Meet Ulf, from halfway across the world and enjoy his voyage to the U.S.A. with us.  Back in 2000, Ulf found this great old Pan and road her like he stole her for 5 years more than 10,000 miles each year all over Europe.  With both Ulf’s ass, the motor/tranny and bike tired, he brought her into the garage for a total rebuild and makeover for the excursion to America. A Swedish country boy, Ulf makes a living as a truck driver and resides back in the woods off the beaten path in Sweden.

Back to the planning that big ride organizational shit I referred to earlier.  I believe you will agree this particular trip is one of a lifetime and also a particular situation that helps Ulf make this possible is all Swedish workers receive nearly 3 months vacation time each year.  You don’t want to know what percentage of tax they pay to get that benny and also health care.

So, first item on the itinerary is book a flight to the states.  However, when you check in with your luggage go ahead and put the Pan in he bottom of the plane.  Sure enough, Ulf had to take her apart, front end, sissy bar and a few other parts, crate her up to pack her in the belly.  With a bag over 50 lbs costing extra (ask my ol’lady about that) what do you suppose a 700 lb Panhead Harley-Davidson cost? None of the logistics of putting all that together is easy by any stretch.  In fact, the hassle related to paperwork in Chicago became a royal ass wipe with John Wayne toilet paper for Ulf.

In addition to packing his bike on the plane, UIf was coming to the states for nearly 2 months of riding so at least bringing the proper amount of skivvies would be important. And ride he did indeed, after putting her back together with paperwork in hand he rode into Wisconsin to meet up with old friend Matt.  After some touring in Wisconsin on to Sturgis for a week of riding the gorgeous Black Hills also experienced by this old timer the past 35 years.

This is where we found Ulf and Matt, or should I say, they found us.  Dean, Dave, and John Greene were hosting the now world renowned most incredible old school bike show (bikes must run) and God knows this to be a fact, the show was held at America’s most famous biker bar, “The Broken Spoke.” The show had been going on, judging was well underway, the party was commencing and up pulls Ulf, fashionably late.  Dean, Dave, Beatnik and I were taking pictures in the port-o-lets (it’s a fun story but for a later issue) when we noticed the old Pan roll in.  Unfortunately we had to tell Ulf he was too late for the show.  However, Dean and I asked him with lots of help from Matt, if there was any chance they were headed back Indiana way over the next month for a photo shoot. Ulf knew where he was going but was not necessarily tuned in to which state was where, so being that we were on a particular buzz of our own (it was a very long day) the next hour became hysterical related to where Indiana is on the map and how Ulf and crew could make it into Hoosier land.

The best thing we did was exchange phone numbers with Wisconsin Matt and me.  A month or so later after 7000 miles through Wyoming, Estes Park, all over the Rockies and the West, Ulf and team arrived in Indiana.

Spending a few hours with these guys, Ulf had a buddy with him from Sweden who bought a l940’s Indian (sorry I don’t recall the exact year) but he road that on this same trip until it broke down with Matt and Ulf.

Anyway, I want to go to Sweden.  Time around those folks was as good as it gets. They are very laid back with strong loyalties toward the motorcycle world.  Ulf offered Debby and I an escorted tour…who can refuse! The story has left little space to relate the skills Ulf possess as a motor man/builder.  Read the tech sheet and enjoy!   Your assignment is to dream about doing this type of trip in YOUR lifetime and then…well, damn it, just start planning. 

Ride hard, but always be careful out there!!!

Balls
Ballsbiker.com