A warmed over story with a suggestion

[solo1]

from an geezer.

A change from discussing politics and other things that are a PITA.

   

                                                     Soliloquy

The Riding for Summer is here and is a good time to collect and review my thoughts through the years.  A time for looking back and a time for looking forward.  Even a time for not looking at all, just a time for reflecting on the present.  Much can be said for reflecting on all the happenings in my 84 years of life but today I will be exclusive.  My thoughts are revolving around the exclusiveness of riding powered contraptions of only two wheels, or to be more explicit, motorcycling

The Summer of many years ago I enjoyed my first taste of powered two wheeling. A simple engine of 2 ½ horsepower mounted in the frame of a Schwinn bicycle, aptly named the Henderson. At the time, the name Henderson meant nothing to me.  It wasn’t until I visited the Schwinn factory that I realized Henderson was a name associated with one of the first motorcycles ever made.

My brief sojourn into powered riding started with that modest Whizzer. I graduated from that into a series of  motorcycles stepping up in cost and power each time.  My riding skills , by necessity, also stepped up.

The culmination of motorcycling reached the peak for me with the purchase of  a six cylinder motorcycle, a motorcycle that was designed by an enthusiast with me in mind. 

After 13 years of ownership of this marvelous machine, the amazing Valkyrie, I found that my skills were on a downward slope which was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in strength and purpose of my knees.  The bike was simply too heavy to maneuver any longer with my  degrading knees.  I found the bike a new home and a very deserving one. 

The Past is now memories of the wonderful experiences of motorcycling, The joys of wind-in-my-face, the grumblings while riding in bad weather magically turned into a“wow, that was great” rush, the rhythm of the road,  The long miles of almost boredom,  punctuated by threats of damage to me and my machine. All these, are in my memory.

However, memory can be a bad thing. As I get older I must constantly remind myself that there is a difference between remembering the past and living it. Remembering the past and sharing thoughts is MUCH different than living it.

Living the past can result in a down spiraling attempt to interject my experiences into the words and activities of others that are living in the present. . I have had my experiences, others are working on theirs and they must be allowed to do without interference from one who remembers the past but is relearning how to live for today.  And that’s me. 

Living for today, I am looking forward to riding my less inspiring motorcycle using my less inspiring body but still inspired by the RUSH of motorcycling!   I must admit that I’m not setting any kind of record for distance or hours in the saddle for my personal  satisfaction but the riding is all that’s necessary.

 All the things that I’ve had to prove are behind me, I no longer need to prove myself to myself and I am more relaxed.  I’ll ride when I want to, ride short or longer distances if I want to, and not ride at all if I want to. The joys of riding are still there for me if I choose to experience them. New memories are being made.

After all, that’s all that’s necessary.



.Post Script: Now, almost four years later, I  no longer ride and these memories that I have written become even more valuable.  For those making memories, you will find that all of them, good and bad, will be treasures.

GO FOR IT!

Wayne, solo1

[Ice]

Wayne, thank you for sharing your thoughts and you are absolutely right in all respects, I always enjoy your writings.
Even though I am one of the ones still making the memories you speak of, as I get older I too reminisce on days gone by, however I am still searching for that ultimate memory and in one sense hope to never find so I can continue the search and the adventure.
No matter what you are riding/driving these days, you understand what it's all about and I thank you for sharing.

Yuri

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks  A very nice story and reminder of the simple things in life.

[Karen]

You did it again, Wayne, thank you!

[old2soon]

Wayne I was fortunate enough to add to my own memory banks on the Missouri F C R. My day for 3 wheels or a lighter M/C are approaching. I hope and PRAY I handle it with the grace you have Wayne.  RIDE SAFE.

[BobB]

Wayne, thanks for your thoughtful words.  I too have reached that age where I have to evaluate how much longer I will be riding the Valk.  However, I'm not sure a trike or lighter bike will be the answer.  My Valk is comfortable, handles and brakes very well, and is appointed with a lot of lighting and safety equipment.  Only holding the weight with faulty knees is a concern.  Getting to Inzane in WV next year may be a challenge but I'm still up for those...
 

[gabby]

     Wayne and all others,
     I too had a very hard decision to make when I first bought my Valk.  I was recovering from a 5 bypass for my heart and a pacemaker as well.   The only thing I had on my mind was "  I want to own a Valkyrie".  The Dr. thought I was somewhat crazy but  I still wanted a Valk.  I hunted for a year and was given a lead on a green/silver 99 I/S in nearby Ohio.  I made contact and waited another year for the healing to continue.  When I was almost completely healed, I bought the I/S and just wanted to RIDE IT LIKE I HAD STOLEN HER .  Another year past as I wanted to make sure I was ready.
     
     On a warm Thursday morning, I was eyeballing my Valk.  She wanted to go for a ride and I felt it was time.  I rode her down the driveway on to the highway and she was purring.  Traveled on to the larger 4 lane highway.  Very little traffic and SHE WAS BEGGING---L  E  T ' S     F  L  Y!!!  WE did., until the thought struck in my head---How do you stop this thing--There is a stoplight approaching---I would have to stop--CAN I DO  THIS ?

      Instead of going on the highway---I turned off right handed and   T   R  I  E  D  putting my left foot down.  I am 5 foot 8  1/2 and I discovered that I  WAS  2  INCHES  TOO SHORT  !!!
Was not fun holding up over 900 pounds of bike,  leaning left,  small pebbles wanting me to drop her,
sweating like a cold dishrag was on my head  !!!!   I throttled her up and behold--She stood right up and on to my home a short three miles away.  She now came up for sale.  If My dream was shot and I was so miserable.  My dream was dead.  She was so pretty, and she had rode like a dream was supposed to.

     A good friend was called to tell him of my adventure and his immediate response was  "TRIKE IT ".
Best answer to a lot of praying and self doubt of losing  her.  Before Oct. came I had made a choice to have a California Sidecar Conversion applied that winter.  She was even more beautiful than I had ever imagined.    Her BIG  BUTT  was such a sight to see  and green too!!!  I now have rode over 30k miles from Ky. thru W.Va.  Tenn., Ga., Ind. Ohio, Penn.  and many other destinations.  Sure I was short,  BUT  trikeing  was my answer and I will try to ride my Phat Lady anywhere she desires and I feel up to.

     That is my story and I am sticking to it.  I am in the wind and she loves getting wind up her skirts blowing on her rear end.  Life is good  !!!

Gabby   


 

[old2soon]

Uh-Gabby you already spent long green BUT 11 inch shocks would have done it AND you could have slid the forks up about an inch or so!  But as you stated you ARE in the wind AND STILL riding a  Valkyrie!  RIDE SAFE.

[Willow]

Uh-Gabby you already spent long green BUT 11 inch shocks would have done it AND you could have slid the forks up about an inch or so!  But as you stated you ARE in the wind AND STILL riding a  Valkyrie!  RIDE SAFE.

Shorter shocks weren't needed, Dennis.  I'm five feet seven and three quarters with a thirty inch inseam.  I don't have a problem with a normally suspended Valkyrie.  If an extra wheel makes Gabby comfortable then that is what will work.