Among many things, a motorcycle rider must have courage and resigned to what will be will be. I have been t-boned and I have t-boned(ran a stale yello and hit a taxi who jumped his red lite). I've had my bike booby trapped by a rival bike club member and lived to ride another day(as well as confront said chitbag member. he doesn't live here no more).

If its not your time its not your time. But we all get a time,lol.

I'm not a tough guy I'm a regular guy.

I agree with your choice to get a new bike for your long trip. Especially having your wife with you on the trip. The last thing I would want is to wreck or breakdown with my wife on my bike... especially 2000 miles from home. You can afford to get what you want and how you want it. I just don't want to spend the money on a new one right now. I know we don't live forever and we can't take it with us, but I still got youngin's at home. I don't know when my employer will decide to go all china...

I agree. Once we embrace that FACT, everything else is gravy.

Its not so much that I have alot of $$ as much as it was I cashed in my lifetime of misguided priorities and basically traded away 4 bikes for one. I figured at my age what the heck. I'm tired of tickering on the old ones and getting broke down here and there any ways. The fact that the 2012 is awsome is a plus. Can't imagine what more the MOCO can do to improve on this latest technology.

some said that about the panhead, back in '48. It is still the same basic v'twin as it was in '36. think of some of the mileage that was put on by those machines, with roads that weren't much past a cow path. I had a friend that went to Alaska twice on the same bike from Worcester Ma. The bike was 3 years old the first time and 6 or 7 years old the second time. Back then the Trans Canadian Alsaka highway was mostly dirt. He would have to stop every 50 miles or so to clean out the fins so he wouldn't overheat. The bike wasn't even a dresser, it was a '72 FX. If a machine is built and maintained correctly it will make any ride put in front of it, these machines have been Harleys since 1903, and the first bike went over 100,000 miles. Ask Dale Walksler what he rides when he goes cross the Great Country that we live in.

And that is what was the double edge sword of old iron. Wasn't very reliable but could be fixed, in most instances, on the side of the road baring any catostrophic jug busting deal. 6 cylinder chevy points and pistons I believe could be used in a pinch. I alway carried baling wire and a big bag of nutts and bolts and exhaust clamps etc...

I'm thinking the bikes of today are built like the cars of today with the focus at hand of having to take them to the dealership because of the technology. Who can afford the computers necessary or understand it if you did have it for that matter. We saw cars go that way and I'm thinking motorcycles today did too. I'm cool with it personally. When my old 2001 Ultra w/ MM EFI adjusted to the atomospheric pressure automatically in the high elevations of the rocky mts, I was good with that. No changing jets etc... However me thinks if any sensors, relays,pressure tanks, fuel pump or MF'ing black box goes what? You're not fixing jack.

Back in the day changing out seats,carbs,handlebars,exhaust was no big deal finacially or otherwise. Not so much today its all $$$$$$$$ and complicated computerized stuff. I was gobsmacked about the price and convenience difference when I decided to upgrade my 1963 and even my 1983 FL's.

so I guess waht you are saying, new bikes don't breakdown on the side of the road, I didn't find myself broken down with my old bike on the side of the road. I always had tools but they were more for the people I rode with that could not or would not maintain their bikes. Take one of the new inventions, ok harley used them in 1903 and for quite a few years after, the rear belt, great invention nice and clean and quiet, real quiet when they break. I know 2 people that broke thier belts on bikes less than a week old. dealer said harley got a bad lot. Maybe the greatest invention is the roadside assitance you get from HOG, that way you are not broke down on the side of the road anymore, you are broke down with a minumum $600 bill for belt replacement, for a $200 belt and an hour and a half work. The old chain could be fixed with a bacic chain kit and a 20 minute stop, the extra time is for the joint, that always found its way to a breakdown back in the day. They have the tempory belt you can put on on the side of the road, but I have only heard bad results from them. Never heard a good report, always think of getting one before a long trip but never do. Just figure roadside assitance and plastic at the dealer. I like my new bike, ok its a 2000, but I will put it up agaist any of the new ones for reliabilty and performace, I also feel there are people out there doing it on evos and shovels, and Dale on anything you want to name. I asked him one night in his shop what he rode on long trips, he looked around at about 2 dozen bikes in the shop and he said any if these, why would I ride anything else, there might of been a pan in the shop, but everthing else was older. Dale was a Harley dealer before he started the museum he has access to any Harley he would like.

Not saying new bikes don't break down I saying when they do odds are your screwed big time and hope you got cell tower power. Older bikes while cantankerous and quirky were able to be fixed on the side of the road most of the time.

I've met Dale and it was a slow day at the WTT so we chewed the fat about stuff. He showed me how to toss my sidecar when I first got it and gave me pointers on piloting it. Saved my arse big time. Its an acquired skill for sure. Been to WTT obviously. And most of what he has there is antiquated old school machinery. Haven't been there lately, since 2007 or 2008. Awsome place. But a show place for days gone by. What a teaser saying he was moving for the longest time. Wonder what was up about that?

Your 2000 is by comparrison new technology. Electronic ignition not manual advance and retard distributor for starters. Belt not chain(if the chain didn't break your cases when it came undone all you needed was to carry a few links in your saddle bags). Carbed or EFI? No kicker.

Hope to make it down the blue ridge in Aug or so and stop by milepost 10. I have never seen a chain take out a case on the street, track is another story, guess it has happen but in 43 years on the street have not seen it, and I am only talking Harleys, never had anything else break a chain near me.

Like I said - many have taken older bikes much farther - My 1994 roadking is a good runner - it's been well kept and maintained and the only time it didn't start right up was after it sat for many years, almost 9.
After a new battery and a few squirts of starting fluid it did start.

In truth - I think the new tech is going to leave its rider on the side of the road more often than my old bike will if something goes wrong. I'm not so worried about an electronic malfunction or having a "bug" in my tune. I carry all the same tools I use to work on it - I bought a special Craftsman tool kit and I've been adding to it over the years. That kit is in my left saddle bag and goes everywhere I go. On the longer rides/trips I bring the shop manual in a big zip-lock baggie.

I never had a wife - but if i did - it wouldn't be any different than when I go solo. Meaning I don't/won't put myself in any situation that I don't feel safe- just as much as you won't do anything to put your wife(s) in danger. IF my bike isn't 100% she's being put into 100% - I already have a permanent disability and I'm not risking any more injuries or discomfort. In my life - I am my own better half, so, no I don't feel that my bike would be a big risk. And that wouldn't be a reason for me to upgrade just because I have someone with me. I do think the 6 speed is the only upgrade that would make me want the new tech.

I do Agree with - what ever makes a person comfortable and confident: If the new bike makes you feel good then get it. A New bike is less likely to have problems but that doesn't mean they are problem free.

As long as the speeds are 70-75 mph my bike will run with any others. I feel that a loop around the country is still in her and with little or no problems but my own goofy-ness for me to worry about.
PLUS(+) She's still a pretty girl when I clean her up :)

So - IF I am lucky enough to meet up with BI over his big trip I feel that I won't be an anchor but an asset.