A funny thing happened on the way to the bridge...

[JWSanders]

I went ahead and changed it since I could.

Looks like that was a helluva trip!! Great photos. One day when I grow up I hope to make a similar one.

Gotta love the story about you thumping the Harley. I guess he thought he was gonna take you. Money can't buy everything!

[MAXIMAN]

Thanks JW!

Of course any stock Eleven will smoke any stock Harley...XSept for maybe a V-Rod.

But this was no "stock" HD...not by a long shot. Odds are it would have clipped most stock Elevens. But gee....out of all those Elevens...Rufus just had to pick on Zilla. BADD MISTAKE!

[greyranch]

west coast ride

Awesome pictures of your ride Maximan! It is nice to put faces on some of the contributing members on this forum,puts in a more human element to the forum.Was everything silky smooth,no breakdowns,speeding tickets etc.? Brad

[MAXIMAN]

My trick 160 speedo started wobbling in central Nevada. I ordered a replacement off Ebay and had it shipped to the condo in Oregon. When I got there I replaced it. Other than that no mechanical problems...but whaddya XSpect...we were on Elevens.

Brent got a ticket from a stinkin' tax collector right outside of Castlerock the day we left. The city tax collector (read COP) picked him out of the group. Who knows why...we were all speeding slightly but nothing radical. As a matter of fact there were other vehicles passing us at the time. I really get weary of the traffic based tax collection scheme in this country...blah!

However no more tickets. As a matter of fact my V1 saved our collective butts on 6 or 7 occassions during the 2 week jaunt. We were usually running 85 to 90 mph when I'd get a heads up and shut the caravan down. The last one occured about 30 miles east of Amarillo. Brent and I were headed home at 90+ mph. I got a short bleep of Ka on the V1 and immediately braked to 73 or 74 (limit is 70 mph there). The signal slowly grew in strength over the following mile as he approached us. He was in the left lane of oncoming traffic trolling for innocent speeders . I waved in a friendly fashion and the clueless tax collector waved back. I was pleasantly shocked he was running in constant mode. When they do that they are no competition of a good RD. Too bad they are not required to operate that way!

We resumed our rapid pace and made it home from Durango (830+) miles in 12 hours and 15 minutes. That included about 1.5 hours for refueling and eats.

[Wildkat]

I knew it!

I KNEW this was going to be a great report... and once again... you did it up right!

Even MY adrenaline was pumping when I was reading about Rufus and the Hardley...

Glad y'all had a great time and that there were no... incidents...

Great pics and great people... thanks for sharing, Cody!

[Poprock]

Well said, Cody. A good time was had by all.

Dave

[DiverRay]

Cody,
You didn't say much about that one "little" stretch of Highway 1 between Westport and 101. I know the picture with ALL of us grinning was from the stop in the forest, about half way through that stretch!
20 miles of smooth road, big trees, and almost NO cars or side roads!! We ALL had the chance to go at our own pace, and really wring out the bikes!

[MAXIMAN]

Ray

I didn't say much about anything really...other than the scuffle in the tunnel because we had no pics of that.

Ya know if we wrote in detail about this 6000 mile trip I'd have a 120 page novel on my hands.

But now that you mentioned it...for all those interested...Ray took us on a road from north of Fort Bragg to south of Eureka. Google it some time and you'll see this thing is every bit as twisty as the "Dragon's Tail". It's like a 25 mile rollercoaster!!! One major improvement over the Dragoon ...TEMPERATURE...this road was a cool 60 degrees. A feat that would be near impossible to match on the other path at the first of September.

[Brent]

Pics of the speed display in the tunnel would not tell the story...The thunder and screaming sound of the engines, the smell of the huge black carbon cloud Zilla blew out in front of the big HD, The XStra bright truck LED brake lights on Zilla from way out ahead signaling that it was finished...It was something to behold!

Big trip. I took 982 pics, many of which turned out. Many, many sights along the way, and the total journey...What an XSperience.

That stretch of road north of Fort Bragg is probably the most FUN road I have been on, and I have been on some Good twisty roads. Grinned from ear to ear untill I laughed out loud.

I relly had a good time!

Brent in Ga


I didn't say much about anything really...other than the scuffle in the tunnel because we had no pics of that.
I know if we wrote in detail about this 6000 mile trip I'd have a 120 page novel on my hands.

But now that you mentioned it...for all those interested...Ray took us on a road from north of Fort Bragg to south of Eureka. Google it some time and you'll see this thing is every bit as twisty as the "Dragon's Tail". It's like a 25 mile rollercoaster!!! One major improvement over the Dragoon ...TEMPERATURE...this road was a cool 60 degrees. A feat that would be near impossible to match on the other path at the first of September. [/B][/QUOTE]

[STEPPENWOLF]

I gotta stop reading these fantastic road trip reports,just wanna quit my job and hit the road!!!!! Great report and pictures...enjoyed the report to the maxium.Wish I could write so well and tell a story.

[MAXIMAN]

Brent

What was your total mileage. It had to be at least 7000 miles because I racked up about 5500 and you went 1700 miles farther than me.

WHAT A RIDE!

[olebiker]

Sounds like a great trip. Nothing better than goin on tour. Loved the story of Rufus he likely had 40 to 50 grand in that thing. Wonder what he is ridin now.

[trukleon]

riding

In the dark shadows

[Brent]

Trip mileage

Originally posted by MAXIMAN
Brent

What was your total mileage. It had to be at least 7000 miles because I racked up about 5500 and you went 1700 miles farther than me.

WHAT A RIDE!

I rode my HD firefighters edition road king.

Trip mileage - best guess 7221. I took the state hwy south out of Stillwater, avoiding the toll road, perhaps adding a few miles. This also includes making a wrong turn in Birmingham, AL and riding hard for about one hour in the wrong direction.

mileage 8-27 94024
9-11 101243 home
9-11 101436 after Ride to Remember 9-11, about 180 mi

maintenance includes:
2 oil changes in Stillwater, Oklahoma

one tail light bulb, in Eureka Nevada

washed once in Tillamook, Oregon

one qt.oil added between desert crossings,

Walmart Battery about 40 mi NW of Birmingham Alabama,
I had 2 water bottles on my bike . One with water from Utah tasted like dust or sand. The other from Lake Tahoe tasted like snow melt. The battery got topped off with the good water. (that battery & some jumper cables I carried got me home from Oklahoma with some help from good folks along the way.)

Stator replaced last wednesday after returning. (the unlimited milage extended HD warranty is paying off)

Life is short. Ride Haard.
Brent in GA

PS
XScontent - I replaced a seal in final drive of 80XS1100SG 9-13 and replaced the universal joint on driveshaft in Rock Falls, Illinois Saturday 9-15. Thanks Matt!

[Brent]

ride

Originally posted by STEPPENWOLF
I gotta stop reading these fantastic road trip reports,

The report is well done, but the actual trip was immeasurably BETTER. There is much more that could be told, but how much can you stand?

just wanna quit my job and hit the road!!!!!

Trip time for me was just a few hours under 14 days. Got any vacation time? If you are on call, or your cell phone rings tooo much, You could throw it in the toilet and poop on it. That will make it stop...or so I have been told.

Great report and pictures...enjoyed the report to the maxium.Wish I could write so well and tell a story.

That place of optimistic childhood dreams and boundless opportunity lies just over the horizon. An XS1100 can take you there.

Brent,
sometimes in GA

You could leave Cincinatti around dawn friday, eat supper in Suches, Ga attend the vintage jap bike rally (many XSives there) leave Sunday or monday morning. A side trip to Kentucky horse Park or short cut through deals gap or along the Blue Ridge parkway would add a little time to trip, The journey could make you a story to tell.
No time off? Ride, eat, sleep. Repeat. I did this making XSeast 2004 in Cairo WV (only 48 hours between work shifts). More time off is better, but it was WORTH THE TRIP.

I have returned to work - part time. I want more traveling money & money for souveniers.