May 7th, 2026
Short video on Bruce Updates – May 7th, 2026
– Black Dog Cycle Works Foot Pegs
– Harley-Davidson Sundowner Seat for Pan America
– Aux Lights Aiming Adjustment
Bruce Updates – May 7th, 2026
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Tag Archives: motorcycle
Scarlett Homecoming | Fly-In & Ride Home Trip
May 7th, 2026
I will be flying out of Atlanta Georgia tomorrow May 8th, 2026 to Orlando, Florida and then catching an Uber (or Lyft) to Deland, Florida where I will spend the night in a hotel. The next morning on Saturday May 9th, 2026, I will be picking up Scarlett, my new to me 2006 Honda VTX 1300S from RC Hill Honda in Deland, Florida.
The Plan
The plan is to ride Scarlett home from Deland (with a 40 mile detour through Daytona and ride the Ormond Loop again, becuse I am here) to Douglasville, Georgia for a planned distance of 488 miles (just shy of 500 miles) and arrive home sometime in the evening (hopefully not too far past sunset).
Planned Route
Weather Concerns
Because this is the southeast, of course there is rain forecasted pretty much for the entire ride home. Depending on the weather forecast source, forecasted rain is either going to be an all day, all trip affair or it will be scattered with showers and thunderstorms. If there are scattered showers and thunderstorms I feel I can deal with that much better than an all day, all trip rain event. I am not sure I have room to pack any rain gear (pants and jacket) but I will try. My Revit jacket does a pretty good job with the rain as is even though it is not really a waterproof jacket (I did not use any rain gear during Florida Loop 2026, the RevIT pants and jacket was good enough). However, on this trip, I will be wearing Cycle Gear Ironman Riding jeans which will get soaked if it is an all-day rain event, yuck. I will see if I have room to pack rain pants and if not, will just deal with it.
I am more concerned with slow travel due to rain. Scarlett has Michelin Commander tires installed (which are great) and the tread looks good. However, I have not yet inspected these tires in person and will do so Saturday morning. Worst case scenario is I will have to get new tires (I don’t think so) on Saturday morning, which of course will also delay me.
This is also a new to me bike. Even though I have owned two VTX 1300’s in the past, it has been 9 years since I have ridden one. Plus, each bike is always a bit different. I will not be riding Scarlett hard on this trip home and if the rain is prevalent with reduced visibility, I will be riding even slower. I also don’t want to ride this bike much in the dark on the maiden voyage, especially if it is raining due to low visibility and safety concerns.
Contingecy Plan
If my rate of travel is slower than expected due to weather, the bike, ergonomic issues, etc. I have three locations in Georgia picked out to stop for Saturday and then resume the trip home on Sunday May 10th, 2026. The three contingency stops are Douglas (not Douglasville), Perry, and Griffin. I would like to get home Saturday night, but I am not going to push it past where I feel comfortable or if I feel safety is being compromised. Better to arrive a day later without any incident. Well worth the Hotel fee.
Scarlett Homecoming – Fly In, Ride Home Trip
Fly In & RIde Mototcycle Trip to Bring Scarlett Home
As announced in an earlier posting, on April 28th, 2026, I purchased a new to me 2006 Honda VTX 1300S that has been named Scarlett. On the early evening of May 8th 2026, I will be flying out of Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando Florida, and then taking an Uber to my hotel in Deland, Florida. The following morning, I will pickup Scarlett from RC Hill Honda in Deland and ride Scarlett home to Douglasville, Georga.
As also stated in my Scarlett Introduction Post, Scarlett is now my thrid Honda VTX 1300, When I started riding for realish in 2015, I had a 2007 Honda VTX 1300C which I sold in October 2015 as I scuffed it up in a low side. At the time, it was easier for me to replace the bike than to repair it. In February 2016, I purchaed a 2004 Honda VTX 1300C that was named Jolene. I brought Jolene with me to my move to California from Minnesota in January 2017. Sadly, in August 2017, I had a high side crash with Jolene and she was totaled. In November 2017 I doubled down on my interest in long distance touring and purchased a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic named Dexter which was traded in for Bruce, a 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special in October 2025 that is now my primary touring bike.
