RIDE REPORT During Covid, 13 States & Some Spectacular Riding

[DK Custom Products]

Coming back down into Ouray...



...did not stop at all in town. On the Ridgeway side of Ouray now...



...the curves are nice and the scenery fantastic! Rock face on the right and stream on the left.



Uh-Oh...noticed my engine temp was higher than normal. Could not figure out why at first.

Then I checked the coolant overflow tank and it was bone dry...



In close to 100,000 miles of riding on Twin Cooled bikes I have never had to do anything at all with the coolant system. But this was just the start of a learning curve. I did a little online research and found some compatible coolant (no HD dealerships for many miles in any direction) along with a funnel, and filled up the coolant overflow tank to the appropriate level, then followed the bleed procedure.



Back on the road and everything seems fine. Stopped for these deer to cross, and watched them go up the hillside.



Mary and I near the lake where we're camped...



...Mary in front of a part of the lake that is dry right now. The red arrow is pointing to where we are camped, with the mountains in the background.



Looks like fire in the hill near where we're camped...though there are some fires around, this is just the start of the sun dropping below the hill.



A little later, the sunset has more color, the TG is really dusty, and the moon is full. What a great day of riding and exploring a bit.



Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Today is a perfect day to ride the Million Dollar Highway...Both directions.* Also, a little ride around Silverton.

Headed out from camp, looking off to the right...



...and then off to the left, catching the sun just right. The views are spectacular, and we're not even to the good part yet.



What a view!

I like the sign too. Narrow roads, 7-8% grades, steep drop-offs. They forgot "lots of curves". lol



Here we go! 550, aka, Million Dollar Highway! The fun riding road and the views are equally stimulating.



There are more than a few places where the road is being tempted to fall off into the canyon.



Stunning- A look back...



A couple of Trikes enjoying the road this morning!



More in next post.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

MDH, Silverton & Molas Pass contnued-

Wow!* My windshield & mirrors are dirty!* Does not take away from how much fun this road is!



Mary in the mirror, and a look at the road carved into the side of the mountain.



Ok, this is why I'm here! There are a lot of these "fun ahead" signs...



...hmmm, 15 mph? 35 mph sounds better!



I know the scenery is fantastic, and I do appreciate it, BUT, we have no roads like this where we live, so I am thoroughly enjoying them!!!



Another look back...yes, it is the same view as about 25 curves ago, just a bit further away.



Lots more to come, as time allows for posting.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

A couple of Trikes enjoying the road this morning!



Kevin

From the rear wheel, looks like a CVO ... or at least the rear wheels ... having soooo much fun things are blurrrrred.

[ultrafxr]

From the rear wheel, looks like a CVO ... or at least the rear wheels ... having soooo much fun things are blurrrrred.

Yup that is definitely the black CVO TG. The wheels and the striping give it away. A lady in our local H.O.G. chapter has one.

[hogcowboy]

Were y'all going to or coming from the trike gathering up north at the time of these photos? I think it was in Deadwood or some place near Sturgis.

[DK Custom Products]

From the rear wheel, looks like a CVO ... or at least the rear wheels ... having soooo much fun things are blurrrrred.

Yeah CVO.

Yup that is definitely the black CVO TG. The wheels and the striping give it away. A lady in our local H.O.G. chapter has one.

I did not notice the striping, but the low profile tires is what I keyed in on.

Were y'all going to or coming from the trike gathering up north at the time of these photos? I think it was in Deadwood or some place near Sturgis.

We were not. Visit to family near Boise, ID, then on to Utah & Colorado for some riding, then on to Arizona for a meet-up and riding with Trikers. (see Eastern Arizona thread on the get together, right here on Trike Talk - https://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...astern-Arizona )

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Continuing the ride on the Million Dollar Highway-

Another "Fun Ahead" sign...



...this road is just a blast to ride...



...and it is always very scenic. But today we are seeing so much of the fall colors...



...that it really presents a conundrum. Concentrate on tearing up the road (which is a blast) or sit back and enjoy the amazing sights...



...We end up doing a little of both.



Lotta bikes on the road today, here are some fellow travelers.



A look back...



*...a look to the right...



...a look up...



...we both agree, this is the best "fall colors" we've ever seen, AND it is the best of the many times we've ridden the MDH.



We're not even to Silverton yet, and that is approx. the half-way mark.

More to come as time allows for posting.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Coming into the Red Mountain Mining Community.



5.5 mile tunnel!!!



A look over the info sign to some of the old infrastructure.



Leaving the RMMC, this road...



...just begs to be ridden...



...that is, if you like the curves!



A look back as we head to the summit of Red Mountain Pass. What amazing views!



I did not realize, until looking at this photo, that Red Mountain Summit was this high. For some reason Molas Pass feels higher.



