Red Ryder

I believe their attempt to cool the heads and not a completely cooled engine is a result of trying to keep the Harley Sound. If they loose the sound, they are done. Think they update to the air vent fairing is nice, like how victory has done it, but victories are much lower price. But to a Harley owner, many old school feel that there is No Other bike but a Harley. Not really that many changes in the touring line to me, improved headlight, I have abs brakes, and vented batwing fairing. I give them credit for trying to improve, and like Freebird said I would have to wait a few years, but the voice reconition would be a nice feature. Later- P.S. Finally with my 26.4 kb speed was able to view the looks of a new 2014 Ultra. I will keep my 08 Ultra.

Our Blessings are for Tommy's Family and Friends. Rest in Peace.

Don, sorry to hear about all the Rain, but not my fault this time I quit doing the dance. Oh man, I forgot to undue the undue , but you said No more Non-Rain Dances. But, your still riding, and with a smile on the face. Great going our Fearless Leader! Later- P.S. my friend Dave mentioned he will try to ride with me down to Maintance Day.

Had some very good Friends (Dave & Maria Gray and son Cody, and Dan & Jan Sherwood) that left yesturday to go on a week vacation in Florida. We have road many of thousands of miles on bikes together but this trip they were going by van. Tonight they made it, but just inside the Florida line at a Reststop, they ran into our Fearless Leader on his 1000 Mile Butt Ride. Dave was talking to Don, and tried to get ahold of me. Unfortuantly I was picking up the Grandchildren and had left my cell phone in the car. Anyways, What is the Chances that some northern Michigan Friends would run into Freebird on his ride? Don, so Glad you made it safe on your ride, and Great Job on Completing the 1000 Mile Iron Butt Ride!!! Later-James P.S. next time No-Rain Dances by me, nope no way

Hey Don, hope all goes well, don't forget lots of fluids. I will try to do a Non-Rain Dance for you. Geeze, was that a non-rain, or down pour dance I just did, man this gets confusing. Have Fun, Later-

Hey, owning both a RSV and H-D Ultra I will say this. Those of you that know me, know that I loved my Yamies, especially the RSV. But, after the accident I had to sell my "Sweet Thing", it broke my heart. I had always, I mean since a kid when my older brother owned them, liked the looks and sound of a Harley. As Squid has mentioned Yamaha basically dropped the ball on touring, and it is a shame because I feel the V-Four is the best engine ever made. Take a look at the XCT (Victory Cross Country Tour), they did everything that Yamaha Should Have Done (except air cooled v twin), a Fantastic Bike. On the H-D, they have came along way and many of my Harley friends have 100,000+ miles on their bikes. Yes, H-D is a Advertising Genuis, I mean one of the Greatest Marketing ever, but more than that, Harley it is a Brotherhood that is respected worldwide. Would I want to go on a 6000 mile, 12 day ride, like I did in 08 on the RSV, except with the Harley Ultra, well probably No. The RSV is smoother Stock than the Harley would be even with upgrades. But, then again, my Ultra is a 2008 and not a 2009 and newer with the upgraded engine and frame, which I have been told is a big improvement. I still proudly wear my Venture Patches on my vest which is full of place, events and miles rode. Even being a Michigan Biker with Horrible Roads, I still have put 100k+ on my bikes since 04, most of those miles where on Yamies, so to tell you the truth I would love to see Yamaha come out with an updated RSV. But better hurry, because in 2015 when Harley puts the Liquid Cooled Engine in the Touring Frame it will be another marketing genius. Just my 2cents, Later-

Hey Buddy, understand why you sold the wing. In 09 had a Hunting accident, just a 23' fall out of tree stand, but compressesd and broke my back for third time, along with a variety of other problems. So with only 32 broken bones, to ride at times is very painful. I had gone from 240+ down to 165, now 200, but have gone from 6' 1" down to 5' 10". Sold my RSV, just became to heavy for me to handle (that and funeral expenses from mom & brother), and bought a H-D Heritage. After one year, sold the Heritage, it was a horrible ride for my back. Stayed with H-D and bought a 08 Ultra, much better ride, not as good as RSV, but close. It is a beautiful bike, and well a Harley, but most of the time I struggle to Handle it. I still love to ride, and always will, but at some point will either try a trike, or by another convertible. Wished now I would have kept that 67 Cadillac Convertible! A man can never have to many toys. Hope all goes well, and truly understand the very hard decision you had to make. Have fun and smile with the wind in your face, Later- P.S. sorry for rambling on and the long post.

Our Blessings are with you and the entire Family.

