3 long months, but I have here now...

[dshelly]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I'm pretty sure you met him in Estes Park, Dave.

Yea, I might have seen him there but don't remember saying anything to him.

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I've been following the Project Rushmore bikes pretty closely on hdforums.com since they were announced last summer. I am aware of a few issues with the new technology. I'm just not an early adopter on something as complex and expen$ive as a premium touring motorcycle. I'll gibe HD some time to get the kinks worked out. I guess my caution comes from over twenty years supporting computer hardware.

I do like the looks of the new HD's . But there again have never ridden an Ultra. Only HD I ever rode was my buddy's 03 Heritage. I like the looks of the Indians too, but there again.. until someone else puts some miles on one I'd have to wait to think about buying one.

Guess I'll stick with the Nomad until I see the "right bike" for me.

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I've been following the Project Rushmore bikes pretty closely on hdforums.com since they were announced last summer. I am aware of a few issues with the new technology. I'm just not an early adopter on something as complex and expen$ive as a premium touring motorcycle. I'll gibe HD some time to get the kinks worked out. I guess my caution comes from over twenty years supporting computer hardware.

H.D. seems to get out front on any problems and get a fix real fast. I really like the looks of their new touring bikes. I saw one exactly like Greg's last fall at the local HD dealer, that color really pops in the sunlight. I am looking forward to riding with him in May and putting that new bike through some great twisties.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

H.D. seems to get out front on any problems and get a fix real fast. I really like the looks of their new touring bikes. I saw one exactly like Greg's last fall at the local HD dealer, that color really pops in the sunlight. I am looking forward to riding with him in May and putting that new bike through some great twisties.

You mean watching his tail lights disappear in the distance.

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by waterman

You mean watching his tail lights disappear in the distance.

Not likely.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Not likely.

I forgot. It is Greg riding the Harley.

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by waterman

I forgot. It is Greg riding the Harley.

Greg is a VERY good rider, we tear up the twisties in the river bluffs along the Mississippi River. We spend whole days riding and 90% of it is very challenging. We also travel VERY fast and most would have a difficult time staying with us. That being said his bike will get me off the line but once we are in 3rd gear I believe I will have the advantage. We usually don't make it a competition, other than to see how fast we can take the curves. His wife has accused us of being crazy, obviously we see it differently.

[Netnorske]

I'm with Greg's wife on that one!

[schoeney]

Gibby & Greg...be safe...you guys are gettin a bit elderly to be scraping boards.
:-)

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I've been following the Project Rushmore bikes pretty closely on hdforums.com since they were announced last summer. I am aware of a few issues with the new technology. I'm just not an early adopter on something as complex and expen$ive as a premium touring motorcycle. I'll gibe HD some time to get the kinks worked out. I guess my caution comes from over twenty years supporting computer hardware.

The supposed advanced electronics made me hesitant some -- no doubt; however I do not plan to keep it that long. My back ailments will make sure I do not. I figure I'll be lucky to ride motorcycles for another 2-5 years at tops, given my advancing/crippling situation.

Secondly, I will not be using half of it anyway. The GPS is a piece of crap for routing. It only allows for nine waypoints. Hell... Have have nine waypoints getting out of my subdivision! I'll just use my current GPS; but I'll have to figure out how to power it, because HD made it nearly impossible now.

I will mostly enjoy the improved power, control, and space. The rest of it will just sit there.

Regarding the water-cooled heads... I have been watching that closely and it appears they are not a problem so far. I do know if the system pukes out coolant, that you can continue to ride; because it merely turns the bike into the air-cooled version all other HD's are using. You might have to disconnect the pump wiring though, but at least you are not parked on the curb if it happens. Personally, I do not expect to have a problem with it at all.

Getting back to the electronics on these things, can you imagine what this model will be like in about 4-5 years? It will be like having an 8-track player onboard! With the speed of advancement in technology you would think they would have tried to make the units modular for upgrading -- but then again, that would cut-back on bike sales. My guess is there will be someone making after-market fairings or electronic to replace these things when they become dinosaurs.