Over 11,000 feet! A look back at the summit.



So glad to be riding this road...



More in next post.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

...it is an absolute blast to ride.



A look back.



Mary, holding the camera way out off the side at 55 mph thru the curves.



Spectacular views! It took us 1500+ miles to get here, but it's worth it!



Just amazing, this is a shot looking back as we come down the hill into Silverton.



View from road right outside of Silverton.



We've spent a few days in Silverton a couple of years ago. We decide to ride on, Molas Pass is just 7 miles ahead.



We do not get very far before I realize that the coolant I added yesterday was not doing the job. We stopped to call the Harley Store in Silverton to see if they have coolant there.

They do, so after taking in the view a bit...



...we head back thru the curves to Silverton.



More of todays adventures as time allows for posting.

*

Kevin

[cScjhb]

Thanks Kevin. I've done the MDH 3 times but never during "colors". WOW! What scenery. And the almost total absence of guard rails is sure obvious in your pictures. High pucker factor..... Jim

[DK Custom Products]

Thanks Kevin. I've done the MDH 3 times but never during "colors". WOW! What scenery. And the almost total absence of guard rails is sure obvious in your pictures. High pucker factor..... Jim

Hey Jim,

Yeah, we've been here a bunch and never seen colors like this. But we've never been here this time of year. Crazy.

I think your long wheelbase GW eat this road up.

Lot's more pics to come.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Headed back toward Silverton...



...a different perspective...



...Silverton is a great town to visit...



...there is a really interesting museum on the far side of town...



...but today the purpose of our visit is to stop into the Worlds Highest Harley Store. No motorcycles, just that other stuff...BUT, they do have some coolant!



After grabbing a couple of little bottles of coolant we headed to the big parking lot behind this gas station...



...where I drained all the coolant out of the system, then filled it up and bled all the air out.



Look for the video in a post or two down for the details on what I've learned...how to do it right. Yesterday I did Not do it correctly.

Ok, got that done and she is running like new! On to Molas Pass.



Looking back as we climb out of the valley that Silverton is in...



...and a look ahead as we climb out of Silverton.



More in next post.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

The scenery climbing up to Molas Pass is absolutely...



...Stunning!



Pulling into the parking lot at the Molas Pass Scenic Overlook...



This is the first time we've been here when the mountains weren't capped with snow.



Taking a pic of Mary taking a pic.



Leaving out of Molas Pass overlook...



...toward Durango to eat up some more curves...



...the colors are just insane.



After riding the best part toward Durango, we turn around...



...that's better, with the sun behind us.



More in next post.

*

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Riding back toward Ouray the scenery is amazing!



BUT, I think the curves and cambers of this road...



...for me, are the most fun. I don't know why, but hitting it in the curves is just as much fun now as it was 50 years ago!



Shadow Pic!



The road at 60 MPH. I'm having a blast!



Mary is great at capturing photos on the fly- to the right and down, showing where we've just ridden...



...and this is to the right and back, showing where we've just come from. We're doing about 60 mph here. Dunno how she does it.



Now we're getting to the really fun stuff! The pictures just do not do this road justice.



Soon after this is where I pulled over and attempted to get the drone up for some video and photos of us riding thru a series of S curves. It did not go well. Below is a video of our Malfunctions on the Million Dollar Highway today. (Coolant issue & Drone Crash)



Here's a ground-bound photo of where I attempted to get the drone up. lol



Even with the two malfunctions, it has been a great day of riding.

There is a little more of our ride back to camp that I will get posted up as time allows.

*Kevin

[Red sport.]

Subscribing to this, Pictures are just beautiful, really like the fall colors.

[Jack Klarich]

Spectacular pictures, Thanks Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Okay, so like Kevin, I've never had a "coolant issue" ... but just added checking the level to my 2k maintenance, where I wash the trike and check for oil migration ... LOL.

Speaking of oil migration ... with all that is going on in my world right now ... never noticed a follow up on whether the HD vent fix solved that issue on your ride Kevin?????

Great video on the drain, fill and bleed of the coolant. I've always carried an old sea foam can with HD coolant in it ... figured the pint would be enough to top off ... and it is a sturdy can ..

[Dave59]

Hey Kevin, a lot of Mary's pics look like they could be calendar pages. Thanks for sharing.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Hey Kevin, a lot of Mary's pics look like they could be calendar pages. Thanks for sharing.

To really get a feel for Mary's pics ... you need to be following her and Kevin on a trike and watch Mary go through her gyrations to get the pics .... definitely worth the price of admission ... I know why Kevin likes the trike ... if she did that while he was on two wheels (and she might), it would be quite exciting to keep balanced.

I've seen her hanging off the side of the trike to get a pic while Kevin navigates hair pin curves, and he's going as fast as he can to have fun ... LOL.