in love with a foreigner

pictured:  Dodge Tomahawk Motorcycle  ( concept vehicle )

I couldn't help myself.

Really. I couldn't.



 I was out riding my new motorcycle today....

 I had my tunes on my Ipod on random play....
..... it's weird how appropriate some songs are for riding that you'd never figure would be..... 

Usually, I like fast tempo songs..
..... today it was love ballads.

 It was a gorgeous day, about 72 degrees with a 5 mph wind...
.... and I went out dressed in a cut off Miami Hurricanes sweatshirt,
which was just right.

 Ok, sure the weather is bizarre...
....when I ride to work at night, it's 35 and friggin freezin....
I got my leathers on, and I'm snugged up like an Eskimo....

................  but it's 72 all day?

 I usually miss the nice daytime weather because I'm in the gym ,
.... but today was a free rest day with nobody to train,
so I got my motor runnin' and hit the highway.

 I told somebody the other day that I hadn't really broken her ( the motorcycle ) in yet,
and the honeymoon was still on.

 Well, after today, it's still still on.

 Actually, I'm getting excited just talking about it.

 I never thought I could fall in love with a foreigner,
................  but I have, I'm afraid.

 It's not like I couldn't find plenty of Americans I liked....

 I still do own my Harley Davidson, after all.

 It's just so different with .....   her. 


The shorty shocks can be a little jarring at times.....

 My Harley had shorties, but hers bounced me a couple inches off my seat today while I was crossing some railroad tracks..... ( albeit WAY TOO FAST ).

 Hahaha.... I landed and the bike was still going perfectly straight.... 

 Mostly, though, I haven't been dogging it...

 I've been very gentle.

...... as a matter of fact, I've only had her in fifth gear one time !
( today-- I was nailing 80 when I did... )

 The darned thing's got so much power it just loves to run......
it gives the distinct impression of reining in a horse constantly.



 This is the first bike I've ever owned with a windshield......
and although I have dissed many folks over the years about having em,
I gotta admit, with my half helmet and no face shield,
it's nice not to be getting pelted with road debris and bugs all the damned time.

 So, if you're one of those guys I laughed at about it,
............. I hereby renounce my former ways.

 ( I'll just have to find something else to laugh at ya about... )


 Some hag hung out of the passenger side of a pickup to yell at me about it today...  WTF?

........ hey - at least I'm riding -- what's yer excuse, beeyotch?

 ( Is that how you spell beeyotch? It's not in the dictionary fer some reason... )


 It's got a very cool setup for the touring package--

... there are these gizmos that you can rotate counterclockwise and then do this and that, to remove the saddle bags, windshield, and backrest ---

....... and all of a sudden, you got a cool street cruiser.


 I'm told it takes about 10 minutes, but the likelihood of me taking that stuff off is minimal.

 I need my saddlebags for the cover and lock,
... and for all the crap I like to carry everywhere I go...  ( like my gym bag ) .....

 ............  and once you've ridden a couple times with a windscreen.... well.....  



 Anyhoo...... while I was in mid air on the jump over the railroad tracks...

 ( .... and that couldn't have been a pretty sight, although I was smiling all the way thru it... )

 It occurred to me just how wonderful adrenaline is.


 Ahhhhhh........ that old freedom feeling -- just me and the road...

 ..... gently, and not so gently, curving, and sloping,  up down and around.

 Pull that throttle ever so slightly, and feel the raw power transferring into that rear wheel....

 The force of her 92 horses kick in, and you're both rider and ridden.


 With my old bike, I was constantly worrying about breakdowns.....
so I'd never ride it anywhere unless I had tools or another way home.

 This bike -- well.... 
.... I can see I'm gonna catch up on all the riding I haven't been doing in the last coupla.




 Here are a couple of the bikes I looked at before I bought my VTX.

 This is the Triumph Rocket 2300 ------

 This monster putts along with 143 Horsepower ---
......... zero to fuckin infinity in about 4 secs.

 It weighs about 750 pounds...
and although it feels like it's a house on wheels,
all you gotta do is pull the throttle and HOLD ON.

 Its got a growl that will eat your lunch.. I liked it.

 Beaucoup Bucks..... about $21,000. 







 This is a Polaris Victory Cross Country -

 It's a very nice sled...... 96 horsepower, 106 cubic inches.......
V-Twin Single Overhead Cam.... fuel injected.

 The ride is sweet, easy on the butt, with very smooth and quick response.

 Just couldnt come to terms on it.

 ........... and I'd never own a red motorcycle.






  This bike might look familiar to ya.....

It's a R Series, BMW r1200-C....... just like James Bond rode in
"Tomorrow Never Dies" ----

 I've wanted one since I saw that bike in the movie.

 And it had very little to do with that hottie he had riding on the handlebars.

 It is a very unique motorcycle- for a lot of reasons.

 Nimble, sleek, exquisitely engineered.

 Unfortunately, it didnt sell well -- and it was discontinued in the United States ,
and although I could have gotten one in pretty much mint condition,
the few that were made are going for quite a lot of money.


 Ah well..... I'm happy lusting after it from afar.


 
 Hey -- just cause I'm in love doesn't mean I can't still look, right ???