Spring Ride 2024

[D-Eagle]

My Canadian Harley friend called me up in March. Said with the weather we are having, maybe we should go somewhere in April. We watched the weather, as several other Canadian friends joined and then dropped out during planning. The weekend before we left temps were in the 70's every day. That changed for this weekend. When we left last Thursday after work, it was two Canadians (one Harley, one Indian), and me on the Wing. I left from Michigan heading to Mount Vernon Kentucky. I was excited to put a good test on my new Russell Day Long seat. We stayed at a VRBO out on some hill in the country. It had a single lane road going up a steep hill, where you then turned up into a gravel driveway. The gravel incline was not confidence inspiring.


I love Kentucky. The people are friendly, and they drive so much better than the distracted drivers in Michigan. Saturday we headed to Tennessee to the Norris Dam State Park. What a beautiful lake. We had great weather that day.


Sunday headed to Bardstown to see the oldest bar in Kentucky. These 3 ladies sang happy birthday on our phone to our friend that had to drop out at the last minute.


At one stop this guy comes over and asks my friend about his Indian. My friend told him it had 50,000 kilometers on it. The guy responded "Hey, you're in America" with some southern twang. I laughed out loud. And repeated it all weekend every time they gave the weather in celsius.

The roads were beautiful, the people were kind. On Monday it was time to head home. We left at 8 am with the temp at 35 degrees, after getting the frost off of the seats. I hate driving through Ohio. Seems Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo are always crowded with trucks and construction. We made it through Cincinnati with barely a slow down. Went through Dayton without feeling it. Toledo we buzzed right through. Only gas stops, I did have an ice cream sandwich around 1 pm. I AM on a Goldwing and Wayne likes to point that ice cream and Goldwings go together. Finally back in Michigan, and I-75 goes from 3 lanes to 1. At least I think it does. We were so far back I couldn't see any hope. We paddled for a while in stop and go and took the first exit. I broke off so those two could reroute to the border and I straight up to my home. Finally got on the 275 expressway and bam, it's under construction and back to stop and go. The construction really dampened my mood. All 4 days, the Russell started to hurt after an hour on the road. I kept waiting for it to break in, and it just hurt. It looks good, feels good when I sit on it, but after an hour I'm squirming badly. I have a used Russell on my FJR and I love it. This one was built for me, same pattern and material, and it kind of ruined my trip. Add in the construction and the traffic everywhere the last two hours, and I told my wife when I got home "I think I'm just going to be a motorcycle owner, not rider".

[LKLD]

Don, with the way everyone talks about Russell’s, I thought they were plug-n-play. Maybe some more saddle time is needed to break in in?

Nice RR, and glad to see you getting out on a trip with friends.

[D-Eagle]

I called Russell when I got home. They were very good about it. Asked if I could give it another 200-400 miles to see if it breaks in more. I can send it back in, but don't know what I would even ask for. I don't feel any pressure points or uneven areas. It looks beautiful and feels good in the garage. But on my FJR I can ride much, much farther and not even think about it. I'll give it more time. Just feels like a kid at Christmas opening the sled shaped gift and having it be socks.

[El Toro Joe]

I called Russell when I got home. They were very good about it. Asked if I could give it another 200-400 miles to see if it breaks in more. I can send it back in, but don't know what I would even ask for. I don't feel any pressure points or uneven areas. It looks beautiful and feels good in the garage. But on my FJR I can ride much, much farther and not even think about it. I'll give it more time. Just feels like a kid at Christmas opening the sled shaped gift and having it be socks.

Different seating position than the FJR...and you need to give it time to break in. Great ride report though.

[extrememarine]

KY has some great riding and scenery.

I'd complain about my seat, but I didn't get to ride this weekend...

You could join one of the "fly and ride" bike loaner services.

[raYzerman]

Picture of your seat please.... does it have the extra suspension? There may be that steel bar across it, and too close to the surface? Can you feel it?

[D-Eagle]

Don't have a pic with me, but it looks like every other Russell. And we pushed all over it with our hands. Just padding. Feels even, nothing sticking out. Can't feel the bar. The spring is the heavy duty ones due to my weight. The "wings" aren't what hurt. It's my butt bones (for lack of a better term) that bother me.

[wheatonFJR]

1000 mile minimum I thought. It truly has to have time and miles to break in before you get the results you want. I've had 2 Russells and a Laam. The Russells really do perform better...although the Laam looked sharp.

[FredandJeannesRacer]

Might try some beads on that russell.
Get some air under your derriere.

[Hppants]

Nice ride report - good to read that our northern brethern are able to come and go as they please, weather wise.

...I AM on a Goldwing and Wayne likes to point that ice cream and Goldwings breathing go together.

FIFY

[D-Eagle]

1000 mile minimum I thought.

I put about 1400 miles on it over the weekend trip. I plan to give it more break in time at their request.

...I AM on a Goldwing and Wayne likes to point that ice cream and Goldwings breathing go together.

FIFY

It was kind of funny. At one gas stop I came out with the ice cream sandwich. The other guys kind of laughed. At the next gas stop one of them came out with a drumstick.

[Hppants]

Of course, everyone here knows that if you ride with Pants, mid afternoon, I'm looking for ice cream. The other day, I rode the dirt bike in a group of 17 riders. A big group to be sure, with a varying degree of experience. In the morning, I gravitated to some of the riders that were similar in experience and riding style to me. After lunch, gearing up on the bikes, I shouted instinctively "Next stop??" A gentleman that I was riding behind all morning, without hesitation, looking quite matter of factly to me and said "Ice Cream!", to which I replied "It's like you read my mind".

[wheatonFJR]

I remember my first Russell and thought WTF...but it truly did get better.

I then went to Laam on my next bike. Fine seat. I could certainly ride anywhere on that seat, but came to the conclusion that truth be told, my butt liked Russell better.

So on this 13, I got the Russell. Again... had to give it miles, but it does fine. Or did so to and fro Colorado last summer. I can usually suffer on a stock seat around here on twisty day rides...not too bad.