cowpuc

Every year our local Club puts on what they call the "Spring Run". After sleeping thru the winter it felt GREAT, take that back, almost euphoric, to be out among my friends and with my passion in life - MOTORCYCLES - 1300 plus of them to be exact!! What a day!! Tweeks, my neighbor Larry's brand new V-Rod, Larry and I RIPPED down to Mount Garfield (where the National Hill Climbs are held every other year) and gobbled up good times like kids in a candy store!! I had sooooo much fun!! Wanna hear a short story - come on,, I promise I will keep it short!! Hadnt been at Garfield very long and noticed a guy kicking the daylights out of some poor old Shovelhead trying to get it to start.. Being nosey and,, feeling sorry for the Shovel I meanderd that direction.. The closer got I realized that it was actually my cousin who was the one doing the kicking.. He didnt noticed me as I stood back and let him tire himself out on the kicker on that gorgeous old icon.. Dave, my cousin, didnt own the bike, he was actually just trying to help the guy who did own it try to start the old girl.. After Dave's leg gave out, he shrugged his shoulders, made a comment about having got a few "pops" out of it, folded up the kicker and backed into me as he pulled away.. I tapped him on the shoulder, he looked - did a double take (took a sec for him to recognize me without me facial hair diquise) and shouted "CUZ - wassup"!! Dave had called me a couple years ago and gotten some advice on a 64 Sporty he couldnt get to run (couldnt start it) and I had help him figure out the technique.. Anyway, it appeared that he had forgotten some of the old Harley secrets I had shared with him cause he sure wasnt using them on the Shovel.. I leaned over and asked the guy if "he would mind".. The owner looked and me and said "mind what"? I should have said "mind if load that beat up old non running Shovelhead piece of junk (not that I feel that way - I LOVE OLD HARLEYS) and take it home with me" but I didnt, instead I said, mind if I kick it couple times just for kicks.. He said sure,, kick all you want - everyone else has.. All the gang watched as I rolled the kicker gently around like I was making a soul connection with the old scoot.. What those guys didnt know was that I was feeling crank, rod, piston, cam, pushrod, lifter and valve movement with my foot.. I rolled it thru it gorgeous ol sequence and memories of Olivia and many other old Harley's went pouring thru my soul.. Compression felt pretty good, I could hear air movement pulling thru the carb and could smell raw gas that had probably been rolling around in the carb throat from the hundreds of previous kicks. Folks stared at me as I slowly kicked at wide open throttle for several gentle kicks, looks of disbelief like "you idiot - that's a 74 inch motor - your gonna have to kick a WHOLE lot harder than that if you EVER expect a bike like this to start - you are also gonna have to turn the key back on".. After a couple minutes though, I reached up and turned the ignition on - I noticed the stares then change because no one had told me the ignition was off and that action seemed to draw attention.. I then rolled the kick starter down feeling for valve resistance and that real sweet spot that me and my 1978 Lowrider used to love so much.. I would message Hoglia (my lowriders name) gently in this same fashion years ago while all my Harley riding buddies were busy pushing their magic e-start buttons.. Hoglia had one but I LOVED kick starting her and she LOVED to have me gently kickstart her.. Matter of fact, our love affair with this got so good back than that, at times (I was a lot younger than) I actually started her with my hand - my buddies hated that!! That sweet spot was a secret little area between the valves at top dead center just after the exhaust valve closes and the intake is getting ready to open.. I love finding it and feeling it.. Its like using a good set of Micrometers to seem to speak to ya as your machining a new a set of bushings - you know the type - the kind where the there bearing surface fits PERFECTLY all because of those Mics.. I tell many people this cause I am really not much of talker but I actually learned this secret from the Japenese. Years ago I played a LOT of off road bikes of all kinds, both 2 and four stroke. I had an old Yamaha (ironic - this site is kind of a Yamaha site and its owned by a Harley owner - weird eay) 500 single lunger that actually had a little window up on its cam housing. The window gave a view of the camshaft as it rotated and, if you watched real closely the Japs had made a small little white line on the cam that marked when the valves were in the position that I am talking about.. Funny thing about those old Yam's, you could by em really really cheap cause if ya didnt line that little white line up - they wouldnt start and, it seemed like a lot of people either realise this and HATED those hard started things OR, they didnt take the time to read their owners manual and didnt even know it was there.. On the other hand, I noticed that little window right away (I was a curious sucker - even as kid) and went to great lengths in figuring out what the heck that was all about - good fun.. That ol Harley at Garlfield and I had an thang going on.. That first exhaust valve seemed to not be real co-operative so I waved bye to it and felt for the next one.. Ahhhh, perfect,, I felt the cam roll gently against the intake valve and roll back just a little as the valve spring closed. People stared, tension grew.. I stood down on the kicker with my weight and got a delightful cleanout report from the exhaust.. I could hear chuckling from behind within the group that had formed.. I looked at the owner and my cousin and said,, she's gonna start.. Once again I found that no mans land, stood down on the kicker and she came to life like her and I had been lovers for years.. This is just the beginning of my Spring Run story but a very important part. While this short story happened exactly like I just wrote it, there is so much more to it. I have been very sic over the winter, my friend - Larry who rode to the Run with me plowed my drive way all winter for me because I was unable to move snow much. He happen to notice what was going with the Harley and, I looked up after it started and he (and my other friends) were all standing there at a distance watching it all take place and they all had a great big grin of amazing thankfulness on their faces - and those grins had more to do with the fact that their buddy (me) was back at it.. It was sooo good to be out living again..

