Lou Girardin
8th November 2004, 20:14
Damn, I had to take another rental to run it in. So it was north to Pukenui for the God-daughters 1st birthday and Guido Fawkes night.
It was another Harley, a f#*k-off tourer Ultra Classic. Now if you're going to tour at the speed limit, this is how it's done. Armchair for the pillion, sound system with the Ipod and FM transmitter tuned in, helmet speakers and intercom all A OK. Although it does take a while to get used to the dissembodied voice saying how lovely the scenery is.
This Harley has had the cans de-baffled, a high flow air cleaner and ECM download to suit. It doesn't half make a difference, it was quicker than the Heritage I used last and it weighs another 50 kg's.
The amazing thing is that it steers like a little bike, it's got a very different front end set-up, the forks are set well back from the steering head. It's effortless in turning and actually has reasonable ground clearance.
I think this one has to go on my Lotto winnings list
I'm getting quite blase about this trip north now, having done it so often, but it was fun to set the cruise control and wave to other bikers with both hands.
We did the run to Cape Reinga next day by cage because these rentals aren't supposed to be used on dirt roads. There's only twenty k's of dirt left now and when it's all sealed this is going to be biker mecca. Just avoid the buses and camper vans.
We spent a wonderful time with our friends there, you really seem to appreciate people a lot more if you don't see them so often. Country "do's' are great fun, they have livestock that go on spits and produce for salads and dips that never run out and no-one worries about check points because;
a/ there aren't any and
b/ people camp on your front lawn.
I had to go against my better judgement and wear jeans on the ride back, there's no airflow on these things and you cook. No wonder Yanks ride in shirts and shorts. We struck 5 minutes of drizzle at the end of the Waipoua forest, but you don't get wet anyway. This would have to have been the best weather for months. Please give us more.
As testament to the comfort of these beasts, wifey darling didn't complain once about aches and pains. She's not bike fit, you see, so this is a real plus for Messrs Harley and Davidson.
Just one sour note though, once these tanks start to topple there's no stopping them. It fell over while we were trying to get out of a tight parking spot, but we held it just enough so that it gently subsided onto the crash bars and we managed to heave it upright with no damage, try that with your plastic Beemers.
God, I'm started to sound like a Hoglet. Time to get back on the Bandit and grab some reality.
It was another Harley, a f#*k-off tourer Ultra Classic. Now if you're going to tour at the speed limit, this is how it's done. Armchair for the pillion, sound system with the Ipod and FM transmitter tuned in, helmet speakers and intercom all A OK. Although it does take a while to get used to the dissembodied voice saying how lovely the scenery is.
This Harley has had the cans de-baffled, a high flow air cleaner and ECM download to suit. It doesn't half make a difference, it was quicker than the Heritage I used last and it weighs another 50 kg's.
The amazing thing is that it steers like a little bike, it's got a very different front end set-up, the forks are set well back from the steering head. It's effortless in turning and actually has reasonable ground clearance.
I think this one has to go on my Lotto winnings list
I'm getting quite blase about this trip north now, having done it so often, but it was fun to set the cruise control and wave to other bikers with both hands.
We did the run to Cape Reinga next day by cage because these rentals aren't supposed to be used on dirt roads. There's only twenty k's of dirt left now and when it's all sealed this is going to be biker mecca. Just avoid the buses and camper vans.
We spent a wonderful time with our friends there, you really seem to appreciate people a lot more if you don't see them so often. Country "do's' are great fun, they have livestock that go on spits and produce for salads and dips that never run out and no-one worries about check points because;
a/ there aren't any and
b/ people camp on your front lawn.
I had to go against my better judgement and wear jeans on the ride back, there's no airflow on these things and you cook. No wonder Yanks ride in shirts and shorts. We struck 5 minutes of drizzle at the end of the Waipoua forest, but you don't get wet anyway. This would have to have been the best weather for months. Please give us more.
As testament to the comfort of these beasts, wifey darling didn't complain once about aches and pains. She's not bike fit, you see, so this is a real plus for Messrs Harley and Davidson.
Just one sour note though, once these tanks start to topple there's no stopping them. It fell over while we were trying to get out of a tight parking spot, but we held it just enough so that it gently subsided onto the crash bars and we managed to heave it upright with no damage, try that with your plastic Beemers.
God, I'm started to sound like a Hoglet. Time to get back on the Bandit and grab some reality.