The Bikes That Built Me

A fellow blogger, Gary France, recently published pics of the bikes that he has owned in his lifetime. After reading it, I began thinking about the bikes that I have owned and realized that these bikes did, in many ways, build me.

I grew up in a lower middle income neighborhood on the edge of a dusty West Texas town. While money was very tight for every family I knew, it was not uncommon for a motorcycle to appear in the driveway when the male teens approached their 15th birthday, the age at which we could obtain a motorcycle driver's permit in Texas. As teens, we were a sometimes wild, but a pretty industrious group of kids - mowing lawns, paper routes, working at the local Whataburger, and other typical first jobs to earn a little coin. And we were more than willing to put up a fair share of those proceeds towards the purchase of our first bike.

My story was no different. I inherited a paper route from an older brother when I was 13 and immediately began dreaming of buying a motorcycle when my first month's profits were deposited in the bank. For two years I delivered the paper route on my bicycle - 15 miles twice a day in the sun, wind, rain, sleet and snow...uphill both ways. I saved every dollar and constantly worked on my parents to let me upgrade to a motorcycle. My mom was a big believer in the perils of motorcycles and, to this day, I'm not sure I ever won her blessing. But I did eventually get the bike.

Photo from the Internet.

It was a 1973 Suzuki TS100 and it was a real beauty. Our neighborhood was surrounded on three sides by a vacant field, a creek, and farmland. This "enduro" model was the best of both worlds - most of the creature comforts of a street bike with the suspension and tire clearance that could handle some light off-roading. The 'light off-roading' occaisonally included jumping over friends and their bikes using self-made moguls as launch and landing pads. The only accessory added was a luggage rack that made it easier (and safer) to hold my worn newspaper delivery saddle bags.

I learned a lot from that first bike experience. First, long-term goals can be realized if you work hard. Two, salesmanship. Not only did I have to sell the paper delivery service to my customers, I had to sell the concept of certain danger on wheels to my highly risk averse parents. But even parents couldn't argue with the concept of business productivity. I was now able to deliver my paper route in half the time! Three, despite what it looks like when Evil Knievel does it on television, coming down after a high jump can hurt! Why didn't they ever include those, "Please don't try this at home" warnings back then?

Four, my mom was right, motorcycles are dangerous. I had two accidents on that bike - the only accidents that I have experienced! One that involved taking a shortcut where I shouldn't have and hitting a single strand of barbed wire that an annoyed farmer so kindly put up. And the other involved being hit by a drunk driver at 2am, which gave me my fifth learning - the advantage of leverage. The drunk driver was a car salesman driving a demo car and while the accident did little more than swing my rear tire out from under me, breaking the gear shifter, and scraping a couple of places on the bike and my butt, he was scared to death of the potential legal and criminal consequences. A tidy little settlement soon followed.

My sixth lesson was...re-sale matters. I got my money's worth out of that bike from the paper route and fun alone. I kept it in tip-top shape and sold it to an airman at the local Air Force base for almost what I paid for it three years earlier and I've been wheeling and dealing ever since.

My second bike came along when I was in college. I don't recall exactly how it happened, but along the lines of bigger is better, I bought another Suzuki enduro, the TS400, my junior year.

Photo from the Internet.

I used the bike to go to/from work, but really didn't get all that much use out of it as I recall, though it did provide some additional learnings. First, just because you're older doesn't mean you have to grow up. The reality may not always match the memory, but you have to give it a try once in a while. Second, brand matters. Maybe it was because my first bike was a Suzuki. Maybe it was because Suzuki really was the better bike in the day. But you couldn't have sold me any other brand at the time. And the third lesson was...re-sale matters. I made money on selling this one. Wait a second, I can ride for a year for free AND pull a profit if I buy right? Hmmm...

I then entered the dark years...some 20+ of them where I didn't own a bike. Oh, I would occasionally get the itch and ride a friend's bike, but life just happened and I went a LONG time without riding. Then Phil showed up.

Like many of us, Phil had been on/off bikes over the years, but somehow got the bug to buy a Harley. A beautiful Road King, I might add. I think he knew from the day he rode up that I was in trouble, but it took me a few more months to come to that realization.

My day came when I happened across a 2000 Heritage Softail Classic. It was painted two-tone, Aztec Orange and Diamond Ice, a color combination available for only two years (1999-2000). The Seller had won the bike with a $10 raffle ticket, rode it for less than a year, and was selling it so that he could buy a ranch (including mineral rights) that would soon be determined to be in the heart of a natural gas field known as the Barnett Shale - the largest onshore natural gas find in the United States. He easily turned that $10 raffle ticket into a $100K royalty stream.  

Photo from the Internet. I didn't have the whitewall tires,
it but otherwise looks like my maiden Harley!

My bride was a reluctant biker wife, telling me, "I'm not going to be one of those biker bitches you hear about." We went to the local H-D dealership that weekend and within 15 minutes of walking in the door, my lovely bride came up with both arms full of leather and lace exclaiming, "Look what I found and it's all on sale!" She too had crossed over.

The Heritage Softail Classic was a great bike, but I made the mistake of riding a friend's Road King Classic about a year later. By then, we were taking regular overnight trips on the bike and the Road King's touring frame seemed to provide a MUCH better ride. So I made the ultimate Harley transaction - converting a friend of mine from a crotch rocket to my Heritage and rescuing a Road King Classic from an owner who never used it. And a new rider group was born.

IMO, the Road King Classic will be one of the classic Harley models. This bike was my primary ride for eight years, but along the way, we sampled a few others. After a few years of riding bitch, Liz decided she wanted to move into the rider seat. She took the motorcycle safety course and her graduation present was another classic, a 1997 Heritage Springer. 

The Heritage Springer was a pleasure to look at...and rode like a brick. Looking back, it was not exactly the best bike for a new rider, BUT LOOK AT IT! Determined to enjoy her new-found freedom, Liz cut her teeth on it and did very well on the open road. But with limited time to ride and hone her skills, she eventually opted to return to the passenger pillion and we sold the bike to a nice gentleman in Florida who was returning to riding after a long absence. He flew-in for the day. I picked him up at the airport, brought him back for a test ride and inspection, then back to the airport. He was absolutely giddy on the ride back, calling the shipper on his cell so that it could be delivered at the earliest possible date.

But I'm a trader at heart, so we dabbled in a few other bikes along the way...

I rescued a Fatboy from a guy who had been out of work for a while and had to quickly relocate to secure a new job. On the ride home, I discovered it needed new cylinder gaskets and I needed new jeans (mine were soaked with oil). Also a 1997 model, it was a lighter and smoother ride than the Heritage Springer. Once all the repairs were made, it became the first bike of a new rider in Houston. His wife said that he smiled all the way home.

A few months later, I ran across a deal on a 2001 Dyna Low Rider. Thinking it might be the bike to get Liz back in the rider seat, I bought it and shined it up. But it was a busy time for both of us and Liz's back condition was really starting to be of concern. After five months of sitting on the trickle charger in the garage, we reluctantly put it up for sale so that another first time rider could get his charge.

We're now touring with a little more creature comfort - a 2009 Ultra Classic. I just couldn't resist the upgrade in the larger engine, 6-speed transmission, new touring suspension, and new electronics that wasn't available in the trusted 1999 Road King Classic. And the cruise control is icing on the cake!

The lessons learned with these bikes followed those in the early years:

• Buy what you will ride - it really doesn't matter what brand or model, just get out there and enjoy!
• Only buy what you can easily afford - you don't want your passion to become your burden, and
• If you buy right up-front, you can (almost) ride for free!

But the greatest lesson learned is to enjoy the wind in our hair, the smell of flowers (and, in Texas, occaisonal dead skunk), and reconnecting with each other. Liz and I have always enjoyed driving to explore the great USA and doing it on the bike makes the experience even more vivid.

Every bike has a story. What's yours?

© 2011 Twisted Road Motorcycle Company, LLC

This, my Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving in the USA and despite the many challenges facing our world, we must remind ourselves that we still have much to be thankful for on this special day. For me, this Thanksgiving is about re-connecting with what matters most.

