Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Big Bend country

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 4, 2015 | 08:34 PM
  #11  
Blue Tick's Avatar
Blue Tick
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 821
Likes: 54
From: Tomball, Tx.
Default

We are making this run in November. Big Bend is a great trip anyway you go.
 
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2015 | 10:51 PM
  #12  
woodreaux's Avatar
woodreaux
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 653
Likes: 116
From: Texas
Default

I go out to BB several times each year and have for many years. Suggest you think about October. Another great time is late Feb - early March when the desert blooms.
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 01:21 AM
  #13  
silvrbill's Avatar
silvrbill
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 58
From: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Default

The Hill Country has better rides, lots of twists and turns.
Fredericksburg is relaxing, so is Bandera and Luckenbach.
All the convenience store have free maps of the area.
Plenty of campgrounds in the area.
Ingram is a good place to start if you're riding the Sisters.
Very scenic and motorcycle friendly.
Lots of shopping in Bandera for hand-made jewelry, etc.
Big Bend will be very hot in August.
Feb/March/April and October are better times to go.
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 07:09 AM
  #14  
EasTexUltra12's Avatar
EasTexUltra12
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
Default

Thanks, guys. I appreciate all the info. Looks like I've got to go...but not in August!

Ride Safe

David
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 07:39 AM
  #15  
billnourse's Avatar
billnourse
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
Default

we were in Big Bend the first of May. It was pretty hot, but not unbearable. It is nice country if you like desert. I personally think there are better places to ride, but it is worth seeing.





Watch for these:





Bill
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 09:05 AM
  #16  
Rathgar's Avatar
Rathgar
Tourer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 274
Likes: 17
From: West Slope Colorado
Default

I cleared BB from my bucket list a few weeks ago, wished I had a couple days to have stayed and looked around some more. I figured I might not be this close again so I took a quick 2 day trip from New Braunfels.
Finished up the last of the Twisted Sisters on my way back. it was hotter than hell and the ride from Del Rio West sucks pretty bad until you get back into some hills.
If I'm ever back down here in the cooler months I'll go back.
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 09:44 AM
  #17  
Sierra977's Avatar
Sierra977
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,251
Likes: 3,990
From: Windwardside, Saba N.A.
Default

Almost forgot... You can hide the motors in the bushes down by Boquillas Hot Springs and swim the Rio Grande over to a tiny Mexican village that has one old-time bar. This place is real-deal end-of-the-dirt-road Mexico. Sometimes there is a guy with a small rowboat that will ferry you across but we usually just swim. It is REMOTE. There is NO border patrol or anything. Just do it. Last time swam back carrying a bottle of Mescal tequila, worm and all. Passed that bottle back and forth between motors on the way back to civilization. It was f*cking awesome.
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 10:13 AM
  #18  
Sierra977's Avatar
Sierra977
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,251
Likes: 3,990
From: Windwardside, Saba N.A.
Default

Quick Big Bend story...

It was May of 1992 and we were in that part of Texas for a few days. Visiting Texas' only gold mine at Shafter, Marfa lights, old original Reatta restaurant at Alpine, the beer-drinking goat named Henry Clay who was the elected mayor of Terlingua, old movie sets of Giant and 13 Days to Glory (oops, meant the 1960 movie The Alamo - John Wayne movie made from a book written by a guy from my small-town Texas hometown) and basically terrorizing the countryside. Even got to shoot machine guns across the river when a deuce-and-a-half of Mexican Army troops drove across the river to drink at the bar in Terlingua. We were bullet-proof and invisible.

So we're deep in Big Bend Park and decide to go for a swim in the hot springs at Boquilla. Get there and run into three other guys on Harleys. Clean-cut dudes who had this air about them. Turns out all three are FBI on vacation. Well what the hell, we're all going to the same place so...

Get to the hot springs and climb through the tall reeds to get to the water, climb in and start passing the bottle around. After an hour or so of talk and laughter we hear this crashing sound coming from the tall reeds.

We can't see through the reeds but what ever it is is pretty big.

First thought through our minds is it's a pack of javelina hogs coming to water. That would not be a good thing. Pigs will tear you up.

FBI guys have pistols in shoulder holsters and all three draw down on the noise and we all just sit there in the hot spring, quiet and still as death.

Crashing noise gets closer and we figure it's gonna be a fight.

After what seemed an eternity the crashing is right on top of us, the reeds spread apart and what do we see...?

A grizzled old prospector and his donkey. Just like out of a movie.

He was damned sure surprised to see us, especially with guns pointed at him and we were just crazy relieved to see him and started laughing like wild men (and Miss Kitty).

The whole trip was like that but that's what West Texas and especially Brewster County is like.

If you go, bring you own money and your own women cause there ain't none of either out there.
 

Last edited by Sierra977; Aug 5, 2015 at 10:25 AM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 10:22 AM
  #19  
EasTexUltra12's Avatar
EasTexUltra12
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Sierra977
Quick Big Bend story...

It was May of 1992 and we were in that part of Texas for a few days. Visiting Texas' only gold mine at Shafter, Marfa lights, old original Reatta restaurant at Alpine, the beer-drinking goat named Henry Clay who was the elected mayor of Terlingua, old movie sets of Giant and 13 Days to Glory and basically terrorizing the countryside. Even got to shoot machine guns across the river when a deuce-and-a-half of Mexican Army troops drove across the river to drink at the bar in Terlingua. We were bullet-proof and invisible.

So we're deep in Big Bend Park and decide to go for a swim in the hot springs at Boquilla. Get there and run into three other guys on Harleys. Clean-cut dudes who had this air about them. Turns out all three are FBI on vacation. Well what the hell, we're all going to the same place so...

Get to the hot springs and climb through the tall reeds to get to the water, climb in and start passing the bottle around. After an hour or so of talk and laughter we hear this crashing sound coming from the tall reeds.

We can't see through the reeds but what ever it is is pretty big.

First thought through our minds is it's a pack of javelina hogs coming to water. That would not be a good thing. Pigs will tear you up.

FBI guys have pistols in shoulder holsters and all three draw down on the noise and we all just sit there in the hot spring, quiet and still as death.

Crashing noise gets closer and we figure it's gonna be a fight.

After what seemed an eternity the crashing is right on top of us, the reeds spread apart and what do we see...?

A grizzled old prospector and his donkey. Just like out of a movie.

He was damned sure surprised to see us, especially with guns pointed at him and we were just crazy relieved to see him and started laughing like wild men (and Miss Kitty).

The whole trip was like that but that's what West Texas and especially Brewster County is like.

If you go, bring you own money and your own women cause there ain't none of either out there.
LOL Good story, thanks for sharing it!
 
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2015 | 10:30 AM
  #20  
Sierra977's Avatar
Sierra977
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,251
Likes: 3,990
From: Windwardside, Saba N.A.
Default

Originally Posted by EasTexUltra12
LOL Good story, thanks for sharing it!
Hey man! Up to a few months ago my son lived in Waskom.

How is that metropolis these days?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:07 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE