chapter 499

6/27/2018

Moto Mania

born to ride

Parents: be careful how you influence your young. They can be imprinted for life. When I was a little bitty baby my Uncle Sonny rode me around the back of his property around the raspberry bushes and squash patches on his 36 Harley. He had been in a biker gang in Buffalo and Gma & Gpa Schmidt did not approve of his marrying into the family. He had, loved, and rode old Indians and Harleys. The feeling stuck.

Dad had his own Harleys as well as all things mechanical. This is a flathead R model 1932-36 forty-five cu in 750cc V twin. I remember him taking me on a ride while very young sitting behind on the large seat holding on to the chrome seat rails going down Cemetery Hill from Virgil. It was scary but exhilarating. He'd ride it to work in Cortland but gave it up after hitting a dog on our dirt road one day and getting pretty skinned up.

Dad did buy into another 1947 knucklehead model W 60 cu in 993cc basket case Harley for $100. The suicide left foot clutch and left shifter lever & springer front end were standard at the time. Spark retard was on the right handlebar and left throttle.  He put some parts into it and it remained a good serviceable machine for maybe a dozen years. This was prior to helmet law and even the motorcycle driver license law. My '63 SU Forestry jacket dates the era.

It's hard to capture the feeling of riding a motorcycle. Last year's trip down Rte 32 from Albany to the Catskills was one of those moments and this picture maybe best captures the mood. There is a feeling of freedom, power, and exhilaration that is hard to put into words. The smooth sinuous sweeping curves on this country road over rolling hills combined with a wide right-of-way lets you feel safe at speed from cars, deer, or other obstacles.

On a trip this year I was able to share some of the good vibrations. It's nice to share the trip and to have small or larger gangs of riders but solo riding comprises the majority of trips. I've always been careful to plot my courses to choose safe roads and conditions. A 45 mile per hour cruise on a 70 degree day is preferable. This was a hotter day but to a country winery and small town festival was enjoyable on this weekend in Greenwich, NY on beautiful Rte 40 in Washington County.

I've travelled more miles in a short time (5000mi/ 4months) with my current 03 Victory bike than at any other time in my life. It's my most comfortable machine with great power, handling and functionality. My portable hiking GPS recorded the last couple months of local travel here in blue. I added a few other trips from years past in pink done with various Triumphs, Hondas, Suzukis, Yamahas, Kawasakis and Harleys, not to mention Whizzer motorbikes and Italian Scooters. 

What's the point? Enjoy it while you can. Document while I can. Sure there are dangers but while alive - live.

There are many chapters devoted to motorcycles, this one Chapter 126B has a summary of some of the machines I've enjoyed.

Recently replayed one of the few dvd's I bought, The Worlds Fastest Indian- such a great human interest and motorcycle movie.

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