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Last August I rode to Ontario Canada from my home in Eastern PA to attend a gathering of Ironhead Riders called the "Ironhead Rendezvous." Although the Rendezvous was only in it's 4th year, it was a really great event, and I knew I wanted to go back again this year.
So this summer I set my sights on attending the 2022 Ironhead Rendezvous. I spent a lot of time during the month leading up to the event going over my bike to ensure it was ready for the 1,000+ mile trip, and prayed to the Ironhead gods that the weather would be clear. My prayers were answered!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3Sd]
I haven't taken my 1969 XLH on a long ride for quite some time, so I chose it to make the trip this year. Electric start and almost 4 gallons of gas in the fuel tank sure is nice when you're riding far.
Last year I put the work in to plan a really nice route in both directions, and I followed it again this year with only minor tweaks.
Day1: Bucks County, PA to Niagra Falls, NY (392 miles)
This year, my Dad (Papa Magneto) decided ride along with me for the first stretch of the trip. We met at a gas station near my house and rode north through the Pocono Mountains to Route 6, one of the best riding roads in the state of PA.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe1jC]
We covered about 150 miles before lunch, then Papa Mag turned back toward home, and I kept on riding toward Niagra Falls.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6yp]
The rest of the afternoon was solo riding along some of the nicest secondary roads I have ridden. I try to keep the interstate to a minimum, which was only about 50 miles total on day 1, all at nearly the beginning and then the very end of the trip. I had mapped out where I planned to stop for gas, roughly every 100 miles, and from there just focused on enjoying some beautiful summer weather on the greatest motorcycle every made.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmBqd]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkqiV]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFnar2]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFjCLQ]
After 392 miles and about 10 hours of riding, I arrived at my hotel in Niagra Falls. I checked in, tucked the XLH in for the night, ordered a pizza, and cooled down in the swimming pool.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe2wN]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7X3]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFksed]
Day 2: Niagra Falls, NY to Elora, ON, Canada, back to Niagra Falls (255 miles)
The second day of the trip is the most exciting for me because it involves crossing an international border (twice). It's hard to predict how long it will take to get through the border checkpoint, so I get up early, hop on the bike and get into Canada as quick as I can. Once in Canada, I find a place to gas up, eat some breakfast, and go over my directions.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6qa]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkqBk]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe2GC]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe2JX]
Once I had myself in order, I rode the rest of the way to the site of the Ironhead Rendezvous - "Mostly Ironheads Motorcycle Shop" in Elora, Ontario. The trip begins with about 50 miles of superhighway after crossing the border, and gradually becomes more and more rural as you get closer to Elora. The second half of the trip is very pleasant riding. Of course the excitement also builds as I know I am getting closer to a day of nothing but Ironheads with my Canadian Ironhead friends!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5Za]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmA9L]
The Ironhead Rendezvous was huge this year! My count was 17 Ironheads in attendance:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6sT]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7L1]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3fm]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmCgw]
This XLCR is a flawless restoration:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6em]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6hC]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3UT]
Original Paint Hi Fi Blue 1967 XLH!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6kU]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFksoX]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkrZA]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3os]
If you have been around the XL Forum for a while, you should remember Scott Fisher's 1961 "FLCH". I love a bike with a great story, and this one has plenty. This year Scott told me about rejetting his carb on the side of the highway in the Canadian Rockies with tractor trailers buzzing only a few feet away! It made me really happy to see this bike back up again this year.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmC9T]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7Tk]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkrMg]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5Dt]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5GK]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5Bp]
This was my favorite motorcycle at the event because it is still ridden by the ORIGINAL OWNER! He ordered the bike in 1970 and waited months for it to arrive at the dealer. It is nearly 100% original except for tires and other wear items, and has has been ridden a lot over the past 51 years. Plus, sparkling burgundy is an awesome color! The owner is an XL Forum member ("Doctor 71" I believe), and said he brought it this year so I wasn't the only poor fool running a Tillotson carb :laugh. He rode this bike 2.5 hours each way, so it's not babied.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe33Y]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7J2]
(continued...)
