Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > Welcome to HU
Welcome to HU New to the HUBB and Horizons Unlimited? Introduce yourself here! Get to know the denizens.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Like Tree2Likes
  • 1 Post By jkrijt
  • 1 Post By Grant Johnson

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 25 Feb 2012
Patrick46's Avatar
Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon Coastline
Posts: 7
GAD!!!.....another newbie!!

Hello all!

I'm Patrick46 from the Oregon Coastline.

A good many of you already know me from the ADV board, and maybe even a few from the Jockey Journal as well...so hey to you'z guys too!

I'm a long time lurker, and a long time rider, so thought I'd finally make joining this site official.

I'm back riding on an air-compressor again, after a many year hiatus, and it's still fun like I remembered. (this is a H-D for those scratching their heads right now.)

I design and build my own bikes. (I've been a custom painter, builder and fabricator for over 30 years) This seems to be the only way for me to be able to ride something that not only fits my frame, but feels the way I want it to in my hands.

Also, as I'm an artist, I like to ride something that doesn't quite fit into a box. No off the showroom floor rides under me. Forget it.

and I've riden alot of different sleds too. (I'm NOT a Harley guy....I'm a MOTORCYCLE GUY.) Yes, I've had many different Harleys over the years, like the Softail chopper I'm on now, a shovel, a pan, and a knuckle I rode cross -country for over 17 years.
oh....but I also put a ton of miles on Yamaha Ventures (4 of 'em), GoldWings, XS and XL Yamahas, and a Z-1 drag-chopper (my own design of course!) I've also had the usual assortment of dirt bikes as well, and still have a few of those hanging around too.

I also pull trailers behind my bikes too, for those of you that like motorcycle campers. We had a Trav-Lite first, but now we're pulling a Kwik-Kamp....and we LOVE IT!!!

My latest monstrosity is an EVO/Twin Cam Hybred Softail Chopper.
Now, many of you are probably not into choppers so much...but if they're set up correctly, you CAN put serious miles on 'em. (Unfortunately, the majority of 'em are just used for stylin' & profiling on sunny days)........but NOT MINE! This one was built for the long haul.

OK...maybe I'm not gonna cross the Sahara on it...I'll leave that to Doug. But it is set-up to put long days in the saddle on. If you can't jump on a bike and ride it from coast to coast tomorrow, then I'll loose interest in it real quick.

It's a 'real' Frankenstein of a machine in many ways, so that's what my wife named it.
The engine runs an EVO lower end, with a Twin Cam top end, giving me 100.3 ci. The trans is a 5 speed, and I'm running a rocker-clutch set-up with a cop-style frame ratchet-shifter. The frame has 8" in the down-tubes, 6" in the backbone, and runs a 10" over late model wide-glide. Rake is about 38*

This thing is fast, pulls like a Mack truck, handles incredibly well, and rides wonderfully! Oh...and it'll pull wheelies all day long. It is so much fun to ride!!!

GAD!!!.....another newbie!!-p1010378.1.jpg





Well....now that my kids have grown up, I may finally get the chance to do some SERIOUS touring......WOO-HOO!!!!! So I'm actually considering switching over to a GSA.

I've heard from quite a few who are knowlegible on the subject, that a GSA would better suit my needs of riding 2-up and pulling a trailer...over a GS. And a 1150 may be better for me than a 1200.....so the learning curve is in full-on mode!

Another reason for possibly switching rides, is that I live on the Oregon Coastline. There are 10's of thousands of miles of BLM and logging roads out here, that are simply beyond my grasp with the chopper. The chopper is a phoenominal road bike, but it doesn't have the correct frame geometry for going off-road...and I'm wanting to push more and more into that direction.


I love reading all the ride reports from you good folks who are out there making it all happen, and I invite any and all comments about my choppers, and about my potential switch to the "Dark Side".

Y'all be safe out there!!
__________________
"Good Times & Good Friends Make Life Better"
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 25 Feb 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Isle of Lewis
Posts: 153
Welcome

Hi Paterick,
Welcome to the Hubb.
Some bike !
Well named.

Look forward to reading about your adventures.

Rory
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 26 Feb 2012
Patrick46's Avatar
Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon Coastline
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rory799 View Post
Hi Paterick,

Look forward to reading about your adventures.

Rory
Thanx Rory!

(oh....and it is Patrick)

my adventures, well I have had a few.

did alot of long solo trips when I was young, so those were all fun...but in more recent years, my wife and I did 7 states and 8 National Parks and/or monuments in 10 days 2 years ago.

Moab, Arches, Bridges, Mesa Verde, the 4 corners, rode UP the Moki Dugway...pulling our trailer, Capital Reef, the Escalante Staircase, Bryce, Zion, the Extraterrestrial Highway, and home through Yosemite. WOW...waz THAT a trip!!!

GAD!!!.....another newbie!!-arches1-09.jpg
and in 5 of the locations, we went on major hikes too, so it's not like we just rode through and took a few pictures.


We also rode out to Bonneville Speed Week 3 years ago, and took the scenic Northern route on the way home. Now that was REALLY COOL!!!!
GAD!!!.....another newbie!!-bonneville-and-e-bay-011.jpg



on the slate for this coming summer, is a ride out to Boston from here on the Oregon coastline. From sea to shining seas...literally!!
I'm hoping we can swing down and do the Eastern seaboard while we're out there...and maybe even spend some time at the Smithsonian Institute!! I've been dieing to go there since I was a kid!

