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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
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Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



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  #1  
Old 26 Aug 2004
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H-D Heritage Softail to Patagonia!!!???

I've been making preprerations for a trip from Knoxville, TN to Patagonia, S. America. With all the planning, finding the right motorcycle has left me tired of "trying to decided". And to be honest, a BMW11xxGS wouldn't be that much lighter than my big fat Harley-Davidson, my Harley's more comfortable (to me anyway)!!My '01 Harley Heritage Softail classic has gotten me to Newfoundland and back (I live in TN). Something in the back of my mide keeps going back to the idea of "screw it...just keep it simple, Put knobbies on the darn thing and just go with what you've got and just make it work!" Anythoughts on a big harley hog to Tierra del Fuego? Anyone crazy enough to have ever tried done this before?

Dave Cate
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  #2  
Old 26 Aug 2004
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Take the softail....you own it, obviously like it and dont mind getting it dirty. I also want to see a photo with it wearing knobbies!

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  #3  
Old 26 Aug 2004
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Look at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/forwood/
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  #4  
Old 27 Aug 2004
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And skip the knobbies, not needed. I ran a street tire on my R80G/S for our RTW ride.

Just go, and have a great ride!

(Do carry a spare belt!)

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Grant Johnson

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One world, Two wheels.
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  #5  
Old 7 Sep 2004
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I agree, take what you like and are comfortable with. But did you heed the part about taking a extra belt? belt drives like to push gravel thu the belt. not so bad the first time but put multiple holes in your belt and it will break. Harley used to say you could run with 1/3 of the belt left.... Out here in montana where there are a few gravel roads people do break belts on harleys and other brands with belt drive. My advice is to go out in the backyard and pull your belt off and then reinstall it and be sure and take those tools you used along with the extra belt.
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  #6  
Old 16 Sep 2004
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I agree take the Softail, Dave Barr did it on a 72 HD, But on early softtails you have to drop the hole swing arm to change belts something to think about. I know you can convert a sporty back to chain not sure about your bike a masterlink is a alot easyer fix. Thinking of doing a RTW myself and useing a 883 Sportster you can pick them up cheap(more so now that the new one's are rubber mount)good mpg and anuff hp to get by and at 485lb a little easyer to handle on a trail. Will good luck keep us posted on how it go's
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