Message From the Past

It started as a slow trickle about two years ago. There in a box, unopened in years and many moves, was a letter. Not just any letter, but one from a dying man to his eldest son. The paper somewhat crisp after nearly thirty years but well preserved.

It was not long or deep with philosophy or emotion; that wasn't the type of man he was. It was a simple letter wishing his son well and telling of the man's recent difficulties. He was failing in many ways. Even through his honest attempt to hide this fact, it was obvious to his son.

Through moist eyes, I read the letter a few more times, smoked a few more cigarettes and swore. It was a one way letter. That man is buried in a grave to the right of this photo in the Eliza Creek Cemetery.

You see, the man sent this letter the day before he died. The son received it a few days after he passed. I was starting my senior year of high school in 1983.

The trickle slowly increased. While packing for my upcoming move, I found a shot glass. Not just any shot glass, but one my dad used to drink the occasional Canadian Club from. I packed it carefully.

Then, slowly, old friends from school would find my profile on FaceBook and add me. People I hadn't conversed with in over twenty years were contacting me as if we had only just parted.

The pace increased. A fellow I went with to my first concert contacted me. To my utter surprise, not only is he doing well, but is in a real band making money! AND, he rides a StreetGlide!

Then a few days ago, who sends me a message about a certain 25 year high school class reunion? My girlfriend from high school... AND she made me laugh by asking if I were with the Hell's Angels. (No, I am not).

Last night I was messaged by a lady from grade school!

Here is the crux of this post... I understand that there is something going on that I don't understand. Does history have a message for me? Why should these people and things start becoming part of my life again? Not that it isn't welcome, quite the contrary, but why?

And here is one of the reasons that make me wonder. A few weekends ago, while packing, I discovered a small cache of photos from when I was a kid. I was smiling and laughing and playing.

'Look at what I had, who I was and now... who I am. Where did that guy go? Will he awake? Will he rest forever? Will he till the ground again? Will he kiss the hand of a beautiful woman again?'

And words failed. For more than a week the words would simply not come out, whether it be computer or voice or pen and paper. Sentences and paragraphs held hostage in a cranial traffic jam. Off in the distance is the cause; my history and my reality. I let the words go and the traffic jam disintegrated.

What does it want to tell me, and further, do I really want to know?

Shift Of the Gears - Best Buy Selling Motorcycles?

What do you all think? In thirty years will we be heading to Best Buy or Fry's or Circuit City to buy a motorcycle? Will fake leather and armor clad riders sporting eco-friendly tattoos gather behind the local strip malls to eat artery friendly BBQ while telling stories of how loud and noisy and smelly old motorcycles used to be.

Will talk change from Synthetic versus Dino to Fuel Cell versus Nickel Cadmium?

Will us 'old timers' lament the passing of adventure riding? Cruising? Chrome? Loud Pipes? Poker Runs? Long Distance Touring? The tactile sensation of the opposite sex in real leather?

Luckily, most of us will likely have ridden into the sunset before this happens. Thoughts?

Target Fixation

One thing every motorcycle rider must learn to avoid is target fixation. Target fixation is a process or situation when the mind focuses on one thing to the exclusion of most everything else.

Beginning riders have a propensity to look down at the road in front of the wheel. They also have tendencies to focus on what their brains think are hazards. Things like light poles and caution signs and even median dividers can be deadly.

Riders fight target fixation their entire lives. Maybe drivers' education and training should focus more on this topic.

You see, I was nearly the victim of target fixation today. Not MY fixation, but the fixation of a car driver.

While riding in a little group today, a car driver seemed to become fixated on the front of our group and changed lanes... right where I was. Thank goodness for good brakes!

And thanks to the other folks in my group who watched out for me.

Ride and drive safely all!

Holding the Reins Tight

So, what to do this weekend... Saturday is to be cooler than normal, likely no warmer than 95. There are a few dollars roaming in my pocket, so where to?

There are things to do Saturday morning and a friend is coming over Sunday to help pack, so only about twelve hours. What cool place can I go within 12 hours? Someplace secluded; someplace quiet; someplace uncommon...

