Adv riding the king
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,423
From: USA
Adv riding the king
Something seems out of place here
Surely this isn't a group where one would see a touring harley....
Omg! What's he doing there!
An almost 400 mile day, with nearly 200 od it being with those hooligans. Yes, about half was on twisty potholed paved roads. But quite a bit was on dirt or coal tracks. Sand, slimy mud, rocks, branches, an indignant goat, many dogs and chickens and ducks. While slimy mud is darn hard, the king and I never went down. I missed one of the harder spot work arounds, so I ended up on the top of a mountain via a seriously rocky 4x4 track. The ride leader was astonished when I came up and parked.
The shock and fork oil upgrades I've made worked superbly. If I ever bottomed out either end, it did so so gently I never felt it. The bike floated through potholes and over rocks without ever a hint of harshness or jarring. It stayed consistently steady and stable. Even while flying down some of those tracks at speeds of 40-60 mph. A skill I did not have at the start of the ride.
The swing arm bushing shims worked fantastically as well. The rear end stayed planted solidly, without a hint of rear steer, ever. Not even on the interstate ride home, which on pa highways can involve some seriously interesting sweepers.
I don't think I'll do this ride again on it, but it went well. Very well. Again the bike continues to amaze me with its versatility and abilities. It provided comic relief to many along the route who were watching the procession of klr's, ktm's, vstrom's and the like, only to see a harley in their midsts. A long 14 hours of riding. Didn't get my best gas mileage out ther in the woods or rocks either. Can't imagine why.
Surely this isn't a group where one would see a touring harley....
Omg! What's he doing there!
An almost 400 mile day, with nearly 200 od it being with those hooligans. Yes, about half was on twisty potholed paved roads. But quite a bit was on dirt or coal tracks. Sand, slimy mud, rocks, branches, an indignant goat, many dogs and chickens and ducks. While slimy mud is darn hard, the king and I never went down. I missed one of the harder spot work arounds, so I ended up on the top of a mountain via a seriously rocky 4x4 track. The ride leader was astonished when I came up and parked.
The shock and fork oil upgrades I've made worked superbly. If I ever bottomed out either end, it did so so gently I never felt it. The bike floated through potholes and over rocks without ever a hint of harshness or jarring. It stayed consistently steady and stable. Even while flying down some of those tracks at speeds of 40-60 mph. A skill I did not have at the start of the ride.
The swing arm bushing shims worked fantastically as well. The rear end stayed planted solidly, without a hint of rear steer, ever. Not even on the interstate ride home, which on pa highways can involve some seriously interesting sweepers.
I don't think I'll do this ride again on it, but it went well. Very well. Again the bike continues to amaze me with its versatility and abilities. It provided comic relief to many along the route who were watching the procession of klr's, ktm's, vstrom's and the like, only to see a harley in their midsts. A long 14 hours of riding. Didn't get my best gas mileage out ther in the woods or rocks either. Can't imagine why.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 49
From: Northern California
This is just awesome !! Way to have the ***** to do this, most folks will not even risk getting the bike dusty on a hard dirt road or gravel. I have not done a ride like this but have taken my Kings some pretty rough areas and got stuck a couple times.
Dirt washes off !!!
Dirt washes off !!!
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 654
Likes: 6
From: Buna Texas
Maybe a set of those fat Bob tires. My son would have went with you. He took my 01 around his dirt track for his yz when he was 12. I had washed and waxed it . He asked if he could ride it. I told him he could if he could get it off the kick stand. He did. I was shocked when I came outside from getting a glass of tea. He was out there going through ruts and riding over his jumps like it was just a normal day. You have to remember the way these things were ridden during the wars.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: USA
It wasn't my intended ride. The old xl500 just wasn't a go, what with the cords starting to let go in the front tire. A few guys were fascinated, but more seemed to have their noses bent out of joint. The only crash was a BMW gs. By the end of the day, I was riding it a lot more like those old soldiers did back in the day than I could have guessed going into the day. I have learned it's really well balanced while airborne. No, I didn't jump it off ramps, but a few sections of those roads at the end of the day had me catching some air. I actually found myself blasting along in the middle of the pack through what seemed to be farm lanes and such. Even one banked dirt turn that looked suspiciously like an atv track.
It was fun, but I. Not too sure I plan to that particular ride again on it. Though I do have another scheduled in two weeks. That one will have some creek crossings. But all in all, I really enjoy spending all day riding beautiful scenic roads at a rather leisurely pace, drinking in the scenery.
It was fun, but I. Not too sure I plan to that particular ride again on it. Though I do have another scheduled in two weeks. That one will have some creek crossings. But all in all, I really enjoy spending all day riding beautiful scenic roads at a rather leisurely pace, drinking in the scenery.
