Well, I am back.  I got married on saturday 8/5/06 and left for Sturgis, SD from San Antonio, Texas the next day.  Here is the account of my journey.

we started out on Sunday, 8/6/06 at 6:30 am.  We loaded up the bike and headed 730 miles north to Lamar, Co on the 06 Street Bob.

After Lamar we went to Denver to visit a friend for the second night.

Finally we made it into Sturgis on 8/8/06 and camped out at the Rush-no-More campground.  It was a blast!  And the following day we made it up to Rushmore

The next night was Kid Rock at the Chip.

I got some bike builder's pics
Rick Fairless:

Billy Lane:

Arlen Ness:

Roland Sands:


After Sturgis we went through WY, UT and into the grand canyon.  Along the  way the bike started to crap out on me.  It was spettering and maxing out at 35 mph.  When you are in the middle of UT with no Harley dealers open on a Sunday, you are screwed.  We sputtered into Grand Canyon HD in Bellemont, AZ on early Monday moring with a crappy bike and a pissed off groom and bride.  they really took care of us there and we got a rental Electa Glide Custom and were on the way to the Grand Canyon for the night.  The next day we got the bob back.  The new injectors were never installed properly and were broken.  they had to clear all the historical codes, reprogram the stage 1 and install a new injector.  they said the oter injector, since it was broke, was messing up the O2 sensor and causing the bike to crap out.  



Then it was down through Phoenix on a great running bob and ito New Mexico.  We stopped in White Sands for a bit:


All the wile I needed a new tire for the bike.  I had 10K on the bike when we entered Tucson, AZ and stopped a the HD dealer there.  I told them I was on the rode and in desperate need of a tire.  I was running legal limit.  They laughed at me and told me they did not care if i was on the rode or not, it would be two weeks before they would fix it.   That pissed me off, so I went to All American Motorcyles in Tucson and they bent over backwards to try and change the tire.  No luck.  The Axel was frozen up to the bearings and they could no hit it out.  They told me that the axel would need to be cut and i would be stuck for a few days in AZ.  That was no good, so I went on my way.  When i left there, I called Champion HD in Roswell NM and told them of the axel problem.  the checked with service and assued me they could fix it even if it needed to be cut.  Not surprisingly, when i got to Roswell, NM they did not have a spare axel and could not help me out on Friday, even though i called them on Tuesday.  They said they would have to order the axel and I would be stuck until Wed of next week.  What a bunch of ass holes.

We hobbled along on a worn tire to FT Davis, TX where we stayed last night.

And continued home today to find a slick tire and a 1" crack in the middle of the tire, just waiting to blow on us after a 4,300 mile trip.

Lesson learned = dont by a Harley. Other than that, sounds like ya had fun



*BTW, I owned a HD for many years, never again.

I take it no one else made it to Sturgis this year?

Quoted: I take it no one else made it to Sturgis this year?

Maybe they drove a Harley and are still stuck. OH I crack myself up sometimes.

I always wanted to go, heard it was pretty cool place to go. Ive done the RUN TO THE WALL on my HD and the Laughlin Run out west. never did the Sturgis or Daytona thing though.

Quoted: Quoted: I take it no one else made it to Sturgis this year? Maybe they drove a Harley and are still stuck. OH I crack myself up sometimes. I always wanted to go, heard it was pretty cool place to go. Ive done the RUN TO THE WALL on my HD and the Laughlin Run out west. never did the Sturgis or Daytona thing though.

+1

But seriously, EagleArmsHBAR. Why in the hell would you not have put new tires on that bike before you left if you were "marginally legal" after only a couple of thousand miles?

Aside from the tires, "broken" injectors and seized axle bearings on an '06 anything seems like you could have made a better purchase decision. I thought HD's breaking down was pretty much a thing of the past. But if ya' gots to have one...

Otherwise, sounds like a great time was had.

Why on earth would leave Texas going to South Dakota on a tires that is THAT worn out? Do you have a deathwish?

Broken injectors, frozen axle yeah I so regret buying a Yamaha.......


Glad you had fun, but I'd love to give you a friendly "wtf were you thinking" slap upside the head for purposely riding on an unsafe tire. Please tell me you at least had on a helmet during this ride with the unsafe tire?

Quoted: Why on earth would leave Texas going to South Dakota on a tires that is THAT worn out? Do you have a deathwish?

When I left, I had 7,000 miles on the rear tire.  I had plenty of tread on it at that point (I had also heard some folks were getting 15K miles on the rear tires).  With the heavy load and the wife on the bike, it wore down much quicker that it would have normally.  

I bet he forgot to tie the bell on.

Nice ride!  

Sounds pretty typical about H-D dealers though... damned shame.

One of my best friends lives in Black Hawk.  Nice country.  

Congratulations on your wedding.  I hope your honeymoon will leave you with many years worth of memories.

Quoted: Quoted: Why on earth would leave Texas going to South Dakota on a tires that is THAT worn out? Do you have a deathwish? When I left, I had 7,000 miles on the rear tire.  I had plenty of tread on it at that point (I had also heard some folks were getting 15K miles on the rear tires).  With the heavy load and the wife on the bike, it wore down much quicker that it would have normally.

The heat and the extra load will take it's toll and wear faster. You'll know better for next time you guys head out there. Good luck!

Quoted: ou'll know better for next time...

Any real rider will tell you adventure is NOT supposed to be fun when you're having it!  

The best rides usually SUCK when you are on them.  

Nope, didn't make Sturgis this year.  Hopefully next year.  It's just such a long ride from FL and I usually don't get that much vacation time.

shit i commend you for at least riding to Sturgis instead of trailering. every time we go to Daytona, we haul so much shit to camp we got a truck and trailer load full.

Nice trip, thanks for sharing pics.

I need to take MrsSyn to Sturgis one of these years.   It's only 3hrs away.