I test drove my brother-in-law’s new (to him) Kawasaki KZ750. I was very interested to test ride it because I was curious how an inline-four powerplant felt. I am kind of partial to the power of the V4, and am a little leery of the V-Twin. So the inline four was an intriguing idea.
It had an impressive growl to the exhaust. A four-into-one exhaust. The PO had removed the airbox and installed aftermarket air filters on each carb air intake.
The bike is older than mine. There wasn’t nearly the torque that mine has, but it did have a high redline and plenty of power that just seemed to be waking up at about 6000 rpm.
I would have to get used to a new shifting pattern. I imagine that I would get used to it after a day or two.
I decided that a toodle around the neighborhood wasn’t enough of a test.
Unfortunately the rear tire was original 1981 dunlop rubber, dry rotted and worn down to the cords. So I didn’t feel I could really put the bike through its paces.
I have a brand new Kenda Challenger 130/90-16 that will fit the rear tire of his bike. We’ll have to work out a deal.
I did notice how much easier the carbs would be to work on than on my V4. At least they’re all in a straight line. And all the plugs are easy to reach. Not so on the V4.
Somehow my brother-in-law mistook my interest in test-driving the bike for an interest in owning the bike. It was a misunderstanding. I think he was disappointed I didn’t want to buy it for myself. I told him it was a nice bike and all, but I was looking for something a little newer. I don’t know what I want, I’m gonna keep looking. I thought he was gonna put new tires on it and ride it to work.
The Carbs Are On
With my brother-in-law's help, we got the good carbs on my wife's V30 and ...
she has a brand new bike. It runs better than ever.
I have some thoughts as I sit back in the afterglow...
1. What you've read is right. It may be hard to get, but once you get it in, there's no other feeling like it in the world.
2. Tie-down straps are not required. If you are forcing it, you are overlooking something that is not lined up properly. Once they are lined up, it snaps in with very little persuasion.
3. A good lube job is required.
4. Read *everything* you can get your hands on before you start. Recognize that what works for them may not work for you. Have at your disposal an arsenal of tricks to try. If one doesn't work, move to the next technique.
5. Don't get frustrated.
6. Feeler gauge will fit between the boot and the ports to make a handy guide.
7. Anyone who says they can do it in 30 seconds is full of it.
8. Loosen all the bands.
9. Two heads are better than one. Better to have one on each side of the bike, so one can hold the position on one side while the other checks
10. Pay attention to the alignment of the boots. I used OLD BOOTS and noticed that they were canted to one side. Whether this is a design feature of the original boot, or whether this is something that happened to the rubber from having been held in that position for 20 years ... I don't know. But subtle changes in the position of the boots can make ALL the difference. For example, I noticed that with the front carb inserted, the rear was cheated about 3/16 of an inch high (toward the rear of the bike). By rearranging the boots to take advantage of their natural cant, I was able to cheat the boot opening in the same direction, and make insertion possible.
(This is a technique my brother in law used, and I had not seen it mentioned anywhere in print or online. This technique was the single biggest factor in our success, I think)
YMMV
Thanks to *all* who contributed ideas. Even if they didn't work for me, they helped me get my brain into the problem, and ultimately influenced the final solution. In many ways the final solution was an amalgam of several techniques.
she has a brand new bike. It runs better than ever.
I have some thoughts as I sit back in the afterglow...
1. What you've read is right. It may be hard to get, but once you get it in, there's no other feeling like it in the world.
2. Tie-down straps are not required. If you are forcing it, you are overlooking something that is not lined up properly. Once they are lined up, it snaps in with very little persuasion.
3. A good lube job is required.
4. Read *everything* you can get your hands on before you start. Recognize that what works for them may not work for you. Have at your disposal an arsenal of tricks to try. If one doesn't work, move to the next technique.