AWWWEESOME RR!!! :thumbsup: THANK YOU for sharing the ride and all with us! YOU DA MAN BRO!! Wait a minute,, somethings missings here, something elusive,,, could it be,, yep,, thats it,, 's... There are three things never satisfied in life, the tax man - the grave and Puc's endless, insane desire for 's :photographing::photographing: just cant get enough of those VR member 's:happy-emoticon:

WOW Silv - THAT is amazing,, wish some of the engines I had freeze up on me would have been that fortunate:big-grin-emoticon:!! Tough engines those Victories!! ANOTHER GREAT READ SILV!!

Some of you have been following this medical stuff I have been going thru since last summer, giving thought and prayers (I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU).. To say the least, this has been frustrating!! After spending months very very tired, sleeping 18 hours a day and even when awake just plain being weak. An example of the weakness, my eyes were never open more then a slit during all that time (I tried to explain that to my Cardiologist and his response was "when we age our eyes sag - you can surgery done that will correct that ).. Anyway, this last episode where I spent my birthday in the hospital turned up something interesting.. Over the course of my vacation there, they injected me with a group of drugs, some to bring down BP, some for racing heart and on and on.. That was on Saturday, Sunday I woke up and "felt" better.. I actually got up and vacuumed floors and went for walk, had BD party and was up ALL day!! I was ordered by the ER doc to get right back to my doc asap as he was concerned with stroke, heart and other stuff (same old same old).. I have always said that on a scale of 100 percent of how I normally feel, I have been at 5 percent - something the doc had injected me with had got me to 20 percent.. Being a gearhead, it dawned on me that my body responded to the non narcotic drugs (the er doc told me they were all non narcotic) in a positive way so when I went to my family doc on Tuesday, I took the list of drugs they had injected me with to my doctor.. After the usual examination and being told I am one of her favorite customers, I told my doc what had happened and showed her the list.. Her eyes lit, she looked at the list, did a little and said I think it was the stuff (she named it - I couldnt pronounce it) that added adrenalin.. She asked if I wanna to try an experiment,, well,, yeaaaaaaaa:doh:... She put me on 2 weeks of Prednizone - told me I cant live on the stuff but it may help in figuring this all out.. Tell you guys what,, since that happened I have been outside playing with good friends (like my visit with T.J.) got a few things done AND Tweeks and I even did the Muskegon Motorcycle CLubs Spring Run yesterday (different thread coming up) - IT FELT SOOOOO GOOD TO BE OUTSIDE!!! I am now feeling at 50 percent (AMAZING) and VERY excited about this. Talking to my daughter who is a Pathologist, I understand that there are many many things that could appear on the horizon as far as causation for what ever this 5mg of Prednizone is helping with BUT still,, I feel like a miracle has happen - even if it was by accident (or answer to your thoughts/prayers) it SOMETHING!! By the way,, I noticed on the way home from looking at a 1974 Kaw Z1 yesterday that my eyes were no longer slits, now I have to force them to be slits instead of the other way around!!!

THAT is was sooooo well put Barry, I COMMEND YOU!! Matter of fact,, I have no doubt that Freebird echoed something similar to that to the person he was sharing with initially,, take a chill pill man - aint nothing goin down .. I am very much like 99.99999 percent of you other lop eared varmints who make up our VR family, cant get enough of this wonderful stuff.. I studied group dynamics in College and the things the can cause group cohesiviness and groups to break up have been played out on VR many times.. I have always stood in amazement at how, for some fantastic (almost divine) reason - our family just keeps keeping on and, even though we do have our spats - we never run out of glue!! Personally, I am probably crazy enough that even if I came on here and just talked to myself I would do so,, DO NOT GET THAT WRONG, I LOVE YOU GUYS/GIRLS LIKE MY FAMILY but, like Barry said - I am content and happy with the ebbs and flows of our site and if anything ever happen to it,, why I would get a poochy lip and feel like Puff in that Puff the Magic Dragon Song... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2tlNmz4ao

Thats what I a talking bout!!! Good on em!!! Speaking of rev limiters,, do you have any idea if your snoring device came with a tuner?

