- On a fine February day I rented a motorcycle in San Diego and headed up into the mountains. (I'm giving thought to remaning this album "Jared for a Day," Jared being the only Philadelphia Rider I know who currently owns a Harley).
- Assessing the various options, I reserved a Harley 883, and wound up with this Sporster XL883C. Admittedly, my decision was based on price, a BMW being twice as much, but as I'd never ridden a Harley
before, curiosity lurked in the back of my mind.
- This picture along with the one that preceeds it, and a few that follow, was taken on a spectacular road that brought to mind the "canyon carving" so often mentioned in the popular motorcycle mags.
- As much as I enjoyed the ride, the ground clearance on the Sportster was lacking, and the forward pegs didn't lend themselves to spirited cornering.
- This bike altered a good deal of my preconceptions of what it would be like to ride a Harley. Was it fast? No. Did it handle like a 748? No. But it did NOT: vibrate like a paint shaker, leak oil, run out of gas in 90 miles, fall apart or make lots...
- But ultimately, cruisers just aren't for me.
- Unfortunately, I didn't check to see of the other rider waved back. ;-)
- From San Diego I headed into the mountains.
- Two steeds in Julian, Calif.
- Self-portrait, with camera perched on a road sign.
- Coming down from the mountains I rode through Ocotillo Wells, a 40,000 acre off-road park. I saw some cool bikes and amazing riding. One wiseacre asked me if I planned to "jump my Harley," and I replied, "yep, that's what the 21" spoked front wheel i...
- The windy road below disappeared into the desert. I hope to return on a dual sport so I can ride on it
- Same view, minus the helmet hair.
- Climbing out of the Anzo-Borrego desert. Bighorn sheep country. In an hour I went from below sea level at the Salton Sea to 4,000 feet.
- The roads through the mountains were entertaining and surprisingly empty.
