luke decided to head on home, while I spent the night in the hamlet of Atoka. It did pour all night but by Sat. it was pretty much over. I made it to Luke's place Sat. morning and then we rode together one last time for a ways past OK City where we said our good byes and I continued my journey on west. Last night I spent the night in Liberal Kansas and today I am riding into New Mexico to a friend's near Taos. I have put 1135 miles on the bike in three days with another 2500 to come before I make it home to Seattle.
Impressions: great long distance cruiser. I am not even tapping into the capabilities as I am content to stay below 70 and get used to the bike first. My right hand got numb a bit on the first day but that has gone away, thanks in part to a Vista Cruise installed at Tony's. The seating position with the bars in the furthest back and the seat lowest suits me great (6' 250). Unfrotunately the trunk I had ordered could not be installed due to a missing mounting bracket, so I am bungee'ing my duffle bag to the passenger seat and tail rack. That is working OK. This is the first long-distance ride of my life and I didn't really know what to expect. So far, it is exceeding all expectations, thanks to this marvellous machine. Just got to stay out of soft wet shoulders.
Better get going, got a long ride ahead. Pictures to follow when I get home. I may update this journal later this week if I get a chance.
~Murray
Yes it was a great trip on great bikes with great company! My trip ended at 837 miles. Aldrichster has many more to go before he gets home. Wish I had a week off to join him the rest of the way.
