I'm always up for suggestions/stories of others rides though.
Stay safe and stay in the wind
Not to belittle any other make, model or style of bike, but I'd recommend a Harley. I've owned Honda (350, 450), Suzuki (750), and Yamaha (750 3-banger, Virago 1000) and travelled and camped all over the Northwest. Had a lot of fun with them too, but it wasn't until I got my 2000 Heritage Softail Classic that I really learned about the Brotherhood (and Sisterhood
)of the road. While they are expensive new you can find good used bikes at reasonable prices, they are so customizable it's like building a form-fitting glove for your hand. And for me, there is no feeling of power like the rumble of a V-Twin.
Mine paint is stock Red on Red (actually a full Burgandy color with gold trim), but the drive line is a near total custom. It's a 95 cu. in. with S&S race heads and pistons, roller rockers and .570 racing gear cam. 6-speed Jimms tranny, Supertrap Mean Mother performance straight pipes, Mikuni 45mm carb, Jagg oil cooler for desert travel and more chrome than a pimp's pink Caddy. Almost all the stainless steel is gone. Instead it's got upper and lower chrome front forks, chrome pullback handlebars, chrome control housings and levers, chrome inner primary cover, chrome drive sprocket, chrome belt guard, even chrome swing arm and oil filter cover. Chrome, chrome, chrome. So bright, ya gotta wear shades.
Beast gets 100hp and 100 ft. lbs torque on the Dyno, and has all the bag and equipment accessories for long, long distance touring. It'll pass a logging truck on a steep, uphill Cascade mountain grade, carrying my fat butt and 50-60+ lbs. of gear like the truck was rolling backwards downhill. I've pegged it pretty good (all I could stand anyway) cruising through Montana at 115 mph and still had passing punch if I needed it. So Harleys can fly!
Of course any of the other Softails or Dynas are great bikes, but the Heritage has that good looking, 50's nostalgic styling that's good for cruising or touring. However, if it's ultimate comfort for long trips then the HD Tour bikes (Roadking, Glides, Ultras, etc.) can't be beat.
And there is something just a little bit more about the camraderie of HD riders, but you won't really believe until you ride the iron.
~ Keeping the chrome up, and the rubber down ~