5. Don't get frustrated.
6. Feeler gauge will fit between the boot and the ports to make a handy guide.
7. Anyone who says they can do it in 30 seconds is full of it.
8. Loosen all the bands.
9. Two heads are better than one. Better to have one on each side of the bike, so one can hold the position on one side while the other checks
10. Pay attention to the alignment of the boots. I used OLD BOOTS and noticed that they were canted to one side. Whether this is a design feature of the original boot, or whether this is something that happened to the rubber from having been held in that position for 20 years ... I don't know. But subtle changes in the position of the boots can make ALL the difference. For example, I noticed that with the front carb inserted, the rear was cheated about 3/16 of an inch high (toward the rear of the bike). By rearranging the boots to take advantage of their natural cant, I was able to cheat the boot opening in the same direction, and make insertion possible.
(This is a technique my brother in law used, and I had not seen it mentioned anywhere in print or online. This technique was the single biggest factor in our success, I think)
YMMV
Thanks to *all* who contributed ideas. Even if they didn't work for me, they helped me get my brain into the problem, and ultimately influenced the final solution. In many ways the final solution was an amalgam of several techniques.
These Carbs Are Awful!
Having not successfully restarted my wife's V30, I have decided to do a carb swap. Her carbs are notoriously bad, and mine from my newly decommissioned V30 are wonderful. So, why not swap carbs?!?
I read every detail I could find about reinstalling the carbs on a Honda V4. I was fortunate to have all the emails from the recent "Carbs Off Okay, Carbs On ..... Ungggh" thread to fuel my need for information about the procedure.
I have decided that:
God did not intend for four carbeurators to sit in the neck of a V. It is just a violation of natural law.
And anyone who tries to do it is cursed and afflicted.
I tried everything I could to do it. Vegetable oil. Warming the boots. Strapping the carbs using a tie-down. Cursing and swearing.
When the carbs came off the bike so easy, I was all excited, like "Hey, this is going to go quicker than I thought." I had both pairs of carbs off within 90 minutes.
Well, I didn't realize just how true the statement is: "Getting them off is the easy part."
I put in about 4 hours on the bike after work tonight. Tomorrow night after work my brother-in-law, a former professional motorcycle racer, has graciously agreed to give me a hand. He used to race in the dirt, though he has seen a lot of motorcycles, I don't know that he's experienced a V4 carb. He too may curse the V4 gods tomorrow.
I know it's heresy to utter those words in this crowd of witnesses. I hope that you'll forgive me!
I'm open to suggestions. Thanks to all who reply.
I read every detail I could find about reinstalling the carbs on a Honda V4. I was fortunate to have all the emails from the recent "Carbs Off Okay, Carbs On ..... Ungggh" thread to fuel my need for information about the procedure.
I have decided that:
God did not intend for four carbeurators to sit in the neck of a V. It is just a violation of natural law.
And anyone who tries to do it is cursed and afflicted.
I tried everything I could to do it. Vegetable oil. Warming the boots. Strapping the carbs using a tie-down. Cursing and swearing.
When the carbs came off the bike so easy, I was all excited, like "Hey, this is going to go quicker than I thought." I had both pairs of carbs off within 90 minutes.
Well, I didn't realize just how true the statement is: "Getting them off is the easy part."
I put in about 4 hours on the bike after work tonight. Tomorrow night after work my brother-in-law, a former professional motorcycle racer, has graciously agreed to give me a hand. He used to race in the dirt, though he has seen a lot of motorcycles, I don't know that he's experienced a V4 carb. He too may curse the V4 gods tomorrow.
I know it's heresy to utter those words in this crowd of witnesses. I hope that you'll forgive me!
I'm open to suggestions. Thanks to all who reply.
Raven Decommissioned
Thanks to all who offered condolences, advice or technical guidance.
I am officially decommissioning Raven, my 1984 Black V30.
As I mentioned in other threads today, I determined that it had fully functional valves and heads. I now believe the noise is not valves, but something deeper. Crankshaft bearing or something. The oil had 300 miles on it and was filthy black. Worse than the year-old oil that I had taken out a month earlier.