The first place that came to mind was Rachel, Nevada and the Little A'Le'Inn. But, why make that my point of turn around?

After poking around Google Earth, I found a little ghost town site between Rachel and Tonopah called Warm Springs. Any guess why?

If you answered, 'Because of the warm springs, duh!!!' You would be correct! Apparently this little place was home to a stage coach station back in the mid-to-late 1800's. While very few remains of the station and other buildings of that era still remain, supposedly a previous owner in the 40's or 50's tried to make the area into a nice, relaxing rest stop for people traveling between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Later in the 20th century, someone attempted to operate a little bar and grill. While it is now abandoned, the building is still there.

At any rate, it seemed like a perfect little day trip for Saturday. A cool morning ride up to dip my toes in a real, natural warm spring. Then, a ride over to the Little A'Le'Inn for lunch. Finish it off with a relaxing ride back to Vegas.

So, yesterday the plan is set and I start my pre-trip bike check-out.

Oil? Check
Lights? Check
Controls? All solid. Check.
Tires?

Ah... Tires???

Hello??? Are the tires OK???

Crap. Reality hits me. I need a new front tire. Not only is the wear below the wear bars, but the tread is nearly gone. I have no problem commuting back and forth to work, but to ride 300 miles into the desert where there is no cell coverage? Maybe not right now.

So I check. $130 for a new tire and mounting from a local independent. Only $130. Nope. The cash I have is needed for the move. Next month.

So, this morning I am poking around Craigs List while waiting for some reports to run and what do I find? As some of you may know, I have a 1991 Suzuki VX800 project bike. Well, I really need a donor bike to make mine complete. I found one. Only $200 and a five hour drive away.

BUT. Cash is short. Maybe next month.

Perhaps this is a little learning experience. Right now I hold the reins tight, but definitely not forever.

OT: RIP John Hughes

John Hughes, director of movies like "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "National Lampoon's Vacation" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" died today, August 6, 2009 of a heart attack. He was only 59 years old.

I was 22 years old in 1988 when I first saw "The Breakfast Club." Being a 'brain' and 'rebel' there was immediate recognition with Bender and Johnston. There is nothing but honesty in stating that is movie made me laugh and cry.

May you rest in peace, Mr. John Hughes. Whether you knew it or not, you made an impact on many lives.

Chicago Tribune Obituary

Some Braking News!!!

Does anyone recognize that silver-looking thing in the middle of the picture? If you ride a motorcycle, you should. It is the second most important part on a motorcycle. More important than the engine, clutch, tires, turning signals, you-name-it...

The only thing more important is the front brake. Ladies and gentleman, this is the rear brake of a 2004 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom.

Why post a picture of Athena's rear brake? Because we almost had an issue.

Sunday morning I awoke early, made coffee and decided to tidy up Athena. One thing that was demanding attention, was the drooping leather saddlebags. So, first things first. I remove the seat and adjust the saddle bags so that they no longer droop.

After securing the seat, I grab my cleaner and a rag and start cleaning the swing arm. Then there came a "What The..." moment. With moist cloth in hand I grabbed the brake mechanism to clean it and the darned thing was loose! Not loose, as in a 'little wiggle.' I mean loose as in 'I am jumping off this motorcycle pretty darned soon!'

A quick check of the service manual, few twists of the wrench and all was good.

Normally I do prescribe to the concept that a dirty bike is a happy bike. BUT, sometimes going over your ride as you clean it can potentially save your butt.

Transience and Permanence...

transience: The philisophic concept of embracing impermanence.
permanence: A construct that exists externally and superiorly to all things that does not change through time.

After four days or so of pondering on the philosophical constructs of transience and permanence I discovered a wall. Not one one that separates but a porous one that binds. On one side is permanence, given all its assumptions and subjective bindings. On the other is transience, flowing and ebbing without course or definition or assumptions or restrictions.

Then I threw it away.

That is the Zen thing to do. Throw away the constructs and bindings and walls.

