Done it.
Thanks to all those who gave advice, I've taken the plunge and booked the trip
Thanks to all those who gave advice, I've taken the plunge and booked the trip
eagle rider tours
- Thread starter fatbaldbob
- Start date
Mutley
Registered user
Thanks to all those who gave advice, I've taken the plunge and booked the trip
It'll be great
Check out these guys.
http://www.thelostadventure.com/
Tim who is a partner has a lot of experience and always available to over advice.
http://www.thelostadventure.com/
Tim who is a partner has a lot of experience and always available to over advice.
The G Man
Registered user
What can I expect?
May not be the best place for the question, but:
What are Harleys like to ride?
I've ridden mostly BMWs (R100RTs, R1200GS) & MotoGuzzi (Mille GT) for the last 25 years, and a mixture of Japanese bikes for the 15 years before that (all except Kawasakis, sorry green fans)
Most years I do 1 or 2 European trips, typically 2500 to 3000 miles in 9 days (2 weekends + 5 non-working days) & commute into central London most days for the rest of the year.
I'm planning a three week U.S. West coast trip next summer, and an obvious choice would be a GS, but I quite fancy the Harley experience.
My provisional route would be around 4500 miles. Is this too ambitious on a Harley?
I guess I've just got cold feet on whether a Harley would really be enjoyable over long distances, and yet there's something quite appealing about riding a native machine.
Thanks for any opinions - I realise its obviously up to me in the end, and one mans....
Cheers,
G
May not be the best place for the question, but:
What are Harleys like to ride?
I've ridden mostly BMWs (R100RTs, R1200GS) & MotoGuzzi (Mille GT) for the last 25 years, and a mixture of Japanese bikes for the 15 years before that (all except Kawasakis, sorry green fans)
Most years I do 1 or 2 European trips, typically 2500 to 3000 miles in 9 days (2 weekends + 5 non-working days) & commute into central London most days for the rest of the year.
I'm planning a three week U.S. West coast trip next summer, and an obvious choice would be a GS, but I quite fancy the Harley experience.
My provisional route would be around 4500 miles. Is this too ambitious on a Harley?
I guess I've just got cold feet on whether a Harley would really be enjoyable over long distances, and yet there's something quite appealing about riding a native machine.
Thanks for any opinions - I realise its obviously up to me in the end, and one mans....
Cheers,
G
Mutley
Registered user
As long as it's the right Harley then that mileage is a walk in the park. As Twizzle says, a big Glide is the way to go. If you are one up then the Road King and the Street Glide would appeal, no need for the full tour bus experience of an Elektra Glide and so much cooler looking :cool
HD dealerships are very keen to get you on a bike. Go and test ride a couple of models, they'll be very happy to help. I prefer the protection of a Batwing fairing myself but some people can't get on with them.
Be prepared to alter your style to suit the bike. If you try to muscle a fully loaded glide around it will bite you. Slow in, fast out, ten times as much back brake as you ever thought possible and don't alter your line mid corner
HD dealerships are very keen to get you on a bike. Go and test ride a couple of models, they'll be very happy to help. I prefer the protection of a Batwing fairing myself but some people can't get on with them.
Be prepared to alter your style to suit the bike. If you try to muscle a fully loaded glide around it will bite you. Slow in, fast out, ten times as much back brake as you ever thought possible and don't alter your line mid corner
The G Man
Registered user
Thanks
for all the positive advice.
Pretty much convinced I'll shoot for a Road King, with an Electra Glide as backup - I fancy something with hard panniers.
Counting the days down. . .
G
for all the positive advice.
Pretty much convinced I'll shoot for a Road King, with an Electra Glide as backup - I fancy something with hard panniers.
Counting the days down. . .
G
G,
I took a Glide on a tour of AZ earlier this year. Loved it. Bike was a breeze to ride - nicely responsive, very smooth, far better handling than I expected and good brakes to boot, even when 2-up (2011 MY Electra Glide Classic). Put it this way, if I had the money I'd have one in a trice. Loved every mile of the journey.
I took a Glide on a tour of AZ earlier this year. Loved it. Bike was a breeze to ride - nicely responsive, very smooth, far better handling than I expected and good brakes to boot, even when 2-up (2011 MY Electra Glide Classic). Put it this way, if I had the money I'd have one in a trice. Loved every mile of the journey.
The G Man
Registered user
Booked...
Counting the days down,
G
Counting the days down,
G
Mutley
Registered user
The G Man
Registered user
Thanks
For that Mutley
Just one last question (believe that if you will)
Do EagleRide supply the bikes if you book through H-C travel?
Or do you collect the bikes from somewhere else?
Cheers,
G
For that Mutley
Just one last question (believe that if you will)
Do EagleRide supply the bikes if you book through H-C travel?
Or do you collect the bikes from somewhere else?
Cheers,
G
Mutley
Registered user
Sorry mate, no idea. Only ever rented direct 
sven
Registered user
I booked through H-C Travel and only discovered it was an Eaglerider bike when I received the info pack afterwards.
The G Man
Registered user
HC Travel
Just booked through HC for this summer.
I got the impression they are free to reserve the bike from any supplier, but most commonly use EagleRider - as they have done for me.
They tell who the supplier will be once they've made the reservation, so you know where you will be collecting it from.
G
Just booked through HC for this summer.
I got the impression they are free to reserve the bike from any supplier, but most commonly use EagleRider - as they have done for me.