(oh wait....I STILL AM a kid!!)
__________________
"Good Times & Good Friends Make Life Better"
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 26 Feb 2012
jkrijt's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 639
Hi Patrick,

You are a custom builder. Why don't you build a Harley that is capable to do more off-road. That would be interesting.
By the way, you should look what Peter and Kay Forwood did on an standard ElectraGlide: Peter and Kay Forwood on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. World's Most Travelled Motorcycle.

Here in the Netherlands, where I live, I have seen a Sportster with knobby tires, long shocks and some more modifications to make it an all-road.

Just my two cents......
__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 26 Feb 2012
Patrick46's Avatar
Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon Coastline
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkrijt View Post
Hi Patrick,

You are a custom builder. Why don't you build a Harley that is capable to do more off-road. That would be interesting.
By the way, you should look what Peter and Kay Forwood did on an standard ElectraGlide
Here in the Netherlands, where I live, I have seen a Sportster with knobby tires, long shocks and some more modifications to make it an all-road.

Just my two cents......
How-d Jkrijt!

first...oh YES.....I know all about Peter & Kay! I'm a big fan of their work!!

There are a growing number of folks who are building some very off-road capable Harleys, which is very cool...but frankly, I'm getting very 'tired' of the whole "Oooooo....you ride a Harley" thing!

(I pulled into a gas station/market the other day, and as I walked through the store a couple of bozo's came right up to me and said "NICE BIKE MAN!!!"...but I knew that there waz no way possible for them to have even seen my bike from where they were in the store...they could only hear it. Sooooo......just because it makes a Harley noise...it's a cool bike????? idiots!!! )

I've been building and riding Harley's since the late 70's, and I just don't relate to the guys that ride 'em anymore. Too many of them are all excited about their new Harley-Davidson brand underoos, and about trailering their bikes to Sturgis and strutting around in their ill-fitting chaps. (frikken sheep.)

My wife thinks that I make too much about all this, and I should quit worrying about what others say and think....but this crap is seriously EVERYWHERE!!!!! I simply can't stomach it anymore. I don't relate to these clowns, nor do I even want to.

Riding bikes is a very spiritual thing to me. I'm not doing it to please anyone but myself. and I definately don't do it to be 'impressive' or cool.
(kinda odd what I do for a living, huh?)

so.....I'm ready for a change.

and as I said earlier...I've got certain things my new bike will hafta be able to do...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick46 View Post
a GSA would better suit my needs of riding 2-up and pulling a trailer.
...and still have off-road capabilities.

oh, and I kind of a big guy too, so we gotta keep that in mind, especially for the long miles.

Do you know of any other bikes that could fill those shoes??? I sure don't!


Thanx for your kind greetings. Time to go riding!!
__________________
"Good Times & Good Friends Make Life Better"

Last edited by Patrick46; 26 Feb 2012 at 22:07.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 26 Feb 2012
jkrijt's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 639
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick46 View Post
I've been building and riding Harley's since the late 70's, and I just don't relate to the guys that ride 'em anymore. Too many of them are all excited about their new Harley-Davidson brand underoos, and about trailering their bikes to Sturgis and strutting around in their ill-fitting chaps. (frikken sheep.)
I know what you mean. Some time ago I had an old Shovelhead TourGlide and went to a HOG meeting. I think most bikes where not more then two years old and most people had Harley jackets, Harley hats, Harley shirts and I did not feel at home there.

In my opinion, the GSA is not a bad choice. I did some testrides on a R1200GS and liked it. It is a big bike but easy to ride and with the GSA you have plenty of fuel capacity for long rides without gasstations.
__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 27 Feb 2012
Patrick46's Avatar
Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon Coastline
Posts: 7
WOW Jan...I checked out your page, and you've had quite the assortment of bikes!! (many of the very same ones I've had too!!)

Had an '88 1500 GoldenWingy. Wonderful motorcycle. (by far the nicest thing I've ever owned) Every option possibly available for the 1500...all the bells and whistles. LED's in the bags and box's, reverse, passenger armrests, etc...
GAD!!!.....another newbie!!-goldwing.jpg

but it just didn't ride like a motorcycle...to us. Just wasn't me. Went back to our old beater Venture.
the Ventures were great too, but definately not something I'd ever wanna take off-road.

I've still got my SR 250 Yamaha, altho mine's been converted into a dual-sport typea thingy. Fun little bean bike.

Had a CB 100 (my very first street legal bike.)...and a CB 750/4 too.


I know what you mean about the HOG riders.
And I cannot stand the word 'BIKER'! I'm a motorcycle rider....NOT a 'biker'. (and here I used to be a patch holder too!)

Hmmmmmmm.......maybe I've changed.

goin' riding!!
__________________
"Good Times & Good Friends Make Life Better"
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 27 Feb 2012
Grant Johnson's Avatar
HU Founder
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 7,313
Welcome to HU Patrick!

You'll find there's a HUGE range of ideas on "the perfect bike" so enjoy the discussion

BTW - in many other parts of the world "biker" doesn't mean the same as here in NA. ALL "motorcycle riders" are "bikers" in the UK for instance. And yes I hate it too - here - but adjust when overseas

I just ride, and have fun!
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.

------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 27 Feb 2012
Patrick46's Avatar
Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon Coastline
Posts: 7
Hiya Grant!

yeah....the 'perfect motorcycle'....hmmmmmmmmm


so, is there the perfect tool in yer toolbox too???





....depends on the job you're trying to accomplish, huh?

in other words.......NOPE!
__________________
"Good Times & Good Friends Make Life Better"
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newbie Tomos Welcome to HU 6 10 Jan 2012 22:05
Garmin GPS newbie ashmax Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS 12 12 Dec 2011 12:02
Newbie needs bike AustraKiwi Which Bike? 1 27 Oct 2011 01:04

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:24.