Call back the "Old Days"

The name of the place was "Connally's", located just off Harry Hines in
Dallas.. The owner was a guy that loved motorcycles and ALL bikers.. He was
a Harley dealer.. No matter what name was on the ride you came in on, the
greeting at the door was always "Hey bud, how 'bout a coldbeer, cup of coffe
or a soda".. I was breakin' out and dropped that old Honda everytime I
stopped at a red light.. Usually I came in carrying one of the broken lights
I had knocked off.. There was a big cardboard box near the shop door and I'd
dig through it to find a light that would work.. I'd always offer to pay and
the response was "Nothing".. it's yours." After visiting a while, we'd
decide to ride a bit.. No plans, no preparation, just GO.. Maybe to west
Texas or to Kansas City.. Someone always carried the coldbeer and cheese and
crackers.. If we got tired we found a spot alongside the road and rested..
If we got hungry, the cheese and crackers hit the spot, especially if
someone brought a couple of cans of sardines .. No motels, no restaurants,
we rode.. Then .. someone got in trouble at home.. He brought his old lady
with him to convince her, he was "true blue".. First of all, she could only
pee in a commode.. Then, she wouldn't drink half warm coldbeer.. She turned
her nose up at the cheese and crackers.. The sardines made her ill..
Finally, she wouldn't consider sleeping on the ground, under that umbrella
of heavens that was so beautiful.. Things changed forever.. Where did we go
wrong ?? Just look at us today.. LMAO

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

You can still do all that. Just quit getting in trouble and leave the old
lady at home!
One of my bestest of rides was heading out to Palo Duro canyon and just
bumming around for a few days. Watch for stickers, tho. I ended up with a
flat air mattress by the morning.

 

Do you remember "Connally's ?? Damn.. thought I was the only dinosaur on
here.. Nah.. someone in the bunch has to have his squeeze with him.. Those
days are gone.. We got a different breed of "bikers" these days.. But.. you
got to admit, there was some FINE memories from back "when".. Hell.. you had
a air mattress.. Sheeit.. we done good to sleep on a jacket .. Pictures from
those days would be priceless, but, who had a camera.. We barely had "gas
money"... LOL

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

The "dealers" are GONE.. So are "that" breed of biker.. Nowadays, we can't
ride unless we have each stop scheduled, each road carefully mapped, the
cellphone, the camera and the stereos are a must.. And of course, the better
half has to be accommodated.. I just put my finger on it, didn't I ?? LOL..
And you know what.. Steve.. before the trip was finished, we had solved all
the world problems.. Ain't that a trip..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

I been there! Not on the bike, but my ex grew up Just on the
outskirts of Palo Duro. You would never believe the 2nd largest
canyon in the U.S. is right there amongst all that flat land.

--Fullstate

 

Bill, Bling!, and I were talking about this same thing on our last
ride. Bling! and I have had real good luck with the guys out at
Honda West in Fort Worth. We always stop in and shoot the shit if we
are in the neighborhood. That includes the mechanics as well as some
of the sales guys. I've also had good experiences at Eurosport Cycle
in Fort. Worth and Import Cycles in Dallas (though I don't get that
way too often).

The dealers are all into the marketing, money making juggernaut that
is motorcycles now days, so it's much harder to find ones that are
interested in the aspect of motorcycling as opposed to the cash.
Still, though, make a few good contacts and go on a few good rides and
that is all it takes.

--Fullstate

 

BTW - for anyone that likes to read, pick up a copy of "Ghost Rider"
by Neil Peart. Neil is the drummer for the band Rush. He happens
to be very well read and versed. He's a pretty good writer.

He lost his daughter and wife within about a year of each other and
hit's the road on his bike to find himself again. The book is pretty
much written from excerpts of his diary while on the road. Money or
no money, read it and you'll see he isn't much different from the rest
of us..... I'd definitely say he's a true biker.

The book reads pretty easy as it's broken down into a lot of sub-parts
that make for a quick 10 or 15 minute read at a pop.