They tell who the supplier will be once they've made the reservation, so you know where you will be collecting it from.
G
Easy riding
Don't forget if yopur going through Death Vally or Nevada always carry plenty of drinking water, if you only stop briefly in the Valley for a look around you'll want a drink 'cos it do get a bit 'ot!! Done twice on a GS and once on an 1100RT, GS definatly the best but still bloody hot!.
Don't forget if yopur going through Death Vally or Nevada always carry plenty of drinking water, if you only stop briefly in the Valley for a look around you'll want a drink 'cos it do get a bit 'ot!! Done twice on a GS and once on an 1100RT, GS definatly the best but still bloody hot!.
Only 3 more sleeps until I collect my Ultra Glide from Eagle Rider in Orlando.
Bought the wife a new jacket and helmet today to keep her happy.
Will probably head back up to Maine Street Daytona to revisit the various biker bars etc and then head south around the lakes. I reckon my Walmart special fishing kit will fit on the bike.
I must be getting old as I'm starting to understand the appeal of Harleys.
Even starting to look up glides on ebay.
Bought the wife a new jacket and helmet today to keep her happy.
Will probably head back up to Maine Street Daytona to revisit the various biker bars etc and then head south around the lakes. I reckon my Walmart special fishing kit will fit on the bike.I must be getting old as I'm starting to understand the appeal of Harleys.
Even starting to look up glides on ebay.
Just remember Sid "Slow and steady on a Harley" otherwise you'll be testing that insurance policy out
A very big thumbs up for Eagle Rider.
Got to their place early and 2012 Electra Glide Classic was waiting for me.
Old beared mechanic carefully explained all the controls to me including the radio, "I'll find you a station with some good old Rock & Roll, none of that modern stuff with nancy boys screaming".
Decided to wear a helmet if only to stop my bald head getting sun burnt. My arms now look lobster red as the warm 83 degree air cooled my arms but they still got a of sun.
Headed away from Eagle Riders and let bike pick the route. First road sign we saw was to somewhere called the "GayLord Centre"
. Nearly fell off the bike laughing, too much traffic about to get a photo.
Headed towards the East Coast and found a perfect little bikers bar.
Some scary looking back patch Harley riders at the bar but of course they turned out to be friendly guys and fixed the pool table for us to play free games. They seemed more interested in watching PinkLady play pool than me.
We got to Kennedy Space Centre at 5.21 pm. The rocket launch of a new satellite was at 5.20 pm so we saw it fly up over the trees.
The sound system on the bike was fantastic with Bruce Springsteen and Elvis amongst many others. I got some great looks of approval when I found myself singing along without thinking to Dr and the Medics "Spirit in the Sky". I had the volume at max and when I got to the chorus of "I've got a friend in Jesus" that I noticed I also had several friends in nearby cars.
Bike was brilliant , I loved it. Only negative is amount of heat it throws out. When you have to stop at red lights, you feel like you have a thermo nuclear reactor chucking out intense heat. Apart from that it was perfect. PinkLady seemed to love it as well.
Got to their place early and 2012 Electra Glide Classic was waiting for me.
Old beared mechanic carefully explained all the controls to me including the radio, "I'll find you a station with some good old Rock & Roll, none of that modern stuff with nancy boys screaming".
Decided to wear a helmet if only to stop my bald head getting sun burnt. My arms now look lobster red as the warm 83 degree air cooled my arms but they still got a of sun.
Headed away from Eagle Riders and let bike pick the route. First road sign we saw was to somewhere called the "GayLord Centre"
. Nearly fell off the bike laughing, too much traffic about to get a photo.Headed towards the East Coast and found a perfect little bikers bar.
Some scary looking back patch Harley riders at the bar but of course they turned out to be friendly guys and fixed the pool table for us to play free games. They seemed more interested in watching PinkLady play pool than me.
We got to Kennedy Space Centre at 5.21 pm. The rocket launch of a new satellite was at 5.20 pm so we saw it fly up over the trees.
The sound system on the bike was fantastic with Bruce Springsteen and Elvis amongst many others. I got some great looks of approval when I found myself singing along without thinking to Dr and the Medics "Spirit in the Sky". I had the volume at max and when I got to the chorus of "I've got a friend in Jesus" that I noticed I also had several friends in nearby cars.
Bike was brilliant , I loved it.
Only negative is amount of heat it throws out. When you have to stop at red lights, you feel like you have a thermo nuclear reactor chucking out intense heat. Apart from that it was perfect. PinkLady seemed to love it as well.
For the perfect end to the perfect day, we found a top quality seafood restaurant with "All you can eat" lobster and all seafood. Cost me over $170 but worth every cent.
Eventually, the staff pleaded with us to please finish as they all had homes to go to. After three lobsters and numerous crab claws and a few bottles of their finest wines we agreed to leave.
This day will be etched into my memory banks forever.
I have already lined up a few visits to Harley dealers on our return to UK.
In the morning, I intend to cruise back up to Daytona for some more photos. Sure beats working for a living.
Eventually, the staff pleaded with us to please finish as they all had homes to go to. After three lobsters and numerous crab claws and a few bottles of their finest wines we agreed to leave.
This day will be etched into my memory banks forever.
I have already lined up a few visits to Harley dealers on our return to UK.
In the morning, I intend to cruise back up to Daytona for some more photos. Sure beats working for a living.
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