Ultra Classic | I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Posts Tagged ‘Ultra Classic’

Motorcycle XM Satellite radio antenna placement …. making it work

As mentioned in my posts regarding my early impression on our new motorcycle, the Ultra Limited, the XM Satellite radio reception was bad at best. It was so bad that I was considering having it removed and asking for my money back (not really sure how that would have worked out).

After reading different takes about the radio on HD Forums and other sites, I decided to try it with the antenna moved out of the fairing and onto the “dash”. In this case to the right of the Project Rushmore air vent. The appearance of the antenna in this location is, and you can see for yourself, not bad. When I have the vent closed the antenna even looks like it is meant to be there.

View from the front

But this was not about aesthetics or appearance it was about reception. Prior to moving the antenna I would get reception a grade of 40% out of 100. The drops and lost reception was more than inconvenient, it was I want to return it bad. After moving the antenna I will grade out reception as 80% out of 100. Now the only time I lose reception is when there is a mountain or heavy foliage blocking the southern sky.

I still think Harley Davidson should install a buffer in the radio to allow for those short drops when they occur. I don’t think a 4-10 second buffer would increase the price of the radio beyond what people are willing to pay.

If you are considering purchasing an XM radio module for your motorcycle do not waste your time and add stress levels by allowing them (or yourself) to install the antenna in the default location. Install the antenna on the dash from the start; it will work a whole lot better and you will be happier with the reception you receive!

Motorcycle Ride to PAW PAW

Posted: August 20, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
Tags: Berkeley Springs, Berkeley Springs state park, blue ridge mountains, cacapon river, Charles Town, eastern panhandle, George Washington, Harley, Harley Davidson, Hillsboro, Martinsburg, mineral spring, mineral spring water, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, organic restaurant, Paeonian Springs, Panorama at the Peak, Paw Paw, shenandoah river, sonic restaurant, table to market, Ultra Classic, ultra limited, VA, VA route 9, VA RT 9, Virginia, Virginia State Route 9, West Virginia, west virginia route 9, Winchester, WV, WV route 9, WV RT 9

Well, Paw Paw, West Virginia was not the intended destination, in fact, we just went out to ride.

We pulled out about ten in the morning (on the Ultra Limited) and head west on Route 7. I noticed the exit for Virginia State Route 9 and decided, what the heck let’s see where Route 9 goes. We knew it went north to Martinsburg, WV but that was about it.

Route 9 in Virginia is also known as Charles Town Pike and passes through rolling farmland and the towns of Paeonian Springs (which has a historic district) and Hillsboro. Hillsboro sets in the middle of a gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains. A short climb out of Hillsboro and you have a great view of Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

RT 9 at WV/VA boarder

At this point VA Route 9 becomes WV Route 9 and also becomes a four line highway. While we did not take the road, by the looks of the area I can image that “old 9” down the mountain would be full of twistiness! Crossing the Shenandoah River we scooted through Charles Town and Martinsburg, we did not stop to look around, today was just about riding. A little after Martinsburg the road becomes a 2 lane again.

When we reached Berkeley Springs we did stop. Right in the middle of the town is the Berkeley Springs State Park. The town (its real name is Bath) was considered the country’s first spa and resort area because of the mineral spring producing 2,000 gallons a minute. George Washington even visited the springs. Heck the town even has a castle!

Continuing on Route 9, up the mountain out of Berkeley Springs we summited to a spectacular view of the Potomac River in the valley below. We decided to have lunch across the street from the fabulous view at Panorama at the Peak restaurant. This is a farm to table, organic, restaurant and the food was awesome!

Back on the bike we rode down the mountain and into the Cacapon River Valley. This stretch of road from Berkeley Springs to Paw Paw was very lightly traveled, I doubt that we passed a dozen cars. It undulates along the Cacapon River and was just a very nice ride!