Enjoy!


--Fullstate

 

Reminds me of a cross country run I made all alone.. Left Dallas and was
running to LA to a job.. I broke down in Arizona and put my helmet on the
shoulder while I worked on the bike.. I had thrown a timing belt off a '84
Gold Wing which was only a couple of years old.. Three old Harley pulled off
and I asked if they had any tools.. The ugliest in the group looked over my
Wing and what I was trying to do.. Yep... he told me.. He went to his bike
and pulled out a small shop hammer, a tire bar, and a large pair of channel
locks.. Told me to back up and I incredulously watched as he very skillfully
replaced the belt and adjusted it.. Three tools and he did the job in about
fifteen minutes with me running again.. They rode with me to Yuma and we
parted company.. When I got to Santa Ana, I put the bike in a Honda shop to
replace the belt... Two days later, I got the bike back, along with a bill
for 320 dollars.. They charged me for 5 hours labor, shop supplies and
miscellaneous (whatever).. I talked to the tech that did the work and he
proudly showed me all the tools required to do the work... Damn, there must
have been 800 dollars worth of tools... When I told him about the repair on
the side of the road, he didn't believe it... Like I said, we got a
different breed, nowadays..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

We're lucky to have a pretty darn good dealer on the west side of
Houston; Wild West Honda, in Katy. The sales guys seem to actually know
bikes, and the parts guys will take the time to find you what you need,
and sell it at a fair price.

We're closer to two other Honda stores, but Wild West gets our business.

--
Albert Nurick


'97 Honda Pacific Coast
'93 Honda Helix
'87 Honda Helix

 

I got rid of my first Helix when the New Girlfriend didn't like the idea
of a helmet on her head; she couldn't leave the house without a 90-minute
session of getting the makeup perfect and all the blonde hair in place; a
helmet would ruin her creation.

Fast forward to six months ago. While on a cruise stopped in Key West,
my new bride wanted to rent a scooter. We putted around the key two-up
on that 50cc beast, and had a blast. When we got home, she insisted I
start riding again, and 95% of the time, she's on the back of the PC when
I'm out riding. She's been making room in the garage for another bike or
two; she thinks we need a serious sport touring machine, a cruiser, and a
sportbike.

I married the right woman.

--
Albert Nurick


'97 Honda Pacific Coast
'93 Honda Helix
'87 Honda Helix

 

We carry a Garmin StreetPilot III GPS with us when we tour. (I've not
found a good way to mount it on the PC's silly shrouded bars, so it stays
packed until we stop. It's got a database with all sorts of points of
interest, including motels and restaurants. It's an awesome tool when
we've decided to stop somewhere and want to find a room; five minutes on
the cell phone calling the nearest motels and we've found a room at a good
price. Especially useful in the summer in Central Texas, when many of the
motels sell out, and it's a PITA to drive to each one to see if there are
vacancies.

--
Albert Nurick


'97 Honda Pacific Coast
'93 Honda Helix
'87 Honda Helix

 

Why can't that happen to me????
lol


--Fullstate

 

Well I am not dogging you for using one, I am just saying that they
aren't necessary. Very convenient, though, as in the cases you just
described. If I did a LOT of touring I'd probably buy one.


--Fullstate

 

Well, first you'd have to buy a moped and then get a girlfriend who
wouldn't mind getting on it.

After that, they'll find the room in the garage to buy ANYTHING else.

 

LMAO I guess that would work, but you might have to force them on
the moped before they realize how crappy it is.

I actually would consider the Aprilia Edwards Replica Scooter....that
is kind of cool.


--Fullstate

 

...I have had real good luck with the guys out at Honda West in Fort
Worth. We always stop in and shoot the shit if we are in the neighborhood.
That includes the mechanics as well as some of the sales guys. I've also
had good experiences at Eurosport Cycle
in Fort. Worth and Import Cycles in Dallas <<

Speaking of Ft.Worth, I bought my first Honda (and the only new bike I've
ever purchased), in 1964 from a dealer near downtown on Lancaster just east
of where 35w is now (Pic of the bike at
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/305hawk.html ). Because my memory has been
severely degraded by time and WAY too much alcohol in my younger days, it
won't let me remember the name of the place. Seems like they also sold
Triumphs and BSA's. This was definitely one of the "old fashioned" type
shops were BS'ing was as important as the anything else. It also *looked*
like a motorcycle shop (slightly cramped, grubby building in a rundown area
of town).

