Dearly Beloved...

[DDT (12)]

                                                        DEARLY BELOVED
I've often been asked, as I'm sure most of you have as well, "Why did you choose that bike?" A simple, easy, question that became rather difficult for me to answer succinctly the longer ALI and I stayed together. I suppose for me it became one of those, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand anyway..." things.

Right before I retired, I bought a new Gold Wing, my third. Following my liberation day, I proceeded to tick off all the places in North America that remained on my bucket list... which was basically any place I hadn't already been... and I rode there. Along the way it became painfully obvious I was racking up a bunch of miles, and it wouldn't be too far off before I'd be needing another bike. Hmmm, what's a body to do?

Somewhere 'out yonder' I hit upon a novel idea... What if I bought a second bike...? Hmmmm... Maybe I could get a cruiser for a little different ride... but which one. I looked at all the various models out at the time... I really liked the look of a Road King at the local Harley dealer... Then I asked myself, "What if I really liked the bike and wanted to ride cross country on it?" That's when it occurred to me that I'd better take a more serious look at Hondas...

I'd liked the look of Valkyries all along, but they were a bit too much like the 1500 Wings I'd been riding, so I hadn't placed them in serious contention at that point. Then came that fateful day I took one for a test ride... After ten miles or so, I dismounted, stood back several feet, and took a gander at what I'd just had between my legs... The first thought that popped into my noggin' was, "Now that's a proper motorcycle!" The rest, as they say, is history...

Most folks 'own machinery'. I, on the other hand, have 'affairs' with mechanical beings... especially so with ALI. They are like us in a remote sort of way... instead of tissue and blood, they have metal and petro chemicals, but they live, and I seem to bond with those I adopt... Yes, I talk to them sometimes, and it was uncommon to see me riding down some rumpled ribbon of asphalt patting the gas tank of ALI or another of my 'partners'.

ALI was special, though. We were together longer than any other, and we travelled much farther together than any others... Even the journey itself was special, because much of it occurred when I was in a different emotional and spiritual place than I'd ever been before... The day the gavel was banged and the marriage declared 'irretrievably broken', I returned from the court house and loaded ALI. The next morning at first light, I rode off into an uncharted and very uncertain future...

My faithful companion, however, took me to new, distant, exciting places, and facilitated my transition into a different life. This new vantage point on life, people and places, has made all the difference... and I owe her so much. She never shied away from any challenge, never whimpered or complained... she just took a lickin' and kept on tickin'...

Like a much loved pet, however, she had a limited lifespan... limitations of the flesh, so to speak. Intellectually I knew this day of parting would probably come; although, I was starting to believe my end might very well precede hers... I'd even seriously thought about who I'd leave her to when I left the stage... Could have been simple rationalization on my part to avoid unpleasant thoughts, but there it is...

Crunch time came, as it always seems to, at an unexpected time, in an unplanned place, and it left me with many difficult choices to make under the pressure of time and expense... of balancing emotional needs with financial realities and the responsibilities of traveling with another rider.

Jim and I had trailered our bikes to Wilsey, KS, where we left his truck and trailer at some friends of his place. We then road back roads mostly to Yellowstone NP, and then up to Glacier NP. We crossed into Canada and proceeded to ride through Lake Louise to Jasper and Hinton, Alberta. We made the turn in Hinton, then retraced our route back to Lake Louise... and then...

It came suddenly... as if something had let go or jumped a track or something... I pulled in the clutch immediately and coasted down the exit ramp and into a parking space at a restaurant just off the freeway at Lake Louise. No Honda dealer within 200 miles... save for the one 150 miles away in Calgary. This occurred on a national holiday, Heritage Day it's called around there, so nobody to call except for a tow truck. He arrived a couple of hours later, and took my wounded partner to a motel in Calgary near the Honda dealer there... and we waited.

The next morning before the dealer opened, Jim and I were sitting outside our rooms chatting and sipping coffee, when a local guy walked up and started asking questions about the Valk... He's a Valk owner himself, it turned out, and a VRCC member to boot – Terry Nickel. The dealer came for ALI, took her away, and I got their prognosis the following morning... the transmission was shot.

I was also told that they couldn't get to it to break her down and see what repairs might could be made, if any, until sometime the following week. Dang! Now I had some decisions to make with limited options! I finally decided to let Terry adopt her... he'd asked about that already. A seemingly good guy, and I was confident she would be in good hands... Her final noble act will be as an organ donor, it appears, and that's fitting, to my way of thinking... at least this way she can live on. I received a photo in a text from him yesterday... she was resting comfortably in a garage next to his '98 Std.

Jim is a couple of years older than I, and he is in less able physical condition... I could have flown home and begun the process of finding a replacement for ALI... or I could buy a bike there and ride back with Jim... and so I did the later. No Valks available, so I considered a new F6B, looked at some Wings, new and used... and took a look at a couple of used VTX 1800s on the floor at the dealer's place... I'd gone there to pay my final respects to my dear friend and to retrieve my tag and a few personal effects...

I learned many things while ALI and I were together... and one that has been emphatically reinforced is that all things eventually wear out, no matter how we might wish otherwise. For the past couple of years, I truly haven't known which of us might go first, but I was starting to believe it just might be this humble rider... Not to be... But in all of this, I've learned again that my time will indeed come... I have much more sand in the bottom chamber of my hourglass now than I do in the top, and this thought has become less an abstract notion and more a very real prospect. That said, my future riding and its requirements will not be the same as they were fourteen and a half years ago...

I ended up buying a '06 black & gold VTX 1800S with 7143 miles on the clock (it had an American speedometer). I haven't owned anything with less than four cylinders since 1977, so getting used to a V-Twin is taking some time. Other than that, however, I like the bike... she handles well, has plenty of pep, corners fine when the tires are properly inflated, and she is quite comfortable to be aboard while cruising down the highway on long rides. She is not ALI, and she is different enough that we'll easily have a different but quite good relationship, I think...

I've named my new ride CALI... for Continued Absolutely Loving It. This also has the added benefits of using my girlfriend's initials (CA), keeping ALI's name in play, and the first three letters of the city where I adopted her (Calgary). So now a new chapter begins... or has already begun! We shared a great ride back to Kansas (never saw Dorothy or Toto though), and she travelled well on the trailer back to Alabama... I miss my dear friend... I like my new friend... Life goes on...

DDT

[old2soon]

Damn Bro. Don't have the proper words. BUT I do understand talkin to her pattin the tank and after a ride prior to leaving the garage I pat her on the trunk and thank her for a fun safe ride.  RIDE SAFE and I hope the V T X treats you half as good as Ali did.

[Black Dog]

Nice OBIT Bruce... 

Kinda cool the way things work out sometimes.

Safe winds.

Black Dog

[Skinhead]

A fitting tribute to a faithful companion.  Well told!  

I'm interested in a post mortum on the tranny though, would sure like to know what wore out in only 400K+ miles.

[Daniel Meyer]

As you say, all things change.

Great post!

Ride on!

[hbeck32]

DDT:
    All good things come to an end, and as you and I have talked about. LIFE GOES ON AND THE WHEELS KEEP ON TURNING.......

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I'll miss ALI  




She was a pretty " thang " after I cleaned her up  


Interstate tank , Cobra lightbar , Hondaline saddlebag rails , Corba floorboards driver & passenger , Hondaline Tourer windshield , 4 piece Ultimate seat with pouch, Hondaline rear luggage rack... I hope you did'nt give her away  


Just a observation on my part but when folks start talking about dying that's when they stop living ....Ride on my friend I look forward to checking out the new to you " Two Lunger " .

[henry 008]

dang bruce, sorry to hear of your loss! but as you say, life goes on, and I hope that you have many more miles and adventures with your new friend. 

safe winds...

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Bruce, I met you at Tommy's Motorsports when you were getting a new tire for Ali on your way to Kentucky. Sorry for the parting of your companion and best wishes with your new relationship (2 wheel)   

[LandElephant]

Why are we so sad. Hell it's a celebration that DDT got to ride all those places and has found a new ride to continue on. Remember Bruce "Aim that front tire and enjoy the adventure".

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Jack]

May she rest in peace.  She's earned it.

[Bronxboy]

That was an Awesome read brother !! 

[Momz]

And the adventure continues.......

[musclehead]

bummer bruce! what was the final tally on miles?

I hope you get as many with your new ride 

[Rams]

bummer bruce! what was the final tally on miles?

I hope you get as many with your new ride 

No Doubt, I've heard many claims as to how far Ali carried you.    Just interested in learning how much I can expect out of my fat lady.

[John Schmidt]

bummer bruce! what was the final tally on miles?

I hope you get as many with your new ride 

His initial post a couple days back said 441K. Well Bruce, I'm glad you at least got it broke in before all this.    Won't seem quite the same not having that silver/black pulling in, but as stated...life goes on. Too bad it happened at a most inopportune time and place. If it had been closer to home the engine could have been swapped out quite easily.

Take care, see ya down the road...somewhere, some place.

[Super Santa]

Great Obituary, Bruce.  Can't wait to see you again and ride together.  Trust the new ride is at least close to what Ali gave you over the years.

[Thunderbolt]

Bruce thanks for getting me off the edge of my seat.  I hope you and CALI have many more miles between you.  HMMMM Glacier and Yellowstone are two places on our list.

[Willow]

I'm sorry for the breakdown.  I'm glad for the adventures you shared.  I'm glad you obtained an acceptable replacement.

Might pass on to the new owner I own two Valkyrie powerplants with transmissions.  I'm sure I'm only one of many.

[Oss]

 

Ali will surely live on in another Valkyrie and in your memories

See you down the road a ways

[Tropic traveler]

Glad I got to meet you & see the legendary Ali earlier this year at the Chiefland Q.
I have a sibling of your beloved Ali & I will think of her when I throw a leg over my black 'n silver '99. 



See you down the road!

[RP#62]

Great post Bruce.  So now you'll know to replace the tranny at 400K on your next one so you don't mess your trips up.

-RP

[Misfit]

Dang Bruce. Sorry for the inconvience. She was a great ride. I wish she would have let go here in Colorado. I would have been honored to fix her up for you. I will miss seeing her when we meet up again but I am glad that she went instead of you. Ride on my friend. 

[eric in md]

great read bruce ,, please never leave us here.. your awesome   ok now my bike only has 108k so its got a long way to go yet.. we need to know was you doing wheelies when it broke? really what kind of oil was you running? how much air was in your tars? what kind of tars was you wearing at the time of death? did you do the double bearing mod to rear wheel maybe that was the cause?  cant wait to see your new love bruce .. take care ride safe see ya soon eric aka the kid       just kidding about all them questions 

[Michael K (Az.)]

Rock on my friend!! I know that you will!

[R J]

Good read on ALI.     That girl done did you good.

I hope the VTX (CALI) takes ya as far as ALI did.

I rode a VTX way back when and it reminded me too damn much of my old CHP Harley's, so I said no thanks and kept ahold of MGM.

MGM 2 months ago, MGM passed the longest age or years I have had the same Motor.

[Jabba]

Darn it... 

we all WANT to know what the final mileage was...

please.

Jabba

[eric in md]

Darn it... 

we all WANT to know what the final mileage was...

please.

Jabba

he said 441,000 of smiles

[flamingobabe #44]

Sad to hear about Ali...she has been there for you for a long time....Organ Transplant...The Gift of Life...she will live on.....good luck with Cali

[Jabba]

Darn it... 

we all WANT to know what the final mileage was...

please.

Jabba

he said 441,000 of smiles

I never saw the original thread.  It wasn't in this one...  

441,000 is a pretty good run.  

I have 41K on my standard... I should be good to go for another 90 years... right?  

Jabba

[eric in md]

Darn it... 

we all WANT to know what the final mileage was...

please.

Jabba

he said 441,000 of smiles

I never saw the original thread.  It wasn't in this one...  

441,000 is a pretty good run.  

I have 41K on my standard... I should be good to go for another 90 years... right?  

Jabba