motorcycle wisdom   Why We Ride  Sidecars  Bus

"Life is not a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely
in one pretty and well preserved piece,
but to skid across the finish line sideways,
worn out, used up, leaking oil and shouting,
'GERONIMO!'".

Some of the bikes we've owned over the last 37 years.

Jennifer's three children.  Brandon, Austin, and Caitlyn, shoehorned into the Dnepr.	The current combination.  1998 Honda Valkyrie with a 1987 Ural sidecar.	Like Father, like Daughter?  Here's Dad with Jennifer and her Honda CX500/California Rig.
1980 Yamaha XS 850.  I  bought this because it was  cheaper than the sidecar  alone.  Hated the bike, but  the sidecar is great.	This is a biker's bike!   1998 Honda Valkyrie with the Dnepr Sidecar.  More power than you can imagine.  This thing pulls as well empty as it does with two adults on the bike and three kids in the sidecar.
My "New" 1987 Ural.  Soon to be mated to the Valkyrie	I've lengthened the tongue on here since this was taken.  It really pulled bad before, but now travels straight and true.	Not bad with a sidecar!  It's not this fast going UP the hill
1986 Honda Aspencade.  I averaged 22,000 miles a year with this bike.	Same Bike, but with the HitchHiker  sidecar mounted.	1976 Gold Wing.  I rode this one through a number of Wisconsin winters.  I'd put the fairing on in late fall and pull it off in spring.  Those are HD bags on the back.
1979 Honda Gold Wing with the Arthur Fulmer touring package and a home made trailer.  This was our first Gold Wing.	1974 Honda CB 750 with the home made trailer.  This was both my first Japanese bike, and my first truly dependable motorcycle.	My 1959 Triumph Bonneville.  I got this picture off the web.  I lost track of my early photos after a divorce, but I still have the memories.
		Assorted other H-Ds, some very old, some very new, all pretty much disappointments.  I'm not saying all Harley's are bad.  But the experiences I had with the bikes and with most of the dealers has been poor.
1952 Triumph Thunderbird.  Always wanted a  sidecar for this one, but couldn't afford it.	1942 Harley Davidson.  Mine looked nothing like this.  By the time I got her, she was tired and I was broke.  But a friend still rides her today!	Quite a few other bikes that were pretty much forgettable.

And some owned by Friends and other Enthusiasts!

The true evolution of man!

Just found out about this site.  It should be required reading for all motorcyclists!

The Lugeless Pavement Racers Hall of Fame.

What your Motorcycle says about you.
From a Cycle World article by Peter Egan.

Ducati 916 SPS Monoposto:

My wife is having an affair with her tennis coach.

Honda ST 1100:

 I really do understand the stock market.

1967 Triumph T120 Bonneville:

 If I'd had this bike instead of a Cushman Eagle when I lived at the fraternity house in 1965, I might now be married to a former cheerleader named Veronica.

Harley-Davidson XR1000:

 All my left shoes are made of steel, and all my motorcycle boots have laces.

Yamaha TZ250:

 My other bike is a van.

Brough Superior SS100:

My mother was an Episcopalian.

Moto Guzzi Eldorado:

If I'd wanted a Harley, I'd have bought a Harley.  But I didn't, and I didn't.

Honda GL1500 Gold Wing Aspencade:

The wife and I both feel that donuts are an unfairly maligned and under-appreciated source of protein and
minerals.

BMW R1100RT:

 The sound system on my bike is permanently tuned to Public Radio, but when I play it too loud I can't hear the cell phone.

Velocette Thruxton:

I have a professional-quality dartboard in our basement rec room, next to the real ale tapper on the wet bar.

Yamaha V-Max:

 I am the only mechanical engineer in our office with a Mohawk.

Ural Tourist:

 My Yugo is waiting for parts.

India Enfield Bullet:

 My 1965 short-wheelbase Land Rover is waiting for parts.

Triumph Speed Triple:

 I'm not waiting for any parts. Ever again.

Honda Elite 80:

 My mom is knitting me a warmer scarf for going to class.

Vincent Series C Black Shadow:

 If you need to borrow any books or videos on the Battle of Britain, the life of Winston Churchill or Gordon's defense of Khartoum, I have an extensive library.

Honda CBX:

 I can pronounce both "Soichiro" and "Irimagiri" correctly.  Also I own many valve shims.

Suzuki TL1000R:

 Desmo Shcmezmo, I just wanna ride.

MV Agusta 750S:

 Our firstborn son is the only Ago Schmiddlekopf in the Milwaukee phone book. ·

Kawasaki ZX-11:

 I am on my way to our insurance agent's office for a personal conference, during which I will explain everything.

Honda 400F:

 My husband thinks I believe he bought this bike just for me.

Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa:

 The Honda CBR1100XX was making me late for work.

Triumph Trophy TR6-C:

 I have seen the The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen 27 times. And so have my two remaining friends.

Munch Mammoth:

 I have been fighting a lifelong, losing battle with the Dark Side.

Honda CBR600F2:

 My older brother is in the Air Force.

Pope 998 V-Twin:

 I am on my way to the annual stationary steam engine and vintage farm implement meet.

Norton 750 Atlas:

 I tried smooth and found it overrated.

Harley-Davidson WLA 45 Flathead:

 I am saving for a Stearman.

1942 BMW R75:

 I show the Luger collection only to a few close friends who know how to handle them without leaving acidic or salty fingerprints.

Honda Pacific Coast:

 I am among that very small minority of human beings who honestly don't care what anybody else thinks. If I did, I'd probably own a bike just like yours.

Harley FX Super Glide "Night Train":

 There are only six things in my refrigerator, and they are all beer.

Henderson Four:

 My grandson thinks these computers are quite the coming thing, apparently.

Yamaha R1:

 My hair is not actually on fire, it's just a figure of speech.

Maico 360 X4:

since the bypass surgery, my dirt riding and energy level have improved tremendously.

Bimota DB3 Mantra:

 Ducatis are all very well, but I don't find them quite Italian enough.

Moto Guzzi Centauro:

Sometimes I misspell the word "eccentric" on purpose, just to be different.

Whizzer/Schwinn Phantom:

 I still own my first baseball glove, Warren Spahn-autograph model.

Boss Hoss V8:

 I can curl more weight with one arm than you can move on a refrigerator dolly.

MV Agusta F4 Oro:

 My wife is spending exactly $37,000 on our kitchen, just as soon as she can find a contractor.

Honda Valkyrie:

 I tried vibration and lassitude and found them overrated.

Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster:

 I am on my way to the Harley shop to purchase a larger set of pistons.

Buell Thunderbolt:

 This big air-cleaner housing is coming right off, just as soon as I can get home to my toolbox.

Honda CL77 305 Scrambler:

 My high school letter jacket still fits. More or less.

Suzuki GS 650:

I had a job once.  Really I did!
 

Motorcycle Links

 I got the following in an email from Kurt Farris at
http://www.PowerSportsPro.com