Entry for September 01, 2005

Picture:  Rebel in the S-10, Clarksville, TN Aug 31, 2005

  While this esn't exactly about the Royal Enfield I don't suppose Pam would have ever found this bike had I not been looking at Aaron's Classic just two doors down.  This little Honda Rebel 250 twin chopper has been setting in my garage for over a month and now I have hauled it to Georgia and it can set in Pam's garage until she gets her MSF course finished the end of September.  Uneventful trip except for the gas prices.  I paid as much as $3.12 a gallon, now that makes $2.50 look like a bargin doesn't it?

Entry for August 27, 2005 A Thousand and One Miles on a Bullet

Picture:  Odometer on the Bullet

The odometer read 949 when I started off this afternoon.  First stop the Harley/Honda store on N. Ohio.  I needed a face shield for my helmet and thought if anyone would have them this place.  My Royal Enfield and I feel slightly out of place as I wheel into the parking lot.  I'm not wearing any leather and the Bullet is lacking in chrome and short one cylinder.  Not to be deterred I make my way through the leather wearing throng into the store where make my way to the clothing and accessories department.  After waiting for the sales lady to take care of a Harley customer buying orange and black stuff I ask about a shield.  "Well, if we had any they would be right here", she declares.  There weren't any there so we conclude that they don't have any and I made my way back through the leather and chrome crowd where my departure is not loud enough to be noted.

  A ride through Soloman and back to Salina should about get me to the 1000 mile mark and ready for another oil change.  Old 40 highway to Soloman is a rough riding sucker but not much traffic so my usual 45-50 is pretty enjoyable.  Cursing up Main St. I spy the local watering hole and pull in for a cool one.  Typical small town beer joint, bar, pool table, etc.  I expected to see a few old men sitting around nursing a beer but the place was full of foul mouthed teenagers shooting pool and playing video games.  If it hadn't been for the beer taps I would have thought I was in the teen center.  The coke was refreshing though and the Little League game was on the tube.  As I was mounting up a ZZ Top looking character in a black Harley T-shirt pulled up in an old pickup.  "Interesting little ride ya got there", ZZ says.

  The bike is running great, the slight carburetor adjustment seems to have improved the response a bit as I thump toward Salina.  I planned things perfectly and 1001 rolled onto the odometer as I pulled into the driveway.  Now just change the fluids and when I get back from vacation I plan to re-torque the head bolts then I'll be ready for another thousand.

Entry for August 26, 2005

Picture:  Looking North on Burma Rd. half way between Salina and Lindsborg

  We really needed some coffee so why shouldn't I ride to McPherson to pick up some fresh ground Breakfast Blend at Java John's (www.java-john's.com)?  Besides I need to rack up a few miles so I can do a 1000 mile service before I head to Georgia/Virginia next Wednesday.  Nice day for a ride after showers in the AM, temp in the 80s just right for short sleeves.

  On the way back I played kissy face with a Monarch butterfly so decided to stop in Lindsborg at the Viking Motel and pick up the face shield that Richard said he would give me.  It is really sad to smack into these beautiful butterflies right at the peak of their mirgration South.  There seem to be lots of them this year, I wish they would stay out of my way.

Entry for August 24, 2005 Sore Butt 254

Picture:  Haddam's new sign.  Check out   http://www.ci.haddam.ks.us/ for more info on Haddam, KS

Every Wednesday this guy Richard, that I met in Lindsborg, sets up a lunch ride.  When I met him a couple of weeks ago he invited me to go along some time.  This morning I met Richard and Paul at Richard's motel in Lindsborg.  They both ride scooters.  Now before you scoff understand that Richard has ridden his 500cc scoot on an Iron Butt 1500, that's 1500 miles in less than 24 hours.  Paul rides a 200cc scooter.  Both of these things will run circles around my Royal Enfield.  They let me take the lead as we set out for Haddam, KS because I am still breaking in and must limit and vary my speed.  We take the quickest route so we can get there by noon, up old 81 to Salina, then Interstate 135 North until it turns into 81 all the way to Belleville, East on 36 for a bit and just North a tad is the little town of Haddam, just 10 miles South of the Nebraska line.  Rain threatened the whole trip and I was wearing what I have for a rain suit.  Not near as fancy as some of the other folks had but I'm the only one on an old fashioned bike too.