Hey Don, glad you enjoyed the ride. And yes, 38 mpg is not bad when loaded two up pulling a trailer. As far as heat, your right, the HD does get hot, hot, hot. Many have gone to true dual Ceramic Coated exhaust and eliminate the 02 sensor. This will help tremendously. My three complaints about the harley has been simular to yours, Handlebars Pullback, Exhaust Heat, and more Passenger Room. Other than these things, I truly enjoy the Harley. Have Fun, Later-

Hey Don, that is great to meet someone in his position at Harley. It has been the talk around the local H-D Chapters and on a few sites about the liquid cooled heads. As long as it Does Not Change the Sound it will go over good. One of my concerns with it being liquid cooled would be the low center of gravity that gives the Harley Great Handling, especially compaired to many liquid cooled engines. Can't wait until they make them, I will diffently be test riding one, and if it handles great moving up to a liquid cooled harley dresser. Later- P.S. How was the ride for both of you on a longer ride with the RG?

Hey Don & Eileen, Congrads on the new bike. I really like the looks and sound of our Harley, but felt that the RSV was sooo much more comfortable on longer trips. Charlene liked the RSV seating and comfort of the ride way better than our Ultra. So, I when we have the money will be looking for a heated pillow top seat. I have the 96 cu in our 2008, and it does not compair to the RSV power, but it does handle excellent, especially in slow turns. I agree with you on the storage is better with the harley, and I do like all the gauges. But, wow, that heat from the engine, man is that hot. Few friends have the True Duels and makes it alot cooler, at least on the 08, not sure on the 09 and newer with the 103. Though I really like the Harley, I truly miss the RSV. Good Luck and ride with a smile. Later- P.S. meet a guy last week at our Ogemaw Hills Bike Week with a 07 RSV, hope he joins, will admit I was just about drewling at the bike.

$8,500. would be a Steal. For 2014 H-D is Discontinuing the Road Glide, supposidly comming out with updates in 2015. So, to buy it for that cheap would be a good find. Myself, I really like the Ultra, but truly miss the RSV. Last night sitting around at a campfire, the Mrs said to our Harley friends (that we have rode thousands of miles with) that she likes the RSV better than our Ultra. Um, one never knows what the future holds...Later-

Congrads on the 41st Anniversary, Patti & Don. Later-

Hey, best was around 44 mpg. Usually backroads and town 38-40. Highway at 75-80 mpr, get 35-38. Later-

Wish we all could be putting the bikes aside for minute to go down stream. Have Fun, Later-

Our Blessing to the family of Donald Richard Cumpston.

Congrads, on the CCT. After selling the RSV, to a new Friend "Old School", I looked at the CCT, but could not make a Deal at any Dealers for a Trade with the 08 H-D Heritage. Finally sold the Heritage, but bought a 08 H-D Ultra, 105th Anniversary Edition. Beautiful Looking and Sounding Bike. Harley has made some very good improvements, but the wife and I still miss the power of the RSV. The CCT is like a upgraded RSV to me, but only not liquid cooled. If I could afford it I would own my Ultra, a RSTD, and CCT. That would be a Complete Garage. Later-

Cold last night, just started snowing again this morning. Nice to see all the good weather elsewhere. Later-

Always Good to Ride. After falling 23' out of the Hunting Stand in 09, I went back up, not as high, but like you was scared to death for a bit, then felt like Great. Keep Riding. Later

Hey, few years ago went to Michigan Speedway to watch Nascar Racing, what a Blast. It is a Great Time, will go back again someday. Later- P.S. Great Looking 03 RSV, miss my "Sweet Thing"!

Hey, just sitting here watching the Snow & Blowing Wind, and loading the Wood Burner to keep us warm. Just wondering what the weather is doing elsewhere? Later-

Happy Birthday Don, hope it was a Great Day!!!

Hey, last year on the way home from Florida picked up the "Kick Stan Up" Magazine, really good reading. Wish I was down there to ride with you all, but at least another week before I can get bike out of driveway due to mud, snow, ice. It sounds like a Great Time, Later-

happy birthday don!!!

Hear you Karl, I was a Southy, lived behind old Fisher Body. Unfortuantly, grew up on the streets of Flint, with the baseball bats and other stuff to do fighting. But we didn't steal like these punks today, and we didn't let chit come into our neighborhoods, it was rough, but good. In 96, we built a new home on ten acres, in Kersley District, but even there, it had thugs and drugs moving in fast. In 98, one weekend wife kids and I went up north to visit family, and went over to some of there friends for a cookout. Next Door neighbor had there home for sale, we looked. Said to Charlene on way home, think we will buy it, she said for a vacation home, said No, tired of the chit in Flint, and don't want the kids growing up in it. She said, but we just built our home, and that one is way smaller. Well, Wife and Kids were so, so, so pissed at me, but moved here with no regrets. Kids, now adults, see the way things would have been for them and glad now that we made the move. Just worry about the rest of my Family and Friends down in Flint. Later-James P.S. Sorry for the documentary.