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This is why I don’t have any money. I want too many things!

This spring I decided scratch an item off the bucket list and take the PCH from Santa Cruz to Big Sur.

I rented a Road King from Scott at California Motorcycle Adventures. He was actually cheaper than Eagle Rider, and didn’t have all the add-on costs. Originally we wanted a Heritage, but due to some tech issues with the bike, Scott asked us if we wanted an upgrade. I was trepidatious at first. I’d never ridden a Road King, and the touring frame and size gave me some concern. I’ve ridden my friend’s Kawi Nomad, so I figured it couldn’t be all that different.

The first day, riding from San Jose to our B&B in Santa Cruz, was a bit of a test. The Road King is certainly heavy (770lbs) and the ’08 model vibrates quite a bit at low speeds. On the highway it was great, but tooting around town to get lunch was, at times, difficult. I was used to the smooth stops of my Kawasaki, but the RK vibrated so much I wasn’t sure if I was coming to a stop or about to kill it. After a few of these stops, I realized that the Harley was just going to vibrate, but nothing bad was going to happen. Last year when I test road a Heritage and Deluxe I didn’t feel that much vibration. Not sure if they’ve made some improvements on the ‘11s or not. I couldn’t really tell you.

Once I got the hang of the bike I was good to try 2-up with the wife. The added weight wasn’t really an issue, but the passenger floorboards hit me in the calf whenever I tried to walk to bike out of parking spaces, or into gas stations. If I owned one, I’d have to remove those and put pegs back there.  Our hotel was down in a small valley from the road, and getting the RK out of the parking lot was a lot of fun. I always had to turn right because there was about a 65-degree hill the other direction with a stoplight at the top. I really didn’t want to mess with that!

On our second day we rode to Monterrey to see the aquarium, and to run around and do some shopping. The drivers in California are SO much nicer than in Texas. Dallas drivers try and kill me on a daily basis, but everyone in Santa Cruz gave me plenty of space and were very courteous when passing–they even used their turn signals (what a concept)! But Californians have this weird thing where they’ll come right up behind you ( I guess to say hello?) and then back off. I never understood that, but they all did it. Then they’d just hang back and cruise along as if they were never in a hurry.

But the best part of the vacation was when we rode all they way to Carmel and down to the Bixby bridge. My plan was to cross the bridge and look down where Kerouac and his friends stayed in the cabin at Big Sur. However, mudslides had wiped out the road by the bridge, and they wouldn’t let drivers near it. So we parked the bike next to some of the road workers’ trucks and walked out on the cliffs. It was a beautiful view. We took a nap in the warm sun and listened to the wind in the trees and the sound of the surf. On the way back we stopped at a leather shop and the wife, of course, had to buy something.

The Road King was incredible on the open road. If there hadn’t been so many highway patrolmen, I would have really tested my speed. At 80mph the RK felt like my Vulcan 800 at 40. It seemed like the faster I went on the Harley, the smoother it got. And let’s not even talk about the curves. It’s impressive that a bike that size can maneuver the way the Road King does. On the last day I actually came in hot on one curve, but had no problem easing off the throttle, leaning into it and then speeding back out. My wife actually got scared driving the car in front of me because we were passing oncoming 18-wheelers and RVs. She asked me if it made me nervous, and I said I didn’t even notice. The only bad part was I got rained on. Damn my luck. If anyone is going to get rained on during a ride, it’s ME!

As always I was sad to leave California. This time was no exception—in fact it was harder than before. I’d named the Road King “Bulldog”. I’m really bad about adding human emotions to mechanical things, but I believe in my heart that he liked me. Poor Bulldog. I hope someone rides you soon. You were a wonderful bike and helped me have the best birthday of my life so far.