It was worth it!!!!!!!!

[jeffe]

Got back Saturday from a week long ride down thru the Smokey Mountains on my 78E. Almost 1900 miles. I ran into rain, 40MPH winds and some 40 degree days. Sometimes all at the same time! It was worth it!!
The bike ran great. I look back at what it was when I got it 3 years ago to what I have now. I remember relining the tank and thinking I'm flushing enough rust out of it to build myself a new Chevy Vega. To learning about the pick up coil problems and all the other things I had to learn about. I am at best a reluctant mechanic. Growing up on a farm we had to fix things all the time and I learned real quick that I could work on things but I really don't enjoy it. It was worth it!!
Because of my limited time I've not expended any effort to make her look any better. But maybe I won't. It was kinda fun to have a guy on a brand new shiny Harley look down his nose at my " rat " bike, untill he had problems keeping up. The he would ask how old is it, and I would proudly say 28 years old. It was worth it.
I had been out of riding for around 7 or 8 years and had forgoteen just how great it was. I was down in the mountains when the leaves were at their peak of color. Every time I crested a hill and could only think WOW!!!, I thought , It was worth it!!!
I plan on doing a dreide report soon.

[TomKat]

Kinda what I am looking forward to in the spring/summer.

[TADracer]

I envy you, Jeffe. I have to ride a couple of hours just to get out of flat land!

I have been thinking about taking the wife and my machine on a vacation to the Smokies next year. After reading your post, I might just strap her in the bed of my pick-up and take off.

[CWilliamson]

Your wife or machine?

Clark

[jeffe]

I've been down there several times on a bike. If you want a nice place to stay you may try here. http://www.blueridgemotorcyclecamp.com/

There are other places like this but this is where I've always stayed.

[DiverRay]

TADracer,
The REAL way is to sit her on the back of the bike, get some soft saddle bags, and RIDE to the Smokies. I did 7,200 miles on my '79 this past summer, so the 4,000 round trip shouldn't be too bad for you.
Ray

[jeffe]

My 78 is equiped with the whole Vetter package. Fairing, trunk, and bags. I did right around 7k miles this summer myself. The first trip we took on this bike was the XS11 rally in W VA. this year. About 3k of the total was with the wife on the back. We bought one of the cheap intercoms so we could talk and have had a great time. The thing that scares me is that she has a tendacy to fall asleep. But in all years she has ridden with me she hasn't fallen off yet. So go for it. Getting there is what riding a bike is about!!!

[TADracer]

Your wife or machine?

Hmmmmmm, I gotta make a choice?

[strom]

I put the whole vetter package on my 78E.... and it got sooo booooring....
If I didnt have another bike I would tare it off.... winter or not.

LP

[sixtysix]

We just had the annual "Classic Jap Weekend" in northern GA. Bruce and I stayed an extra week or so and got to ride the Blueridge PKWY from Boone, NC to Asheville (rt 151 the best road off the Blue Ridge) and back again. Colors were amazing. Here is a couple of the shots.

Too bad we wre here at the same time and didn't hook up for a ride.

[jimboreeno]

WOW Gary...sweet pics!
The colors are poppin here (4+ hours East of where you were)and I took the loooong way home today!
Did you take any pics at the rally?? (or were you too busy sparking pegs?)

[sixtysix]

I don't have any rally pictures - tough to lead rides and take pictures. We didn't get back until almost dark on Sat. I was hoping others took photos this time.