Pic Heavy 2016 Ride Report - 40 Days Following the Front Wheel

[DK Custom Products]

Pic Heavy 2016 Ride Report - 40 Days Following the Front Wheel

Mary and I have been looking forward to this trip since a few weeks after we returned from our trip up to Bella Coola, Canada last year! (see that Ride Report HERE)

We are staying in the States this year. We will be visiting family, and we'll be hitting quite a few National Parks. We have a few places that we are scheduled to be at certain times, and we have a loose route planned, but we are going to be following our Front Wheel for the next 40 days! ThumbUp

Unlike last year, I am going to try and keep the Ride Report as real-time as possible. Over the next week or two we will find out how that works out. :laugh:

We are leaving out in the morning, and just finished packing up most of the bike.

It looks like we'll be riding in plenty of 90* weather, as well as in some snow!

Here's almost all of the stuff we are taking-

Yep, it all fit!

Kevin

 

[paws]

Can't wait !
We thoroughly enjoyed the Bella Coola trip.
That country was AWESOME!
We will never get to do a lot of rides that so many of you take and it's so neat to be able to enjoy it through your pictures and video.
Have fun, ride safe!!
We hope to meet you both in Kerrville in October.
Carla and Jim

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Can't wait for your 1st post. I'll be watching:cxtv::cxtv:

 

[consitter]

Really looking forward to going on this journey with you! Be safe and have fun.

 

[ol' school]

Godspeed! Have fun and be safe! Looking forward to your pics!

 

[Zammy]

Ride safe Kevin & Mary, looking forward to your adventures.

 

[Gorilla]

Have a GREAT trip.

 

[rwhgme]

Looking forward to your reports! If you come through KC, holler! Lunch or dinner on us!!

 

[desertclassic]

Be safe, have fun and be wild. Looking forward to the reports. Jim

 

[DK Custom Products]

Thank you! We're expecting a great trip with some great riding, and times visiting friends & family! Good photo's too.

Kevin

 

[consitter]

Thank you! We're expecting a great trip with some great riding, and times visiting friends & family! Good photo's too.

Kevin

Have you actually hit the road yet? If not, when?

 

[DK Custom Products]

Short first day on the road...80 miles of interstate, and 200 miles of country roads landed us in the Ozarks.

Leaving out this morning-

Thru a bit of Mississippi, then a tiny corner of Tennessee, and here we are crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas.

This morning was 82* and muggy when we left, got up to 90* this afternoon, then started cooling off a bit as we got into the hills. All day was swapping out between threatening to rain on us....

...and being sunny!



We had a bit of interstate we rode in Arkansas before turning off onto secondary roads...

...not much traffic, and I don't know what car this is, but I know it's older that me!

Old building used for signage!

Didn't really get into too many twistys today, but lots of sweepers as we got close to...

....The Hub Motorcycle Resort in Marble Falls.

Almost every year for the last 15 we have met up with the same crew to ride either in the Ozarks, Kentucky or The Smokys.

Sure is good to meet up with them again.

The next couple of days we'll be eating, telling stories and riding the twistys.

Kevin

 

[consitter]

Have you actually hit the road yet? If not, when?

Reckon your post answers my question!!

Looks like you're using a shorter windshield than last year's trip.

- - - Updated - - -

And HEY, if my eyes don't deceive me, it looks like you've added a Trike Mid Step. If so, what do you think about it?

 

[TGCarol]

Yay!

More Kevin and Mary adventures! I've read your past ride reports (awesome) and I am so happy I
get to come along on this one from the beginning .

Have a great time and ride safe.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Reckon your post answers my question!!

Looks like you're using a shorter windshield than last year's trip.

- - - Updated - - -

And HEY, if my eyes don't deceive me, it looks like you've added a Trike Mid Step. If so, what do you think about it?

Yeppers, we are on the road...first few days riding in the Ozarks with a crew we've been riding with for a lot of years.

Yes, we are testing out a Trike Mid Step. First impressions are good. Makes getting on and off the Trike MUCH easier!

