Wow, red t-shirt, red bike, she is looking good. Thank god you make her wear a riding jacket.

Any photos of the curves that you took at 96kmph?

So you mean to say that these HD riders ride without riding gear, without helmet, but they have jeans and riding boots!!!

Thanks for the 3rd day!

Thanks- she is not comfortable wearing it but i force her to wear.
Unfortunately i haven't taken a single pic of the curvy roads in the entire trip.
Not even that i have taken very less pics in 3 days ride. Reason being in

Texas temperature is quite high 34 + - it is damn hot and bright. Then we avoided stops because of the luggage and more over most of the roads are not wide just 2 lane so there is no shoulder space to stop. Once we stopped to set GPS route -a cop stopped by in car to check if we had a bike problem. Usually dont see any one stopping on road sides.So we did stop very often.

I might have some videos from my GO Pro HD Cam - which is another thing i messed up in the trip. Bought it just a day before the trip - didn't charge it thinking it has full charge since it was indicating so .

So lot of places wanted to take snaps but couldn't do. 65- 70 is the speed limit so there is no question of slowing down or stopping. A whole lot of cars will follow you in case you slow down. Because there are "No passing zones"- which means one cant overtake in that road for some distance , just have to keep going.

Another rule Helmet is not mandatory here. So most of the people dont even wear it. There are ppl on HD who is fully geared, but most of them are in just jean and t-shirt - sun glass - and some without shirt too. Boots as in regular boots cow boy style - not riding ones. You wont believe there was one lady with pillow as well. she was a pillion..

ok here she is. You can also see on guy on the right corner with the cap. I believe thats his helmet

Good you force her. Safety first.

It is unbelievable to see a pillion with a pillow!!!

Ok, I figure it must be tough to stop in these countries if there is no shoulder space.

And more over we wont feel like getting of the bike in such great roads-
And on dont have to worry about incoming traffic even on even on a sharp corner.Every one follows the rule - you can almost trust that no one is gonna cross the yellow line and give you a surprise from the opposite side.

Even since i tlaked about riding a bike in US every one warned me its very dangerous to ride here - since its a fast moving traffic. I felt its much much safe to ride here. Since there are not much bikes all other vehicles give us enough space and they take proper care while passing us

I owned a VFR800 and a BMW S1000RR over various periods in the last 4 years. Ridden the usual R1s and other sportbikes during my short business trips there.

Of them all, I loved the VFR the most And as for the heating/refinement, I wouldn't worry about it.

Those concerns have a lot of justification. Many American motorists ARE NOT accustomed, and sometimes do not check for bikes around them when changing lanes, merging etc. I've had a close shave at least twice, and a few years back, gsferrari had a massive accident due to an negligent car driver merging into his path.

As for the yellow lines, many car drivers that I've noticed in Tennessee, California, Ohio, and Texas do not always follow the yellow line. Some drift slowly onto the lines and pull it back. So watch out

I make it a point to honk while changing lanes, and if I see a car merging ahead of me. Better to be loud and angry than dead

Sorry for the above OT. Back to the ride and logs

Great ride so far Ashwin.
Yes, with Harley riders you can come across many many strange things.

As for safe riding rules- In India the vehicle with the loudest horn has the right of way and beyond that everything is a gamble. But abroad even though it may be more systematic etc, the policy I suggest is "consider you are invisible to vehicles around you" that way your reflexes would be sharper. Lastly, ride with a clear head, but never ride to clear your head.

Probably the most dangerous thing I found driving in US/Europe is the traffic intersection when your signal is green and you need to take a left turn, you still have to give way to oncoming traffic coz it is green for them also, whereas here in the middle-east when your left turn signal is green, the oncoming traffic has red it is stopped.

yeah better be safe

The one got to yeild in some junctions - right of way is for the incoming traffic. But now got used to it after driving car here.


Rest of Day 3:

I had to return the bike by 7pm. Which was possible but aggressive. But the same time I wanted to cover pig train and higway 7 which is very scenic and lot of twisties. I could have returned back directly from Mt magazine. But didnt do that.

Some of the curves in these route were long and never ending - those were the first time for me. Today half day we riding in Arkansas itself.

Now thats what I am talking



One good feeling while meeting other riders on road is they greet/wave you with one hand - not like we wave in India - it was more stylish and cool like you extend your left low towards the road with fingers like gun some thing like this pic



Today was pretty hot and and full of riding. We rode total 501 miles to reach back home. By noon we took a break in one of the view point in hyw 7. We were soo tiered , stopped the bike walked to view point and sat on the ground. There were lot of ppl in RV's with family. One lady came towards us invited us for lunch. That was soo surprising and didnt expect that. We joined them had food. We chat for some time. They were so friendly. While we leave they gave us two bottles of chilled water too and some fruits to eat on the way. I never experienced these before - i am loving it. They were also from texas, but not from dallas.











One of the may beautiful farm houses






By 3 we were out of scenic roads and where on to proper highways. I had to stop to set the GPS route to back home. I stopped on higway. With in 2 mins a cop showed up beside us. He asked if we had any issues with bike. I said now we are just setting the route and he left. That was cool - no other troubles. By now I knew there is no way making back home by 7 , because I had still 300 miles to cover and 4 and half hours.



Here if speed limit is 70 every one rides in 75-80. On highways the biggest problem is passing those big trucks. They do constant 70 and to cross them you got to touch 80. Since I avoided toll ways all the roads where two lanes in one way. Doing 80 with Deeps behind holding the tent was quite difficult. All Kudos to her - I dont know how she managed to hold the tent and sleeping bag through out the trip.



Bike is very much capable of doing high speeds but anything beyond 70 needs good control - the crosswinds was too much more you speed more difficult it is. Bike was wobbling at times because of heavy cross winds. At times my head was moving to because of wind. FZ is considered a small bike here generally - may be a bigger bike with better dynamics will do well on higways.
On FZ6 with pillion on higways with crosswind was not that easy to cruise on 70.



Our longest stretch was 180 miles without break - sore butt. In between we waisted like an hour by taking a wrong exit and doing the circle two times.
We reached back home by 10 . Through out the trip our food partner was subway's or Mac D's





All in all a great first time experience. Now I know what to expect and hot to plan a ride here. Now I praying that my stay get extended so that I can buy a bike here rather than spending 1/10th of the cost to rent one over the weekend.

That all on the trip - thanks for stopping by
Rockkyyy- xBhp - U.S.A

Great! Thanks.

Though I was quite surprised at the wobbling due to the crosswinds factor!

Thanks. So do I, wind speed is 30-40 mph over here as per some sites.

Yes, we should probably start developing this in India.

Absolutely; a Harley will give you that experience. Thanks for sharing the travel experience.

Wow,

That was great Rockyy. You have meet many good people through out.

I loved the farm house click. Wish I had one such.

That was really a fantastic ride Ashwin chetan....

Hope to you see you next time in an American Ride, like a Harley maybe...

All the best!!
God bless you guys!

Read it fully now. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Oh, and ya... Happy Married Life.

Congrats..!!

Awsome ride bro and Wish you a Happy Married Life..!!

Cant afford one more - bike rental trip


Thank guys