Wrench

We finally got our road trip for the year done this week. We met another couple last Saturday at Dale Hollow Lake, from there we worked our way into Tennessee for the night. Next morning we headed south for the Foothills Pkwy and Deal's Gap, then took 28 to Franklin NC. The next day we rode the rest of Moonshiner 28, took in Dry Falls, on to Walhalla SC, where we visited for a while with an old friend from the Volusia Owners site, Popcycle. We took 107 back up thru Cashiers NC to Sylva, then 74 over to Waynesville to 19, and then to Maggie Valley. We then caught the tip of the Blue Ridge Pkwy to 441, over to Pigeon Forge, thru Sevierville into northeastern Tenn to 25E up Clinch Mtn to Tazewell, then through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel up to the Pinnacle Overlook. Next was a ride through the coal country of eastern Ky, which included stops at the Dairy Cheer at Prestonsburg for a Smashburger, (a must if you're in the area), and at the Hwy 23 Music Museum which houses the history of musicians from the Hwy 23 area, Loretta Lynn, Tom T Hall, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dwight Yoakam, and my favorite, Patty Loveless. We headed for home from there, getting home Thursday afternoon. We had really good weather, only having rain for about an hour Sunday afternoon. Temps were kinda cool and foggy in the mornings, but topped out in the sunny low 70's in the afternoons. The only mechanical issue was Thursday when the bike wouldn't start after the last gas stop, which appears to be a bad battery. All total it was around 1300 miles for the week, not too bad of a ride. There are a few pics in the vBPicgallery under "Late Summer road trip".

That's good news Gary, good for you! Three weeks from tomorrow and I'll be getting my new hip. The wife and I just got back Thursday from a 1300 mile trip with another couple. The hip is sore, but not nearly as much as I expected, we averaged about 200 miles a day so that helped some too. Good luck to you on the trip.

Thanks for the info Randy! The wife and I, and another couple are planning to head down that way the weekend of the 13th. We've sorta talked about riding some of the BRP, but will now probably just do some of the lower end around Asheville. We're looking forward to this trip as we don't really have any plans other than the Moonshiner 28, just take it as it comes.

Congrats on the retirement!! I did it 5 years ago and haven't regretted a minute of it.

I've seen lots of good answers already. I've had my upholstery guy rework the seats on both Ventures. He cuts out a "pocket" in the front of the seat, just enough to let things ride better. He said this was also a big complaint he got from guys with HD touring bikes. You could probably do the same, just peel the seat cover back and trim the foam a little at a time until it "fits".

:rotf:

Utopia here too, this is my 3rd one. It makes me sit up straight, which is a must since my back surgery. I like the adjustability of it, I even "tweaked" the mounting bracket a little more on the one I had on my Roadstar.

Just did the Skydoc upgrade, easy peasy.

Yeah Larry, we do become attached to our rides, I've hated to see each one of mine go too. Congrats on the Slingshot! I haven't saw one in person, but they do look roomier for the passenger than a Stallion, not a lot of room to move around on it. I'm sure your mechanical wizardry will come up with some goodies for it too.

Sounds like you're really enjoying the Spider, good for you. I saw in the Sept issue of Rider that Vee Rubber, (veerubberusa.com) is marketing a tire for the Spider too, called the Arachnid. The ad said they enhance the handling and weight capacity. Did it take much adjustment to get used to the leg position vs the Venture?

Nah, don't get paranoid Puc. Everybody is just watching for the next installment of "Days of our Puc"!! I ease in just about every night now just to read your posts, keep 'em coming brother.

That's nice! I like the looks of the Hannigan conversion. Congrats!

You done good!! Be proud of the work you did on it, it shows.

Wow! Now that's definitely different, and with options it's $10k less than the Stallion. I'm glad to see there are getting to be more "options" out there than a traditional trike for folks that just can't handle 2 wheels due to joint/health related issues. A friend of mine bought a Stallion earlier this spring due to debilitating arthritis in his hands. He said the steering wheel was so much better for him now. He's already put over 10k miles on it so far. Here's a couple of links to the Slingshot and Stallion, http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot/quote?DealerID=02916200 http://www.motortrike.com/trikeThoroughbredStallion.aspx Remember, it's not WHAT you ride,,,,,,

Yep, what Kirby said! When I got back into riding in '02 I think I checked mileage on about every tank that went thru my Volusia. One day it hit me, this is WAY TOO MUCH WORK for something that's supposed to be fun. My '99 runs anywhere from a low of about 33mpg to a high of around 42mpg, that's with Roadhouse mufflers and wide open K&N air filters, and 95% 2-up riding. It's kinda like bowling, it's all in the wrist!

