A short ride and then some unexpected Demo Rides!

We headed out for short ride as we had monthly "Game Night" with friends on this Saturday, we put on 120 miles on one of our normal northern routes and ended back a Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson for a burger and dog hot off the grill! We were getting ready to leave and Pat, the Gen. Mgr. of PPHD, told us he saw me getting a Demo Ride on a Can-Am Spyder RT touring trike at their "non-Harely-Davidson" dealership, Pikes Peak Motorsports (Can-Am, BMW, Triumph) and asked us to "Demo" both the Harley-Davidson Trikes, (Tri-Glide and Freewheeler) and give him our opinion of the differences both Pro and Con so we headed out lst. on the Tri-Glide:

This is H-D's Touring Trike, it's got all the bells and whistles and is between $33 and 36,000 dollars MSRP!

We "really" liked this machine, it's got full 6 in. digital dash with multi-functions a sweet stereo system and both a large trunk and a top trunk! It was very comfortable and has great looks. The problem for us is the "PRICE", ouch! If we ever hit the loto this would be the H-D trike we'd buy!

The other is new for 2015 is called the "Freewheeler", it's more of a "bobed" style and only has the one trunk and not anywhere near the "overall Room" for "riding TWO-UP". Since it's MUCH lighter than the Tri-Glide the 103CI motor really makes this trike haul-bunns at a twist of the throttle! The passenger part of the seat is kinda DUMB, it "slants" downward at the rear which would "force" you to buy the "backrest" as an expensive accessory. IMHO, the Freewheeler is a FUN machine for a "Single" rider but for double up, the Tri-Glide wins, hands down!

This is the "FUN" trike, called the Freewheeler, kinda a bare bones trike platform that starts at $25,000 dollars MSRP!

The "trike" we were comparing these two Harley-Davidson's against is a Can-Am RT, which is the full touring version of the Can-Am family of trikes and it's starter MSRP is $25,000:

 It's got a front trunk and smaller trunk in the passenger backrest and is nicely equipped for the the same MSRP as the totally "stock" H-D Freewheeler. In the end, for the $25,000 we'd probably purchase the Can-Am Spyder RT but as the RT-S model is around 30,000+ we'd probably suck up the extra cost's and get the "Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide"!

The Sporty really likes this kinda RIDE!

On Sunday we headed out to get in a ride and decided to just stay on the highways, both 2 and 4 lanes instead of ridding "twisty" back roads. We found that our 2014 Harely-Davidson 883 Sportster, Super Low doesn't really like "hardcore twisty" roads as much as it seems to be made for "2 lane highway" riding. That's ok with us, we did a LOT of twisty roads riding on our sport tourer's we've owned in the past. The H-D loves the open road, not interstate, which it does well but the 2 lane back country highways!

We headed up the pass, (Ute Pass) thru Woodland Park and Divide, CO. on Hwy. 24 West. Our first stop was going to be the Ranger Station at Wilkerson Pass but sadly it was closed so we headed into Hartsel, CO. to get a drink and snack at the tiny hamlet's general store! Headed back a bit to pick up CO. Hwy. 9 S that is 60 miles of open two lane highway with great views and ends on CO. 50, where we headed east into Canon City, CO. (pronounced: Canyon), then continuing on Hwy. 50 we picked up CO. Hwy. 115 N. out of Penrose and back to the home front in Colorado Springs. Close to 200 miles and a very enjoyable ride! :)

Harley-Davidson Worldwide RIDE weekend!

We rode with a group out of Pikes Peak H-D, here in Colorado Springs on a "Conservation Ride" on Saturday! For $10, H-D corporate is buying "trees" to plant to maintain forest areas so we payed up and go a nice 100 mile ride, free pancake breakfast and then their was a "live" band and a after party back at the dealership after the ride!

Rest stop for the group in Salida, CO. The flag is on a local eatery!

The BAND was jam'in! :)

Just a view from our chairs in the shade!

On Sunday we added to our "Worldwide RIDE" mileage count by putting on 180 miles in the Southern CO. mountains. We headed down  to Florence to pick up CO. Hwy. 67 S. and then headed west on CO. Hwy. 69 W. on some excellent twisty roads over "Hardscrabble Pass" and into the hamlet of Westcliffe, CO. for one of the best "mountain views" you'll see and a great plate of "Chili-cheese fries" at the cafe inside the local bowling alley/Meeting hall!

This is at the end of the main drag in Westcliffe, CO. just across from the cafe, the view is almost 180 degree peaks of the San Juan Mountain Range! After lunch we headed back South on CO. Hwy. 69 (not 96!!) to Texas Creek and CO. Hwy. 50 E. for a great run through the "Big Horn Sheep Canyon" along the fast flowing Arkansas River. As we glided on the road, we watched rafters challenging the river, personally I'd rather be on the road as the water is bit mean looking this year! :O Into Canon City and back to CO. Hwy. 115 N. into Colorado Springs and home and NO RAIN!!! YEA!! We did a total of 300 miles to add to the Harley-Davidson Worldwide RIDE total for the USA riders, it was excellent ! :)

Finally a ride the local "mountains" and NO RAIN!! :)

Jo and I got the Sporty out on Father's Day and finally got a day without RAIN and headed west up Ute Pass into Woodland Park to pick up CO. Hwy. 67 to Deckers, CO. It's a excellent twisty road for 25 miles and ends up at Deckers, which is only "one building"! It's got a good little country store and the Deckers Corner Cafe and to our surprise and joy, they FINALLY paved their parking lot and even added "Motorcycle ONLY Parking slots"!! YEA!! :)

We did a bit of check'in out other riders machines and then headed into the cafe for a great cheese burger, baked beans and chips and Root Beer as it was HOT, around 80+ even in the lower mountains. We decided not to head up to Pine or Pine Junction (CO. 67 and CO. 285) but just head back and enjoy riding the twisty's again and getting to check out the fast flowing creek along the roadway! We headed back down the pass and the wife fixed up Homestyle Beef Ribs with "Baby Rays" Honey BBQ sauce for dinner! I'm lucky guy a great ride and fed like a KING a excellent way to do Father's Day! :)

The Breakfast Ride Club

LOL, the title of the post is what we've been limited to for "RIDES" as of late! It's just been POURING down rain every weekend afternoon here in Southern Colorado so we've just been getting up early and getting in a 100 mile "breakfast ride" to keep the battery charged and at least get out on the bike!  We have 3 main loops, a north a south and east ride that all are just a little over 100 miles, there a nice run and have varied types of roads so their never boring, no matter how many times you are forced by weather to repeat them ;)

Looks like we might just get some decent weather this up coming weekend, sure WISH we had the funds for a "overnight run"! Oh well at least we might be able to actually ride in the "Mountain's" outside of Woodland Park, CO. this weekend, it will be a Sweet Change! :)