Just a Cruise

Rode down 23rd street and decided to go to Bobo's for some Wings and Things.  N.E 23rd just east of N. Hood.  Glad I did.  Midge loved it as did I.  Loved opening it up under the overpass near the capitol.  80+?  Maybe.  The roar was worth it.  Too bad I didn't have a fox on the back seat.  Maybe next time.

I think it's cool how babes will talk to me.  I know it's platonic and all, how could a gorgeous babe be attracted to me?  But it sure does this heart good.  I make it a point to ask them if they want to ride.  Who knows, it might be a fun ride.  Hey!  They must be over 18!  Been there, done that and spent time in the County.

4th of July

Might take a ride tonight and watch fireworks.  Just thinking.  The pipe burn didn't leave a scar.

Oops!  Just looked at my leg.  It left a scar.  Not too bad.

Tonight I went cruising at 12:30am.  The air was very cool at 60mph.  Loved it.  No helmet.  I wore shorts, which I may never do again.  Ouch!  Those pipes get hot.  There's going to be a scar on my right leg.  Can't explain the freedom of riding without a helmet.  Yes, I know it's dangerous if, and only if, I fall.  That's a chance I'm willing to take. 

It's been a few days.  Yesterday I rode without a helmet or my glasses.  I can't explain it but I was far more aware and less anxious.  Must have rode two hours and not including the day ride.  I didn't want the ride to end so I kept going and going.  It was exhilarating.  Can't wait to take my friend for a ride.

A Little Rain

Yesterday I rode the bike to work.  The sky looked okay.  About 10:30am someone said, "I hear thunder!"  I thought to myself that it couldn't be.  Sure enough, about 2 seconds later there was a crack of thunder.  I immediately got on my bike and make a bee line to home. 

In about a 1/2 mile it was sprinkling.  Not bad!  I can deal with this. 

Within a mile it was raining.  I thought to myself while driving 40mph, "this doesn't feel like bullets hitting me."  So many people told me that riding in the rain at 40mph was like getting shot. That's a bunch of crap.  I know because I was riding in the rain at 40mph and all was well,

Before I had driven 2 miles it was pouring cats and dogs.  I was drenched!  I almost stopped to wait for the rain to settle but I opted not to do so.  It started pouring harder and harder.  It still didn't feel like I was getting shot.

When I got to the corner of the street I live on, a neighbor starred at me in disbelief.  Who could blame him.  Only a nutcase would be riding a motorcycle in that weather.

I'm such a nutcase.

To tell the truth, I enjoyed it.  Frances will probably have my head for it.

Turning, staying in the lane and a brunette

I have learned a very important part of turning and staying in the lane.  If I need to go right I press on the right handle bar.  Vice versa for going left. It's made a tremendous difference,  Brunette?  What are you talking about?

By the Grace of God!

Was I lucky or what?  Today I decided to go on a short road trip.  I won't say where or when because I don't want anyone to get in trouble.

Frances is going to kill me!  Fergit anything else!

To make it short, I wanted to, correction, I had to open the bike up.  55mph wasn't providing the intellectual stimulus needed to study physics, and specifically the effects of the Bernoullian lift and the equation of fluid mechanics upon a rotund operator of...  BS!  I cranked it!  I was doing way over 80mph and close to 90.  It was an incredible feeling.  The wind was flowing and the sound was fabulous.  The study was complete!  Then I shut it down, but not until a peace officer clocked me at ONLY 75mph. 

Peace officer:  Givin' it the do?

Don:  I was just wondering...

Peace officer:  Wonderin' what it would feel like at 75?

Don:  Yeah.  I just had to give it the gun for a bit.

Peace officer:  Yeah, I know the feeling.

He let me off.  No report or anything.  His last words were, "I don't want to ruin your motorcycle experience."  Needless to say, I followed the letter of the law, and even after he had another victim on the side of the road on the ride back home.  Thank you Mr. Peace Officer!  I hope you read this!

