Why Harley Davidson's Rule

[dcarver]

Why is a 1991 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic a better ride than an FJR?

1. Everyone loves you - cage drivers wave, give you wide berth

2. Cute chicks taking fotos flash huge smiles and wave as you thunder by

3. Relaxed ride - nice n' easy, no performance award threats

4. 48 mpg easy

5. All day long foot massage

6. The most comfortable riding position known to man, at least this one..

7. A true voltmeter and oil *pressure* gauge, stock

8. More lights out back and up front than on a Mack truck

9. The thunderous roar of 80 cubic inches bellowing out behind you

10. The wonderful sound of an air-cooled engine cooling off after a great day's ride

You either get it or you don't, I care less what you decide,

only that you ride.

And today, hurting back and all,

I rode all day, enjoying the Fall.

Just had some service work done, this has been one very happy Harley. Best guesstimate is 128k on the clock, original engine, tranny, etc. Compression still excellent, burns and leaks no oil. Never left me stranded either. By any measure, a very good ride. Mine is the blue one on the right.

Rode to Pozo, nice easy ride, found a bud from my nuclear power plant days. He was there with his friend, who's Dad was used to own Indian Dunes Cycle Park, ran Muntz Cycle Park, and was on the original board of the Old Timer's MX club. They are planning a pre run of the Baja 500 next June.

Pozo saloon

I ran them home via back roads they hadn't been on before..

Ended back in Creston at JBurleigh's *favorite* eatery!

The two amigos, good guyz, I wish them luck in Baja, they will need it, just sayin'..

Sunday dawned and I hadn't had my fill of riding the slow thunder bluss, so off I went again..

Nice Creston morning..

Out to BeeRock store, on the way to Lake San Antonio. My bud Keith runs the store, we had great conversation then it was time to go. Always good to see Keith. If you're on the way, spend some time and money with Keith.. a good man.

A post office pix for my buddy RenoJohniee...

From the cockpit of a true American motobike..

(Ignore the mileage indicated, it rolled over the 100k mark, but it's not really 138k, not sure what happened :lol: )

Bradley, Ca, not much here, and the gas wasn't much good either, just sayin'..

WTF, another PO shot?

Thank God for churches.. :lol:

Found a little back road I'd not been on, these types of roads are perfect for the Ultra, 45 - 60 mph, sweepy, not too twisty, the big V-Twin in 5th and pulling like a steam locomotive. Yeah, I know, most of you don't get it.. but I do, so who is better off, in the end? I am! :****:

Out in the country, this is the way we let family know where we live. All others stay out lest yee be shot in the arse with buckshot.

Some final shots on the way home..

And, for my sheep-shearing BustaNut bud, some sheep ****..

And one of my best bud, he never fails me, no matter what mount I ride, this is my best friend, do you get it?

Thanks for riding along..

 

[user 6393]

wowsers, thx for taking us.....

 

[James Burleigh]

Ended back in Creston at JBurleigh's *favorite* eatery!

Y'all got that right, ameego. Of aaaaaaaall the eateries in Creston, that one's my favorite. The other one's good too. Fact is, whichever one's open is my favorite, since the two ain't open same time near's I can recollect.

Don, you are a riding fool. :jester: But I guess there's no reason to insult a man just 'cause he's a fool. So let's talk motorcycles.

Been enjoying your ride reports lately. Somehow you have tapped into your inner Kerouac with a splash of Thompson. And the pics have been very cool too. I have not forgotten that I want to come visit and maybe ride on the way to Santa Barbara some long weekend.

Hey, about Harleys, they're like guns and TVs. There's no reason to hate guns and TVs and to ban the former and banish the latter. Because it's all about how people use 'em. They're all just objects, not good or bad. Same with Hardleys. Tain't about the bikes, it's about how you use 'em. It just happens that a lot of folks who ride 'em are pricks, just like you. :finger:

Hell, if I had an extra $20K I'd buy a BMW K1300GT. And if I had another, then I'd buy a Kawi ZX-14. But if I then had another $20K I'd buy a Softail. They are cool bikes. Wish I had one.

See ya.

Jb

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Uuuhhh.... wait a minute, something is definitly wrong with this pic.