  There are 12 of us on 11 motorcycles, I have the only RE.  Seems most everyone in town knew we were coming and several of the townies stopped my to chat.  The restaurant was a typical small town joint, good cheap food.  I had the BBQ meat balls, $5 including ice tea.  Served on Styrofoam plates but real glasses and table service, very tasty.  There were riders from Topeka, Abilene, Ottawa, Salina and Lindsborg and probably some place I didn't catch.

  The return trip was much nicer ride, through Cuba, South to Clyde and Clifton then down to Longford where a couple of us stopped for gas and coffee.  I had a bit of a thrill about 5 miles from Longford when my tank ran dry, I switched over to reserve not having a clue how much gas I had left or if there was a station in Longford.  Luckily there was and I had cash cause they didn't take credit cards. 

  I parted ways with by riding buddy Dave, when we reached highway 18.  He turned East for Ottawa and went West and worked my way through Soloman to Country Club road to Magnolia road via Kipp road on to Ohio and Schilling and home. 

  I don't have a picture, it looked so much like rain that I left the camera at home.  I did see some pretty country up north and look forward to riding up that way again sometime.

  254 miles, less than 3.5 gal of gas and about a half cup of oil.  A good motorcycle day!!!!

Entry for August 19, 2005 A Little Maintenance

Picture:  Changing Oil in the Primary

 

This is the first time I have tried two entries on the same day, I guess that is allowed, I wanted to show two pictures.  After the "Y" I came home to do a little maintenance.  That is the clutch/Alternator cover lying on the floor.  Didn't really need to take it off to change the oil but I wanted to see what it looked like.

  My dealer in Tulsa just called to check spelling for the title.  I sure wish he was closer as they are real nice folks to work with.

Entry for August 19, 2005

Picture:  New Tank Bag

 

  I was just getting ready to go on a little afternoon ride when I heard thunder.  After a check of the weather I decided blogging would be more prudent than riding.  I used my new tank bag to pack my workout stuff to the YMCA this morning.  It worked out pretty good, and side pockets for glasses and cell phone.  There is a map holder on top for those long trips.  The side flaps have magnets that grip the tank and hold it on.  A safety strap goes around the headlight just so it can't come off in my face at high speed (about 45mph now).

Entry for August 18, 2005 Trip to Tulsa

Picture:  Bullet loaded on the S-10, just back from Tulsa

Today I took the bike to the dealer in Tulsa for it's 500 mile service.  By 5am I was on the road and arrived at Ron's Cycleland at 10pm.  They got started right away so I just hung around and watched.  Mike, the senior mechanic does the Enfields, he was real good about showing me how to do things but as it turned out I could have done everything myself.  About The only thing I was unsure on was adjusting the push rods but I am clear now.  Tomorrow I will do a couple of things that I thought he should have done but that is just me.  They are a real friendly bunch down there and had me loaded up and on my way by 12:30pm.

  It took be quite a lot longer to get home, first a train had me blocked in Tulsa then on the way back the road work got me.  I was pretty pooped when I finally got the bike unloaded and only took a 6 mile ride after I topped off the tank with gas.  The gas mileage is looking pretty good, well in excess of 75mpg.  I may get Sue one of these to ride to work.

Entry for August 17, 2005 Check the Kill Switch First!

Picture:  Pam's Little Honda Rebel Chopper

Bob was over last night with the bracket he made for the seat on Pam's bike.  After some fine tuning and a couple of Guiness we were satisfied with the results.  I invited Bob to ride Pam's little chopper which he did but he didn't like the slow speed handling, the seating position, the handle bars, most everything.  He did allow that it sounded good and looked cool, just wouldn't be for him.