My middle child, Emily (a.k.a. Emmers), is the non-conforming, free spirited artist in the familiy. A couple of years ago, she surprised me with a charcoal sketching of my father as a birthday present. The sketch, based on a picture taken at my oldest daughter's wedding, captures Dad in his "think before you talk" pose, with his hand reaching up to remove his beloved pipe, just before he is about to share his quick wit or years of wisdom on the topic of the moment. Needless to say, the sketch was framed and is prominantly displayed in our house. She is so gifted...and she doesn't even know it.

Emmers has had a tough go after graduating in May with a Bachelors in Art History. Eager to start a life of her own, the tough economy has prevented her from finding that perfect first real job. The search has been exhausting and, I suspect, downright depressing when one of the few interviews doesn't yield the expected outcome. Sadly, I know she is not alone in her quest. I read yesterday that 46% of American youth between the ages of 16 and 24 are unemployed today.

Being a very pragmatic, business-type myself, I tend to think in terms of reading a market trend and planning for the future, all while enjoying a little bit of the Road today. When it comes to education and work ethic, I'm admittedly hard on the kids because life doesn't cut you many breaks. So I tend to ride her pretty hard about how aggressively she is - or isn't - pursuing work on any given day.

So, as you might deduce, we haven't always seen eye-to-eye lately...

But Emmers continues the search while pursuing her real passion...writing. Seems she has used the downtime since graduation to complete her debut novel, the first of a romantic vampire themed trilogy. We've had a professional editor review the book and she advised that it is definately publishing-caliber material, so the search for the right literary agent is on. This kid definately has talent.

Similar to a cat, Emmers expresses her love on her terms. And for what ever reason, we have always been able to connect when it comes to a motorcycle cruise. She definately has a way of making her old man feel special when she nudges me and says, "Come on, Pops, let's take a ride." Then again, I need little tempting. I have no doubt that she will end up having her own bike at some point in her life. But for now, I'm going to hold our two-up ride times near and dear to the heart.  
 
So this morning, as the outside temp approached 60 degrees and the turkey was cooking away in the oven, Emmers gives me the nudge, despite knowing that her mother had but one request of me on this Thanksgiving - no cruises while the extended family is here visiting. I told you, Emmers does things on her own terms.
 
After a little negotiating with Mom, we're into our riding leathers and on our way. We barely say a word for the first hour of the ride. None was needed. We were both enjoying the cool fall breeze and the sights and occasional smells along the way. As we reached the turn-around point, I stopped for gas and some beer for the crowd back at the house (one of the negotiation "gives").
 
That's when it happened...
 
As we were getting back on the bike, she caught me unprepared and when she stepped on the footboard to get on-board, I lost balance and down we went. It was the first (public) drop of the new bike. Yes, I confess, I did have a private drop while turning around on a narrow county road about a month after taking delivery of the new wheels.  But in my defense, the Ultra Classic IS a little top-heavy and the road WAS extremely narrow...and uneven. And when I put my foot down, Newton's Law just took over. But it wasn't that bad, at least that time it was in dirt!
 
So we quickly upright the bike, get on, and off we go. Emmers was afraid to say anything or even adjust for comfort in the seat, fearing I was pissed about dropping the new bike. I wasn't pissed, just confused about how I could have dropped it...again. I've been riding for over thirty-five years and never had it happen before this bike. Must have been the 30-pack of beer that I put in the tour-pak, I surmised. About five minutes down the road, Emmers taps me on the back and says, "Damn, guess we don't look cool anymore." I about lost it laughing.
 
So, once again, one of my children has taught me a lesson about life. It doesn't matter that work is crazy, along with half the world around us, or that you might have put a scratch on one of your prized possessions...or your ego. What matters most is spending time with family and friends...laughing and doing what you love with those you love.
 
On this special holiday, I hope you spent some time on the Road with someone you love too. Happy Thanksgiving.
 
LEGAL DISCLAIMER. No bike was actually scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged on this journey. And for the record, Emmers, that's strike one!