Windy but a fun ride

I drove around Lake Holdhercloser this evening.  Nothing spectacular, just an easy ride with a 200mph head wind.  I'm glad it wasn't blowing hard.

Too Windy!

I don't care for the high winds so there won't be any riding tonight.  Just rode to work and back.  I feels good getting accustomed to the bike.

Back on the Bike

It's been quite a while since I last rode the bike.  The weather hasn't been very friendly, i.e. raining or the wind has been ridiculously hard.  Not that I ever complain about it raining.  Cruising should be relaxed and easy.  Right?  Certainly!  Or is it, "soit-in-ly"?

Today I was very comfortable.  Everything was smooth.  I didn't wait until there were no cars in sight to get on the road.  I just pulled out as if I was driving the 'Burb.  Maybe some time off allowed me to relax, as taking a day of from working out does a body good, or so I've been told.  Working out causes perspiration and I'm not fond of that.

This might be amusing.  I pretended I had a rider.  A brunette, modestly clad of course and who weighed less than me!  No, she didn't fall off but complained that I wasn't steady with the gas.  I'm still herky jerky.

Hey, Frances, she was a brunette and not a blonde.  LOL!

Riding to work tomorrow!  Can't wait.

It's Raining!

No bike riding in the rain, at least until I become a proficient rider.  I like the rain.  Midge and I sat on the porch and enjoyed it.

Nothing today

There was no riding today.  I've been in the truck.

Just got back...

From cruising around Lake Holdhercloser.  It was a nice ride. 

Yet another uneventful day.

I can provide some things I've learned.  I no longer look for cars and trucks.  I look for movement.  It could be a bird, dog, Greyhound bus or a Tall Girl in a red Mustang.  Focusing on one thing is very limiting.  Focusing on movement may mean life or a skinned knee.

There have been a few, not so, close calls.  People rushing to the stop sign and not completely stopping.  I'm all about coming to a complete stop where you're supposed to stop.  I never, ever, under any conditions float a stop sign. In fact I keep my .357 Sig Sauer at the ready to blow the tires out from under any fool who won't stop.  So far I've only put slugs into 184 tires this month.  Wearing a ski mask and not having a tag have prevented any identity theft from occurring.  The scariest of all are people rushing to the stop sign with their head looking at their phone.

Can't think of anything else except that there was a really good film noir showing at the laundromat.  "Gun Crazy".  Check it out.  It was very good.  

Nothing exciting today

Just rode to work and back.  Uneventful is a good thing.  Well, driving around the Wal Mart parking lot looking for a place to park might be eventful.  Not.

Today's Ride

Today I cruised around Lake Holdhercloser and am safe at home.  Still getting accustomed to the bike.  The 90 degrees turns at 100 mph aren't as easy as I thought they'd be.  They look easy on TV.  Maybe Mike can teach me.  Frances has probably fallen out of her chair.  Don't blame me you you busted your nose on your desk. 

You worry too much.  I'm going riding, again.  It's only 7:30 pm and I expect an email around 10:30 pm from my baby sitter wondering where I am.  She'll be calling the usual suspects, ER, county jail, Coit's...

In the mean time I'm going to practice 90 degree turns at 100 mph.

Checking In

Hey TG, I didn't make a run and I'm fine.  However, if I wake up and have a Babe auditioning for Biker Mama I'm going to call you.

Since I've never auditioned a Biker Mama I have no idea how to interview them  I'm going to ask them to bring their instrument and some orchestral excerpts.  I'll provide the sight reading.

Hey TG, what does a Biker Mama do?  Should I call Mel?

I need to get out more.

Getting Ready to Ride

It's about time to go for another ride.  I think another run around Lake Holdhercloser is in store.  Hey TG, can I go on a run?

More Rulz

According to "She who must be obeyed", otherwise known as Tall Girl, I must make my presence known every evening.  I think her husband is behind this, which is fine, because I'm no longer a seasoned rider.

