Happy Halloween!

I saved this for Halloween. John Farr creates cool custom cycles and when I saw this I thought….wow! I can only wonder about the ride, but regardless…it’s the first custom cycle I’ve every really wanted.

John Farr's Skeleton Bike

See the full article and pictures here: John Farr’s Skeleton Bike

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October 30, 2007 · Filed Under General

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Holy Six-Speed Batman!

I get the call that it’s ready…the six-speed is in and the bike is ready for pickup. I run down to the shop to pay for everything as well as pickup my Five Speed in the box. While I’m waiting for the paperwork to get written up (there are three repair orders for the warranty, the six-speed and the automatic chain tensioner I decided to also have put on) I decide to take the bike for one last drive.

Because of all the work done I qualify for free winter storage so since it’s supposed to snow any day…I figure I’ll just have them put her up for the winter and be done with it <sniff>.

So…I gather some winter gear (non-riding mind you) and in my sneakers I take off to ride with my new six-speed….Hot GODDAMN SHIT! She is riding like a dream!

I take off to the local parkway and give her the gas (did I mention I’m fucking FREEZING by the way?!?!?) and she off and running. I get her up to 70 and drop her into six….

I can’t begin to describe it. Normally I’m @3000 at 70-75 easy. Now I have her running at just under 2500 rpm at 75 with more to give.

Woah MOMMA!!!!!

I can only imagine what I look like on the parkway – a black guy on a Harley with a down jacket puffed up from the wind blowing by at more than 75 mph!

Hell with them all…I got one last good ride and with my six-speed no less

Here’s to a very SHORT winter!

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October 16, 2007 · Filed Under General

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Signs And Portents – The Future Of Being Able To Choose.

Received this article from a friend today: Puerto Rico Passes Strict Motorcycle Law.

For those not in the know, the NTSB has made a recommendation that all states enact a Universal helmet law: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091101225.html.

Looks like the federal government is going to try for a National Standard for Motorcycle Helmets and a National Helmet Law. There are some interesting points that have come out since this has started:

Like the AMA, I know that wearing a helmet is a lifesaver but I believe in the right to choose. If we need to have a national helmet law it should be copied from Florida’s sensible helmet law: over 21 no helmet if you have medical insurance. Under 21, wear a helmet. It leaves the decision in adult hands and removes any burden on the taxpayer if the rider decides to splatter their brains.

And if states decided to try and overturn this, I’d fully expect that the NTSB will have highway funds stopped to any state that doesn’t knuckle under, just like they did with the 55 mph speed limit.

As a biker, I never worry when the federal government is out to get me…I worry when they are out to save me from myself. And right now they (NTSB and the federal government in general) have much bigger problems than motorcycle helmet laws.

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October 15, 2007 · Filed Under Biker

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Anyone Interested In A Five-Speed Transmission?

So there I am minding my own business riding last Thursday when I notice there is a rattle when I shift to third or down shift in third.

I swing by the shop and setup an appointment to have it looked at like a good boy. So…Saturday I’ll bing it in. I’ll loose one of the last good weekends before the snow hits, but I figure I can live with it.

So I decide to make a run to Girdwood (about 80 miles round trip) afterwards since my weekend riding is now curtailed. I decide to ride through the new roundabout (Anchorage has three roundabouts and I just love riding them) that leads to the Sweard highway…circle around and slingshot out – too cool!

I shift into third and…nothing. Nothing at all!

Of course I limp her back to the shop, but is is well after close so after trying the doors – hoping someone is there late – I limp her home.Next day I call the shop and they pick up the bike. I thinking since it’s Friday and they won’t look at it till Saturday I fully expect not to hear from them that day.

I get a call from the shop…the mechanic Tom (who is the MAN when it comes to running the dyna) calls and asks “Hey…has anyone worked on your bike? Out of state or something like that?”
Me: “Nope…Only you guys. Wazzup?”
Tom: “There are bearings missing from your transmission”
<pause>
Me: “Say that again?!?”
Tom: “Yeah, Bro…they’re just not there! I’ll have Dave (the Service Manager) call you.”

So I’m thinking….did I just miss anything? Have I ever noticed anything with shifting before this? Did I actually have anything serviced with the transmission? Honestly, my mind start trying to comprehend…missing bearings? I mean that’s “Holy SHIT Batman!” shit!

So Dave call about an hour later. He and I chat about it and we start talking about a six-speed.

A SIX-SPEED transmission….oh YEAH!

Because of the warranty work they can’t swap a six and I pay the difference (makes sense) however if I picked up the six-speed then I don’t pay any labor as it’s included for installing the five-speed! So for the price of the transmission, I get it installed! Also because the five-speed is ordered for the warranty work I get that too.

So I’m getting a six-speed installed for free and a five-speed brand new in the box to do with as I please…..

So…if you’re interested in a brand new five-speed transmission for an evolution….keep your eye on eBay and Craigs list. I know we can make a deal!

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October 11, 2007 · Filed Under General

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