I am not going to be digging any deeper. If I had more money invested in the bike, or more time, or felt it was worth more, I might dig deeper. But I feel that giving up and moving on is the quickest, most economical way to get back on a bike of my own.
This is a personal decision that was not easy to reach.
I moved to my wife's bike the rear fender, backrest, side covers, and tank. Now her bike is black, and has a pure unobtanium V30 backrest. Her Katie looks spiffy and shiny in her new black tins, donated from my Raven.
She already had the better of almost all other parts, excep the carbs and choke cable. I will probably transfer my carbs and choke cable to hers at a later date.
The rest of mine will be parted out on eBay starting tonight. Judging from recent selling prices of V30 parts, the bike is worth more in pieces than what I paid for it 18 months ago, when it was in working condition.
Meanwhile, in my heart I'm still a maggot. (Once a maggot always a maggot?) I still have one Magna in my garage, and I still have the budget commensurate with the maggot title. I consider myself a maggot despite the fact that my next bike may not be a V4. It may not even be a Honda.
Thanks,
Regards,
The Atgatt Rat
(Mine) 1984 V30 Black -- Raven -- decommissioned
(Hers) 1984 V30 Black -- Katie -- same girl underneath, wearing new clothes.
I am officially decommissioning Raven, my 1984 Black V30.
As I mentioned in other threads today, I determined that it had fully functional valves and heads. I now believe the noise is not valves, but something deeper. Crankshaft bearing or something. The oil had 300 miles on it and was filthy black. Worse than the year-old oil that I had taken out a month earlier.
I am not going to be digging any deeper. If I had more money invested in the bike, or more time, or felt it was worth more, I might dig deeper. But I feel that giving up and moving on is the quickest, most economical way to get back on a bike of my own.
This is a personal decision that was not easy to reach.
I moved to my wife's bike the rear fender, backrest, side covers, and tank. Now her bike is black, and has a pure unobtanium V30 backrest. Her Katie looks spiffy and shiny in her new black tins, donated from my Raven.
She already had the better of almost all other parts, excep the carbs and choke cable. I will probably transfer my carbs and choke cable to hers at a later date.
The rest of mine will be parted out on eBay starting tonight. Judging from recent selling prices of V30 parts, the bike is worth more in pieces than what I paid for it 18 months ago, when it was in working condition.
Meanwhile, in my heart I'm still a maggot. (Once a maggot always a maggot?) I still have one Magna in my garage, and I still have the budget commensurate with the maggot title. I consider myself a maggot despite the fact that my next bike may not be a V4. It may not even be a Honda.
Thanks,
Regards,
The Atgatt Rat
(Mine) 1984 V30 Black -- Raven -- decommissioned
(Hers) 1984 V30 Black -- Katie -- same girl underneath, wearing new clothes.
Fire it up?
Can I fire up my V30 without a radiator for long enough to check the so-called "valve noise"?
I don't know if running the engine without a radiator will damage the engine or cooling system? I just want to see if what I've done so far has fixed the problem?
I don't want to have to refill, try it, drain it again if there's more problems.
Obviously I wouldn't run it long enough to get hot.
What are your thoughts?
I don't know if running the engine without a radiator will damage the engine or cooling system? I just want to see if what I've done so far has fixed the problem?
I don't want to have to refill, try it, drain it again if there's more problems.
Obviously I wouldn't run it long enough to get hot.
What are your thoughts?
Metal Shavings
I will go back and check compression on the rear two cylinders -- that's something i skipped earlier. And I will drain the oil and look for shavings.And I will replace the damaged spark plug wire to left rear spark plug. And I will reassemble, refill, and fire it up. And I will see what I see.
Re: The Plot Thickens
You are right to question my wrenching skills. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. I make no bones about it; I'm very new to this.
The noise may very well be something other than the heads.
The Honda mechanic in Dayton told me that it was the heads based on what he was hearing, but I don't know whether to believe him. He also told me that V30's were notorious for cam lobe problems, and I said bullshit! Never heard of a V30 with a cam lobe problem like the ones that got so much bad press for the V45 and V65.
