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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | drooled over this bike at the Intnl Motorcycle Show every year since it came out....in fact heres me and my son setting on one during the show 
picked her up in April.....
 Spent more than a few months just riding around town and doing a few PGR missions 
brought my kids on a few  Rigged me up a little flag mount....  Visited the Freedom Rock 
visited the Victory Plant....  visited the HD museum..... 
rode in the Ozark mountains....little ferry crossing across Bull Shoals Lake... 
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | found straw animals along the road 
violated said animal...... 
ate alot of fast food in these trips...... 
rode Pikes Peak 
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | saw the Great Sand Dunes National Park
rode in the mountains.... 
rode across Royal Gorge 
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | did some camping
hung out in the desert 
hung out in a few rest stops.....got tired 
even splurged on a few hotel rooms.... 
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | went to the Grand Canyon
spent a few at the Rio Grande 
saw Mount Rushmore 
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | rode the Black Hills during leaf changing 
Needles Hwy 
rode the Badlands 
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | My Vision has been my daily form of transportation for the majority of the year.....we've been everywhere from the Grand Canyon.......to work every night......the grocery store......to Pikes Peak. Heated gear has me riding LONG into the season.....just got back from a trip to Minnesota that saw temperatures that night of 28 degrees.....I was warm and toasty.
But alas at the end of November I must face the inevitable.....it wont be my daily driver as my insurance policy only allows "sunny day" use during winter.....and if I wad her up smacking a deer on the way to work at 10pm or home at 6am I dont want to have to tip-toe around that one....
Its still gonna get used....but only when the sun is up.
28,700 miles so far......can I get 30K before the year is up? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | you're doing a great job, same pace as I ride, but you've been to more exciting places in your first year. Keep it up, I like the pictures, makes me think where I want to ride next. Where do you hide when you're not riding, don't see your local in the profile. |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | southern Iowa.....I live in a little town of 700 called Moravia.
I need to head east next year.....
would love to see the Liberty Bell......visit some extended family in South Carolina and see the ocean......visit a few motorcycle museums out that way......I like to take a few hundred dollars and see how far I can go.....what I can see.
Youd be surprised where you can go for little money. The Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Needles Hwy run cost me $175.
The Grand Canyon trip cost me about $650.....but it was a 5+ day'r.
Im a cheap bastard....I just recently bought a camper to pull behind the Vision....hopefully that cuts down on the motel stays.....I can only sleep on the ground so many days.....this way no ground for me.
Edited by aaronrkelly 2010-11-08 5:09 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Very nice AK. Your photographer takes excellent shots. What a great first year! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
West Knoxville TN | You visited some great places this year Aaron. I hope you get to visit the east coast next year. Good luck on making 30K this year. |
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Tourer
Posts: 446
East TN | Cool trips and pictures!! Thanks!!!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Tucson , AZ | Great photos.... looks like you have been to some beautiful places.. Keep up the good work , and the adventures. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | You're living my dream man! This post is awesome! |
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | Great adventures! Nice pics. How many mikes did you log in your first year? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | Looks like you had a great year!!
Nice pictures! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Northern NJ | That's freaking fantastic! Great pics. If you come east in 2011, look us up! |
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Tourer
Posts: 523
seattle, wa | Great post with great pics. I'm jealous. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 277
Apopka, FL | I am friggin' jealous that you have that much time to travel on this fine machine. I have to make the donuts everyday! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Great first year, thanks for sharing. Visit the USA, now that's the way to enjoy a Vision. When folks read your post, they have to be impressed with you and the Victory Vision, touring the USA trouble free. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | aaronrkelly - 2010-11-08 4:40 AM
? ? ? ? ?
I know this road! It is Skyline Drive, just west of Canon City, CO, which is to the left and is at the mouth of Royal Gorge.
I spent a winter doing a construction job on the Best Western Hotel in town and could see this ridge from all over town. The road that you can see to the right heads up to Royal Gorge and Monarch Pass in one direction, Canon City and Pueblo in the other.
Across that road, due west, is a mountain called Thompson's Peak. On a Sunday with no gas money to go to Colorado Springs (or maybe we woke up late because we were so hung over) we climbed up that peak to see about 75 miles east and the start of the gorge to the south and west.
Beautiful. I didn't think anybody but locals knew about Skyline Drive.
Thanks for sharing. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | trailbarge - 2010-11-08 12:15 PM
Across that road, due west, is a mountain called Thompson's Peak. On a Sunday with no gas money to go to Colorado Springs (or maybe we woke up late because we were so hung over) we climbed up that peak to see about 75 miles east and the start of the gorge to the south and west.
Crap.... it was Fremont Peak... not Thompson's Peak |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Thanks for the pictures and stories. Man, I need to get outta this place and see the world.... |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | Fantastic trips, you got the bike for it too. Thanks so much for sharing!
