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August 19, 2008
Riding with Roomie
I am not sure if Roomie was recalling a dream or merely a day-dream, but yesterday she mentioned that she was imagining herself riding a motorcycle really fast, not merely occupying a spot on the seat. It is just a sign of how far she has come from her long-held position of "no motorcycle rides, ever."
I think the seed of her change was planted when we first traveled to Italy together, ca. 1999. She saw how the Italians had a completely different attitude about motorcycling, and that the maneuverability of motorcycles and scooters allowed them to dominate the roadways. The women in suits commuting in Rome, the old people shopping, people of every station really—scootering and motorcycling about the hills of Rome and Ischia.
On our second trip to Europe together, the idea of traveling rural highways on a motorcycle began to exert a hold on her imagination. Once I heard the idea from her lips I responded "Well, we better try riding together in the States first before you commit to riding around all over Europe." She nodded agreement, though not without narrowing her eyes to question whether I might be tricking her into doing something she had not intended to do.
The day after the Benelli was registered, we went for a spin to the Indian Place. The next week, we went for a spin to the Range Cafe in Bernalillo. On Saturday, we made it as far as Madrid. Next stop, Jemez Springs?
Roomie's recent conversion (it really is no less) to motorcycle exploration has opened up vast new reservoirs of conversation, from riding apparel, choice of motorcycle, and of course motorcycle touring itself. Understand that even when Roomie and I rode together on the Darmah years before we married motorcycling was scarcely a topic of conversation. The small rides we have already taken are providing plenty of grist for conversation. The air, the scenery, the weather: in a car all these are peripheral to the experience of "being in the car." On a motorcycle, each is critical to the experience. The experience is now being shared, and I am relishing every moment of it.
Posted by Underblog at 6:20 AM | TrackBack
August 18, 2008
Madrid, Again
After the success of our brief jaunt to Bernalillo two weeks ago, Roomie and I decided that the next ride would be up to Madrid. We both enjoy the Mad Hatter, and delight in the road up there. Once again, the 750 was our ride. We drove north into the clouds, past two Bernalillo County Sheriff's near the interchange of I-40 and NM 14. On the open road, traffic thinned and we were able to make our way through the final set of twisties between Golden and Madrid unimpeded by cages.
By the time we reached Madrid, Roomie was ready to stretch. She must have felt OK, because she asked if there wasn't another route that we could take home. I explained there was but it involved going up as far as Santa Fe and then on the freeway for a stretch before getting off around the Santo Domingo casino. Besides, we thought it best to retreat from the East Mountains before the expected deluge arrived.
In fact, we managed to ride through several brief showers on the way down the mountains. When we reached Sandia Resort, we saw an enormous thunderhead across the river, shooting down lightning from its southern edge. Riding home meant riding directly into the path of the storm. We pulled up the driveway in a drizzle, after a minor downpour on Second Street. No sooner was the bike safely parked in the garage, then it was raining buckets.
Posted by Underblog at 6:18 AM | TrackBack
August 16, 2008
Relief, redux
When I learn that I cannot afford a motorcycle that I am checking out, or that the motorcycle I am investigating turns out to be the wrong kind, or that the motorcycle has already gone to another home, I feel more than anything relief. Yesterday I was relieved when I learned that the 1957 and 1967 BSA twins located somewhere in the neighborhood had already sold. Evidently, rather that $2500 for the pair, the price was $2500 each. So I really would not have been interested unless they were in pretty much ready to ride condition.
As it is, I need to replace the fork seals on the Benelli, replace the swing-arm bushings on the Morini, and figure out what to do about the forks on the 750 Sport.
So the Miata can stay in the garage for the time being (though I am told that it may go away in the spring) and I can continue to find dust seals for the Benelli. Perhaps the failing economy will be responsible for putting a nice Hailwood replica or F1 on the market.
Posted by Underblog at 8:11 AM | TrackBack
August 4, 2008
Windows and Doors
As the proverb says, "When the Lord closes a window, He opens a door." So just as we learn that the Benelli we sought (or were merely intrigued with) turns out to be the wrong one, a neighbor comes over and turns me on to a pair of BSA twins, DOM 1957 and 1967. These are the closest thing I expect to find to a "barn find," the bikes having been passed from the widow of a retired firefighter to another retired firefighter, and perhaps to the neighbor of yet another retired firefighter (me).
Needless to say I am researching the merits and demerits(?) of unit versus pre-unit BSA's. I can already see my friend Colleen rolling her budding pharmacist eyes at the very thought. . .
Posted by Underblog at 2:49 PM | TrackBack
Bernalillo and Back
Under normal circumstances, riding to Bernalillo and back along 2nd St and NM 313 would not be an especially noteworthy event. This time, however, Roomie accompanied me on the back of the Ducati. Two weeks ago, Roomie and I went out and purchased her a helmet just in case she wanted to ever take a ride with me. Later that day she surprised me by stating that she was ready to go for a short ride on the Benelli, by far the most approachable of the bikes in the garage. We zipped up 2nd St to Alameda, across the the river, and over to the Indian restaurant. We both had a great time on that ride, and we left it at that.
Saturday, she was not sure if she would feel as safe on the Ducati. As a stop gap measure, we drove once around the block, and she was astounded at how much safer she felt on it versus the Benelli. What two decades in age and three decades in technology will do for one's confidence! Anyway, we took the 750 Sport to the Range Cafe in Bernalillo, Roomie borrowing the Vanson perforated leather jacket while I sweated in the Schott Perfecto. But we both thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and Roomie did not even flinch when we passed a very slowly moving vehicle on the way home.
Before we take a ride up to Madrid (or Heaven forbid, Santa Fe) we will have to find Roomie a proper jacket and perhaps some gloves. Certainly, this new interest of hers in motorcycling has given us much more to talk about, and I for one am looking forward to where it goes from here.
Posted by Underblog at 2:16 PM | TrackBack
Pam and Don
Friday, I went over to Pam's storage area to take a look at the Benelli 125 she had for sale. Arriving there early, I spoke to her neighbor Don who was polishing out his 2005 Night Train Harley, which had had much of its blackout surfaces replaced with chrome. He was nice enough, with two Motori Franco Morini and one Honda mini-bikes under a cover in his living/motorcycle room.
As it happens, the Benelli that Pam was holding fast to her sales price was not a 4-stroke "egg motor" but rather a 2-stroke. I was therefore not interested in it. Don came over from across the street and after not having seen a Benelli in the past couple of decades, he came across two in one day. After some explanation of the mechanical differences between 2 and 4 stroke engines and how to tell one from the other, Pam and I parted company. The Benelli probably could be made to run for not too much more money, but then one would have a 2-stroke 125 and just how often would that bike be taken out of the garage? Once again, I am relieved to have found a motorcycle that I can pass up.