Hey all,
I know it's been like two years or so but Thumpy still rides and I'm still alive. I thought I would stop by and give a report on old Thumpy a couple years and many miles later.
The only change Thumpy has had in all this time is changing that nasty Kenda rear tire for an Avon Cobra. This tire may have been the best money I've spent on the bike yet. Can you say transformed? All that skidding and sliding and general bad squarely behavior - GONE! There's so much grip now I can pull off sick nuts on Thumpy that I can't get away with on my Duck and not break a sweat. Traction galore and such an improved overall ride.
Anyway, product bump aside, I have been riding my LS650 as my main bike again since the Duck got the Disco Lights of Death last year.
Eventually I'll have the $3K to fix what ought to be a recall but for now she can sit in the garage. At this point the only thing I miss is the heated gear she could run.
But Thumpy has been blissfully thumping along all this time without a hitch or a worry in the world. I still have the clutch slipping issue in 3rd gear. I just ignore it. It's probably healthier that this torque doesn't go to the wheel instantly. I might get reckless with it.
I got spoiled for awhile with all the modern miracles of my Hyperstrada but it didn't last long. In all honesty a bike like that takes the fun out of riding the backroads and twists. It all becomes an exercise in routine because it's so easy. But not so with the little thumper! You hang on for dear life, your adrenaline hits like a hammer, and afterwards you thank the blessed mother of acceleration.
Thumpy has come up against some bigger company in a competitive sense. And while he ain't setting any land speeds records he's had alot of tough comers scratching their heads in total wonder at why they didn't leave me in the dust. And in some cases why I got past them when the road started twisting. And the poor dudes with the Sportsters just never learn. I guess they have a greater appreciation of Thumpys tail light than me
A buddy of mine who's a real long haul veteran and quite a bit advanced in age from me asked to ride thumpy one day. This is a dude who's risen coast to coast on just about every kind of bike starting with Honda's 1st 2 cylinder 350 right off the showroom floor in what? 74? I don't know...
Anyway this old fella came back with the biggest nuts eating grin and couldn't stop singing the bikes praises for the rest of the day. He's now in the market for a LS650. Go figure.
Anyway, I still ride the crap out of mine and it still ticks along as though it might continue doing so forever. To this day I have not had one single thought of selling it.
I seriously doubt I ever will. I may give this bike to my grandkids one day.
As for the Duck. Well the closest service dealer for her was an hour away. It got bought out and moved 2 hours away. Now that ones going out of business and the next nearest one is 3.5 hours away. crappity smack that! After I saved the repair cost and have the work done she's back on the market.
However they opened a Moto Guzzi dealership up 30 minutes from me. That MGX21 Flying Fortress looks like a nice long haul machine. Maybe. It can take the spot next to Thumpy where the Ducati languishes away in my garage.
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