The noise may very well be something other than the heads.
The Honda mechanic in Dayton told me that it was the heads based on what he was hearing, but I don't know whether to believe him. He also told me that V30's were notorious for cam lobe problems, and I said bullshit! Never heard of a V30 with a cam lobe problem like the ones that got so much bad press for the V45 and V65.
The Plot Thickens
My V30 has loud valve noise, and so far I have taken off front and rear head covers and found nothing.
Not that I know what I'm looking for.
I will post digital pics of front cams tomorrow. I inspected. One is slightly pitted on the nose. The pits are very small, like smaller than .004".
My eyes did detect a single iron filing in the head. About the size of a fingernail clipping from my smallest finger. Dont' know where that came from. I went over the whole rest of it and found not one other thing out of place.
And I have good compression, not by any scientific measure but by the simple finger fart method.
All four plugs look fine.
I checked the valve clearance while I was in there. All were good, at about .005.
Assuming I am doing it right. It's hard to tell from the Honda Service Manual.
Now that I have the fooking thing apart, this far, I'm surprised how little time it took.
How many more hours and I could just swap out the fooking motor and be back on the road?!?
Thoughts?
Trade it for a sportster?!?!?!
Not that I know what I'm looking for.
I will post digital pics of front cams tomorrow. I inspected. One is slightly pitted on the nose. The pits are very small, like smaller than .004".
My eyes did detect a single iron filing in the head. About the size of a fingernail clipping from my smallest finger. Dont' know where that came from. I went over the whole rest of it and found not one other thing out of place.
And I have good compression, not by any scientific measure but by the simple finger fart method.
All four plugs look fine.
I checked the valve clearance while I was in there. All were good, at about .005.
Assuming I am doing it right. It's hard to tell from the Honda Service Manual.
Now that I have the fooking thing apart, this far, I'm surprised how little time it took.
How many more hours and I could just swap out the fooking motor and be back on the road?!?
Thoughts?
Trade it for a sportster?!?!?!
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Photos of the rear head with cover removed have been posted at:
http://home.comcast.net/~atgattrat/maggots/heads.html
I don't see anything wrong with it. The moving parts seemed to move without problems. No bolts or screws were missing. No chunks o' broken metal.
The cam lobes didn't look anything like the pitted lobes I've seen in pictures.
It seemed hard to crank. I don't know if that's normal or not. I put a shorthandled wrench on the crank, and it wasn't easy to turn around.
Does this look right to you?
Thanks in advance.
http://home.comcast.net/~atgattrat/maggots/heads.html
I don't see anything wrong with it. The moving parts seemed to move without problems. No bolts or screws were missing. No chunks o' broken metal.
The cam lobes didn't look anything like the pitted lobes I've seen in pictures.
It seemed hard to crank. I don't know if that's normal or not. I put a shorthandled wrench on the crank, and it wasn't easy to turn around.
Does this look right to you?
Thanks in advance.
Would Help If I Knew What I Was Looking For
V30 with "valve" noise.
I will post pictures in a bit, so that I can get group concensus. But me, with my ignorant eyes, I took the rear head off, and saw nothing nothing out of place. All the lock nuts and adjusters were in place.
I did hear faint wooshing sounds as I slowly turned the crank. I assume, remember this is my first time, I assume that these wooshing sounds are normal, but I had never heard any mention given of these noises so I was a little surprised.
I do not have a valve guage or I'd have adjusted the valves while I was in there.
I did manage to sever the Left Rear plug wire. It was just dangling, making doubtful, questionable, maybe no contact at all. It came off in my hand.
Could an absent spark from one cylinder be mistaken for valve noise of the decibel level I described?
Seems doubtful to me but I've had some people tell me to check the plugs before I did anything else. Seem like wishful thinking.
I'm gonna have to find a new plug wire.
Meanwhile, I guess I'll take the radiator off, and do the front head cover next. Probably some night this week. Maybe I'll take a day off work and get my hands dirty again.
