Next week off to ride the east Coast of USA , starting from New York we are heading north as far as Quebec then south down to Keywest Florida. A 180 then back to NY via the lovely old southern towns of Savannah and Charleston.
Some in group crating bikes up for return to NZ at NY but a group of diehards heading on to Los Angeles. Will be an epic ride totalling around 60 days. Hooray, missed winter in NZ.
Next year the 75th anniversary at Sturgis, getting a group for this totally astounding ride through the best of the States. have a look at www.kiwiken.co.nz Dont dilly dally, a big country, wonderful locals , amazing sights and riding and a bloody good price.
Cheers Ken
Winding up drongos, foil hat wearers and over sensitive KBers for over 14,000 posts...........
" Life is not a rehearsal, it's as happy or miserable as you want to make it"
We are in Dalhart atm, (Northern tip of Texas) looking to head direct North towards Sturgis sometime but accommodation costs are prohibitive ($500/night) so may just cruise in for a couple of hours for bragging rights......
"If you haven't grown up by the time you turn 50, you don't have to!"
I heard the town's infested with harley owners that weekend.
I suggest you go a week earlier to avoid the beards, badges and tasseled crowds.
ms
Part of the Sturgis experience is being there amongst the beard, badges and tasseled crowds. A highlight of my riding career has been parking a New Zealand registered Yamaha FJR1300 amongst the millions of Harleys on Sturgis's main street. The bearded, beer-gutted, tattooed Harley riders who were there didn't judge us. Indeed they were pleased to meet us, as were we to meet them.
"Standing on your mother's corpse you told me that you'd wait forever." [Bryan Adams: Summer of 69]
Part of the Sturgis experience is being there amongst the beard, badges and tasseled crowds. A highlight of my riding career has been parking a New Zealand registered Yamaha FJR1300 amongst the millions of Harleys on Sturgis's main street. The bearded, beer-gutted, tattooed Harley riders who were there didn't judge us. Indeed they were pleased to meet us, as were we to meet them.
You are sooo right there Hitch, It was monumental moment(3 days!) in motorcycling for me! Had time of my life!
No, I have never had any HD.
I took my own Buell Ulysses, got lots of attention both for the bike and its NZ origins!
Hitch, when you said bearded, beer gutted etc, did you mean like this........
I'm no gynaecologist, however I would be happy to take a look......................
Part of the Sturgis experience is being there amongst the beard, badges and tasseled crowds. A highlight of my riding career has been parking a New Zealand registered Yamaha FJR1300 amongst the millions of Harleys on Sturgis's main street. The bearded, beer-gutted, tattooed Harley riders who were there didn't judge us. Indeed they were pleased to meet us, as were we to meet them.
My experience too - mind you, I WAS on an Ultaglide Classic!
And the Kiwi silver fen on the back of my vest also got plenty of attention.
"Hey that guy's from Noo Zeeland!"
Winding up drongos, foil hat wearers and over sensitive KBers for over 14,000 posts...........
" Life is not a rehearsal, it's as happy or miserable as you want to make it"
Yeup, had a really long snorkel... then it dawned on them
Originally Posted by Jane Omorogbe from UK MSN on the KTM990SM
It's barking mad and if it doesn't turn you into a complete loon within half an hour of cocking a leg over the lofty 875mm seat height, I'll eat my Arai.
Excellent trip, up to Quebec and as far south as Key West, getting chased by a Hurricane Arthur but the Harleys came through strongly and Arthur fizzled out but managed to buggar up our ride up to Cape Hatteras and our visit to the Wright Bros. memorial. Several wonderful sunny days riding through Savannah and Beaufort North Carolina where we amused the locals at our attempts at joining in the line dancing.
Bloody difficult after imbibing the $2.00 Coronas at the bar we had set up each night .
Several in group shipped bikes home from New Jersey and remaining 10 bikes headed off for a 5000 k jaunt to Los Angeles.
17 days and through amazing sights, the Amish communities, Gettysburg , a bloody Civil war battle that wiped out 50000 over a week.
One highlight was riding the Lincoln Trail, oldest road in the States, well maintained and now as the Freeway runs parallel no trucks . Runs past historic homes and steeped in history.
Route 66 in parts a little disappointing, not well maintained and after riding most of it, absolutely sure I would prefer the Arizona and California rides at all times.
Surprised at the size of several places I had visited earlier, Albuquerque now 500,000 and the old town swallowed up by extending reaches of more Hotels , restaurants, gas stations that service the many thousands using I 40 daily.
A warm day in Yuma., nearly up to 50, bloody hard to walk to the liquor store and wasn't going to get back on bike.
Getting on the coast at San Diego was cooler and after a great night trying many varieties of Tequila rode up to Lax for our return to NZ.
A wonderful trip much enjoyed by all, 27 bikes, my tool bag, and first aid box never opened.
Planning ahead for Sturgis and Canada next year.
Hope you can make it .
Cheers Kiwi Ken
24th: 1500 LAX to Harbor City to pick up the turbo Vrod from storage. 6 cylinders short of my ideal, but… it really does get up and go under boost when you twist the throttle, does that bike. 9 miles.
25th: 0540 Harbor City to Reno via CA14. Excellent scenery on that road, never been that way before. Mountains were just beautiful. Weather terrific. Stopped off in Bodie, well worth seeing - did require 26 miles of dirt riding on the Vrod :-). Out of California, into Nevada. 514 miles.
26th: 0710 Reno to just outside Salt Lake City via Route 50 a.k.a. "The Loneliest Road in America". Despite that, there were two speed traps on it… but I was running under the limit, having a good look around at superb scenery second day in a row, and checking out the Pony Express historical sites. 125 miles from Ely to Wendover on one tank of gas - no gas stations in between, so kept it under 70 to not run dry. Then a fast run out of Nevada into Utah; 80 mph speed limit, what's not to like? Paid my respects at Bonneville to the ghost of the World's Fastest Indian. 553 miles.
27th - 28th: Salt Lake City to Ogden, Air Force Museum: lovely machinery and ya gots ya horsepower right there behind the driver's seats… Then, a fast run up I-15 and left at Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon. Spectacular. Out again on side roads to rejoin 15 before a right turn to Yellowstone; hmmm, slow moving traffic and no California-style filtering allowed. Oh well. Then to Butte and replace a highway peg at Copper Canyon H-D. North to Helena for the night… spent dusk exploring the historical part of that pretty town. Up at sparrowchirp because, why not. Then turn left, then right via Missoula and Kalispell to Glacier Park, 'Going to the Sun' riding the Loop and Logan Pass - and of course, stopping at Jackson Glacier Outlook. Signs says there are fewer glaciers than there used to be but who can tell… Looping outward via Havre to the Missouri Breaks (because, the movie…) and then to Great Falls just after sunset. Stayed a day in Great Falls… got work to catch up on and, somehow, unexpectedly :-) I needed new tires front and rear. 1217 miles.
29th - 30th: Yeah, tires done (and new front brake pads :-) ). Late getting on the road but better to have lots of tread and grip. Great Falls to Canada through Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw to Saskatoon (because, the song…). Stopped for Mountain Dew made with ++ sugar and maple smoked bacon jerky - double yum! - then a fast run back through Wild Horse entry port before it closed… Magnificent scenery and blue skies all the way in and out of Montana, plus cheap gas, and 3 of boost running on the turbo. Yes!!! Next: North Dakota...
Glad I have rooms booked. Many hotels very busy and many booked solid. Guess it figures when you have 600,000 bikers staying in a town about size of Otaki. Still room in our container so if you sort out a bit time off, and want to experience the absolutely Worlds Biggest and baddest rally now you can. Reasonable cost and some amazing rides into Canada then into the Best of the West.
have a look and if keen contact me. www.kiwiken.co.nz.
Cheers all.
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Originally Posted by 400sm
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