Tell us about one of your road trips.

Here's a little story I wrote about my first HD Trike ride a couple years ago.


So yesterday was the day of the first ride on the trike. With much excitement I made sure I had transferred all the needed items from the other bike to the trike, like rain suits, tools etc.
I went to put on the plates and the bolts wouldn't tighten all the way down to hold them tight! (?) Not a problem! I can handle it! With much excitement I made sure I had transferred all the needed items from the other bike to the trike, like rain suits, tools etc.
Temperature was a cool mid 40's so bundled with much anticipation of the "First Ride".
Checked that I had in fact loaded up the music into the CD player and turned it on to adjust the volume etc. Off it went then because today I am going to listen and enjoy the sound of a twin cam motor as tight as it will ever be, nothing like a new steed purring (rumbling) awaiting for the time to roll out the throttle and grab the gears.
The garage door was raised, the black beauty was fired up and let idle for a short moment. The area was checked for anything blocking the exit that may catch those wide flanks, gave myself the all clear, tightened up the helmet strap and pulled the gloves on tight...This is it! lets go baby...
I swung my leg over the trike, got off and put a foot on the floorboard then swung my leg over again and thought, Jim what's the best way to get on and off this trike? Thought again, don't worry you will figure it out. Lets just go!!
I remembered how to use reverse, checked from the saddle the area one more time to make sure it was all clear so I wouldn't scratch the fenders, pressed the reverse button and... the trike didn't move!
Then it hit me like the look on Mona's face when I do something stupid, I slowly reached down and released the parking brake and looked around again, good no one was around to see what I just did and I am the only one who will ever know it happened.
I backed out of the garage and stopped, put it in 1st, pulled forward, stopped, reverse again, 1st pull forward, reverse one more time, 1st and woho here we go!
I got the the driveways end, stopped and checked traffic, turned right, used up most of the left side of the road and was on my way!!!
Took another right and just about stayed in my lane for the whole turn. I'm going to get this turning thing down I told myself.
Taking the back way out of town. Getting used to the handling of the trike. Stopped at the first stop sign, put my feet down on the ground, put them back on the floorboards and started off.
Two blocks later I pull into a empty parking lot, get out my air shock pump, pull off the side cover, unscrew and drop the valve cap, lower the 40 lbs. of pressure I had put in the night before to 15 lbs., crawled around under the trike looking for the valve stem cap, cussed at it, then found it where it had rolled behind the trike. Buttoned up the side cover and away I go, oh wait I left the brake on again, its OK I can handle it!
Stop sign, left turn and this time I meant the cross to the outside lane so all is good.
The next section of road was quite a mess with the uneven pavement so got to experience the trike "rolling" side to side. Its OK, no problem its a trike and I know its going to handle different. Wondered to myself, self, what's Mona going to say about this the first time? No worry she's been behind me for thousands of miles and hasn't complained yet, unless I didn't stop at the rest area like she asked.
Right turn onto a highway, extra effort turning right because someone else was using the left lane and was willing to hit the new trike if I got in his way, yup this turning thing is coming to me.
The highway is loaded with gentle sweeping curves, both left and right, so I was looking forward to meeting them all in the next few minutes. Approaching the first right hander I slowed down, downshifted and steered, not leaned, though the corner, see I have learned from all of you! I swept though the corner at a roaring 35 mph and stayed in my lane! I can really handle this!
The next 15 minutes I practiced riding in the roadway first middle then off center to the left, then the right all the while checking side to side to see where the fenders are so as to not cross the center line. Glad once no one was coming at me because I looked over my left shoulder and drove over the centerline. I can handle this, and not get ran over.
Another of my favorite turns, left, and within a few minutes find myself sitting in the parking lot at work, calling all my buddy's out to come and see the trike. All of them show up, leaving the factory without any maintenance men, yes I am a maintenance mechanic.
I answer one question a million times as they meander out of the plant and towards the trike, is that a machine gun or an umbrella? I explain to these highly knowledgeable men that its an umbrella in case it rains and they all seem happy with that explanation.
I'm ready to go, all my Buddy's waiting to see me ride off, but first want to see the reverse so I start up the trike, put it in reverse and... release the umbrella.
Its on to a family dinner, lots of my uncles sharing their story's of adventure and daring do while growing up. The grandkids climbing all over the trike and me dreaming of taking them on lots of road trips on it. It was a good time but now its time for more riding!!
I load up the mini van for the wife, get on the gear, say my goodbyes and take off.. wait release the parking brake and take off!
The trip home I was feeling really great and comfortable on the trike, corners came and went without me slowing down for them, swear I was back on 2 wheels a couple times, the swaying of the trike, telling me "I'm here for you Jim" and giving me the first bits of information I'll acquire in the next few years as we mold our self's, and Mona, into a fine tuned man and machine, capable of great feats and great times on the road, exploring places we have never been and places we need to be.
Another left turn and I see the driveway. Hmm I tell myself, self if you pull in kind of straight then back into the garage you can make a quick getaway next time.. As I'm backing into the garage I'm wondering if using the reverse for more then a quick backup from a parking spot, if it will overheat it or something. I'll figure it out. I get off and open the garage door, get back on and, yup you guessed it start, stop, release the brake and back it into the garage. I swing off the trike after shutting it down and tell myself what a great day this has been........
Jim
 