Some of the new Harley shops remind me more of the women's accessories
department at Dillards (flame suit on.. )! I was in Republic Harley in
Houston a few months back for the first time and I just couldn't believe my
eyes. More than half of the store was devoted to clothing and purses and
toys, etc!!!! I half expected someone to come over and rap me on the
knuckles with a ruler for touching the bikes. It was WAY more like a
department store boutique than a motorcycle shop. Unreal. Gotta hand it to
the Harley marketing department though, I'm sure it brings the women in in
droves which in turn makes it a lot easier for a guy to talk his wife into
letting a big hunk of the family budget go for a new Harley. Of course,
with the price of new Harleys being what they are, the family will have to
do without "luxuries" like doctors and electricity for a while. :->. I felt
like one of the "unwashed" when I went into the place in my nasty riding
jacket with 75k miles worth of unwashable bug and grease stains on it. And
there was also my helmet which is really white but is sort of a speckled
dirty gray from all of bug goo on the front. It's a wonder some dude by
the name of Jeeves didn't escort me out of the store. Yep, times have indeed
changed in the motorcycle world.
___________________________________
Mick McHam Houston, Tx
'99 ST1100ABS STOC# 1134
'99 VFR
website: http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham

 

And don't dare ask one of the tech's to repair something on the Harley, you
ride.. If they can't replace it, they don't know what to do.. Heaven forbid
repairing anything.. At one time, we could make that Harley run with a bent
nail or "chevy" points.. If you need to replace something, there has to be a
conference on computers, an order initiated and delivery time (??) .. But..
you can buy a thong for the ol' lady or a belt buckle in stock.. On your
invoice, you will notice many abbreviations.... B/O (back order) NOS (not in
stock)... S/O (special order), etc.. Just a few examples of what you should
be familiar with.. Simple replacement parts such as belts, chains, clutches
or ignition wiring are never "in stock".. Some may take up to six months for
"special order".. Ladies pants, vests or lingerie are in stock and
available.. Go figure.. The ol' guys who had to take the "squeeze" with him
on those long rides really started something, didn't they ??

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Wouldn't have been the BMW of Fort Worth dealer would it? He used to
be in that area kind of over by Riverside. They moved, BTW. It was
small and cramped and you would see other brit-bikes there.

It's interesting to note that most Harley stores have turned into
that. They continuously report record sales, but if you look at their
sales report it is predominantly accessories that they are selling.
True, they are still selling a lot of bikes, but their accessories are
the bulk of their income.


--Fullstate

 

Wouldn't have been the BMW of Fort Worth dealer would it? He used to

That's the one. Do you remember their name? I'll never forget seeing my
first Ariel Square 4 there, sitting outside as a used bike for sale. I just
couldn't imagine having a bike with 4 cylinders! Little did I know what
leaps in technology would bring to the motorcycle world. In the last few
weeks Triumph has announced a 2300cc cruiser (yes, that's two thousand three
hundred) and Yamaha has just announced the latested generation of the R1
which will have 180hp at the crank! What the hell's it gonna be like in
another 40 years??... warp drive?
___________________________________
Mick McHam Houston, Tx
'99 ST1100ABS STOC# 1134
'99 VFR
website: http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham

 

It's also sad (or more sad) that many of those buying the

About every other pickup and SUV down here in Houston has a Harley sticker
on the back. I'd bet that not more than 5% of these people actually own a
motorcycle. It's kinda embarrassing.
___________________________________
Mick McHam Houston, Tx
'99 ST1100ABS STOC# 1134
'99 VFR
website: http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham