mrzip66

Stroker crank is in, stroker pistons are in, backplate and oil pump are in with the new cam chain tensioners, new pushrods, rings, bore is finished and looks good.   new bearings, oil lines.   its all in.

I should have my bike back next week.

I remember early on feeling that It was my job to provide.   I remember being in 9th grade, writing some silly ass paper in creative writing and taking it pretty seriously, that I was going to have a wife and kids someday and it was going to be my job to make sure they had a roof over their heads, food on the table and clothes on their backs.     I sound like I’m being dramatic, but I can remember the exact moment.  The desk I was in.  the  blue lines on the paper, and the teacher standing in front of the room. The feeling I had as I wrote it.    Funny, I didn’t know that very moment would stick with me.   Maybe moreso than any moment in my life.    Providing for my family is my job.

It’s not some macho bullshit.   If my wife ever wanted to work, I wouldn’t have some ego trip about it.   She’s never asked, and I’ve somehow been able to eek out a living.  Sometimes we’ve kicked ass.   Sometimes we’ve looked at foreclosure and had U-Hauls in our driveway and tried not to think about the memories of kids we’ve raised in the home we lost.   Thoughts of little girls in new school dresses in front of trees we planted with our own hands.   Bringing home babies to new cribs.    Problems overcome.   Neighbors we gave a shit about, and some we didn’t.  Starting new endeavors.  Struggling together.  Winning and losing together.   Each time, figuring it all out and moving on.

But every time, I’ve felt the weight of making sure we could move on.   Making sure that I had some sort of decision to share and to believe in.     It certainly hasn’t all been me, my wife has supported, fought and busted ass right along side me.   calling me out when I needed to be, and defending and moving ahead with the plan.      Adjusting the plan.

I hope someday my daughters will look back and remember their tattod Old Man who fought to give them a life.    I’m sure they’ll marry men different than me, but I hope they find someone who at least has the same quality as me.   I may be a lot of things:  Impetuous.  Impatient.   Loud at times, understanding at times.   But I’ve never given up.    Not on them.  Not on my wife.  Not on our life.  Certainly not on my responsibilities.     It’s why men die earlier than women.

I’m so thankful that I found a woman who’s got the same moxy.   Robyn, I love you.

Jerry was in my garage tonight.   My crank, oil pump, oil pump, cam chains,  pistons and everything else  are in, and my cylinders are out to be re-bored.   once they get back, in another week to put it all together, ill be breaking my new motor in.   That means, a whole lot of years of touring.   Damn, I can’t wait.   It’s in my head every hour.

Talked to jerry last night.   I’m just waiting on pistons then my bike is ready to put back together.  My crank is in.   Once the pistons are in, I’ll get it bored and then he’ll start putting it back together.

Man, Stand for something outside of yourself.    I’ve been selfish and self absorbed most of my life, and those times were mostly miserable.   Standing for something bigger than yourself is how you become happy.

My dad taught me that.   He was right.

I bought my first street bike in 1988. I rode it cross country till it finally gave out in 1994. Bought a wrecked bike, swapped the engine and rode till 1998. From 1998 to 2006 I was without a bike. Now again, I’m without a ride.

Bike is in the shop. A cam bearing failed and sucked through the engine. Need new pistons, Oil pump, cylinder bored and other things. My friend Jerry Fishel at vicious Cycles is doing a good job. I don’t trust many mechanics, but jerry is a good man. I trust him. Gimme 4 weeks and I’ll be back on the road when the temperatures start to turn again. By the time I break her in, I’ll be touring again on a rebuilt engine.

Just a note to my friends and family.  I get that this isn’t life and death situation, its not even close.  But I’ve got good friends and family.   My brother Pat offered his trailer to get me home, and let me ride his bike to get to work.   My brother Mike offered his bike to let me ride, as well as a new twin cam 88 in his garage for free.    I’ve had calls from my  BACA president, friends and others who have called me offering help and suggestions.   I’ll get this figured out, and its going to cost me alot of money I don’t have, but your friendship to me is priceless.    Thank you for offering your help.    I’m a rich man that way.

Its been cold for the desert. More cold than i’m used to, or want.

Not cold enough to ride to vegas to finish my tattoo tho. It was 33 degrees this morning when I left, and thermals and a few extra layers were more than enough. It was nice riding. It was actually perfect. On the road again, heading toward my goal. I found that riding in freezing temperatures, riding was no big deal. In fact, it was pretty damn nice. Its alot better than NOT riding.

then around the border I noticed I had low oil pressure. not long afterward, I noticed I had a problem pulling hills. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed that I was blowing smoke 2 lanes wide. My heart sunk as I pulled over, just a little past mesquite.

As I pulled over, my bike made a few knock noises but to be honest I don’t know what they are or mean. My mind was in other places. I knew I had a problem and my mind was in other places. This is the first time the street glide has let me down. It’s not a good feeling.

I sat on the side of the freeway for a minute and weighed my situation. I called Robyn and told her to bring my brother Pat’s trailer who luckily left it in front of my house. I noticed a little oil on my floorboard, then looked down at my chaps and noticed it was covered in oil.

I got off the bike, and made the call to robyn, then to SHOTs, who is my good friend and BACA president. I woke him up, but he rushed out to help me out. Thats how Shots is. He is a good, good friend and a great guy. So is my wife. She is not afraid of doing what she has to do.

I sat by the side of the freeway, and realized the street glide was sick.   she only has 40,000 miles but for the first time had let me down.  I contemplated repair, engine swapping and a new bike.   I can’t fail her, I’ve got to get her fixed.  Problem is, I have no money.   I also can’t let that get in my way.   I’m resourceful when I need to be.   this is one of those times.

She’s in a trailer now, and my friend who’s also a certified harley mechanic is out of town till after christmas.   When he gets back, I’ll tow her up to his shop, split her open and see what the damage is.  I’ve got a few ideas, and my worse fear is that the oil pump went out and sucked metal through my engine and my top end is out.   Had a few BACA brothers tell me it could be as simple as the oil pump, but I have my doubts as I was blowing oil out the exhaust as well as the intake.   That to me sounds like bad rings or a bad valve.     I hope i’m wrong, and I got a cheaper education about v twin engines than I’d like to have.

I gotta tell you, I’m really bummed about it.   I’m trying to be optimistic and tell myself that if theres any time to be without a bike, its in the coldest part of the winter.   Right now I don’t have any money, and all I know is, no matter what, I can’t and WONT be without a bike.

My brother Pat immediately told me I could ride his bike,  followed by my brother Mike who said the same thing.  Both are in the garage.   Both are extremely generous gestures by 2 men who love riding and it keeps me in the game for a couple of months until I get the street glide back on track.     I gotta get her back on the road.    Pat, if you’re reading this, thank you for being not only my brother, but my friend.   I’ll whip her into shape and we’ll be cruising some old desolate route 66 road in may for sure.    In the meantime, thanks for letting me ride your bike.    I’ll take care of her like she was my own.

I’m still bummed.

If this isn’t one of the best songs ever, I don’t know what is.

You say you stand by your man
Tell me something I don’t understand
You said you loved me and that’s a fact
and then you left me, said you felt trapped

Well some things you can’t explain away
But the heartache’s in me till this day

CHORUS
You didn’t you stand by me
No, not at all
You didn’t stand by me
No way

All the times
When we were close
I’ll remember these things the most
I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I can’t be happy without you round

So alone I keep the wolves at bay
and there is only one thing that I can say

CHORUS

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me

Did you stand by me
No, not at all

Now I got a job
But it don’t pay
I need new clothes
I need somewhere to stay
But without all of these things I can do
But without your love I won’t make it through

But you don’t understand my point of view
I suppose there’s nothing I can do

CHORUS X 2

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me

Did you stand by me
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way