Million mile Harley

[fiddle mike]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/46024032.html

Zien's million-mile Harley belongs in Wisconsin, not in Sturgis, some say

"Zien hit the millionth mile April 4 in front of Hal's Harley-Davidson in New Berlin.

He bought the bike new in Madison. To get to a million miles, he refurbished or overhauled the engine nine times, installed two new engines and went through 105 rear tires and nine seats. He says he's documented the million miles with receipts for gas and repairs."

  Reckon what part had the million miles on it?

[junior]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/46024032.html

Zien's million-mile Harley belongs in Wisconsin, not in Sturgis, some say

"Zien hit the millionth mile April 4 in front of Hal's Harley-Davidson in New Berlin.

He bought the bike new in Madison. To get to a million miles, he refurbished or overhauled the engine nine times, installed two new engines and went through 105 rear tires and nine seats. He says he's documented the million miles with receipts for gas and repairs."

  Reckon what part had the million miles on it?

the trailer?

[HayHauler]

Junior, u so bad!!

hahahaha

Hay 

[Bagger John - #3785]

That Harley is like George Washington's "original" axe, isn't it?  ???

[hotglue #43]

Well,  I'd have ta say his ass has that many miles on it....parts come and parts go...  
The only person I know of that has a million miles is RJ.... and that was on more than one bike....

If ya didn't read the article ya missed this....
"
He knows how to ride for long stretches. In 2003, he rode 31,000 miles in 31 days leading up to Harley's 100th anniversary party in Milwaukee. He's won awards from the Iron Butt Association for such triumphs as riding 1,500 miles in 24 hours..."

That's a 1000 miles a day avg for 31 days....pretty impressive!!!!!!

[alph]

Wow!  That’s funny to read!!!

Dave Zein was a state Representative from a small town called Gilman Wisconsin.  He use to come to my parents restaurant in Cadott when he first started campaigning.  And yes, he has put over one million miles on that bike.  He would get in trouble from the other Representatives in the area ‘cause he would get 30 some odd cents per mile back in the ‘80’s riding a cycle while they were driving their cars. 
He was our next-door neighbor when he lived on Solem Lane here in Eau Claire.  It was not too uncommon to see him on interstate 94 heading to Madison in the middle of November with an American and POW flag on the back of his cycle.  He was extremely influential in our area, and I personally thought that he would eventually become governor. 
It’s an ’82 Harley FXRT.  My personal opinion is that it doesn’t look like a typical HD.  I think it was the duel headlights that made it look different.  Kinda like the current Super Glide of today, or the headlights on a Valkyrie.
I think the longest that he had been off of that bike was when he had gotten rear ended on Hwy 53 and Seymor road in Eau Claire.  Many people thought he was done with riding, nope, not Dave!
So yes, it’s a true story.  I know first hand.

Al.
 

[Bagger John - #3785]

It’s an ’82 Harley FXRT.  My personal opinion is that it doesn’t look like a typical HD.  I think it was the duel headlights that made it look different.  Kinda like the current Super Glide of today, or the headlights on a Valkyrie.

The FXRT and its cousin the FXRD (Grand Touring model, w/ small Tour Box) used a single-headlight, frame-mounted fairing. Early models featured integrated turn signals, themselves reminiscent of the GL1100 'Wing's flush-mount units.

Of course, The Faithful were highly indignant about the machine's looks and it wasn't produced for long. But in terms of flexibility and handling, it arguably was the most capable touring platform that Milwaukee ever offered.

If the Juneau Avenue crew ever get with the times and execute a similar machine with a V-Rod motor as its powerplant, I'll be among the first in line to buy one. The concept was that good...to those who appreciate function over form.

[fiddle mike]

Well,  I'd have ta say his ass has that many miles on it....\

I respect his million mile ass but only H-D marketing or a politician could figure that 11 engines equals one bike with a million miles on it.  I met a youngster who had half that on a BMW with the original engine. 

[fudgie]

Theres a farmer in town that has a high mile HD. Rides it year round. Its so rusty the only thing holding it together is the 100's of bumper stickers. It has no seat. He sits on a small trailer sized tire. Rumor was he has 400,000 before his rebuild. My HD bud had 150,000 trouble free miles before he got hit.

[Bagger John - #3785]

My HD bud had 150,000 trouble free miles before he got hit.

Keys to a high-mileage Evo motor:

1) Keep yer cotton-picking fingers OUT of it. Wanna bump up the cubes and start messing around with other aspects of the stock design? You're going to introduce problems. Choose power or longevity...you won't get both unless careful consideration to cooling and enhanced lubrication are given their due.

2) Change fluids, filters and expendables religiously.

3) Proper warmup is essential to making an air-cooled top end last. Giving your bike 15 seconds worth of run-time from a cold start after walking out of the bar is NOT the way to do it.

I have friends with upwards of 200k on their Evos, and almost all are completely stock save the pipe or air cleaner change. They faithfully adhere to items 2 and 3 above...

[fiddle mike]

I have friends with upwards of 200k on their Evos, and almost all are completely stock save the pipe or air cleaner change. They faithfully adhere to items 2 and 3 above...

That answers my question: "How is it some HDs go forever and some only go 20K?

[alph]

Bagger John was right about that headlight, thanks.  I remember there was something about that bike that was odd.  The thing is all about the miles.  Imagine going that far!  Mr. Zein was an honest down to earth politician, honestly!!!  Although if you saw him now, he’s looking kinda rough!!

[Jess from VA]

It’s an ’82 Harley FXRT.  My personal opinion is that it doesn’t look like a typical HD.  I think it was the duel headlights that made it look different.  Kinda like the current Super Glide of today, or the headlights on a Valkyrie.

The FXRT and its cousin the FXRD (Grand Touring model, w/ small Tour Box) used a single-headlight, frame-mounted fairing. Early models featured integrated turn signals, themselves reminiscent of the GL1100 'Wing's flush-mount units.

Of course, The Faithful were highly indignant about the machine's looks and it wasn't produced for long. But in terms of flexibility and handling, it arguably was the most capable touring platform that Milwaukee ever offered.


If the Juneau Avenue crew ever get with the times and execute a similar machine with a V-Rod motor as its powerplant, I'll be among the first in line to buy one. The concept was that good...to those who appreciate function over form.

I picked up an '86 FXRD (1 of 1000 made) in '88 and rode it for 20 years (HD's only attempt a sport touring model).  Had engine work (bore and pistons/mikuni/hyraulic lifters/oil cooler) done at 80K and rode it to 99,600 when I sold it to move to the Interstate.  It was a good bike, but got to costing $1K a year in maintenance, and the electrical was the achilles heel, and I couldn't be sure I was gonna get home.  The fixed fairing design was a lease deal with BMW, and it did not look like a HD.  In SoCal, I used to get the finger from Hog riders coming at me who thought it was a wing. 

[judd]

He bought the bike new in Madison. To get to a million miles, he refurbished or overhauled the engine nine times, installed two new engines

Im trying to imagine how many miles a Valk would go with 9 overhauls and 2 new engines or ...........the bigger question, how many butts it would take to get er done?