Time for him to ride a real bike, the Bullet.  I wanted to impress him by letting him go through the starting drill to get the big single thumping.  As I was talking him through it I noticed that the amp meter wasn't deflecting like it should so I wheeled it back into the garage and had the plub half out when it dawned on me...."check the kill switch dumb ass".  I did, it was off, must have bumped it rolling it out of the garage.  It started right up of course and Bob was half way down the drive way when he commented "this is more like it".

Today I am getting ready to haul the Bullet down to Tulsa for it's 500 mile service.  They said it would be free so I figured I might as well take it down.

Entry for August 15, 2005

Took a little tour to Marquette, KS today via Lindsborg.  Stopped at Lynette's as I hadn't seen her or Jade for awhile.  Jade starts school on Monday and Sue wanted to take her shopping, she is such a good Aunt.  Jade was pretty impressed with the RE until I started it up, she said it sounded like her lawn mower.  I got to get a new pipe ordered.

On to Marquette, the little Kansas town with two motorcycle museums.  After delish lunch of fried stuff at the Hawg and Horse saloon I walked across the street to the Kansas Motorcycle Museum.  Local legend motorcycle racer Stan Engdahl himself was coming out the door to take a picture of my bike, I am honored.  He has on display many old bikes and scooters including his Harley dirt trackers.  He also has the more that 600 trophies that he won over his 40 plus years of racing.  He took me around and told be about many of the bikes and pictures.  He was a 16 time state champion.  Not exactly sure what all kinds of racing it was, mostly flat track and TTs I think.  He was sponsored by some Harley shop and I guess was considered a pro.  He showed me one picture of him broadsliding around a turn with his leg stuck out.  He said "my leg was broke in that race, I duct taped it to a 2 X 4".  Another pictures showed him at the front of the pack when he was 61.  I don't think I will be riding like that.

The other museum has mostly British bikes, Triumphs and BSAs.  There was a 980cc Triumph drag bike sitting there that had turned and 11.9 quarter.  Steve Mcgee the owner couldn't wait to fire it up for me,  it sounded pretty bad.  Steve showed me every thing including the back room projects.  He like the looks of the Enfield and gave me some tuning tips for big singles.  I really need to figure out a way to carry my camera.

503 miles were on the odometer as I rolled up to the garage.  I probably won't ride it much until after I get back from Tulsa on Thursday.  They are going to give me a free service so I will haul it down there and let them check it over.

Got to go, got an Elder's meeting tonight, I might ride to the church.

Entry for August 14, 2005 Biker Breakfast

Picture:  Me and my Bullet

Henry picks me up a 7:30am, it is cold and rainy, I doubt that many bikes will be at breakfast and most will be driving like us.  I am wrong, the weather was a little better in De Soto and there are 10-12 bikes there including a beautifuly restored older (50-60's) BMW.

Henry introduces me to a guy named Jim that restores old bikes and Jim invites us to his place for a look see afterwards.  He has a great collection of older bikes including a 1918 Triumph, some BSAs, Nortons and Triumphs.  He is getting some bikes ready to take to a show up in Iowa next weekend (see www.baxtercycles.com for info).  Very interesting guy and his wife who also rides and restores, they have a motorcycle in the dinning room of their lovely home.  I believe he told me he made his fortune making milking machines for goats.  Next time I visit I will take the camera.

All in all a good motorcycle day and I didn't even ride.

P.S.  We got home from Olathe early enough for me to take a 25 mile ride up Burma Rd. overlooking Salina from the West and then out toward Rolling Hills Zoo then back.  Yes, it was a good motorcycle day.

Entry for August 13, 2005 Henry and Humpty

Henry is a guy from a RE group on Yahoo.  I noticed that he was from Kansas and e-mailed him, he answered and said he lived in Olathe.  Since we were planning to be in Olathe this weekend helping Julie with her garage sale I told him if he and Humpty were out and about to stop by.  He did so and we had a nice chat about Enfields and Humpty.  Humpty of course is his 1999 RE Bullet with the engine that he rebuilt.  He was able to answer a lot of my questions.  The bike is a work in progress with his goal of making a trip to Alaska next Summer.  He invited me to breakfast at a place in De Soto that a collection of bikers frequent on Sunday mornings.

Entry for August 12, 2005

 An interesting day with the Bullet.  My intent was to run a couple of errands and ride up to Indian Rock Park for a look see, check out the Saline Co. Fair then ride to Lindsborg for lunch.  I got all geared up and everything and gave the beast of couple of kicks then she goes dead.  No lights, horn, starter, etc.  The first thing I do is check the kill switch because I am a quick learner.  Everything is OK there, so on to the fuse, a little 20 amp guy tucked away in it's own little holder.  It looks OK but I put the meter on it anyway and it checks out as does the convenient spare.  I put it back in, tried the ignition and by golly I had ignition.

  After a short warm up it is off to Indian Rock Park, the legendary scene of a skirmish between settlers and some Indian's, the details of which have been lost to history.  After 20 years living in Salina I am finally checking out the view of the city from it's highest point.  There is a city guy there repairing some vandalism and we visit about the RE then it is off to the county fair.  Not much going on there, a little early I guess. 

  It looks like rain but I decide to chance it and head south on Burma Road to Lindsborg, little Sweden USA, should anyone besides my family see this.  I had hoped to see my niece at the restaurant but she is working in the evening.  Riding into the North wind going home slows things a bit but I do manage a couple of 50mph blasts for just a few seconds.  A few sprinkles sting my face but it never amounted to much.  I would gladly take a soaking if we could get a little rain.  That's it for now, going to Olathe for the weekend, I should hit 500 miles next week and may haul the Bullet back down to Tulsa for service from the dealer.  He told me there would be no charge so all I would be out is my time and however much gas is by then.

  This is pretty great stuff, huh?

Entry for August 11, 2005 No Ride Today

I am suffering mightly this evening.  Today is the first day since bringing the RE home that I haven't ridden at all.  It is just sitting out there in the garage all cold and lonely (alright it's 8pm and 92 degrees, but it is cold for a motorcycle).  I'll try and make up for it tomorrow.

Entry for August 5, 2005

Picture:  The Silver Bullet with all the vintage goodies.

Spent the week thumping around the airport industrial area, getting used to the bike and adding on some slow miles.  I rode early in the morning when it was cool and late in the evening.  The temperatures have been 100+ all week.  The bike is running fine with the only problem being getting the vintage style turn signals to stay put but I solved that with blue Loctite and rubber washers.  There was that little problem with the kill switch but once I learned on from off it was OK.  Saturday will be the big test, I'm riding to Galva, KS for Sue's Family reunion, about 80 miles round trip.

Entry for August 6, 2005 Reunion Ride

Picture:  Right side view, same stuff.

Excitement is not an emotion to which I am accustom but I guess that is what is going on with the butterflies in my stomach.  This will be my first "long" ride on the RE.  The plan is for me to leave 30 minutes before Sue follows in the car. 

  Sue, incidentally, is President of her reunion this year.  It will be the 78th Finkle family reunion.  We will meet in the Galva Senior Center for food, group singing and entertainment.  The new Galva museum will be open especially for us.  This reunion used to draw 150 people but has dwindled to around 25, the family is huge but getting spread out and far removed from the original Finkles.

  Back to the motorcycle.........I head South at a steady 40mph in 5th gear down Highway 81.  Thirty minutes later my butt is telling me to stop in Lindsborg for a break.  That solo seat is not near as comfortable as the stock seat but it sure looks cool.  While checking the bike over at Casey's for loose and missing parts I meet Richard.  He pulled up on a riding lawnmower and started talking to me about joining some four stroke single club(www.fssnoc.org).  He knew about Royal Enfields which was unusual, turns out there was an article in the paper awhile back about him and his son doing an Iron Butt 1000.  He was riding a big Aprilla motorscooter. 

  Sue passes me before I get to the cutoff for Galva and as I entered town she was back tracking already looking for me.  She worries about me but I always carry the cell phone.  The return trip was uneventful except for the guy on the bicycle that followed me into the garage to ask about the bike.  I get to tell the story again to a young guy that never heard of RE.

Entry for August 8, 2005 Ride to McPherson

Today is the USPS retirees breakfast in McPherson, naturally I am riding down there so I can get some more break-in miles.  Showing off the RE to my old post office buddies has nothing to do with it.  It is cooler at 7am than I realize.  I almost came back for a jacket to go with the long sleeve shirt but decide to push on because it is going to be another 100 degree day.  Burma Road South to Lindsborg past the old mill and over the Smoky Hill river then 81 South to McPherson, about 34 miles.  Nice ride until 81 then lots of people going to work don't know quite what to make of an old man on an old looking motorcycle putting along at 40-45mph.  Some folks need more room to pass than others.

  About 9 of us at breakfast, every is interested in looking at the bike.  After breakfast I stop by the post office and talk to a few of the unfortunate one still on the job, several of them ride so they were interested in the RE. 

 

Arrived back in Salina about 11:30am, topped off the tank and checked the gas mileage, about 75mpg.  Just over 300 miles on the clock now, no problems and have added about 4oz of oil.  Good ride butt have decided that the solo seat has to go no matter how cool it looks. 

Saturday July 30, 2005

Picture:  My Silver Bullet Sixty-5. Yes, that is a cell phone hanging from the handlebar.

I am on the road by 4:30am and arrive at Ron's just as they open at 9am.  Ron's is an interesting place, Royal Enfield is his only dealership.  He is what they call a servicing dealer, he has one bike on display and don't think it is new.  They work on about anything and seem to have tons of used parts of any kind of bike.  Very friendly group of guys, I looked the bike over, talked with a couple of mechanics but Ron is the only that can do the paper work and he isn't there yet.  One of the counter guys calls wakes him up.  I have to wait a couple of hours but that is OK, it gives me a chance to wander around and talk to the workers.  I had the run of the place.

Ron shows up we do the paper work, they load me up and I am off to Kansas.

I had heard that the RE was an attention getter and I told the Enfield "story" a couple of times before I got it home.  Driving up Interstate 135 around Hesston, KS I saw a chopper coming up behind be a fast clip.  He slowed down when he got along side.  It was a young guy riding one of those long customized jobs with the fat rear tire, could have even been a Big Dog.  He turned around and gave me a thumbs up and a big grin.  Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Got home early enough to put on about 10 miles before calling it a day.

Rewind to November 2004

 

 

I never completely lost interest in motorcycles, I just didn't keep up with them too well. All of a sudden there were all these bright plastic road racing looking things zooming around with young guys wearing shorts, sandals and shades but no helmet. Everyone was riding a big Harley or a Honyamasuki. I could understand the Japanese bikes but Harley's? I thought things fell off of them and only real hard core bikers could handle a Hog. Now everyone and his doctor and lawyer was riding a Hog, even for a first bike. Hell, Sturgis was now a family event, I guess I'm just stuck in the 60's.

Enter the Royal Enfield: I probably first became aware of the modern RE browsing for old bikes on EBAY. I had no clue that the Bullet model had been built in India since 1955 and hadn't changed much since.

Retirement: I retired in November 2004. After a 23 year career in the USN and 20 years with the USPS I was 62 years old and didn't have a lot to do. My bride of 39 years was still working and I spent a lot of time on the computer. To my credit (I think) I used much of that time to research the RE and wonder if I could still ride a motorcycle after 30 years.......

July 26, 2005

I am hoping all last week that it would come in but it didn't.  Finally on Tuesday afternoon I call Ron to ask where it was.  He told me it had arrived that afternoon and they were putting it together. 

Saturday, the 30th, is set for the pick up date.

July 14, 2005

A couple more phone calls, a little of this and of that, the bike is ordered by Friday and should arrive next week.  It will be silver with a black seat.  I am like a little kid before Christmas, my wife laughs at me.

