did it with help from you guys!
i posted up for tips on my first road trip here:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...ip-please.html

almost didnt do the trip cause i saw that rain is called for on my return trip. have to say that i wanted to do this trip so badly that i decided that if it rains, i will deal with it then!

200 miles- lotsa freeways, and plenty of california coast... 5 hours for the trip- about 40 miles into it some jerk pulled a u-turn in front of me. hit the brakes, downshifted, and hit the horn (i have a very loud horn on the bike)... no sound from the horn- then i noticed that my turn-signals were not working. my wife was following me (and hauling all my stuff) and she told me that my brake light is out too.
even if i was carrying a fuse, i have upgraded my seat and sissybar so that its a total pia to get the seat off (have to remove the sissybar first)- made it with her keeping distance and covering my backside.
am near pismo beach, and i saw a sign for a harley dealer about 30 miles away- since today is new years, am hoping that they will be open tomorrow.

if anyone has tips on a good place for service near pismo beach, ca- i am interested!!

anway, i followed almost all of the advice in the thread above. the only thing i did differently, was my throttle hand was getting pretty tired so i learned how to use that "cruise control" (throttle lock)- i really like it too. i tightened it just tight enough to hold the throttle, but not so tight that i couldnt change the amount of throttle.

first stop was after about an hour and a half. after than i needed pit stops every half hour or so- because i also took the advice to drink plenty of fluids!
wore jeans with riding pants over, my padded jean jacket, boots and my helmet with my "normal" leather gloves. temps were about upper 50s. if any cooler, i had a neck warmer and warmer gloves that i coulda worn.

thanks guys for the tips- and if anyone has ideas as to service around this area, let me know.

 

forgot to mention that i now understand why guys have windshields on their bikes- hit some nasty wind spots. got down low and it was better.
also rode on the rear passenger pegs a ways and traded off to the normal pegs and my linby bar. i think that i will get one of the detachable windscreens as my next "upgrade"!

 

5 hours to go 200 miles? You sure you weren't riding this...

he he just kidding but what took so long?
Still not sure why someone suggested you drink lots of fluid to go on a 200 mile ride, it's not like you were running, you were just sitting on the bike and twisting the throttle and it wasn't even hot outside if it was in the upper 50s.

Anyways glad you had fun

 

what took so long was the first part of the trip was through los angeles!! actually, along the pacific coast highway. lotsa stop lights and a whole lot more traffic than i thought there would be. also my stops prob took longer than they really needed to.
yup, i am sure that i was not on that scooter, and i was on my sporty! kept to the speed limit (something that i had never done before). and glad too, cause i saw whole lotsa cops.
it was fun- gonna do it again soon (gota get home!)

my conclusion from this ride- i loved the small roads and non-freeway parts. i can do without freeway riding. freeways = boring and just not as much fun for me.

 

Well done !!
Wash, rinse, repeat and you'll have lot-o-memories

 

thx- i do have to ride back home...

as to wash, rinse (prob not really what you meant, but i am going with it !)-
and since i had a cage to haul stuff, i put my detail supplies in there.
was shocked how clean the bike was after the trip. some detailers spray and about 10 minutes and the bike is clean as new!

 

FWIW,
Don't get too complacent with this.. I'ts not called a dead man's cruise for nothing.
I used to use mine a lot before I got a bike w/ proper CC, so I'm not trying to be rough.. just a reminder...

 

yeah, i make sure not to overtighten it. also make sure that i can still move it when i tighten it. assume that is what you mean. i can see that if its overtightened, it can contributed to problems if a sudden change is needed.
dumb question- do they make a real cruise for the sportster?

 

You took your detail stuff on a road trip. Damn
I havent washed my bike in months, im too bust riding.

 

Get your wife outta the car and put her behind ya or leave her at the house! You don't need an escort to carry your chit.It's all about you and the road! You don't need no helmet, no cell phone, and no detail kit! And if you aint got to be back at work till Mon, tell ya wife you'll see her when you see her. Ride it like ya stole it! You're a biker! Man...I just wanna ride, I just wanna ride! Can ya tell that I just watched Wild Hogs again haha