I can't get over some of these people.  ???

The modern biker is a joke. 40 grand and 40 miles doesn't make you a biker in my book. If I trailer my bike, something in the powertrain has gone terminal. Matt Hotch's paint jobs cost more than all my vehicles put together.

How often do you see a "greaser" broke down on the side of the road? How often do you see a "real biker bike" broken down? Who do you see standing there scratching their heads, wringing their hands, or yapping on the cellphone because they are too dumb to swap a sparkplug on the side of the road?  Gods forbid they get a flat, or throw the belt, or even just hit reserve and don't realize they have to manually switch the fuel feed.

Whatever happened to riders knowing how to patch up the machine and get home? Or at least "rig" it enough to get off the roadside before calling for assistance?  When did it become mandated that leathers have to look new, forever? Or that helmets can't get scratched? Since when is a fresh from the dealer scoot better than one you have become intimately familiar with, because you've actually learned how to do necessary maintenance? Yes, having the scratch to pay someone else to get dirty is convenient. Fat lot of good it does if you break down somewhere between Missoula and Sturgis.

I guess I'm old fashioned. I don't trust anyone else to service my bike. I don't know everything, but I can patch it up and get home. I can change a tire and tube on the road if needed. Bike starts coughing, switch to reserve. Then panic. (I run out of gas all the time in the truck too, no gas gauge)

Guess I'm not a "biker" after all. Bet Indian Larry is spinning in his urn, Which if you haven't seen it, is some kind of nice. Panhead cylinder and top end, fully engraved. I'll try to scan it in and send a pic.
-WD
Proud to be a wrench turning, long haired, greasy, dirty...

$11 a pint huh? I painted my tins, and had half a can left over, for $7. Kubota tractor bomb can orange. Goes on smooth, holds its color really well. Been about 5 years since last paint, just now redoing it. With Kubota tractor bomb can orange...I wanted Candy Orange metalflake...wish the store would put the price up, they just started carrying the candies, but, I think they are lacquer (gag, choke, don't spill any gas topping it up)...managed my first ever orange peeled panel today, guess I need a fresh can of clearcoat.
-WD

Sad.  True.  Where's the fun in that?

Quote:


Heh, I really like that.

I'm definitely not a pro at bike mechanics but I'm not particularly challenged when it comes to tools and vehicles either.  So far as wrenching goes, I love getting to know my bike better and the main thing that keeps me from tearing it down further is the desire to ride it instead.  I'm gonna keep my wrenching philosophy similar to my rule on buying tools.  In general, I only buy a tool when I need it and then I buy quality.  Simple exceptions are having a pretty basic toolset in the first place.  Anyway, I'll tackle it when it needs to be done and learn it then.

Oh yeah, I keep my hair quite short but that's an ease of maintenance thing with me.

Don't know if I consider myself a "true Biker" or not to be be honest ... my Bike's fairly new, so I haven't modded it ... it cost me a chunk of discretionary income that I'm sure my wife could've used elsewhere, so I really don't feel like modifying it (yet) ... but I am in awe of those who choose to do so with their own Bikes! I'm a 40-something semi-professional desk pusher (with no hair ) ... and I've only been Ridin' for a few years ... plus I'm no wrench-head (I've changed my own oil & spark plug and I changed a front wheel on my old Rebel & adjusted the chain; that's it so far) ... I mightn't be a "Biker", but I like motorcycles and those who Ride 'em!
Oh yeah ... and I do go out to the shed to stare at my Bike from time-to-time!

WD wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


See No Evo,
Hear No Evo,
Ride No Evo.

I think that kind of styling appeals to the transformers toys generation.  

Don't they look like they could be folded up into a robot?

Gitarzan wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:



YESSSS!!!!!!

must put that on a shirt.