Josh Posting: A Dream on Wheels

     Yesterday is the first day I can remember not being uptight about getting home from a ride after 7:30 pm. What started out as a 250 mile ride ended up being a 330 mile ride. I decided to try to find a route we had been on once before, which winds past Antelope Lake in Plumas County, CA. It turned out to be a wonderful, twisty, rustic, and middle of nowhere road that added most of the extra mileage because it did not run in a straight line like the original route. The main reason for lack of stress is the  level of comfort on our new motorcycles.

   

SouthWest shore of Lake Almanor, CA

Near Antelope Lake, Plumas County, CA

Near Antelope Lake, Plumas County, CA

Rest Stop on 395 by Honey Lake, just south of Janesville, CA

   

 Our 2014 Ultra Glide Limiteds have many features that make the ride safer and more comfortable. From the audio system to the super comfy saddle, there is just too much to list, so I will start with the full faring. It is actually two parts, an upper and a lower fairing. Combined they block most of the wind while riding, which is nice on a chilly morning. There are vents to open if the rider wants more airflow around their body. There is also a vent in the upper fairing which creates an updraft just behind the windshield which keeps the airflow from coming over the windshield and buffeting the rider's head. Another benefit is gusty winds do not seem to push the bike around like they did my 2005 Heritage Softtail. Perhaps the extra 200 pounds has something to do with it as well. I am pleasantly surprised at the huge difference a full fairing makes in comfort and reduced fatigue. After three days on the bike coming back from Ocean Beach, CA, I still did not want to get off.

Home Sweet Home

     We have had the bikes for just over a month, and yesterday put both at just over 3000 miles. Our Ocean Beach trip was 1600 miles, and there was a discrepancy of two (2) miles on our trip odometers. Most of the time we are riding together, and having the same motorcycles makes planning for fuel stops and maintenance pretty easy. We both weigh about the same, are within 2 inches in height, and carry similar loads when we travel. It will be interesting to see how the only difference, our riding styles, will affect each machine. I will keep you posted...