Ping. Hey Bill Cattell

A few days ago, you were debating with yourself, mostly.. about
what to do with your nice Harley, after the little smash up.. When
you asked for some input, I jumped in there with my unqualified
opinion.. lol.. Unqualified because I haven't been there, yet.. But
it is the best I could come up with, at the time.. I'm sure that you
will swing back and forth on your decision, several times, as I'm
just as sure that I'd have second thoughts .. third thoughts .. back
and forth.. Whatever you decide will more than likely be your own
decision and that's as it should be..

Another little thought on my mind has been whether or not you
should just take up another pastime than motorcycles.. Now, that
one is a bit more profound, isn't it ? Most of that seemed to come
from your own family.. Hopefully, you'll come to your own conclus-
ions about whether you ride again, or not.. Anyone who would in-
fluence you about that, one way or the other, could be doing you
a great dis-service..

Now then, as I recall.. I urged you to take an advanced MSR
course, if you decide to ride again.. Let me take this a little
furthur.. Should you decide that you'll mount up again and foll-
ow the MSR course idea.. I'd like to take that course with you..
Lately.. I've noticed changes in my reflexes and reactions to
different situations in road and traffic experiences.. <chuckle>
I attribute that to my successful advance in years.. After all the
years of survival on motorcycles, I have noticed myself saying
things like.. "hmmm.. I wouldn't have done it that way, five years
ago".. That's after a slight brush with disaster, or something.. lol

So, if you'll keep me up to speed on what you decide, we'll work
out a schedule to take that course.. I'll probably look into it, no
matter how you decide..

Bill Walker

 

Let me know what y'all decide and I'll go too!!!

Of course, I'd have to take the basic course first to learn to
ride....

 

Hey, I believe we almost have enough for a complete class just from
tx.moto!!!!

 

Hey.. we are about to get a crew lined up, here. Should get some kind
of discount rate for that.. OK, guys.. Brian and Wakko.. I never considered
that, but it seems like a damned good plan, to me..

 

Yep, Life is one step at a time. (shame it has to be that
way...but...)

 

Do ya learn how to take curves faster but safer? Does the class leave
the ''parking lots'' and actually ride in traffic, and out on rural
roads, where there's some winde'ing roads....over /bjay/

 

yeah Big Ed, good idea. uhhhhh-huh

 

You can bet your happy, that I ain't riding "biotch" on that
damned hot rod Venture.. I need to talk to you about the
ride to PK tomorrow.. If RedShad is coming in from Canton,
we'll meet at my house for coffee, about seven or so.. How's
that ? You TOP POSTIN' dummy..

 

Hey guys - I really do appeciate (sob, sniffle, sob) the sentiments
expressed. Yes Ed, even your biotch comment you buttwipe.

Yup, the wife and I discussed it and yes, I will continue to ride. The
plan lays out like this;

1. Stop by MotoLiberty and pick up a good helmet and a cool, "Genuine
Brian Walker" style jacket. I already checked and they said the foul
smell DOES NOT come with it. I guess I'll have to hook up with him at TP
after all...

2. Get the refurbed, rebuilt 2002 RK-C back (with the nearly correct
paint on it).

3. Sign up with the Advanced MSF course.

I mentioned to the wife that I didn't like her watching the GKs as much as
she did cause it takes so much out of her. She replied "yes, it does but
I love it". I turned it around on her and pointed out that's how I feel
about riding - yes it can (and has) taken some away but it's added so much
more.

You're correct Bill - it's MY decision and MY decision is to not give in
to fear but get back on and ride - across the state, the country, the
Pacific. On that one I'll need to borrow some of what Ed took to
make his "biotch" offer.

Now the fun comes - being patient. NOT one of my strong suits.

 

Hey Bill, I have been following the various threads discussing your
little off road experience. I am very glad to hear you are ok and your
bike will be repaired. None of us likes to hear of riders going down
and there have been too many this season.

Most of us (riders in general) have bit the asphalt at one time or
another. Shit happens and sometimes it is painful.

Looks to me like you have received some good advice and have a darn
good plan.

Good luck and ride safe.


--
Remember

It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN , not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN , Not the Campus Organizer
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN , not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

 

Yup, appreciate the kind words. It's along the lines of what I told one
of the docs treating me...

He aske if I wore a helmet... when I said "not always" he came back with
the organ donor comment.

I was ready for him though - I let him know that yes, you need organ
donors - how else are you going to be able to keep "practicing" so one
day you might get it "right". His smile went away... Imagine that. ;-)

 

Living in Canada we don't have the choice when it comes to helmets.
You get used to wearing them after a while, but....

Some people have no sense of humour.


--
Remember

It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN , not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN , Not the Campus Organizer
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN , not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

 

Easy Bill.Ride with extreme caution.

 

Organ Donor. Great comeback.Probably pissed him off,but true.

 

That's probably the best step you could take. I'm not into telling
others to "gear up", but I strongly recommend it for many situations
where you have a greater risk of getting off the bike before it's
parked. A "good helmet" would be one that gives plenty of
coverage...not one of these novelty helmets that are "DOT" approved (a
construction hard hat is DOT approved). Don't go cheap on the helmet!
A good helmet that fits correctly and has plenty of vents and all will
cost more than others. The more you spend on a helmet, the more you'll
enjoy the fit/features and will stay in it longer and not dread
putting it on. I learned this the HARD way.

If you're talking jackets, there are two types....summer and winter.
The summer jacket is mesh, will breathe almost like air conditioning.
It will protect you from flying crap hitting you and protect you from
the sun elements. The padding is just for when you get off the
motorcycle before you stop it and get the side stand down all the way.
I hope to never need to find out how well the padding in my jacket
works, but I know I have a spine pad, shoulder pads, elbow pads and
will be somewhat protected from road rash if the need arises.

Let me know when you want to meet at TP so you can borrow the foul
smell!!!!

I was talking to the waitress tonight at TP. I made a comment about
her getting on the Blackbird. She said "oh no, people die on those
things". I then corrected her. I said "oh no, people don't die on
those, it's only when they step off them before they get stopped that
they tend to die".

 

0ne dern handed, that's a good'un.....wakk0........................../
bjay/

 

That's what I thought. Learning to ride ''fairly fast, and safe'' on
rural road curves, B-U-T- 'learn it' by riding around on a parking
lot...beats me. I'm sure they have lectures, films, and other teaching
aids for it; but for either a rookie, or an old rider getting back on
the road, there's got to be some instructional help ''actually riding
in traffic, and out on the rural roads''.

During the time talking with my wife and looking at her class
material, when she took the basic rookie course, I learned a little
bit, or atleast I learned some technical terms for what I'd been doing
for 30 years. One is ''counter steering''. And the ''clutch/ back
brake technique', in slow maneuvering.(forgot the particular term) !

I still cannot ride thru the ''cones'' set up, like on the training
DVD, demostrated by the Highway Patrolman.. 0h yeah, I learned the
easy, no strain way of lifting up a big Motorcycle from the ground. I
liked the technique used by the 125 lb Gal, lifting the Harley from
the pavement, demostrated on the film.

Shoot, BillC, I just thought get that DVD Training MFS film...I've got
it...saved a lotta money. I think one can go to some site, and burn
that taining film...I believe? my dimes worth. /bjay/

 

What's the name of it? Does Netflix or Blockbuster have it?

Better yet, how about letting us borrow it?

 

wearing helmets, and any other type of protection gear...is like
Insurance:
you want to have it, and hope not to never need it...not the other
way around (Like): Need it, and wished you have it.

 

I looked for it around here, I cannot find it. I'll check with my
inlaw, get 'em to burn me another copy.............../bjay/