Dad & Harley Davidson

As you may have guest, I like motorcycles.  My dad was part of the mechanized cavalry during WWII where he drove tanks and rode motorcycles.  Now if you know your history, you'd know those bikes were Harley Davidson.  More than likely he rode a 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA.

I remember dad and my brother having Harleys when I was young.  Dad thought that riding together would give he and John something in common and bring them together, but John had more problems than we knew.  Anyway, mom became convinced that motorcycles and rock bands led to drugs and jail.  So dad had to get rid of them and I never got the one he promised to me. 

1984 Honda Magna 750cc V-twin

I got my own motorcycle after I left for the Navy.  It was a 1984 Honda Magna 750cc V-twin.  I got it while I was stationed in Millington, Tennessee.  It was my first bike and the one I learned to ride on.  I didn't take my motorcycle safety course until I got the San Diego, California where I could do it with the Marines at Camp Pendleton. 

The V-Twin had a high center of gravity and I laid it down a few times. 

I didn't have a picture of mine, so I borrowed one.  It is pretty close to what I had except I had a luggage rack on the back and a windshield.

1997 Honda Shadow 1100cc V-Twin

I traded my V-Twin for a new 1997 Honda Shadow 1100cc V-Twin.  I borrowed a picture of someone's full bike.  I had my photo done on mine in a studio.  The people in the lobby were wide eyed when I rolled it though to the back.  The handle bars barely cleared the hallways.  You can barely see the colors of the motorcycle in the photo or that I'm wearing a 7" Tonto blade on my leg (given away by the leg strap). 

After I got out of the Navy, I was still  in San Diego.  That's when I ran into Don Dye who let me stay with him while I made my riding gear and figured out what to do.  I spent days relaxing in Balboa Park hand stitching my saddle bags ( photos: 1 - 2 - 3 ).  I found a cheap used basic industrial sewing machine and made my chaps, jacket and other accessories.  That's when Don noticed my talent and suggested I open Black Sabbath Custom Leather, which he had just closed and retired from.

When it came time to leave California, I rode my Shadow to Fort Scott, Kansas to be with mom and recover my health.   The dirty rotten finance company wouldn't wait for my VA compensation to kick in or for me to recover.  So I disassembled the bike so it was easier for them to come pick up. 

I had better use for a vehicle since I was in the mid-west where there is snow and ice.  Here's where I started using cars and truck again.  In short, the list is something like this: 1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 1997 Chevy 1500 standard truck, 1998 F150 XLT 4-wheel drive, 1999 Expedition,  2000 Monte Carlo & 2000 Buick Century, then I settled for a 1997 F150 and two bikes.

1998 & 2000 Honda Magna 750 V-Quads

It became apparent that I needed a truck to work on the estate and do construction.  the Monte Carlo just wasn't cutting and besides, Chevy had pissed me off with their customer service.  I traded the Monte Carlo for an 1997 F150 to do my work in and traded the Buick for two bikes for Rob and myself.  We got two Magna 750 V-Quads - a 1998 for Rob and a 2000 for me.  Mine was just like the one in the picture except I also had a passenger pillion with  back rest and a windshield. 

This was Robs first motorcycle and  I had let my license lapse so we both took the motorcycle safety course.  They passed us on our riding exam and I got the high score and won a Motorcycle Safety T-Shirt! 

These bikes lasted us all  spring, through winter and into spring.  Rob laid his down a few time on the way home from the store, and several more times while he had it.  he also learned about black ice while getting his first broken bone.  Some MoFo ran into the back of me at a stoplight and left the scene.  I'm still looking for that person cause the police aren't. 

2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic

Rob finally got his own car and insurance, so I had to take him off of mine and didn't need two bikes.  I traded both Magnas for a new Kawasaki Vulcan 1600.

I have had my eye on the Vulcan series since California.  This is a really nice bike!  It reminds me of my Shadow in that it has a low ride and nice center of gravity.  It is also shaft driven and has a digital component to the instruments.  I especially like the fact that there is a digital gas gauge so you don't have to wait to switch to the reserve tank to know you are low. 

I am in the process of accessorizing both the bike and myself.  This is a nice cross-country touring bike and should last me for a long time.  It's the biggest thing I've had between my legs - ha ha!

2007 Dressing up the Bike!