Brenner

Mike I am attempting my M2 in St Catharines. I like to believe I can handle the bike and have been told I handle it well but I am nervous of doing something foolish or absent minded. Lets hope the weather holds up as I only have one shot at it and if by chance I do mess up I will not be able to retest till next spring as the testing season is coming to an end next week for this area. For all those who mentioned accepting that I ride Harley's and that I am still welcome, thank you. Honestly it is appreciated. Over the past season I have had six invites to join different local and not so local motorcycle clubs but I am always not so sure I want to wear a patch for a specific group. I prefer to ride independently and without club ties. I think this forum is all the club I need. Lots of good people out here and I still mention this forum to anyone I feel can benefit from it.

I have not been around this site as my new job really takes most of my time and the little time I have left I ride as much as I can, and also I don't want to cause discomfort for some purist members because I went from yamaha to harley and feel they are a better fit for me as I still own my venture but prefer my HOGs. That being said, yesterday morning about 7 am I asked a friend and fellow rider if he cared to join me as I rode some highway as I will be taking my final M2 exit course next week. The weather was a little brisk so I was wearing my chaps and full leathers and even though my riding partner did not want to wear his I managed to convince him to do so. Well we headed out from one highway to the next and he needed fuel so we stopped and filled up. I noticed he was riding rather spirited than normal as it had been a few weeks since his last ride. We left a traffic light onto a highway acceleration ramp and he opened his bike up and I was thinking to myself "Man he is gonna get hurt if he don't ride more responsibly" as I opened up my full dressed Harley to keep up with him. I let off at 30 km above the speed limit and decided it was not worth the risk and he ended up slowing down and we rode the highway to Niagara Falls and since he was leading (which is rare) he chose the exit ramp he wanted. Once at the end of the ramp at a traffic light he was shouting he wanted to go to Chippawa which is a common motorcycle meeting place and I nodded agreeing that we would go. Well I remember the next part in slow motion, as I can still see the light changing and him riding off turning into the left inside lane and I can still see the bike going down and seeing him rolling and the bike skidding out from between his legs and I then had to think quick to ride around him and get my decker to the side of the road and my helmet off to help him. Now here is the part I have trouble believing. I helped him up and the light changed and the ignorant cagers proceeded through the intersection narrowly hitting us and the downed bike. I told him to stand there and watch for cars as I picked the bike up and waited for no traffic to get it to the side of the road. He was out of it for a few minutes needless to say. I examined the bike a 2006 XL1200R that was previously in like mint condition. Not so anymore, a broken shift peg, road rash lever, rear shock, foot peg, and a few marks on the tank. He got lucky that he was not hurt worse and that the bike suffered minor damage as if we were going right he would of lost his $800 Bassani exhaust. I asked if he could ride he said only his hip was sore and I told him he would feel it later. I jimmied the shifter and we rode to Chippawa and after half an hour or so he was feeling the ribs and other aches and pains. His chaps and leathers took the brunt of the asphalt and it shows. He said he has never gone down in 35 years of riding and I told him he can"t make that claim anymore. He blamed it on fine gravel and I corrected him as the asphalt was clean and I told him he was to aggressive on cold roads and that he was lucky. So now I have been asked to repaint the bike a new color and to replace the back tire as it is 10 years old and showing age. If he wants to blame it on that so be it. Two points I have learned from this, Number 1 No matter how confident you are of your skill set there might be a time that will prove that you are not as good as you think you are. Number 2 People now at days do not care and are so hurried that they will run you down even if you are in distress and you can not count on anyone so it might be best to have a good riding partner in case you need assistance as otherwise you are pretty much on your own. This is my experience of this weekend. Whether I have had the pleasure of meeting you or not, please ride safe, and look out for each other as we are all in this together.

I was at the Niagara Falls motorcycle show and shine today and came across a blue one that had the same symptoms as Carls. I did not see the rider/owner but the issue seems to be on more than one machine. I do not go out of my way to look at these machines but since I saw Carl and his concern I seem to be looking at more and more of them.

Carl, if by chance after you try what we discussed and you feel it benefited you please feel free to let me know. It would be great to confirm if my thoughts and your findings were correct and I would be able to use you as a positive example before advising others of my experience with similar concerns. Always nice to find out if given advice was good or not. Good luck.

Mike, Yup I really think it had nothing to do with the color or visability. It is just something I have been contemplating but a great wake up call that I should try even harder to be aware of my surroundings. As far as the swap meet I am planning on attending weather permitting or not. If you want PM me when you will attend and I will meet you there. venturesome, I feel you are bang on and think the same as you. As far as what I was wearing, a bright orange riding shirt that is highly visable. The color change has been a thought since before I bought the bike but so far I have not been able to bring myself to make the change as I cannot find a valid reason. All in all most likely color did not have anything to do with this occurance.

