A Ride To The "Dry Side"

Since my bike developed issues just two days before we were suppose to go on a week long ride to the "Dry Side" of Washington state, I had to borrow a Brothers bike.  It turned out the bars would work loose as I rode fighting the crosswinds, and by the second night it was straining my arthritic shoulder.  We finally put some cork between the bars and clamps to replace the other material we
had been using, and the bars didn't move nearly as much.  But the damage was done, and while fighting 50mph+ crosswinds it tore the muscles in my shoulder and I couldnt ride any farther.  The bike made it home, and so did I.  All in all, it was still a good ride, but next time I will take MY BIKE, not one I'm not used to riding...especially a solid wheeled, loose handlebarred bike in high crosswinds.  LOL

Anyway, here is a vid of the trip, and it was, as you can see a good ride.

Oh, and I think I have the issues with Gypsy figured out.  As soon as the parts come in, I will be replacing the shifter pawl springs.  I'll keep everyone posted on how it turns out.

See ya on the road sometime.

2 Days Before A Week Long Run, And...

A few of us made about a 200 mile round trip down to Love's Leathers in Ridgefield, Wa.  They had a nice band on a wonderful day...but on the way home...my clutch went out. 

After a 120 mile run home (without being able to shift below 4th gear) we trailered it to a Brothers shop and put it on the lift.

The clutch plates were toast, and it turns out the compensating sprocket needed to be replaced.   Just what I needed to have happen before I go with some friends on a 4 or 5 day ride through eastern Washington state.  So what was I going to do?  No ride, and no cash to get her fixed...Thank God for Brothers.  My Brother Dave loaned me his Fat Boy for the few days of the ride.

Thanks Dave...I hope you understand how much it means to me.

See ya on the road sometime.

4th Annual Dan George Memorial Run

On Sunday morning, the sun came up and brought everyone out on a warm clear day to ride in memory of a friend I had known since Jr High. 

Dan George was a good friend, and rider.  One of those guys that it always seemed to make your day a little better just to have him say "Hi".  Danny died suddenly only a month before he was to be married to his High School sweetheart, and three months after being elected Mayor of the City of Morton.  Dan was the kind of guy that always seemed to heve a mischievious twinkle in his eye.  But I think the happiest I ever saw Dan, was when he was riding, or even talking about riding, his bike.  I find it hard to believe it is just over 4 yrs since he died suddenly at the age of 48.

As we gathered on sunday morning to ride in Danny's memory, Moe & Petra began playing Kid Rocks "Born Free" on their bikes stereo, until the ride leader Dave was ready to get things rolling.  After that, at each stop we made, Moe would play the song again to let everyone know we were getting ready to fire up and get rolling.  The words fit Danny, and fit why we were all there.  So I didn't think twice about using it in the video. 

The clips in the video are from Moe & Petra's camera, and from my own.  The still pics, are from Dave's, Moe & Petra's, and mine. 

I couldn't have asked for a better day to remember Danny.  Dave & Kayla led the ride for most of it, because they both carried some of Danny's ashes with them on their bikes all the time.  We had 21 bikes show up for the ride which took nearly four hours of riding time to complete as we looped around Mt Rainier in Washington state.  We had a smoke break in Graham, lunch at the Yella Beak in Enumclaw, and then rode up over Cayuse Pass (a bit above 5,000 ft) before dropping down into Packwood to hit the Blue Spruce for cold beverages.  From that point, everyone split off, and we all enjoyed a nice relaxing ride home.

I hope you enjoy the vid, and as always, I am looking forward to next years ride.

See you on the road sometime.

I finished the new exhaust on the bike

Pulled the pipes after a 35 mile run...they were just a bit warm

I got tired of dragging my fishtails everytime I went into a hard tight right turn.  Especially after I ground off about 1/2 inch of one fishtail, and then had a big chuck fall off from metal fatigue.  So over a couple of saturdays we dialed in a new exhaust system from old pipes, and tried it out.  The first time I didnt even make it out of the driveway before I started dragging...back to the drawing boards.

good idea....bad execution

So we cut of the turn-outs and called it a day...It was time to ride.




fisrt attempt...it worked....sort of



But after a week or so, I realized I was STILL dragging the one pipe in tight corners.  Another afternoon in the shop, and a new design for the pipes came about.  This time, the pipes are just above the bottom of the frame, and run around the front of the tranny/kicker and side by side.

