We were up at about 08:30 - we had to get things together and go down to Flagstaff to collect the motorbike
The motorbike was picked up at 10:30
It was a Harley Davidson sportster it was matt black and sounded like it was on fire
I was a little... well, not worried but unsure about driving the bike as I haven’t drove a bike for at least 10 years and I have only had sports bikes before and this was not a sports bike - this was a Harley
From the first minute on the bike I felt comfortable - no worries at all... of course there is a huge difference between a Harley and the Kawasaki's that I’m used to... the engine in this Harley was huge and the riding position is a lot different. I had to get used to having my legs wide apart so not to touch the motor as the motor and the exhaust was very hot and I’ve still got the burn marks to prove it (still now nearly 2 months later)
Our first stop was Williams - only a short ride from Flagstaff... from here we could stop and get our things together and make a plan for the day. Driving to Williams and parking up felt great as we were now on Route 66 at the start of a very long day.
I took a few photos of the bike and also a video and then we planned our trip down the i40 to exit 139
In the first hour of driving the bike it started to have some faults... to start with I didn’t know if it was me as I was not used to this bike or if it was the bike itself.
The bike will be fine driving at 70 mph but when I would come to stop the engine would just cut out - I thought it was me but after a couple of times doing the same thing I found it was the bike.
Also when driving and dropping the revs on the bike it felt like it was dumping fuel into the exhaust it sounded like fire was spitting out the back. It wasn’t the most comfortable bike to ride and it felt like it was going to rip my legs off
When driving comfortably at 70 mph the Speedometer would fall down to 0 and then rise again without any explanation of what was going on and at this point my heart skipped a beat to see if the motor would cut out at this speed...
Once we got to exit 139 on the i40 the bike again for the third or fourth time cut out and this time it would not start again and the error came on the dash that it was an "intern V Error"
It was Game Over for the Bike...
I called the bike shop and they said they will get a new bike out to me and this will take two hours.
I said to Maj-Britt and the kids to drive on in the car to the next stop on Route 66 - here they can get something to eat and drink and maybe slowly start the trip... I said I’ll catch up once I had the new bike.
While waiting for the new bike I had at least 8 to 10 cars that stopped and ask if I was okay or if I need a water or if I needed to call someone...
Everyone seems very friendly and you wouldn’t get this anywhere else - this really surprised me a lot and even two state trooper police cars pulled up to make sure I was okay.
There were motorbikes, couples and even two rednecks with a hillbilly pick up and a girl in the back... I could not understand all that was said as most of their teeth were missing... they had motors and car parts in the back of the truck and said something about they had a place down the road if I wanted to go with them...
My new bike arrived and it was an Indian and it was a great ride and I fell in love with it straight away
We drove Route 66
We saw a beautiful sunset
We drove under the stars
We drove on an empty dark road
We were seconds from running out of petrol and the bike actually stopped at the pump unbelievable... not even a joke to make the story funny... it actually cut out at the pump...
After a very long day we got to see the bright lights of the city and this was coming to the end of a very long day.
we checked into the villa at 23:30 and now the kids are sleeping and getting ready for tomorrow which will be mostly at the swimming Pools in the complex.
Even now after being in the room only a few minutes it is by far the best hotel and room that we stayed in on the whole of the trip.
It is a gated community with a golf course, private houses and spa places...
Our room was upgraded and we had wonderful, beautiful, amazing views of the golf course and the mountains.
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