Sooo sorry for your loss(s) Rick!!! Gotta say though, reading those words and knowing what they mean is the BEST medicine of all!! THANK YOU my FRIEND!! THANKS AGAIN TO ALL TOO!!

Oh lord I hope not!! I will glue some wiskers back on Jeff,, PLEASE dont go messin with that White Washer!!

You gotta pay better attention champ.. Dont feel bad,, I didnt know either, then it happened and after it happened I find out from Squid that he and Lonna had some issues too - its was after all that that I found out that Squid had mentioned it years before.. I felt then like you might feel now - like we are related or something:big-grin-emoticon: Just keep an eye on it Dan, check it for delam on occasion.. My Metz actually got the highest mileage (Mich to the Texas/Mex border, across to the west coast, up to Washington and back to Sac) before it came unglued.

After showing me the seat, T.J. and I got on a roll of him showing me all the really neat things that he had learned about the ST in the short time he had owned it.. AMAZING scoot!! The rear bags pop off with a click and the lift of a lever - very well done (Honda perfection). I noticed that it appeared the rear wheel axle could be pulled and rear tire removed without pulling mufflers (Tweeks right side Muff is a swinging pendulum because I have removed it a few thousand times and never bothered buy new gaskets). The throttle has a twist end on it to control the tension and can be used as a "cruise" control. On and on we went.. Then Teej hit on MY favorite part - he smacked the left side mirror assembly and IT FELL OFF and was hanging there - WAYYYYY COOOOLLL!! (oh please Lord,, help me to refrain from going around smacking mirrors in bike shops to see if anyone else has this). I looked inside (flaw in my charactor) to see what made it so. Honda had developed these really really neat little keepers that had wire springs imbedded in a post that perfectly align with matching posts on the assemble (these are NOT the normal rubber grommet devices that have caused me to loose COUNTLESS side covers off previous Honda's I have owned going all the way back to my 69 SL350 - TOTALLY FIRST CLASS STUFF!!). After thinking about this design, I have decided that I want a motorcycle made entirely of this method - a "snap back together" motorcycle as it were,, kinda like those cool model airplanes we had as kids that when you flew and they crashed - they exploded and ya snapped em back together.. Time went by way to fast and my buddy had to leave . We had a quick sandwich together (Ham), walked out the door to say goodbye and then Teej made the mistake of offering a chance to ride that GORGEOUS bike!! Being a man of few words,, I didnt say anything, I just headed towards the ST.. As I was climbing on Teej's bike, it suddenly dawned on me how much fun it would be to have him along to compete with.. I asked Teej if he had ever ridden a Honda Helix scooter and he said no.. I walked back into the garage, rolled out our Helix, looked him over carefully to try and determine whether or not my new friend could handle it,, yea,, why not..

Must be we are all drinking from the same Watering Hole,,,,

Yea,, you have Gearheadmotorcyclesicklyitist.. Obviously, in your case (as in every other varmint on this site) it is also incurable.. Oh well Silv,, guess ya may as well just surrender to the disease - get on your gorgeous Vic and go out and get your fix for the day... Sure wish we lived closer cause I would join ya on my Honda Helix,, I LOVE scootering.. Shoulda seen T.J.'s face yesterday when I took off on HIS Honda ST1300 and stuck him with that putzy thing:crackup::crackup:

AWESOME READ SILV!!! What you so amazingly said is EXACTLY why I LOVE reading articles like the one you posted. It not only has entertainment value for me though, it also makes me think.. I love stuff that inspires us to think more deeply about the things we love - for me, that love happens to be motorcycles (sounds like you have had that same disease for a long time too).. Personally,, I am sooooooo proud of Polaris and what they are up to. Not just with the what they have done with the Victory's (having stuck thru the hard early learning years and are now producing some of the best bikes on the market) but in turning up the heat, grabbing that Indian name and LOOK at what they did - OHHH MYY GOSH!! And now,, the Slingshot = they do have guts, my kinda folk (wish Yamaha would show a little of those "guts" in developing a new Venny). Anyway my friend, THANK YOU for your well written (should be published in a bike rag just like Donny's - I LOVE your style!!) response cause it to MADE ME THINK!! Side note: you mention Doug Coffey,, hmmmmm,, wonder if he is any relation to our fellow member and very dear friend of mine, @CMCOFFEY .. Now wouldnt that just be a bowl of Banana Nut Ice Cream to go with my morning coffee!!

