Lots of bikes over the years, still close friends with a few more serious bikers... One held the land speed record for years..
'47 350 Royal Enfield Thumper, bought for $10, all apart, springer forks, hard tail, a real kick...
'53 45" Harley K-model, flathead, similar to later OHV Sportsters, but it liked to eat tranny gears..
'53 Triumph T110, 40" twin, came in a soft tail, but I puled it apart, put it in a har tail frame, lightened it up, top end maybe 70 mph, but it got there real quick...
'78 Yamaha XT500, 500 cc single/thumper, bought new, many miles of off road, mountain, desert wandering, riding with Telco friends.. Left it at my bro's cabin near Sonora for years, let the kids use, ride, or myself from time to time.. Torque to GO! Still have it, needs fork bearings, seals, still starts first kick...
But my best bud crashed in NV, one trip I didn't make, flipped into a pile of mine tailings, severed spine, collapsed lung, bruised heart, 90 mies out of Yerrington.. Got him in, but he never walked again, helmet saved his head, but slowed him a bit, me a lot.. He moved to Honda Odessey Quad, all hand controls, continued to race off n on... I stopped street riding long ago, folks just do not see you, you become a donor..
Then my inlaw last year bought a Suzuki Hayabusa. 200HP out of the crate, will top 180 mph, no problem. Fastest bike on the market... His riding gear fits, but so far I resist..
- 86 47 -
| 