| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Beauty Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We’ve all heard that thousands of times, and it really is true. So I wonder what constitutes a beautiful bike to other people at times. Last year, when I went to Daytona for Bike Week, I saw a number of custom bikes. The trend was for smaller diameter, but really wide rear tires and 30” and narrow front wheels. They reminded me of Penny Farthing bicycles, except the seat was low to the ground. They all had an abundance of chrome and custom paint that must have taken weeks to apply. There were a lot of people who thought they were gorgeous standing around taking pictures and admitting them, but all I could think of was Bill’s description of a solid gold pecker. Bright and shiny and they cost a lot, but they don’t work nearly as good as the real thing. That holds true for a number of “Styles” of motorcycles. I ride a bike that I think is beautiful. I’ve put a lot of work into it, and the changes I’ve made were mostly functional, but there are some that were purely cosmetic. The black handlebars, mirrors and air filter cover fit into that category. But I think they make the bike look better. The old style front fender is both functional and cosmetic. While some people prefer chrome, I don’t. The Roadster is what I think a motorcycle should look like. A large number of people like ape hanger handlebars. They tell me that besides looking good, they’re more comfortable that stock bars. Personally, I hate them. Every bike I’ve ridden with Apes on it has been very uncomfortable and I have less control. When Bill bought the ’85 Sportster, I had to ride it from the seller’s house to the Shop for Bill. It had ridiculously tall apes on it. I couldn’t squeeze the front brake lever because my wrist and hand position was so extended. However, the former owner thought the bike was beautiful and functional. When Bill turned it into the Desert Rat and sent photos back to the shop, the guy felt that Bill had ruined a work of art when he saw it. I really like the changes I’ve made to the Roadster and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments about it, but I’m positive that there are a lot of people who think it fits into the category of a polished turd. All I can say is, “Oh, well…” Back in the 70s, I rode a Moto Guzzi Sport. One day a guy on a rigid framed bike with a springer front end asked me how I could ride a bike like that. I wondered the same about him, and asked if he wanted to ride along with me to Denver. We had different priorities, and our bikes reflected that. All motorcycles are good, and they all should reflect the owner’s personality. I think the Roadster fits me pretty well and I plan to continue making improvements (both cosmetic and functional) until I replace it. | ||
| Ourdee |
They reminded me of Penny Farthing bicycles.... They remind me of th 79-81 Honda XLs with the 23" front wheel.  Versus a 51" high wheel.  There are some machines out there I like. There are some I feel like I shouldn't stare. Lil Red is not the greatest tourer. An XB12XT was the best I have had at that. But, Lil Red is fine for me and I can touch the ground when I stop. That's nice now that I don't jump like yesteryear's R.D. | ||
| Crusty |
What To Do? I’m living on a tight budget. I have to if I want to get the Plastic paid down. That means that I have to watch what I spend money on and how much I spend. Let me give you an example; I have things I need to buy just for normal day-to-day life. I need to buy a new pair of slippers, I need a few pairs of new sweatpants and I really should buy a new set of sheets for the bed. At the same time, there are things I want to get for the Roadster. It’s running OK, but I really would like to change the chrome shift lever for a black one and I would also like to put a black headlight mount on and replace the polished aluminum mount that’s there. And to make things a little more interesting, I’d like to get a POR-15 gas tank prep and sealer kit for the Custom tank I got for the next Roadster. I’ll probably compromise with what I get. Since I don’t go out in my sweatpants, I could probably wear them another month. I really do have to get new slippers; the soles are breaking up and pieces have fallen off. I’m pretty sure I should get the sheets because there are separations in the material happening – they’re pulling apart. Between the slippers and the sheets, that takes care of most of my “Disposable” income. But there’s a brand new black shifter on fleaBay that’s made of the finest Chinesium for twenty five bucks with free shipping. And a brand new black eyebrow, also made of Chinesium for twenty one bucks and change. The POR 15 kit can be had for under forty two bucks and no tax from one place. Now, the tank sealer kit will be put off. I’ll probably go with the shifter and wait on the headlight mount. At least, that’s the way it looks right now. Then again, the mount is cheaper than the shifter by about three bucks and a quarter. But the shifter is one state over while the mount is in Wayne’s Shoe, China (or someplace near there). Ahhh… Shifter now and eyebrow later; if either gets bought this month. Either way, the Roadster will continue to look prettier as the miles keep adding up and the house will also improve as time passes. Sometimes, it helps to write this stuff down. It puts everything into perspective and allows me to set priorities. Next month, I’ll have a couple of bucks more to Dispose of. Or maybe not. I don’t know how much yesterday’s doctor visit is going to come to. Well; I’ll get it all sorted as time goes by. And it gives me something to think and plan about. That’s a Good Thing. So; new slippers and a shifter. That’ll do for now. | ||
| Tootal |
John, find someone with a bead blaster and blast your old shifter and then paint it black. The same with other parts. | ||
| Ourdee |
I thought you had some slippers from the WV. Rally. | ||
| Crusty |
That pair only gets used for Special Occasions. | ||
| Airbozo |
I just bought a black shifter arm for my 95 for $24 from the dealer. I'm sure it's not an HD part though, so it might be the same Chineesium. I also have a black powder coated eyebrow I am not going to use, but it's for a 95 and I'm not sure they are the same. | ||
| Zac4mac |
You're a tramp. Spend ALL your discretionary $$ on your motorcycle. Dilemma solved. Z | ||
| Ourdee |
Ya, duct tape those old slippers, or keep your boots on.  | ||
| Etennuly |
Ya want black parts? 98 cents at wmart. 1 spray can of black. Wash part with scotch brite pad in soapy water. Spray enough to cover. Run them. If It chips or peels in six months, do it again. You will have enough for fifty applications. | ||
| Airbozo |
...but then you'd have to go into wallmart. Worth twice the dealer cost to avoid that... lol! | ||
| Crusty |
From Bike To Car The other day, a friend of David's was in an accident. His Ford Focus was rear ended three times by the same car. I guess the car hit the Focus, bounced back and the driver hit the gas, instead of the brake and hit again and the driver did the same thing a third time. Wayne (David’s friend) wasn’t hurt, but he ran around for a couple of days getting money from the Insurance company, and getting a Salvage Title and jumping through bureaucratic hoops. Then, he started thinking that he should just buy a new car. I immediately thought, “How much does he want for the Focus?” Now, it’s Spring. I won’t need a car until the fall. Parking would be a problem. But the appeal is still there. Then I think back to 1994. I had just lost my house to my second wife and had just gone back to work on a tunnel job in Quincy, Mass. All I had for transportation was my Garbage Wagon (Dresser). A few weeks after I started on the job, one of the guys on the crew was selling an Econoline Van and I bought it. It was nice to be able to go to work in relative comfort. It had heat and a working cassette player and it was dry when the weather turned rough. It was a New Toy. For the first month I owned it, I don’t think I rode my bike to work once. Eventually, the novelty wore off and I got used to having the van; then my riding picked back up. But I remember not having any desire to ride, even when the weather was beautiful. Lately, I’ve had a couple of friends who are getting away from riding, and it’s making me think. One had an accident; an encounter with a deer and it has him looking at the risk vs enjoyment ratio. I’ve known a few people over the years who have given up riding after an accident. There’s no way to predict how somebody will react. Face it; motorcycles are less protective than a car. If Wayne had been on a bike and got rear ended three times, he’d either be in the hospital or in a coffin. Instead, he’s fine. Some people have an accident and don’t want to repeat the pain and suffering. I can understand this. But then, there are people who have a bad wreck and decide to modify their riding habits and keep riding. I’ve seen people who loved riding quit, but I’ve seen people who weren’t such great riders get back out there. What I’ve learned is there’s no way to tell who will keep on or who will quit until the accident happens. I used to wonder which kind of rider I was; then I had my bad wreck. I remember laying in the hospital bed with tubes coming out of my body hearing and seeing the bikes going by on the highway and wondering what I was going to get for my next bike. That’s when I learned which type I was. I’m not being judgmental. Everybody has to do what the Right Thing is for themselves. I’m one of those nut cases who has to have a motorcycle, even if it means not having a car. Other people have to live by their own values. I worked with a guy a few years ago who went through women constantly. None of his relationships lasted more than a month or two. But he stayed at the same job for years. I was the exact opposite. I went through jobs frequently. But I’ve had very few relationships. Jim would look at me when I talked about all the jobs I’d gone through and shake his head. I’d look at some of the women he dumped (most of them were gorgeous and had great personalities) and shake my head. We were both different but similar at the same time. This morning, I got a letter from a friend who hasn’t ridden for months. That’s unusual, for him. He’s lost the desire to ride. He was as hard core as anybody I’ve ever met, but he just doesn’t feel the urge. I don’t know what to tell him. I’m hoping that he’ll go for a ride and that will rekindle the flame. I’ve seen that happen to people over the years. But maybe it’s time for him to close that chapter of his life and move on. I just don’t know. What I do know is that he’s a Good Guy and a friend. I’ll miss him if he does quit riding, but I don’t know what the Right Thing for him is. Maybe he needs to “settle down”. Maybe he just needs a break. And maybe, he’ll go for a short ride and the spark will jump back. I hope so. | ||
| Ourdee |
It hit me more than once. But, my first exit from cycling was a conscious decision because I was headed down a path of substance abuse that would get me killed on two wheels.(clean 25 years now) I found that a small bike was the cure for me. It was the hassle of pushing a larger bike around that worked in conjunction with my laziness that side lined me the second time. I need two bikes. One over 1,000 CCs and a 250 or 500 that is light. I can't do ("real bike") Harleys because I'm not comfortable with the weight. I need to go throw a leg over a Sportster to see what it feels like to hold it up. My goal this Summer is to ride more. | ||
| 04buell |
OurDee, i have ridden smaller dirt bikes in my earlier years, but I really learned to ride on a sportster. I have always said if you ride a sportster, you are grooming yourself to ride anything. The point of balance is higher or something than some of the larger Harley’s. To me, anyway. You are coming to our house for pre-race aren’t you!? (Message edited by 04buell on March 23, 2019) | ||
| Crusty |
He is. He'll be riding out with me, Roy (Adrenaline Junkie) and Brad (86129 Squids). Are you aware that the Party is exactly two months from tomorrow? | ||
| Ourdee |
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| Shoggin |
You make a great point Crusty (as usual). if someone is riding for for their image, financial reasons, peer pressure or for any other any reason than for themselves it is a short lived 'hobby'. I have a very good riding buddy just got whacked on the freeway on his SuperDuke1290 by a kid crossing the double yellow without looking. The Rev was fast, safe, and could burn the edges off the tires of any bike he rode on. I never thought he'd stop. At 70 years old, he hung up the bars  Let's face it. All the things non-riders say are true. Motorcycles are dangerous, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. There's plenty of excuses to take the car. I've been lucky enough to have some nice cars, but I've never dreamed about getting home and 'driving' anything. Going to get my helmet now...  | ||
| Tootal |
My friend Ken and I have ridden together for many years. We met at Daytona during Bike Week through mutual friends. I didn't know it at the time but I looked a whole lot like his son that had passed away. When my father passed we pretty much adopted each other. We rode throughout the U.S. and Canada. One day, while staying at Iron Horse campground with those same mutual friends, he got dizzy. We had to swap bikes and riders around to get everybody home cause he just couldn't ride. His doctor said it was from his diabetes. At this point he bought a trike but after a while he just missed leaning in the corners, it's just not the same. So he gave it up. It really hurt him to stop but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I have a trike frame for when I can't hold the hot rod up. It's still in storage. | ||
| Tootal |
Hopefully for a looooong time!!  | ||
| Crusty |
--it Happens I crashed. I was on my way home from buying coffee. It was raining and traffic on the Interstate slowed and I slowed with it; then some idiot about 10 cars ahead stopped. That led to an accordion effect, and by the time it got to me, it was full on lock up the brakes. Even though I had left what I thought was ample stopping distance, I was wrong. The front wheel washed out and down I went. I’m mostly OK, I think. Even though I was wearing riding gear, both my knees have road rash. The riding pants look fine and the knee pads are in place, but I’ve got one hell of a raspberry on my left knee. That’s strange, ‘cause I went down on my right side. Still, it hurts. The right knee and ankle are really aching as is my right shoulder blade. I’m going to feel like a cripple in the morning. The bike isn’t too damaged, from the brief inspection I gave it. The right saddlebag has road rash and the highway peg bar is bent, but I think that might be all the bad news. Both the new front fender and the air cleaner looked OK. I think this is going to stop me from making it to Glitch Badness. I was really looking forward to it, but I really don’t think I’m going to feel up to either riding that far or camping. Well; Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. Or somethin’. Like Winter, Crashing Sucks. (Message edited by Crusty on March 25, 2019) | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I'm glad to see your in good enough shape to type a message here, only hours afterward Crusty. Get checked out to make sure nothing else rattled loose, and when you feel better, it might be a good idea to look your bike over again too. | ||
| Buellish |
Damn John,I'm glad your ok and sorry to hear you won't make it to Georgia! | ||
| Ourdee |
You need anything besides an ice pack for your pride? Did you ride it home? | ||
| H0gwash |
I'm glad you and the bike seem to be OK! | ||
| Zac4mac |
Glad you're not too banged up and the Roadster fared the same. Now, you heal and save to fix the bike so you can lead the Springfield delegation. See ya in a couple of months!!!! Z | ||
| Pwnzor |
All that matters is that you're OK. We'll see you in Illinois in a few weeks. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Damn, that’s something I’d expect to see happen around here. Guess cagers are the same everywhere. Glad both you and the bike are relatively okay. Tuesday will be rough but hopefully the aches will ease up over the next few days. Keep us posted. | ||
| 86129squids |
F^ckety F*ck. Glad you posted after the fact, on this side of the dirt. Heck, it's only Monday. You'll be stoved up in the AM, see how you feel Wednesday. It'd be great to see you, but rest and recover. Allow me a Snippet. I got off work this evening, stopped at a convenience store, and as I was leaving, this younger guy (early 20's?) with two sons, between 7-9(?) noticed my backward script on the top of my front glass/windshield. SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT He asked me where I got it, Amazon. I hate my commute to work, but it gives me the adrenaline to do my job. Rest well and heal, John. | ||
| Glitch |
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