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Currently in Mackinaw City Mi. Just starting a Lake Superior circle tour on the Harley trike. I'll have to share some photos as I go.
 
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Nice story about the trike and the kids putting little finger prints all over your new bike:D:eek:
I posted this on a HD web site that I help with and thought you might find it interesting


Well just checking the Harley site and the three wheeler video is now gone.Hope you had a chance to look at it,it was pretty informative.
 
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In 1985 I owned a 1968 Olds Toronado, or as I referred to it... “The Tornado!” It was a BEAST with 455 cubic inches of American Muscle and it was all Front Wheel Drive. The hood seemed large enough to land an aircraft on. It had several problems: It kept destroying front tires, I could not pass a gas station without needing to put gas in it, and every water puddle I hit – the car would stall and I was forced to let it sit until I got the ignition dried out. When Hurricane Gloria was wreaking havoc on Virginia Beach and the rest of the Tidewater area, I hit this one puddle that was the last nail in the coffin. I decided it was time to get something new.

Being a newly minted Third Class Petty Officer, I had some spare money to spend so I walked into a Virginia Beach Suzuki dealer and walked… rather rode, out on a 1985 GS550LF. That bike was cool! Keep in mind this was before I said those magic words that cause most men to gain weight: “I Do,” so a 550 would be more than enough to haul my 180 pounds around town. I signed the papers and walked out the door with keys in hand and a smile on my face.

Every bit of riding I had done up to this point of my life had been done on dirt bikes and if any of it was done on a road, it was done on a back country road where the Police were not likely to see, so this was going to be my very first time venturing out onto black-top with other cars around me. Well… it just so happened that I was walking out the door at about 5:00PM in the afternoon and if I remember correctly, it was also a Friday afternoon. So, I dropped the bike into first gear, eased out the clutch, and away I went heading out into the world of the black-top jungle of Virginia Beach Blvd. In 1985, VA Beach Blvd was a strange road… three lanes in either direction and a feeder road on either side that you could travel both directions on, so traveling on it was quite dangerous. Doing it at rush hour wasn’t going to be just a walk in the park.

Out the parking lot to the feeder road and turn right so I can head East to the nearest intersection – no problem. Merge from the feeder road onto the main road and then cross three lanes so I could get into the left turn lane in order to make a legal U-Turn… oh-boy! Wow I made it safely to the traffic light and sat there waiting for it to turn green. The light turns green so it is time to go. I start to rev the motor and ease out the clutch… What the heck… why it the motor making all that noise and why am I still sitting here???? You dummy!!! Put the freaking bike in gear!!!!! Let’s try it again – Put the bike in first gear, rev the motor, ease out on the clutch, and quickly stall the bike… Now the horns are starting to blow. One more time! Start the bike, make sure it is still in gear, rev the motor, ease out the clutch, and start to roll, make the turn, shift to second, and roll on the throttle, shift and… hey, you got this - first hurdle is down and I am rolling towards the house. This isn’t that bad! Now I get to the next intersection where I need to wait for the traffic light. Damn there are cars all around me – why are they so close! Give me some dang space!!!! Riding on the road is going to take some getting used to

I can remember those events and those thoughts going through my head so many years ago just like it was yesterday. One thing is for sure, I am glad that Hurricane killed the Tornado because I have had a LOT of fun and rode a lot of miles through the years since venturing out onto the Black-Top Jungle.
 
