More Modern?

There was an interesting book out years ago. It was reviewed by the touring motorcycle magazines like Road Rider and Rider. It was called "Blue Highways". It was written by a guy who traveled only the blue colored highways on maps. I was a follower of his. In '96 I was working on a bridge on I90 west of Missoula, MT. I had a few days to kill so I headed north on 93 towards Glacier Natl Park. I didn't make it. Instead at the town of St Ignatious I decided to follow a blue highway east to tour 83 the south on 83 back to Missoula. That blue highway went through the Rockies. Little did I know that it turned into a logging dirt road through Flathead Reservation. The rental Taurus got one hell of a workout. For hours I was alone and saw beautiful vistas and outrageous scenery. Eventually coming round a mountain ( no guardrails at all ) I saw 3 guys getting into a truck. I pulled up and we all got out. They were Indians and I said " you may find this funny but I'm from ny and I think I'm lost". One guy with a very serious look said ' you're from ny! You are lost!" We all laughed and spent an hour talking. They were collecting tubers for herbal remedies. I eventually did make it out and thank God there was a gas station right where I hit 83. A pound of dirt fell out the gas tank door. I would never change that experience for a GPS.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316353299?pc_redir=1411301433&robot_redir=1

Since I don't like having regrets, I'll never get one LOL.

It really is your loss.

You wouldn't have to. Whenever you need to get where you're going use the GPS. When you want to have an adventure and get lost don't use it.

All joking aside its important to upgrade your GPS annually. That could prove to be a pita.

I know it's my loss - it's also my loss not having EFI, EI, LED lights, front brake, 6 gallon gas tank, wide thick seat, rear shocks, etc., etc. Oh, well .

If I know the general direction I'm going and I don't have a map and I'm "lost"(and BTW, I wish that would happen more often), I look at the sun. If it's high noon or clouded over it becomes more of a challenge. But road signs will always tell me if I'm going north, south, east or west. And I can always stop and ask for directions. Quaint, I know, but usually interesting . . .

Yes, they call me "Wrong Way" for a reason. But one thing I don't miss out on is the unexpected adventures . . .

I have the latest and greatest garmin with lifetime upgrades FOR MY CAGE. For when I absolutely positively have to get somewhere I haven't been before. On the bike I'm exploring or just doing local rides.

Josh:You won't break down as much. You'll be able to ride longerfarther and more comfortable. You'll be able to continue to ride farther than you're own backyard worry free. Modern technology has been a boon and a blessing to Harley Davidson. Imagine if we had objected to fire and the wheel?

Most of your posts are about you're bike breaking down. Wouldn't you rather post more about the the miles, riding experiences,places and different folks you meet instead of this broke,that broke?

This forum would be boring then!

Very. And I would say if anyone has a 37 year old motor they ride nearly every day, stuff is going to "break" now and then. The local Harley dealership isn't getting rich off of me every time I need to get something fixed. All of my troubles have been fairly minor and easy to repair. There are a few things I had to send out to get worked on. All else I've done myself with advice and (sometimes) borrowed tools. Essentially, I've been rebuilding an engine and tranny that badly needed it. That ol' shovel is thumping along now like never before .

And I wouldn't worry about making it, say, to California by way of Florida and Texas, and then up through Oregon and across the northern plains on the way home. I'm confident the bike would make it . . . but whether I would or not is a different story.

Youse guys crack me up! I asked one of the complainers. It's the planning routes to lead the club on. You know trip planning for scenic roads. not getting from Home to yer Starbucks or Wally World ! Ha!

That's the deal....the new bikes are darned near bullet proof and extremely reliable. Since 2007 I've ridden more than I ever have averaging 10-20000 miles a year and have never had out of pocket repair bills (that was out of warranty) other then the used 2001 ultra which had been wrecked 2 times prior to me purchasing it needing a stator. I especially like the auto efi adjustments in the higher elevations. Going thru the Rockies I may have had to reject my S&S.

I would rather ride all the time then tinker all the time. I still have my '83 FL which was running fine, if I get the hankering. I've kept it in case the new technology was disappointing. By trying it since2007 I am a tested believer.

Had a friend buy a 2006 ultra with 62000 miles on it and he's put 8000miles on it in a month,no problems.

Since upgrading in 2007 I have as yet to miss the antiquated technology of my pan or shovel. Especially after 25 years with my '63 pans antiquated and cantankerous technology. My 2012 I just push the starter button,shift the gears,roll the throttle and know bar an unforeseen mishap my only worry will be errant cagers. I'm talking 4-5-600mile days.

Harley's are so much better then they ever have been. I am very proud of my brand of motorcyles evolution. The dealerships...yikes...that's a whole nother conversations. I find MOCO HQ awsome.

GPS ...again a map will get you to the general area no problem. A GPS will get you to a specific doorstep. That's priceless. A map doesn't do that.

No it wouldn't. Personally I find the stories of people's rides,the locations,the things they see and do most interesting, enjoyable and more useful.

I'm no way saying there's no room on a motorcyle forum for shared shovel repaired experience. I met JB an find him an inspiration and encouragement for being determined to ride an be older.

GPS=Great Personal Savior.

Is updating complicated or difficult?

Use w/ a map and you have the best of both worlds.

And speaking of fun money..the other day I went in to the local MOCO dealership to peruse a better fall riding jacket for my spouse and pick up a piece where the passenger commo cable is hung into. On the ride to PA spouse had inadvertantly kept pushing the arm rest with her thigh and kinda sprung the holder. I ended up just using a zip cord to hold it together. Anyways the salesperson said "do you have any bonus points on your account?" I was like what bonus points? Long story short I forgot that 7 years ago I had been given this bonus card and paid it no attention,forgot about it. To my pleasant surprise I was able to purchase a new fall jacket for my spouse, 2 kids race track shirts for my grandboys for cChristmas and a HD pandora bead for my wife for nothing and still have "bonus points" left too. Well when you say free to my wife its like performing a miracle. If she could wash toilet paperw rn use it again she would.

Sounds like our wives are soul sisters!!

Mac the Wife loves a good deal, too. Man, BI, that sounds like a lot of bonus points. Didn't know Harley dealers did that. You must've spent a lot of money there in 7 years .
I suppose that if I had a good credit rating, I might have bought a new (or "more modern") bike. But I would have ended up chopping it anyway .

We ya..I bought a new bike in 2012. And I prefer harley riding gear.

The worst of it is and its seems to be a woman thing is the stealing of condiments at restaurants. I was shocked the other week when I took my mother out to eat and she did the same thing as my wife. She shamlessly slipped all the butter and milk deals into her purse. WTF is that??