HER DIARY:
Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird.
We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it.
Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong; he said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving.
I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home , I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent.
Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep- I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster....
HIS DIARY:
My Harley wouldn't start today, but at least I got laid.
Harley brings the XR1200 stateside!
My non-Harley riding budds are watching this story unfold with interest. This Sportster was previously available only in Europe. 
V30 Progress Report
I'm working on my wife's V30 on my vacation this week. I bought a replacement headlight and speedometer cup on eBay. I already had a spare LED turn signal to match the one that got smashed. I'm still missing footpegs to replace the one that got bent -- bent but still usable. I figured I'd swap mine from the V45 and the buy cool aftermarket footpegs for my own V45. She gets the hand-me-down footpegs.
The headlight is from a CB919. I'd already modified her bike in preparation for a conversion to a round headlight. Much easier to find round headlights than rectangular, plus I like the look better. Plus, many more options for windshields when you have a round headlight.
The speedometer cup is New Old Stock, never installed, plastichrome speedometer cup from a 24 year old motorcycle that was only manufactured for 2 years. eBay is amazing
I got it running. I'm taking the time with the headlight apart to solder and shrink wrap all the custom wiring that I did earlier in the year. I should have it buttoned up and ready to ride later today.
The headlight is from a CB919. I'd already modified her bike in preparation for a conversion to a round headlight. Much easier to find round headlights than rectangular, plus I like the look better. Plus, many more options for windshields when you have a round headlight.
The speedometer cup is New Old Stock, never installed, plastichrome speedometer cup from a 24 year old motorcycle that was only manufactured for 2 years. eBay is amazing
I got it running. I'm taking the time with the headlight apart to solder and shrink wrap all the custom wiring that I did earlier in the year. I should have it buttoned up and ready to ride later today.
No bike for me
I took a 150 mile trip to Valparaiso, IN today to look at the GL1100 Standard I "bought" on eBay. Took it for a spin around the block. No pick up ... roll on the throttle and it thinks about moving for a while, then finally eases its way forward.
It was a lot rougher than the seller had described in the auction listing. It had obviously sat outside .. rust on the frame and on the engine and chrome. I had expected some scratches and dents, but hadn't expected rust.
The dash lights didn't work, one of the turn signals didn't work, there was a puddle of oil on the right valve cover, there was some funky looking after market wiring for the headlight and horn. There were cracks in the engine block ... might've just been cracks in the paint, might've been worse. The exhaust pipes were rusty. The tires were dry rotted.
Not the bike for me. Lots of problems, maybe minor, but not worth what I "bid" on it.
But bottom line is, even if it was perfect, the bike didn't perform like I wanted. I'm surprised that even though it was 200 lbs lighter than the GL1100 Interstate, it was just a lackadaisical about getting off the line. Whether this is true of all naked wings, or just this one, doesn't matter.
I turned around and went home. I walked away from the deal. Came home without the bike.
So my stated objective was to "get the naked goldwing out of my system." I think I accomplished that, without ever owning one. Now I'm thinking about what my next bike will be.
It was a lot rougher than the seller had described in the auction listing. It had obviously sat outside .. rust on the frame and on the engine and chrome. I had expected some scratches and dents, but hadn't expected rust.
The dash lights didn't work, one of the turn signals didn't work, there was a puddle of oil on the right valve cover, there was some funky looking after market wiring for the headlight and horn. There were cracks in the engine block ... might've just been cracks in the paint, might've been worse. The exhaust pipes were rusty. The tires were dry rotted.
Not the bike for me. Lots of problems, maybe minor, but not worth what I "bid" on it.
But bottom line is, even if it was perfect, the bike didn't perform like I wanted. I'm surprised that even though it was 200 lbs lighter than the GL1100 Interstate, it was just a lackadaisical about getting off the line. Whether this is true of all naked wings, or just this one, doesn't matter.
I turned around and went home. I walked away from the deal. Came home without the bike.
So my stated objective was to "get the naked goldwing out of my system." I think I accomplished that, without ever owning one. Now I'm thinking about what my next bike will be.
Billy Joel's Goldwing
Billy Joel has an extensive collection of motorcycles ... one of which is a classic Goldwing Standard.
Birthday Bike
Bought another bike on eBay.
As I mentioned last week, my wife cracked her little V30. This week I bought a 1982 Gold Wing Standard on eBay - just in time for my birthday.
This is my second time trying a GL1100 -- this time it's the unfaired version.
I was after a GL1100 Standard when I bought the GL1100 Interstate last time. My goal was to strip it down to a Naked Standard. But, I decided that the fully faired versions lose a lot of their value when they are stripped. Since I wasn't sure if I would like the handling/performance of the end result, I was reluctant to make alterations to it. I sold it after a year without having stripped it down.
This time I figured I'd buy one that was already a standard. Been watching for one for a while.
My wife was supportive. She gets the better end of the deal from her perspective ... she'll be riding my 1994 V45 while I am riding the 1982 GL1100. I'll get this whole "naked gold wing" thing out of my system. I'll get to see if I like it or not. If not, I can probably turn it around and sell it for at least what I paid for it, maybe more. Long as I don't crack it up.
As I mentioned last week, my wife cracked her little V30. This week I bought a 1982 Gold Wing Standard on eBay - just in time for my birthday.
This is my second time trying a GL1100 -- this time it's the unfaired version.
