Hey all,
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Just got back from a very extended vacation on the bike solo where I busted out 2000 miles in about six days worth of riding.&nbsp\\; Won't bore you with the details but here is what I learned about my bike over that kind of mileage, which include alot of desert, high altitude and sick hot temperatures, 100+.&nbsp\\; Please feel free to add lessons you have learned to help accelerate others experience and well being ....
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Prior to my ride, I had&nbsp\\;my 2007&nbsp\\;built out to the 103, with 510 S&amp\\;S cams on a gear drive with SERT, V&amp\\;H pipes with quite baffles, a supersucker.&nbsp\\; My bike is lowered a has just a little travel in the shocks, but damn it looks cool to me.&nbsp\\; I had it loaded down with a pack, cover, kryptonite lock and a bunch of other crap, probably equivalent to a passenger.
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1)&nbsp\\; The Heritage is a freaking rock and is bothered by no wind, truck or god, despite how it might feel to the rider, relax and power forward despite the disaster that may seem evident with the blustery and violent conditions on the interstate.
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2)&nbsp\\; Do something at least as big as I did to the bike if you are going to go for a long haul, especially in torrent conditions and long big hills, the torque and power band are critical when you want to ride 80 or 90 comfortably with some soup left for a critical blast.&nbsp\\; My build was a steady as the biggest steed and weathered all perfectly up the long grades, around trucks etc.&nbsp\\; Last year with just the stage I build PCIII and pipes, it had a lot harder time in these situations.
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3) Even with the cleanest and best broken in build, the bike in high temperatures, altitude and RPM will burn about a pint of oil over 1000 miles, watch the temp, it will go up about 25 degrees above normal when you are about a pint low in high heat
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4) Newer bikes, or even older, not sure, with flat top pistons and sketchy 91 octane gas will ping (bee bee) like a mo fo, but performance is unhindered.&nbsp\\; Detonation is a "feature" of these bikes and should not be mistaken as&nbsp\\;a reason to back of the throttle.&nbsp\\; The bike did not really seem to care and responded with vigor regardless (checked that with a dealer service along the way).&nbsp\\; I used "Rocket Fuel" additive to the gas and that really helped with this alot.
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5) Stock seats need to be stripped, thrown away and replaced for long rides.&nbsp\\; I bought a Mustang for this years ride, and it made a huge difference.&nbsp\\; It has a driver backrest and that was amazing - no back issues at all.&nbsp\\; Now I'm not saying that its ever going to be as comfy as a touring model, but the difference to stock from last years much shorter ride was ridiculously better.
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6)&nbsp\\; Ear plugs are a god send.&nbsp\\; I wore none on the first half enjoying the radical rumble and mayhem of my custom build, but it beat the crap out of me and I was half deaf by the halfway point.&nbsp\\; So I put the earplugs in and what a difference.&nbsp\\; I could hear the motor more cleanly to guage RPM, still hear some road noise for balance and perspective, but so much of the wind noise and extra clatter and blat of the pipes was toned down to a bearable point.&nbsp\\; I found in fact that I could much more easily find the sweet spots in the power band this way.
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6a) Tachs are completely unnecessary on these bikes.
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7)&nbsp\\; Wearing a heavy leather jacket in 100+ degree heat rather than going short sleeves/shirt keeps you cooler in the long run, and obviously protects your body from debri and the wind rip.&nbsp\\; I guess thats why it works for cows.
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8)&nbsp\\; Beach/Pull Back bars are not designed for long runs.&nbsp\\; I have them and after about 300 miles my wrists were killing me because of the odd angles they were at because of the bar design.&nbsp\\; I was dreaming of ape hangers at about 1500 miles or anything with a more perpendicular alilgnment to my arms!
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Smokin Ed
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Nice Ed.... good read and informative.

Like your heritage. I am wanting to do the 103 as well. When I can afford it. Did you get a chance to compare gas mileage before the build and after? Just curious.

What did you use to lower your heritage? I put on a set of Low Profiles. Now I am seriously considering an air ride which will push everything else I want to do to a later date.

 

Thanks for the info Ed. Nice looking bike. I have a Heritage myself and I love it.

 

I didn't keep specific records on gas mileage, but I estimated between 40 and 45 mpg (all highway) on the trip.

 

Oh, and the lowering was done by the dealer with a lowering kit for the Softtail.

 

Good tips. I am doing a couple of thousand on my deluxe in August. I had my stock seat modded, so time will tell if it holds up for a long haul.

 

It took me a little longer, but I just completed 2,500+ miles over the last two weeks. Mostly in 100+ degree temps which, as long as you are moving, are not that bad. Have the 1550 upgrade on my '04 Heritage and wouldn't have it any other way. Not quite as peppy as my previous 1200 C, but way more comfortable. Have the stock seat, but also have a Lazy Rider that provides support. Also recently installed Wild 1's Chubby's W0504s on the bike before this latest journey. A great improvement over the stock bars, IMHO. I generally listened to the iPhone while traveling. Have Shure, noise-isolating earphones that cut out the wind noise and such and keep me from having the 'jet-lag' feeling if I ride without them in the wind and such. Also have a Throttle Mate installed to help relieve the pressure on the right hand. A great, $12 investment! I still get a little buffetting from large trucks, but I am by them so fast that it is not much of a concern.

 

Great post thanks.....

 

Thanks for the info, Ed!&nbsp\\; I'm planning on a 1000 mi ride in the california heat with a basically stock 2000 Heritage and just realized I need a few mods to make that a ride I want to remember.&nbsp\\; True dual fishtails will probably drive me crazy after a point so the earplugs sound like a winner!&nbsp\\; I will have a passenger so I'm trying to solve her "hot right leg" complaint and ordered an engine heat deflector from a sponsor here, www.RJSoriginals.com (tell RJ I sent you!) and am expecting them today or tomorrow in the mail.&nbsp\\; RJ also said it would be a wonderful escape from heat for the primary rider as well, and that we don't know what comfort we are missing out on until we put his deflectors on!&nbsp\\; From the testimonials, I believe him!
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I'm interested in gas mileage as well for your trip.&nbsp\\;Any idea? &nbsp\\;Lot of freeways here but I can't seem to break out of 31 to 34 mpg even when riding solo.&nbsp\\; Maybe I've got some sort of issue there ?? but if other's are getting 40 to 45 as I just read, I'd like to hear about how to get that for my trip.&nbsp\\;
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Thanks again for the trip info, very helpful.&nbsp\\;