Not every motorcycle road trip starts with smooth miles and rally excitement. Sometimes it starts with heat, long days, a questionable decision to keep riding, and a Harley-Davidson that decides it has had enough before the event even begins.

We rode 813.5 miles from our home near the Ohio and West Virginia border to Branson, Missouri, over two days. We were headed to the H.O.G. National Rally and Full Throttle Bike Week Rally. Looking back, pushing that ride into only two days was probably not the best choice. Three days would have been far easier on both us and the motorcycle.

Day One: Ohio Farmland, Route 50, and Easy Motorcycle Miles

Day one covered just over 300 miles and ended in New Albany, Indiana. Most of the ride followed two-lane roads and limited-access four-lane highways, including long stretches of US Route 50 motorcycle riding. The morning started cool and crisp, and by the time we arrived at the hotel it was in the upper 80s. Overall, the weather gave us a good first day with no rain for the storm chasers.

Rolling hills, wide farm views, and long sweeping turns across Ohio harvest country made for scenic motorcycle touring. The bike was not just running; it was purring.

Day Two: Heat, Uranus, and the Push to Branson

Day two was not nearly as comfortable. It got warm quickly and turned hot by early afternoon. We made an unscheduled pit stop at the Uranus Fudge Factory. No kidding: Uranus is where the fudge packers sell some high-end fudge. That stop deserves its own post later.

It was at Uranus that we debated whether to stop for the night or keep riding on to Branson. In hindsight, we should have stopped. Instead, we decided to push through. The motorcycle showed no signs of heat-related trouble, unlike Debbie and me.

We made it to Branson around 4:30 p.m. after more than 500 miles in a little over nine hours. You may have heard of an Iron Butt ride. This felt more like a swampy, sweaty butt ride.

After checking in at the hotel, we showered, had dinner at the Full Throttle Saloon, and called it a night. The rally had not started yet, but the trip had already delivered plenty of miles.

A Motorcycle Breakdown Happens Before the Rally Starts

The next morning, we had a quick breakfast and set out to explore the area before the rally officially began. With nowhere in particular to go, we picked Pig Trail Harley-Davidson as the destination and set the GPS for scenic riding.

The ride out to Pig Trail Harley-Davidson was primarily on Missouri Route 86 and Route 62, and it delivered some wonderfully fun Ozark motorcycle riding. The route took us through Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a fabulous little town tucked into the Ozark Mountains, before we descended the other side toward Rogers. We made a quick stop at Pig Trail Harley-Davidson and then headed back toward Branson.

The return ride followed a different route before merging back onto Missouri Route 86. Between Blue Eye and Highway 65, our motorcycle decided something was not right.

What Limp Mode Feels Like on a Harley-Davidson Touring Motorcycle

The motorcycle went into limp mode as we started up a hill. Limp mode is when the engine is still running, but throttle response is extremely limited. You can twist the throttle wide open and still only limp forward. I feel lucky that I was able to coax the bike to the top of the hill and park about 18 inches off the asphalt.

Harley Owners Group Roadside Assistance Paid Off

This is where being a member of the Harley Owners Group paid off. We called the roadside assistance number, and about 90 minutes later the tow truck had us loaded. Debbie and I headed back to the hotel while the motorcycle went to Renegade Harley-Davidson for diagnosis and repair.

The Diagnosis: Codes, Testing, and No Easy Answer

The repair did not go as smoothly as we hoped. The service team had the motorcycle all the next day trying to recreate the failure, but they could not make the problem happen again. They could see in the event log that something had occurred, but they were unable to determine exactly why. They ran checks and diagnostics and even called Harley-Davidson technicians in Milwaukee for help.

The following day they worked on the motorcycle until noon and then brought it back to our hotel. Fingers crossed that we do not have a similar problem on the ride home or during the rest of the rally.

Ride Notes for Other Motorcycle Travelers

• If you are riding from the Ohio Valley to Branson, Missouri, consider splitting the trip into three days instead of two.
• Heat can wear down riders even when the motorcycle seems fine.
• Ozark roads around Branson, Blue Eye, Eureka Springs, and Rogers offer excellent motorcycle riding, but plan for fuel, water, and rest stops.
• Roadside assistance is one of those benefits you hope you never need, but you will be glad to have it when the bike quits on a hill. Both Harley and the American Motorcyclist Association offer assistance.
• For more long-distance riding content, see the motorcycle ride report archive and the motorcycle tourism section.