I was after a GL1100 Standard when I bought the GL1100 Interstate last time. My goal was to strip it down to a Naked Standard. But, I decided that the fully faired versions lose a lot of their value when they are stripped. Since I wasn't sure if I would like the handling/performance of the end result, I was reluctant to make alterations to it. I sold it after a year without having stripped it down.
This time I figured I'd buy one that was already a standard. Been watching for one for a while.
My wife was supportive. She gets the better end of the deal from her perspective ... she'll be riding my 1994 V45 while I am riding the 1982 GL1100. I'll get this whole "naked gold wing" thing out of my system. I'll get to see if I like it or not. If not, I can probably turn it around and sell it for at least what I paid for it, maybe more. Long as I don't crack it up.
She's Down, But Not Out
My wife called me up at 3 oclock today to tell me she had laid her VF500C down.
She tangled with in-the-street railroad tracks, and took a tumble. It was low speed and she was wearing her gear. (She is MRS. ATGATTRAT after all.)
I asked her to write an account of it, and I'm forwarding it to the list. I'd like your thoughts about narrow angle railroad crossings, and how to approach them.
She's in good spirits, maybe some bruising. We've been meaning to spring for some armored mesh overpants for her, but at least the draggin jeans, while not providing padding, provided abrasion resistance. She'd have kissed asphalt without her full face helmet, which will have to be replaced. (The only thing gear-wise needing replacement from the encounter.)
Here's her account:
"I had just gotten onto a street that has train tracks running down the center. I'd only gone half a block and probably wasn't even up to third gear yet when the tracks that go down the middle veered to the right and across my lane at about a 45 degree angle, at most. Though I've been over those tracks before without incident, this time I didn't make it.
"I'd forgotten that they cut across the lane like that. When turning across them earlier in the day I'd made sure to come to a stop and then turn at almost 90 degrees across and through the intersection. But with them veering across the lane in front of me, I slowed down and braced myself mentally to cross them. They always make me nervous because I'm not quite sure of myself on how to handle them. I thought I was going to angle back across them but somehow didn't. I saw and felt my tire hit the rut and go down in it and the next thing I knew the bike was being whipped out from under me to the right and I was
heading forward and to the left. I landed with most of my weight on my left hand and knee. I also felt the chin of my helmet hit.
"Since I was well geared up, I just got a little scuffed. My bike however, took the worst of it. The headlight is broken. There's glass somewhere on the road. The speedometer is cracked and bent downward. The footpeg is wrenched backward and the saddlebags are pretty scarred up. There's also something wrong with the electricals because it won't attempt to start and it's hard to turn the ignition and lights off.
"I feel like I'd jump right back on and head down the road if my bike were running. But I'd really like to know exactly how I should handle tracks like that. While standing with my wounded bike, I watched a Goldwing rider whip right across that same spot without hesitation. He may have angled across them quickly, but I didn't catch it (I was still talking to the very nice police officer who came to help). I'd really like to know what's the best way to handle angled tracks like that - especially if I encounter them somewhere when I'm going more
than 30 mph."
I'm proud of her for wanting to jump right back on. I've got a new winter project for myself -- restoring her VF500C back to rideable condition.
I'd welcome any feedback, I'll pass it along to her.
She tangled with in-the-street railroad tracks, and took a tumble. It was low speed and she was wearing her gear. (She is MRS. ATGATTRAT after all.)
I asked her to write an account of it, and I'm forwarding it to the list. I'd like your thoughts about narrow angle railroad crossings, and how to approach them.
She's in good spirits, maybe some bruising. We've been meaning to spring for some armored mesh overpants for her, but at least the draggin jeans, while not providing padding, provided abrasion resistance. She'd have kissed asphalt without her full face helmet, which will have to be replaced. (The only thing gear-wise needing replacement from the encounter.)
Here's her account:
"I had just gotten onto a street that has train tracks running down the center. I'd only gone half a block and probably wasn't even up to third gear yet when the tracks that go down the middle veered to the right and across my lane at about a 45 degree angle, at most. Though I've been over those tracks before without incident, this time I didn't make it.
"I'd forgotten that they cut across the lane like that. When turning across them earlier in the day I'd made sure to come to a stop and then turn at almost 90 degrees across and through the intersection. But with them veering across the lane in front of me, I slowed down and braced myself mentally to cross them. They always make me nervous because I'm not quite sure of myself on how to handle them. I thought I was going to angle back across them but somehow didn't. I saw and felt my tire hit the rut and go down in it and the next thing I knew the bike was being whipped out from under me to the right and I was
heading forward and to the left. I landed with most of my weight on my left hand and knee. I also felt the chin of my helmet hit.
"Since I was well geared up, I just got a little scuffed. My bike however, took the worst of it. The headlight is broken. There's glass somewhere on the road. The speedometer is cracked and bent downward. The footpeg is wrenched backward and the saddlebags are pretty scarred up. There's also something wrong with the electricals because it won't attempt to start and it's hard to turn the ignition and lights off.
"I feel like I'd jump right back on and head down the road if my bike were running. But I'd really like to know exactly how I should handle tracks like that. While standing with my wounded bike, I watched a Goldwing rider whip right across that same spot without hesitation. He may have angled across them quickly, but I didn't catch it (I was still talking to the very nice police officer who came to help). I'd really like to know what's the best way to handle angled tracks like that - especially if I encounter them somewhere when I'm going more
than 30 mph."
I'm proud of her for wanting to jump right back on. I've got a new winter project for myself -- restoring her VF500C back to rideable condition.
I'd welcome any feedback, I'll pass it along to her.
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