Hi, my name is Dan.

I started motorcycling Winter of 2004. Since that time I have 1200 miles under my belt, two drops, and one blowout. My first bike is a 78 Honda CB750K named "The Beast". It was too big, far to big for me to start riding on but I have survived thusfar.

At first Motorcycling was a hobby that I persued when the wife would let me go. Then I recieved orders to Germany - and all the sudden my two cars needed to be whittled down to one. So I sold my Honda Civic and started relying on the bike as my to - and - from work bike. Until this week I have only had minor problems with using the beast as my commuter bike.

Before I start talking about this week (15th through the 20 of May 2005) I need to tell you about where I live. Currently I call the Mojave desert of California home. This is the windiest place I have ever lived. Normal winds are around 20MPH every day. Windy days can get into the 60MPH range. Of course every MPH of these winds are cross winds. It doesnt matter which road you take, the wind compensates so it is beating on your side trying to push you off the road. Then you have to take the terrain into account.

Some of the roads are slightly dug into the desert floor providing a little wind protection. Then just when you get used to having the wind above your head...you are back into the fury of it again! It still amazes me that a bush with 5 needles on it near the side of the road can block a 60MPH crosswind for about 5 feet. If you can survive all this you are fully qualified to ride in the wind.

Winter of this year was pretty cold. In fact this winter was the longest and clodest on record. So I got a windshield. My biggest problem with the windshield was that it was tinted. I worked from 3am till noon. That ment my tinted windshield actually made it impossible to see in the mornings.

So now that it has warmed up some I am riding the beast to work when I realize that she is handeling a little different. Rather than pull over I decided to go on to work. At 60MPH in a easy right curve the front tire blows. I got her under control and parked it. Right now I have a new tire on a spare rim I have - but I have no floor jack

More to come at a later date - like the ride to Rose Canyon on my Goldwing....

_________________
2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
Ural Patrol <Wish list>
Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.
Dark Helmet, Space Balls
http://www.patriotguard.org
:USA:

Now that I have written a little I need to tell you about myself. I firmly believe that everything in life is an adventure. Therefore each ride, each moment is one that will never come again and should be enjoyed. So what I am trying to say is that I like to tell stories!

My Father-In-Law gave me my 81 Honda Goldwing that I have ridden once. The person who owned it prior to me installed a heel-toe shifter, but when they installed it they left too much of the post on it. So the shifter doesnt work well with my little feet. The other oddity of this bike is that it has a neutral throttle. What I mean by that is when you release the throttle the carbs do not loose fuel. It is fun at stopsigns when you just take your hand off the throttle and pull the clutch ............ VARRRRROOOOMMMM!!!

Add to that the problem that a goldwing is a LOT of bike for a 5'4" guy. Forutnately I am a runner and have the leg strength to handle the weight...

So here I am riding a 700lb Honda Goldwing down Interstate 5 toward rose canyon. Must have been quite a sight. Anyway that trip I put another 250 miles under my belt, almost crashed twice, nearly sideswiped by a cager, and learned the ture meaning of "claw hand".

_________________
2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
Ural Patrol <Wish list>
Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.
Dark Helmet, Space Balls
http://www.patriotguard.org
:USA:

Ok it has been over a year since I wrote so I am going to write again. A few months ago I got a call from my Father-in-law. He is storing my GoldWing for me while I am in Germany. While he was out giving it a test ride he blew two cylinders. Apparently there was no oil in the GW when he took it out.

So now I am without motorcycle.

As a side note my Grandfater died and my Mom had a stroke that month. I hate August now.

Now I am going to change my blog to "Confessions of a Coffee sipping, Phone chatting, run the motorcycles off the road Cager".

_________________
2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
Ural Patrol <Wish list>
Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.
Dark Helmet, Space Balls
http://www.patriotguard.org
:USA:

Woohoo! I think you should rename it to "My Wife's Dad Owes Me a Bike!"

_________________
2002 Buell Blast 500 /¦\

Confessions of a Commuter

a NEW bike

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[1981 honda cb400t hawk][2004 honda crf150f]

Sorry to hear of your losses, (grandfather & bike) and I hope your mother is doing ok.

'84 was a bad year for me, grandmother, mom, and a great aunt all passed away within a week of each other in January. Then I lost my dad the following November, it can be tough at times but we survive.

Good luck with getting a new bike and best wishes for your mom...


Doug

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"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul!"

After I told my father-in-law that I wanted a Buell Blast he told me that he was just kidding about blowing two cylinders on the GW. Thats a good thing because I really liked that bike.

We went out to Mannheim this weekend to do some shopping at the German WalMart. On the way there I decided to take a 'short cut'. We found a really cool bike shop that sold BMW's and BMW Motorcycles in the same showroom. The dealers were really nice but they told me that the only person who spoke good 'American' was going to be in on Donnestag.

Figures. So we went on and found wonderful Wally Planet. In the parking lot was the coolest scooter I have ever seen. It looked like a Connie but it was a scooter! The person who owned it must have been a painter because the jerk took the labels off it. <edit> I wish I had a camera with me so I could show it off<edit>

As we were getting ready to leave my oldest and the middle son told me that they needed to use the toiletten NOW! So we hurry up to the check out. My wife and I have no idea where the bathroom is so we ask the checkout lady if she could tell us when we remembered "NINE SPREKN ENGLISH" means shut up you stupid American. Fortunately my wife asks nicely in Deutsch and she points and I run with the boys!

<edit> Tomorrow I am going to take my camera to work and post some pictures of wonderful German cars!<edit>

_________________
2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
Ural Patrol <Wish list>
Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.
Dark Helmet, Space Balls
http://www.patriotguard.org
:USA:

You may be asking "Where are the pictures of German cars"? The answer is that I have them and I am holding them hostage. MUHH HAAA!

-I am the great Cornholio!-

Today at work I got a really interesting call. I am a IT Security specialist and the question actually perked my interest. It took me only 5 minutes to troubleshoot and repair. Too bad, I was almost enjoying myself.

When I got off the phone I said in my best Bevis voice "Hey check this out!....I AM THE GREAT CORNNHOLIO! I NEED TP! YEA YEA YEA". After 20 minutes of laughter I am now The Great Cornholio!

_________________
2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
Ural Patrol <Wish list>
Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.
Dark Helmet, Space Balls
http://www.patriotguard.org
:USA:

Your father in law is a character! He tells you your bike is ruined and waits like 2 weeks to tell you he was joking?!?

_________________
2002 Buell Blast 500 /¦\

Confessions of a Commuter

I spoke German today

Tonight the family decided to go out to eat. We tried McDonalds but it was to busy. We didnt want to go on base to eat so we drove around till the car parked in front of the Burger King in Kaiserslatutern.

They had some toys from a new movie called 'Open Season'. My son Josh got a little plastic deer that when you winded him up he would jump around. On the way out a little German boy asked him if that is what the deer looked like.

Josh said yea, but he always says yea when he doesnt understand the question. Hey Josh, do you want a alternator for Christmas? Yea!

Josh do you want a Justin Temberlake for Christmas? "Im bringing mmmm back... YEA!"
Yes he does know the words to that song. In the van he screams YEA when the song does it. He loves the part where it goes "Dirty babe...You see these shackles baby I'm your slave" Yes he sings that very well. Not sure if he knows what a shackle is yet, but I am not gonna teach him.

_________________
2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
Ural Patrol <Wish list>
Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.
Dark Helmet, Space Balls
http://www.patriotguard.org
:USA: