Please read

[Aries]

To all those that choose to indulge:

 Please allow this to be a continuation of a previous topic titled " Tire Pressure " wherein a club member had asked me if my usage of the title " second generation " meant I was a rune owner.

I feel it obligatory to explain in further detail. The answer the question is no. I believe my answer to this question contains so much more substance that I wish to share with the rest of the club.

 My back story and introduction into this fine group of riders begins around five years ago. I had the pleasure of working with a one of the finest and most qualified new construction and development Project Managers I could have hoped to work with. My coworker and friend is around 20 years my elder ( I believe 66 at this time ) and during the last several years, has had such a positive impact on those whom he's had the oppertunity to mentor. My friend and former coworker has for the last 5 years, tried to to get me to purchase his 99 standard black and orange Valkyrie. As we moved from project to project, it seemed he and I would go through the exact same exercise as we did the year before with my wife and I visiting his garage to discuss the purchase his valk. Each time, I would come up with a different reason as to why we didn't need a motorcycle while my wife repeatedly accused me of being a wimp because I constantly found reasons to not take the plunge. Well, as fate would have it, my friend succumbed to a bilateral stroke last year and was left incapacitated to the point where his speech, balance and memory was negatively impacted. With all his valiant effort put toward " getting it together " in order to come back to work, my friend eventually chose to cash in his chips and succumb to the life of retirement. I say succumb because for some, it's not necessarily by choice but by circumstance. Days later, viewing his empty office next to mine and being left with that uncomfortable feeling in ones gut when a friend is lost, I was offered a promotion to step into the shoes of a man of which I had the highest and utmost respect for. Without hesitation I accepted, not for the oppertunity of money or status, but for the oppertunity to carry on with his legacy of positive influence and devotion to team work within our group. To me, this was the torch being passed down. Shortly thereafter, mirroing each time before, the call came asking me, no....this time, requesting me to take to valk off his hands fully knowing that he would never have the balance and mechanics needed to operate the lady again safely on the highway.

 However, this time....things would be different than before. Taking over the valk would no longer be a favor to a friend, it would be a responsibility. Within a week, she would be loaded on my 5 X 9 trailer and heading to the shop for a carb rebuild, fluid change, new tires, new fork seals, new shield and new gaskets. She presently sits in my garage, patiently waiting as a caged animal just wishing for that oppertunity to be set free to run untethered to do what she was meant to do. Somehow I think deep down inside, he knew that in my hands, that would be her destiny.

All that said, I circle back to answer the question that was posed during my last post. To me, my usage of the title second generation is used as a badge of honor. An honor extended to those before us that paved the way and built the foundation for those to follow. I'm glad to continue to " carry the torch " for those before me. On this blog alone I have been witness to several topics recently posted sharing the hardships of friends lost to illness, careers that have come to an unexpected end and restrictions placed on our aged limbs that no longer allow us to enjoy some of the things we were so passionate about in the younger years. Those of you know who you are and I am glad to say that at 46 and the father of a young child, I will and do remember the sacrifices that you made for our generation and I will try my damnist to make sure the generation behind me never forgets those before them.

And to think, who would have thought the simple purchase of a used motorcycle could have such a huge impact on the soul.

Ride safe my new friends

[t-man403]

Hear Hear!!

Well said young man!

[msb]

Nice story Aries, with a very positive message..... it appears as if you'll fill your friend's shoes quite well - in all respects. Enjoy your Valkyrie

[Oss]

and you have gained a family as well

Here's to your friend and the continuing adventure of his Valkyrie

[Valkorado]

Welcome Aries!  They say Valkyries choose their riders; it sounds like this one has been preparing you for quite a while.  Your friend left you more than a great bike, he left you a legacy.  Take the time to get used to her, then cut her loose!  

[MacDragon]

Nicely written Aries. Welcome to the zoo.  Lots of animals here... but we don't bite.  Congrats on the new beast we call the Dragon.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very nice story. Thanks for sharing it with us. 

[Willow]

Well written, Aries and congrats on the new ride.

I don't think the question regarding 1800 was whether you own a Rune.  Honda has recently (in the past few years) released new lines on scaled down Wings and have applied the names Valkyrie and F6B.  To distinguish between the classic and the new release Valkyrie owners normally refer to the current 1800 (1832) cc models as second generation Valkyries.  You are quite correct in that Honda did name the Rune the Valkyrie Rune so perhaps we should call the current models the third generation Valkyries.

    

[John Schmidt]

Agreed, a well written item. To sorta keep your friend in the circle, take pictures of your various rides to share with him so that he might still enjoy the ride through your adventures. 

[havoc]

thanks for posting these fantastic and inspiring words good sir

[czuch]

That's a solid way to define Honor, right there.

[MP]

Well written, Aries and congrats on the new ride.

I don't think the question regarding 1800 was whether you own a Rune.  Honda has recently (in the past few years) released new lines on scaled down Wings and have applied the names Valkyrie and F6B.  To distinguish between the classic and the new release Valkyrie owners normally refer to the current 1800 (1832) cc models as second generation Valkyries.  You are quite correct in that Honda did name the Rune the Valkyrie Rune so perhaps we should call the current models the third generation Valkyries.

    

This makes it confusing as far as parts. 

"Yes, I have that for a Valkyrie."  Then, find out it is one of the two newer models.

[Bighead]

Ride her with pride also the Fat Gurls like to have their tails twisted every so often

[art]

Great story,welcome aboard. I don't ride anymore but still like to read the stories on this board. I recently had some conversation with the daughter of Donald the Doc who passed away in his sleep about a year age. He was a Valk rider and both him and I rode together when ever I got a chance to visit Socal. She posted a picture of his Valk and said she rides with the new owner once in a while. He bought it from the family and he is a former riding buddy of Donald and a friend of the family. It's nice to see that the bike is still being used and enjoyed by her. I do wish I knew where my Valk was since selling it.