Just lost my Harley Cherry

[Boxerboy55]

I'm doing time in cowboy country so it would be rude not to. Got the hat. Got the boots. Got the tattoo.
The weekend got off to a good start

All mine for 2 days

Friday evening a short ride east from Grand Junction. Dash read 92 DegF to begin. Forced myself to wear a borrowed jacket and the HD pudding bowl. And gloves. Not too bad once moving. Through some super scenery with the sun on my back. Luckily missed a heavy shower and only encountered wet road in last 5 miles before my stop for the night in Rifle
Allegedly an early surveyor left his gun behind and made a mark on his map intending to go back for his "Rifle". Who knows!

Shiite - these are Big Boys! Gear change sounds like kicking a bag of spanners. Finding neutral is a real challenge.

The bike didn't need fuel, but I did. Gee it was like riding in a hair dryer.

Roll on Saturday. Aspen beckons. Can't wait to plug in Josh Turner.

 

[ebbo]

Hey! your us next year! Write on mate!

Grand scenery, grand bike, wadya think to the Hardly Davidson, is it worthy?

 

[Nutty]

Nice one, enjoy

 

[Boxerboy55]

Saturday dawned bright and I continued east then south to Aspen.

Me auditioning for CHiPs as the rain clouds gathered

Nice and sunny so a pleasant lunch then on to Independence Pass at 12,000 feet. Wikipedia is your friend.
A few Wow! moments. The biggest Wow! was "Fokk these hail stones are stinging my face something awful. And the road is a river. And these hairpins are tight as fokk on a bike as big and heavy as this beast" so I didn't stop at the non-viewing point and ploughed on down to drier weather.

Looking back on the clouds that washed me out

Dried out nicely on a 9 miles straight where I rode for 2 miles on the cruise with both hands on my knees. Just because I could.

Sunday was dry and bright again though only 60 DegF to start. So up over Black Canyon then Grand Mesa.

Heading for Grand Junction where I squeezed in the National Monument rim drive.
There's no hand rail behind me to a few hundred feet drop.

Like The Grand Canyon but just a wee bit smaller. Stunning scenery.

Then dropped bike off at dealer

ps - the Harley Ultra Classic was fine but I won't be ordering one. Far, far too heavy so very slow. Comfy. Smooth running motor. But only got 3 or 4 silent gear changes all weekend. Almost impossible to find neutral. Loved the music. 600+ miles. Around 50 mpg in real money.

Loading up with 2 fat bastids will make your bike very slow and unstable

 

[Mutley]

Great pictures, thanks for posting

The rain clouds looked scary. The scenery is so big out there you forget just how much the weather can change with changes in altitude

You must have not found the knack with the gearbox though. I have an Ultra and the only gear change that makes a noise is selecting 1st from a cold start

As for big and slow, just open the taps. Mine happily cruises at 90 and you'll miss the scenery if you go much faster as you'll be talking to the Feds

 

[Nutty]

Nice report. Kudos for wheeling that behemoth round the twisties

 

[boxer]

That's how it started for me, with an Eaglerider Electra Glide.

Great bikes imo.

Now I'm at European Bike Week in Faaker See

 

[Dean]

What an experience , great pictures, (stunning) scenery

Thanks for posting


BTW Had a Harley with us on a euro 6 day trip a couple years back Dyna wide thingy I think, any how that was quick 95 + no prob (no feds in France ) He had doubts of it In the Alps twisy, Hairpins, But his doubts was replaced with his huge grin factor It was fine

 

[sven]

75% of the rental bikes we saw on our US tour were Electra Glides, but we really didn't fancy one. we used an R1200RT instead as it suited the twisty sections e.g. Million Dollar Highway, Tioga Pass, Pacific Coast Highway, but was also comfy elsewhere

Looks like we may have to use a Harley next time as Eaglerider don't have any proper bikes in Denver

 

[Mutley]

If you can't have fun on an Electra Glide on some twisty roads just hand in your man badge at customs on the way home

 

[Boxerboy55]

I'm living on the Million Dollar Highway for a while. Stunning roads and scenery in all 4 directions. Great driving / riding roads that I've been on several times. But you don't want to be on the unguarded sections after dark as that could easily end in tears.

I've driven several of the recommended bike rides on this map and can thoroughly recommend Colorado

And this was my actual route over 2 days that took in 4 significant scenic rides.

There were 2 rental GSAs outside hotel one night from these guys in Boulder
http://www.houseofmotorrad.com/

I did thoroughly enjoy the Harley running through the canyons at a mere 40 - 50 mph enjoying the scenery. I also found the rev limiter and got up to about 90 making some overtakes. But it all took so long to wind it up. But that wasn't the objective. It does the job it's built to do.

Having a collegue who was busted for speeding - on 4 wheels - by a speed gun equipped cop car coming from the opposite direction, I am careful not to get caught. And with unmarked cars and SUVs around I'm cautious w.r.t. speed.

But back on the bike I was mostly conscious of the $2,000 deposit the dealer was holding and getting the bike home in 1 piece

And I'm getting tempted by the idea of an RT1200!