| Author | Message | ||
     Maximum |
Well...it begins Monday morning. It starts with a quick three day journey to New Jersey where I will stay a few days with my family.  Many you may remember that in May of 2010 I rode my Red 2006 Uly to NJ to leave my bike with my brother for the year I was going to be in Iraq. It ended up being an adventure...but in the end some great Buell guys helped me complete the mission. When I got home from Iraq, I was going to just fly back out there to pick it up the bike...but since my lovely wife made the effort to buy me a Blue 2008 Uly while I was in Iraq...I figured that this would be a great opportunity to do some father-son bonding. So on Saturday the 28th my son (Sean) will fly east so that we can ride both Uly's back to Colorado. We will leave NJ on the 30th...take some scenic roads to Eastern Tennessee to visit some of our Buell family there. Then we will take a couple easy days ride north to attend the 2011 Buell homecoming festivities in East Troy / Road America. I am really looking forward to catching up with many of you that are able to make it.  We will end up leaving Road America area Sunday morning (June 5th) heading south to Branson, MO...where Sean and I will meet up with my wife and two girls for a little post-deployment family vacation! We will spend a week there...then finish up the road trip by heading back to Colorado.  So all-in-all it will be about 5000 miles for me...and 3000 miles for Sean. We both are really looking forward to it...and hope that it is fun...but not too "exciting" (if you guys know what I mean)! As time permits I will try to update everyone on our progress and post as many pictures as possible. BTW...if there are anyone in the Columbus, OH area that would like a house guest for the night of Tuesday the 24th...shoot me a PM with your contact info...I love to visit with other Badwebbers when ever possible. Now to get a good night sleep! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Sounds like a fabulous adventure. Have fun and be safe! BeLinda. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Have a great trip Steve. I'm sure this will be a memorable trip for you and Sean. You made my day Saturday when I looked up and saw your smiling face! It was a crazy day, Dan & Julie showed up later, too. Y'all be safe - Z | ||
| Buelet |
Looking forward to more pictures and tales from the road! Safe travels! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Looks like an awesome adventure. I would suggest since you're already going through Knoxville, plan on diverting about 60 miles south and make a ride (or 2) on the Tail of the Dragon (Deal's Gap), highway 129 at the TN/NC border. | ||
| Etennuly |
Envious.....just envious.  Have a great safe trip. Hope to see ya soon! | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
If you have time while in branson, try to do some exploring on the ulys. That area is full of roads and scenery that are just perfect for a buell. I try to take the scenic route through that part of the state every time I travel to see family in mid-mo from my home in okc. | ||
| Maximum |
Day1 was awesome...no rain at all! I will post some pictures when I have more time...but really...who hasn't see eastern Colorado and western Kansas? Not too much exciting to look at there...I mean except for the world's largest prairie dog just east of Colby Kansas. Last night I stayed with a fellow badwebber in KC...had a good dinner a lot's of great conversation...now it is time to get ready for the day. Today I'm heading to Columbus Ohio...and it looks like there in no avoiding raid...so we shall see how it goes! | ||
| Tankhead |
Steve, where are you going to be in South Jersey. Maybe we can meet up for a ride later this week or weekend? I am near Ocean City. (Message edited by tankhead on May 24, 2011) | ||
| Maximum |
I'll be at my parents house in Ocean View...30 miles south of AC. Sent me a pm with you phone number. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
PM Sent about a place to crash in Columbus! | ||
| Etennuly |
 Way to go Mike! | ||
| Missin44 |
If taking that route in Virginia at least take Rt. 11 instead of I81, 11 parallels 81 along the route. | ||
| Maximum |