So this summer I set my sights on attending the 2022 Ironhead Rendezvous. I spent a lot of time during the month leading up to the event going over my bike to ensure it was ready for the 1,000+ mile trip, and prayed to the Ironhead gods that the weather would be clear. My prayers were answered!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3Sd]I haven't taken my 1969 XLH on a long ride for quite some time, so I chose it to make the trip this year. Electric start and almost 4 gallons of gas in the fuel tank sure is nice when you're riding far.
Last year I put the work in to plan a really nice route in both directions, and I followed it again this year with only minor tweaks.
Day1: Bucks County, PA to Niagra Falls, NY (392 miles)
This year, my Dad (Papa Magneto) decided ride along with me for the first stretch of the trip. We met at a gas station near my house and rode north through the Pocono Mountains to Route 6, one of the best riding roads in the state of PA.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe1jC]We covered about 150 miles before lunch, then Papa Mag turned back toward home, and I kept on riding toward Niagra Falls.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6yp]The rest of the afternoon was solo riding along some of the nicest secondary roads I have ridden. I try to keep the interstate to a minimum, which was only about 50 miles total on day 1, all at nearly the beginning and then the very end of the trip. I had mapped out where I planned to stop for gas, roughly every 100 miles, and from there just focused on enjoying some beautiful summer weather on the greatest motorcycle every made.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmBqd][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkqiV][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFnar2][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFjCLQ]After 392 miles and about 10 hours of riding, I arrived at my hotel in Niagra Falls. I checked in, tucked the XLH in for the night, ordered a pizza, and cooled down in the swimming pool.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe2wN][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7X3][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFksed]Day 2: Niagra Falls, NY to Elora, ON, Canada, back to Niagra Falls (255 miles)
The second day of the trip is the most exciting for me because it involves crossing an international border (twice). It's hard to predict how long it will take to get through the border checkpoint, so I get up early, hop on the bike and get into Canada as quick as I can. Once in Canada, I find a place to gas up, eat some breakfast, and go over my directions.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6qa][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkqBk][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe2GC][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe2JX]Once I had myself in order, I rode the rest of the way to the site of the Ironhead Rendezvous - "Mostly Ironheads Motorcycle Shop" in Elora, Ontario. The trip begins with about 50 miles of superhighway after crossing the border, and gradually becomes more and more rural as you get closer to Elora. The second half of the trip is very pleasant riding. Of course the excitement also builds as I know I am getting closer to a day of nothing but Ironheads with my Canadian Ironhead friends!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5Za][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmA9L]The Ironhead Rendezvous was huge this year! My count was 17 Ironheads in attendance:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6sT][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7L1][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3fm][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmCgw]This XLCR is a flawless restoration:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6em][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6hC][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3UT]Original Paint Hi Fi Blue 1967 XLH!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj6kU][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFksoX][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkrZA][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe3os]If you have been around the XL Forum for a while, you should remember Scott Fisher's 1961 "FLCH". I love a bike with a great story, and this one has plenty. This year Scott told me about rejetting his carb on the side of the highway in the Canadian Rockies with tractor trailers buzzing only a few feet away! It made me really happy to see this bike back up again this year.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFmC9T][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7Tk][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFkrMg][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5Dt][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5GK][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj5Bp]This was my favorite motorcycle at the event because it is still ridden by the ORIGINAL OWNER! He ordered the bike in 1970 and waited months for it to arrive at the dealer. It is nearly 100% original except for tires and other wear items, and has has been ridden a lot over the past 51 years. Plus, sparkling burgundy is an awesome color! The owner is an XL Forum member ("Doctor 71" I believe), and said he brought it this year so I wasn't the only poor fool running a Tillotson carb :laugh. He rode this bike 2.5 hours each way, so it's not babied.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFe33Y][url=https://flic.kr/p/2nFj7J2](continued...)
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