Excellent Adventure!!

[c.o.]

Just figured I'd post how impressed I am with a Harley 45 on a road trip! I took three days this past weekend and headed for a vintage rally and races. It was (other than local trips) the first real voyage for the old girl. The bike ran flawlessly for the 770 mile roundtrip. I climbed up and over 3 high mountain passes and only had to drop it into second on the steepest pitches. It isn't the quickest machine by far but it does the job. The biggest time issue was all the questions at gas stops. There were times I swear I was parked for an hour! On the trip over I was bragging to folks that it was the first time in a dozen years that I made the ride and didn't get rained on! The trip back made up for that though........ I got drenched and dried out 4 times before I got home! Anyway I have great praise for the little flathead and would recommend that folks that have them use them!!!

Here's a shot on a ferry nearing dark! The pass I had to work my way up and over was loaded with deer! I also met up with a lone moose! I wouldn't have normally done that stretch of road in the dark but my lost time on fuel ups put me in the middle of nowhere after the sun went down!!!



Here's a couple shots from the show..... it's unfortunately dwindling back to the point that I don't think I'll take it in anymore but it was a good ride anyway......







Here's a cool shot between rain drops......

[flat-happy]

Thank You Cory For Those Great Photos. I Hope By Looking At More Of These I Will Get A Fire Built Under My Butt And Get Something Back On The Road. I Never Should Have Torn Them All Down At Once

[Paps]

Thanks for sharing. They didn't desinate those 45's as liberators for not...Heh Reliable, tough, and with the little engine that could attitude. I THINK I CAn ....I THINK I CAN !

[Rooster]

Great stuff! Thanks for the post and the pics.

[Tom Lovejoy]

Way to go Cory, I have done a couple trips like that. The 45's are great machines and lots of fun. Its a neat feeling running along a mountain pass alone on one and really enjoying just how well they get the job done! great photo's too!

[Ohio-Rider]

Got to love the 45's. Hey Cory, Careful that load doesn't shift on ya!

[gary.h]

glad to hear you made it safe and sound,nice pics amigo love the one with the moutains in the back,im expecting my tranny parts anyday now so we'll have to plan a trip up into some old west kooteney ghost towns..have a gooder.

[Chuck#1848]

Love the photos Cory!!

The two shots with your bike especially,to me that is what having a bike was all about going out on the road with your camping gear crusing along and taking in the sights as you travel down the road.

I know what your talking about with the question and answer "stops" LOL same thing happens with a sidecar.

Thanks again for the photos

[c.o.]

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback. These old machines were built to ride and I find it quite amazing that so many sit as museum pieces.

Way to go Cory, I have done a couple trips like that. The 45's are great machines and lots of fun. Its a neat feeling running along a mountain pass alone on one and really enjoying just how well they get the job done! great photo's too!

You nailed it Tom! A solo ride can be good for the soul. I usually ride over with friends but this time it was just me and it was a positive experience.

Thank You Cory For Those Great Photos. I Hope By Looking At More Of These I Will Get A Fire Built Under My Butt And Get Something Back On The Road. I Never Should Have Torn Them All Down At Once

Get at it flathappy..... I want to see pics of you on the highway now!!

Thanks for sharing. They didn't desinate those 45's as liberators for not...Heh Reliable, tough, and with the little engine that could attitude. I THINK I CAn ....I THINK I CAN !

Paps......there were a few times where I was thinkin' I hope it can! But it did and that's all I could ask for......

Got to love the 45's. Hey Cory, Careful that load doesn't shift on ya!

Steve..... I had a couple ratchet straps on that gear and I'm pretty sure I coulda rode it upside down and nothing would have fell off..... I did however bring way more tools than I needed, but I guess that's better than needin' them and not having 'em!

glad to hear you made it safe and sound,nice pics amigo love the one with the moutains in the back,im expecting my tranny parts anyday now so we'll have to plan a trip up into some old west kooteney ghost towns..have a gooder.

The shot you liked was taken up in the Rogers Pass if you look directly behind the bike you can see a snow shed. Yup......ya better get that old girl back on her feet so we can hit the trail!

Love the photos Cory!!

The two shots with your bike especially,to me that is what having a bike was all about going out on the road with your camping gear crusing along and taking in the sights as you travel down the road.

I know what your talking about with the question and answer "stops" LOL same thing happens with a sidecar.

Thanks again for the photos

It's always cool to hear from likeminded folks Chuck. I love touring around on old iron.... I just don't get enough time to do as much as I'd like to. Oh, well it makes the time out mean that much more when I get a chance to.

Those gas stops can be quite the process I met some pretty cool folks with lots of stories and I answered many a question more than once last weekend! I also scooped a real cool old motorized bicycle that I have to go and pick up soon!!!

[Chuck#1848]

6 or 12 volt ?

Hey Cory,

Are you running a 6v system or 12v you mention about being on the road after the sun went down the shot with your flattie on the boat looks to be night time.

If you are running a 6v system it had to be a bit dim at night wasn't it?
I am weighing between 6-12v for the VL I am working on

[c.o.]

Chuck...... I'm running the 6-Volt system. The lights aren't too bad but I'm sure that 12 volts would brighten things up a bit. I did O.K. in the dark but then again I spent quite a few years playing with Lucas electrics and anything is an improvement on the Prince of Darkness!!!

[cdndewey]

Cory....which ferry was that and where did you get to?

Dewey

[Ohio-Rider]

The 6v lights aren’t as bad as their reputation. They work ok for seeing what’s up ahead. Now being bright enough for me to see what’s ahead and bright enough for others to see me, are two different things. Remember the old adage. “Never out ride your head light” Besides on a 45, how fast could you be going anyway?

[JohnR]

Cory

You seem to know what you are doing.

Keep on keeping on

[Buzz Kanter]

Great post and thanks for sharing with us. Ya gotta love those old 45s.

I just returned for a 2,000 mile ride from Texas to Connecticut on a newer bike (1979) I bought on ebay. I did the ride solo and rediscovered the joy of a long distance solo ride on an old machine. Recharged my batteries. The few miles I did ride with some friends were OK, but not the same as a solo run.