I’m an all-season rider and my motorcycle is the main vehicle. To work, from work, groceries, errands, conducting business, de-stressing, attitude-adjusting and just riding for the ride. I use the jeep only for snow, sleet and ice.
My wife, on the other hand, would rather do some things in a truck. For example, she doesn’t appreciate going to garage sales as much on a motorcycle. Limiting her to a few cubic feet of saddlebag space helps keep the costs down, the “stuff” minimal and fuels a never-ending conversation about how much more would fit in a pickup.
Her favorite rides are on perfect days and have a purpose such as charities, benefits and poker-runs. I’m game. Any time on a bike is as close to heaven as this earth has to offer. She also has rather sensitive ears so while I loved the loud, low rumble of the Big Shots on my Honda VTX1800, I had to dial down the decibels a little. We both like the Honda, but for different reasons. She likes it because of the looks and massive gas tank. I like it because there are tons of aftermarket Honda motorcycle parts.
I opted for the quiet baffles made for the Big Shots and we decided to do Push Mountain Road in Arkansas just to be sure we liked them. I also stuffed six inches of memory foam under the seat and stapled it back down. You don’t need an excuse to do Push Mountain Road, but sometimes it makes me feel better to have one.
We left Mountain Home, Arkansas, headed south on Hwy 201, and then left on Arkansas 341. There is usually a sign that says Arkansas 341, but every time they put up a “Push Mountain Road” sign, someone takes it. If neither sign is there, you know you’ve gone too far if you intersect with highway 5 and enter Norfork, Arkansas. Just go back North and take your first left.
If you didn’t feel alive when you left, you will by the time Push Mountain Road ends at Highway 14. Turning left, you can follow 14 all the way to Mountain View and eat at the Rainbow Café. Everything is great about this place, especially the pie.
This particular day we took the next left, Tie Ridge Road, to the tiny town of Fifty-Six, home of Cody’s Restaurant. Everyone should try this place at least once. Heading east out of Fifty-Six we took the next right, connecting us back to highway 14, then a left on highway 5, which took us back to Mountain Home a different, but equally scenic, way.
We agreed that the seat and exhaust modifications were perfect. The exhaust note sounded like it had been tuned to just the right note. What’s more, our relationship had been tuned as well. On the road, we connect in ways we just don’t off the bike. We can’t smell honeysuckle in a car, but we’re constantly looking for the patch we just rode through. Spending that amount of time experiencing and enjoying the same things together brings us into sync in a way nothing else I know of can do.
Author Bio: David Vaughan is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and he enjoys sharing tips with fellow sportsmen.
