Whoo-Hoo - We are coming back........

[Strider]

Traveller and I that is.    Well, 2 years ago my lovely child bride started having a series of strokes followed by neurological problems.  So, if I wasn't in Africa, I was spending every day taking care of her.  Time in the wind was put on hold so life could play her hand.  After 2 years, Bonnie was much stronger (not as strong as I had wished - but strong enough for me to be able to go back and forth to Africa and not have to worry that I would have to book an emergency flight out).  Most of her issues now are just neurological and we are working on that.  I think some neurosurgery will be in the future - but that is the future.  And after 2 years, I found myself acting like a shut in when I was at home.....Traveller sat building up a dust layer in the garage and so did my soul.  I WAS GOING STIR CRAZY MAN!!!!!

So when we lost Wizard, I realized that I always thought we would have the future - but now, age and thoughts of mortality occasionally raise their ugly heads.  Bonnie is doing better and has been hounding me to get back into the wind again...."You never ride anymore and I know how much you loved it....don't use me or my condition as an excuse....get your butt back on the bike!!!!" I sat at home being a shut in this week and thought of how much I missed my friends here, feeling the wind cleansing my soul and the fact that my oldest grandson is already 13 - so I only have 3 years or so to build his love of the wind before he is too old to sit on the back of papa's bike.  FB told me that she knew that Bonnie needed me - but we all needed each other as well. Smokin'Joe called to tell me to "Ride On!".... Man, I have got to shake off the negative side of life like a hound dog shaking off after retrieving a ball in the lake - because lately I have had life bow me up like a hound dog passing a pine cone......    Shake it off brother - get back - get back to where you once belonged. (or so Lennon said).

Traveller has not had a drop of gas run through her in over two years.  Unfortunately, I had always planned on cranking her, so sour gas sat in the tank, she was covered in 2 years of dust and shellac filled the carbs and spider webs were on the rusted battery.  I bet I have not put 7k in miles (and all on the 650 Vstrom) since 2011 (when I had bought the Vstrom).  A couple of trips to see Bear and Jill in Florida, one trip to Hotglue and FB and a trip up for burgers at the Q in Michigan with Chilli and Timbrwolf.  Since 2011, that was it.  I didn't post them here since Admin had said that this was not a general MC board but a Valkyrie board - which I totally understood - but since I was on a Vstrom, I didn't talk about them here.  Ok, so it was time to pull Traveller out of the stable........

Spent two days seeing if she would just crank back to life without a major tear down.  She tried, but no luck.  So, off came the tank for a major cleaning.  Carbs are next - they must be filled with shellac after 2 years with gas in them.  So, I ordered the complete carb kit of O-rings and gaskets from Rich over at Redeye Technical Services and they should arrive tomorrow.  WHOOO-HOOOO.  Let me say something about Rich - man, what CUSTOMER SERVICE!  I ordered the parts at 9 pm at night and then an hour later thought that I may as well order the fuel line with filter and quick disconnect as well.  About 11 pm, he emailed me the stuff was in the mail in one box and he refunded the second postal charge and that I would have them in 2-3 days.  That is customer service - plain and simple.  Can't wait.....Hey, who said that?  CAN'T WAIT, CAN'T WAIT, CAN'T WAIT.  

So, while I waited, it gave me that last two days to roll Traveller out in the driveway and start making her feel loved again.





Spent two days and an entire can of Mother's Metal Polish to bring her back - but ya know.......she doesn't look bad for an old lady with 101,000 miles on her, 15 years old and sitting in the back of a garage for two years as she watched me roll a 650 out of the garage for the wind.....(In fact, it was kind of funny.....working on her and a neighbor is walking his dog and come up and says, WOW, what nice bike.  Is it new?  Ummm, No, 15 years old and over 100k miles.  Wow, what is it?????)





Since I had the tin, bags and air box off already, I was able to clean some spots that I am not sure had even cleaned before - even used some Mother's Cleaning Wax on the frame.  Well, she sure looked poorly when I rolled her out - she sure looked a lot better when I rolled her back into the garage this evening.



I was able to get some service manual information over on the VRCC Norway site and O-rings and gaskets should be here tomorrow, so before I rolled her into the garage this evening, I was able to pull the stacks and have the carb block about 50% undone and ready to pull, so tomorrow I should have the carb sets out and start the clean/rebuild.  Going for a new battery and plugs tomorrow while I wait for FedEx to get here......

All I can say is WHOOOOOOOO0-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I feel the wind calling me and soon I will heed the call.................Traveller and I will be back!

More to come as I get Traveller and I back on the road

As Ol' Arnold said, "I'll be back..."

[old2soon]

Sittin fer nigh on ta 2 year have a cursed GOOD look at them tires.  Sounds like ya gotz a good job of work cut out fer yerself.  All the best and the wind WILL wait on ya-she misses all of us.  RIDE SAFE.

[T-Bird]

Good for you Strider,  hopefully we can share some wind together soon

[Oss]

now that is great news

Glad Bonnie is doing well and hope to see your cajun butt in the wind soon

[robin]

Good to hear you are back miss your stories around and all the food shots
GIT ER DONE

[hubcapsc]

It will be good to see you on some rides again  ...

Don't get frustrated with those carbs, they'll go back together  ...

-Mike

[..]

That's excellent news about Bonnie 

[DDT (12)]

I'm sure glad to get the news about Bonnie, Traveler... and YOU! You have been sorely missed around here, my friend... good to have you back!!!

DDT

[Black Dog]

First off, great news about Bonnie 

Secondly, shout out if ya need some help getting Traveler back on the road...  I'm not near by, but I'm sure you have more than a few folks in yer neck of the woods, that would lend a hand 

Third, welcome back Bro    Good to hear from you again!

Black Dog

[solo1]

So glad that Bonnie is doing better AND that she told you to ride.  Some 13 years ago my wife, who was in Intensive Care, told me the same.  I know the feeling!  Once again, I'm so glad that Bonnie is doing well.

That has to be a big load off of your mind.  Now comes the fun and extreme satisfaction of getting back on Traveler after two years.  We are all glad that you're back.

Yes, Wizard's passing made all of us think about mortality and we should do our best to enjoy riding as long as we can.

Don't worry too much about occasionally posting about the Wee Strom.  I've been posting about the V  a little bit and they haven't thrown me out yet.

Wayne, solo1

[John Schmidt]

Hey Bub, about time we heard from the land of Coon Asses again.    Sure glad Bonnie is getting to the point where you can feel safe taking a ride or a trip, I also know first hand how it feels to be in that "caretaker" mode. See ya down the road...somewhere, sometime. 

[Daniel Meyer]

Welcome back!

[Bonzo]

"Not all those who wander are lost"
Welcome back! Sorry to hear about Bonnie's troubles, but very glad to hear about her recovery.

[Punisher]

Glad to see you are still around Warren.   Good to hear that Bonnie is better.

Sure looking forward to some rides with you and hearin' "Whoo Hooo" again in person. 

Hurry up and get Traveller back together and make one of the upcoming rides, FCR or Veteran's Day/Crazyhorse ride.

[Jess Tolbirt]

damn it Strider we missed ya,,, i have changed bikes a couple times since i saw you last,, tell Bonnie hi from all of us,

[f6john]

   I've never ridden with you or even met you, but I have missed your involvement with the board. Your enthusiasm for riding, fellowship, and the Valkyrie is contagious. Sounds like you have been "taking care of business" and that's important too.

[Thunderbolt]

Welcome back Strider.  Seems just like yesterday we met you in Panama City.  Like someone else said we miss your enthusiasm, reminds me of a scooter that was bought and transported to Alabama.

[Valkernaut]

Looks suspiciously like one I used to see around Smith Motorcycles, in Carthage, TN! Mine's been on th' lift table for almost 2yrs. Jeff(used to work for them), has agreed to help me get it back on the road. Good to hear from you - been a while....

Jim Sizemore

[Jack]

  Awesome, just awesome. 

[R J]

Hey Buckwheat,  great to hear your voice again.

That shows ya that Bonnie really loves ya when she will tell you go get in the wind.

Cheers Bro,
RJ

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I've missed your stories too. Glad your wife is doing better and you are back again.

[GotValk]

Welcome back Brother, I know we have never meet but I sure feel like I know you....I've missed your posts.  oh yah Happy Birthday next week!! I know because we have the same day, I think you might have one year on me.

Gary

[Stanley Steamer]

Welcome back buddy....sure miss your detailed posts....hope to see you on a ride one day soon

[MAD6Gun]

 Welcome back. Strider. Sure glad Bonnie is doing well. Hope to see you on down the road......

[eric in md]

   awesome news i missed ya lil guy.. mean it .. cant wait to hug you buddy

[hotglue #43]

Good ta hear from ya Strider!!!  Glad Bonnie is doing better and that you will be back in the saddle...Ya know Bonnie is welcome here!!!! 

[6Banger]

Welcome back! I shared a little bourbon  with you at one of the early Inzanes in Johnson City. Good times, we`ll meet again!

[Pat S.]

Good to here your words again my friend. You have been missed.

Hey Can't wait to see  a PT cruiser again. Maybe we can't talk about this on this site. You know the Valkyrie cops might get mad.

[RDKLL]

Great News Strider!

[Misfit]

Welcome home Warren. Bonnie is a trooper and you did the right thing staying by her side. As far as not posting because of your Suzuki, don't worry about it. I am not sure who said that you shouldn't post here about your Vstrom rides. Scott rides a Vstrom also, so I doubt that he said anything. As an administrator I don't care if you post about riding a hobby horse, a canoe, a skateboard, or anything else. This is a general board and there are several members that no longer even own a Valkyrie and continue to come here. We welcome them all. This started out as a motorcycle club and turned into a family that happens to like motorcycles. You have been missed on the board as well as the gatherings around the country. I am glad to hear that you are going to be hanging around again. The last time we talked you were planning on coming out this way again. Know that you are welcome here anytime. The rest of my family and I would love to have you stop by again soon. Ride safe brother and don't ever think that you are not welcome. 

[Bandit]

Welcome back Hope to get to ride with you again have missed that!!   Bandit

[G-Man]

We was just talking about you at the Mason-Dixie Ride!!!

We stopped at a buffet for lunch and they had

Nanner Puddin' ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Been too long Strider!  Glad to hear all the good stuff and wishing you and Bonnie more of it.

[Ghost]

Welcome back Warren, Hope to see you in the wind. 

[Disco]

Great to hear from you, Strider!  The man camp hasn't been the same without you. 

[Savago]

Yay! Another vstrom rider here too!
\o/

But I have to say that I'm using more and more the dragon lady even for short rides.
:-D

[ChromeDome]

Excellent news about Bonnie!  Glad to see you getting Traveler ready and are planning on getting back into the wind. Hope to see you down the road to share the road and tell some tall tales. 

[#2944]

Hey Strider, good to hear from you and welcome back, seems like a long time ago we changed rear wheel bearings in that Minnesota parking lot.
Zots

[Strider]

Hey Zots!!!  Wow, did that bring back memories....(2009 I think)....right after ya'll led us on that great day of Bobby Dylan and the museum with the display that EVERYONE must see........



And then changing my rear bearing in the parking lot - thank goodness I was riding with the group I was riding with that day - what an awesome job of thinking outside the box....Amazing what can be done with what is in peoples saddlebags, a couple of car jacks and some spare lumber......




Calling Doctor Hotglue!  Calling Doctor Hotglue......."I am a proctologist and carry all the tools I need"



And Brother TP helping out.....what a group!!!  This is what riding is all about - who else could get a rider back on the road in the middle of a parking lot in Minnesota?

[hotglue #43]

Been missin' ya Bro....  but ya know.. ya need to return your calls...and quit changing you cell number...  when ya get a chance .. pm me you contact info..!!!