Ride safe! |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | trailbarge - 2010-11-08 11:15 AM
aaronrkelly - 2010-11-08 4:40 AM
? ? ? ? ?
I know this road! It is Skyline Drive, just west of Canon City, CO, which is to the left and is at the mouth of Royal Gorge.
I spent a winter doing a construction job on the Best Western Hotel in town and could see this ridge from all over town. The road that you can see to the right heads up to Royal Gorge and Monarch Pass in one direction, Canon City and Pueblo in the other.
Across that road, due west, is a mountain called Thompson's Peak. On a Sunday with no gas money to go to Colorado Springs (or maybe we woke up late because we were so hung over) we climbed up that peak to see about 75 miles east and the start of the gorge to the south and west.
Beautiful. I didn't think anybody but locals knew about Skyline Drive.
Thanks for sharing.
I use a bunch of different sites when I decided to hit an area.....sometimes I will skip some of the tourist spots to hit little known stuff like Skyline Drive.
www.roadsideamerica.com
Thats one for little out of the way stuff.....its interesting to see whats around you that you may have overlooked.
For instance I SHOULD have skipped Royal Gorge has my "touristy shit hole a meter" was going off BIG time when I pulled up......but I fell for the "trap"......it wasnt worth the $50+ dollars (I was 2up that trip) it cost to get into that place.....ridiculous. |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | radioteacher - 2010-11-08 12:20 PM
Thanks for the pictures and stories. Man, I need to get outta this place and see the world....
DrDecay - 2010-11-08 9:45 AM
I am friggin' jealous that you have that much time to travel on this fine machine. I have to make the donuts everyday!
Youd be surprised....you dont NEED that much time.
The Grand Canyon trip was 5 days....that was the longest.
All the other stuff was on my normal days off......1 day out......see the stuff.....camp....1 day back.....off to work like the regular folks.
If it makes you feel better this was my first real year of traveling on the bike.....before I always didn't have enough time, money etc. Finally decided I didnt want to die waiting for the "perfect" time to take a trip. If I got 2 days and $200......Im looking for something to see.
Just DO IT. Pick something 6 hours out for a starter trip......ride to it, check it out......if you want a long day just ride back.....otherwise camp, wake up and ride home. Stop and check out anything you see you might like........I guarantee you can have a great time inside of 2 days......or even 1.
My insanest ride was the Black Hills/Rushmore. That was 12 hrs out just to get there. Add time to see Rushmore, Crazy Horse, ride into Wyoming, Badlands, Needles Hwy.......12 hrs back. It was 1680 miles round trip and I was on my days off.......and I decided to make it an Ironbutt 1500 mile event so it was timed.
I did it in 33 hours.......rode out there in the dark......saw the sites in the daylight......rode home in the dark.
.........and I freaking LOVED IT. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ...where's the "Like" button! |
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Tourer
Posts: 323
Troy, NY | Great pics!!! Gives me ideas for trips next year! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 12
| Sweet! I'd love to do something like that. Dunno what I'd do with the wife and kid though. ;P |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | Looks like your - vision - got a little blurry when approaching the H.D. museum.
maybe not surprising ....
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Cruiser
Posts: 164
Quad Cities, IL | Awesome Pics and post...You're not too far out of Ottumwa, I'm down that way on with some frequence...Deere and RJ's. RJ Performance is my dealer of choice. Bought my Vision there and let them do most of the needed work on her. Needed work, like my recent Lloyds Cam/EFC and Fuel Intake plate upgrade. Gained 20 HP to the back wheel, not that it was needed.
I'm up in the Quad Cities, feel free to contact me if you ever want company on one of your jaunts. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | Great thread Glad to hear you and your vision are doing so well
Please post a picture of your camper |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | HLUSN8 - 2010-11-09 3:59 PM
Awesome Pics and post...You're not too far out of Ottumwa, I'm down that way on with some frequence...Deere and RJ's. RJ Performance is my dealer of choice. Bought my Vision there and let them do most of the needed work on her. Needed work, like my recent Lloyds Cam/EFC and Fuel Intake plate upgrade. Gained 20 HP to the back wheel, not that it was needed.
I'm up in the Quad Cities, feel free to contact me if you ever want company on one of your jaunts.
Thats where I bought my Vision......R/Js - pretty good dealer but I have had problems with the parts counter.
Next time I run thru the Quad Cities I will get ahold of you... |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | Trekwolf164 - 2010-11-09 4:45 PM
Great thread Glad to hear you and your vision are doing so well
Please post a picture of your camper
I love old stuff.....and Im cheap.
