Motorcycles and Freedom

I  just got back from a short ride on the big 2012 Electra Glide Limited Ultra.  Dang did it feel good.

I usually like to take the smaller, cruiser-type bike out for a jaunt, but today I needed to top off the tires in the big touring bike with nitrogen.  Handling the Ultra, affectionately known as Ozzy, is a chore.  Dry weight (no rider, gas or luggage) is more than 900 lbs.  You have to rely first on confidence to ride this bike.  If you don't have the confidence, you can forget about riding.

I have enough long-distance riding experience on Ozzy to know what to do.  But after not having ridden it for a few months, it takes a mental pep talk.

But on such a beautiful day --  72 degrees and 74% humidity!  Fantastic.

I took Ozzy up the highway to get topped off.  Had a great exchange with a 19-year-old about military service.  And then headed down a nearby local "highway" filled with lots of twisting turns.  Oh, well, I couldn't drive fast though.  The "highway" is a very local, two-lane road, but it was fun putting the bike into the turns.

After this refresher course, it was back home again and into the garage.  But two motorcycle rides in three days has me wanting more.  Pretty sure that's going to happen.

Here's a photo of the fully laden Ultra before our California trip a few years ago.

Now, imagine this with two riders aboard.