On the way up I just sorta took it easy, screwed the throttle lock screw down around 70 and just cruised. Got blown away by a newer GS and an older R type bike like I was standing still, but I was riding my ride and feeling the bike. Most highway miles I've ever put on her.
Coming back, I hit Hwy 25 and did some nice twisties, using 2/3/4 and hardly any brakes, and just let the bike do her thing. So much fun. Pickup in front and behind, the guy in front knew what he was doing and absolutely left me, the guy behind couldn't keep up.
The riding I did and the run-in time of the travel really cleaned her out, and she was running beautifully. I kicked it up to 80 or so and tried to make some miles home. But then, I started hearing the unmistakable sound of a loud-piped Big Harley. I looked around, but couldn't see him anywhere behind me. Then I saw him, about 3/4 mile ahead, as I crested a hill, he was cresting the one in front of me, and his pipes were that loud.
I noticed another bike with him, a smaller cruiser. They were weaving through traffic, but the big Harley kept hitting the throttle wide open - womp! - and the whole bike would drop, and take off, WAHHHHHHH! - leaving the white smaller cruiser. Then he'd get a distance ahead, let off the throttle completely, and let the smaller cruiser catch up. Over and over, which is what got my attention. Seriously, I started looking overhead for Blackhawk choppers... :dunno2:
So I eased over, and caught up to them in the fast lane. We started a convoy, and I thought, "This will be fun - someone to ride with the rest of the way home!" Immediately, the white bike (Honda Shadow 750) pulled over and waved me up. I pulled in the middle and he came back in behind. Then, with me following the big twin, we started our high speed 80+ mph convoy through the rolling hills of Central Alabama.
But then, I noticed, the guy reach up on his gorilla hangers, and with a large gesture with his throttle hand... womp! WAHHHHHH! He took off. I rolled on, and easily caught him, but it surprised me when he rapidly let off and I came up on him rapidly decelerating...
After the 4th time, I'm thinking, "Ok, enough of this - he does it again and I'm passing him..." Sure enough, I see his hands go up, and womp! I signal, get in the fast lane, and roll on by him... and past him... and while I'm in mid-pass and he glances over to see what I'm on... I reach over and grab this, and have a nice, big, gulp. One handed, 110 mph... :neener:
And he got mad as a hen, and pulled over at the next gas stop. Never did see him again, and he never caught the old K-bike...
Which, did I mention, is running like an absolute champ!! :clap: