I'm Back!

Now that's just crazy who does this these day..... I'll add in the back of the shop manual milestones made and or mods done. But that's a freaking bible Cool. Like I said You got a good one.

 

Wow .... when you get a book detailing every service event, you know that thing has been cared for!

 

Wow, that previous owner has a higher maintenance recording index than I do.

 

Welcome back. That is one cherry ride! Too bad it's red and not yellow though.

It's interesting. We ride. It's what we do. After my wreck I never said "that's it. I am done." It's like something I keep being drawn to. It is a vital part of who I am. I will tell you, and you already know, that it will take some time to get your confidence back. Mine really never fully recovered to pre-wreck levels. It has taken some time to train the panic reaction out of my brake and throttle control.

My mother is 86 and still takes my riding as a "teenage rebellion" and a personal affront.

 

Growing up I was truly obsessed with bikes. My mom was dead nuts against the very idea of a motorcycle. My deepest secret was I actually had a motorcycle frame (probably a Honda XL70) that I kept in a little used storage shed. Just having it made me happy and I had never ridden a bike in my life. At the time I was helping my grandfather in his lawn mower shop. I was doing bike work for my friend who all had little, well abused, dirt bikes. One day my buddy Carl offered me his very broken SL125 for $90. I cleared out my college saving fund and bought the first of many project bikes. My dad, God love him, went to bat for me. He told my mom that I had spent the money that I had earned that that the bike was mine. It made me want to earn more money that's for sure! I fixed that bike and except for a stint to raise kids and drown in debt I have always had a bike or two.

 

Haha ... my story is very similar. My mother was dead against me ever owning a motorcycle or even a dirt bike.

When I had enough money saved, I went out and bought one ... my father also went to bat for me and used the exact same reasoning as your father did. Also, like you, I've always owned a bike except for when I first started a family and drown in debt ... LOL!

It's funny though, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind that I would never ride another motorcycle out of choice as I lay on the asphalt waiting for the EMTs.

My only thought was, "how the hell am I going to hide THIS from my wife and mother?". LOL!

... I'll never forget the ride home from that accident ... I was released from the hospital the next day, I drove myself in a rental from LaCrosse (WI) to Grand Forks (ND) where my wife met me at a Walmart before dropping off my rental vehicle. I was in a mobility scooter when she first saw me. I managed to work up the courage to tell her that I was getting another bike after about 20 mins of being in the car with her (we had a 2.5 hr ride home over the border) .... she didn't question me once.

She said "I know".

God bless her ... her father and uncles all ride too.

 

Ha ha! I fell off for the first time in 25 years a month back, and I'm still too scared to tell my parents!




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Excellent find there Powderecon..love the staintune
Had a set on my 900SS.
If you grew up crashin on dirt bikes, some serious.. it never ever crossed my mind to quit riding...crashed twice on the street since 84, got right back on .
Enjoy, she looks very sweet
Oh, that journal..can you say OCD?

 

Not met but hell of a story. Good luck and stay safe! One question, why is the tank in two tone colours? Enjoy

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Nice . Stay safe.

 

As Powderrecon said "Accidents happen." The people, obsessed with death by motorcycle do not see the big picture. The fact is no one is safe. One of the biggest killers of all is falls in the bath tub. I was told, a long time ago, that you can't protect that which you cannot keep. As my old bike shop boss used to say "no one gets out of this alive." I like motorcycle people. They tend to have a really good balanced view of life. It's ironic that the very people that are obsessed with getting you off of the bike are also driving you away. As for me, I ride. I can't really tell you why. I have been drawn to it all my life. I know that someday I will not be physically able to ride. When that day comes I will dream of riding. I will look at my trip pictures and watch videos of riders drag their knees an I will smile and say "I know what it's like to do that."

 

http://www.smartcycleshopper.com/im.../trike photos/2011_Trike-Review_Spyder_02.jpg
Or get one of these old guy bikes....no sliders needed

 

Ironically, no one warned me about the poor value of college (I studied engineering which has become a highly stressful, overworked area, here in the Northeast.) No one warned me about the toll on the back and body from sitting at a computer all day. These things have taken a massive toll on my body and psyche over the years.

I am well aware of the real dangers in life, and do not understand why others do not even perceive those threats, but continuously scold me over the bike.

Signed,

Confused

 

Dysfunctionality is a common trait in family groups. A major symptom set is confusion and a need for liberal applications of Preparation H.

 

The irony is the my parents wanted me to have the good life. Like you I went to college and as a result of my career choices ran into long hours, and poor work/life balance issues. If I had stayed in the corporate world it would have killed me, I am sure of that.

 

From what I have heard from Powder the original owner moved on to an Adventure bike, I asked, a muitlstrada? we laughed, we don't know what version or style just that he traded it in on one.

 

Can you explain what you mean by this? I don't see it.

 

Yup. I must say, I mulled over that one too. All I came up with was light reflection or the tank bra.

 

I have tried to like adventure bikes and I do for short rides, but I find the upright seating position fatiguing. It really gets to my lower back. My VFR fits me like a glove. The ride position keeps my arms straight and my back straight. Good posture is important for long days in the saddle. Plus i like to have a bike with some sporting potential when I get to my destination.