Trips
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Trips
How many people on this forum ride a lot of miles a year? I mean between 15,000-20,000 miles a year. I was wondering how many riders out there have truly put their Ultra's to the test by riding long miles and riding her hard? Can a Harley stand to be ridden 90-95mph for 600-900 miles and the engine take it?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
RE: Trips
Two buddies and I rode to Sturgis from Metro Atlanta last summer and at our first gas stop a guy on an Ultra asked for some help with his shifter peg and said he was going to Sturgis also. We helped him out and he joined us, but by our next gas stop he was nowhere to be found--he didn't pass us or I'd have seen him.
Two days later in Sturgis one of my buds goes for coffee in the morning at a nearby convenience store and runs into the guy. My bud asked him what happened? He said he was okay running 75/80 mph on I-75, but when we ran 85-90 he dropped out. He was pissed that he laterwas stopped for speeding in Tennessee (70 in a construction zone) and as the Trooper is writing his ticket, the guy asks the Trooper if he got the 3 guys from Georgia ahead of him? The Trooper says, "No" but you're the third biker who's told me about them.
We rode 1,000+ miles that first day on '04 EG police model (mine), '05 RK Custom, and '97 Heritage Softail.
Came back running about the same speeds. Honestly, I don't think we were running as fast as the guy thought we were--he probably had a speedo that was reading high by 5-10 mph.
So, yeah, a well-maintained and properly tuned TC should run 85-90 mph all day long. Unless it's a leaned-out '07; then I would be concerned if the a/f hasn't been richened from the stock settings.
Two days later in Sturgis one of my buds goes for coffee in the morning at a nearby convenience store and runs into the guy. My bud asked him what happened? He said he was okay running 75/80 mph on I-75, but when we ran 85-90 he dropped out. He was pissed that he laterwas stopped for speeding in Tennessee (70 in a construction zone) and as the Trooper is writing his ticket, the guy asks the Trooper if he got the 3 guys from Georgia ahead of him? The Trooper says, "No" but you're the third biker who's told me about them.
We rode 1,000+ miles that first day on '04 EG police model (mine), '05 RK Custom, and '97 Heritage Softail.
Came back running about the same speeds. Honestly, I don't think we were running as fast as the guy thought we were--he probably had a speedo that was reading high by 5-10 mph.
So, yeah, a well-maintained and properly tuned TC should run 85-90 mph all day long. Unless it's a leaned-out '07; then I would be concerned if the a/f hasn't been richened from the stock settings.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Southeastern Michigan
RE: Trips
Just an FYI, the new 07's turn about 2,800 rpm at 80, with the new 6 spd tranny.So the engine is not really working too hard at those speeds. I averaged 10,000 miles a year on my 5 spd 04 dyna, and will be doing more then that a year on my 07 SG. I am currently at 8,700 miles with a 3,500 mile trip planned for this weekend and the following week, no worries here.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 1
RE: Trips
I just got back from the "haul *** to the pass" run. I was two-up with probably 75 lbs of extra gear. We ran like that for 2729.6 miles. No problems with the bike whatsoever. The only issue I had was running down the interstate towards Raton, NM into a headwind. I was trying to run 85 but bike just would not pull in 6th gear. I had to run it in 5th.
My bike?
2007 Ultra Classic
Stage 1 AC
Screaming Eagle II pipes
Stage 1 download
Road Zepplin (for puttin on those easy miles!)
Chubby 575's
My bike?
2007 Ultra Classic
Stage 1 AC
Screaming Eagle II pipes
Stage 1 download
Road Zepplin (for puttin on those easy miles!)
Chubby 575's
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,945
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From:
RE: Trips
We jest did a 3500 mile run in early June - Colorado, Utah, New Mexico & AZ. Purty much ran 80+ whenever the opportunity arose on the 10-day trip. Coupla days were <200 miles (wimmen LOVE ta shop at ANY place on reservations that have jewelry!)
, couple were 400-600. Bike did purty much whatever ah asked until we got into higher elevations (over 4k feet) an' ah'd wanna run 6th gear at 70+ - git sum pingin'. It's an '07 UC.
Oh, did ah mention that wuz with a LOADED Bushtec Genesis trailer behind us?!??
[IMG]local://upfiles/19857/1AE8A02A9CA44C2DAD14111F800D1CA3.jpg[/IMG]
, couple were 400-600. Bike did purty much whatever ah asked until we got into higher elevations (over 4k feet) an' ah'd wanna run 6th gear at 70+ - git sum pingin'. It's an '07 UC. Oh, did ah mention that wuz with a LOADED Bushtec Genesis trailer behind us?!??
[IMG]local://upfiles/19857/1AE8A02A9CA44C2DAD14111F800D1CA3.jpg[/IMG]
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 10
From: Moneta, Va.
RE: Trips
I just returned from a two week 4000 mile round trip from Nashville Tn. to North Dakota and back.
I tried to keep her around 80 most of the time. I put about on600 miles a day going up and the same coming back
She never skipped a beat. This bike was made for high speed long distance runs....
SFS
I tried to keep her around 80 most of the time. I put about on600 miles a day going up and the same coming back
She never skipped a beat. This bike was made for high speed long distance runs....
SFS
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 317
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From: NorCal
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: Trips
I just did 3,450 miles on the Haul *** to the Pass ride and have put almost 7,000 miles on the bike in the 2 months that I have owned it.. I had no problems whatsoever with the bike. I did have to bump the idle up slightly when we got to the higher elevations, but that was easy todo on the Mikuni.
I put over 17,000 miles on my Evo FXRS last yearwith no major problems. I did have some minor stuff crop up, but that is to be expected with a 20+ year old bike.
I put over 17,000 miles on my Evo FXRS last yearwith no major problems. I did have some minor stuff crop up, but that is to be expected with a 20+ year old bike.
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