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Am I Insane to Try This? OK, I am bidding on getting my first Harley. Its description reads: 1993 Harley-Davidson : Dyna / FXR : Dyna Wide Glide. This is a 80 c.i. evolution. Very dependable, fast and fun. Just to list a few up-grades: Hannan's heads, (valves, springs, retainers, porting, etc) JE pistons, S&S carb., Vance and Hines pipes, La Pera seat, Harley saddle bags, chubby bars, Progressive Suspension front springs (lower), Progressive rear shocks Model 440, Crane Ignition (Hi-4), Andrews EV-59 cam, Crane adjustable pushrods, Jim's Big Axel lifters, Metzler tires, Rivera Engineering clutch spring, Barnett Kevlar clutch, new battery, charging rotor and voltage regulator and final drive belt. The odometer has about 38K miles, and the top end was done at 20K miles. Now for my Question: This bike is in CA. Is it completely nutty for me to buy it and ride it to Daytona Beach Bike Week? The seller is not sure he would want to do it in the Winter. I would ride to LA where an old girl friend would love to see me, then head east via the southern route. I am not experienced at *Harley* wrenching, but I think that I could fix what ever needed attention along the way. I know this is a long trip, almost 4,000 mi by the time I get home to PA. I am not new to riding, but I haven't ridden in 30 years. I used to take 400 mi trips on a dirt bike, but I have never attempted a trip of this length on any kind of bike. Am I insane to bid on this bike? I could ship it east for around $700, but I would not likely get it in time for bike week, and besides, the cross country trip would be a Hell of an adventure.
Scott - You have two things working against you on the trip you're thinking about. One, you really won't know the condition of the bike you're buying until you get on the road. Having it checked by a local wrench (in CA) would help, but man you don't want to get out on the desert or in the badlands and have something go wrong. Second, you haven't ridden in 30 years. Riding across the country is a hell of a way to get back into riding. Doing 500-600 miles a day, day after day is hard on the body and even more so on the mind. It's like deciding you want to take up running, and entering a marathon right after buying a pair of running shoes. I'm not saying you can't pull it off, but you're stacking the odds against you. -JB Yeah, that's why I was thinking the first leg of the trip would be to LA, and I can hole up there for a day or two and re-evaluate if the trip seems too arduous after the first leg, which would be about 5 1/2 hours and 375 mi. I could even rent a pickup or a vehicle with a trailer if the trip gets to be too much. I would be cool with getting a room for a day or two along the way to relax and rest. I am not going to try doing it in 4 days! I haven't bought it yet, although I did put in a bid, but haven't reached the reserve yet. Getting a local wrench to look at it is a good idea. Any ideas on how to find someone that I can pay to go look at the bike? Anyone on the forum near Livermore that can go look at it for me? You will never know, unless you try. My instincts say, GO FOR IT!!! I'm one who usually marches to a different drummer. If it's a passion with you, then do it. But, be prepared to handle the worst scenario. 1. If you haven't ridden in 30 years, take a riding course. You'll be surprised how things have changed. 2. Subscribe to a roadside towing service. There's the one from HOG, AAA and others. 3. Pack a cell phone with a charger that can be connected to the bike. 4. 300 miles a day is a bunch for a new rider. You nay plan 500, but you'll probably be down to 250 after the first day. 5. Go to the MTF (motorcycle touring forum) and pose this plan over there. 6. Don't ride beyond your ability. The best way to become a statistic on a motorcycle is riding when you're so tired and beat that you are riding on instinct and are not alert to the things going on around you. You need all your faculties going for you, 100 %. 7. Take along "Gator Aid" to replenish your electrolytes. It's easy to get dehydrated and not realize it. 8. I'd recommend you go to the Gerbing web site, and get yourself a heated vest, pant liners, gloves and socks. You'll be nice and toasty for the whole trip. I guarantee, you'll never regret having done so. 9. It's going to take a while before you learn everything on that new bike, but if you can, get a manual and read up on it. Copy the electrical schematic and take it with you. 10. when you have the bike check out, have them change all the fluids. At least you know you are starting out fresh. Don't forget to have them check the brake pads. With 30k they probably have never been changed. 11. And last, but not least, enjoy your new ride. I just wish I was going along with you. Go for it!! If you don't you'll always regret it. I've done similar trips in old cars over the years... I live in NY...these are my adventures...
Never had a problem I didn't overcome. Never had to do it, but was always ready to rent a uhaul with trailer if necessary... These are adventures I'll never forget... I know this is not the popular opinion, but I think you should go for it. Just take it easy for the first few days until you feel comfortable riding again. The only way to get into riding again is to ride. As far as the dependability of the bike, the worst thing likely to happen is you need to call for a pickup, maybe do a roadside repair, or you have to rent a 4-wheeled vehicle to get home. One of my favorite things for long trips is sheep skin for the seat. will keep the monkey butt at bay. buy yourself a car seat cover, cut it when you get the bike. if you can sew put a piece of elastic in the front to go under the nose of the seat, if not, your body will keep it down. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, if you fill up the tank and don't empty yours, you're not drinking enough. I'm hoping you DO do this. Reason? It'll give you more insight into what it is to be a biker. Going to "gatherings" makes you no more a biker than watching ER makes you a doctor. Going on the road, riding across the states with limited preparation speaks volumes of the man in you. Any(fuckin')body can trailer down to a "Bike Week". Riding a 'bought' motorcycle back across the USA speaks volumes of 'who you are'. WTF is the worst that can happen...you get stuck in Podunk? So fuckin' what? I've been stuck in Podunk. The people there were more friendly than the car-jackers in Philly. You're a journalist, right? Write a cross-country article. Write about something YOU did for a change...not something someone else did. If your gonna reply with excuses, save it. I've already heard 'em. Do not attempt such a ride after a 30 year layoff. You do not have the skills that may be required over that many miles. Buy something close to home. Take a safety course first. Hone you skills on short trip on roads you know. Only then should you attempt a x-country trip. You've had a lot of good advice so far on this thread. I'll just restate a couple of items. When stopping for gas and a leak I almost always take a few extra minutes and buy a bottle of water. Drink, stretch and get back on the road. It doesn't cut into your miles that badly and it keeps you from dehydrating. Windshields: Like you, and many others, I'm not a big fan of them for most of my riding. For longer trips I did buy a detachable. Makes a big difference as the day wears on. Also when in the helmet required states it will save a lot on your neck muscles. That helmet has a lot of wind resistance and the windshield will help. Two items are the riding hours and the mechanics. It's usually not a big deal to ride 300 to 400 miles in a day. That's a reasonable start in the morning and getting off the road at a decent time. With plenty of rest stops along the way. A little earlier start, and a later stop and you can easily add a couple hundered more. My only caution is that when you feel yourself getting tired, stop. A half hour nap at a rest area can put you on the road in good shape. As for the mechanics of the bike, you've stated you're going to have it checked out by a competent wrench before the start. It also sounds like you feel you have the competence to do work on it. Anything major and you're going to need a shop anyway, and that's what the phone is for. Worst case scenario you have to have it towed in and then rent a vehicle to get it home. WTF, go for it. Good luck on being top bidder. You cannot plan an adventure. If you wait to do somthing until everything is safe an secure you'll be one of those old folks looking back and wishin' they woulda. I for one don't wanna wait till I retire to enjoy life.If you have the time,$$ and the heart for it DO IT!! While everybody is talkin' about the crazy bastard on the net you'll have lotsa real stories to share with the "wish I could do that" bunch. You'll be dead alot longer than alive so LIVE. |
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