Riders

[woods]

It's funny how fads change. Now...my family all the way back to my great Grandfather have been Harley riders. Not "bikers" really, just rode Harleys. All of us like pretty much all motorcycles in general, but I would say that the main rider was always an HD.

I have been riding some sort of patched together Harley since I was 15 years old. Back then, if you rode a Harley, you sort of stuck out from the crowd a bit. Then this huge wave of Harley buyers hit. I thought it was cool at first, but then I started to get in a bit of a funk about it. Sort of like I had my own private swimming hole for years and then one day I show up to take a dip and it's been filled in and a mini mall full of screaming children is now where it used to be.

I got over it and still just did my own thing. I have never been the guy to go to big rallies or have my entire wardrobe full of Harley T-shirts, or cover my truck with Harley stickers....you know...so people are aware that I have a Harley even though I'm not standing next to it. I am more the type to ride by myself on an old country road and just soak it up. It's always been sort of a Zen to me.

Recently, I have noticed a pretty huge decline in the masses buying them up or building them. In example...I was going through my Harley parts the other day and it's really out of control. I mean, why would a guy need 11 sets of cylinder heads, extra transmissions, fuel tanks, frames, and loads of parts that you could not even haul away in a long bed truck in one trip. So, I decided that I was going to get rid of a bunch of this stuff.

I cannot give the stuff away. I mean...the prices I ask for this is about scrap price and I don't even get one call or question about any of it. Just weird really. 10 years ago, it would have been gone in under a day and at a high price.

Anyway, if you ever read a story about a man who passed away under a huge pile of Harley parts...you'll know who it was.

[ford4x4fun]

I can post mine in here now!

[woods]

Sometimes a guys just gotta make stuff fit.

[DuckRyder]

Forgot to mention in early October me and my lovely bride took a vacation, we went west, via Graceland, Rogers Arkansas, Santa Fe New Mexico, The Grand Canyon and finally Las Vegas.

In Rogers we stopped by Pig Trail Harley Davidson and rented a couple of bikes for the day. We went up through Eureka springs Arkansas and into Missouri and back down US71. Be advised it isn't a good idea to try to follow one of their preplanned (I think we were trying the Screaming Eagle) rides backward if it crosses state lines because all the road names change to things like "UU" and "F" which is not want is on the preplanned ride map. It is a major inconveniance...

Nice folks at Pig Trail and good food at the Rockin Pig in Eureka Springs (I think its owned by the same family as Pig Trail).

We also did the Pea Ridge Battlefield which was very interesting.



Us in front of the pea ridge visitor center, this would be a good picture without the potties in the background.



Me on the Electra Glide, frankly this thing was a pig, I am not a fan, glad I rented it because there was a time I thought I might like one. No comments on the foot wear, my A-Stars would not let me bend my ankle enough to shift so I was forced to change into something less adequate.



K on the 883 Super Low, she on the other hand loved hers! She now says she wants one one day!



The Rockin Pg in Eureka springs.

I also spotted a guy in a White 69ish F100 4x4 in the Grocery store parking lot (Safeway I think) in Flagstaff AZ, but did not think to get a picture or leave a FORDification card

I did get a picture of "Winslow Ford" in Winslow Arizona, if those folks don't have a girl riding around in a flat bed they have lost it...

[woods]

Seems like a fun ride. I personally don't much care for the 2 wheeled couch myself. I mean...I think my FXR handles bad, well, it kinda does, so when I get on one of those, it's a lot like trying to corner a wheel barrow full of bowling balls.

[Bob]

Have pretty much similar story as others I've read on this thread...
Z50 Honda when a kid...
XL175 later...
CR450 after that...
Sporty was first street bike...
This was my "red-bike" as it was called...

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Had the luckiest day of my life on red-bike. After about 30-some years of riding on the road and often times winding them out, I bit it pretty good and totaled red-bike. Fortunately my face took the brunt of the blow so not much damage. Knees still feel it on cold wet days though.

Switched to a mellower ride after red-bike. Now my only bike is "blue-bike." It's a "mostly original" 48 pan. Has been repainted and although the left grip still spins the spark advance is now automatic. It's like an amusement park ride to putt around on this thing. Best to stay off the bumpy roads though...
It's great for the slow ride and keeps me out of trouble. It's not really the sort of bike you feel like flying around on but fun none the less...

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[guerra]

Here is the old shovel and here is the bagger.. Both of them together.

[foreman1967]

We ride a couple of Harley's. Mine is the Black '09 Heritage and the wife's is the Black, flamed Dyna. The gray one is one we recently traded for the Heritage, needed something more comfortable for 2up riding for longer distances.

[guerra]

I like the Heritage. Its one of my favorite bikes..

[foreman1967]

first time I've owned one and have to say I'm loving it. the wife really appreciates the better ride and honestly i do too. now after 300 miles i don't feel like I've been ridden after i get off.

[guerra]

I know what you mean. Ive had the old shovelhead forever and used to go everywhere on it. But after getting the bagger in 06 im spoiled now. On the bagger i only stop when i need gas. and on my old bike I was looking for an excuse to stop. Before I got the bagger I used to make fun of the old man bikes. I would tell people if I want a windshield and radio, I'll take my truck. I dont say that no more...