I’ve just returned from a brilliant two days in Vegas with the Indian Roadmaster and Chieftain, courtesy of Club Eaglerider. I’ve discussed this before; Club Eaglerider is a way to get thirteen days’ worth of motorcycle rentals a year for $29/month. You’ll pay fees and taxes on top of that, but not much. As an example, when I used two of my monthly credits this weekend, I paid $38.45 of taxes and fees on top of that. That makes the true cost about $50 a day, which is a lot of money for a Chevrolet Spark or similar but peanuts for a Roadmaster, Electra Glide, Gold Wing, Polaris Slingshot, or BMW R1200GS, just to name a few of the motorcycles and trikes that are covered in the arrangement.
If you’re interested in joining, I will get a free day added to my account if you use my referral code, FCUSS. I should add that I haven’t been comped in any way by Eaglerider; I’m a paying customer who has had six great rental experiences with them so far. My pal Sid joined this past weekend; he took a Chieftain, I took a Roadmaster, and we had an unforgettable late-night ride across the Hoover Dam.
It’s still legal to cross the Hoover Dam, but you have to turn around on the Arizona side and come back. It’s no longer a through-road. The ambient temp was 104 degrees when Sid and I, along with our passengers, headed out of Vegas towards Route 93. I find it rather amazing that these 111-cubic-inch air-cooled motorcycles can operate flawlessly at that temperature. I think they do it by transferring most of the heat directly to the riders’ legs. By the time we got to the dam, the sun had set but we were given ten minutes to get across and back. Which we did. All by ourselves on the massive structure, two American-made bikes above four million cubic feet of concrete. It was a hell of a way to celebrate the Fourth of July just a few hours early.
I’m going to shut up about Club Eaglerider from here on out, but you can expect to hear a little bit more about the stellar Indian Roadmaster. I’ll be riding one across the country in a few months, and I’ll keep you posted on what happens. It’s a little painful for me to ride nowadays, more so after last year’s crash, but that’s not a reason to quit.
Oh, and the photo above is me returning to the scene of my wedding, the Rainbow Vista in Nevada’s Valley Of Fire. That was a bit of a hot trip, as well. But very much worth it.
Welcome to the world of the “road couch”, AKA; big ‘Murican cruisers. As for the heat on your legs, some slight changes can be made to the aerodynamics. The fairings are designed to keep the wind off of you, therefore the air flow goes right to your legs. I mounted a pair of adjustable deflectors (from J&P cycles IIRC) that work pretty well. Also a set that mount under the seat, over the rear cylinder head, to keep the heat off of the “sensitive parts”.
the worst are the Harleys (softail and sportster) which put the engine oil tank right under the seat. you really get your chestnuts roasted on a warm day.
Nice looking Scoots ! .
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Do they not make them sans bags and fairings ? .
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I don’t like faired Motos nor windshields , you’ll bee *much* cooler in the Desert without that crap plus the Moto handles batter .
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I’m afraid to test ride one of these or the Kawasaki Drifter (I think,looks like an Indian) because I’m askeert I won’t be able to live without one once I try it…
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-Nate
The Indian Chief Classic is what you’re looking for…
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/chief-classic-pearl-white
Yes , that is the style I’d prefer . available only in white ? . I poked around the site and didn’t see any color options .
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FWIW , most folks never get to see much of the Los Vegas metro area , there’s way more to see than the strip and endless tacky casinos full of losers .
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-Nate
I can do without a fairing, but I have to have a windshield. One decent-sized bug hitting your neck at speed changes your mind really quick. never mind if it was a stone.
I hear you , once you’ve had a bee inside your helmet stinging the crap out of you multiple times at warp factor 7 , windshields begin to seem O.K. .
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I still don’t like them , gave the original 1965 one I found and restored for my 65FL Harley PanHead to a buddy who was very pleased indeed .
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I’m one of those who cannot wear a full faced helmet either , I use a ” Vari-Sheild ” on my 1/2 or 3/4 helmets instead .
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When I face planted some years back I was extremely lucky to not have had my face ripped off like beautiful Gwen did in the same situation .
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U.C.L.A.’s Medical Training program @ L.A. County Hospital did a very good job indeed putting it all back on but , there’s something not quite right when you look at her face ever since , she was 17 then and closing in on 60 now , still good looking but no longer the raving beauty she was then .
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Remember this when you chose to ride .
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-Nate
Nate sez “I’m afraid to test ride one of these or the Kawasaki Drifter (I think,looks like an Indian) because I’m askeert I won’t be able to live without one once I try it”.
Life is too short to not get motorsickles you like. Which might explain why I have 7 at the moment(rolls eyes at self)
“Life is too short to not get motorsickles you like. Which might explain why I have 7 at the moment(rolls eyes at self)”.
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I no longer count them but I have decidedly more Motos than that, part of why i don’t want to be entranced by any more .
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-Nate
I just can’t get myself to appreciate Indian’s “extremely vintage” styling. the only bike in Polaris’s stable I really like right now is the Victory Gunner (suede green w/bags and windshield plzKthz.)
and of course, Eagle Rider is yet another thing with no locations in Michigan.
I like the idea that they offer mechanically similar bikes with very different styling under the two brands.
That Victory Vision is pretty bad ass.
do you know if Polaris does their V-twins like the Japanese? Meaning, do they house the crankcase, primary, and transmission in one casing? Or are they done the way Harley and Triumph do, with separate units?
That’s the Vegas I wish I’d seen.
“I just can’t get myself to appreciate Indian’s “extremely vintage” styling.”
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The thing to remember is :
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In matters of taste , everyone else is _wrong_ .
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-Nate
For an occasional rider, that sounds like a LOT less money than actually owning a motorcycle. How does Eaglerider screen to prevent incompetent doofus types or rank newcomers from renting and destroying their hardware?
There’s no screening process, but you have to have an MC endorsement on your license, which seems to weed out the worst potential offenders.
the first few bikes I rode were rentals, though through a local Harley dealer. They’ve basically the same requirements, you have to have had a motorcycle endorsement (indicated in Michigan by a “CY” on your license) for at least one year.
I had a great experience with Eagle Rider on Sepulveda in LA. Rented a Triumph Tiger 800 from them and the pickup experience was great, as was the bike.
However, the guys at the downtown San Fran location are a shower of bastards and I’ll never darken their door again…YMMV…
I thought about renting a tiger for a weekend. I’m very tempted to get one but trading in the bike I already like to get one for the longer trips seems stupid, as does owning both bikes. As usual, the proper solution is to have eff you money so I can have both without a care in the world.
You would be amazed at what you can afford by giving up certain luxuries. Things like food, shelter, electric lights….
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The ideal number of bikes is seven. Or five. Or maybe eleven. Mine is thirteen years old so I can afford good gear and the regular tire changes it requires. If you like the bike you have, never get rid of it.
The Tiger was really lovely and competent but I thought it wasn’t $4k or $5k more fun to ride or desirable than my buddy’s Wee-strom, if that helps.
If I get one, it’ll be a used one where someone else has already bought all the bags for it. Can usually get a good deal on a used bike by owner if you can pay cash. I can probably get a used one for 6500 (craigslist 2012) but it’s an ugly color. I should just go rent one and find out if I like it.
Just signed up using your referral code. Thanks! Seems like a good deal.
Saw that. Thank you!
Jack, have you rented from them lately? I have been a member for quite awhile and have 20 credits, went to book a trip wanting to use my credits, there were a lot of fees now and limited me to just 4 credits. Regular price was roughly $1500 and my final estimated bill with 4 credit deduction was close to $1100 (max value was around $112) and they now are predominately Harley dealer, the location in Park City does not carry anything but Harley.
That’s not good. I’ll check it out. I have 23 credits haven’t used any since the fall.