Well the day started almost like any other
except there was a rally to run. Like Segar said "Up with the sun, gone
with the wind" My riding companion (cuz you should never ride a choppa
alone) were up and on the road by 5:20 am. On the road the choppa and I were
pointed North away from Niobrara and headed for adventure at the very lest but
definately headed toward disaster.
First stop was Chamberlin at the rest stop we got our bonus and headed back to
the bikes. Mark got his Wing going and I gave the Choppa a kick, and nothing.
Looking at the voltmeter I installed I could see no power at all. CRAP!!! dead
battery, Mark whips out the trusty jumper cables the bike fires right up and its
on to Pierre to the Fountain at the Capital. On the way to Pierre I noticed the
rear was moving around abit, hmmmmm minda odd for a rigid. So we stop and take a
look, found that the axle nuts had loosened. Gave em a quick spin with a cresent
wrench and its off to the fountain. DAMN!!! bike wont start again. What no
power? Thats it we're finding a parts store and gettin a new battery.
Off to the fountain, to get more points and back to the NAPA we saw on the way
in. "How much for that battery? Oh hell I guess it doesnt matter Ill take
it" Mark starts to get the old one out and I pay the man behind the counter
38 bucks!!!! for the giver of life in a square box, put it in the bike it fires
right off and now its off to The Badlands.
So far the vibration hadnt been that bad and according to the GPS we'd been
running 65+ as a moving average. So things were going ok, 1000 miles seemed
about right. Alas just as you think that the bike starts vibrating like a hooker
standing outside in International Falls in January, WTH !!! pull over and take a
quick looksee. Find that a couple of the motormount bolts have loosend (they
shoot horses right?) Well if I'd had a gun....... So I tighten the bolts and its
back off but the vibrtion isnt all that much better so we stay down to the point
where its not that bad and soldier on.
Seems with the fuel cell Im getting about 190 or so miles per tank, but we had
to stop every 165 or so to fill the Wing. Ha!!! The choppa now has more range
than the Wing that Marks riding. (Its the little things you know) 
I just smile put in the 3.5 to 4 gals at each fuel stop and get on with the
show.
Now its time for the Badlands loop so its off at the exit and I try to use the
reaar brake and there is nothing, Now What!?!?!?! Damn that Lunatic, if he were
here right now, Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! So I think well I can ride it with just a
front brake lets just go. We get to the gate at the park entrance and pay, find
the first lot and pull in to see what happened now.
Seems the steel line has come out of the fitting and now has no flare left to
hold it in place, and whats this??? Where the heck is the License plate and tail
light?? OK Ive had it, we decide that without the light we'll just grab the
Interior bonus and head back. So thats what we did.
Arriving back at Niobrara at 7:30 pm Im start my 3 hour rest Bonus and do just
that. 3 hours later my rally is done. Not before riding the choppa 771 miles and
have things, mirrors, covers, bolts, brackets, mounts and the frame either break
or just plain fall off. In retrospect I still had a greaat time even riding was
fun. I got to see more of the country by M/C and thats what its all about, aint
it? I got to hang out with 80+ of my best friends, some old and some new and we
shared the experience that only a rally such as this can do to you.
Also met a town of 420 people who welcomed us with open arms and didnt think
that bikers/motorcyclists really arent that bad of people.
Thats my story and Im sticking to it
So Lee you think Ohio is out of the question? 