This curse, this motorcycle bug, still has hold of me.
41 degrees and 50% chance of rain today greet me when I arise, and I don my gear anyway, and ride to the office.
My speedometer cable squeals from 20 mph to 60 mph for a few miles, til things warm up. Wind gusts of 20 mph try to sneak into my leather. My only vulnerable spot is my throat, which is open to the air.
I arrive dry, anyway, if not warm. Fingers are a little stiff from the cold. Could use better gloves.
My buddy, who sits next to me, didn't ride his BMW R1150R today. I chide him because he even has heated gloves. "If I had hundred dollar heated gloves by Gawd I'd use em."
"You could just drive your car," he said.
"Hadn't even occurred to me," I said.
This evening's ride home catches me in a wintery rain when I'm just 10 miles out.
No sense donning the rain suit for just 10 miles.
My wife kindly wipes my leathers down for me when I arrive home. Bike just drips dry in the garage.
"Done for the season?" she asks, though she knows the answer.
"Hell, no! There's no rain in the forecast for tomorrow," I reply. "And you know, aside from my throat, I'm not even cold or wet."
She gave me a sideward glance. Maybe she just had an idea of what to get me for my birthday, next month.
Ride on!
Kid's Gear
Contact me offlist if you have some kid's gear you'd be willing to sell me cheap
My son is Age 6 and is Ready To Ride Pillion. Bought a HJC CL14Y helmet for him, matches his daddy's CL14. But he has no jacket nor pants.
I don't feel right wearing my super suit, "all the gear all the time" but hauling my own flesh-and-blood wearing jeans, flannel shirt, no gloves, tennis shoes, and a full-face helmet. Just doesn't seem right.
I'm fortunate to have a wife who rides and who'll let the kids ride too. Most of my MC buddies at work have wives (or ex-wives) who wouldn't ride, wouldn't let the kids ride.
Don't have much money ( I am a maggot! ) but if you've got some kids gear that you're not using anymore maybe we can take it off your hands and give you something for it.
Also have a 3 year old daughter who will be riding soon too.
Here's hoping. .... thanks ...
My son is Age 6 and is Ready To Ride Pillion. Bought a HJC CL14Y helmet for him, matches his daddy's CL14. But he has no jacket nor pants.
I don't feel right wearing my super suit, "all the gear all the time" but hauling my own flesh-and-blood wearing jeans, flannel shirt, no gloves, tennis shoes, and a full-face helmet. Just doesn't seem right.
I'm fortunate to have a wife who rides and who'll let the kids ride too. Most of my MC buddies at work have wives (or ex-wives) who wouldn't ride, wouldn't let the kids ride.
Don't have much money ( I am a maggot! ) but if you've got some kids gear that you're not using anymore maybe we can take it off your hands and give you something for it.
Also have a 3 year old daughter who will be riding soon too.
Here's hoping. .... thanks ...
Re: Next Bike Dreams
I confessed I liked the 'Wing I sat on at the dealership, and someone replied:
>>Ack! That's it. Suscribe to AARP
I'm only 38. I don't really want the big touring package like the 'Wing. But the 'Wing just fit right. It was, as the automotive design engineers say it, ergonomically correct. I don't hear that term used much in MC circles, but I want a bike that fits me right.
It doesn't mean I want a cushy tushy saddle. But I close my eyes and hold out my hands to where I imagine they ought to be on the ideal bike -- and voila, there are the Wing's grips.
I close my eyes and pull up my feet (the bike was on display in a front-wheel lock so I could do this) and voila -- the pegs and pedals are all right where they ought to be.
Aside from the ST1300's seat, it didn't have these ideal ergonomics. I could make it work, but it felt like sitting on someone else's bike. The Wing felt like it fit me. Ironically, so does my V30. You wouldn't think of those two fitting the same person, but they do. A strange combination of inseam and sleeve length I guess, I don' t know.
I'll try the same on a Valkyrie, as it was suggested on list. I'll enjoy the search, even though it's only a dream right now.
>>Ack! That's it. Suscribe to AARP
I'm only 38. I don't really want the big touring package like the 'Wing. But the 'Wing just fit right. It was, as the automotive design engineers say it, ergonomically correct. I don't hear that term used much in MC circles, but I want a bike that fits me right.
It doesn't mean I want a cushy tushy saddle. But I close my eyes and hold out my hands to where I imagine they ought to be on the ideal bike -- and voila, there are the Wing's grips.
I close my eyes and pull up my feet (the bike was on display in a front-wheel lock so I could do this) and voila -- the pegs and pedals are all right where they ought to be.
Aside from the ST1300's seat, it didn't have these ideal ergonomics. I could make it work, but it felt like sitting on someone else's bike. The Wing felt like it fit me. Ironically, so does my V30. You wouldn't think of those two fitting the same person, but they do. A strange combination of inseam and sleeve length I guess, I don' t know.
I'll try the same on a Valkyrie, as it was suggested on list. I'll enjoy the search, even though it's only a dream right now.
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