Complaints or Wisdom
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 16
From: Virginia
PhotoRider, umm can you let me know next time you are getting gas so I can cut you off? I wouldn't normally ask but I'm low on cash right now and I could use help paying for some gas.
Thanks!
Thanks!
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
No hijack
47 years of riding. 2 British bikes before my first car. A "Snortin' Norton Atlas" with a drag sprocket and banana bars off a bicycle at the age of 16. 1965 BSA Lightning, 1968 Triumph Bonnevile, 1973 Kawasaki 500 triple and 350 Bighorn, 1976 K1000, 1985 Suzuki 125 RM, Kawasaki KDX 220 and finally a 2009 FXDC. Love it to death. Live To Ride.
Thanks everyone I wish more people just enjoy the ride and yea part of it is wrenching and the friends on the road and when you have downtime. As they say don't take my kindness as weakness ( I can still go old skool in a heart beat ). I just find the things that once set me off now make me laugh.
Jarhead Red - not that far from H-town and someday we may cross paths - we raised 3 sons - 2 of your brothers (if the Jarhead is read right) OOHRAH.
Little Squirt - not braggin, but if you look in my garage you'll see The Queen 09 Ultra - The Countess 96 FXDL -then two weeks ago I bought a 1980 FXB (Sturgis) - told (not asked) the wife what I was planning to do and she said go ahead you deserve it - so yea I have a good one.
Jarhead Red - not that far from H-town and someday we may cross paths - we raised 3 sons - 2 of your brothers (if the Jarhead is read right) OOHRAH.
Little Squirt - not braggin, but if you look in my garage you'll see The Queen 09 Ultra - The Countess 96 FXDL -then two weeks ago I bought a 1980 FXB (Sturgis) - told (not asked) the wife what I was planning to do and she said go ahead you deserve it - so yea I have a good one.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 964
Likes: 9
From: Acme Pa.
OK - Only about 5%-10% of the people on this forum are as old as me, I've been riding and working on bikes for 45+ years and there is so much I still don't know - but these things I believe;
It's your bike - tall - low - narrow - fat - black - green - pink I don't care, if you like it and it makes you happy - that's what it's all about.
Here's the gripe - your bike will only take you as far, fast, and safe as the time and effort you put into the things nobody sees.
Galvenized bolts and 6 spacing washers don't belong on a Harley - get the right lenght and hardness for the application. Twisted wires and electrical tape or even cheap crimp fittings might works for your trailer lights, but your bike deserves better - nice solder job and shrink wrap. You may have as many as 10-12 colors of wire 20ga - 6ga, don't splice everything with red-black - white 12ga and think you did a good job.
Somebody somewhere needs every part you take off, so don't trash em. If you need the money you can get a fair price, if you have a brother in need give it to him, he'll be a friend for life and be there when you need him.
Last - Help a brother when he's down and enjoy his company every chance you get. Biker (if you have to ask or try {you're not}).
It's your bike - tall - low - narrow - fat - black - green - pink I don't care, if you like it and it makes you happy - that's what it's all about.
Here's the gripe - your bike will only take you as far, fast, and safe as the time and effort you put into the things nobody sees.
Galvenized bolts and 6 spacing washers don't belong on a Harley - get the right lenght and hardness for the application. Twisted wires and electrical tape or even cheap crimp fittings might works for your trailer lights, but your bike deserves better - nice solder job and shrink wrap. You may have as many as 10-12 colors of wire 20ga - 6ga, don't splice everything with red-black - white 12ga and think you did a good job.
Somebody somewhere needs every part you take off, so don't trash em. If you need the money you can get a fair price, if you have a brother in need give it to him, he'll be a friend for life and be there when you need him.
Last - Help a brother when he's down and enjoy his company every chance you get. Biker (if you have to ask or try {you're not}).
I am not as old as you but I have the same standards. I was raised by a self sufficiant farmer. He is my step-father who treats me as his own son. He has taught me, from a young age, how to take care of all of my machines, be it a washing machine or a motorcycle. I treat all of my stuff with the same "good enough isn't good enough" attitude. I am not above fabricating something to work, but If I do fabricate, you can bet it is as good or better than the manufacturer made it. You will not find any stacked washers or twisted wires on anything I own.
KennyGsuperglide - Glad to hear it. I too HAD a stepdad who actually got me started on bikes. I regret that I gave him hell for many years because he was not my father - never realizing what a good man he was. As I bacame a dad myself my perspective changed. We did have 20 years of goos relations before he passed. Happy you had a good man that STEPped up for you and your mom - a DAD don't have to be your father.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 4
From: H-TOWN TEXAS
I raised on these same values, and try to carry them on to my kids. Thanks for showing me good peoe still exist.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 4
From: NC
I miss these values that was once the norm in the biker community. I havent found a good group of guys to ride with for several years since I have moved several times.
Your Sturgis looks just like one of my old buddies bikes he had when I lived in Florida.
Your Sturgis looks just like one of my old buddies bikes he had when I lived in Florida.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 36
From: Montana
50 going on 70 and cant wrench for @@@@ but still enjoy the post. glad to see the older? (just does not sound right me saying that ) element still out on the road. Seen a lot of changes over the years and not all good. I too miss the old attitudes on and off the road. Do my best to keep the fires burning. Im on a 2011 streetbob that I actually tour on and love it. thanks for the post.