Wow! It continues to amaze me how people can make eye contact with a rider, then just drive away like nothing happened. It is a bad deal that you went down, but at least she didn't hit you. It's insane just how quick things can go bad too. There was a group of 6 of us riding over Memorial Day weekend in the Smokies area. We were on our way back from Bridal Veil Falls and we stopped for gas in Franklin NC. As we got ready to head out I pulled the kickstand up and for some freak reason the loop on the stand caught my pant leg. I went to move my left foot forward and it wouldn't go. I had just eased out on the clutch and had just enough forward momentum that I couldn't catch us and over we went. It was kinda like you said, a LOT of things ran thru my mind too before we hit the blacktop, but it was mainly "OH CRAP"! My wife wound up with a cracked rib due to landing on a full bottle of water, and I got a mashed big toe. Not a mark on the bike, just a whole lot of bruised ego.

Cowboy, Eck, & Gary, THANKS!! I appreciate all the detailed info on the BRP. That's pretty much what I've been told, hit the spots you want to see then jump off. I've ridden the lower end several times too, and I like it more every time. I agree that Bridal Veil is not what it was the first time I was there, evidently the rockfall affected it, but it does make for a good photo op. We took the walk down to Dry Falls when we were there in May, it was way cool! I'm going to sit down now and highlight these road numbers so I can get a sense of what info I have. Thanks again guys!!

Thanks Bob!! New River Gorge is on both our bucket lists, so it's the first stop by default. I was thinking pick up the BR at Lexington too, for exactly the reason you said, just because it's there. We're planning on this being a sightseeing ride, so 2 days to Asheville would be good. Figuring 2-3 more days to do the south end of it should be good. My friend is also talking about taking in a little of SC & Ga. I need to pick his mind a little more to see how many days he's thinking. Yes, it'll probably be around the 2nd week of Sept, our son from Fla is coming home the first week. I appreciate the help, I'll let you know what we figure out. Thanks!!!

I can sympathize with you about the therapists, but that's the key to getting back. I haven't had a knee done, but I go Wed to see my doc about the details of getting my right hip replaced. Had the left done in '06 and never looked back or felt better, then had a 3 level spinal fusion in '11, it just sucks getting old. I've been told though that knees are way more extensive recovery-wise than hips. Good luck, and keep on 'habbing!

Don't want to hijack this thread, but I'm looking for a little info from some of you that have ridden the Blue Ridge in Va. I'm trying to plan out a ride to New River Gorge, then pick up the B/R either at Lexington or Roanoke, then down the rest of it to Maggie Valley. From there we're thinking a loop down to the N/C Falls area, (Bridal Veil, Dry Falls, etc.), then work our way north back home. It'll be about an all day ride to Beckley, WV, so that eats up the first day. Any info or suggestions are welcome since I'm not familiar with the B/R north of Asheville, or the W/V part of this plan. I'm thinking about 5 or 6 days total, and I kinda need to figure that out since the couple going with us have to schedule vacation for it. Thanks in advance for any/all assistance.

That's some funny stuff puc!!

I had a set of Bub's on my '04 when I bought it and had some dealings with them. They warranted one set of tips, and then the new set started peeling within 2000 miles. I really liked the sound of the Bub's, but hated the peeling so I punched out a set of H-D mufflers. I bought a used set of Roadhouse slip-ons for the '99 a couple years ago and have been really pleased with them. As far as tips, you can measure the o.d. of the tips where they slide in the muffler body and go from there, if I'm not mistaken there are tips from other manufacturers that will work. I think I remember that Rinehart had fishtail tips that would work on the Bub's, so they may have turnouts too. Let us know what you find.

Man, that's great eck. I kinda know how you feel, our oldest son is coming up from Florida Sept 1st to spend a week with us. He called about a month ago and asked if we'd like a surprise, and that was it! It's been 2 years since we saw him, even though we talk 3 or 4 times a week. It's really easy for time to get away with everybody doing their thing, and the way time flies. And yes puc, you never stop being their parents, mine are 35 & 31 now.

Thanks guys! Yeah, the problems will always be there, but she's at a place now, after having a pain pump implanted, that she's able to ride again.