No dragging pipes now.  A few days later, I finished the job by spraying high temp black paint.  It looks, and works much better now.  I need to do a little cleaning to just get things to look a bit better.  With the fresh paint on the pipes, it shows off the road grime on the frame.  I am not a big one for shiney chrome and clean paint...I would rather ride than wash and polish.

pipes are done...and they work

High Temp Black....looks and work great

Speaking of which, I need to go get the bike ready for a Memorial Ride for an old friend and fellow rider who died of a stroke at the age of 48.  Making a 4 hour run circling Mt Rainier on sunday...will post pics when I get them.

Catch you all on the road.

Been Busy

I have been busy with a few things, and havent had the chance to get online much, and  now that I have a minute or two I'll try to give everyone a quick catch up. 

I filed the appeal in Superior Court to try get my unemployment, but the way the courts move, I could be (and hopefully will be) back at work before it even comes begfore the judge. 
On sunday the 15th, I led the 5th Annual Mt St Helens Memorial Run.  It had been nice for a few days before, but late on the 14th the rains came in.  By the morning of the 15th, the rain had already set a new daily rainfall record for the 15th of May.  I figured there wouldn't be anyone at the start point, except for a few idiots that were going to ride with me.  Man, was I wrong.  With temps in the 40s, and heavy rain, 23 bikes rolled up to the start point.  When we set off, everyone was already wet just from riding there, and after 35 miles and about a 2,500 ft climb in elevation, we rode into the clouds.  Suddenly it got REAL cold, and my goggles fogged up so bad I could barely make out the yellow line in the center of the road.  I knew we were close to one of the visitor centers, and turned in about a half mile after everything fogged up.  One of the cars that had followed us up had a built in thermometer, and it read 39 degrees.  We still had 15 miles, and about 2,000 ft elevation to climb.  When I walked into the visitors center, I was told it was snowing only about 2 miles farther up the road.  So, figuring I didnt want to get anyone killed on a Memorial Run, I let everyone know what was going on.  We were turning back, and heading a few miles down the mountain where we could get some hot coffee before riding the rest of the way down to Hardtails Bar & Grill for the after run shindig.  Guess what...no body gave me any argument.  After about 30 mins drinking hot coffee or whatever we mounted up and rode down to Kelso to get our fill of hot food and beverages.

When the waitress came and took our orders we were so cold and wet, all we wanted was something hot.  My buddy T was shivering so bad that after he got a refill of his coffee, he spilled about a third of it before he made it back to the booth.  The hot food was great, and after a while everyone who had rode down from Morton with me jumped back on the bikes, and started the 70 mile ride back home in the rain.  It was good to see that I was wrong about people not showing up for the run.  I guess there are a few more hardcore (read that crazy assed) riders around than I thought.

Let me tell ya...nothing will wipe you out quicker after a long cold wet ride, than climbing into a hot tub for a good long soak.  It sure made for a short night.  But it felt so good to just cook in that hot water and get warm again!

I am still looking for work, trying to find something before the rope comes to its end, and snaps.  There are a couple possibilities, but I dont want to jinx them, so will stay mum on that.  Since I filed the appeal on the whole unemployment saga I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I hope to be posting more soon.

As always, Ride Free...there are some crazy fuckers out there that think they have to keep you safe from harm...dont let 'em.  I hope to catch some of you ouot on the road somewhere, sometime.

Too Short of a Ride

Went on what I was hoping to be a nice long ride yesterday.  Rode about 30 miles to meet up with some friends, and take them for a nice long ride in the mountains to breakin their new bike that  they picked up the night before after their old bike being totaled in a crash.  We stopped back here in Morton to top off everyones tanks, and headed out...for about 20 miles.  The voltage regulator on the bike crapped out, and just before we got in to Onalaska the bikes engine just quit at about 60.  I pulled in the clutch and dropped a gear, trying to bump start it...didn't do anything but bark the tire and slow me down.  My angel must have been with me, because it broke down 100 ft from a gas station and parking lot, instead of the middle of no where without even a shoulder.

Gypsy should be back up and running today...if things all work out.

See ya on the road.

Denied...but not giving up

well shit, got back from a ride yesterday and had a letter in the mailbox.  the Judge denied my request for reconsideration, so now i have to appeal to Superior Court.  what a bunch of shit.  so that is the next step.  I have a feeling, by the time I get this bullshit straigthened out, I'll be back at work someplace, and wont need unemployment.  but whether I lose the house, the bike, and eveything else before that is another question.