ROMEOs and Other Stuff: 2007

Saturday, December 15, 2007

405cc American Eagle

What are you going to do when there is 10" of snow on the ground and it's 22 degrees? Ain't going riding, even with an electric vest, that's for sure. Guess it is time to reminisce about bikes gone by.
This is the only British made bike I've ever owned. It is a 405cc Sprite, sold in the USA under the American Eagle brand. Two-stroke with a "proper" right shift and left brake. It came with two fiberglass tanks, the smaller red one in the photo and a larger blue one. I always thought it was a good looking bike, it handled nicely, had poor brakes, good power and shifted like a truck. I've been told that it was a Husqvarna clone but they didn't get something right in the gear box.
A friend and I bought two of these things, brand new, in the crate from a dealer in Hawaii that wanted to get rid of them. That was around 1970. Our idea was to use them for trail riding which we did but I raced mine several times at the motocross track on the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station and once at night on a motocross track set up at a local flat track. The bike was much better than my abilities and I crashed a few times toward the front of the pack.
Not much to be found on the WWW about this bike and the photo below was the only one I could find.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Heated Vest

Beautiful bright sunshiny day. The ice covering everything glistened in the sunlight this morning and by early afternoon had almost all melted and fell off. It was too hazardous to get to work cutting up the downed branches. Wet ground and lots of falling ice convinced me to wait until the weekend to get started.

But, what's that....the streets are dry except where ice is falling down. Easily avoided I figure. The thermometer says 38 degrees and no wind, great time to try out the new heated vest.

It was pretty easy to hook up the wiring to the battery. I plan to splice things up so I can use one connection for both the Battery Tender and the vest since I'll never use them at the same time. It's a bit of a pain to get plugged in and zipped up while sitting on the bike but I plan to work on my technique.

The Dub fired right up and I switched on the vest. I noticed the heat almost immediately and punched it down to the low setting. I got to say I was quite comfortable at 55 but you got to play around, right? On the high setting I started to feel a little well done so I checked out medium and finally back to low. Just to make sure I turned it off completely. Yep, in a couple of minutes I started feeling the cold creep in so I settled on the low setting. The control is easy to operate with my fat winter gloves. It straps to the left thigh and can be worked by feel.

After my short 12 mile ride I was pleased with the Tourmaster Synergy heated vest and anxious to give it a longer test.

Heated Vest

The vest showed up a couple of days ago. My initial attempt at trying it out failed so I need to read the instructions again.

It is certainly cold enough to give it a try but a recent ice storm has left things in a mess. There are limbs down in the back yard that need to be cut up but I'm going to wait a couple of more days for that. The picture is out of the front door looking up the street.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Heated Vest

Well I did it. I have finally scummed to the siren call of heated clothing. I just ordered a heated vest from www.helmetcity.com. I couldn't pass on the rave reviews from www.webbikeworld.com and free shipping.

Tourmaster SYNERGY heated vest

What next? Heated grips, gloves, socks? Maybe a heated seat? I remember when I thought a windshield was the only concession I would ever make to comfort. Could this be the slippery slope toward a full blown cruiser? Perhaps a Gold Wing is in my future or a BMW multi-letter road bike. If I get any fatter maybe a H-D FLQYRSX Fat Job Road Queen.

On a serious note, what sold me was a comment about safety and how with the vest one isn't bundled up like the Michelin Tire Man during cold weather. After my sub-freezing ride yesterday I decided to make the plunge. I'll keep you posed.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

ROMEO Lunch at the Renaissance Cafe

About two miles from home it occurred to me that although I was the only one with the balls to ride to lunch today said balls were about to freeze off.

Truthfully speaking it didn't take that much courage to ride the REB to Assaria for lunch because it was only 11 miles and with the wind. I figured by the time I headed back it would warm up enough that I wouldn't be too cold. I was wrong.

The ride wasn't much to brag about but the four of that showed up had a nice lunch and a good visit. I need to point out again that Richard, Louie and Evan drove to lunch and didn't ride. It was almost worth getting cold just so I could call them girly men.

The Renaissance is a nice place but at $4.50 for a hamburger, a little dab of beans and 23 french fries and the drink extra they are about to lose my business. I guess that isn't all that bad but it used to be $3 something. From the looks of the weather forecast this might have been the last ride for a while.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Pat's New Vulcan

I was sitting in the basement playing around on the computer when I heard the sound of a big V-twin outside. What fool would be riding around on this 31, feels like 22, degree, windy afternoon. So I goes outside and there is Pat climbing off this brand spanking new 900cc Vulcan with a big ole grin on his face. He had just picked it up and couldn't wait to show someone. I told him I hoped he wasn't going to invite me to go riding. We settled for coffee.

Backing up a couple of days, on Wednesday I rode down to Lindsborg and had lunch with Richard and Joyce. After lunch Richard and I braved the north wind and rode to Salina to check out the sale at Outlaws and to have a Frosty. The 1100 Yamaha V-Star that Richard has his eye on was sitting next to the 900 Vulcan that Pat bought today. Both are nice cruisers.

Yesterday I followed Richard and his 650 V-Star to Hutchinson where he parked it in the Suzuki dealers show room for him to sell on consignment. Of course Richard had to take the scenic route down there, I didn't mind as I was warm and comfy driving his truck. He wandered the back roads like a guy riding his favorite horse for the last time before putting it out to pasture. Now he claims he wasn't really lost when he headed off in the wrong direction he just wasn't real sure where it was he wanted to go. His nick name of "Wrong Road Richard" is well deserved. I'm thinking of getting a pool up on how long long it will be until he is riding that new 1100. I'm betting not too long.