Today was a new experience for me. I have had a few occasions where cagers have pulled out in front of me before as if it seemed I did not belong on the road. Well today was a REAL close connect. I happened to be riding on the street that I live on and have traveled many times and in third gear and low rpm putting along when a woman decided that I was not there. I almost did not see it coming as she pulled out of a repair shop driveway from behind a truck on my left side as I was approaching. When I did see her I could quickly see she was not looking in my direction and looking in the direction she intended to travel. Trying to remember how it went down as it happened so quickly I remember pulling into the right tire track to avoid her front bumper and my laying a solid kick to here front right fender with the heel of my boot and me yelling "What the f***!" while she entered the lane I was occupying. Luckily I held the bike and maneuvered away and as I looked behind she was driving with her face away from me. I pulled over my Harley as she pulled aside and I rode back to her location and I asked her what her problem was. She was crying by the time I got to her and started apologizing, and I asked her if she realized how at fault she was. She told me she knew she was wrong and that she can't believe it as she lost a family member in a similar accident and that her boyfriend rides. I could see she felt bad so I told her "No harm No foul" because I did not go down and to keep an eye out for motorcycles. I did not think there was a need to pursue the situation any further as she was honest and seemed sincere. I left her along the side of the street and made my way home. Since I did not live very far from where this happened I ended up sitting and telling this story to my next door neighbor and as we were on his front porch I saw her go by roughly 5 minutes later at a slow speed. Yup I believe I was blessed to experience this with no harm and a lesson to me to watch out for myself as perhaps I am getting to relaxed on the bike and not being as attentive as I should. I am riding my factory original cream colored Harley, and my previous two bikes were brightly colored for visability. This has me wondering if I should be considering a color change. Would she have seen me if it was brightly colored? Maybe, maybe not. My two other bikes were intentionally painted for my safety and so that they stood out among other motorcycles but this old relic of a bike I currently ride stands out but maybe it is not visable enough. Something for me to think about as I am grateful that the few negative experiences I have had on two wheels have not been that painful or damaging. I am a lucky man and wish all of you the same luck as we all will at one time or another encounter experiences as this and as long as we walk or ride away and only our pride if anything is hurt I think we are well off. Ride safe and lets keep the rubber on the road.

It's always great to see familiar friendly face. I am a lucky man as I have been graced by a drop by visit by Marcarl again. It is people like him who make this world a better place and I only hope that I can give the same impressions to others and assist as he does. I gave him a mini tour of my growing Harley collection and it is nice to have someone understand that ones choice of ride is sometimes made by comfort, better personal fitment, and powertrain configuration rather than a Brand name and all the unnecessary stereotyping that comes with it. I personally feel far too many people have to learn to respect others and stop ragging on those who do not ride the same product of choice. I personally am choosing to ride with those I come to respect by their actions and not by what they ride. This choice of mine is leaving me with a small number of others on which I prefer the company but I find it makes the ride much more relaxed and pleasurable. The more individuals I ride with and choose to avoid the more I respect those that I do choose to ride with. Getting back to my opening statements, it still surprises me how that strangers with nothing more a common interest can affect you in such a positive manner. My number of those I prefer to ride with is slowly growing and if anyone in my area wishes to ride and explore the road please do not hesitate to contact me as I do not care what you ride as long as you do it for enjoyment. I offer this up in hope to meet others who want the positive experience with no drama. Let's lead by example for a better riding ecperience. Ride safe, keep the shiny side up and the rubber on the road.

It never fails in life no matter how hard you try. Some ones actions or decisions affect yours whether in a positive or negative manner. Trying to move up can be a challenge and no matter how hard you spin your wheels you just can't seem to get no mileage. Any ways enuff about the mini rant and on to show the few who had interest previously my newest acquisition that came to me, now I did not have to chase this one only to let the deal go through after many change of hearts from the previous owner. Those who have read my previous posts may remember but for those who have not a not so short story to explain. I am recently new to riding have rode my virago and now my venture, I like my venture but do not love it in the sense of being passionate about it and finding my "ZEN" state with it. This has led me to the search of another bike that could fit that need. I picked up my Low Glide FXRS and love it but then my wife wanted to join the ride on the back and there is just no room for her so I looked again and built my venture. Now she likes it and enjoys the comfort but I am not happy with it in it does not comfort the soul for me so early this season I was at Harley looking for a part for my Low Glide when I met a man with a shovel decker. The man is in his 60's and wanted to sell me his only after having it a couple of months due to feeling it is too big for him and it not matching the memories of days gone by of the one he had when he was young. He seemed to be a good guy so I brought him home to show him my clean fxrs as he mentioned he loved them. When he came to my place he fell in love with my 53 bel air as I suppose it took him back again to a time of his youth. Flash forward, him a couple of times wanting to trade the shovel for the 53 and backing out on the date he set gave me a fever to find a large Harley for me to ride and being short on funds I came across a basket case and started the resurrection of my electra glide. Over the weeks this man has come and gone from my place and we ride quite regular but now with him on a 06 sportster xl1200r. He has watched me return to service what most might of scrapped or parted out with positive results. The bike I am speaking of was posted a few weeks back for Puc and others to see as I know some will appreciate it but not all on this forum. Anyways my 88 electra glide is up and on the road when I get another visit by the same aforementioned man who again wants to barter. This time I tell him I do not want to deal unless he follows through and he apologizes which I tell him is not needed but enough is enough as I did not make the deals or attempts but rather am tired of getting ready to follow through and then wasting my time when it does not happen. So guess what? Last weekend we went for a ride and picked up the shovel in which he turned down good money for in front of me and handed me the ownership. He had not been riding it and left the plates and insurance on it and said hated seeing it sit. So all last week I have been adjusting and putting the chrome back on he had removed and boxed up. With the bike I received all new manuals, brakes, lines, and receipts over $2500 in the last four months before I knew the man. WOW, not what I expected. On title search it has few owners and one owner of 17 years, another wow. Anyways I now own a shovel and after riding a month I have to say that with this machine I have found the "love" I have been missing. I figure over the 600 miles I put on it I should be able to tell if it was for me or not and I feel it is. I do not want to be the new harley crowd type but rather a rider of a vintage machine that is not afraid of getting dirt under his nails and having a bike that does not quite look the same as the others amongst the crowd and a shovel does that in my opinion. So again It NEVER fails, I went out to get a new deal and the original that instigated my search and rebuild had once again come my way once I titled and plated it's replacement. Dang it but I can't say it is all bad having 3 Harleys now I need to find a way to insure them at a discount so I can ride them one by one depending on mood. My new to me shovel: My 3 Harleys in a line up (excuse my Low Glide as her saddle bags are in the garage):

