Where You Been?

This is a question I have been getting a lot lately.

I'm still here.

I'm about a quarter of the way thru a new story......just can't seem to tell it like I want to yet.

I'll get there.

I have been working on bikes, Yard, House, etc..Doesn't leave much time for writing.

I just got a Shovelhead for Ann..It's a barn bike.

It has been sitting in various 'sheds' since 1987 or so..

From NY to AZ

It will be gone completely thru..axle to axle.

It is 85 percent there....everything is in various stages of dis assembly.

Since it's for Ann..I'm opting for closer to stock.

I might switch it over to Evo valves and lifters..and a better S%S oil pump.

However...

Depending on budget..

I might go whole "hog' with a four pounds lighter Evo crank.....tighter 40 over Flat-top pistons with a narrowed Squish band,.thunder cams, Redirected ports. and lowered barrels. 2 into 1 thunderheader. new ratio 1,2,and 3 gears. Perhaps an overdrive. Etc.

This would be in response to the challenge posted by Willy D on Ann's site..:]

Money allowing..This would be stone stock reliable...and eat Evos and Twin cams for lunch.

Decisions,Decisions Decisions....

Charitable Intentions

I have a question and I hope one of my more knowledgeable readers can perhaps explain this to me.

If you have a business whatever it may be, the standard wisdom for all types is take your profits and reinvest them back into your inventory.
Buy more product to sell, or invest in new equipment for said purpose. Do not take those profits and use them for anything other than increasing business.

This is standard business 101, taught in any good class from Harvard to community college.

All in agreement so far?.

Here's my quandary.

A business here in AZ. [Which by all involved vehemently deny it is one] but let's go with our all knowing governments version and say it is. I personally don't agree with that...but let's for the sake of this argument say it's true.
According to the same government it is a "criminal organization" that deals in nefarious purposes.
Now this said organization took some of it's profits and bought a truckload of toys to give to children.
When they arrived to deliver the toys...They were denied access to giving the toys away.
????? WTF?
Well it seems the local law enforcement in it's wisdom decided to tell the charity 'Don't accept these toys..they are bought with criminal profits'.
Who loses out in this scenario?
The innocent children lose out on Christmas.
The 'Bad guys' will correctly now decide that since spending money on charity is a waste if time, put it back in inventory.
The 'product' they sell will not be diminished one fucking Iota by this denial.
They are not gonna close up shop and go away because....[Awww, they won't let us give stuff away]
The 'customers' don't buy from them because 'hey..they help kids'. They could give a shit less one way or the other.
OK...So far the kids lost...the 'criminals' kept more of their profits to buy more product and equipment..[being criminals...that would naturally mean more guns and such].
So who came out ahead here?
Law enforcement?
Most see it as making innocents pay for the wages of crime. The organization they are fighting actually gains in strength because they now have more money to continue their 'nefarious efforts' and actually close ranks among themselves , becoming a tighter group.
The LEO's now face a better equipped army against them, the public perception of them is diminished because they just made innocent children who are already down on their luck pay the price.
These kids will not remember why....Only that a 'Cop' prevented Christmas.
And will most likely in the future look on 'Cops' as assholes.
Showing LESS respect for the law,,not more.
So my question is......Just who the hell came out ahead in this scenario?

Finally..Pictures

All three bikes are repaired and up and running.

And I finally found the damn camera cord. ;]

Modern 'Bike in Barn' story

We've all heard the proverbial 'Bike in a barn ' story.
Bikers sit up and Pay rapt attention when one is told.
Hell, If it's a real good one we'll even push the chatty naked pole dancer outta the way just to hear it.
You might as well tell her right now...go back to the dressing room....Cos' your gonna love this one.

A 96 FLH in perfect condition found in a 'Barn'..Ok, it was a garage..who cares.
The owners manual and video had not even been opened yet.
Impressive, No?
OK, not really that impressive......You can find low mileage examples if you look hard enough.
Under 3000 miles..is that impressive? Quite rare...but not really unheard of.
So how about.......300 miles? Got your attention now don't I?
That's rare for a 13 year old bike....I don't care who you ask.

That's a cool fucking story period.

But...Wait!!!! There's more.

How about...a 96 S&S motored American eagle softail chopper with all the chrome and fancy color shifting paint job done by 5150 Paint and kustoms. [Around a 3500 dollar paint job]
And just for good measure..New Revtech heads and Barrels.
Kustom rims etc.
OH!! Before I forget.....275 actual miles. Yep, you read that right...275.

Now finding these two bikes with a combined mileage of 575...In the same 'barn'
The odds of hearing a story like this is pretty damn rare, Wouldn't you say?

I'll bet your saying 'Holy shit' , Now that's a great goddamn story.

Whoop's...I ain't done yet...;]

How about a 97 Honda Valkrie......The first year edition with the most horsepower.
In showroom condition.....which isn't that amazing....Since it also has only........325 miles.

All three from the same 'Barn' and all three are sitting happily in my shop as I write.
I need to clean the tanks and carb's ...fuel injectors,,oil changes, tires etc...