I will post pictures in a bit, so that I can get group concensus. But me, with my ignorant eyes, I took the rear head off, and saw nothing nothing out of place. All the lock nuts and adjusters were in place.
I did hear faint wooshing sounds as I slowly turned the crank. I assume, remember this is my first time, I assume that these wooshing sounds are normal, but I had never heard any mention given of these noises so I was a little surprised.
I do not have a valve guage or I'd have adjusted the valves while I was in there.
I did manage to sever the Left Rear plug wire. It was just dangling, making doubtful, questionable, maybe no contact at all. It came off in my hand.
Could an absent spark from one cylinder be mistaken for valve noise of the decibel level I described?
Seems doubtful to me but I've had some people tell me to check the plugs before I did anything else. Seem like wishful thinking.
I'm gonna have to find a new plug wire.
Meanwhile, I guess I'll take the radiator off, and do the front head cover next. Probably some night this week. Maybe I'll take a day off work and get my hands dirty again.
Re: Raven's Last Flight
By the way, on my V30, WFO carrying me and my bedroll, is about 85 mph. And it's only about 6500 rpm. In overdrive, the top half of the tachometer is inaccessible. If I want to hit the top half of the tach I have to be in a lower gear.
Last year, my only other interstate jaunt, WFO was about 92 mph. That was without a bedroll riding behind me, so I imagine that wind resistance accounts for the difference between last years top speed and this years.
Friend of mine had a parallel twin Kawasaki Vulcan 500 with a top speed of over 100. I can't decide whether that was because he weighs 80 pounds less than me (which is my theory), or if the Kawi parallel twin is so much better than Big Red's V4 (which is his theory). This is a hypothesis I'd happily test, except he sold his bike and bought a new Lifan.
Last year, my only other interstate jaunt, WFO was about 92 mph. That was without a bedroll riding behind me, so I imagine that wind resistance accounts for the difference between last years top speed and this years.
Friend of mine had a parallel twin Kawasaki Vulcan 500 with a top speed of over 100. I can't decide whether that was because he weighs 80 pounds less than me (which is my theory), or if the Kawi parallel twin is so much better than Big Red's V4 (which is his theory). This is a hypothesis I'd happily test, except he sold his bike and bought a new Lifan.
Too Few Bikes, Too Little Time
As I posted last weekend, my Black V30 "Raven" developed engine troubles en route to Burr Oak and I ended up trailering it home.
My life is too busy. I need a bike to ride, not to wrench.
My wife graciously loaned me use of her Red V30 in the mean time, for my daily commute, while I tried to decide what to do.
This is a cause for soul searching on my part.
Part of me thinks I should try and fix the head on the V30. I know I gotta at least get in there and diagnose the problem before I know what I'm gonna do; and by that I mean, do I fix it or buy another one. If it were bigger, say a V65, I think it'd be worth fixing. But how many of you would sink a lotta hours into fixing up a V30, I mean really?
The reality is, I didn't have time to do simple projects on the bikes over the last winter. I was gonna de-rust her tank, replace her choke cable. As it was all I managed to do was change the oil and bleed the brakes.
If I couldn't do a simple choke cable over the winter, how the hell am I gonna fit in an engine overhaul in the summertime? If I had more bikes, I could afford the time to work on one while riding another. But I gotta ride, so I gotta have a bike that runs.
Meanwhile I sat on a new Suzuki Boulevard S50 and liked it. The seating position was just like the magna, hands were in the right spot. Not that I'd ever get spousal approval for that kind of expenditure. A used Intruder maybe.
At the risk of being ridiculed, my list of wants for the next bike:
Shaft drive.
No valve adjustments would be nice
750cc or greater. I'd love 1100cc but am also price conscious.
This puts me into Honda Shadow or Suzuki Intruder territory. I don't know if that alienates me from Maggot community or not. I suppose I could look at a 90's era Magna VF750C but I'm leaning away from it.
The emphasis is on low maintenance. My riding style is commuting; that's the reality of it right now. Inexpensive and reliable is what fits my lifestyle right now.
All of that said, when I get a spare minute (maybe next weekend?) I'm gonna tear into my V30 and see what I see. If what I'm taking for major problems turn out to be minor, this may all be moot.
My life is too busy. I need a bike to ride, not to wrench.
My wife graciously loaned me use of her Red V30 in the mean time, for my daily commute, while I tried to decide what to do.
This is a cause for soul searching on my part.
Part of me thinks I should try and fix the head on the V30. I know I gotta at least get in there and diagnose the problem before I know what I'm gonna do; and by that I mean, do I fix it or buy another one. If it were bigger, say a V65, I think it'd be worth fixing. But how many of you would sink a lotta hours into fixing up a V30, I mean really?
The reality is, I didn't have time to do simple projects on the bikes over the last winter. I was gonna de-rust her tank, replace her choke cable. As it was all I managed to do was change the oil and bleed the brakes.
If I couldn't do a simple choke cable over the winter, how the hell am I gonna fit in an engine overhaul in the summertime? If I had more bikes, I could afford the time to work on one while riding another. But I gotta ride, so I gotta have a bike that runs.
Meanwhile I sat on a new Suzuki Boulevard S50 and liked it. The seating position was just like the magna, hands were in the right spot. Not that I'd ever get spousal approval for that kind of expenditure. A used Intruder maybe.
At the risk of being ridiculed, my list of wants for the next bike:
Shaft drive.
No valve adjustments would be nice
750cc or greater. I'd love 1100cc but am also price conscious.
This puts me into Honda Shadow or Suzuki Intruder territory. I don't know if that alienates me from Maggot community or not. I suppose I could look at a 90's era Magna VF750C but I'm leaning away from it.
The emphasis is on low maintenance. My riding style is commuting; that's the reality of it right now. Inexpensive and reliable is what fits my lifestyle right now.
All of that said, when I get a spare minute (maybe next weekend?) I'm gonna tear into my V30 and see what I see. If what I'm taking for major problems turn out to be minor, this may all be moot.
Korean VROD?
Check out this made-in-Korea knock-off of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod:
http://www.rt1automile.com/hyosung/GV650.html
http://www.cycle-analyst.com/HyosungGV650.htm
Somebody’s riding impression:
http://korider.com/PHP-Nuke/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=775
http://www.rt1automile.com/hyosung/GV650.html
http://www.cycle-analyst.com/HyosungGV650.htm
Somebody’s riding impression:
http://korider.com/PHP-Nuke/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=775
Raven's Last Flight
My V30 developed a severe rattle and obvious valve trouble en route to Burr Oak. It sounded like a chain saw, like one particular old, rusted out chain saw of my dad's with no muffler.
I had no stethoscope but I believe the knocking sound, banging sound, was coming from left rear head. The rattling was so loud it echoed off the walls of the buildings I was passing.
The head gaskets have never leaked since I owned the bike, but there are rivulets of oil from the heads on the back two cylinders.
No really sure what went wrong. WFO for 2 hours on I-70 between Indy and Dayton? It was the hardest I'd ever ridden the bike, for any length of time. (Keep in mind I'm new and this was my first out-of-town trip.) But it was nothing I wouldn't expect it to be able to handle.
I aborted the trip in Dayton, OH, and called my wife to trailer me home.
I got home about an hour ago. I will write a better description when I am over the shock of it. I will have to decide what to do.
I feel sick.
Goin' For B'rrOak
Burr Oak looks like my closest maggot gathering. I mentioned it to my wife and before I finished the sentence she said, "I think you should go."
So, I'm coming. She's staying home with the kids. God bless her!
Plan is to ride in on Saturday from Dayton, OH. I'll bring my cousin from Dayton, just for a riding companion en route. Plan is to arrive before noon. I don't know his riding ethic, or even the route we'll take, so expect me when you see me.
He has to work sunday am so he will ride back saturday afternoon or evening. Depending how I'm feeling, and the availability of a spare bed or porch, I'll stay the night Saturday night.