More Kevin and Mary adventures! I've read your past ride reports (awesome) and I am so happy I
get to come along on this one from the beginning .

Have a great time and ride safe.

Thank you!

- - - Updated - - -

Day 2-


Today was the first day of riding in the Ozarks...13 bikes, 3 of us are two-up.


One other Trike, a Can-Am, and more than a few metrics.


It rained last night, but was mostly dry when we left out.

John had a nice 200 mile loop he led us on, sweepers, twistys, nice country roads...

...and a ferry ride!

Mary really enjoys being on the water....as long as she can see a shoreline.






Waiting for our ride across the river into Missouri.

She took a "boatload" of pics while on the water.

On the other side....

...in the Missouri curves and twistys, headed toward Branson.

The roads in the Ozarks are some of the best riding to be had, straight flat roads are the exception.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 2 continued-


We stopped in Forsyth, MO for lunch. While eating it started raining. Everyone put on varying degrees of rain gear...while Larry rode the pig! lol

Riding...

...in a bit of rain.

Since it did not look like it was going to quit, instead of taking the twistys back all the way, we did some miles on the interstate.


Paul & BabyGirl at 80 MPH-

Larry at 80 MPH-

Gas stop right about when it stopped raining. Most everyone shed their rain gear...

...then about 10 miles before getting back to The Hub it started back up again.

That's it for today. Tomorrow will be more twistys!


Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3 Teaser Post-

We rode for 10 hours today! Not much time to post...riding close to that much again tomorrow.

Here are a couple of pics from today, will be posting more in a day or two.


The weather was perfect, the roads were great...

...a nice mix of sweepers and twistys.

Taking a look behind us.

More on today's and tomorrows rides tomorrow night.

Kevin

 

[consitter]

I noticed you were saying pic of such and such "at 80 mph".

I've always experienced motorcycle speedos are off (slow) by about 5 mph, especially when they get to 55 and above. Are the trikes any better than that?

Thanks for the great pics btw!!

 

[DK Custom Products]

I noticed you were saying pic of such and such "at 80 mph".

I've always experienced motorcycle speedos are off (slow) by about 5 mph, especially when they get to 55 and above. Are the trikes any better than that?

Thanks for the great pics btw!!

With the Power Vision, and I think you have the TTS which can do the same, you can calibrate your speedo so that it is dead-on. I've got the Power Vision and have done that, I am within 1/2 mile of accurate. That said, we were fluctuating between 80-85 mph when taking those pics.

The ride leader in on a FJR (years ago when we started riding with him he had an Ultra, then for a few years he had a Gold Wing, now the FJR), he does pretty good about keeping the speed down, but he does like to go fast. That thing will hit 90 in second gear!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 4 report coming late.


Had another great day of riding in the Ozarks. Just got in from dinner and sitting with friends all evening. Will start catching up with pics tomorrow night.

Kevin

 

[consitter]

Day 4 report coming late.


Had another great day of riding in the Ozarks. Just got in from dinner and sitting with friends all evening. Will start catching up with pics tomorrow night.

Kevin

We'll forgive you--this time.

Sleep well my friend.

 

[55il]

Kevin and Mary have a safe and fun time. I really enjoy your ride reports and photo's. DJ

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 5-

We left the Ozarks today, and had a bit of an adventure.

So the pics in this post will be just of today...I will catch up on the pics from the days of riding in the Ozarks soon.

Here we are this morning, packing up...

...yep, all that stuff went in the trunk and Tour-Pak, with room to spare.

We crossed into Missouri, and were soon passing thru Branson.

About 120 miles down the road we saw a storm ahead, plus we had just got sprayed with oil by a truck, plus I felt something not quite right with the bike...

We pulled in to get gas, and I looked the bike over. Sure enough, the top motor mount bolt was just about ready to drop out.

We are so very fortunate that the bolt and the spacer were still there.

Cleaned them up and put them back in.

This same bolt and spacer had fallen out when the bike was almost new. Dealer replaced it under warranty...

...I used teflon tape AND red thread locker. I'm thinking it will hold this time...I hope!

