Ultra Road Glide well almost!

Our transformation from stock Road Glide to Ultra Road Glide is complete, well almost! Ever since discovering the soft detachable lowers, I refuse to spend the big buck for the hard-sided lowers that don't have vents and take more than a few minutes to remove.

Our Mystery Ride this year titled, "Ride Your A Ride" made us change our opinion of whether or not we should spend the money converting our ride into one in which we can communicate with others with Ultra Classics. Earlier in the summer we decided to purchase the wireless blue-tooth Scala Headsets. These headsets have worked flawlessly and provided us the ability to talk with each other while not being attached via a wire. We were able to listen to music being played on the Zumo 550 GPS and also listen to turn-by-turn directions. This communication system is now for sale for $225 because we had Capital City Harley-Davidson install the complete Intercom System! After purchasing the new headsets for our helmets we are into the intercom for, are you sitting down, just under $2,000! Yeah it's a lot of money, however I love to ride the Road Glide and still feel it is Harley's best kept secret and the best touring bike they make. The only problem with the Road Glide, it doesn't come with the Intercom System! The 2010 Road Glide's have improved in only one area that considers any space on this blog and that's it's new 5th gear to quiet the whining noises that was noticeable in earlier version 6 speeds. The least the Motor Company could have done was to include the 103 cubic inch motors the Ultra Classic Limiteds received.

The following is a list of parts to convert the Road Glide into an Intercom Road Glide, keep in mind that prior to doing this, I rigid mounted the King-Tour Pak because I was tired of the rattling and also knew we were going to add the Intercom System later this summer. By-the-way, the Motor Company also for 2010 took away standard Cruise Control and PTT or Push To Talk switches that are found standard on the 2008 models. Again, I ask why would anyone trade in an earlier model Road Glide for a 2010?
15347-08 Console Insert $10.99
68172-06 Wrap Around Light Kit (Just like the Ultra Classics) $214.99
70169-06 Non-Ultra Wire Harness $129.99
76416-06 Advanced Radio CB Kit $299.99
76440-06 Intercom Kit $89.99
77136-08 Console Pod Assembly $138.99
77155-06 Advanced Rear Speakers Pod $439.99
Labor 3.5 hours @ $70/hour totaling $245.00
Shop Supplies Miscellaneous Extras $50.00
76386-08 Road Tech Shorty CB Antenna $29.95
76388-08 Road Tech Shorty AM-FM Antenna $29.95
Total Costs not counting Helmet Headsets...................................$1500.00 (approximately)

We received a 20% discount at the Dealership which everyone does at this time, not counting labor costs. In order to add this system you must have the Advanced Audio Radio which is standard equipment for Touring Models starting in 2007 (I believe). We have since used the new Intercom and wonder how we got by without it. We still like the blue-tooth wireless Scalas, however they didn't allow us to talk to other Ultra Riders and we really needed this ability when we host our Annual Tourin' Hawgs Mystery Rides. What's nice about the blue-tooth communication is that they can be added to any helmet except half helmets. They allow rider and passenger to communicate with each other during a ride, and Cathy and I still believe communication is vital in not only a safer ride, but a longer relationship together too! If you are interested in our Scala Headsets, let us know.

Remember to practice safe cycling! Ride Your "A" Ride!

After Sturgis 2009 Day 5

Our last full day in Rapid City started with a run of 2 miles, then a trip to the laundromat. I figure that going home with clean clothes is a bonus! Andrew slept a little longer while I did two loads, dried and folded.

When I got back to the hotel we got ready to ride Nemo Road on our way to Deadwood. Shortly after leaving the hotel it started to rain. We rode from Rapid City to Deadwood in the rain, none-the-less it was still scenic and there was little traffic. Many call Nemo Road, Nemo Canyon as you get the feeling you are in a Canyon since there are canyon walls on one side or the other throughout the ride. We passed through a little unincorporated town of Nemo that had small one room cabins for rent overlooking canyon walls across the street.

