Softail Log – August 4th
Day started out a bit foggy, but quickly shaped up.
Going to Medina
Took off with 590 miles on the bike heading for Medina. Took SR83 (seem to do that a lot), ride started off pretty rough, seems an abundance of slow people on the road lately. I have noticed that I seem to be getting a bit reckless lately. I have been taking steps to fix that . I got off SR83 on 585 and continued to SR57 to River Styx. It did not take long on River Styx before the bike turned 600 miles. Stopped and took a shot of the speedometer.
Before I stopped to take a photo I noticed a Motorcycle ahead of the car that was in front of me. The Motorcycle was triked and looked suspiciously like a Sportster. Now, the only triked Sportster that I know of in this area belongs to a great gal named Edna. I have met her several times at the Blessing of the Bikes in Kidron. I believe she attends the Kidron Mennonite church, but not sure. I kind of figured that she was going to participate in the ride leaving from Century Harley-Davidson. Sure enough when I arrived at Century she was there. Didn’t bother her though.
After I turned on SR18 I got stopped at the light to turn onto the road that leads to Century. I got the green arrow for the left turn and proceeded. As I was making my left turn, I noticed a cager (looked like a very old lady) moving into the intersection. It didn’t look like she was planning on stopping, too late, horn blasting, I accelerated as hard as the bike would let me. Fortunately, I escaped that one. Damn her! Still shaking, from this close encounter, I continued to Century.
I really enjoy looking at the bikes that arrive, gives me an opportunity to look over somebody else’s work and get some additional ideas of my own. Because of my unquestionable love of old iron, I especially enjoyed a 1937 Harley-Davidson that was parked there. Several guys were razing the owner about it’s condition and leaking fuel tank etc. I thought it was positively beautiful. On to business, I needed to get the reward points tacked on to my card. I also needed to spend the $50 gift certificate that was mailed to me. I could not decide on what I want next for the bike, but I certainly enjoy the choices, something that I did not get at the Honda dealers. One of the major details that I really have problems with on the bike is the zinc plated hardware that dots the bike. Especially, the handlebar clamps and front fender hardware. Since I seem to have a lot of the major stuff for the bike already (saddlebags and windshield) it is now time to chip away at that nasty hardware. Need to proceed carefully though. Another area that I am having problems with is the pivot bolts and front axle. Haven’t quite decided how to proceed in that area. Anyway picked up the fender hardware and handlebar clamp bolts in chrome. Found out I am at 960 points, they are saying to wait until 1500 before I redeem them. Packed up and started off again.
Going to North Canton
Headed east on SR18 toward Akron, bike is really sweet running since it is over its break-in. Kind of concerned about the abrupt snap into first gear. First gear also has a whine, and fifth gear is rather loud. Got through the construction on SR18 and got on I-77 south, toward North Canton where I will find Freedom Harley-Davidson. Quite a trip, seems it was about 30 miles. Got to North Canton and turned on to Sunset Blvd. The Freedom was quite busy, nice place, a bit smaller than Century H-D. Talked with a fellow that traded in a Goldwing for his 1993 Ultra Classic. Bought a shirt off the clearance rack and checked on some jackets.
Going to Dover
Headed off again toward Canal Fulton, headed down US-21 toward Navarre. Through Navarre to US-250 and back onto I-77, I did not want to remain on I-77 through Canton, too much construction. South on I-77 toward Dover to the the SR-39 East exit and on to Adventure Harley-Davidson. Wow, nice dealership. I liked the layout and the gorgeous women waiting on patrons. It was long after lunch so I indulged on some of the popcorn and watermelon that they were giving out. Got me another shirt from the clearance rack. Stayed for a bit and chatted with some of the other riders, I also enjoyed looking at the bikes. On the way down on I-77 a person in a car was yelling something at me, and pointing toward the bike. I looked around and noticed the right hand saddlebag was open – Oh crap, what did I lose. A quick check of things at the dealer, revealed that nothing was missing (amazing).
Heading back
Off again, found SR39 and started heading west. OHMYGOSH, were there some incredibly slow people on that road. By the time I got to Sugar Creek I knew that I was not going to be able to stay on that road. Stopped in Sugar Creek for some fuel, after a fill up, proceeded toward Berlin. The motorcycle took 2.72 gallons, and had 122 miles on the tank, this means the motorcycle got almost 45 miles per gallon! Wow, not bad, I admit I have been easier on the bike, this was mostly highway style and the bike is through its break-in. I don’t think that the engine and drivetrain is quite loosened up yet, but this is still impressive. One of the interesting things about SR39 is the incredible hills rolling through Holmes County. Another thing about SR39 is the incredible amount of tourist stops along the way, I doubt that I will ever get to them all. In Berlin, I could not take the traffic any more, so I turned on SR62 this is heading east, wrong way, but I know a route that will take me through Mt. Hope. 
Along the way just north of Berlin, across from the Amish park, the bike turned 700 miles really starting to rack up now. Stopped and took some pictures. Headed off again, through Mt. Hope, looks like the tractor show was happening, and the tractors are heading out, fabulous, more slow traffic. Headed north out of Mt. Hope, and got off on the route through Amish ville. Headed
toward Fredericksburg, this countryside is amazing, never get tired of seeing the horse and buggies on the road. Wished there was a bit more advanced notice of them though, seen one too many accidents involving these buggies. In Fredericksburg headed up Fredericksburg road toward the Amish produce on the corner of Fredericksburg Rd. and Messner Rd. where I picked up some corn for dinner. Just fits in the saddlebag, heh, who would have thunk. Then home.
The new hardware
Started out with the handlebar clamps, removed them one at a time, replacing and tightening as I go. Need to get some LocTite blue to seal all this work. 
The motorcycle does not shake much at all, the engine is called a TC96B, which apparently means that the engine includes counter balancers. I am really surprised at how little this motorcycle vibrates, the Aero shakes more than this thing does. There is just enough shaking and vibration in the motorcycle to let you know it is there, but not too much to make it irritating. The pictures do not do the upgraded hardware justice. It is quite striking how much of a change that this created.
Now for the fender hardware. Again, the pictures do not do this upgrade justice. I am a bit surprised that Harley-Davidson does not use a different system of assembling the bikes. The fender is attached to the bike using a nut and bolt. I would imagine that faster and cheaper, would include a nut that was integrated into the fender metal.
I like the traditionalist approach with this bike, being a person that appreciates the traditional crafts. Seems that things in the past were made to last. I am a antique tractor fanatic also, I own a 1950 Farmall – Cub, that after over 50 years is still running like a champ. Where as it seems that modern manufacturing techniques have a built in obsolesence – sad. One example is cell phones, I consider cell phones disposable. Enough ranting.
The fender hardware was quite easy to change out get rid of the old allen headed bolt, reuse the nut. The most difficult bolt was the left side back bolt on the fork. This bolt is right above the brake caliper. A bit of care, and patience, and done. Again, as noted above, the result is quite striking.
Quick trip to the coffee shop
Really like the new bolts that I put in the handlebar clamps. They really do make a difference, I think this bike will really look nice when I get the work done that I want to do. I am going to take a conservative approach to the chrome, I feel that chrome needs to be carefully applied.
Headed to the coffee shop, but first stop by the City news for a magazine. Had a nice stay at the coffee shop and headed home. Bike now has 728 miles on it.