© 2009 TRHG Holdings LLC

Postscript - Done Deal

We ended up renting an Ultra Classic from Lone Star Harley-Davidson in Tyler the weekend we returned from our trip to the Hill Country and put 350 miles on it in less than 24 hours. It was everything we'd hoped and Liz's back was feeling MUCH more comfortable. After a few days of haggling with the the sales manager, Joe "The" Mann, we struck a deal comparable to the offer down south.

Sold my precious Road King Classic yesterday to a nice fella from Conway, Arkansas. He had just sold his rice burner and wanted to make some thunder of his own.

Sometimes, things just work out on the Road.

© 2009 TRHG Holdings LLC

It's for her comfort, not mine!

Day 2
As we were eating breakfast, Liz notices an ad for the H-D dealer in Boerne, Javelina Harley-Davidson. "I've got to have one of their t-shirts," she proclaimed, "that should be a cool one!"

And just like that, my weeks of planning this journey changed.

We finished our Rooty Tooty Fresh with No Fruity and multiple cups of java, then headed south on TX-16 towards Bandera. About 11 miles south of Kerrville, the road turns to biker heaven. "This is the place," I exclaimed, "This is where we need to put Thunder Road!"

Seems the storms from last night stalled just west of Bandera and by the time we turned east for our final leg of the run to Boerne, the storms came rolling in. It was a race to the dealership...we won. The reward for our victory was a covered parking space on the side of the building.

Now, I must confess, I have the occasional drifting eye...and the 2009 Ultra Classic has caught my attention for some time. It would be for Liz's comfort, not mine, of course - her having a bad back and all. Truth be told, I've had my eye on a 2007 and 2008 as well, ever since H-D started introducing upgrades to the touring models. My '99 Road King Classic has been my steady for 8 years, so I'd been breaking it to her gently. Besides, I didn't want to piss her off while on the road, you know.

So we walk in the door of Javelina H-D and there she was - long sleek lines, all the chrome right where it ought to be. New suspension and wide rear tire, "This baby's got back!", I thought to myself. While Momma was distracted making her t-shirt selection, I strike up a conversation with John Wheeler, salesperson extraordinaire. John first acts hard-to-get, reading the paper while I walk the bike and we go through some idle chit-chat. Noticing my drooling, he begins to sneak-in some features and benefits of the new touring line. "In fact, I just bought a new Road Glide just for the ABS feature," he says.

"Wow," I think to myself, "I can make Liz comfortable and ensure her safety too."

Then Liz walks up behind me and asks, "Is that the one you've been wanting?"

"Yes," I reply.

“Well, if THAT’S the one, why don’t you go ahead and buy it? Your burthday is coming up and that's what I wanted to get you!” she says aloud in the practically empty store. My cover is blown. John's ears immediately perk-up as he awaits my response – the sales manager puts his doughnut down and began reaching for the phone to call Detailing and Prep.

"No, we need to rent one for a weekend first, so that we get the real feel for it before buying. We have to make sure it is comfortable for your back.” I reply, ever the concerned and caring husband.

John, ever the professional, listens in the background a while longer, then politely interrupts and says, “Excuse me, sir, do you realize that your chance of getting struck by lightning last night was better than the chance of a wife TELLING her husband to buy a Harley?” The man was starting to make some sense!

He then tries to ‘force’ me to take a demo ride, but I had him there. "No, I want to have it for a couple of days, a 10-mile demo ride just isn't enough. She has a bad back, you see. Besides, we're traveling by bike and I'm sure I can't get enough on the trade to make it worthwhile." I'm cheap that way, I was planning to buy used and list mine FSBO. "Checkmate," I thought to myself. By this time, the sales manager is just shaking his head in disbelief. "Idiot!" you can hear him say behind his now closed door.

"Well let me take a look at your bike and at least give you a price on the Ultra, we really want to move these before the 2010's come out," John says with every bit of respect he can muster. To make an already long story short, his trade-in offer sucked, but the no-trade, out-the-door price was impressive...and below MSRP too, an uncommon occurrence within the hallowed walls of an H-D dealership.

We head-off to lunch and an afternoon ride to mull it over. I think better when I ride...

© 2009 TRHG Holdings LLC