With all these bikes 2 up ridiing is possible but frankly sucks with the Pan America, Scarlett will be the primary for adult 2up riding and local cruising. Bruce, the Pan America, is primary for touring but will still see action locally as well.
Scarlett’s Homecoming Route Overview
With the exception of the portion from Deland Florida to Daytona Beach, Ironiclly, 99% of the route I just rode with Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special, during my Florida Loop 2026 Motorcyle Tour that I completed on April 11th, 2026 this route will be nearly identical. During that tour, I rolled through Daytona Beach and the Ormond Loop (fantastic short route) during Day 7, April 10th, 2026. I had no idea at the time I would be back so soon, let alone on another motorcycle. 🙂
From Daytona Beach, Florida to Douglaville, Georgia the route is the exact same is my route during Florida Loop 2026.
Route Parts One and Two will both occur on the same day, May 9th, 2026. The route is brown down in two parts only due to the fact I used Google Maps to plot the route.
Total Planned Miles = 488 Miles Should be very doable but Scarlett does have that crappy stock seat, I have already ordered the Ultimate Seats Big Boy Ulitmate X seats and plan to install them in June.
Continue readingBruce Has a New Sister
Introducing Scarlett – 2006 Honda VTX 1300 S
April 28, 2026
Scarlett is my new to me 2006 Honda VTX 1300 S with 32,317 miles on the odometer (which is nothing for the Honda VTX cruisers). I completed the paperwork this afternoon and Scarlett officaly joined the herd. Currently, Scarlett is at the dealer, RC Hill Honda in Deland, Florida (very close to Daytona Beach). I will be flying from Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando, Florida on Friday May 8th, 2026 and will ride Scarlett home the next day.
I wanted a cruiser again for local and near regional riding and 2 up riding with DeAndra, my wife. We have only rode together once since 2018, Dexter’s last ride (excluding the ride for trade in at Atlanta Harley-Davidson). I really miss our rides and she has stated this in the past as well. My original plan was to keep Dexter but we decided that we didnt have the garage space, plus Dexter still had some issues to eek out but overal was in much better shape that when I purchased him in November 2017.
Continue readingTristan’s First Motorcycle Ride
November 16, 2025
Today was the day my son, Tristan, had long waited for, hist first “real” ride on a motorcycle. Tristan’s ride today was really a test ride, confined to our neighborhood with a maximum speed of 30mph but mostly around 20mph. We also tested mounting and dismounting Bruce with Tristan getting onboard first, then myself seemed to work the best.
So, it was a short ride today. We spent about 20 minutes riding back and forth within our neighborhood, he was thrilled.
Before I would allow Tristan to ride, I wanted a few getting familiar with Bruce rides myself, and I wanted to configure Bruce to be more passenger friendly by installing the top case with a passenger back rest and the side paniers which I finished installing yesterday, November 15th, 2025.
Tristan’s full motorcycle ride is pending on all his motorcycle riding gear coming in, we are waiting on his riding pants and jacket to be delivered. We have his helmet, gloves, and boots.
Been a Long Time Coming
Ever since he was old enough to walk or even before he could talk in 2018, he was interested in getting on the motorcycle , Dexter a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, and wanting to ride.
Here is Tristan one years old back in 2019 on Dexter, in our garage in Lake Elsinore, California.
Veteran’s Day Bruce Break-In Ride 3
11/11/2025 Veteran’s Day Ride – 103 Miles today 213 miles to go for the 500 Mile Break-In.
Cold Ride today with starting temperature at 25°F a bit past 8am.
Today’s temperature never exceeded 47°F during the ride (most of day was in the 30’s. However, I was not cold but layered up like the Michelin man. I was unable to test my Rev’It Sand H20 pants as they were too long and I returned them to Cycle Gear in Hiram, GA (part of today’s ride).
Read more about the gear I wore and the 3rd Break-In Ride overall.
Continue readingFirst Accessory Installs for Bruce 11 07 2025
Today, November 7th, 2025 I installed my first accessories and upgrades on Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special motorcycle. Happy Days are here 😊.