This will be my first ever gathering... not quite sure what to expect, but I'm up for an adventure.
I welcome advice on best routes to ride in on, best eateries on the way, when to arrive, when not to arrive, what to expect, whatever you want to share.
Thanks, and hope to see you there.
So, I'm coming. She's staying home with the kids. God bless her!
Plan is to ride in on Saturday from Dayton, OH. I'll bring my cousin from Dayton, just for a riding companion en route. Plan is to arrive before noon. I don't know his riding ethic, or even the route we'll take, so expect me when you see me.
He has to work sunday am so he will ride back saturday afternoon or evening. Depending how I'm feeling, and the availability of a spare bed or porch, I'll stay the night Saturday night.
This will be my first ever gathering... not quite sure what to expect, but I'm up for an adventure.
I welcome advice on best routes to ride in on, best eateries on the way, when to arrive, when not to arrive, what to expect, whatever you want to share.
Thanks, and hope to see you there.
Happy Trails
I found out that my internet buddies, who call themselves the "Maggots" after the Honda Magnas that they ride, are meeting in Glouster, OH at Burr Oak State Park this weekend, May 6. This annual gathering at Burr Oak was something I wanted to attend since I began my Honda Magna ownership in August/September of 2004, and discovered the "Maggots" shortly thereafter. These are the guys who have provided technical support to me via email when I couldn't afford to have the bikes repaired at the Honda dealer. I got my hands dirty and they coached me through it. I've formed some real friendships with some of them, though I've not met any of them face to face.
However, I was oblivious to the timing of this gathering until today, whenone of the maggots brought it to my attention.
"Are you coming to Burr Oak, Ted? It's the Maggot gathering that's closest to you," said Ed.
"Oh, it would take a miracle for me to be able to attend. When is it again?" I asked.
"This weekend."
I mentioned to Carolyn tonight at dinner that it was coming up, and before I finished the sentence she said, "I think you should go."
My next step was to call cousin Brian.
"I have a crazy idea."
"Okay..."
"I'm riding to Burr Oak State Park in Ohio on Saturday -- do you want to ride with me?"
"Um, sure. Okay."
"Really? You don't have to work? Don't you work three jobs?"
"No, I'm down to two jobs. I don't have to work Saturday."
So now the plan is, I'm riding to Brian's Friday night after work, staying the night in Dayton, and he and I will ride three more hours one way on Saturday to Burr Oak to hang out with a bunch of fellow old farts that we've never met. Ride back to Dayton, crash (that is to say, sleep) in Dayton Saturday night, and then I'll ride home on Sunday morning.
Brian doesn't ride a Magna, but he rides a 78 Honda Goldwing, so he'll fitright in. Old Hondas have the Maggot seal of approval.
However, I was oblivious to the timing of this gathering until today, whenone of the maggots brought it to my attention.
"Are you coming to Burr Oak, Ted? It's the Maggot gathering that's closest to you," said Ed.
"Oh, it would take a miracle for me to be able to attend. When is it again?" I asked.
"This weekend."
I mentioned to Carolyn tonight at dinner that it was coming up, and before I finished the sentence she said, "I think you should go."
My next step was to call cousin Brian.
"I have a crazy idea."
"Okay..."
"I'm riding to Burr Oak State Park in Ohio on Saturday -- do you want to ride with me?"
"Um, sure. Okay."
"Really? You don't have to work? Don't you work three jobs?"
"No, I'm down to two jobs. I don't have to work Saturday."
So now the plan is, I'm riding to Brian's Friday night after work, staying the night in Dayton, and he and I will ride three more hours one way on Saturday to Burr Oak to hang out with a bunch of fellow old farts that we've never met. Ride back to Dayton, crash (that is to say, sleep) in Dayton Saturday night, and then I'll ride home on Sunday morning.
Brian doesn't ride a Magna, but he rides a 78 Honda Goldwing, so he'll fitright in. Old Hondas have the Maggot seal of approval.
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