Hey guys...well so far I have been horrible about documenting my trip. But to be honest...1900 miles in three days does not allow for a lot of time to site seeing. To give everyone a quick summary, I left Colorado on Monday, May 23rd...and I looked like this...  Monday night I stayed with a Uly friend in Kansas City...enjoyed some good food and great conversation about what else....Buells!  The most unusual thing I saw on the trip was one of those ICE freezer units...the kind like you see outside of gas stations and stores bags of ice...sliding down the center of the interstate highway around KC. It fell out of a truck just a couple hundred yards ahead of me...and it was sliding down the highway like it was driving on its own! It came to a stop in the center lane of the highway...sure glad I was not right behind it when fell out of the truck! (sorry, no picture of the ICE box)  Tuesday night I made it to Dayton Ohio and stayed with an ole (and old) Army buddy that I had not seen in 20 years! The magic of Facebook connected him (from Idaho visiting his mother in Ohio) and me (passing through Ohio at the same time). Great visit...no Buell talk...conversation about helicopters and iphones (again, forgot to take pictures). One Wednesday, I rode from Ohio....dipped a little south trough Maryland for a short visit with a friend from High School that I had not seen in over 25 years...then continued to New Jersey, arriving just before darkness. Thursday I spent all day cleaning the bikes and doing maintenance on my red Uly that had been with my brother all year. The bike sure did need a little TLC...apparently engine oil and air for the tires are hard to come by out here! OK, it wasn't that bad...but it did need some work for sure. The Twins were finally reunited...and they sure do look good together!  My son (Sean) flew in as scheduled on Saturday...and today was spent getting the gear all organized, giving rides to my nephews...and letting my brother (Scott) take a couple last rides on the Uly! I think he liked it more that he ever let on...because Sunday night he was looking on Craigslist for an XB12X...he might be hooked!!! In the morning Sean and I leave for our journey...zig zagging across the country back to Colorado. First stop...a visit with Vern and maybe some the eastern Tennessee boys. And Chris...sorry I was not able to hook up for a South Jersey ride with you...things got pretty chaotic with the family...and my brother enlisted my services on Friday and Saturday to help him out with his awning business...some vacation, huh? I'll try to do better with pictures and updates for the next part of our journey...which should be a lot more scenic! Hopefully we will see some of you at Homecoming! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Enjoying the ride report from the comfort of the air conditioned house. "I think he liked it more that he ever let on...because Sunday night he was looking on Craigslist for an XB12X...he might be hooked!!!" Too cool! Climbing on an XT was all it took for me, I could not get that bike out of my mind. Smitten. Those two make a sweet pair. I love the Uly in Thrust blue (duh) but the red is just stunning. Enjoy the ride and be safe! B. | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
one question..... Which one are you riding and which is Sean riding???? Safe travels to you both and look forward to hopefully chatting with you on your arrival back in CO. Cheers- | ||
| Buellerxt |
What a great trip, Maximum! Two very cool Uly's. Did you buy the second one when you got back? Plan to keep them both and just alternate? I like the paint job on the bags. Painted or purchased inserts? Ride safe and enjoy!  | ||
| Etennuly |
Actually I painted his bag trim covers, I did the red stuff also(a few years ago). I did mine back in '08, it is in Barricade orange. When Steve and Sean get here this evening, having three colors of Ulys in full trim will make for some good pictures!  | ||
| Maximum |
Hey Nate...I thought about which bike I should ride and the logical choice would be the newer Uly...but in the end the red 2006 Uly is my baby! So much time and money "maximizing" that XB12X...I had to ride her! So Sean is on the blue 2008. Mike...I saw the Blue Uly listed by a wholesaler in Fort Collins, CO while I was in Iraq...it was too good of a deal...so my wife bought it for me! What a women! I plan to use it as a backup...or as a second bike for my son to use for more trips like this one. I also plan to keep the blue Uly mostly stock...so I can use it as a reference point should I ever want to return parts of the red Uly to stock. We did 650 miles on Monday...and lots of LEO out there...but we arrived safely at Vern's (Etennuly) house around 7:30 last night. We meet Mark and George (area Buell guys)...went for a dip in the pool...and had a nice cookout with bond fire. Really nice time. Today we are going for a little ride with Vern....then heading towards Indianapolis. I plan to stay the night in Indy...then Wednesday morning going to check out the race museum. Anyway, after a little site seeing we will make our way up to the Alpine Valley lodge for our stay in Wisconsin. I'll post pictures as soon as I get somewhere where I can connect my laptop to the Internet. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Great job, Vern. The bikes, all three of them, look awesome. You are quite the visionary/innovator with the cool looking bike and very functional windshield for winter use! Very cool. Steve, I'll agree, 'what a women'! Cool. Enjoy every minute of that trip, Man! Riding cross country with your son is a golden experience that not many get to do. Enjoy, take and post a lot of pictures, and be safe. | ||