Sorry about that Silv, I just went back and checked and for some strange reason that vid had a "not published" by it - OOPPPPSSSS.. I think I got it under control now brother.. THANKS for letting me know!!

Tip, Tweeks and I were CTFWing out in Wyoming once. Having been following the wind for several hours we were all fairly famished. We drifted into a small cow town and noticed a sign on an eatin places front window that said "Bunps - 2 bits". After feeding Tweeks, Tippy and I walked back to the Bunp joint, sat down and each ordered a helpin of em.. They was good eatin those Bunps were!! Anyway,, thought I might help and buy ya another one here Bill!!

Thats right, even people like me have friends like T.J. who are crazy enough to take of their precious time, ride all the way across Michigan just to show me his new (I kept saying that and he kept correcting me by saying it is an 03 - LOOKED LIKE BRAND NEW TO ME!!).. So after a very quick introduction, hug and hand shake and all that,, Teej got right down to business and started showing me all the really neat things about the ST.. I never seen such a really neat set up for seat adjustment as this. (PLAY VID)

INDEED,, WOW what a blast!! Thanks again for giving your day to come visit and show off that GORGEOUS ST @T.J.!! WOW, and DOUBLE WOW on the front tire brother!! I am SOOOOOO thankful that nothing bad happened - THANK GOD!! That is UGLY!! Any chance its a Metzler? Gotta ask cause Tweeks rear tire did some delam one time with a Metz.. Man,, I am SOOOOO glad your alright!! Wait a minute here,, also glad I am ok too (guys wanna here the story? Ok, I will tell it like it is). First watch this. Ohhhhh, but before you click on play, be warned about a naked Puc face - dont let it scare ya (my daughter almost started crying with fear when she first seen me)

Dont you have enough problems trying to get that YammerDan out of the ice cream stores without me adding another scoop to your plate Skid

Sounds like plans in the makings!! Eagle has been in touch with me about it all, because of the stuff I am going thru medically its still a ways off for me BUT, I made it clear to him that he is welcome here no matter what.. As we get closer I will know for sure and keep you guys updated.. I am excited to have Mr. Eagle here as either way (if we cant get to you all in a timely fashion), he and I are gonna ride out together (THANKS EAGLE EYE).. IT'S MAY ALREADY!! YEEEEEHAAWWWW

Yeaa,, I wonder what that ugly mud puppy would look like if he had a beard Doug.. Probably be an improvement,, maybe even look like a movie star or something..

You know you really,, really, really really really gotta ride that gorgeous scoot to MD bro,, I have yet to see it or even a picture of it yet:95: Your ol brother Puc's got feelings too ya know!! Besides,, I did help name her and everything.. I promise I wont say one word about her being even slightly slow if you bring her,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and give me 5 dollars:Im not listening to:big-grin-emoticon:

Reading this reminded me of an area down in the Texas Panhandle we rode thru last year.. Me and my name Cowpuc usually get along ok but down there in that heat on this great big beef farm,, it was pretty hard to smile without gagging a little when Tip said "do you still think it was cute for the kids to name you that".. Good on you guys for getting on out!! Glad you enjoyed it!! Yippeeeekiiiiyiiiiyeaaaa Cowpuc

Bubs,, are those some kind of a special tulip bulb you carry and plant when you and Skid ride your 2nd Gens :crackup::crackup: Really bro,, sorry about the snoring comments,, that was mean.. I got a grip on it now Dan,, I was digging around in some of my old inventory and found several packs of fiberglass silencer packing and will bring some for the snoring fanatics - not an issue anymore..

Did you happen to ask if he knew about VR Fool? Looks kinda familiar... Maybe @yammerDan knows him, definitely a mug shot, sheeshhhh..

Hey you east side folks,, Raggie and all you pranksters.. As time draws closer it actually appears MD may REALLY happen for me - long story but doing better!! Last I heard, Eagle Eye is planning on staying here with me in Muskegon Thursday night.. Any idea what time you folks will be meeting up over there? Figure about a 3 hour trek for us to get to Raggie's area.. Maybe meet somewhere in Michigan and head into the Buckeye State as an even larger force? Havent yakked this with Eagle Eye yet but I bet he would be gung ho for the show so let me know and dont be slow or with out ya'll we'll have to go....