| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
Q: Court has Erik ever told you which of his stable is his favorite "fun bike" which is his favorite "commuter"? A: Yes. | ||
| Vortec57 |
Ok now Court, can you elaborate on the answer a little further? Tease. | ||
| Court |
Q: can you elaborate on the answer a little further? A: Yes | ||
| Thumper74 |
Court, will you please tell us what his favorite fun bike is? What about his commuter? | ||
| Greenlantern |
Court, first I'm waiting on your book and now I'm waiting on the answer to this question! At least tell me please if Santa really exists!  (And I just know you are smiling in the face that is my anguish.  ) | ||
| Court |
Q: At least tell me please if Santa really exists! A: He does. I know. I asked a 5 year old. | ||
| Greenlantern |
Thank you! I can now return to the rest of my life! (already in progress.)  | ||
| Court |
I'm not laughing at your anguish . . .I am debating the merits of violating a long standing rule I have . . . . Suffice, absent photos which I'll keep pondering the wisdom of sharing, that Erik is enthralled with his Ulysses. He may bop about this dirt track at home on any number of fun bikes but when it comes time to hit the road, on a daily commuter basis, it the Ulysses. The bike, and he'd be slower to confess this than I am to profess it, is a really well balanced "do everything" bike. He can pack his lunch, his laptop, his paperwork, his music and any number of things along. The bike is fun, not finicky. It can be hustled down the highway or cruised . . the bike could care less and handles both roles with aplomb. The one thing he's resisting the urge to do now it to take the Ulysses touring . . . he's lusting over some of these "birthday gift to myself" tales of adventure. You've likely heard the story of the moment he was given the keys to the Uly. Vickie and I were thrilled, being the only two civilians present, to watch as his wife handed him the keys. He was (and again I am kinda thinking about sharing a couple "non-public" photos against my long standing personal rule) completely caught off guard when he was given the 100,000th Buell. The "kid in a candy shop" falls short of describing the look on his face. . . I snapped a photo of him in mid air leaping with the keys. Someone immediately mentioned that folks would pay a pretty penny for that bike. Erik quickly indicated that $100,000 wouldn't do it and the only 100,000 this bike would ever see would be on the odometer. He's well on the way. | ||
| Doerman |
You violated the rule in a very gentle way and as a result, shared with us a very touching story. Thank you Court! | ||
| Court |
It's not much of a secret that Erik is fanatic about riding. To him, it's much less about the motorcycle, speed or technology, but he has a childlike infatuation with "going there". . . . the ability to get on his motorcycle, see things and transform himself while making his world bigger. Sounds far out . . . those who don't know him would cry "marketing foul", those who do would concur immediately. You could literally take away all the good fortune that has come Erik's way, strip him of the company, fame and trappings and three things would never change. His commitment to friends and co-workers, his love of family and his passion for riding. Tough to explain. I'll be trying in the next book. He's a far more interesting guy than the press conveys sometime. Little secret to anyone who has met him. If you have the 25 YEARS OF BUELL BOOK. . . please read the part about the Buell Values closely. It's so terribly important. court | ||
| Mm128 |
He is the reason that I am BACK on a Buell. Try getting ahold of the Suzuki or any other manufacuture owner.. and see if he/they will go on a ride with you... or lunch... or even speak to you. Actually.... (2) of them... and LOOKING to add a X1 and S3T... maybe even a S2 Matt (LEO SOUTH GA.) | ||
| Oldog |
Thank you Court, That was quite interesting. thanks for sharing that. I hope that no one felt violated in any way, It was an interesting insite into Erik's world that those of us who have never had the opportunity to meet him enjoyed. (Message edited by oldog on July 28, 2008) | ||
| Greenlantern |
Thanks Court, for the insight on both Erik and Santa. I am so looking forward to the read.  | ||
| Court |
Nothing secret about Erik. I've met lots of folks in all my years of school, work, USMC, White House and motorcycling. He's as genuine as they come. I've been to more events than I can count where someone had a problem and Erik skipped out on the dinner to sit in the parking lot and work on someone's bike. It's tough to convey to someone who hasn't met him and preaching to the choir to anyone who has . . . he truly enjoys it. In all candor, and he'd squawk like a stuck pig about this . . .but if there were a way he could chase his dreams and work as a mechanic in a bike shop he'd do it. I always laugh that he and Aaron, perhaps two of the most technically savvy folks I know . . . have tool boxes in their garages that look eerily similar. Shall we just leave it as they are the "Anti-Henrik". If Henrik saw either one he'd lock up and convulse. One of the things, over the years, that has always stuck me most powerfully about Erik is his absolute ability to blame the problem, not the person. He get riled, real riled and goes into sort of a zone. When he's pissed their is no question. With the great accumulation of truly stupid stunts I have pulled over the years I remain amazed at how he can differentiate between a "stupid" idea and calling the person behind the idea stupid. If your heart is in the right place, your motivation is pure and you failed miserably trying to do the right thing Erik will ALWAYS be your first and most fervent supporter. There are times I've gotten the "don't do that again" look when he should have canned my ass. He's an amazing person and the part that lots of folks may not see is it all starts with being genuinely nice and value driven. This holds true for D2 (U and G) the two Dave's who have never made a mistake . . . amazing folks in their own right and part of the reason the Buell machine runs smoothly. By the way, the Dave's are two folks who have never failed to "open Erik's eyes to reality" when needed. Smart dudes, they are.  | ||
| Doerman |
..to blame the problem, not the person. He get riled, real riled and goes into sort of a zone. I saw that first hand this spring at the Fordyce open house he attended. I was all over it congratulating him and his organization on making the 1125R and telling him how much I enjoyed mine. Then I had a innocent enough question, or so I thought. I asked if the AT value on my bike (which is artificially high in slow traffic) affects the ECM. He sort of got into a zone of some sort where thoughts raced through his mind. Most of which, I think, related to kicking himself. Then he mumbled to himself: "That stupid thing should never have been placed there" And after collecting himself, the answer.. "No, it does not" I'll take this opportunity too to say that it was just such a pleasure for me to be able to express to Erik face to face my satisfaction with the bike. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
Thanks Court! I plan on getting the book pretty soon and can not wait to sit down and read it! Sounds like a well rounded guy and I hope one day I get the chance to meet him!!! -Robert | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Thanks Court. Rain or shine, that doesn't suprise me considering all i've read from people who have met him. And it makes "from the rider down" understandable, believeable, not just hype. I'll make sure I read the Buell Values section Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. cheers, chili | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Erik rode his motorcycle to the Boiler room the night his band played there after signing of all of the autographs at the factory, then played his guitar in the evening. I was thinking to myself while riding home that night, how on earth could he do that? I think my right hand would have fallen off from cramps! | ||
| Diablobrian |
During my first homecoming, in 06, Several of us were sitting in the hospitality tent talking and waiting for the Buells to race. Erik sat down with us and talked general motorcycle stuff for the better part of an hour. Like Court says, he is not just our "spiritual" leader, he is genuinely one of us. The passion in his voice and eyes just couldn't be faked. Then again we are talking about a man that literally bet the farm on a crazy scheme to build motorcycles his way. | ||
| Road_thing |
Put me in the "anti-Henrik" school of thought regarding shop cleanliness:  rt | ||
| Court |
Henrik sees that picture . . he'll need a Doctor. . . . oh. . WAIT . . he **IS** a Doctor! Count my basement AND my truck firmly in the "Anti-Henrik Camp". | ||
| Hughlysses |
Speaking of whom, where has Henrik been lately? | ||
| Court |
Here. . . . let me get him. . . .
He'll be here in a minute . . . | ||
| Henrik |
Did anyone say Brake Bleeding ....???? Court - you're correct. Those tool boxes, and yes RT your shop as well, are atrocities! Unfortunately my own shop (but not my tool boxes) are taking on an "RT-shop like patina" these days. Too many other non-bike projects and not nearly enough time. But the SV is swinging from the rafters waiting on a GSXR front end, wider rear wheel, new drive components etc. all of which are slowly trickling in, in prep for a nice winter project. So hopefully things will be back to their usual - and natural order in a few months  I'll feel so much better. Anyway - back to your scheduled programming. Great story Court. Henrik | ||
| Henrik |
Speaking of front brake bleeding; I had a bear of a time bleeding my new dual disk front brake set-up. Still can't get the grip and braking power I would like. I partly suspect the brake pads, but also that there may still be air in the system despite lots of bleeding and a bleeder nipple on the master cylinder as well. So in retrospect, I should have connected the brake lines and bled the brakes *before* the final install of the calipers, so that I could have moved the calipers around to shake the last bubbles loose. Yet another winter project ...  Henrik | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good to hear from you Henrik. If you have "wall time", try taking a big velcro strap and use it to hold the brake lever under quite a bit of compression. Leave it like that for a few days. Then pop it off and ride for a bit. It'll be tight as a drum when you first ride it, and will gradually soften up as the bubbles go back out of solution, but they come back out in different places, some of which are more inclined to be bleedable. It took a few weeks and a few rides, but it just kept getting better on mine, until even the brakes on the KLR-250 are rock solid. Not a substitute for a proper bleed, but a good way to work on that last pesky 10% (if you are not in a hurry). | ||
| Court |
If the two of you technoids turn this into a brake bleeding discussion I reserve the right to reimplement the "patch fine". Does anyone even remember the "patch fines"? | ||
| Henrik |
Patches - we ain't askeered of no steenkin' patches ... Bill; I tried the velcro strap method before heading to NC over Memorial Day, and didn't feel much of a change. I even bled a few times on the way down. But maybe I'll give it another try and leave it on for longer. Good hearing from all of you as well. Henrik | ||
| Spiderman |
ahhh the patch fine | ||
| Reepicheep |
Still have the patches. Maybe now it should be a Buell racer contingency fine. |