In 1985 I owned a 1968 Olds Toronado, or as I referred to it... “The Tornado!” It was a BEAST with 455 cubic inches of American Muscle and it was all Front Wheel Drive. The hood seemed large enough to land an aircraft on. It had several problems: It kept destroying front tires, I could not pass a gas station without needing to put gas in it, and every water puddle I hit – the car would stall and I was forced to let it sit until I got the ignition dried out. When Hurricane Gloria was wreaking havoc on Virginia Beach and the rest of the Tidewater area, I hit this one puddle that was the last nail in the coffin. I decided it was time to get something new.

Being a newly minted Third Class Petty Officer, I had some spare money to spend so I walked into a Virginia Beach Suzuki dealer and walked… rather rode, out on a 1985 GS550LF. That bike was cool! Keep in mind this was before I said those magic words that cause most men to gain weight: “I Do,” so a 550 would be more than enough to haul my 180 pounds around town. I signed the papers and walked out the door with keys in hand and a smile on my face.

Every bit of riding I had done up to this point of my life had been done on dirt bikes and if any of it was done on a road, it was done on a back country road where the Police were not likely to see, so this was going to be my very first time venturing out onto black-top with other cars around me. Well… it just so happened that I was walking out the door at about 5:00PM in the afternoon and if I remember correctly, it was also a Friday afternoon. So, I dropped the bike into first gear, eased out the clutch, and away I went heading out into the world of the black-top jungle of Virginia Beach Blvd. In 1985, VA Beach Blvd was a strange road… three lanes in either direction and a feeder road on either side that you could travel both directions on, so traveling on it was quite dangerous. Doing it at rush hour wasn’t going to be just a walk in the park.

Out the parking lot to the feeder road and turn right so I can head East to the nearest intersection – no problem. Merge from the feeder road onto the main road and then cross three lanes so I could get into the left turn lane in order to make a legal U-Turn… oh-boy! Wow I made it safely to the traffic light and sat there waiting for it to turn green. The light turns green so it is time to go. I start to rev the motor and ease out the clutch… What the heck… why it the motor making all that noise and why am I still sitting here???? You dummy!!! Put the freaking bike in gear!!!!! Let’s try it again – Put the bike in first gear, rev the motor, ease out on the clutch, and quickly stall the bike… Now the horns are starting to blow. One more time! Start the bike, make sure it is still in gear, rev the motor, ease out the clutch, and start to roll, make the turn, shift to second, and roll on the throttle, shift and… hey, you got this - first hurdle is down and I am rolling towards the house. This isn’t that bad! Now I get to the next intersection where I need to wait for the traffic light. Damn there are cars all around me – why are they so close! Give me some dang space!!!! Riding on the road is going to take some getting used to

I can remember those events and those thoughts going through my head so many years ago just like it was yesterday. One thing is for sure, I am glad that Hurricane killed the Tornado because I have had a LOT of fun and rode a lot of miles through the years since venturing out onto the Black-Top Jungle.
Ha, sounds like we're related!
 
Nice story about the trike and the kids putting little finger prints all over your new bike:D:eek:
I posted this on a HD web site that I help with and thought you might find it interesting


Well just checking the Harley site and the three wheeler video is now gone.Hope you had a chance to look at it,it was pretty informative.
What site did you post it too?
 
Well Harley took it off of You Tube,it was from Harley but I guess they didn't wanna spread the word.It was a really good video for their product and safety.
This is the Harley site where I help behind the scenes a little,we just can't get any posters but it is just for fun so we don't care:)I don't remember if you have to register or not to see it.
http://www.hdvtwinforums.com/forum/
 
I did see this last year while picking up parts just up the street,I stayed in the car as walking was almost impossible last year.I did what I could.
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Jim..is that a heal toe shifter..I might need one in the near future and do you like it?

Once you get accustomed to them, you won't know how you rode without one! I put floorboards and a H/T shifter on my 1100 about a year after I bought it. When I got my 1200, it wast the FIRST thing I bought for the bike.
 
Well the reason I asked was this coming thursday I am having a 4x1 plate and a lot of screws put in my ankle to reattach it to my leg and I think up shifting will be a major problem but down shifting I should be ok.Also thinking about floorboards but I think they would limit my cornering as I do lean over a little.
 
I've said it before... when the boards are dragging, that's when I know I am having fun. It's just nerve racking the first few times it happens.
 
I just have never ridden with either so I have absolutely no knowledge on either subjects.Are we going off topic again? Oh yeah this is the Vetter site...that is where we talk about riding behind a Vetter fairing...:D

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So then is okay to talk about going to get a Vetter fairing on a bike with a Vetter fairing already on it?
 
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