Pat's New Vulcan

Monday, November 26, 2007

Blog from 360

I finally seem to have gotten all the entries from the 360 blog loaded to Multiply, minus the pictures. It's just too much work to try and load all those pictures so I may never get them all put back in. Some of the entries seem to be out of order but I guess I'm lucky to just get all of them.

The temperature is over 50, I should be changing oil or putting up Christmas light but I just feel tired, maybe tomorrow.

Back Home

Got home from Virginia yesterday, 2400 miles round trip. I'm tired, I want my own bed, my own recliner and my own computer. Sound just like and old fart don't I?

Sure are a lot of deer this year, from Virginia to Kansas we saw many along the Interstates, both dead and alive.

When we left home there were leaves on the trees now they are all gone and some places still had snow on the ground. I still have leaves to rake and oil to change in the bikes. Time to put up Christmas lights too I guess.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving in Virgina

Beautiful Thanksgiving Day in Harrisonburg, VA. The fall colors are picture like, the weather was spring like and the food with my son-in-law's family was fantastic. The only problem was I had to settle for football and nap in the afternoon instead of riding some of the great motorcycles roads in this area.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Kansas Motorcycle Legend Passes

Stan Engdahl, a legend in Kansas motorcycle racing, passed away yesterday. He started and ran the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, KS http://ksmotorcyclemuseum.org/.

The picture on the left is my son-in-law, Stan and my daughter. In the background a some of his many trophies.

The following is an e-mail that went out to the ROMEOs.

Guys - Many of you have visited the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, Kansas. It was a living tribute to Stan Engdahl who for over 50 years raced his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Stan passed away yesterday while watching his city fire team fight a grass fire. He just collapsed and died on the scene it was reported. Stan was 79 years old and is survived by his wife of the home.

I was one of the fortunate ones who got to see Stan race as a young man when races were held in Dodge City over Labor Day weekend. It was a memorable time that I still recall with distinct pleasure. Everything about it just reeked of excitement to this youngster still in high school. When I moved up to Lindsborg in the mid 80's, races were still being held every Memorial Day at Kanopolis and I spent many an enjoyable hour out there when the wife would let me off. Stan, much older then, as was I, still racing and was still leading the field, riding with a vengeance as he always did.

I will miss Stan. I will miss his stories. I will miss his shuffle. I will miss his quick wit and soft speech. I never heard a bad word come from Stan's lips in all the time I have known him. Motorcycling has lost a friend in Stan Engdahl.

The little City of Marquette has lost more than it realizes! The best tribute we could pay to Stan is to visit often and see that 'his' Museum continues and flourishes. Richard Kurtz

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Life Just Happens

I guess life is what goes on between motorcycle rides. Yesterday I had a nice little ride on the REB and lunch with the ROMEOs, always an enjoyable experience. In the afternoon my oldest daughter called to report that she had found a job after several weeks of unemployment. All is right with the world.

Then the phone rang. It was my sister-in-law saying that she had taken Bob, my wife's brother to the emergency room. He had been sick and missed some work but this was different, he had tightness in his chest. Sure enough, SIL called back to confirm what we had suspected. It was a Heart Attack. He was rushed to a larger hospital in Hutchinson, KS where they determined the extent of the blockage. This afternoon they will insert a stent/stint into the blocked area and if all goes well he will go home Friday.

Bob is 60, physically fit, plays golf and softball, hunts, works out and just had an annual physical. He is my friend, riding buddy, a world class welder and all round good guy, I pray for his rapid recovery.

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Lindsborg, KS 11-07-07

After braving the gusty south winds on the short ride from Salina Randy, Neil, Marty and I (4 bikes 5 cylinders) entered Little Darlings only to find all the table being used. Not to worry by the time we placed our order a table had freed up and took our place with the early arrivals. All total there were around 17, some drove their trucks, one even walked in. Richard and Joyce had the shortrider mileage at 1.7 miles and that included Richard getting lost once.

Little Darlings is a newly opened place that is trying to revive the buildings original drugstore look and menu. The hamburger was terrific and they also have hot dogs, chili and some other things I don't remember. The fountain drinks are unique in this day and age. I topped off my hamburger with a real chocolate malt.

We visited for awhile and took Burma road back to Salina. The REB rode much nicer with the 30mph wind and it was a joy to hear the thump of the small single of the group.

Lindsborg, KS 11-07-07

Lunch at Little Darling's

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Potwin, KS 10-31-07

I was trying to warm up with a cup of coffee as Marty rolled his Guzzi into Taco Bueno's parking lot. It wasn't really that cold but I wanted to get out of the north wind for a few minutes. We waited a few minutes to see if anyone else would be foolish enough to try and ride in a gale. The rest of the crew was apparently smarter than we were so struck out south to Potwin. The wind pushed us along at a gas saving pace but when we turned to ride east for awhile it tried to knock us down. That was the pattern the whole 97 miles to Grandma's Kitchen, with the wind OK, to the side, hang on.

A good number of ROMEOs showed up and the place was full when we walked in. You could tell who arrived early cause they parked in front.

I think Grandma herself was waiting tables and as it turned out she forgot all about Bob and I. Marty finally got his food and Bob and I just sat and waited. After I saw that four guys that arrived long after us were eating I inquired as to the possibility of ever getting something to eat. Grandma was very apologetic and we were soon served. The special was a giant chicken fried steak. Not a bad hunk of meat. By the time we finished eating the place had cleared out so I didn't get any bike pictures.

What to do after a giant piece of meat? Why Scoops for ice cream of course!

It was getting on about 3pm so I decided to break away from the group and head the Dubya into the wind before it got too late. Marty had gone by a different route. He had to work at 7pm so guess he needed a nap. Not a bad day considering.