When we got to Deadwood it was evident, Sturgis Bike Week is now just a memory. The town itself was very dead! During Bike Week you can't find a spot to park, today you could park anywhere. After checking out some of the souvenir shops we headed to Mustang Sally's for yet another hotdog, chips and lemonade.

As we left Deadwood we decided that Spearfish Canyon was calling our names and this would be the last time seeing the Canyon this trip. This time through the Canyon we picked up our speed a little and Andrew again handled his bike as though he has been riding for years! A stop was made at the falls for another photo opportunity.

We watched the weather report Friday night and it wasn't promising. The forecast called for rain most of the day Saturday and into Sunday on our way home. Saturday's ride would be from Rapid City to Albert Lea, Minnesota, some 515 miles. We decided to leave Rapid City by 4:00 AM instead of 5:00 as originally planned. Saturday was overcast all day, but no rain! We stopped at J&L Harley-Davidson in Sioux Falls since I had a broken isolator on the passenger backrest. The backrest is held in place by three rubber isolators and I knew I had broken one, possibly two and didn't want to lose the entire backrest unexpectedly. J&L was able to get us in and fix the isolator under warranty! The time it took was two hours because we arrived around 11:30 and at noon the entire serive department goes to lunch for 30 minutes. Once it was fixed we were on our way once again.

Around 4:30 we arrived in Albert Lea. We stopped at Bergdale Harley-Davidson next door from our hotel and Andrew doing his best Zman impersonation purchased his third Harley-Davidson t-shirt on this trip!

Sunday morning we left around 9:00 AM and later arrived back home in Watertown around 3:00. Our entire ride totaled 2404 miles! We had a great time with no real surprises other than how well Andrew handled his Honda Shadow. I have no doubt whenever he decides to move up in engine size, he will be able to ride safely.

After Sturgis 2009 Day 4

Day 4 started with a question, "Andrew how do you feel today?" His answer, "Let's ride the Needles!" Mount Rushmore was on our list of must sees while in Rapid City. It was a short ride on Hwy 16 to 16A through Keystone to what I feel is the most popular man-made spots in the US. Each time I've been at Mount Rushmore I have never seen the sky bluer. On the drive towards the Presidents you started to climb. As you wind your way through many twists and turns the faces of our nation got closer and bigger. Many photos were taken. Some history behind the Presidents is a room, 80' x 100' that is titled, "The Hall of Records". This room is located behind President Lincoln and has never been completed. The use of the room was to house many important documents related to the birth of the US and its' history.

After Mount Rushmore we rode west on Highway 244 to Highway 385 into Hill City and then Prairie Berry Winery just north of Hill City. I purchased one bottle of wine, Brianna. After we left the Winery we continued south on Highway 385 to Highway 87 otherwise called Needles Highway. We stopped at Sylvan Lake for a few photos then continued east on Needles Highway through two tunnels. Upon leaving the Needles we took the Wildlife Loop through Custer State Park. In the three previous years I have NEVER seen one Buffalo in the Park! The Ranger at the gate guaranteed us we would see a few. I've heard this before! Well, we didn't see a few.....we saw many! In fact, we had to come to a complete stop in order to allow them the right-of-way. You never want to tango with a Buffalo, especially on a motorcycle! We also saw some Prairie Dogs, Mules and Pronghorns. Just past the Game Lodge was a small grocery store for the campers of the Park. We stopped and grabbed a hotdog and water. During lunch I asked Andrew how he felt once again and he replied, "Good enough to tackle Iron Mountain Road and the Pigtails (photo)!" Or for you Youtube viewers watch it here.

Iron Mountain Road will test your skills to a whole new level. If you thought the Needles was intense, it was only a warm up as to what the switchbacks would throw at you! Not only were there a few 5 and 10 mph switchbacks, but also three tunnels that framed Mount Rushmore and the two pigtail bridges. Keep in mind that seldom was there a guard rail to be found just in case you went wide to keep you on course! Again, another shout out to John & Randy for giving Andrew the basics and for him having the desire to improve!