The Project
Travelling is part of my job. Meetings with
customers, trials and troubleshooting on complex computer
controlled naval systems required me to stay away from home for a
long time. One of these periods lasted from October 96 until
August '98. Daily overtime was performed. Overtime allowance
and other extras had been saved. I saw a Sportster at the end of
the tunnel and promised 'If I could finish my job without getting
health problems again, I will buy a bike and travel Route 66 by
August '98 as a 50th birthday gift'.
We had been married for 25 years in April '98. I took Anita by surprise to Las Vegas. I checked all options to buy a bike there. $8999 was the keyword for a Sportster.
Back in Switzerland I talked again with Robby about his experiencies. His recommendation was clear. Don't buy the bike in the US. We went to Pelican Drive, downtown Zürich's Harley dealer. All bikes had been sold. But they showed me the 'Ride Away Program', unfortunately limited to 30 days. But my feeling told me 'They don't take you seriously'. So I went to Müller+Jussel a Harley-Davidson dealer at Mönchaltorf to purchase the bike and ---- everything was sold out again.
I changed my mind and thought further about a FXD Dyna Super Glide
with the new Twin Cam 88
engine available in '99 instead of
a Sportster. To keep my promises I postponed the start of my trip
to May '99. For more information about the Ride Away Program I
contacted Randy Texter of Lancaster HD. He confirmed that a
longer stay than 30 days raised no problems, because the bike
gets temporary tags valid for one month.
One of the best days in my life came in November when I ordered the Dyna along with the 'Ride Away Program' at Müller+Jussel, Mönchaltorf. The countdown of days could begin.
One small problem had to be solved by April 30th. My driving license was only valid for bikes up to 125ccm. I applied for a so-called Lernfahrausweis. A Swiss speciality. On April 30th I went to the examination - and didn't make it. But who cares in the US about the judgement of a so-called swiss expert? I rode my 10'000 miles with a Lernfahrausweis.
Everything seemed to be well until January '99. HD cancelled the ‚Ride Away Program'. Okay. Let's go fight for my dream. I wrote a fax to Milwaukee, explaining to them the dream of my life. Two days later I received a fax of Kate Maguire of HD Europe. She wanted to get me on the road. Four weeks later HD honored my request. I don't know what exactly Kate did, but I appreciate it deeply. Finally she faxed 'Enjoy your ride', and I tell you I did.
I was on my own. Neither Robby nor Henk, a friend from the Netherlands riding a Heritage Softail, accompanied me. Even when you can stay or ride wherever you want a little bit of planning should be made. If I had done it in late summer, I guess Route 66 would have been my road, but in May Chicago can be cold and wet. So I planned to fly to New York on May 1st, take over the bike by May 3rd at Lancaster HD and then go down southwest. Everything was open then, just two dates had been fixed. My flight back to Switzerland on July 17th and Country Jam USA at Grand Junction,Co.
I was a Country Music fan all my life. As a little boy I listened to a Radio Show of AFN Frankfurt 'Sixteen 'O Five to Nashville'. Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins etc. were my favorites. But the interest became less and less. Blues replaced Country. Alan Jackson woke-up my Country mind again. And when I heard Faith Hill...... But I couldn't see her performing live, and she didn't tour through Europe. I checked tour dates and found her performing at Country Jam USA at Grand Junction,Co. That fitted in with my itinerary.
We had been married for 25 years in April '98. I took Anita by surprise to Las Vegas. I checked all options to buy a bike there. $8999 was the keyword for a Sportster.
Back in Switzerland I talked again with Robby about his experiencies. His recommendation was clear. Don't buy the bike in the US. We went to Pelican Drive, downtown Zürich's Harley dealer. All bikes had been sold. But they showed me the 'Ride Away Program', unfortunately limited to 30 days. But my feeling told me 'They don't take you seriously'. So I went to Müller+Jussel a Harley-Davidson dealer at Mönchaltorf to purchase the bike and ---- everything was sold out again.
I changed my mind and thought further about a FXD Dyna Super Glide
with the new Twin Cam 88
engine available in '99 instead of
a Sportster. To keep my promises I postponed the start of my trip
to May '99. For more information about the Ride Away Program I
contacted Randy Texter of Lancaster HD. He confirmed that a
longer stay than 30 days raised no problems, because the bike
gets temporary tags valid for one month.One of the best days in my life came in November when I ordered the Dyna along with the 'Ride Away Program' at Müller+Jussel, Mönchaltorf. The countdown of days could begin.
One small problem had to be solved by April 30th. My driving license was only valid for bikes up to 125ccm. I applied for a so-called Lernfahrausweis. A Swiss speciality. On April 30th I went to the examination - and didn't make it. But who cares in the US about the judgement of a so-called swiss expert? I rode my 10'000 miles with a Lernfahrausweis.
Everything seemed to be well until January '99. HD cancelled the ‚Ride Away Program'. Okay. Let's go fight for my dream. I wrote a fax to Milwaukee, explaining to them the dream of my life. Two days later I received a fax of Kate Maguire of HD Europe. She wanted to get me on the road. Four weeks later HD honored my request. I don't know what exactly Kate did, but I appreciate it deeply. Finally she faxed 'Enjoy your ride', and I tell you I did.
I was on my own. Neither Robby nor Henk, a friend from the Netherlands riding a Heritage Softail, accompanied me. Even when you can stay or ride wherever you want a little bit of planning should be made. If I had done it in late summer, I guess Route 66 would have been my road, but in May Chicago can be cold and wet. So I planned to fly to New York on May 1st, take over the bike by May 3rd at Lancaster HD and then go down southwest. Everything was open then, just two dates had been fixed. My flight back to Switzerland on July 17th and Country Jam USA at Grand Junction,Co.
I was a Country Music fan all my life. As a little boy I listened to a Radio Show of AFN Frankfurt 'Sixteen 'O Five to Nashville'. Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins etc. were my favorites. But the interest became less and less. Blues replaced Country. Alan Jackson woke-up my Country mind again. And when I heard Faith Hill...... But I couldn't see her performing live, and she didn't tour through Europe. I checked tour dates and found her performing at Country Jam USA at Grand Junction,Co. That fitted in with my itinerary.