30s? Temperature or year?
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Harley-Davidson BIKER’s, Are They from Another Planet? lol
- Thread starter OttoMan
- Start date
He is!! My worst trip was in 20 degree weather melted my riding gloves on the jugs and blistered my hands trying to get feeling back in them. Leather coat, gloves, tennis shoes, bluejeans and long johns was my attire. This was from Carrollton to Marietta and it started snowing when I hit hwy 20. Long ass trip from 20-285-75. Took me 6-8 hours to feel warm again!! Oh yeah it was my first bike and only transportation a Kawasaki 440 LTD.................
Hell, i remember them LTDs ….. they were everywhere for a while back in the early 80s ! Lol…. Great bikes tho. The 440s… 1000s all of them were ok .
I had a few different ones . jap bikes were Hondas mostly …. Had a 750-4 SS and a CX500turdbowl
, 450-4 wasnt too bad for a beginner bike. Mom and Dad went through a few and i was one of three boys so bikes were handed down. As you could guess….all of us rode.
As a Biker, first off. If he was traveling at a high rate of speed it was probably to get into 'clean' air. Meaning he was trying to put distance between any vehicles and himself, ESPECIALLY in the rain.
As far as riding in the rain, it is what it is
If we only rode when it was perfect weather, we wouldn't be riding much AT ALL. Ive probably spent more time riding in torrential downpours, in below 40 degree temps than I have spent riding on sunny 80 degree days. Its just the nature of the beast.
When you plan a trip you just gotta "roll" with the punches and be prepared for what that old bitch mother nature wants to throw your way.
Most of us do have other means of transportation. I own a truck and an SUV but I would rather be on my Ultra Classic ANY DAY.
As the saying goes, a bad day riding is better than a good day in a car.
Its not crazy, or stupid...as some nimrod once said. Its a way of life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Of course their have been plenty of times riding through crazy storms through mountain passes in the dead of winter I HAVE questioned my own sanity BUT when Its a beautiful day, and we are cruising through some twisty canyon or mountain road or riding through Wyoming, Montana, Colorado or North Georgia its hard think of ANY way I would rather spend my life. Just my two cents. You guys keep the shiny side up and keep on keepin on.
As far as riding in the rain, it is what it is
If we only rode when it was perfect weather, we wouldn't be riding much AT ALL. Ive probably spent more time riding in torrential downpours, in below 40 degree temps than I have spent riding on sunny 80 degree days. Its just the nature of the beast.
When you plan a trip you just gotta "roll" with the punches and be prepared for what that old bitch mother nature wants to throw your way.
Most of us do have other means of transportation. I own a truck and an SUV but I would rather be on my Ultra Classic ANY DAY.
As the saying goes, a bad day riding is better than a good day in a car.
Its not crazy, or stupid...as some nimrod once said. Its a way of life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Of course their have been plenty of times riding through crazy storms through mountain passes in the dead of winter I HAVE questioned my own sanity BUT when Its a beautiful day, and we are cruising through some twisty canyon or mountain road or riding through Wyoming, Montana, Colorado or North Georgia its hard think of ANY way I would rather spend my life. Just my two cents. You guys keep the shiny side up and keep on keepin on.
My last bike was a little Kaw 440. Fairly light and a lot of fun.
The last Ride For Kids Atlanta-Helen I rode was on it with my then early teen daughter.
LOLI was driving on I-285 and saw this brave and courageous BIKER facing the “death-roll” (that’s basic what I-285 is, even in a normal day traffic, without any rain…lol) or perhaps facing “the valley and shadow of death…” hahaha…. And he was moving very fast… Gave me chills just imagining myself in that situation.
What you all say, Gentlemen of Harley Country?
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”He was going kinda fast… (as he clicks pictures with a phone as he’s traveling faster than the Harley) LOL
I can’t remember exactly how cold it was in NCali in Jan when I separated from the AF, but it was near 0 degrees.
75 Sportster Custom build, all I had. Cold as hell riding to the bar, and frigid riding to which ever girls house I went. I’m not sure if they had pity or was impressed… but whatever worked, right?
75 Sportster Custom build, all I had. Cold as hell riding to the bar, and frigid riding to which ever girls house I went. I’m not sure if they had pity or was impressed… but whatever worked, right?
I've ridden in some rough weather. Had a 30 minute commute for two winters when the bike was all I had. Leather makes a difference, as does a full faced helmet. I'm sure I looked like some bizarre BDSM cosplay, but I was warm. Rain or shine, almost two years I rode a bike and gave the wife the other car after my Bronco died and we couldn't swing another car.
But I think my favorite story has nothing to do with me being on a bike, but the other guy. This was some 20 years ago, I was coming back from Charleston, SC after visiting my fiance. I was driving a Jeep at the time and for whatever reason, I had left the top at home here in ATL. I am rolling back up west on 26 just barely out of Duck Ditch and I see these clouds on the horizon. I think to myself, I'll just pull under this overpass, fire up a cigar, and wait it out.
About 15 minutes into what became quite a downpour, I see a single headlamp coming up behind me, slow down and get off on the shoulder. This mountain of man gets off his bike and he is absolutely soaking wet. No rain gear, no nothing. Jeans, t-shirt, leather vest and a doorag...looks like he just jumped in a pool and got out. I asked him if he was alright and offered him a blanket I had in the back of the Jeep to dry off. He towels down as best he can and then goes to pull a pack of cigarettes out of his vest pocket. He pulls one out only to find it soaking wet. He tips over the pack and water drips out. "Well, ****!" he says. I laughed, and offered him a cigar and he accepted. We must have sat under that overpass for at least an hour. Eventually the storm parted and we took off.
Ever since I had kids, I haven't ridden. I reckon when they graduate and the wife and I sell the house and take off to vagabond around the country, I'll get another one and strap it to the back of the RV.
But I think my favorite story has nothing to do with me being on a bike, but the other guy. This was some 20 years ago, I was coming back from Charleston, SC after visiting my fiance. I was driving a Jeep at the time and for whatever reason, I had left the top at home here in ATL. I am rolling back up west on 26 just barely out of Duck Ditch and I see these clouds on the horizon. I think to myself, I'll just pull under this overpass, fire up a cigar, and wait it out.
About 15 minutes into what became quite a downpour, I see a single headlamp coming up behind me, slow down and get off on the shoulder. This mountain of man gets off his bike and he is absolutely soaking wet. No rain gear, no nothing. Jeans, t-shirt, leather vest and a doorag...looks like he just jumped in a pool and got out. I asked him if he was alright and offered him a blanket I had in the back of the Jeep to dry off. He towels down as best he can and then goes to pull a pack of cigarettes out of his vest pocket. He pulls one out only to find it soaking wet. He tips over the pack and water drips out. "Well, ****!" he says. I laughed, and offered him a cigar and he accepted. We must have sat under that overpass for at least an hour. Eventually the storm parted and we took off.
Ever since I had kids, I haven't ridden. I reckon when they graduate and the wife and I sell the house and take off to vagabond around the country, I'll get another one and strap it to the back of the RV.