From the Tao Te Ching:
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water,
and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing
that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual)
for which it can be changed.

What is more transient that water? What is more powerful than water?

Rising down I95 on my daily commute, cagers and wind and varying road conditions attempt to assail my senses. They fail. Why? I embrace transience. Why are most riders avid about their riding? Perhaps they all embrace transience yet cannot make sense of it in today's world. The motorcycle gives context to that embrace.

There is the paradox. On my bucket list are entries that include things like "own my own land," and "build a house of stone." How can one embrace transience yet desire to build something as permanent as a stone house? It seems a dicotomy.

Transience; something a short term as a turning signal blinker or unexpected gust of wind is judged by human standards. What of the transience of the bearings in a motorcycle engine? Every revolutiuon changes them. A bike may travel hundreds of thousands of miles before a bearing wears out, but that is no permanence. Even the most permanent stone home over time gives way to the primal elements.

To embrace transience is to understand permanence; what it is and what it isn't.

Ride safe on those roads of transient existance, all.

Are There Coincidences?

Well, it had to happen. There was no question. Unless things changed, it was inevitable. Cox Cable disconnected my home internet.

Moving always sucks and costs money. Daughter's financial aid for school has not come through yet so I pony up the money for this semester. AND, there is the matter of paying my cable/internet bill and a few credit cards.

Just... A... Few... More... Months... My pickup, an older Chevy S10 will be paid off in October. So, after adjusting for a lower rate of insurance, that's about $200 extra per month in the bank. Then, a loan will be paid off in December. That is another $200 per month. Oh, and after I move, there should be a nice juicy deposit check coming my way.

I find it oddly curious this should happen as I write a blog post on the philosophy of transience.

Riding through life, as on a motorcycle, there is only transience; permanence fleeting. BUT, that is for my next post.

Musical Tuesday Night (Part 3) - Indestructable

This is going out to some very special people. If you know who you are, you know who you are. You will never be alone.

Musical Tuesday Night (Part 2)

Republica. Originators of the 'Electronica' genre, this song is played on some car commercials now. Pity. This song means a lot to me personally. Plus, it is just pretty rockin'. So, any body else "Ready to GO?" I definitely know of a few!

Musical Tuesday Night (Part 1)

I am just feeling a bit musical this evening...

350 Miles for the Soul

Yes, I needed to ride today. My soul, my conscious being, my what have you was beginning to get cluttered. It needed a good cleansing... and got it.

I wanted to get out of Vegas. So, after stopping at my work to get my camera, I pointed Athena North West and rode. Up ahead on I95 I saw the sign for Kyle Canyon. Downshift, turning signal, brakes, and I was on a delightful two lane asphalt road on my way to the Spring Mountains and Mount Charleston. After riding around there a while, and taking some pictures, I head toward Lee Canyon for some hiking.

The hiking didn't last long as I really didn't prepare for it. Little extra water and no emergency rations should my blood sugar do something funny. It was indeed beautiful though.
Just me in front of a big rock. I really stink at self portraits. :-P

Coming down Lee Canyon Road, I think, 'Where to next? Turn left and head up to Beatty? Maybe further? Head back to Vegas? Go back to the coolness of the Spring Mountains?

Wait! My stomach starts to think more than my brain. 'I am HUNGRY! Free grilled burgers and hot dogs at Henderson Harley.' Dang stomach even brought a financial argument and threw it on the table. Couldn't resist.

So, at I95 I turn right. Back to Vegas.

It was hot. The kind of hot that doesn't cool your skin even at 90 MPH. Yes, 90. Don't get me wrong. I like going fast, but this was supposed to be a slow day. Waves from fellow bikers out to enjoy the overcast Las Vegas day were more than welcome but that heat and speed... Just to maintain traffic speed and not be a traffic hazard a speed of 85 to 90 MPH had to be maintained. Not my idea of good riding conditions.

So, I stop at Henderson HD, have a burger, few waters, watch the Rider's Edge class, buy a quart of oil and head back to the house. After rehydrating myself, I wonder, what to do... Tidy the house and pack some more? Do yard work? Waste the day on FaceBook?

