extreme neglect and sloppiness

[DirtyDan]

"If that's your image of bad ass I want to be entirely good ass.  

That's just a picture of extreme neglect and sloppiness. "

thats a quote from willow from the "high mileage valkyrie" thread



the photo in question



"extreme neglect and sloppiness"  REALY ?

that picture was taken in the parking lot of mcdonalds in fairbanks ALASKA

on my way back from....



here

and



here

i asked a while ago if ANYONE on this board has been there on their valk. one person put up a pic of some guy from japan who did it, along with the prymids and mount everest. NO ONE on this board has shown us the valk at the artic circle picture....except ME

sloppiness ? it was clean {mostly} when i started up, thats what it looked like when i got back.
to the uneducated or inexperinced who dont know, let me assure you there are NO washing facilitys on the haul road.

you can drink your water or wash your bike with it

show me your clean bike picture on your way back from atigun pass

neglect ? of what ?

short of washing everyday, that bike is VERRY well matained thank you verry much

as for a bunch of crap on the back, no crap there. 2nd saddle bags hold my boots. for health reasons i am much more comfortable in shoes so i wear them as much as i can. boots are big and take up one whole saddle bag. other one holds food and water, extra chlothes.

ask youself how much stuff would you carry on a 3 1/2 month 22K mile trip

as for extreme........well i guess so

a poor choice of words

dan

ps im thinking of changing my nickname to DIRTYdan  

[Gryphon Rider]

I guess I missed the post where you were accused of such. 

[Detn8er]

It seems to me that you have a story you want us all to read.......  
So type it out and we'll read it.  
Besides it's your bike.....Do with it as you wish.

[Former BMW Guy]

I guess I kinda missed it too.
But personally, if I saw a motorcycle that looked like that I'd search out the owner and shake his hand!!
Somewhere I have a pic of my RS in similar condition somewhere in Alaska...if I find it I'll post it.
BTW...I tip my helmet to ya!

Joe P

[Jeff K]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,51704.40.html

[Former BMW Guy]

Thanks Jeff; I just read the post in question.
While I don't have a dog in this fight, I don't understand the criticism.
Dan's bike is clean compared to my (BMW) after some of my Iron Butt rides when I was competing. 11,000 miles in 10 days....6,000 in 5, etc.

FWIW I would be honored to ride with Dan!
I don't say that about many "riders" I've met over the years

Joe P

[F6BANGER]

Dan,

Whats going on with your right side exhaust?

[DirtyDan]

i updated the post with the article in question

i knocked off my right side exhaust cover going up this



schafer trail in the canyonlands utah back in 07

so i wraped the exposed pipes with some heat tape, then wraped an aluminum cookie sheet around it. covered the whole thing with some 3-inch hose clamps

dan

[Flrider]

Dan

Hats off to you!!!

One day when I grow up, I might be able to do the same  

Don't worry about peoples comments, maybe someone was having a bad day or maybe did not know the story behind the picture.
Either way, it is your bike, whatever makes you happy.

Be safe out there  

[Momz]

A DIRTY BIKE is not a TRAILER QUEEN! Ride proud.

[fudgie]

Hats off to you.
When I'm on a trip the last thing I worry about is a clean bike. Thats what why I pay them chics at a bikini car wash $40. 
I've had alot of mud and sand caked on mine b4. Worse sand I ever ridden in was in So Dakota after a huge rain storm. Plow trucks had to be used to remove the sand off the roads.

My HD bud never has washed his in the ten yrs Ive known him. He 'ghost rode' it a few yrs ago and when it went down it cracked the batwing. He riveted a PBR can to hold it together. 2 screw drivers is used to start it.
Area farmer's HD is so rusted out bumper stickers hold it together. A old trailer tire is used for a seat.

[fudgie]

A DIRTY BIKE is not a TRAILER QUEEN! Ride proud.

[old2soon]

A DIRTY BIKE is not a TRAILER QUEEN! Ride proud.

I stated before and i will repeat myself-looks to me like a bike that is RRIDDEN.  I wash mine once in awhile. Don't waste time washing my Valkyrie when i'm traveling. And when i'm home and it's nice and if i have a choice tween washin and ridin-RIDIN wins out every single durn time.  RIDE SAFE.

[Xtracho]

Hell I wish I could ride mine that much to get it that way! Ride on brother! Ride on!

[..]

i updated the post with the article in question

i knocked off my right side exhaust cover going up this



schafer trail in the canyonlands utah back in 07

so i wraped the exposed pipes with some heat tape, then wraped an aluminum cookie sheet around it. covered the whole thing with some 3-inch hose clamps

dan

I went up that last summer on my ST1300.

What a beautiful view from the top. Amazing.

[DirtyDan]

you made it all the way up ?

i salute you sir

my tow truck driver gave me a B+, crushed my kickstand safety switch on a rock

one switchback from the top

435 dollars nations towing moab

one of the scaryist things ive done in my life......... priceless

dan

[Jeff K]

We did that ride too, in a Jeep!
Left the Valk at the hotel and rented a Jeep.

[..]

you made it all the way up ?

i salute you sir

my tow truck driver gave me a B+, crushed my kickstand safety switch on a rock

one switchback from the top

435 dollars nations towing moab

one of the scaryist things ive done in my life......... priceless

dan

Going up was a darn sight easier than the sports toureres I saw comign down.

I reckoned if they can come down I can get up. Was like riding on a giant washboard.

Car tire on the ST helped with traction on the deep loose badly graded gravel. It's a long way down especially when it feels like the bike is going in any direction it wants to.

[Chillerman]

Perhaps Willow was having a bad day. His comments were certainly unWillow like. Maybe he was celebrating his birthday early  

Congrats on your trip to the circle 

[mario]

i don't know about any name calling, but i'm reading a book called 'motorcycle stories' by piet w. boonstra.  a great read.  he rode enduro as a youth and later in life made several solo runs (among other ride stories solo and with others) from new york state to alaska.  the man likes/liked to RIDE! 

congrats on the dirty valk and road trip. 

that's one more reason i love my vstrom-i don't give a rat's arse how dirty it gets and no chrome to clean.  now my valk's a horse of a different color....

[BF]

I've said it before......

Dude, you're my hero.   I bow to your greatness. 

[Mr Whiskey]

If it's got oil in the crankcase, & air in the tires, ride it!
I also tip my hat to ya. Looks like a ride of a lifetime! Glad you enjoyed it & thanks for sharin'.
Peace, Whiskey.

[wiggydotcom]

Dan,

I can't speak for anyone else but I do agree with the idea that the original picture, without your explanation about your trip, might have created the interpretation it was a neglected bike. Your next pic of you standing next to it clearly showed it cleaned up pretty well.

I can probably safely say I'll never be able to duplicate your trip but I sure do appreciate you sharing it with us. I'd LOVE to hear some posts about it if you could ever find the time. Or better yet, I'd love to be in an audience or one on one with you at Inzane this year and hear about your adventure.

The closest thing I ever did was go on a 5700 mile 17 day trip out west and back. It was too agressive for that time frame and we didn't get to stop and smell the roses as we went. When it was all over, it seemed like a blur. So I can appreciate the amount of miles you tackled. I salute you as a fellow rider! 

[F6TRVLR]

 Dan,

I've been to Prudhoe Bay twice on my interstate along with 2 other Valk riders. We went in 2005 and 2010. I've also ridden from Brasil to Ushuaia, Argentina then back to California through 21 countries including Columbia. Hats off to you for your rides!

[steve 3054]

Dan I am proud for you!!!  When I saw the pic I knew the bike had been on a trip, maybe a trip from hell but never thought the bike was neglected...funny though I go to the Rune rally every year and it is a funny site everyone washing their bikes everyday...I go to ride and they go to wash their bike...to each their own...

[MacDragon]

You missed a spot...   Congrats on a long, hard ride.

[Patrick]

All I can say is that you're a riding son of a gun. More power to ya ! Keep on a goin' !

[Romeo]

You sir, are a breed apart. Nothing but admiration here. I can only dream of making such a trip. I will say, the pass in Utah may be even more impressive to me, as I suffer from a certain affliction when on mountain passes. A little thing called "extreme ass pucker". I get squeamish just thinking about attempting something like that.

[~ Timbrwolf]

Hey Dan,


. . ....Rock on with your bad self ! ..   

[Jabba]

Yeah man.  That's bad ass and I am jealous.

I am sure Willow wasn't really trying to insult you.  That's just not his way.  It was either meant as a joke... or someone posted on his account for him. 

Either way... don't get riled up over it.

I say ALL the time, "If it's nice enough to WASH my Valk, it's nice enough to RIDE it too."  Mine get washed off a couple times a year usually.  Other than that, all I do is hit it with Joe's juice or honda spray in the garage when it's crappy out.



Ride on man.  Alaska is on my bucket list.  I don't know if I'll ever get to cross it off... but I will be eyeing it until I do.

Jabba

[fudgie]

I am sure Willow wasn't really trying to insult you.  That's just not his way.  It was either meant as a joke... or someone posted on his account for him. 

Either way... don't get riled up over it.

Wow I just went and read his response. I must say my mouth did drop.  It dont sound like willow but maybe he was having a bad day.
I had one last week. I was fed up with a pts family and I looked at my partner and said 'J-C, I'm done!' She just laughed which she always done when I go off.

[Willow]

I don't wish to throw fuel on the fire, but I feel the need to clarify a few points.

First I want to take nothing away from Dan's trip to the Arctic Circle.  I'm sure it was a grand adventure and no small accomplishment.

My comment which stirred up this hornets' nest was in response to someone's commenting that you could tell the bike was a real tourer by the look of it.  If one were to scroll down a few boxes one would see that I said that you could not tell whether the bike was or was not from that picture.

My use of the term "extreme neglect" may have been a bit over the top.  There are at least two things that have a tendency to rub me the wrong way.  One is a Valkyrie that's packed in such a way as look like the Beverly Hillbillies on a two wheeled tour.  Some people like that.  I don't happen to be one of those people.  Another is bragging.  My experience has been that people who brag a lot generally don't have much to brag about.  I've been wrong more than once in the past.

I was not particularly the dirt on the bike that was my issue.

I'm okay with any and all who disagree with me.  That's what makes this world interesting.  I'm okay with Dan choosing to ride what and how he rides.  It's just not something to which I aspire.

If you truly wish to understand my perspective work the math.

Do what it takes to help you enjoy the road.  Ride how you choose to ride and with whom you choose to ride.

It's all I'll have to say on this matter.  Feel free to continue the discussion.

[Oss]

oh my gawd Mario

I have posted before about this 87 year old named Piet (pronounced Pete)
who lives near me, I almost bought his GS back in 2007
that rides to alaska every year to see his grandkids. Saw him again this fall selling his books he has 2

I have been to his house and ridden his GS and he is a local hero  He told me that my car tire was OLD SCHOOL that in his day there were NO motorcycle tires and all rode thru the woods on car tires  He was a champion racer

A half day ride is like 800 miles for him been to alaska on wings the GS and Vstroms He will do 1100 or 1200 miles just one after the other amazing man

If you can read his books please do so he is a local treasure

Dan some day we will meet and share some wind I am sure you know how to reach me next time you want to go thru the hudson valley

[hotglue #43]

Dan!!!! sounds like a GREAT adventure!!!!!  Thanks for sharing.... Feel free to post more on your adventure Please!!!

[Misfit]

I'm with Mark. Share some more adventures. Motorcycling is what this place is about. 

[DirtyDan]

first off id like to say hats off to britman for making it up the schafer trail, you the man

second i would like to thank all of you for you support and positive comments

i will post some more adventures when i get more pictures up on photobucket

"its not bragging if you have done it"

dan

[fudgie]

I want to hear about whats going on in that profile pic of yours.  

[Blues]

Dirty Dan, you da man!  What an epic ride.  My son did it riding in the back of a truck but I want to do it on tow wheels some day.  Wish I could have been your wingman!

Geez Willow, thanks for the explanation/defense.  Glad you don't come off sounding like a stuffed shirt.

[DirtyDan]

well fudgie that profile picture is me doing the one and only burnout ive ever done in my life

what can i say i was called out, do a burn out or be a coward....... do i strike you as the coward type? 

PS i got thrown out of that campground so i dont go back

too much attitude, nothing backing it up

hey blues... i got a riding buddy in arkanssas north of conway. next time i am in area maybe we can go riding njdanvalk@hushmail.com

dan

[Oklahoma_Valk]

I've seen so many photos of pristine and beautiful bikes, that it's interesting to see one now and then that has been thrashed and is still ticking.

Anyone else wanna share some sweet action photos of their ridden hard ladies?

Here's some Daniel Meyer posted on the High Mileage thread. Super nasty action shots! I've seen some pics that Dan posted before, which led me to stumble upon his books, which led me to understand how exactly a valkyrie comes to look like the one below! Pretty awesome stuff.