Since I scheduled last years adventure ride for me and two of my son's, one of them scheduled this years ride from Illinois to the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway and Key West.

We started on Friday July 16 and returned home Thursday July 22nd. The entire trip was in a tropical heat wave of 100 to 105 degrees with an index of 118.

We ran into a one mile long stop and go back up in Kentucky due to an auto accident. I was on a 2010 Ultra that was stock so it was running 14.7 to one air/fuel ratio and had the cat in the head pipe.

I was never so surprised that the engine never overheated and went into the limp mode. My legs and feet never got hot at all. No pinging and I was running 89 octane the entire ride.

We got to the Dragon and 129 was just re-opened so we went right through. I did the best I could on a HD bagger. Only two sport bikes passed me in the 18 miles.

Then we went to the Skyway which was an even better ride as it went up to over 5,200 ft elevation and had great scenic overlooks.

We dropped down through S.C. to Georgia above Atlanta. The next day we managed to get will into Florida. From there we got to Key West.

The rest of the trip was through the panhandle to Alabama,Mississippi, Louisiana and up through Arkansas,Missouri and back to Illinois.

The temps stayed into the hundreds all the way. The trip was about 4,000 mile for about 500 miles per day.

We stopped every two hours and tried to drink all the Gatorade that the quick marts had in the coolers.

At 70 years of age, the ride took me to the limits of endurance but after each stop I motored on.

The main thing I learned about the HD touring bike is that the posts on this forum about the motors over heating and excessive heat on the feet and legs is total B.S. The muffler turning blue is B.S. also.

In stop and go traffic, I would twist the throttle forward to shut off the rear cylinder and every time the light showed green that it was not above temp to require the rear cylinder shut off.

So, to all the crying pussies I call B.S.

 

You, sir, are my hero. I hope I'm riding like you when I'm your age.

Totally agree on the heat thing too.

 

My muffler is a nice deep ocean blue. Same bike. Stock. My dealer said it was the first they had seen. HD says it's poor chrome... never the less, it was pretty hot to do that.

 

At 60 I love hearing these stories. May you continue to ride hard and long.

 

Another awesome memory! Good for You!

 

Even with the heat, sounds like you had a great time.
Next year......head for snow country!

 

Those are the kind of stories I like to read. Good job on the long ride and hot temps. Hope I can do it when I'm 70.

 

sounds like an amazing ride! Hope I can do that when I'm your age.

 

The new style crossover does go a long way to reducing heat on the riders right leg. I know of guys with older bikes who have fitted the new headers on their bikes to get the cross under pipe instead of the goofy h-pipe on the older bikes.

 

at 53 me and my 2 sons are riding to sturgis (1-10 /1-27) I HOPE AT 70 I WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE LIKE THAT enjoy