June 2005

Picture:  Sue and Julie and my 360cc Yamaha RT-1, around 1970

The more I thought about this motorcycle thing the more it seemed doable.  I felt sure I could still ride a smaller bike but I wanted to be certain.  That is when my on-line research turned up the Motorcycle Safety Foundation http://www.msf-usa.org/.  I checked into classes in Kansas and turned up some possibilities, talked it over with my wife and kids and decided that I would take a class to see if I still could and even if I still wanted to.  Sue (wife) and our daughters Julie, Sheila and Pam went together and gave me the class for my 63rd birthday.  I took the MSF course at Hutchinson Junior College (Kansas) the last weekend in June.  There were 12 of us, I was the oldest of course, ten of us passed.  I felt I held my own with the younger riders but there was no competition, everyone was pulling for everyone else, such is the nature and appeal of the motorcycling community.

I should mention that Sue owned her own motorcycle back in the day and was a good rider.  She had a 250cc  (YDS-3) Yamaha twin and I rode a Honda CL-77.  That was before kids.

July 13, 2005

Ron calls back and tells me that he can get me a new 2004 Sixty-5 with a vintage kit for $4295.  I give him my credit card number and color choices and the wheels are turning.

Background

My first motorized two wheeler was a 1947 Cushman. One of those with the body covering the engine and a centrifugal clutch. I was 14 and too young for a car but old enough for a license. Once I had a car motorcycles were forgotten until my first hitch in the U.S. Navy. On Okinawa in 1962 I picked up a used 125cc Yamaguchi two stroke (the one in the picture). It was a real dog but reliable to a fault. I rode that thing all over the island, sometimes packing a buddy. From then on I owned a variety of bikes until I gave them up in the mid 70's. There just didn't seem to be enough time for riding and being a family man and maybe I matured a bit.

July 12, 2005

I am still steaming about yesterday.  Since he had been responsive in the past I conclude that the dealership is having manager problems since my e-mails to him have gone unanswered and he hasn't called me. After stewing all morning I decide to call the US distributor www.enfieldmotorcycles.com and inquire about their delivery program.  In the course of that conversation I was encouraged to call Ron's Cycleland in Tulsa, OK, it is only an hour farther than Overland Park so I called.  After a pleasant talk with Ron himself he promised to call back tomorrow with information on the 2004 program (I am nothing if not persistent).

April 2005

Visited the Enfield dealer in Overland Park, KS and got a look at a new 500cc with the vintage kit.  I am every impressed but have doubts that I am mechanic enough to own one.  I am also leery of a Vespa dealership selling these things.  It bothered me too that I seemed to know more about the bike than the salesman.  I was offered a test ride but declined because I had no motorcycle license.  I take home a brochure and continue my on-line research.

July 11, 2005

After a brief flirtation with and couple of Kawasaki W650s on EBAY I have decided to buy a new 2004 Royal Enfield that the US distributor has an overstock of and has them on sale with full warranty.  I had corresponded with the dealer in Overland Park and he said he had a couple but that was in June and I hope I'm not too late.  I make the three hour drive from Salina on Sunday and spend the night with daughter #1, Julie, who lives nearby. I am pumped to get to that Vespa place and buy me a Royal Enfield, I got money in my pocket, I got my license, I'm driving the truck to haul that puppy home.  How the heck did I know that almost every motorcycle/scooter dealer in the country closes on Monday.  My disappointment is profound, but what is one more day when you have waited 30 years?  I'll just bop over there tomorrow, if they don't have a program 2004 I'll just get a 2005. 

My first clue should have been the young lady that asked me if she could help me.  Now I have three daughters so I had no problem telling her what I was looking for, her blank stare gave her away.  She called for help.  Clue number two was a young man that had never heard of the 2004 program and alluded that I probably didn't know what I was talking about.  "Is the manager here?", I ask. "No", sez he.  "When will he be in?", asks I.  "Don't know", replies the Super Salesman.  I asked a couple of basic questions of SS and instead of telling me that he didn't know he tries to baffle me with BS.  I got pissed and left.  Maybe I'll just buy a Harley.  I take my money and head back home.