Friend and fellow enthusiast Rick alerted me to this dubious label that American Iron Magazine has bestowed upon those of us partaking of this little trip - 1,000 of the finest motorcycle riders in the world!
Now I don't exactly recall being asked my motorcycling skill level, but if by virtue of participating in the Guts and Glory Rally, I'm considered one of the world's finest, so be it. However, the fact that they have the departure date wrong, a mistake that is repeated twice in the article, places American Iron's credibility somewhere between that of a North Korean Craig's List and that Nigerian prince that needs my help getting money out of the country. Look American Iron, we are motorcycle riders, not New York policemen. We may be 1,000 of the craziest motorcylists, we may be 1,000 of the dumbest, but I guarantee that we are not 1,000 of the "finest." Thanks for the compliment, though.
It was a leisurely day that found me browsing through HOG magazine. I've been riding motorcycles and Harley's in particular for the better part of 27 years now. On my third Harley now, I figured that would be pretty much it. My main bike, a Heritage Springer, was to me the ultimate motorcycle.
Nostalgic looking, shiny, loud, and powerful, it had carried me from California to Harley Davidson's 100th Anniversary, Sturgis (twice), and kept me happy and energized on weekends or the occasional trip to rallies within reasonable distance. As I browsed through this particular copy of HOG magazine, I took in the cover layout that featured Harley's latest touring model, and inside a feature article on the new improved touring model frame. Articles about the improvements, handling, capabilities. Yeah, yeah, I remember thinking - more creature comforts for those "old" guys. But something about the writeup struck me. Claims regarding the handling, the comfort, the range - hey, a six gallon tank! - resonated with me for some reason. And despite my denial, I had to admit that I had somehow become one of those "old" guys. Hmm, maybe there was something to this touring model Harley after all. Well, to make a long rambling short, I am now in possession of a 2010 Road Glide Custom, a bike designed to be both sleek looking (though some would argue that) and worthy of long distance rides with some degree of comfort.
