Little Ride today - Hawaiian Style

[dabull]

Ok...first, I'm in Hawaii - so this enhanced both of the reports I am about to offer

Started off the Day on a HD Fatboy low rider....I had originally reserved a road king but when we arrived at the rental place - the 2010 flat black fatboy low rider SCREAMED at me, so i rented it instead. My buddy rented the 2010 Road King which I later road for GEE WHIZ factor.

The first thing I noticed about the FB was that its engine was smoooooooth...seriously, smoooooth. No engine vibration, no mirror vibration....The RK on the other hand had what I call the HD Shake....engine vibration, handlebars vibrating, mirrors rendered useless, rider getting vibrated etc...the HD Shake.

We pulled out at 8am for a ride around the island. was 71 degrees, and the high was to be 81. Was a bit breezy (I should mention here that I will NEVER ride another bike without a windshield).

As we made the first corner I ground the right floor board without even thinking about it. Hmmmmmm, the Lowrider is well, low. Any how we headed south out of Waikiki...down around Diamond Head...our plan was to ride the rim of the island, keep the beach on the right We rode around the south/east side of the islan and saw many beautiful sites and beaches. We rode on past Hanama Bay...beautiful water. We rode on around Waimanalo and Kailua. Saw my old high school from when I was a Marine brat (Kaleheo). All thru this part of the ride we were cracking the throttles...speed limits were mainly 35 mph - ugh! However we crackedem hard and the FB responded well. More horses than my Nomad so it was fun. My buddy on the RK enjoyed craking the RK throttle (Rinehart pipes sounded good).

We passed thru many state parks. Families cooking out, great smells filled the air, breeze in the face. We made our way to the north end of the island seeing nothing but good things the whole way. My buddy and continued to bust the throttles tween 35-60 mph....FB had the power but seemed to get very buzzy when winding out...still, it ran well. The RK seemed to have a bit more power...maybe the rineharts? mayble he was in a lower gear? but we were close.

The FBs ride was good... steering was good but the handlebars seemed too small and the levers worked over my forearm by days end.

After a great lunch, on the beach, with a great view, my buddy and I swapped bikes, he now on the FB, me on the RK. OMG - what a difference. The RK transmitted everything to me. It was another completely different feel than the FB...

The RK really let you know it was there at 30mph or less. It smoothed out above those speeds. But stopping at lights/stop signs etc was always laughable to me. When I first got on the RK, that’s how I felt – like I was ON it. Unlike my Nomad where I feel I’m “In” it. I absolutely hated the RK seat, after 10 minutes I was done with it. The ABS brakes on the RK absolutely sucked, front end dove at the touch of the brake. The ride was smooth though, and it seemed to handle like the Nomad.

We swapped bikes back, for the ride around the north. Went thru several areas that were just to scenic to describe with any justice. Jungle vegetation, pineapple fields, red dirt, mountains….wow.

We finished our ride by doing the Hawaiian Dragon (so to speak)….we to a mountain road up into the hills near Honolulu…A lot of turns, a lot of switchbacks. I scraped the FB floor boards left and right. I don’t like this, its unsettling to me. This road was a god road to test out the FB….going into the turns it ran true, coming out of the turns the throttle responded nicely. Brakes felt good too. The mountain run was AWESOME. Its actually Tantalis drive and at the apex you are rewarded with SEVERAL of the most spectacular views of Honolulu, the beaches and Diamond Head crater in its entirety ….WOW, what a great way to finish a ride. Down hill, curve upon curve, FB responded when I asked it too.

We got got back into Waikiki, turned the bikes in…my buddy said the dude checking the bikes in ran his hands under the floorboards and made a face, Whats that about …LOL???

Back to the hotel, cleaned off the road grime, went back downstairs and drank some beers and told stories of the day…AWESOME.

Overall: I didn’t like the RK….I liked the FB. However I’ll stick with my Nomad…the HD RK would not be worth the extra $$$$. However I WILL be beefing the Nomads horsepower in the future..huge difference tween the HDs and Nomad…huge. Nomad smoother than the RK. FB is a different style bike than the Nomad – liked it well enuff but it is a SMALL bike…if over 6 foot I would not make this choice…even though I liked it.















WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DAWGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[schoeney]

Nice write up. When were you (your dad) stationed at Kaleheo?

My brother was stationed there around 1969-1971. I visted him while he was there and his kids went to school there. His kids are roughly 44 now.

He was gone to Nam most of the time while I was growing up. He is 63 now.

[skeeter]

nice write up and good pics

[dabull]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Nice write up. When were you (your dad) stationed at Kaleheo?

My brother was stationed there around 1969-1971. I visted him while he was there and his kids went to school there. His kids are roughly 44 now.

He was gone to Nam most of the time while I was growing up. He is 63 now.

We were there 75-77....I was a freshman/sophmore in high school in Hawaii....was an awesome experience

[dabull]

forgot to mention that dropping the HDs into gear was an experience...CLACKED LOUD and HARD into EVERY gear.

[landman]

sounds like an awesome trip.

[hammer]

Awesome. In the late 90's I rented a Harley for 2 days to ride the Big Island including the ride over the top they all the tourists not to use. I rode a '96 HD Dyna Wideglide out of Kona. It had phenomenal handling in the parking lot and on the road. Reading your trip story, I would love to do it again. Mahalo!!

[coacha]

First off, I wanted to say you s*ck, lol. Second off, your job s*cks, lol. Third off, I'm jealous.

Dude, that sounds like so much fun. Cool report and glad you got a ride in. Now, when you coming down this way? I really wish I had called you when we were going through on the SS1000 a month ago.

[rflnomad]

Yeah, the Softail models have the "B" (balanced) engines and are smooth. All others are still rubber mounted and they DO shake.
On my Harleys, the trans noise improved after miles and recommended fluid change intervals.
Both great bikes, but not worth the money difference to us.
Glad it was a neat ride and we are both jealous! Shoot, I would ride a scooter around Hawaii if we had the chance!!!

[dabull]

Originally Posted by CoachA

First off, I wanted to say you s*ck, lol. Second off, your job s*cks, lol. Third off, I'm jealous.

Dude, that sounds like so much fun. Cool report and glad you got a ride in. Now, when you coming down this way? I really wish I had called you when we were going through on the SS1000 a month ago.

duuuuuuuuuuuude...i couldn't find the pics you referenced in another post??

and yea, it sucks to be here...working

[Yellow Jacket]

Man, am I jealous. The only time I've been in Hawaii was in 1969 on my way to Vietnam. Our flight refueled there and they changed flight crews. We all had to stay on the plane during the layover. I guess they were afraid that we might not get back on if they let us off!

[coacha]

Derry, I posted them on my blog page:

http://coacha-ron.blogspot.com/

[davidjones1]

I tell you what Ron you have come a long ways sense meeting you for the first time in elkins WV ;)the guy who had concerns of riding the curves an mountain passes , you have come a long way with your riding and have grown to love it you can tell by the way you write about it. I enjoyed your blog . and Dabull yours was also a great read and the pic's were great thanks for posting.
ride safe.