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SPORTY BOBBER… A FINE EXAMPLE

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:39 +0000

Not long ago I took these casual photos of what I consider to be one of the finest examples of a minimalist Sporty Bobber. Here’s a look at them with just a hint of desaturation for mood. Love this bike!

WHOOHOO… THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER!

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:38 +0000

The Winter Solstice, which marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, happened on December 21. Yeehaaa! Why does that make me happy you ask? Because December 21st was also the shortest day of the year, which means… the days are now getting longer and longer. Come on Spring!

AS 2011 COMES TO A CLOSE…

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:36 +0000

As 2011 comes to a close, I find myself with much to be thankful for. My health is much better, courtesy of a 50lb drop in weight. I have a healthy new granddaughter, courtesy of my son and daughter-in-law. I am still gainfully employed, courtesy of a company that continues to thrive in a downward economy. The list goes on and on of the many blessings that 2011 has brought in my life. But, 2011 also brought a lot of change. I have shed myself of some spiritual hangups. I’ve stopped playing music in churches and have pushed my guitar playing to a new level on the blues stage. I disbanded the riding group I headed up for 7 years and have laid the groundwork to re-launch it’s existence in a different direction this coming Spring. I am no longer a H-D cruiser owner and have reverted back to smaller, sportier motorcycles… and more.

But… without a doubt the most significant event in my 2011 life was the passing of my father. After an 18 month battle with cancer, he passed on December 19. My dad was my best friend. My passion for motorcycles, hotrods and airplanes comes directly from him. He taught me that hard work and passion can accomplish much and he also taught me that a real man lives with integrity. I will miss him terribly but find some comfort in the many good memories he gave me over the years. Like a few years ago when he drug home a barn-find 1984 Kawasaki 550LTD. We worked together all summer to complete the bike you see above. (As dad said, “Who says bobbers have to be Harleys?”) It turned out so nice that Road Bike Magazine featured it and this is one of the behind-the-scenes shots. Just before it was taken I told dad to give his mean look. We both held it for about 30 seconds and then busted out laughing. I have many memories of good times with him and will hang on to each of them forever. I love you dad and as I launch into 2012, you will be closer than ever to my heart.

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ANOTHER SPORTY BOB

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:35 +0000

Call them Baby Harley’s, Girls Bikes… whatever you want… I don’t care. I am an unashamed fan of the Motor Company’s low-end two-wheeler and am convinced that the Sportster is the perfect bike for mods. As a result, I am always on the lookout for new and interesting work by those who feel the same as I do. I spotted this particular example at the 2011 “Spring Thaw” bike show in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The minimalist approach is smokin’ hot and I love that bobbed rear fender. Not sure if I have the CO JONES to cut my frame like that but I think the end look is killer! What do you think?

And… speaking of the “Spring Thaw”… 2012 marks the 10th Anniversary of the show. Anybody close to the Nashvegas area on March 24 should come out and celebrate the end of the “Dark Months” with me. My friends Scooter and Dorris over at Both Barrels Promotions do a great job of making this one of the best shows in the region and I wouldn’t miss it. Below is the show poster which I designed. Hope to see you there!

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harley davidson embossed jacket

MAYBE ONE DAY SOON I WILL BE RIDING NAKED

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:34 +0000

As many of you know… I’m in the (slow) process of “bobbing” my Harley-Davidson Sportster and when I complete it, it won’t exactly be the most comfortable motorcycle I’ve ever owned. I’m not talking horrible, but I won’t be taking any weekend trips on it. So… I’ve been thinking. (A dangerous thing!) What would I really want for cruising or commuting to go along with the Sporty Bob? Certainly my interest in large touring H-D bikes is way-gone so they are out. I’d love to have a Sport Tourer such as the Kawasaki Concourse or Honda ST1300 but a daughter in college rules those awesome machines out on price alone. So what’s left? Of course, it would be the Sportbike family. But that’s a problem too. While I would love the performance and reliability of an R6 or CBR600, frankly… when I sold my Sportbike last year I vowed that I would never again own a bike that forced my body into a racing position. (Old age I guess.) But what if I could find that performance, reliability and wow factor in a more traditional riding position? Do those bikes exist? Yes they do… and they are commonly referred to as “Naked” bikes. These stripped down Spotbikes never quite caught on here in the US like they have abroad but there are some out there on the used market and they offer the ergos and performance I would be looking for at fairly affordable prices. Three in particular have caught my eye… The Ducati Monster, Honda 599 and the Suzuki SV. Here’s a look at all three in their 2004 versions.

