Maybe Its an Illness

Like many of you, I cant get enough motorcycle stuff. I don't really mean helmets, gloves, boots, or stuff like that. I mean motorcycle culture. I love looking at bikes and pictures of riders from the old days. As an example, I spent last evening watching the Isle of  Mann TT qualifying laps on Discovery HD. It was fantastic. I simply love bikes and the people who ride them (except for Chris who rode a CR 125 at the night track in the 80's. He always beat me. I just like him, but I dont love him. Just like him)
Often times, this moto obsession results in an occasional purchase of a motorcycle. You know how it goes. The bike is bitchin'. The price is right. The money is available. Next thing you know you have a kick ass piece of iron in the bed of your truck. For me, there is nothing like this feeling. "I just scored a bike!", I think to myself. I dig setting it up in the garage in its own little spot. I love rolling it out on Sundays for a little ride around the hamlet. Nothing compares to the feeling of seeing your neighbors smile and shake their head as I ride by. They never know what bike they are going to see me on next week.
You see, I have a sickness. A fever if you will. The only cure is MORE MOTO! I am addicted to the feelings that come with motorcycle culture. This is a communicable disease too.
I recently spread my illness to a good friend. I offered up my recently purchased CB 350 for him to buy. He was all over it. The pictures of the bike that I showed him got him so jazzed about the bike. He was asking me about it almost every day. Now it sits in his garage and he is happy as a lark, all eatin' up with the moto bug. Check the picture of him. How can you not say that he is truly ill?
I like to surf and skateboard. I also enjoy wakeboarding and a few other things. I usually tell people not to try surfing because it sucks. I like to do what I can to keep the best breaks from getting crowded by telling people that surfing is no fun and very dangerous. Moto, on the other hand, is different. Everyone should have a bike.
Go get a motorcycle lobotomy. A nice bike in your garage can make even the worst day a little better. Somehow, when you are out on that machine, the rest of the world fades away. You, riding happily down the road, sick as you are, not caring a bit about it.

Family Before Bikes

As many of you know , I promised to do a full review of Vintage Bike Night down at The Draught House in Austin, Texas. I waited all weekend for the Monday night event. I was excited to run my own vintage Honda CB 350 down there and sip a pint with the boys. However, it was not to be.
On Sunday I received a call that a family member was not doing well. It changed the schedule for the weekend and ended up running over into Monday. It crossed my mind that I had promised to do the review and get it posted. I quickly and easily decided that I would simply post the truth about my Monday. I had a family member in need, and I tended to that instead.
I know the kind of folks that moto people are. You would have all done the same. We are family people. Whether its our own family or if we have adopted a different kind of family, we are loyal to the folks that support us.
It brought back a memory from my high school days. I was in a terrible auto accident with some buddies. Of course we were out raising Cain but not really anything too serious. Next thing you know, our truck was in a ditch and we were all beat up pretty good. The driver of the truck died that night. I may have been the last person he talked to. I don't know. At any rate, I met his family after the accident and they were motorcycle people. I will always remember all the bikes at his funeral. He was a member of a family and we look out for our own.
If you are out there riding this weekend, remember your family and all the folks that love you. Ease off the throttle a little and get home safe. 
I will be heading out to Vintage Bike Night on Monday if everything goes as planned. I will take pictures and try to do some interviews if I can. Check in on Tuesday and get the report. 

How Many Times Have You Seen This?

I grew up riding and racing dirt bikes. I suppose my parents did'nt dig the thought of me or my brother on a street bike so, dirt bikes were the only possible choice. Now, over the years I have shown many people how to ride. Most recently, my very own son. He too has been asked to start on a dirt bike. Mainly for the many times I have scene the pain of others as they learned the basics of motorcycle operation. The experience got me thinking about asking all of you fellow riders how many times you have experienced the following scenario:
"A little throttle, now let out a little clutch. Ok, now a little more throttle but dont let go of the clutch. Good, now let out a little more....." Bang, the clutch gets dropped and the front end is off the ground, new rider in tow, throttle pinned wide open.
I cant tell you how many times I have scene this happen. Once even on a Honda Trail 70 and that's an automatic for God's sake! I guess its an integral part of the process. Im pretty glad for that too. Why?
Because its funny as hell, thats why. I mean you cant buy that kind of entertainment. I have seen dudes dragged across drainage ditches, seen trail bikes ridden up garage walls, dudes grinded through scrubs and hedges. Its freakin awesome. I wish I would have had the foresight to bring a video camera to all of them. I will in the future for sure. You Tube could make me a millionaire with that kind of stuff.
The upside is that I have never seen anyone get hurt in all of the training days. The beauty of teaching on a dirt bike I guess.
Post your comments when you get time and visit some of our sponsors. Bring a friend with you.
Dont forget to check in next Tuesday for the full report on Vintage Bike Night at Draught House in Austin, Texas.

Vintage Bike Night At Draught House in Austin

Hey everybody. Stay tuned for more details on Vintage Bike Night on Mondays at The Draught House. This is a great with outdoor seating for beer drinking and looking at cool bikes. Here is a sample from last night. Tune in next week for a full write up on the next event.