As we were leaving we saw the truck that had passed us and sprayed us with oil (or diesel?). Besides covering the Tri-Glide with a film of oil, it did the same to dozens of cars.

Those puddles under the truck were from the truck just sitting there...it was leaving a trail of the same along the road on the interstate.

More in next post.

 

[consitter]

Man, I hate to hear that you're having trouble. I don't see how you were able to get the wrench into that tight of a spot.

I'm telling you, the truck spraying me with oil would've really pissed me off. I would've had a hard time keeping my mouth shut and not saying something to the guy. You're a better man than I, Kevin.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 5 Continued-


Soon after getting back on the interstate it started raining. This is the last pic Mary took before tucking the camera away. It rained pretty good for about an hour, with the temps dropping from the low 80's to the mid 60's.

But after that the sun was back out and it was back up to 80 the rest of the day.

Somewhere a ways back we crossed into Kansas. Lots of straight roads, but we had gotten off the interstate and were on some secondary roads that were well maintained and had some elevation changes every now and then.


Click HERE to see a short video.






A look back....

...a look to the side...

...and looking ahead as I am kicking back with my calves on top of the lowers.

There is a WHOLE LOT of straight road in Kansas!

Here we are at the Super 8 in Salina, which is where I am typing up this RR.

Kevin

 

[consitter]

Wow. Don't know if I could handle all that straight road...as far as the eye can see!! Good thing the road had those rumble strips...

I've finally found a good way to keep my shoulders and neck from hurting after twisties. I moved my backrest up a little over an inch from it's maximum recline. That has worked wonders for me. Makes it soooo much easier going through the curves.

Thanks for all the great pics!!

 

[55il]

Wow, I can't believe the amount of oil coming out of that truck.... expesive repairs for sure but a big mess for you and Mary.

Motor mount bolt.... it seems you have had several issues with this '14 ever wish you had your '11 back.... just kidding.

Ride save and have fun. First thing in the morning over coffee is getting on the PC and reading your updates. Thanks DJ

 

[Gorilla]

Kevin for piece of mind I suggest you do the safety wire of the bolt. I did and have not had a problem.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Wow. Don't know if I could handle all that straight road...as far as the eye can see!! Good thing the road had those rumble strips...

I've finally found a good way to keep my shoulders and neck from hurting after twisties. I moved my backrest up a little over an inch from it's maximum recline. That has worked wonders for me. Makes it soooo much easier going through the curves.

Thanks for all the great pics!!

Cool, glad you got the triangle set up good not (hands, butt, feet) so that you can ride without shoulder pain.

Wow, I can't believe the amount of oil coming out of that truck.... expesive repairs for sure but a big mess for you and Mary.

Motor mount bolt.... it seems you have had several issues with this '14 ever wish you had your '11 back.... just kidding.


Ride save and have fun. First thing in the morning over coffee is getting on the PC and reading your updates. Thanks DJ

Yeah, big mess. Rain ended up washing most of it off.

Yeah, I've had a quite a few things taken care of under warranty on the '14, but I did on the '11 also, including a new top end.

I ride a lot, and sometime really hard, so the warranty is a good thing for me.

Kevin for piece of mind I suggest you do the safety wire of the bolt. I did and have not had a problem.

That is a great idea...I know a lot of folks have had problems with that bolt. I've had 6 twin cams (2 currently) and never had a problem with any of them on this bolt...except this one...twice.


Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 6-


Leaving out of Salina KS for Denver CO.


A look back...we got a bit of a light rain as we were leaving.

But it cleared up nicely and was in the mid-70's.

Somewhere along the 70 there was a mile long back up...

...It was stop and go for about 30 minutes, until we got passed the 18-wheeler that had crossed the median and was facing oncoming traffic.

Back cruising at 80 mph. The speed limit is 75, most of the traffic was going 85, I chose 80 due to a Strong headwind...even so, we still only averaged 26 mpg.

Entering Colorado...

...it was still a lot of straight road...

...with a curve now and then.

Taking a look behind us.

Leaving out of our last gas stop before Denver....looks like we're headed for rain.

More in next post.