2004 DUCATI MONSTER 620: Of the three, I like the looks of this one the best. Something about that tubular frame and racing red color seem to be screaming for my attention. Two things bother me about it though. I don’t know if I could ever get used to the clanky sound of a Ducati engine and my research indicates that maintenance on this bike is significantly more costly than on the other two. KBB Retail: $3570

2004 HONDA 599: Some people feel like this bike looks fat and bulky. I disagree. I like it’s looks and while I have never ridden one, just looking at it, the Honda seems like it would feel more substantial than the others. I also love Honda’s reputation for bullet-proof engines. Performance specs are good as well… the downside to this one? Hmmmm… I’m really not sure there is one. KBB Retail: $3120

2004 SUZUKI SV650: I owned the “S” version (lay-down with fairing) of this bike for a while, and while it performed well, it always felt a little squirrely to me. More than once I was not happy with how it handled when pushing through the curves. Still, I think the non “S” version here might be a good option for what I would want… and it is also the most affordable of the bunch. To bad it doesn’t look better KBB Retail: $2850

Of course, trying to compare these bikes without riding them is somewhat ridiculous but these are my initial impressions. Let me know what you think… and who knows… maybe one day soon I will be riding naked!

I’M NOT SURE WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END UP

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:34 +0000

The baby steps continue on my Sporty project. Tonight I got the front fender off and the front brake line replaced. It’s kind of funny. As I slowly work on this bike, I keep changing my mind on what I want to do. I get a picture in my mind but then after staring at it for a while, I start visualizing different options. I’m not sure where this is going to end up.

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Follow me on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BikerSwag

I MADE SOME REALLY DUMB MISTAKES TODAY

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:32 +0000

Here’s another update on my Sporty project. I know I’m bombarding you with these lately but I’m trying to make some progress before I have to get back to the grind next week. Actually, I had hoped to get a couple things done today but Murphy set in and I had a few problems. I made some really dumb mistakes but I guess that’s part of the fun of doing it yourself… right??? The most costly one was when I inadvertently rounded off the head of the bleeder screw while I was bleeding the line. (The previous guy got it started!) No biggie I guess since I was able to pick up a replacement piece from the local H-D dealership for $5.52.

After I got the problem resolved I decided it was time to test out the Biltwell Frisco bars and see just how they felt. I shot a video, and though it is pretty poor quality, it does give a pretty good picture (if you look close) of the new riding position. This was the best part of the day and got my blood pumping to get this sucker done. I’m lovin’ the Friscos!

The worst part of the day kind of blind-sided me however. Some of the tools I’ve been using on this project were my dads. I’ve been doing pretty good dealing with his passing but for some reason at one point when I looked at those tools today I had a melt down. My friend Eric, who lost his dad last year, told me that I needed to cry and cry often as part of the grieving process. Well.. today I took your advice Eric. I miss you dad and I wish you were here to help me with this.

More updates to come…

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A LOOK AT THE JANUARY ISSUE OF GREASE MONKEY

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:31 +0000

In case you were not aware… I am pretty involved with a regional magazine called Grease Monkey. I do a lot of photography for them and also the magazine layout. It is available throughout the state of Tennessee and further, plus it is available on-line. Check out the latest issue HERE.

Ooooh… CLEAN SPOKES!

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:30 +0000

SPOTTED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:28 +0000

WARNING: THIS POST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MOTORCYCLES (But if you don’t think its cool, you aint right…haha!) While I was out messing around this morning I spotted this beauty on the side of the road… so I wheeled around and snapped a quick photo out the window with the point-and-shoot. Given the body style and rear corner windows, I’d guess this is somewhere between a 1948 and 1953 model. (Experts feel free to correct me.) Regardless of what year it is… I love it.

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Follow me on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BikerSwag

Connect with me on Facebook HERE.