« Rants: April 2008 | Main | Rants: October 2008 »
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
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.