No... Let's ride...

After gassing up, I point Athena West, then South on old Las Vegas Boulevard. South of the city, this used to be the only way to travel between Los Angeles and Vegas. After I15 was built, this road was well maintaind but not used much. AH! No cagers! Speed is set at 55 and I kick back.

Turn right at Jean and head down a smaller road with some simple twisties and sweepers. Perfect. Sandy Vally Road is a lot of fun!


One day of solitary riding. It didn't change the world, but my outlook upon it certainly has.

Coming up...

Yes, a little ride up to Mt. Charleston this morning was just what the soul needed. A little hiking helped too. This is from the top of a cliff looking out over a little parking lot. Athena is there... WAY down there.

We, I am now rehydrated, found an extra $5 for gas. I am off. Colorado River this time? The Dam? Nipton, California maybe? hmmm...

Please Remove Finger from Anvil

There are some hard, difficult times coming to the Razor household. If all goes as planned, it is temporary. If it doesn't, well...

Some people may not like some of my choices in the near future and that is ok. Some choices will be made based on poor decisions I made in the past. Some will be based on the current financial, job situation I am in. Some will be based on a future that is foggy at best.

This isnt' truly a matter of fear. Regardless of what happens in the near future, survival is a matter of persistence, pragmatism and a solid grasp of reality. Fear is a lack of light.

I have goals, I have my bucket list. The paths to an end sometime have odd twists and turns. When one looses the road, take the path. When one looses the path, break out the machete.

But, in the meantime, I still have my bike and $5 for gas. A long ride is in order. Who knows... Maybe I will find a bag of money at the side of the road. Maybe I will meet someone to share a cup of coffee with. What is beyond the apex of the next twisty? I am going to find out.

Through the Singularity

The past coming to a point. Future possibilities are the result, emanating in front as we speed down the highway. An entire culmination of the universe collapsing to a singularity ahead, bursting forth to an infinity of things and places and people and actions and adventures.

Yes, Athena and I are mobile again.

2007 and 2008 - A Little Walk Down Memory Lane

2007 was a year that is indellibly marked in my memory. The arguments, the drama, doctors, police, lawyers, court... it was done. The divorce final. The end of a chapter filled with insanity and things better left unsaid... unremembered. Alas, it is etched in my mind.

One thing that I knew was necessary was to rebuild my credit. I was addicted. Lunches and nights spent on my addiction were beautiful. www.advrider.com was my addiction. It had been nearly 25 years since I had sat on a bike but I knew... I knew it was right. The trigger was pulled. I bought a bike; the first ever new vehicle I had ever owned. Something of my own chosing. A 2007 Honda Rebel 250.

Last weekend in December, 2007 I take my MSF BRC class and pass. On the last day of 2007 I take the little MSF card to the DMV so they can add the "M" to my license endorsement. On January 1, 2008 I ride 80 miles around the Las Vegas valley in 30 degree temps. I don't care. A new life.

An adventurous thought formed. A cross country ride. Insane? Some told me the Rebel's engine would blow up. Others told me I would make it to the Mississippi and turn around. Some did indeed ask, "Are you insane?"

My answer... Yes.

Toward the end of September I saddled up and headed out. Less than a year of riding and I headed out on a cross country ride on a bike most thought incapable. Cool.

Tonight I thought of writing about something else; about future rides; about my plan for earning my Saddle Sore award; about my plans of another cross country ride; about my planned ride to Yellowknife.

But I read my ride report and the responses and got a little teary eyed. Some times a walk down memory lane is a good thing.

News???

Good news everyone!

So, I drove the cage down to Henderson Harley Davidson to get the status of that bearing they have been hand crafting by 100 year old artisans in the Appalachian Mountains. Apparently the artisans' three week smoke break is over. The warehouse is no longer out of stock and all back orders have been filled and sent to the dealerships!

I just hope they didn't send the thing Pony Express...

Thoughts for the Day - Riding Withdrawls

Three Weeks!!!

