A Good Old Gal.

365 Group

One of my "girls" turns 40 this year.

"Miss Tilley!"  My 1977 KZ 750 twin, that I bought in original stock condition, 18 years ago from a lady in Oklahoma who's husband didn't like the fact guys whistled at her when she rode around town. They made a compromise and sold both their bikes. I was rather happy he was pissed that I took her old "junker" over his shiny late model V twin.
 This bike, with 97 thousand miles plus/ minus, has literally taken me all over the the Southern United States. Not too shabby for a $700 investment.

"catch ya on the road."
            (f)

my ride

My ride is 35 years old.
It has progressed to being a striped down, oil weeping. kickstart only machine. Thats a far cry from it's flashy beginings of an electric start, turn signaled, plastic covered road burner. I was told it was one of the bikes that began the sport bike age. Well, it runs me up and down the road. Thats all it 'needs' to do.
A Couple of weeks ago I met a lady that I had gotten to know online. We had became pretty good friends online and since she rode as well we decide to meet at a roadside cafe. It would be a good ride for each and hopefully a good visit with a new friend.
The ride over was about as good as you could hope for. Warm with those little tinges of cool that sneak up on you. For 270 miles it was a good day.
The meeting was unusual to put it mildly. It appeared that I didnt have enough money or was polished enough to be friends. This point was made very clear when she walked out and saw my bike. "i wouldnt be caught even parked near that thing." at about the time she was talking a group of riders pulled in to the gas pumps. I over heard them say they were heading to the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ rally. we walked over to look over their bikes and visit. They were on a real collection of bikes from sportbikes to dressers to a couple of worn out old bobbers. when one asked what I was riding and I pointed out (rather proudly) my Miss Tilley, well, my roadside 'date' came crashing to an end.
I spent about 15 minutes listening to a fake and forced "how nice it was to meet and we should do it again real soon" kind of talk. After she took off on her shiny Honda I walked over to the riders and asked if they'd like a personal guide to Fayetteville, Arkansas and the Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally.
We flogged it all the way and those two old worn out bobbers would flat run!
I went on this little ride to make a friend. Turned out I made nine from Northern Kansas. The lady I went to meet. well, we use to talk a bunch on line...havent heard from her since that day. Guess my credit score wasnt high enough?
My ride is 35 years old...
Catch ya on the road

6/16/09 The Bikin Part

365 Group (f)

These last couple of days have been great riding weather. Even with the storms that have blown through the area.
Since I made the return trip from mom's I haven't been doing a whole lot of riding. Mostly to and from work. I seemed to have redeveloped a Medical condition and, like the last time, it's painful and really saps the energy. I have a worn out disk in my lower back just at the belt line. That with a coupled with a couple of other chronic worn out body parts just sort of puts the damper on doing a lot. Especially with what I fondly refer to as a "roughbutt" frame. that and a cantankerous kick starter. At seventy miles per hour and only 3/4 of an inch give, it rides a little rough. So I have been doing only what I can to get by as far as riding. To and from work, the Doctor a couple of times and the necessary restaurant,bill paying,etc. I'm averaging about sixty miles per day. Enough to keep my standing in the Group.
I am doing lots of planning. I have a couple of Bobber projects kicking around in the back of my mind. I'm spending this "down time" researching bike magazines and the Internet to see how things look in actual play. I've also began picking up parts here and there so my time isn't totally wasted. Ya know, this is the Bikin part.
There is a gathering coming up this weekend in Eureka Springs of an on line bike group, "Biker or Not" or "BON" that I belong to. I'm hoping to be healed enough to make at least one day of it. Maybe meet a couple of the people I've met on there and take a few pictures.
Anyway, I been doin lots of "bikin" and not a lot of "Ridin" lately. Doctors say it may all come to a halt soon. If that is actually the case, you know hat that will mean? Trike sales will go up a wee bit.
Catch ya on the road