Laughlin Run

[Turbosneeze]

My buddy is in Lauglin right now with his K1200LT (one I sold to him) amongst what he claims to be 50,000 Harleys. He is enjoying his ride out there, but he feels a little bit awkward amongst all the Harleys... he says hardly anyone even acknowledges his presence.

 

He is riding with his brother, who owns a 1200 Sportster and it is really a good thing that he went along with his brother. They had to stop 3 times to syphon gas out of the LT into the Sportster. It appears that the Sportster only has a range of 120~130 miles and the gas stations between Los Angeles and Laughlin are sometimes in longer stretches than his range capacity.

 

I only wish I wasn't on a business trip and was able to attend the ride with him. Then, it would have been 50,000 Harleys and 2 BMWs

[Carnadero]

They had to stop 3 times to syphon gas out of the LT into the Sportster. It appears that the Sportster only has a range of 120~130 miles and the gas stations between Los Angeles and Laughlin are sometimes in longer stretches than his range capacity.

That can't be the case. The longest gasless stretch on a likely route would probably be between Ludlow and Essex on 40, and that's around 60 miles.

 

Something sounds fishy there...

[RichM]

Someone forgot to stop in Ludlow.

[Warren_H]

... among st all the Harleys... he says hardly anyone even acknowledges his presence.

 

He is riding with his brother, who owns a 1200 Sportster ...

 

They'll barely acknowledge his brother on the Sportster either.

[Doug 55]

My buddy is in Lauglin right now with his K1200LT (one I sold to him) amongst what he claims to be 50,000 Harleys. He is enjoying his ride out there, but he feels a little bit awkward amongst all the Harleys... he says hardly anyone even acknowledges his presence.

 

re: "he feels a little bit awkward amongst all the Harleys... he says hardly anyone even acknowledges his presence"

 

Hope they have a good time regardless, too bad to have 50,000 (give or take a few) egos so wrapped up in a brand that they can't enjoy seeing a different ride, looking at the respective pros / cons etc.

 

I haven't ever been around a large HD "thing" like that, my interaction with individuals or small groups has generally been postive i.e. rider-to-rider comaradarie put above brand preference

[Deadboy]

Laughlin must have changed, I was there last year and had many a conversation about my BMW with the HD crowd. Most folks were flat out amazed I rode down the 600+ miles from my place in one day, but over all I felt welcomed...and their is plenty of gas between LA and Laughlin, but a strong headwind might have cut the mileage down, plus the ease of going well over the posted speed limit out on the long stretches of road....

[glockster]

Yea, I was there. Lots of bikes there other than the Harley's. Lot's of metric cruisers this year. Saw more than a few BMW's. They're usually the ones with bugs all over them. It was pushing 95-100 F every day, kinda on the warm side.

 

Had a good time after I got over the fact my clutch took a s@#t during the trip over in of all places Amboy, Ca. I remembered a story here (Russell Bynum I think) about completing a trip without a clutch, so I attempted the same, backtracking 75 miles to Hutchin's H-D in Yucca Valley Ca. The damn locknut spun off the clutch adjuster bolt in the primary drive. They got me on the road about 2.5 hours later minus $85. Coulda been worse!

 

I'd post pictures of the trip but I'm computer challenged!

[Turbosneeze]

Since I wasn't there, I can only relay what my buddy told me. He even mentioned that on his way back (he rode back alone since his brother's Sportster had to be trailered due to blowing some sort of seal and was leaking oil), he tried to ride together with a few groups of Harleys and they will try to speed up and try to avoid riding with him. I don't know at this point, it was just him being way to sensitive , but he said he got upset so he set his cruise control at 95mph and just flew all the way back to his home in La Verne.

 

His final word was... "I'll never do another Harley run again and after experiencing how all the Harley riders behave (minus a handful of nice folks), he swears that he will never own a Harley either."

[SageRider]

...he tried to ride together with a few groups of Harleys and they will try to speed up and try to avoid riding with him...

Sounds like a fun new game... Herding Harleys!

[RatSnake]

I was in Vegas on business this past weekend with my bike. On my way home Sunday, along I40, I was surrounded by Harleys on trailers. On Monday, somewhere in Texas, I passed one of them, who apparently brought every vehilce he owned to Laughlin (his Harley on the high platform on his pick up, with a small cage in tow behind), studying his cage at the side of the road. It had broken lose, then ran and tumbled off the road. I was sure glad I wasn't anywhere around when that happened.

 

I also read today, that there was a gang melee, including a shooting at the hotel I stayed at, Harrah's. I guess I slept through all the fun.

 

Las Vegas Review Journal Story

[RET2]

Me thinks that the fun and games you spoke about was indeed several years ago(2002) But may not? Boys will be boys

[RET2]

FYI You really didn't miss anything, that went down in 2002 as witnessed by the paper date.

[leikam]

I have to wonder if this buddy of yours actually reached out to talk to people while he was there or whether he wandered through the crowd alone and then got depressed that nobody reached out to him. As for riding together, I know of more than a few groups who would not welcome some guy trying to join in while on the road.

[onedae]

your just a little bit off on the gang reference - like 4 years!!!

[RatSnake]

Me thinks that the fun and games you spoke about was indeed several years ago(2002) But may not? Boys will be boys

 

Not exactly attention to detail. Maybe it was wishfull thinking.