That is how long it has been since the clutch throw-out bearing on Athena had a critical malfunction. She sits in the back yard next to my two other non-functioning bikes, looking sad and depressed.

And, what is up with Harley Davidson's parts department??? I ordered this bearing almost three weeks ago and was told delivery would be seven to ten days?!?!? Almost 21 days at this point. Are they hand forging this little thing???

Come on! According to some folks on the XL e-mail list, this is a common failure. With as many Sporties as there are, one would think these parts would be easy to find.

Under normal circumstances, I would just suck up this withdrawal and do some wrenching. I am moving! So, tools and parts are boxed up!

PLEASE, Motorcycle Gods, hear me! All I need it a frigging clutch throw-out bearing!!!

Death of a Euphamism

That's it! I Quit!

Quit what? Using a certain euphemism. Why? It simply is not true.

How many times have I told people to follow their own path? Ride their own ride? When the path ends, get out your machete and make your own? Your way is your way, regardless of what others say?

Yet, there is this euphemism that I still use regarding my life. "I have no life."

This started sometime in the dark times, nearly five years ago. Somehow I became involved in a conversation about hobbies and non-work activities with a few people at work. Some rode mini bikes in the desert, some went out with their significant others, some spent time on Lake Mead, many watched television, some played cards, some gambled, some enjoyed the Las Vegas night life, some enjoyed strip clubs. After admitting that I did none of those things, someone laughed, "Ha! You have on life."

Me? When I wasn't trying to muddle through a failing relationship and taking care of my daughter, I read or drank beer. You have no life, really sank in.

About a year ago a fellow asked if I were dating. "No," I replied. "I have no life." It was sticking. After that, when people asked if I were dating, the reply was "No, I have no life." It became a stock answer to questions like, "Do you watch sports? Have you been down to Lake Mead lately? Want to go out for a bit to eat after work? Did you see the last episode of Survivor?"

The list could go on, but I digress.

Six months or so ago a lady I know and myself were discussing our plans for the weekend. She was going to clean house, do some reading and maybe go out for a beer. Me? Not much. Ride down to the Boulder Dam, then around some old access roads to the Colorado River, then up for a quiet lunch at an outside cafe in Boulder City, then over to the airport for some flight training and then maybe a ride down to Searchlight or maybe even up to Mt. Charleston. Finish off the weekend by doing some wrenching and studying my flight training books.

"Damn, Ken! You are always doing exciting things!"

Nah, I just have no life. Sorry about that... I just locked up the brakes.

I see now. That euphemism is patently untrue. If anyone hears me utter these words, please squirt me with some motor oil or thwack me with a rubber band. :-D I Got a Life!

Sporty 1200C, SV650, Versys and VX800 - A Comparison

For my own edification I wanted to compare a known quantity, my Harley XL1200C Sportster with my project bike, a Suzuki VX800 and two bikes on the top of my wish list, a Kawasaki Versys and Suzuki SV650. And, here are the comparisons:

	XL1200C	VX800	Versys	SV650
Engine Type	V-Twin	V-Twin	Inline Twin	V-Twin
Cooling System	Air	Liquid	Liquid	Liquid
Valves	Two per cylinder	Four per cylinder	Four per cylinder	Four per cylinder
Gears	5	5	6	6
Final Drive	Belt	Shaft	Chain	Chain
Fuel Capacity (gal)	4.5	5	5	4.2
Displacement	1203 cc	850-875 (after cylinders are bored)	649	645
Wheelbase (inches)	60	62	56	56
Seat Height (inches)	29	35	33	32
Weight (pounds)	554	470	454	364

And, for those who like visuals...

Kawasaki Versys (Personally I like the red one)
Suzuki SV650Suzuki VX800

And, of course, my Harley XL1200C Sporty Classic.

For your amusement, bemusement or what have you... Looking at the numbers, I find it interesting that the VX is not only the tallest of the three but has a longer wheelbase, coming in at 2 inches longer than my Sporty. The VX's seat height of 35 inches doesn't scare me too much. While I may find the Versys' 33 inches a bit too high, I can mod the VX.