The current owner wants to ride the FLH and sell the other two
The original owner bought them as 'Investments' back in the day.
Then decided to give them to his son-in-law.
He then contacted a Friend of mine.
I 'm making green to fix em...and I get to ride them.
And I gotta cool post for my readers outta the deal.
Ain't life just grand...;]

PS...I will post pics when I find the damn camera cable to download,

Congratulations..Ann/Boston and Nytro

Boston/Ann has been voted Maricopa BACA Secretary. For those familar with 'Biker' titles...that's pretty damn high up the food chain..
Nytro has been made our Public relations officer.
I think both are Perfect for their given titles..
Please join me in congratulating them.

Cane

Cane's ears slowly stirred his consciousness into focus. The close quiet hum he was hearing to was alien to him. Slowly opening his eyes and peering into the subdued light. The blinking green numbers flashing on the monitor above his head brought the hazy memory of recent events to clarity.

'Aww, Shit...It wasn't a dream'.

Quiet laughter echoed from the room’s far corner, ’No, It was definitely real'

Cane strained his eyes to focus on the source.

The man speaking from the corner of the room stepped forward into view.

Cane looked to see a weather-beaten face shrouded in long flowing white hair and beard.

It took a few seconds for Cane to realize the vest and leathers the man wore were white.

'Who the hell are you?' Cane asked.

Again the old man laughed, leaning closer to Cane replied softly ’wrong place'

'What do you mean by that?

'I don't come from there'

Confused, Cane stared at the man quizzically and then mumbled 'Oh Shit'

Laughing even louder the old man quipped 'No, I ain't who your thinking' Waving his hands in the air, no robe and no scythe here'

'Then who are you?'

'Lets just say I'm a fan and have been for sometime.'

A Fan? Of what?

'Of you and what you do.'

'I'm not sure I understand'

'You are a good hearted man who strives to live each day honorably and care for your family and friends. Also what you do for kids....Well, let's put it this way, many talk about helping, you actually put yourself out there. For that, I try to keep an extra eye out for you'

Looking down at his body wrapped in bandages Cane muttered 'Good Job'

Smiling the Old man replied 'Yes, I think so'

'I was being sarcastic' If you were watching out for me...you kinda messed up' replied Cane

'I was a little busy at the time, so I did what I could

'Busy?

'Yes, busy. What you didn't see on your little flight was our friend with the scythe waiting in the street. He was so excited at having potential clients he didn't see me coming. I drop kicked his ass' and then barely had time to catch you and your wife in time for a softer landing. You try catching two at a time...let me know how well you do' chortled the old man.

'You did all that?' asked Cane.

'That and more, I have sent people with good hearts and advice to your side, though you don't always listen, I have even helped you out of a few close calls.....You haven't exactly helped make my job any easier.'

'Sorry'

'No need to apologize, I really didn't expect you too'.

'Now you’re confusing me'

'I don't have any hold on your free will. The same ability that sometimes hinders, also allows you to take the risk you do for children. They kind of go hand in hand..so to speak.'

'Why me?'

'Because I need you'

'You need me? How?'

I can't be everywhere at once; I need people like you to protect the little ones.

'I'm still not sure I understand...aren't you everywhere?

The old man responded laughing 'No, I'm not that guy either'

'Then who are you?'

'Lets just say I'm the "Bikers" aide and leave it at that.'

'Now I'm really confused, if you’re a "Bikers" aide what's that have to do with kids?'

'Since the entire world has free will, there are those who will abuse that privilege. You help to make sure that the little ones don't have theirs taken away. Some lead by your example will also become "Bikers" someday.

By looking out for you, I'm also looking out for them.'

'I won't be able to do much from here' said Cane gesturing at the room.

'As I stated before, you have good people surrounding you. They will keep the flame burning in your absence. Think of it this way, the best steel is forged slowly over fire. In time you will emerge from this stronger, sharper and more focused. When you wake tomorrow, you won't remember this talk we are having...But your soul will.

Cane noticed the old man was slowly receding back into the darkness of the room. Feeling the effects of the medication again he started to drift off to sleep. Before consciousness lost hold he heard the old man whisper.

'Rest up Bro', you still have a Lot to do'

Mystery Bike

The Bike I was crying about..[because I thought he 'blew it up']
Is an EXTREMELY RARE......
1941 Indian Military Model 841.
Only a thousand were made...And all but one was shipped to CA for testing by the armed forces.

The 841 also came with several other new features, including shaft drive, a foot shift, hand clutch, hydraulic girder spring fork, rubber-mounted handlebars, a sprung rear hub and 8-inch drum brakes, all of which made it onto postwar Chiefs.E. Paul duPont, who controlled Indian, had so much faith in the 841 design that he got one for his own use. He rode it around the country, stopping to show dealers and friends, and had grand plans for turning the military 841 into a civilian tourer.But none of that was to be.Although Indian built more than 1,000 examples of the bike and put it through extensive testing in the desert of California, the military never adopted the machine for wartime use. The same was true of Harley’s BMW-like XA. Instead, the primary motorcycle used by American forces was the 750cc V-twin Harley WLA, augmented by Indian’s 500cc V-twin 741 and the 750cc 640B, basically a military version.


Most were deystoyed in testing or scrapped...Never intended for civilian use...As such very few examples exist today...and nearly all that are...are in museums.

When I saw the photo of a civilian owning one...I just about fell off my chair.