Maybe I’m too much of an optimist, but it’s mid-Feb and time to start thinking about riding the Blue Ridge Parkway again. Won’t be long until the weather is warm enough and the early spring is a great time to ride. There’s little traffic at this time of the year and the scenery is – as always – spectacular.
Check the weather, bundle up and go. But in case you haven’t yet discovered the joy of heated grips, now is the time. Heated grips are available from a number of makers and are a relatively low cost accessory. There are generic models that can be installed on any bike, but the best solution is usually a set of grips designed specifically for your make and model bike. Some should be installed by the dealer, but usually anyone with average mechanic skills and tools can mount their own. The HD heated grips on my Road King were installed by the dealer and they were excellent. I put heated grips on a Suzuki Bandit by myself and they were also very good. Took a few hours, but it wasn’t too difficult. Anyway, heated grips are the way to run the Blue Ridge. It can be chilly up there any time of the year.
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