Getting Home Challenge

Getting the VTX home on Saturday proved to be more of a challenge than I had hoped. 

First obstacle to overcome was my genuine nervousness about getting on a large bike for the first time in decades. Besides a short ride on a friends Harley Road King about 5 years ago, this was the first time in 25 years that I had attempted to ride a large bike for more than a mile or so.

In fact the first ride would prove to be 56 miles one way. The route I chose to take was SR73 through Cedar Valley and into Deseret over Five Mile Pass. To avoid as much traffic as possible I decided to skip the normal route through Stockton and southwest Tooele and travel the back way through Rush Valley. Taking the Mormon Trail into Grantsville from the southwest.

OK! It's now or never. I swallow my nerves and take possession of the bike. First things first, gas. I was warned the bike was near empty and will need filling. Also the battery was not fully charged but should be good. Well I get to the gas station and neglect to turn the key off at the pump. The result: bike won't start.

No worries. I'm at the top of a small hill, I'll push start it. I've done it a million times...  At the bottom of the hill with a non running bike I start to worry.

Long story short, We jump start the bike after getting a few tools from the previous owner to pull the seat and battery cover. second obstacle overcome. It turns out that while I was trying to push start the bike I had knocked the kill switch into the engaged position. Battery still needed jumping but push starting was impossible with the switch engaged. I knew it had to be a simple solution and it was. Rookie mistake.

Now feeling like a total Noob it really is time to get down the road.

The third obstacle never really materialized as the darkening storm clouds to the west rolled harmlessly to the northeast of me and I only had a few dozen rain drops hit me before it cleared up.

Now I'm on the road for a good 25 minutes feeling more confident and starting to enjoy the ride a little more. I go through one section of construction west of the county line. The timing was right, I barely had to slow down as I drove by the flagman. The second section of construction east of Penney's Junction I was not so lucky.

Obstacle four; I sat in that construction traffic for 45 minutes not moving and wishing I could shut the bike down. I certainly appreciate the water cooled engine on this bike. Overheating was not an issue.

I learned from a construction worker that only a short time before I reached the second construction zone there had been a serious roll over accident that required several emergency vehicles. Traffic was stopped in both directions.

Lucky my friend had brought water and some snacks. We sat and chatted and ate a few Persian cucumbers and had some nice cold water. All in all not a terrible experience.

Legs starting to cook a little from the engine heat, I eventually get to start moving again.

The rest of the trip through Deseret, Rush Valley and along the Mormon Trail was uneventful.
Got home and immediately put the battery on a trickle charge and relaxed. Planning another ride while the battery charged.