Farse Farse I say, That was mighty dangerous and risky of you riding with Gear on. You could have been seriously injured by the HD-Cruiser Police.

https://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/dca...de/DSC03822.jpg

Kidding ya know!

Nice report. Betcha got some strange looks being ATGATT on a HD-Ultra Cruiser.

 

[Niehart]

Good report, ride and bike!

 

[MEM]

You GO, DC!

 

[Hamie]

Great pictures...thanks for sharing....

 

[beemerdons]

Once again, another fantastic and interesting Ride Report Don! You took me way back down memory lane with this trip. I bought my 1984 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead 80 inch FLH "Big Red" in Fall of 1983; last Shovelhead the shop ever sold new.

Gary Bang had just opened up his business when I bought "Big Red" from him; he's obviously expanded his shop since then.

I sold "Big Red" to a fellow Union Pipefitter in my Local with 212,000 miles on her, including 3 trips up and back to Alaska.

As you also know Don, I lived at 7505 Curbaril Avenue in Atascadero for 15 years, so your roads yesterday were also mine.

Pozo Saloon and Longbranch were my watering holes of choice back when I was "professional" alcoholic; only amateur now!

Don, your Ride Reports are so incredible, really have to tip my hat to you for the excellent work. You and Old Michael both!

 

[BwanaDik]

I think I've discovered the problem here.....

Rode to Pozo, nice easy ride, found a bud from my nuclear power plant days.

Looks like Hardley beat Kawa to the punch by almost 18 years with keyless ignition! "Keys! Keys! We don't need no stinkin' keys!"

Thanks for the report Don, cool ride!

 

[Panman]

Good report from a block head rider. Keep em comin.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Very nice ride report Carver!

I've never ridden a cruiser, but it IS the rider, not the RIDE. If I'm ever out that way, I'd love to lope along those roads with an HD...just to see what all the fuss is about.

 

[canyonman]

I "get it" totally different experience but no less satisfying. nice way to spend a day. thanks.

 

[fljab]

Looks like Hardley beat Kawa to the punch by almost 18 years with keyless ignition! "Keys! Keys! We don't need no stinkin' keys!"

By more than that; I also own, and have owned, HD's for many years. Totally different animal, but some things I find unmatched such as the "no key required" for most things. If you want to lock it up, then drag out the key and lock everything, but I usually just leave things unlocked most of the time.

The new C14 has the KiPass? New HD's require you to have the key fob on your person or it won't start up. I think this is only for the ones equipped with the factory antitheft - could be wrong about that - but most/all dealers order their bikes with that installed.

On my FJR I'm so paranoid of losing the key that I have extras and put one in my bootlaces because you're screwed without it!

 

[Bungie]

I'm no fan of the 100's of thousands of HD owners who bought into the marketing. That being said, HD's have their place. Correction, VTwins all have their place. I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing beats a big VTwin sitting in its torque peak while it goes down the highway. I've done 12+ hour rides on my 1600 Mean Streak. Every bit as comfortable as the FJR. Now, storage, weather protection etc.. different animal!

 

[johnny80s]

I love the enduro helmet on the Harley. Keep em guessin!

 

[BikerGeek99]

I also own, and have owned, HD's for many years. Totally different animal...

Gunny!

After owning a Dyna Wide Glide for 10 years, in August I traded that in for an '09 Ultra Classic. TOTALLY different from the FJR, but just 'cause it's different don't mean it's bad.

Oh - and 3 weeks after trading my Wide Glide in, I Won A 2009 HD Super Glide (clicky) - scroll down a little bit and there's a picture of me sitting on the bike I won.

And, for the record, I love the reactions I get when I ride the Ultra in full gear and full-face, hi-viz helmet. The "1%ers" don't know what to make of me.

 

[greywolf]

Nice pics , looks like a fun ride.

I've owned 3 harley's over the years .. the Dyna's were fun, the Bagger comfy ..

Every bike has it's good points , the Electra Glide series are good for all day rides , not everybody's cup of tea ..but I've enjoyed many miles on them.

 

[eeksnake]

Nice write up Don. Thanks for sharing.

I think this Dekker bag would look awesome with a CBA patch... Linky

 

[Bounce]

Given the title of this thread in an FJR forum, there's a South Park reference somewhere nearby.