Id seen some older MC campers (Timeout, Aspen) etc go for around $1500. Saw a great deal on a Timeout at $1300 but it was in Arizona....didnt have the time to plan a run down to get it....owner would have meet halfway but still likely would have cost another $200 in expenses to run down and back.
This was a 4hr ride away.
Its a "mint" 1973 Montgomery Ward......made by Camel Mfg. Price was $1000.....new hubs, bearings, seals, tires, wheels and LED lighting and he recently had it painted with 2 stage auto paint. There isnt a single tear or bad spot in the canvas.....its flawless.
$1000.
In retrospect MAYBE I should have spent the extra $300 on the Timeout.....and an extra $150 or so to go get it......but this works and its "different".
Im thinking of having the plates and decals reproduced to stick them back on.... on the road
setup in the garage
original ad 
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
| Dude, you're my hero. This is what I bought the Vision for. Do you blog your trips? If not, you should consider it. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | aaronrkelly - 2010-11-10 12:03 AM
Trekwolf164 - 2010-11-09 4:45 PM
Great thread Glad to hear you and your vision are doing so well
Please post a picture of your camper
I love old stuff.....and Im cheap.
Id seen some older MC campers (Timeout, Aspen) etc go for around $1500. Saw a great deal on a Timeout at $1300 but it was in Arizona....didnt have the time to plan a run down to get it....owner would have meet halfway but still likely would have cost another $200 in expenses to run down and back.
This was a 4hr ride away.
Its a "mint" 1973 Montgomery Ward......made by Camel Mfg. Price was $1000.....new hubs, bearings, seals, tires, wheels and LED lighting and he recently had it painted with 2 stage auto paint. There isnt a single tear or bad spot in the canvas.....its flawless.
$1000.
In retrospect MAYBE I should have spent the extra $300 on the Timeout.....and an extra $150 or so to go get it......but this works and its "different".
Im thinking of having the plates and decals reproduced to stick them back on.... ? ?on the road
? ? ? setup in the garage
? ? original ad ?
Thanks looks cool I have been thinking trailer for my Vision and not sleeping on the ground is a ++++ |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | Lv_2_ride - 2010-11-10 7:56 AM
Dude, you're my hero. This is what I bought the Vision for. Do you blog your trips? If not, you should consider it.
Ive put a couple over on ADVRider....
Iowa to the Grand Canyon.....and back
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=615692 a quick run to the Black Hills http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=14248448#post14248448
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
| Great reads. I really enjoy reading ride reports when I'm at work (I work overseas on a ship), makes the time go by faster looking forward to doing my own rides. Here's my blog, if'n you be interested: http://csvictoryvisionrides.blogspot.com/ You've inspired my wife and I to do a trip down to Key West when I get home, about 1300 miles. I'll be going to Harbor Freight when I get home. Going to order the Hitch doc today. It's our Christmas present to ourselves.
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | Lv_2_ride - 2010-11-11 4:40 AM
Great reads. I really enjoy reading ride reports when I'm at work (I work overseas on a ship), makes the time go by faster looking forward to doing my own rides. �Here's my blog, if'n you be interested: http://csvictoryvisionrides.blogspot.com/ You've inspired my wife and I to do a trip down to Key West when I get home, about 1300 miles. I'll be going to Harbor Freight when I get home. Going to order the Hitch doc today. It's our Christmas present to ourselves.
I actually was just working the numbers on that same trip....28 hour run for me. The Harbor Freight Tag-Along really is a good trailer..,,,you will love it.
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Cruiser
Posts: 119
| aaronrkelly - 2010-11-08 5:42 AM southern Iowa.....I live in a little town of 700 called Moravia.
I need to head east next year.....
would love to see the Liberty Bell......visit some extended family in South Carolina and see the ocean......visit a few motorcycle museums out that way......I like to take a few hundred dollars and see how far I can go.....what I can see.
Youd be surprised where you can go for little money. The Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Needles Hwy run cost me $175.
The Grand Canyon trip cost me about $650.....but it was a 5+ day'r.
Im a cheap bastard....I just recently bought a camper to pull behind the Vision....hopefully that cuts down on the motel stays.....I can only sleep on the ground so many days.....this way no ground for me.
First off great pictorial story for us all. Secondly, if you do get "East" I would like you to consider stopping by where we live which is near Harrisburg, PA. For reference it is 90 minutes from DC, Philly and Baltimore. Riding in the East does not have the big and distant views of wonder and vastness like your travel pix.....but we do have some really nice back roads and scenery. Again.... thanks for taking us all along with you on your trips.......and hope to see you someday soon. Mike
Edited by team222 2010-12-10 8:27 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | I love to meet forum people on the road.....Ive had more than a few at my place and doing trip maintenance in my garage.....great times.
If I head that way I will drop you a email or PM. Thanks |
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Vision - first year in review