I am most interested to see how much heat is displaced with the wet-heads. I noticed it some on my test-ride back in the fall... but I want to ride it on a hot day and see.

[cbutteris]

Greg - I'll be curious to hear how that wet-head works out. One of my main dislikes on the HD is straddling that furnace on a hot day. I have limited time on a HD but that's something I definitely noticed.

As far as riding weather, never mind that we got 17" of snow last April, and there was a 61 car pile-up here this afternoon, because if we just got to a 'normal' temp for this time of year we'd be in riding weather.

I'm planning to have mine out for a short run on Sunday.

Oh, but watch out for those potholes big enough to swallow a Smart car!

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by cbutteris

Greg - I'll be curious to hear how that wet-head works out. One of my main dislikes on the HD is straddling that furnace on a hot day. I have limited time on a HD but that's something I definitely noticed.

As far as riding weather, never mind that we got 17" of snow last April, and there was a 61 car pile-up here this afternoon, because if we just got to a 'normal' temp for this time of year we'd be in riding weather.

I'm planning to have mine out for a short run on Sunday.

Oh, but watch out for those potholes big enough to swallow a Smart car!

Hey Cal... good to hear from you again. Hope things are well.

My Ultra was hot on hot days -- no doubt. In fact, riding when it was in the high 80's to the 90's was more of a chore than enjoyment. However, my Nomad also was hot on hot days also. Maybe not quite as hot, but still uncomfortable.

I know from a test-ride on the wet-head last fall on a mid-80's day, it was considerably cooler than my bike; which I rode to the test-ride. But we'll see. All I would like is just bit of relief; which likely all I will see, because it is not a water-cooled engine... only the heads are cooled. Having said that, a lot of heat of heat comes from the pipes and the wet-head helps to cool them.

On another note... you should come ride with us on our annual rides coming-up this season. Just let us know!

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Greg is a VERY good rider, we tear up the twisties in the river bluffs along the Mississippi River. We spend whole days riding and 90% of it is very challenging. We also travel VERY fast and most would have a difficult time staying with us. That being said his bike will get me off the line but once we are in 3rd gear I believe I will have the advantage. We usually don't make it a competition, other than to see how fast we can take the curves. His wife has accused us of being crazy, obviously we see it differently.

There is no doubt the Vic has more power on the high-end of things. That point I will not deny.

As far as twisties are concerned... they are bit more difficult riding two-up on them, than when not; but I like the challenge of it. I have only had a few opportunities to ride solo like we do. I know otherwise when I ride solo the bike feels half its weight.

Kendra is quite a trooper when we ride like we do on our annual rides Gibby. I am not so sure many would want to ride along with us. The good thing is she looks forward to these rides together. For that I can only be happy.

Originally Posted by schoeney

Gibby & Greg...be safe...you guys are gettin a bit elderly to be scraping boards.
:-)

We (or at least myself) might be getting older; but not to worry Greg. We only have to replace a couple sets of floorboards per year on these rides.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by dshelly

Nice to see that you can take it BD....

BD can probably take it deep....and as Jerry Seinfeld always said...."not that there's anything wrong with that".....!

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by glwilson

There is no doubt the Vic has more power on the high-end of things. That point I will not deny.

As far as twisties are concerned... they are bit more difficult riding two-up on them, than when not; but I like the challenge of it. I have only had a few opportunities to ride solo like we do. I know otherwise when I ride solo the bike feels half its weight.

Kendra is quite a trooper when we ride like we do on our annual rides Gibby. I am not so sure many would want to ride along with us. The good thing is she looks forward to these rides together. For that I can only be happy.



We (or at least myself) might be getting older; but not to worry Greg. We only have to replace a couple sets of floorboards per year on these rides.

You and Kendra combined weigh about as much as I do, so I call that a draw!

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

You and Kendra combined weigh about as much as I do, so I call that a draw!

If half your body moved on its own at any given moment and in whatever direction is opposite of the other half of your body... Then I would say it could be a draw!