Continue readingIntroducing Bruce – 2025 HD Pan America 1250 Special
As stated in a post yesterday, Dexter was traded in for a new motorcycle on Friday October 17th, 2025 for a new (23 miles at time of purchase) 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special. Today, October 18th, 2025 DeAndra named the new motorcycle Bruce. She had me fire it up as she walked around the bike and then stated “You can turn Bruce off now”. So, there we we have it, the sacred motorcycle naming ceremony has been completed LOL.
Bruce is the new bike’s name.
Time To Stop Procrastinating
I think it has been about two years since I have updated anything on this blog or my YouTube channel. Quick update: I did complete my USA Midwest 2023 trip successfully and it was fantastic. Then I began working two jobs again and did so all the way to June 2025. That is my excuse for neglecting this site and riding only about 200 miles since my 2023 Midwest trip to June 2025.
Tail of the Dragon
The weekend of 9/12/2025 – 9/14/2025 I did ride a fantastic weekend trip up in the North Carolina / Tennessee mountains and rode the Tail of the Dragon (and many other roads I think are more fun) with Dexter. A bit sketchy and rusty in the mountains as this was my first real riding of any kind in two years! I did put in about 600 miles on that Saturday alone though and the mojo was returning strong 🙂
Drop on Bell Mountain …Oooops lol
On the way back home in Georgia (I live a bit west of Atlanta) I went up to Bell Mountain and ended up dropping dexter on a stupid steep incline while conducting numerous dumb rider mistakes. It was not very dramatic as I was going slow, too slow and almost stalled on the very very steep climb up the mountain. The bike stopped and there I was perched on the steepest road I have ever been on (to include all of the mountains I been through out west and Colorado). With my rear brake engaged I attempted to throttle up and get moving but, the bike started rolling backward and I basically just bailed (fall over to the right.) Sounds and looked more dramatic than it actually was. I still ended up with a 130 mile tow back home as the drop snapped off my brake lever and there was no way I was going to be able to ride Dexter (just under 1000 pounds) down that ridiculous mountain road. I ordered a new lever and installed it less than a week afterward and have done some light local riding since.
Riding with DeAndra and a slow goodbye to Dexter
Today, 10/10/2025 DeAndra (my wife) and I did a short ride down to Newnan, GA for some lunch at Culvers. This has been the first time we have been able to 2-up ride since we moved from California in 2020. Today will also probably be the last time we can do so on Dexter. On 10/04/2025, I put a deposit down for a 2025 Harley Davidson Pan America and will be trading in Dexter as part of the deal. I am waiting for the motorcycle to be delivered to Atlanta Harley Davidson. If the deal works out as prescribed on 10/04/2025, I should be riding home on the ’25 Pan America (have to wait for DeAndra to name this bike lol) by Saturday 10/18/2025.
There will a be 2.5 year additional pause of any significant motorcycle trips other than to the Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee mountains and some riding local and into eastern Alabama (semi-local). First, I have to learn how to ride the new bike and get comfortable with it. Second, I need to configure, outfit and test the planned add-ons and upgrades. Three, I will be practicing off-pavement riding (nothing crazy, not looking at off road, just off pavement Think gravel roads, forest roads, etc and just being comfortable off road with an adventure bike.
And then……currently planned……Alaska 2028 Motorcycle Trip. OOOOH AAAAAH
Alaska 2028 Motorcycle Trip
As currently planned, would be starting the trip from Georgia on June 23, 2028 and wrap up back in Georgia on August 01, 2028. Will be riding with some camping and some hoteling, to Fairbanks, then Deadhorse via the Dalton Highway, then to Anchorage. My wife and son will be flying up to Anchorage from Atlanta for a week family vacation, then, I resume my motorcycle trip to include a tentative mini sidetrack to Telegraph Creek, BC (weather permitting) and then back to Georgia.
Total planned miles for Alaska 2028 Motorcycle Trip = 11,304
In the Meantime….
I believe I still have a few videos to upload from some of my riding in 2018, All days for the USA Midwest 2023 trip and the more recently the Tail of the Dragon trip. I plan to start posting again soon and once I get rolling again doing that, I will start posting videos. Of course, there will be some goodbye to Dexter and Hello to the yet to be named bike too. And of course, I actually need to start riding some more again lol…
Be back on here soonish……..Peace!!
Wanderlust Lyfe 