It’s not the best looking bike in the Sturgis Museum, and it’s certainly far from the oldest, but it does have a wonderful story to tell. It’s the “Million Mile Motorcycle” – a 1991 FXRT Harley-Davidson, and it was ridden 1 million miles by former Wisconsin State Senator Dave Zien. This particular motorcycle has seen every corner of the United States, and helped Dave set 119 world records. It was ridden 11,000 miles in 11 days, over 31,000 miles in 31 days, and 113,800 miles in a single year. It recently retired after it rolled into New Berlin, Wisconsin and turned 1 million miles, and now it’s spending a comfortable retirement in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
Before making its home at the museum, this bike had two brand new engines, and the engine was overhauled nine times. The bike went through 105 rear tires, 65 front tires, 17 stators and nine seats. It spent some time in the Bikernet Headquarters, and Bandit laid his healing hands on this historic FXRT. While riding this bike, Dave wore out 13 pairs of Mason engineer boots. It sits in the museum just as it was the day Dave quit riding it – the only change that’s been made is that the banana peels have been removed from the engine (it was all part of Dave’s very own “aroma-therapy).
“Hupy and Abraham, S.C. law firm sponsored the last two year’s of Dave Zien’s attempt at the world record of 1 million miles on a single motorcycle,” said Tony Sanfelipo, from Michael Hupy’s offices. “From Zien’s cross continental runs between Florida and California to his Hoka Hey challenge, the firm provided Zien with gas money and accommodations, including a GPS tracker that kept his exact location posted to an internet page set up to monitor his progress.
“Don’t forget, Zien completed this exceptional feat while being treated for an abnormal heart rhythm. His safety was a constant concern.”
To show his appreciation for everything the law firm did for him, Dave Zien asked senior partner Michael Hupy to ride the last two miles of this epic journey on the back
of his 1991 FXR. A staging area was set up exactly two miles from Hal’s Harley-Davidson in New Berlin, Wisconsin, where several hundred well wishers waited for Zien to arrive.
After careful calculations were made, the FXR’s odometer turned to all zeros as Zien, with Attorney Hupy riding behind him, rolled down the entry drive into the dealership amid the cheers of the ecstatic witnesses to history. Two days later, at a special ceremony at the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Juneau Plant, Hupy and Abraham, S.C. partner, Jason Abraham was the last person to ride the FXR before it was surrendered to Harley in
exchange for a new 2009 Road Glide.”
“From the factory, Christine Paige-Diers arranged for the
bike to be delivered to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum,” said Tony. “Christine was supposed to be at the Juneau Plant ceremony but she was ill and missed the trip.”
If you don’t know about Dave Zien, his story is really quite amazing. Dave has been inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame, the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame. When the Million Mile Motorcycle retired, Dave received a new motorcycle – which he rode just as hard as this one – until it was totaled in an accident in March of this year. Dave was severely injured in the crash, and lost a leg as a result.
He spent months of hard work getting himself back into shape, and – believe it or not – he’s riding again. In August, Dave straddled his newest ride – a 2012 Harley-Davidson trike. Dave visited the Million Mile Motorcycle in October on his first trip back to Sturgis since his accident. It was then that the Million Mile Motorcycle received its latest addition – a bandana that was in the accident with Dave.
