The King and I

Harold “Jake” Jacobson has just completed 200,000 miles on his 2004 Road King^® Classic.

I’m a 75-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and retired cabinet maker, originally from Chicago, now living in Covington, Georgia. My 2004 Lava Red Road King Classic, affectionately nicknamed “The King”, and I have covered 200,000 miles together—traveling from Mexico to Canada, from the East Coast to the West Coast, and circled the Grand Canyon twice.

The riding bug first bit me back in 1965 at the tender age of 16, and I haven’t looked back since. In 2003, after my children were grown, I first purchased a Harley-Davidson^® motorcycle, which to me had always been the pinnacle of bike ownership. That first bike was a 100^th Anniversary Heritage Softail^® Classic, and it also introduced me to the Harley Owners Group^®. Other Harleys followed, including a Deuce^™, Wide Glide^®, a couple of Softail Customs, a Road Glide^®, and then the Road King, a bike that has stolen my heart.

It’s difficult to put into words exactly what The King means to me. I feel like I’m a part of the bike, and it’s definitely a part of me. For more than 21 years, we have traveled together through life, and it has been with me during some of the most difficult times in my life, including my parents’ and brother’s passing. It has always provided the exact therapy I needed, no matter the occasion – celebration or mourning. It has been a steadfast companion, and it even has the original clutch!

My first long-distance trip was in 2004 when my cousin and I headed out to the Grand Canyon from Covington. That was the first of three trips I’ve completed to the Grand Canyon, each one averaging around 4,000 miles.

My most memorable long-distance trip on The King was from my home to San Diego, California. The 4,800-mile round excursion memorialized my father, as it was the 10-year anniversary of his death. The highlight was touring the USS Midway, retired, in the waters of the San Diego Bay. My father served on the ship during World War II, and it was especially memorable to share this experience with my sister, Karen.

After reaching 100,000 miles, I became laser-focused on reaching 200,000. I’d look for reasons to travel to visit veteran friends in Florida or see out-of-state family members just to increase miles.

Every year from 2004 to 2023, I rode the 1,000-mile, one-way trip on “The Ride to Home” to attend the annual Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, formerly known as the Hometown Rally until 2023, in Milwaukee, while visiting family in Chicago along the way.

Shorter, but equally memorable trips, include visiting Gainesville, Florida, to ride with my fellow Vietnam veteran buds. Originally, there were a dozen of us from all branches, including a Green Beret medic. We would cruise the west coast of Florida, enjoying the breeze. These round trips averaged about 1,000 miles and sometimes they were monthly. Life has now slowed down, as some have passed on and others are unable to ride, but there are still a handful of us that get together.

My goal has always been to ride as long as The King and I can. At 75, I find riding takes my mind off of life, and helps me relax. It makes the rest of the world disappear, allowing me to just be in the moment. I plan to continue my riding journey with The King throughout the southeast region visiting family and friends, finding new local spots with historical significance – and enjoying a cold beer at the end of the journey!

Jake’s tips for achieving high mileage

Safety and bike care are the two determining factors in achieving high mileage, with safety my number one priority when riding. My motto is ride to ride again.

Safety: Proper riding gear—pants and boots and DOT helmet—are absolute essentials. I’m never in a hurry and use all my senses to observe any potential dangers.

Bike care: I always have my bike serviced by a certified Harley-Davidson Technician and only use Harley-Davidson products, including Dunlop tires. Proper scheduled maintenance and routine fluid checks prevent minor issues from becoming major issues, which could ultimately lead to being stuck on the side of the road. Checking and maintaining proper tire pressure cannot be overemphasized. My long-time mechanic, Chip Anderson, was so impressed the first time I brought my bike in—he said it’s almost unheard of for a bike to come in with correct tire pressure!

The success of reaching 200,000 miles on The King would not have been possible without Greg and Lisa Sassaman from Harley-Davidson^® of Macon, Gorgia. They treat me like family and care for The King like he was their own.

Words by Jeremy Pick

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