| Tankhead |
No problem. I have been wrestling a leaking pool liner all weekend. I did get out on Saturday for a couple hours though. HOT OUT. | ||
| Etennuly |
Too HOT out there for sure!  Here are a couple of pictures of the three painted Ulys.   After spending a day or so with Steve and Sean it has become more apparent why we love these bikes! | ||
| Metaldude |
what a sweet looking view! The paint looks excellent! | ||
| Buellerxt |
Great looking bikes. Are those lights or reflector strips on the back of your bike, Vern? Any daytime effect? | ||
| Etennuly |
Thanks for the nice words on the paint. Those are 3M truck reflective decals that I cut down to shape and size with scissors. I am happy to report the only detrimental effect from the decals is that after staring at them in direct sunlight for two or more hours at a time, makes your eyes go funny and you can feel a little light headed.  At night time with reflected headlights it can be a little worse depending of course on how many beers you consumed before deciding to stare at them! On either side of the license plate I have LED clearance markers that work in conjunction with the park lamps. | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
Vern- Great shots... good looking crew..... Vern, never realized you still are running stock mirrors... huh... so many times i have seen shots of your Uly and never noticed... | ||
| Maximum |
Sean and I made it to the Alpine Valley Resort last night around 8:45 pm. It was a long day as we spent an extra day with Vern...btw thanks for your hospitality Vern...and needed to cover 650 miles yesterday. But it wasn't the mileage that wore me out...it was the 1.5 hours that it took to get through Chicago! Holy Cow...that is traffic! I will never complain about Denver's rush hour ever again (or at least till the next time I am stuck in traffic there). Just to get caught up with the picture part of this thread...here are a few. It is always good to see NJ in my mirror!  Long stretches of interstate do not make for the most exciting rides...but the Uly does a great job with these 650+ days!  Etennuly is an awesome guy...and his bike almost looks as sweet as mine!  There wasn't any picture taking on Wednesday...cause we were just trying to get to Wisconsin...but I did wake up early this morning to check things out in the day light.  The Unofficial Buell/Erik Buell Racing Homecoming unofficially starts today at 10 am over at the former Buell...now Erik Buell Racing...headquarters. We met Dennis, Phillip, and Paul (not sure what their Badweb names are)} at the Alpine Valley Resort last night...but it appears that we the only 5 Buell guys staying here. Not sure where everyone else is...or how many people will be attending this year...but I guess I will find out in a couple hours! More info to follow... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I really wanted to make it this year and it would have been 5 in a row. My wife got a job starting last week and my son got a job at Shopko last week and I usually travel with one or both. Hopefully I can go to 2011 Homecoming vicariously through you guys. Keep us updated, thanks. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Thanks for the update, Steve. Have fun! Just a small tip to consider: Get a $2. strap in the camping section of Wal-Mart to put around your tailbag/Tail about 2" from the top of the tail to help prevent the bag from eventually ripping. They work great, relaxing the strain on the part of the bag that goes over the tail. Enjoy! | ||
| Etennuly |
Steve and Sean, It was great to have you stop by, we enjoyed your company. Mark(orangeulius) and George(Gotj) were glad to have met you and would have ridden with us if timing had been different. Nothing like Buellers meeting over BB&B(you know....Burger, Bonfire and Beer). I sure am happy to see you made it safely on a long day through this incredible heat and that nasty Chicago traffic!  I know you will keep us posted on the rest of your trip! |