I will make it a point to try to see the guy tonight. The one who has it has a project venture that you know of, you know the bike but not him. It was a pay it forward as requested by the original owner but he is currently stalled on the project. Not a biggie I do not even think he knows how to use the tool, it is not lost or unobtainable. I just assisted another venture owner as we discussed when I met you and you first passed it to me for use. Maybe it was my mistake trying to help another as I have been assisted. I will correct the situation as I am a man of my word and all should be good in the venture world.

Carl last night I met stickhandle2 and we had good conversation and a short ride. Your name came up and funny enough he asked me about the shim tool and process. I mentioned that I loaned the tool to another venture owner in need of assistance and I will have to get it back for you. I also mentioned that I need to see you and or saddlebum for those chrome trims I have set aide for him. Good people on this site....

I was thinking of joining your ride but ended up meeting up with another venture rider for the first time and I feel it was time well spent. Maybe next week?

Maybe this does not count but last year I had my venture an 85 MK1 and an 84 gl1200 aspencade and had to choose one to build to ride. Guess which one won?

I have to agree Puc that the low sound of the decker is appealing in a touring bike. I do like the sound of my fxrs but if I were to ride it some distance it might get to me now that I am getting used to a quieter bike. As far as the trade I am still unsure and time will tell. I still have my c4 corvette, my 50 studebaker starlite coupe, my 70 trans am, 71 super beetle, my 95 impala ss, so losing the 53 is not that big a deal. Too many cars and projects not enough time or energy. Can't drive them all and not all my projects will be completed. I am a recovering hoarder of big toys.

LOl..... thanks for the grin I guess I's am what I's am.... But honestly I have met many riders or claim to be riders who think they know the only way it is.. Well to each their own and I can honestly say I see many who claim they ride and for "X" number of years but from what I witness only ride coffee shop to coffee shop or never see any real mileage, garage queens, and more often than not they seem to be those who have a mindset on what it right and what is wrong. Hey again to each their own and I am coming to realize I have more than a few strikes against me according to the consensus being a multiple Harley owner, a rider who is pushing himself to be the best rider he can be. I may never be the rider these people think they are but honestly I do not think I would want to be so it works out just fine for me. MarCarl my friend, I see it in your post you understand my reply. I knew you would and yes if I get to know your ride yes i will wave at you.. lol.. Hey maybe time for us to put the spoons away and to stop stirring the pot we should all recognize that the riding experience is different for each and every one of us. Lets all keep the rubber on the road and worry about how we reflect this hobby and not how others do. Peace to all...

Now here is the problem as I have experienced it. You take offence because an individual like myself will not initiate a wave to a group of riders of a specific model or brand or machine who in my experience till as of yet have not returned a wave to me during time riding a motorcycle. I have heard Harley riders are bad for this but honestly I have had not had a wave from one three wheeler aside from trikes which I wave to. I DO return to waves to those who initiate it first unless it is an electric scooter or low speed vehicles that are seen in my area with the pedals removed and two riding on a one person machine illegally, or wrong way down the road ( you see that crap more than you think in my area). I have had one other ride up in a parking lot beside me and ignorantly tell me it must be nice to ride a Harley (I was riding a Virago) and had quite a few idiots on the road with on these non insured or licensed bikes (not required) or bigger scooters who use the bicycles lanes, do not follow rules of the road and have no license to lose and you think I am supposed to initiate a wave? My point is I will wave back to almost anyone who rides but rarely initiate a wave to those groups who I previously have had negative experience with. I can clearly see my lack of clarification of not whether I initiated a wave or returned a wave has upset you and shown me you only see it one way. Such is life, even though I have been riding a far shorter time than yourself I may have had different experiences that have made me make different choices and I know some great people riding machines I do not initiate waves to but it is not meant as an insult to them. If you judge me a jerk due to this than so be it. Everyone's riding experience will vary, ride safe.