jamming
04-30-2006, 09:58 PM
With the price of gas over 3 bucks now, I sure have been noticing alot of late 70's and early 80's bikes around. Now don't get me wrong, I like old bikes. However, these look like the've been drug out of the barn and put on the road. I saw a Yammie 750 triple special at the grocery store near my house. I was looking at it and the dude walked up. He was in his early 30's and I asked him if he had the bike for long, he told me no, it was his Dad's. We were talking and I pointed out the dry rot on the tires, the oil leak from the final drive, the engine leaked, and it needed brakes. I saw this in 30 seconds.
He told me he could'nt afford to drive his truck. I asked him if he had a family, and he said yes. I told him he could'nt afford to ride the bike in that shape. I would'nt ride it across the street. at least he had a helmet, a Shoei even...circa 1978,,, I had one way back then.
We had a talk, I offered to take a long look at it, and show him what he needed to do to bring it up to par. He's gonna park it until we look at it, at least that's what he said.
Look, I know it's none of my business, but, he was a nice guy trying to do the right thing and I do not want to read about him in the paper.
We lost a Gilbert Motor Officer last night due to a drunk driver. My heart goes out to the department and his family, a sad situation.
Got me to thinking how many others out there are doing the same thing, old bike,not in the best shape, no training, no gear, no MC endorsment. Wonder if the death rate on motorcycles goes up with gas prices? I guess I should'nt care but dammit I do. I like to see more bikes, makes people aware of us, hell, even the weekend HD rider's are riding during the week.
Well, rant over, can't save the world....but I damn sure can save one.
Roger
He told me he could'nt afford to drive his truck. I asked him if he had a family, and he said yes. I told him he could'nt afford to ride the bike in that shape. I would'nt ride it across the street. at least he had a helmet, a Shoei even...circa 1978,,, I had one way back then.
We had a talk, I offered to take a long look at it, and show him what he needed to do to bring it up to par. He's gonna park it until we look at it, at least that's what he said.
Look, I know it's none of my business, but, he was a nice guy trying to do the right thing and I do not want to read about him in the paper.
We lost a Gilbert Motor Officer last night due to a drunk driver. My heart goes out to the department and his family, a sad situation.
Got me to thinking how many others out there are doing the same thing, old bike,not in the best shape, no training, no gear, no MC endorsment. Wonder if the death rate on motorcycles goes up with gas prices? I guess I should'nt care but dammit I do. I like to see more bikes, makes people aware of us, hell, even the weekend HD rider's are riding during the week.
Well, rant over, can't save the world....but I damn sure can save one.
Roger