Riding in the Cacapon River valley

We reached the end of WV 9 when we hit Paw Paw. It is a very small town at the intersection of WV 9 and 29 and was the point where we began our return trip. We did not retrace our route instead we zigged and zagged through a variety of roads until we reached Route 7 at Winchester, VA. After stopping at the Winchester Sonic restaurant for ice cream (I love there coconut milkshakes) we quickly made it back home.

We put in 198 miles on this trip with only a few stops….it was a great day with the wife and the bike!

: Debbie and me somewhere in WV

: One lane bride in WV

: Welcome to Paw Paw

: Railroad bridge over the Cacapon River

: View of the Potomac River

: A castle, really!

: What?

: Berkeley Springs History

: Berkeley Springs History

: George Washington’s bath tub?!

: Berkeley Springs

: View from RT 9 north of Martinsburg

: Route 9 in WV

: New old school MacDonalds

: WV/VA border

: WV/VA border

: WV/VA border

: View from RT 9 in VA

: Hillsboro, VA

: Hillsboro, VA

: View from RT 9 in VA

: Route 9 in VA

2013 Gettysburg Motorcycle Rally

Posted: July 16, 2013 in Rally
Tags: 2013 Gettysburg Bike Rally, All Stars Complex, American Civil War Wax Museum, American Dare Devil, Battlefield Harley Davidson, bike rally, Bubba Blackwell, custom bike, custom Harley, custom Harley Davidson, Farnsworth House, General Pickett, Gettysburg battlefield, Granite Hill Campground, Harley Davidson, HD, Motorcycle, motorcycle rally, Motorcycle Ride, PA, Parade of Chrome Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Sharpshooter Bar and Grill, Ultra Classic

Welcome to Gettysburg Bike Rally

This past weekend Debbie and I attended the 2013 Gettysburg Bike Rally. The rally is split into multiple venues, the All Stars Complex and Granite Hill Campground and the American Civil War Wax Museum. While not part of the official rally, Battlefield Harley Davidson also hosted a good number of vendors. We did not make all the venues passing on the Wax Museum, but maybe next year.

Debbie and Karma with Bubba Blackwell

On Saturday we met our friends Tim and Karma at the dealership and after checking out the store and vendors we then rode over to All Stars Complex to watch Bubba Blackwell, American Dare Devil. We got there a little late but did get to watch him drift, wheelie and generally make several Harley Davidson bikes do whatever he wanted them to do. I was impressed with this ability to bring an Ultra Classic bagger to a pipe dragging, all the way up wheelie!

But other than Bubba this venue was a bit….light on vendors and things to do. We spent most of our time waiting to participate in the “Parade of Chrome” ride to the Granite Hill venue. I would have to guess that there were over 500 bikes lined up to ride in the parade through downtown Gettysburg.

It was apparent, as soon as we arrived, that the campground was the main base for the rally. The majority of the vendors were at the campground as well as the biker build off, bikini contest and the main stage for the headlining acts (War was the main band this year).

For diner we rode back into town looking for a nice place to eat, but it was clear that there was going to be a long wait no matter where we went. We were referred to a local spot called “Sharpshooter Bar and Grill”. When we arrived the outside was packed with bikers of all types, but indoors it was open and we got a seat as soon as we walked in. The manager, Ed, was our waiter and he took great care of us. The food was great, the service was great. I would highly recommend Sharpshooter if you are in the Gettysburg area!

Apparently the heat and sun really took a toll on us. Sunday morning no one moved until nearly 10AM. For breakfast we rode into town and ate at the Farnsworth House (a B&B that serves breakfast to the public). The House was there during the battle of Gettysburg and has over 100 bullet holes to prove it.

After our meal we decided to ride through part of the battlefield before heading home. The easiest part of the battlefield for us to get to was the confederate line. We rode along the line stopping at several points to look at the monuments and history. The view from where General Pickett started his march into the Union cannons was eerie, knowing that an entire Infantry division was destroyed.

After the riding the length of the Confederate line we said our good byes to Tim and Karma and we all headed home. All in all it was a great weekend on the bikes and with friends.