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Just got back from a little cruise with the 1300.

drag79stang's picture
Fri, 2008-07-25 06:04 — drag79stang

Took the week off (for vacation), was gonna go postal pretty soon, so figured I'd better spend some quality time on the bike.

Anyway, momma and I packed the saddlebags FULL, and got a mini gran tour bag from kuryakyn (which is for sale.............nice size, but need a bigger one), anyway, and headed east.
Went straight east thru wisconsin down hwy. 8, till it turrned into 2, in michigan. Went to the UP (upper peninsula), all the way over the top of lake michigan, then over the mackinaw bridge. Went down the right side of michigan then, (only got lost HUGE), one time. (never argue with your gps.....it'll only make matters worse).
Highlight of the trip was going on the boat ferry that goes from Ludington, michigan to manitowoc, wisconsin. We took the late one (left port around 8 pm last nite), and arrived in Wisconsin just before midnite). What a trip/!
Over 1000 miles total on the bike. ONLY problem I had with the bike, (and it wasn't the bikes fault, but mine), is one of the aftermarket baffles for the cobra shorties worked its way loose. Metallic rattle, thought the engine was coming apart at times)..............(that'll be fixed by tomorrow).
Averaged over 50 mpg the whole way, riding double, loaded (probably over), to the max.
Love this bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

‹ 4600 miles and loving it !!! Honest Question ›
Tue, 2008-07-29 03:02 — hammer42

Michigan Riding

You are correct! Michigan is a great place to ride. In most cases, people are friendy to bikers and will give the benefit of the doubt. However, because Southern Micihgan has a greater population than Upper Michigan, the routes are better and the people friendler in the U.P.

Rather than taking the ferry from Ludington to Manitowoc, you might want to take the Lake Express Ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee next time. It is a great trip and very motorcycle friendly with great amenities. Since I live in Southwestern Michigan, I have take the Lake Express and it its a great trip. Also, the Lelanau Peninsula in Northern Lower Michigan has great motorcycle roads with great scenery. You may wish to investigate the roads there next time.

Barry

Fri, 2008-07-25 17:00 — Caneman

Always a great ride

That is always a great ride to take. It's a REALLY great ride when the trees are changing colors!
It's also terrific that you can take the ferry back across, it sure beats riding down and around through Chicago.

Ron
Saint Helen, MI

Fri, 2008-07-25 21:21 — drag79stang

Yep, went down around/thru

Yep, went down around/thru Chicago/Indiana ONCE back in 2004 when we trucked out to the woodward dream cruise. Will NOT ever do that again. Will take the ferry across to miss that mess. Can't believe anyone could drive that area on a daily basis.

We're already planning (with another couple and their HD), for next years cruise up around the UP and down again.

(did I mention that I've NEVER experienced a NICER/BIKER FRIENDLY state to ride in then Michigan? Never ONCE did I feel threatened/scared to ride on the road, for fear of getting pulled out in front of, or turned into, or backdoored. Everyone there (even the out of towners/tourists), LOOKED for bikes, and gave us ALL the room we needed to manuever.
(maybe it was the Wisconsin plates on the bike, and no one knew what I'd do next).....:>)
I don't know, but it took until we got back into wisconsin before we were passed on double lines, tailgated, basically felt like a target again.

Sat, 2008-07-26 01:40 — Caneman

Michigan thanks you

Michigan thanks you for the nice words, but just a few words of caution. What you said is pretty true to the north, but the further south in the state that you go, the worse it gets. I didn't ride for many years when I lived in Genesee county. Way too many of my friends died that way (except for the one that was shot in a gun fight at the "Fly-In Wheels" clubhouse, but that's another story). It's also interesting to note that the man who is the head of all the Michigan chapters of the "Outlaws MC" lives up here in the north, not far from me, but I guess that's another story as well.
We have just loads of great riding here in the northern LP and all of the UP. I'm hoping to make a trip next year up to the UP and over to the west end, down into Wisconsin, and go all the way to Roseville, California to see my son. If all works well, I will ride to the south on the way back and visit some friends in New Mexico, Texas, and Indiana.
Even here in my little neighborhood there is some great riding. A lot of people come from fairly great distances to ride these roads. One of these days if I can remember (old age does that to you), I'll take one of these rides and post some photos.
I'm really glad that you had such a good experience here.

Ron
Saint Helen, MI

ps.
Only thing worse than arguing with your GPS, is arguing with your GPS when your wife is with you. Arghhhh!

Sat, 2008-07-26 17:43 — munk

yer right Ron

Southern LP is downright dangerous. All kinds of drivers with no licence and no insurance. I live over in the thumb and got wacked last year. That crazy lady killed my old HD and almost killed me.
The only good thing that came out of it was I now ride a Star instead of a Harley. Oh. I also called Sam. Local people will know what this means.