the shovelhead whisperer

Thank you James!!! For everything... :)

you don't forget

For the first time in two and a half years, since September 12th, 2008 and Hurricane Ike...  for the first time I was back behind a set of my own handlebars, flying.

Went over to Iron Mike's today to pick up the FXE. It was a gorgeous day in the high 70's... sunny...  perfect riding weather. Sat on the her for the first time since I finished making payments.  Eight long months. I didn't want to get too attached as my son is going to be riding this one but oh! What a ride she delivers!!! I am in love.

Riding her home proved to be a bit difficult.  I pulled out of the shop and she died on me. My fault, I assumed. I'm a bit rusty and this "ain't no" sporty either. Got her through the light and down the road a few feet and she died again. Wouldn't restart. Walked her home on 146 the few short blocks, got out my gas can, and gave her all there was left. She started up after that and I made the two videos below. Then she died and wouldn't restart. She was done.  

Decided to give her a break, after all it was an exciting day for her too. She hadn't been on the road since '92.  Her one owner stopped riding her and let her sit for years. She needed to rest a bit so I took my son to Noah's Ark for a burger. He said, "I think she's going to be fine Mom. I've got a feeling." Sure enough, he was right. She started right up when we got home.

First thing I noticed when we got ready to rock and roll is that the controls below are not in the same spot as Hope's were so my legs felt out of sorts... different. I had forward controls on Hope. The clutch was really hard to pull in and the shifting is a bit of a challenge. On Hope, you barely had to lift your toe and she shifted but I could never get her into neutral. She didn't want to go there. The FXE wants to go into neutral and stay there between first and second. To get her into second I literally have to raise my entire leg with my foot. Once she's in second though, third and fourth are not a problem.

Rode side roads and started learning this scoot's rhythm. First the neighborhood streets so I could walk her back home if need be. Then out to the main street in my little town and down to the water and the park. Then back up and out on 146, so I could get her up to speed for awhile and in fourth gear.  

She performed perfectly! What a great scoot. She feels like a trooper. She's got a lot of attitude too. I love it!  Even though I am sharing her with my other baby ~ she was worth the wait to ride. There are a few things she needs. Not anything big. New grips for one. Down the road, a new seat. But for now, she's perfect just the way she is and we're going to enjoy the ride together.

She's already christened my garage... and stole my heart.  

It is a beautiful feeling... to be home again.

It feels so good to breathe.

BGBB Texas M&G 05-03 & 05-04-2008

946.8 miles door to door
first long (for me!) road trip
a new Mustang solo seat with backrest (thank you stormy!)
a new tool bag for my handlebars (thank you Mud Duck!)
a leather jacket to keep me warm (thank you Mac!)
a gadget to hold my throttle in place on long rides (you are the best Mac!!!)
air pressure check and fill for my tires and ride home (thank you Doc!)

= $71 (for gas)

two days of riding in perfect weather with perfect company and spending time with friends who are family ~~~

~ priceless

a gift & flying free

One of my Harley's Angels sisters e-mailed me yesterday to say she had a surprise for me. When we met after work today, she gave me the pic below taken riding into the Bay Area Rally at NASA a few weeks ago. She had purchased it for me as a gift.

There is nothing like it... having extended family. She said, "You look great, Robyn. I just had to get it for you!"

I am humbled by all the people that care for me...

hedii's Hope

Welcome to my world. :-)

The sun was shining and it was mid-60's on the island today. Last weekend I passed the new rider's course. This afternoon, I went to the storage unit for the first time since my 45th birthday last month, turned the key and lifted the door.

There she was... faithful and waiting for me. I could almost feel her breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, my sporty is a "she"... she is a part of me. The part of my core that's filled with hope. So shall she be named... hedii's Hope...

She had been sitting there in storage since January 2nd so I wasn't sure if she'd even start. After putting on my gear, I sat down on her gingerly. Then I breathed a sigh of relief. She whispered not to worry... she'd take care of me as I will of her. We are now a team.

Ok. First things first. I sat her upright and pushed up the kickstand. It was a little surprising that her weight wasn't more than I thought it would be compared to the Suzuki I rode in class. The seat was comfortable. The controls were positioned so much better than the little bike. Everything about her was perfect. She felt like home to me.

Ok... here we go...

FINE.

Fuel. Ignition. Neutral. Engine.

Got it. I remembered... *lol*

At first she didn't want to start. At Bounty's forum that morning I had read about sportys and how they might need a little more choke starting cold. That explanation ran through my mind as I pulled the choke all the way out and tried to start her again. Nothing. Just a click. I knew this might be a possibility and had plans to buy a battery tender if she didn't start. She told me to keep trying though, and after a few more attempts, she fired up.

Omg... she sounded so good! And felt even better...

Slowly we backed out of the storage unit. It's a skinny little space and barely fits the width of the bike. Still in neutral I walked her back and straightened her out. We were ready to fly.

The storage manager gave his permission for me to ride his lot anytime to practice. The units are in rows and columns and set up like a maze with twists and turns and two long pieces of slab from end to end. I looked ahead and shifted into first. Then back to neutral and back into first. I tried the brakes and moved a little testing the friction zone.

Wow. What a difference from the class bikes. The shifting was smooth. I didn't hardly have to touch her and she went back and forth in gear. The brakes weren't jerky. The throttle rolled like it was supposed to. No comparison to what I learned on. None.

I smiled. We were going to be fine. I remembered everything from the class and this time, none of it was difficult much to my surprise. It's like a light clicked on and everything worked. Hope was true to her word -- she took good care of me. I will always take care of her.

Spent a good portion of the afternoon riding in circles, practicing shifting up and down, cornering, figure eights, braking and more. Got her up to third on the long section and was able to downshift and brake like I was taught. Still don't feel comfortable looking down at my speed yet. Something to work on.

She made those corners so smooth that the storage manager asked me why I wasn't on the road already with her. He stated, "You don't appear to need the practice." He did admit that I made him a little nervous on the turns with how fast I was going. He asked if I was in third. I told him no, second. The speed I didn't notice. The instructor from my course reinforced over and over again the knowledge that we were to take the curves and corners at a pace we are comfortable with and that's what I did. I never went faster than I thought I could handle. It all felt "right". I never felt like I was going to lose control. She handled wonderfully.

Today, it felt like I have always rode.

Next week I'll be going to the DMV to get my license so we can hit the road. It feels wonderful to finally be home. Hope lives... inside of me. Riding Hope, well... it feels like being free.

***all smiles***