First trip on 919/encounter with Cannonball Run

[Scootskipper]

I recently took what was actually my second longer ride on my recently acquired 2002 919. (The first was a 300 mile day trip to get acquainted with my new mount on the second day that I had it.) A good friend had told me about the Cannonball Run. See Motorcycle Cannonball Coast To Coast Vintage Motorcycle Race I had hoped to get down to Kitty Hawk, NC to see the start but that didn't work out. However, I was able to do something even better as it turned out. I left Richmond, VA just after lunch on Saturday, 9/11/10 and rode the 250 miles to Mocksville, NC to spend the night at my sister's home. Sunday, I made my way up past Asheville, NC to the Blue Ridge Parkway in hopes of meeting up with the riders as they came through on their way to Maggie Valley. I was not to be disappointed. I got to see several of the riders and their amazing machines along the way and upon arriving at the Wheels Through Time Museum, I got to see most, if not all of the ones that had arrived. I had already booked a room before leaving home so it was nice to have a place to flop for the night. Early Monday morning, I was underway at first light. I encountered the first two bikes leaving and had the pleasure of towing one of them up the long hill leading out of Maggie Valley. I then made the eighteen mile ride to the beginning of the BRP and began my ride home. It after 11:00 PM before I was kissing the wife and petting the dogs. After 1,052 miles in three days, I had a sore wrist and a bit of "monkey butt", but it was totally worth it! Check out:
Motorcycle Cannonball Coast To Coast Vintage Motorcycle Race
Picasa Web Albums - David - Cannonball
Home*-*Wheels Through Time

[rmb]

Sounds like a great ride, I'd love to visit WTT some day.

[FlyCatcher]

I had no idea that event even existed, thanks for posting. I love old bikes like that. Lots of history on the roads.

[velodesign]

I hear ya. I took off from north Dakota and hit Milwaukee and back in 3 days.1546 miles...amazing time. Congrat on your awesome safe trip!

[james_kraska]

awesome pics. I'd love to ride some of that history. Especially that henderson four..

[Kristen]

We went to see the Cannonball bikes when they stopped here in Concord NC. They were on display at the local Harley shop for several hours. There were hundreds of people there looking at the bikes and talking to the riders. Simply amazing. I couldn't imagine spending hours on those bikes, much less days. How many rideable pre-1918 bikes can there even be out there?

[FloridaMountaintop]

That Cannonball is cool!

Riding 100 plus year old iron across America, I like the video of the guy with the Harley Single making a new connecting rod out of a Forklift rod.

That is the kind of stuff I just dig, what ever it takes to make it work.....

Inspiring!

[Scootskipper]

It was a treat to see them. I hope to own some really old iron one day. I have a '66 Triumph that I'm restoring right now, but that seems like an awfully new bike compared to the Cannonball bikes. I saw a guy pull a beautiful hub out of his bag that he had turned on a lathe before he left home. I can go online an buy parts for my bike...it's almost embarrassing.

[Mr T81]

Very nice, you have to know them machines inside out before leaving home.