Leaving Arkadelphia on a cool morning brought many smiles as we wound our way through twisty, smooth and empty “blue highways”. I had fun riding with Tim and Joe on their JD Harleys…kept the speed up and moved ahead of the pack. Tim and I arrived 1st and 2nd at the finish checkpoint.
The day got warmer but not too hot and we had a great reception in Nacogdoches. This is one of the oldest towns in Texas with historic storefronts and a plaza set up to receive the Cannonball bikes and riders:
The repetitive vibration and heat cycles are causing trouble for some ancient machines. Several of the “perfect miles bikes” went on the trailer for Stage 13. Crank pins seized, primary chains broke, gas tanks cracked, etc. None of the failures were as monumental and potentially dangerous as that which Eric experienced with Lucille, his well-loved HD. He noticed that the handling was a little odd when stopping for gas. While thinking he could nurse things along for the last 20-30 miles, fellow Cannonballers talked him out of trying. Good thing…because when he attempted to load the bike onto the sweep trailer, this is what happened:
The metal fatigue (age + four Cannonballs) resulted in fractures of the tubes and the front end literally fell off. Thankfully, Eric used good judgement and was not actually riding when this happened!
Lydian required an extra dose of nut and bolt tightening with several bits needing service, valves adjusted and oil changed. My seat spring extension limiter device (ie, bungee cord) is working at preventing contact between seat spring and engine case. Not a factory item, but effective. We are going deeper into Texas today…should be fun.