Harleys are Made for Bar Hopping & Garage Decorations

2719 Views 23 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Detroitoutcast, Dec 11, 2018

Lurch77

Discussion Starter · Sep 9, 2018

Here's proof that doesn't have to be true. This is me and my Ultra Classic traveling 19.3 miles of loose gravel. This is a fairly common thing for me in Northern WI, as many of the back roads here are not paved. A guy would miss some beautiful country if he was afraid of getting his chrome dusty.

Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

Ray'ssporty1200

· #2 · Sep 9, 2018

So Lurch77, I guess it could be fair to assume you rode dirt at one time? That is how I started with an on/off road bike
quarry's, ripped up railroad beds, around the edges of cornfields, so different than riding on asphalt, that's for sure.

Bedub

· #3 · Sep 9, 2018

My driveway is about 1/2 mile of gravel road nowhere near that nice

When I live in Oregon, we spent a ton of time on BLM logging roads getting from one awesome paved road to another

Porky

· #4 · Sep 9, 2018

Darn Dude, slow down, you scared the poop outa me!:surprise:

Sam:grin:

Lurch77

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 9, 2018

Ray, I do ride off road, too. I have two dual sport Yamaha XT350 bikes in the garage. Riding this pig on these gravel roads is still a bit sketchy, being so heavy, and with street tread tires. These kind of roads are about the limit on this bike, but I ride single track trails on the Yamahas.

cmonSTART

· #6 · Sep 9, 2018

Wow! 19 miles and it didn't break down!

Reactions: 1

Tobacco Road

· #7 · Sep 9, 2018

Ok, 19.3 miles of dirt road with trees on both sides. Where is the great beauty in that?

Lurch77

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 9, 2018 (Edited)

Where I came from, and where I went to is the beauty. It was about 350 miles that day. I rode up to the southern shore of Lake Superior, and then this was part of the route to our little cabin in the woods, before I headed home for the day.

However, I'll argue with anyone forever that this is beautiful when compared to the super-slab and big cities many guys like to ride.

Reactions: 2

hogcowboy

· #9 · Sep 10, 2018

If I didn't ride gravel roads I wouldn't see half the beauty there really is in Texas. Stay on the paved stuff here and it is boring as can be. I did the same with my Harley as well. All the time people yelling I'd ruin the drive belt. It will shorten the life of them and sure, there is the potential to poke a hole in one but I'm not going to let the thieves in government rob me of seeing what this country has hidden down these gravel roads.

I would however love to garnish congresses wages until every darn gravel and dirt road in this country is paved. After this long there is no excuse for all the gravel and dirt roads. Just look at how rich they are and how poor our roads are. It's disgusting. Rape of a nation. Yes, it ticks me off.

See less See more

Lurch77

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 10, 2018

I'm undecided on that. Gravel roads keep a lot of people away. And I like that. I've seen people stop and turn around when they see the lack of pavement. I'm a loner by choice, so I like being in places that are low on population and traffic. On roads like these, I can stop for a break and maybe, maybe, I'll see hunter drive through or something.

Porky

· #11 · Sep 10, 2018

Beautiful dirt and gravel roads are the reason that I've had not only Street bikes but Enduro/ adventure/ and dual sport bikes since 1966, and still do:surprise:

My best Hobby is Photography, 35mm film and high end Digital and my specialty is OLD barns and a lot of them are off the beaten path on non-paved rural country roads:grin:

I refuse to take a Pristine and expensive street bike off road! I've done it when I had no choice but I don't enjoy it.:surprise:

Sam:nerd:

hogcowboy

· #12 · Sep 10, 2018

Lurch77 said:
I'm undecided on that. Gravel roads keep a lot of people away. And I like that. I've seen people stop and turn around when they see the lack of pavement. I'm a loner by choice, so I like being in places that are low on population and traffic. On roads like these, I can stop for a break and maybe, maybe, I'll see hunter drive through or something.

I hear ya. It's a double edged sword for sure. I just think by now that dirt and gravel roads should be in old photos only. Not something you drive or ride daily.:crying:

Reactions: 2

Ray'ssporty1200

· #13 · Sep 17, 2018

hogcowboy said:
If I didn't ride gravel roads I wouldn't see half the beauty there really is in Texas. Stay on the paved stuff here and it is boring as can be. I did the same with my Harley as well. All the time people yelling I'd ruin the drive belt. It will shorten the life of them and sure, there is the potential to poke a hole in one but I'm not going to let the thieves in government rob me of seeing what this country has hidden down these gravel roads.

I would however love to garnish congresses wages until every darn gravel and dirt road in this country is paved. After this long there is no excuse for all the gravel and dirt roads. Just look at how rich they are and how poor our roads are. It's disgusting. Rape of a nation. Yes, it ticks me off.

You are right Hogcowboy, and it is sad, politicians are out for their own personal gain and just don't care about anyone or anything
else. Any wonder I can't stand gov?

Reactions: 1

Ray'ssporty1200

· #14 · Sep 17, 2018

Frankly I think it's a real waste of a bike just using it as a bar-hopper or garage decoration. I've had hundreds of great rides
around Florida, seeing things and places I never would 'o bothered in a car. like my brother Mark says, " I'd rather ride a 100
miles on a bike than 200 in a car. Nothing wrong at all about stopping off for a good burger an cold brew at a bikers bar after
a nice long ride though.

Detroitoutcast

· #15 · Sep 21, 2018

I've own 4 Harleys in my lifetime, now I'm riding a Road Star.
Best Harleys ever built was prior to AMF, i have no desire for Harleys these days.
One thing I've noticed, theirs a lot of them for sale in the classifies.
dave

Tobacco Road

· #16 · Sep 21, 2018

Some get it, and some don't...

Lurch77

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 21, 2018

Detroitoutcast said:
One thing I've noticed, theirs a lot of them for sale in the classifies.
dave

Not surprising when you think about it. HD owns half the US market and has for a very long time. The other half is made up of all other brands combined. So it would only make sense that you'd see more HDs nearly everywhere, including in the classified ads.

FlipFlop

· #18 · Sep 21, 2018

I took Winger the other day on my way back from my DOT physical on a bunch of back gravel roads. It was a good ride, bike is dusty as all get out but, it was a good ride.

Lurch77

Discussion Starter · #19 · Sep 21, 2018

A little water and you're all set for the next ride.

Reactions: 1

Rollin'

· #20 · Sep 21, 2018

No bar too far! :smile_big:

Rode my Victory Vision to a bar in Inuvik, NWT, the end of a 457 mile dirt, gravel and mud road. And there was only one way back.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.