The Wrap
Overall, this ride reinforced the importance of rule number one of touring – pick the right bike for the job. None of the bikes I rode was really intended for touring and the kind of riding that we did across Ontario and Quebec. Our ride exposed each bike’s weaknesses, and minimized its strengths. Who cares how cool your bike looks when your legs are searing with pain and your hind end feels like you’re sitting on broken glass? I’d take most any one of these bikes out for a ride across town, for an afternoon through the countryside, for a hop from bar to bar. But put them on the road to cover a lot of miles, and I’m going to need to swap out the stock seat, adjust the bars, buy a windshield and some bags, maybe change the handlebars... in short, there are better bikes for the job in the Harley lineup right out of the box. This isn’t a criticism of the bikes – just of the bike selection for this ride. My friends from Best Western would agree, I’m sure, especially Ron, who had his favorite and least favorite bikes, just like all of the other riders.
As for the Best Western/Harley-Davidson connection, I’d highly recommend checking out the H-D Ride Planner before you head out on your next extended road trip. The route recommendations are great, and knowing where you are going to stay along the way is a great comfort. The added “biker-friendly” amenities are a nice bonus – the discounted rate is even more of an attraction.
And if you get a chance to ride a Harley-Davidson through Canada, take it – it’s a wonderful experience, even on the wrong bike.
