Had a test ride on a 2015 Harley Road Glide

[thrang]

I'm riding Route 66 this summer and since it was cheaper to hire a Harley Road King by a grand than a Beemer I'm doing it one one of them. Not having ridden a Hadley Ableto since the early 90's I thought I'd check one out for a test ride. Since the very helpful chaps at Preston HD (this is part of the same group who have just taken over the BMW dealer in Southport) did not have a Road King demo bike they offered me the closest they had, a 2015 Road Glide.

Well it was an experience, and a surprisingly good one as it did put a smile on my face. However the bike was very cumbersome and given it is in the same price bracket as a top spec with all the bells and whistles added 1200RT I would not say it was that good value for money. My R65 would run rings round it as a commuting bike and as a distance tool my R1200 did everything better.  All that said I did enjoy it and will likely enjoy sixteen days on a Road King this summer.

Anyway if anyone is interested my review is on you tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOWop78XdAU

[clonmore1]

Nice job Tony,

I adjusted your subscribers by 100%...

[montmil]

Tony, You doing the whole 66 enchilada? Gotta schedule you'd share?

[Lucky_Lou]

Nice job Tony,

I adjusted your subscribers by 100%...

+1....
Don't forget to get off the main drag and enjoy the wonderful hospitality ...

Lou

[k_enn]

Enjoy the Route 66 ride.  I did a stretch of it this past October, in parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.  I recommend getting a guide book for Route 66.  It is no longer a commissioned highway, and in parts the road sign route markings are scarce or non-existent.  

k_enn

[thrang]

Cheers chaps for the subs

I'm Looking forwards to Route 66, I was supposed to be doing it with my father (it was one of his ambitions) last year but unfortunately he passed away Christmas 2013, so in part I'm doing it for him as much as myself. Anyway I'm doing it with H&C tours as they sort out the hotels bike hire etc and the trip starts in Chicago on the 7th August and ends on the 19th in LA. I got a full itinerary somewhere in the paperwork and we're staying in Amarillo on the 11th.

[montmil]

Looks as if you'll be hogin' it between Tulsa and Weatherford OK on Day 5 -August 12. On the far eastern edge of the Oklahoma City metro-mess, you'll roll through Chandler, then hit tiny Warwick OK on old Route 66. I've done that. Tell your American tour guides you want to stop and visit the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum. A step back in time with a magnificent collection of vintage and not so vintage bikes. They may already have this as a planned stop since your day ride is but 190 miles.

Anyway. If your crew can stop for a short time at Seaba Station, let me know. I'll meet y'all there. Bengt Phorqs has been wanting to see the museum so I may be able to drag him along, too.

Lemme know when you know.    http://www.seabastation.com/index.html

[thrang]

Cheers for the info Monte, even if the tour is not, I'll likely drop off for a wee while and stop in there as the photo's make it very much the sort of place I'd want to have a look at. I'll PM you when I hear back from Gary the guide.

[nhmaf]

Jealous!    I'd love to do that whole ride if I could get the time off to do it.

That Road Glide you were riding was comparatively quiet - I don't think there is a single H-D in my whole state that is running factory exhausts - and many of them are little more than straight pipes.   Gives one a hell of a headache if you are stuck behind just a couple of them for any length of time...

[montmil]

Cheers for the info Monte, even if the tour is not, I'll likely drop off for a wee while and stop in there as the photo's make it very much the sort of place I'd want to have a look at. I'll PM you when I hear back from Gary the guide.

Couple photos don't do it justice. There are original work benches from the old-now beautifully restored- Seaba brothers station loaded with old tools and older MC parts. An unopened crate with a classic Triumph visible through the wooden slats. Harley's failed attempt to produce a 1970's era MX bike is worth a chuckle. Treasures all 'round. Loads of Brit iron from the early days of Coventry and Small Heath...

See ya there!

[Lucky_Lou]

Cheers chaps for the subs

I'm Looking forwards to Route 66, I was supposed to be doing it with my father (it was one of his ambitions) last year but unfortunately he passed away Christmas 2013, so in part I'm doing it for him as much as myself. Anyway I'm doing it with H&C tours as they sort out the hotels bike hire etc and the trip starts in Chicago on the 7th August and ends on the 19th in LA. I got a full itinerary somewhere in the paperwork and we're staying in Amarillo on the 11th.

Raise a glass on the 11th.............my birthday I wont be biking but I will be out in the Wild West .
Lou