For some reason riding a primitive bike some 40 years ago is different from riding a modern bike.  I think it's because the new generation of motorcycles are by far easier to ride but, and it's a big but, my brain is over correcting the difference. 40 years ago an oil leaking 1962 Panhead Harley didn't ride anywhere close to what a bike does today.  I believe I'm over compensating because now-a-daze the brakes work, the transmission works, the steering is accurate, the tires aren't bald and nothing falls off the bike while riding.  In fact, I don't need a pair of pliers in my pocket before I leave for a ride.  However, I've gone to the tool kit to adjust the mirrors almost daily.

Late for Work

Thanks to Frances and her insistence that I not ride on the Interstates I was 2 hours late for work.  Last night I borrowed a friends keys to get into his office and, ha ha, forgot to return them.  Ended up riding to S.W. 89th and S. Pennsylvania.  Have you driven down Portland lately?  The last time the road saw any work must have been around 1938.

Had to ride to N. Council and N.W. Expressway to get to work.  Of course, I made a few bad turns and forgot that Britton Road hasn't been open from N. May Avenue to N. MacArthur since before 1947 when Lake Hefner was built. Peculiar how we, or is it only I, forget minor details like that.

No mishaps today.  Let's pray there are none tomorrow!

New Rulz

Frances, my friend and baby sitter, has told me to stay off the interstates until I become more familiar with the bike.  I did pretty good today but I'm not comfortable on the interstates.  Too much stupidity going on.

Cornering is getting better, that is, more natural.

A Little Windy

I was riding on I-44 last evening. The wind was blowing a gale. At one point, while going into a turn, I was blown toward the shoulder. I leaned and turned to the left but I kept going off the road. "So this is how it ends", I thought to myself. I hit the gas and got back on the road about where my life had flashed up to the seventh grade.

A Scary Situation!

The wind was blowing a gale. The flags looked starched with the wind out of the north.  I was on I-44 and the wind was so strong that it pushed me to the shoulder.  I leaned and leaned and nothing worked.  There was a truck behind me.  EEEEK!

After I taught 4 violin lessons I went home on Portland Ave. 

I don't like the wind.

Motorcycle Injury

I just noticed that an injury was sustain during the laying down of the Cruiser.  My right knee.  You can see how extensive the wound is. 

Exciting Photos!

You'll like these because I said you would

On the north shore of Lake Holdhercloser.

Getting Accustomed to the Cruiser

I can honestly say that I totally understand the heel-toe shifter of the C-50.  At first it was hieroglyphics, at least it sounded like it.

"This doesn't not compute!  This is 2058!  Since when does one use the heel to shift gears, Will Robinson?  This is the diabolical working of Dr. Zachary Smith!  Warning!  Warning!"

Use the toe to down shift.
Use the heel to up shift.

In a nutshell, Toe down for 1st gear or a lower gear.  Heel down for 2, 3, 4 & 5!

With this glorious contraption one can, theoretically, wear sandals to ride the bike.  No more holes in the top of ones left shoe.

Thank you Dr. Smith.

Laid it down

It's not as bad as it sounds.  I was in the driveway getting ready to Cruise on the Boulevard when it started wobbling.  Before I knew it the bike began falling to the right.  One thing lead to another and I was looking up at the sky.  It was in slow motion and the bike wasn't scratched.  The only thing bruised was my ego.  I laid there for a few moments.  Got up and proceeded to get it upright.  UGH!  It barely budged.  Once again with gusto!  It just laid there like a dead horse.

This looks like a job for Neighborman.  He helped me get it up and asked no questions.

I started it up and was on my way but disquieted and with butterflies in my stomach.

A Tale of Two Days

Yesterday and today I did the same thing.  Well, yesterday I drove it to work.  I had to show everybody my new ride!  I checked the weather forecast.  It said no possibility of rain.  Great!  Although I really, really, really like rainy weather.  When I got to work I started telling everyone.  One of the office ladies said that I should park it under the awning in back.  "Why", I asked.  "Because it's going to rain and there may be hail".

ACKKK!

As soon as I got under the awing it started raining.  No hail!  I have no idea how I got such a wrong weather forecast.

As I said, yesterday and today I did the same thing.  I went to a large church with a huge parking lot and practiced cornering.  My cornering was pathetic.  This helped tremendously.  The leaning started coming back and it was becoming easier by the minute.   I spent about 20 or 30 minutes driving up and down the lot and pretending there were cars parked. 

After my self imposed training session I took off to Lake Holdhercloser, for some reason it's spelled Overholser on the maps.  It's west of Bethany, OK.  It's been my thinking and rainy weather lake for over 40 years.  There are some nice curves and straight lanes.  Very relaxed.  I thought I was in Heaven.  I kept praying, "thank you LORD!"  It was incredible.

Today I took historic 66 toward El Reno.  Except for a 25 mph crosswind the ride was easy.  Yes.  I opened it up.  WOO HOO!

Praise the LORD.  He is great!

The Whole Story

Here's the story about buying the bike.  I found it on Craig's List.  The asking price was great.  The color was gorgeous, silver and pearl.  I made arrangements with Mike to go with me.  It was about 15 miles from his house.  When we arrived it was parked in the drive way.  I did a very good job of keeping my game face on while inside I was an 8 year old getting his first bicycle.

After the usual greetings and niceties we got to business.
"Do you own a bike?"
"No"
"When was the last time you rode one?"
"30 years ago."
Silence.
Pin drop anyone?

The seller was a bit hesitant to let me ride but if he was going to sell it I was going to have to test drive it.  He got it on the street and went through the shift patters, the heel and toe shifter.  This was new to me.  Heel?  As expected I wasn't very graceful on the take off.  Vroom, jerk, stall.  I started it again.  Same thing.  It was like driving a standard transmission for the first time.  I was not very capable.  Finally I got it off and running.  Took it to a large cul de sac to turn around.  As big as it was there wasn't enough room for me to make it.  I ran it onto the grass of a vacant lot and stalled the bike.  Horrors.  I thought, "do I really want this?"  I got it back to the house and we talked a deal.

"How much do you want for it?"
"$$$$."
"Would you take $$$$?"
"YES!"
I thought to myself, I could have got it for less!
"Let's start over.  Will you take $$$$?"
"NO!"
I wrote the check and we were happy.  He gave me two helmets, too.

We decided I'd drive it to the Lowe's in Mustang and Mike would take it the rest of the way.  I was ecstatic.  The highway let me cruise at 65.  Can it get any better?  We got it home and Frances, Mike's wife took photos.

Life is good!

Got a Bike!

I've been looking for a motorcycle for several months.  One I could take on a long trip or around town.  The Suzuki Boulevard C-50, cool looking Cruiser, got my attention in a Popular Mechanics magazine.  It was rated very high, and among them was the Honda Shadow..  The research on the bike provided many, many positive reviews.  Everybody liked it.  I decided that was the bike for me

Then I started looking for a touring bide.  If I was going to ride to New Mexico or North Carolina I didn't want saddle sores, so to speak.  I wanted to enjoy the ride.  Lo and behold, the Honda Goldwing.  It's considered the best by most critics.  The huge seats and amenities were extremely appealing.  Thus  I went on the search.  I found a couple and almost bought one.  It was huge.  A behemoth of a creation.  Was this what I really wanted?

A friend's husband, Mike, was helping looking in the search for a Goldwing.  He owns one and loves it.  As he was looking he came across a Honda Shadow Aero.  Since I'm not very long legged, that means short, this might be the bike I needed.  I thought it was very cool.  Then it struck me.  This is similar to the Suzuki Boulevard.  If I'm going to get a Cruiser then I might as well get the Boulevard.  I did!

May 3rd I found an bought a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C-50.