The second high mileage rider is BUCKY from Lawrence, KS... 34,000 miles
__1,083,469___ TOTAL MILES FROM ___85____RIDERS LOGGED AS OF 2/10/14!
CALLING ALL ROMEOs, the 2013 riding year is coming to an end and may have ended for some. I am anxious to recording miles for the 2013 riding year. This is not a contest and there will be no prizes, awards and no audit. I will post the information, if you will send me, 1) approximate miles ridden Jan-Dec 2013, 2) the motorcycles you rode this on—make, model and year, 2) your first name and city, 3) highlights of your riding this year. I know some of the numbers are unbelievable but turn in the miles you rode this year not the total number on miles on your bike
Here is a link to what was turned in 2010. http://www.romeoriders.com/forums/viewt ... =20&t=1022 (1st year 25 riders turned in 409,657 miles)
Here is a link to what was turned in 2011. http://www.romeoriders.com/forums/viewt ... f=9&t=1583 (2nd year 77 riders turned in 1,209,282 miles)
Here is a link to what was turned in 2012. http://www.romeoriders.com/forums/viewt ... f=9&t=2197 (3rd year 115 riders turned in 1,627.751.6 miles)
New last year was a map showing where the guys reported from and the first name of the guys who reported from that town. http://tinyurl.com/Romeo-Riders I will try do that again this year.
In 2012 we had 115 riders turn in 1,627,751.6 miles. We now have 561 people that have signed up on the ROMEO website and there are numerous that have never signed up. (If you have not signed up please do so, but that is not a requirement for sending me your miles.) Can we reach 2,000,000 miles this year???
You may not think what you have done this year is of interest to anyone, but I think you would be surprised. I am always interested to hear how far guys are riding or if they just go to Romeo lunches, the different bikes guys enjoy riding, some are new, some old, some big, some small, and most of all where did you go this year. Maybe you went to Eskridge, KS or maybe to Alaska. Please share no matter how grand or how small everyone will enjoy. If you have been to a lunch. YOU ARE A ROMEO. If you don't know you mileage let us hear from you anyway. This is our only way of finding out who we are, what we are riding and where we are from. Send info to Roger, twowheels2eat@yahoo.com
The 2013 map showing the towns where everyone who reported miles lives. http://goo.gl/RtV5RU Click on the plus sign (top left) to make it bigger. Push and continue holding down your left mouse button to move the map around.
__500 MILES....1996 HONDA GOLD WING TRIKE....MARTY G....BUTLER, MO
1,400 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC..BERNIE & CATHIE R." my LTG (Long Term Girlfriend) aka my wife"..OLATHE, KS & FT MEYERS BEACH, FL
1,500 MILES....HONDA....J.H.F....GARDNER, KSI bought my bike new, it is a 100th Anniversary Edition 2003 Harley Ultra Classic and has a Voyager Outrigger Kit
1,500 MILES....2009 YAMAHA 950 TOURING....BILL H....OVERLAND PARK, KS
1,999 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON CLASSIC....BOB H....LOUISBURG, KS
2,000 MILES....2008 HARLEY, 02 BMW 1150, 03 KAWASAKI KLR....CORWIN S....CHANUTE, KS
I appreciate the emails and news of the rides this year. As Bonnie and I have been at M D Anderson Cancer hospital in Houston since June with our daughter Judy. She is recovering! I got to ride a little on furloughs home. Rode to The Hub and had a great time. A few lunch rides. Only about 2,000 miles. Great fun and fellowship. Corwin
2,000 MILES....2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA....MIKE & LINDA W....PECULIAR, MO
2,150 MILES....2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON....BIG JOHN....KANSAS CITY, KS
2,230 MILES....2004 HONDA GOLD WING...."BIG BAD" JOHN K....WICHITA, KS
3,200 MILES....2013 HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE....LUPE....KANSAS CITY, KSHouse remodeling and travel to Sedona and Big Bend Nat Pk limited our riding this year. Only 10 % of normal. Hope to improve next year.
3,542 MILES....2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRA GLIDE....DAN & VICKI G....LONE JACK, MO
Riding highlights: ROMEO rides, when we could make it. Due to a family illness crisis, we had to stay close to town. Tuesday was our only day to relax and enjoy being with our ROMEO family.
3,800 MILES....2013 YAMAHA FJR1300....TOM H....SUN CITY CENTER, FL
Mileage was only 3800. Put 2500 on the 2013 FJR1300 and most of that when I moved to Sun City Center, FL. in October.
2007 VStar 650 - 500mi and 1988 Kawasaki Concours - 500 mi. (Both still in KS).
I really enjoy wearing my romeo gear on rides here in Florida. Always gets a smile.
It was a tough year losing my wife of 48 years but getting on a bike and seeing romeo friends was a great help. Hope to see you all next summer. Tom H.
- 2013 Yamaha FJR1300---Tom H....Sun City Center, FL
4,000 MILES....KAWASAKI....BOB W....GARDNER, KS
4,000 MILES....KAWASAKI 900 LT....IRVIN S....WELLINGTON, KS
4,100 MILES...."SAME THREE BIKES"....BILL B....OVERLAND PARK, KS
4,375 MILES....2013 VICTORY VISION TOUR....BOB H....WICHITA, KS
4,460 MILES....HONDA ST1300....CARY Mc ....DERBY, KSMy name is Bob Hoch and I’m from Wichita. I’ve put 4,375 miles on my 2013 Victory Vision Tour (that I got in late March). No big riding adventures yet. Getting reacquainted with riding after a 37-year hiatus. Loving my weekly ROMEO rides, though!
4,600 MILES....2001 HONDA GOLD WING....FRANK "POLISH PRINCE" L....KANSAS CITY, KSMiles ridden for 2013 are down for me due to a 6 month treatment period for cancer. Recovery in process.
Miles were: 2010 ST 1300----3100 miles
2003 H-D Deuce---1360 miles
Total for 2013-------------------4460
Cary
Derby,KS
South Central ROMEO group
4,740 MILES....1995 HONDA GOLD WING....LARRY L....TOPEKA, KS
5,000 MILES....2012 SUZUKI V-STROM....JIM & MARLENE G.....MISSION, TX (WINTER)1995 wing. =2,346
Burgman. =1,782
\5 BMW. = .612
Total. 4,740 miles
I must be getting old.....Larry L.
5,000 MILES....BMW K100....HAROLD S....McPHERSON, KSWe are in the Rio Grande Valley, Mission, TX, for the winter; took a ride this AM to Rio Grande City; See you all in the spring; let us know if you're down our way. We're thinking of a trip over to Big Bend when it gets warmer
5,850 MILES....2006 HONDA ST1300....DOUG G....COLUMBIA, MO
6,000 MILES....2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON (2500) 2012 CAN-AM "SPIDER"(3500)....GEORGE L....BELTON, MO
6,148 MILES....20090 SUZUKI V-STROM, 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER, 2006 KLR 650, ‘85 HONDA GOLD WING....BILL C....Meriden, KS
6,400 MILES....2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON....LEROY....KANSAS CITY, KS
6,658 MILES....2009 BMW K1300 GT....DON G....KANSAS CITY, MO
7,272 MILES....2013 HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY....GARY D....URICH, MO
7,800 MILES....CAN-AM RT SPIDER....HAROLD Q....GARDNER, KS
8,000 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON....JERRY L....GARDNER, KS
8,000 MILES....2012 HONDA GOLD WING....ROD I....OVERLAND PARK, KS & MESA, AZ
For 2013 I rode 8,000 miles as follows... 7200 on a 2012 Honda Goldwing and 800 on a 2009 Suzuki Burgman Scooter...
I purchased the Goldwing on January 2, 2013 in Arizona and its wheels haven't stopped since..
I've had such a good time riding with the Romeo's this year.... Thanks everyone... Overland Park, Ks and Mesa, Az Rod Ivers
8,150 MILES....2004 HONDA GOLD WING....DAVE W....SHAWNEE, KS
8,339 MILES....2003 HONDA GOLD WING TRIKE....RANDY R....BUTLER, MO
8,500 MILES....1990 HONDA GOLD WING....EDDIE H....KANSAS CITY, KS
8,783 MILES....2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING....BOB K....CLAYCOMO, MO
Not as many miles as I would have liked to ride, but I was held back after knee surgery in April. BK
10,000 MILES....2007 HARLEY HERITAGE SOFT TAIL....LLOYD C....BUTLER, MO
10,128 MILES....2012 VITORY CROSS COUNTRY TOUR....BOB P....OLATHE, KS
10,432 MILES....2013 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX....DANNY D....PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS2012 Victory Cross Country Tour - 5,143
2008 BMW R1200RT - 4,375
2008 Kawasaki KLR650 - 541
1976 Yamaha RD400 (got it running!) - 17
1974 Honda CB360 (got this one going as well) - 52
Total for all - 10,128
10,483 MILES....2001 GOLD WING (2,896) & 2010 NT700 (7,587)....LINDA M....WICHITA, KSI bought the bike the last week of May so my total mileage is only 10,432 as of today. DANNY
10,656 MILES....2005 VULCAN VN 750....HAROLD JR....HOYT, KS
10,992 MILES....2011 BURGMAN....LARRY #1 S....EDGERTON, KSHi ROGER I put 6,400 miles on the 05 Vulcan vn 750, and 4,200 on the 03 Vulcan vn 750 and 56 miles on the 2001 Honda shadow 1100 from Harold JR. at Hoyt Kansas. I hope to do better next year.
11,167 MILES....2012 YAMAHA V-STAR 1300...RUTH S.....TOPEKA, KSMileage bmw 1995=2300 miles burgman2007=4681 burgman2011=4011 Thanks Roger Happy New Year.
11,300 MILES....2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING....KEN K....PARKVILLE, MO
11,300 MILES....2009 HONDA SILVER WING...AL. H....OLATHE, KSHi Roger,
Here are my bikes.
2003 HD Road King
1980 Yamaha XS1100 Special
1978 Honda CM185T
1975 Honda CB400F SS
Take care and have a great day.
Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.
Kenny Kerns
11,322 MILES....2012 TRIUMPH....LEO C....GASSVILLE, ARDown from last year but still just as much fun!
12,000 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON....ROGER M....TOPEKA, KSOK--I'll join the party. 2012 Triumph, 4965 miles. 2009 KLR, 3996 miles. 1988 Hawk, 2000 miles. 1980 Yamaha 250, 161 miles. 1981 CT110, 200 miles. Total for 2013= 11,322 miles. Gassville Arkansas
- Roger M. Harley Davidson Topeka, KS
12,300 MILES....HONDA GOLD WING....DON S....SHAWNEE, KSOne trip to Branson, MO. Almost all the rest were Romeo Rides. They all were a BLAST, riding with some of the best guys and gals around
12,500 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTHRX....JEFF A....EL DORADO, KS
12,600 MILES....2013 HARLEY DAVIDSON "TRIGLIDE"....BILL "RETREADD" H....HARLINGEN, TX & TOPEKA, KS
13,300 MILES....1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING FLHRP....DAN & GLENDA D....LONE JACK, MOI had rode 4,000 miles this year on my 07 Street Bob when I traded it for my 2013 Harley Triglide. I have put 8,600 miles on it since then (June 30) & most of them my Wife was riding with me.....1,000 of those miles were put on taking it to TX for the Winter.So my total would be close to 12,600 for this year....A pretty good improvement over last year.
Bill H. (Retreadd) from South TX & Eastern KS
13,300 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE....DUANE...SALINA, KSI rode the last MotoGuzzi (a black 1984 California II model, 36th picture down the list in the Photo Gallery) for 60,000 miles and finally got a chance to sell it with upwards of 90,000 on the clock for $700 less than I paid for it - TIME TO SELL!!! I now ride a 1999 Harley Davidson Road King (FLHRP model) I found on e-bay. It seemed that no one wanted it so I stepped up to the plate and rescued it from the dusty recesses of neglect in a garage on the east coast. The previous owner had only ridden it 2,000 miles in the eleven years he had it; try to imagine that!!. I've had it the past two riding seasons and have put about 30,000 extra miles on it. It is the 9th picture down the page on the September 9, 2012 ride to Bucksaw Marina, Truman Lake. Having ridden Yamahas, Hondas and MotoGuzzis, I could give Harley Davidson some much needed advice but since this one is in very good condition and I bought it "for a song", I don't complain or criticize it much. I just made the most necessary safety changes myself (lights, brakes, horn, speedometer) and enjoy the ride. Dan D.
13,500 MILES....2012 HARLEY STREET GLIDE....BILL J....ADRIAN, MO
13,530 MILES....2014 H/D ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED & 2011 H/D ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED....MARVIN G....GARDNER, KS
- 2014 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Limited...Marvin G....Gardner, KS
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13,822 MILES....2002 HONDA GOLD WING....TED & PENNY K....KANSAS CITY, MO
15,000 MILES....99 R1100 RT, 2004 DL 650 Vstrom, 01 KLR 650....TOM K....LAWRENCE, KS
15,129 MILES....3-HONDA CBX'S....JOHN D....CHANUTE, KSI didn't ride as much as I had hoped, but more than I thought. Don't know the total but it has to be around 15,000 mi. Funny how the ride becomes most important, not the miles, and the friends we ride with are the highest reward. Rode most of my miles with Bucky, Butch, and Allen
16,000 MILES....HONDA GOLD WING....DAVID P....EL DORADO, KSNot done yet, but here it is right now:
3 Honda CBX's - 5,900 miles;
Honda 1100F + Honda 1100R - 2,900 miles;
Honda CB750 + Honda CB350F - 2,325 miles, and,
2002BMW R1150RT - 4,004 miles
For a total of 15,129 miles, with a smile on my face all the time
Drive now, talk later, John D.
16,195 MILES....2008 HONDA GOLD WING....MIKE H....SHAWNEE, KS
16,500 MILES....HARLEY ULTRA....LARRY L....DERBY, KSYea, I know I'm slow, but I'm steady!!
1996 GL1500---2097 miles
2008 GL1800--14098 mile
Total-------------16195 miles
16,603 MILES....2006 HONDA GOLD WING....GREG M....SHAWNEE, KS
16,800 MILES....BMW R1200C, HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRU....BILL P....WICHITA, KS
17,104 MILES....2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC....MICK L....LAWRENCE, KS
17,196 MILES....2008 BMW K1200LT (16,191) & 2004 HONDA ST 1300 (1005)....GARY & MARY D....PARKVILLE, MORoger, My electric gear is under repair at Gerbing so I think my 2013 riding season has come to a close unless the repaired gear gets returned quickly! This year I rode 17, 104 miles on my 2008 Electra Glide Classic. I attended both the spring and fall Rendezvous and took another trip with several friends through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. Otherwise, my miles came from attending ROMEO lunches at least twice a week and sometimes three and the occasional short weekend ride with my bride. ROMEO has become a valued part of my "retirement life" and the friendships I have made have enriched my life in many ways. Thanks for all you do to make the ROMEO experience a memorable one. Mick L.
17,299 MILES....2005 GOLDWING (7,996), 2008 YAMAHA FJR (6,037) & 2008 V-STROM (3,266)....LONNIE M....WICHITA, KS
17,849 MILES....2005 HONDA ST1300, 2009 KAWASAKI KLR650, 2012 HARLEY XR1200X....ROGER S....WICHITA, KS
17,950 MILES....2009 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 1400 & 1992 HONDA VFR 750....JIMMIE G....OLATHE, KS
18,170 MILES....2013 BMW GS1200....TERRY G....COLUMBIA, MO
19,153 MILES....2012 BMW K1600 GTL...LELAND & SLINA P....PAOLA,KSRoger
I want to think you for the Ride reports, I read every one of them & enjoy them immensely !
I only made 4 or 5 of your lunch Runs but Gathered 5 or 6 times to eat out here in central Mo. !
I made it to your Spring gathering & planned to make the Fall gathering until I crashed My "Bicycle" on Sep 5th & broke my shoulder Blade, can you say "ouch" . That keep off the bike until early October!
My high lites would be in addition to what I've mentioned already, I attended the Moonshine Lunch Run in E. Illinois , on my way to visit my sister in INdiana on my New GS BMW by the way. The Georgia mountain Rally , The RA Rally at Asheville, The National BMW Rally at Salem Ore, that was a two week ride with friends , we toured the Oregon coast including Ft Clatsop & California's northern Coast , THe Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite then down to Bakersfield to visit my cousin Wayne . I broke my old heat record coming home at NEEDLES Ca it was 114 on the way home! Falling Leaf Rally in Potosi in October.
I rode 18,170 miles in 2013
2013 GS BMW 1200. 15,251 miles
2007 RT Bmw 1200. 2,638
2005 GS BMW 1200. 271
Keep sending the rides , you never know when I might show up.
Sincerely
Terry Geisler
Columbia Missouri
Roger,
Here are my mileages for the 2013 year.
2012 BMW GTL 17471
1989 R100RT 747
2007 Burgman 935 _______
for a total miles: 19153
and most of them were on that wonderful Alaskan Trip as you can see, that was 10200, miles. Great trip!
Thanks so much for all you do!! Have a great New Year in 2014!!
Slina wrote on their blog about their Alaska Trip....We rode 547 miles today, 10200 miles total. We lived on that motorcycle 25 out of the 31 we were gone.
- Leland Alaska.jpg (36.24 KiB) Viewed 2457 times
2005 DRZ400: 1,300
2006 V-Strom: 9,400
2007 ST1300: 8,900
Total Milage : 19,600 Tom L , Topeka,KS
20,067 MILES....2008 & 2006 HONDA GOLD WING GLI800....JOHN E....SHAWNEE, KS
21,725 MILES....2006 BMW R1200GS (10,796 miles)....BOHN F. ("Milemaker")...SHAWNEE, KSBest of the year was the Balloon Festival in Albuqurque—put it on your bucket list.
22,279 MILES....2005 HONDA GOLD WING....MICK S....LAWRENCE, KS1978 Yamaha XS750SE - 854 miles
1980 Yamaha XS1100SG - 5,891 miles
2002 BMW K1200LT - 4,184 miles
2006 BMW R1200GS - 10,796 miles
Total 2013 miles - 21,725 miles
Bohn F.
22,808 MILES....2008 HONDA GOLD WING....KEITH C....DESOTO, KSHere are the states I was in while riding motorcycle.
KS, MO, AR, TN, KY, NC, SC, GA, MS, AL, OK, TX, NM, AZ, CO, IA, NE, SD, WY, and Montana, at least that is all I remember. The older I get harder it is to remember. I counted 20 states.
Honda 2005 Goldwing odometer reading 12/31/13 was 61,086, my calculation is 19,740 miles rode
Honda 1998 Valkyrie odometer reading when I purchased it this year was 18,158, it is as of 12/31/13 was 19,197, my calculation is 1,039 miles rode
Kymco 2003 scooter is in KM odometer reading 12/31/13 was 28,751 KM, my calculation in miles was 1,500
So my total on all three two wheeler's is 22,279 miles for the year of 2013.
Mick
24,000 MILES....HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK....RUN HUXMAN....MOUNDRIDGE, KS2002 BMW R1150RT 3008
2003 KLR250 6
2009 BMW R1200GS 6609
2008 Honda Goldwing 11213
2013 BMW F700GS 1972
Total 22808
24,495 MILES....2012 VICTORY VISION 17,383, 2012 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY 6,815, 2005 HONDA VTX 1300 300....ALLEN C....PERRY, KS
25,000 MILES...."2" ! - HARLEY ROAD GLIDES....KENNY G....BALLARD, MO2013 was a great riding year for me. I enjoyed many Romeo lunch rides and some awesome trips to Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, and Wisconsin with Bucky, Butch, Mel, and others. When I am not riding with the Romeos, I ride with my wife and various relatives. We had a great trip to International Falls, MN in early Sept. Allen, Perry, KS
25,010 MILES....2012 BMW R1200 GS "ADVENTURE"....DENNIS & GAYLE C....CAMDEN POINT, MO
27,000 MILES....2012 BMW R1200GS....SWANEE....TOPEKA, KS
30,279 MILES....2010 SILVERWING....HARRY B....TOPEKA, KSA bit less than last year but can't complain--still more than averaged before retiring. Appx miles as follows:
2005 H-D FLHRI (traded in)....7,000
2009 Triumph Bonneville.......4,000
2012 BMW R1200GS..........14,000
2013 H-D FLHRC (got Oct.)...2,000
TOTAL...............................27,000
swanee
30,302 MILES....2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING....CHARLIE "HARLEY CHARLIE" C....MULVANE, KS2010 Silverwing
2007 KLR
2006 V-Strom
2004 DRZ400
2011 Harley Road King - 23,019 miles
2011 Harley Street Bob - 7050 miles
2012 Harley Sportster 48 - 233 miles
TOTAL - 30,302 Miles, 2013
33,701 MILES....2012 GOLD WING....ED J....GARDNER, KS
33,999 MILES....2013 & 2009 GOLD WING....MELISSA & ROGER S....LEAWOOD, KSMy trips include: GWRRA-40 to Phoenix. Ride around Kansas. Tail of the dragon. Canton, Ohio. Up to Sturgis, Montana, down the west coast, Grand Canyon, southern Utah. Plus local riding.
Melissa and I had one of our best years of riding. We finished visiting 50 parks in 25 states. We visited friends in Wisconsin, family in New Hampshire, lobster in Maine. We rode the Four Corners of Kansas, with the great friends of Chapter B. We saw Niagara Falls, Saratoga Springs, the Biltmore and had a fun time at Wing Ding. We bought a 2013 Gold Wing in February and traveled 39,999 miles in 28 states and across Canada.
Roger and Missy S.
Leawood, KS
The attached picture is after we waited out a hail storm in New Mexico. Four to six inches of hail fell. It was so bad they brought out the snow plows to push it off the highways.
- New Mexico
47,384 MILES....1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTCUI & 2012 BURGMAN 650 SPEEDO....DAVID W....HIGH POINT, NC
1975 750 Honda Super Sport 10,000
1981 Yamaha Street Tracker 1,000
1984 Honda Goldwing 8,000
1996 Honda VFR 750 3,000
2003 KLR 650 2,000
2004 HD Super Glide 10,000
TOTAL 34,000
Bucky
Note from Roger: David has never been on a ROMEO ride, which is true of a large number of folks that follow our activities on the website. David calls me and visits every year. I thought you would enjoy the following article. Harley Davidson gave him a new motorcycle in exchange for his HD that had 416,479 miles on it!! David is truly a remarkable individual and we are honored that he wants to be a ROMEORoger,
1999 HD FLTCUI Speedo 280,140 less 271,363= 8,757
2012 Burgman 650 Speedo 65,783 less 38,627= 38,627
Total 47,384
Had a great year ridding short day trips. My wife is 82 and I'm 80. I still ride most every day looking for a new road or a mom & pop restaurant. I really enjoy your forum, although I cannot ride with your ROMEO'S
Respectfully,
David G.Willett
High Point, NC
The Denton Orator. Photos by Kelly Bledsoe of The Denton Orator Link to original article http://www.ibmc.org/spotlight.asp
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David Willett & Ole' Charlie II: Coming to a town near you
The saying goes that life's a journey, not a destination…
Yet, it seems that it's in a man's nature to race from point A to point B, constantly trying to beat his own time in the process.
Have you ever wondered what you might be missing along the way?
A lot of new friends, according to David Willett and his "riding buddy" – a Harley-Davidson named Ole' Charlie.
"Most people get on the interstate to see how fast they can get there," Willett said of traveling. "But I like to ride the two lanes…the pace is slower and you get to meet people."
Willett and his now-famous bike have made hundreds of friends all over this great nation, as the two have ridden through all 48 states in the continental US as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. Though he and his wife, Betty Jo reside in High Point, Willett is no homebody and can't wait to start the day with pavement below, blue sky above, and the wind in his face.
"I've been pretty much everywhere I want to go," he noted about his travels, "but I love to go back to places where I've made friends and visit with them."
Camping is his choice method of lodging while on the road and although he used to pull a small camper along, he prefers tent camping above all else. Commercial inns are typically out of the question. "In a motel, you just lock the door and cut on the TV," he explained, whereas with camping – especially at campgrounds – folks are a lot more apt to socialize. As pleasant as Willett is to talk with, it's no wonder then that he would so easily make friends!
Thus far, Willett's favorite destinations have been the Rocky Mountains, the Beartooth Pass entrance to Yellowstone, and the Florida Keys. "That's just beautiful," he recalled.
Oftentimes, he uses Our State Magazine to get ideas on where to ride next.
Willett has been riding motorcycles for decades – his first was a homemade motorcycle in 1948. "It was a bike with a motor on it," he laughed.
But he put the most miles in after his retirement at age 55 in 1989. "I loved working as a cabinet maker," he said, "but it was always my goal to retire at 55 so that's what I did."
David Willett with NC Senator Stan Bingham
Following his retirement, he began putting on an average of 165 miles a day on his 1987 Harley-Davidson Tour Glide Classic named "Ole' Charlie." Remarkably, the bike boasted 240,619 miles in just four years! In fact, Willett's constant riding earned him the nickname of "Iron Butt Willett" and Ole' Charlie the label of "The Bullet Proof Harley."
While his 87 Tour Glide was definitely a gem of a bike, Willett's meticulous service records can be credited as the primary source for Ole' Charlie's long life. With a total mileage of 416,479, the H-D execs in Wisconsin heard about Willett's miracle motorcycle and asked him to bring it in for a closer look. To his surprise, they offered him a brand new 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic in exchange for Ole' Charlie. They just had to know what made him tick. Reluctantly, Willett "donated" his old buddy to science so to speak and rode off into the sunset on Ole' Charlie II.
It was hard for Willett to say goodbye to his old friend – that 87 H-D had helped him make a lot of friends along the way. As a matter of fact, in just two weeks Willett will return to Wisconsin for H-D exec Ken Sutton's retirement party. The man really does have friends everywhere.
But with 238,000 miles already logged on his 99 ride, Ole' Charlie II is well on its way to bringing Willett into your town. He's ridden to Denton quite a few times thus far and is quickly making acquaintances. Could you be the next comrade for Willett and Ole' Charlie II? Quite possibly, he predicted. "We've all got friends we haven't met yet!"