Well, got the word last week number 2 is going to be a girl! Very, very stoked. She will not be spoiled. I will not put a chin strap on a tierra and have her wear it everyday. I will let her touch the ground without flowers under her feet. I'm not going to be a pile of mush who does anything she wants. Name? yes it's coming... the big G and me are very close on that one. we think we have it already:
"Princess Beautiful the Queen of All"
Flows nice, no? Not to grandiose?
Anywho, can't wait. Curly hair and blue eyes here we come...
The Golden Red Fire Pig
...um, it's time.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
2 wheels = :)
Well, I bought a bike. Not another freestyle bike, of which I have two, but a motorcycle. I've been salivating thinking about one more and more over the last 8 months or so. I work(ed) with this guy who had two bikes, one of which he took to the track quite often. He was always coming in on Mondays, still high on the weekend's adrenaline, spouting off about the joys of controlled chaos. Then to top it off... 2 of my closest friends went out, got their licenses and bought bikes! ...the nerve. Fortunately, I've had my license since 92 so I didn't have to worry about that part. Then there's the matter of my wife not particularly wanting me to ride with a son and another baby on the way. Of course, I understand her concern but I just don't see owning a motorcycle as a death certificate. I do see family as a reason to exercise great care and not ride like a jack-ass. ...that being said...
I couldn't decide what kind of bike to buy. Or even if I wanted to really "pull the trigger". I knew I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something since I don't currently have a garage; she's gonna have to be an outside toy. So, I needed to lay down some parameters. One: I don't want to lean forward and grab clip-ons leaving my wrists and back to remind me of my ever increasing age. Two: try and get something that fulfills one or more items on my bike attribute wish list or actual model wish list...
SWEET AMENITIES
*Italian
*Single-sided swing arm
*High mount pipe(s)
*Collectable
*old-school-cool
*extraordinarily quick
*twin cylinder
SWEET MODELS
*Ducati Monster
*Ducati 848
*Ducati 1098
*Yamaha FZ-1
*MV Augusta F4
*Triumph Speed Triple
*Honda Hawk GT
Of course, all of the amenities can be achieved with one bike. A ducati monster. So, I combed the nation's craigslists for an old monster in good shape for as little money as possible. ...along with other bikes that fit one or more of the above. I put a max of $6000 at first and rode a couple bikes. I rode three FZ-1's and loved them all. I just couldn't spend the $6000. I put money down on a couple then chickened out. I rolled my price-point back to $4000 and found another FZ-1 but it was in shady condition. Then I found a 1995 Ducati Monster 900 with a great add for $4500. I ran to go test drive. It was awesome. Never rode a monster before. It was in need of some cosmetic love and every question I asked about maintenance the guy said, "I don't know man, I haven't had to do anything...", "...but I really like it!". Ducati's, like Porsche's, need vigilant maintenance in order to last forever; which they are capable of. Otherwise, off to the poor house for you. I learned that valuable lesson with my first Porsche. That story will come later... Anywho, I offered $3800 and he said he'd go $4000 and I said no. Note to self: when I have enough to buy a new bike and a garage to put it in, it's a brand new monster for me.
Then I moved my price-point down even more to $3000 and started looking at early 80's standards like the one my buddy just bought. They're usually around $1500 and need a couple hunge to really get them road ready. I looked at some adds, didn't drive any. They just didn't do anything for me.
Then I saw her... the exact model as my very first bike. Sudden nostalgia overload. Memories of the years where all I had was a bike. Rain, snow, heat, art school. Yes, a bike for art school. Try carrying your portfolio on a bike. Not easy. How about a clay bust you're working on. Yeah, not the brightest idea. ...but I looooved that bike. He was asking $3000. I went, I drove, I remembered, I needed. I offered $2400 and he bit. Bam! I gotta 1988 Honda Hawk GT nt650. It's at my buddies garage right now and coming home this wknd. I can't wait. It's blue, it's got a single-sided swing arm, it's got history with me, it's a twin, it's a very pedestrian reach to the bars, and it's ohhh so affordable.
Sooo, there you have it. I'm back on two wheels but just for fun. Good, clean, safe fun. I'll keep you posted/bored with all the work/upgrades I do to bring this bike beyond it's original glory. I needed something new to obsess over and now I have it! Time to dust off the helmet, get a good jacket and some gloves.
Watch out for bikes out there, they're people too!! (except for the ones who wheelie on the highway)
I couldn't decide what kind of bike to buy. Or even if I wanted to really "pull the trigger". I knew I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something since I don't currently have a garage; she's gonna have to be an outside toy. So, I needed to lay down some parameters. One: I don't want to lean forward and grab clip-ons leaving my wrists and back to remind me of my ever increasing age. Two: try and get something that fulfills one or more items on my bike attribute wish list or actual model wish list...
SWEET AMENITIES
*Italian
*Single-sided swing arm
*High mount pipe(s)
*Collectable
*old-school-cool
*extraordinarily quick
*twin cylinder
SWEET MODELS
*Ducati Monster
*Ducati 848
*Ducati 1098
*Yamaha FZ-1
*MV Augusta F4
*Triumph Speed Triple
*Honda Hawk GT
Of course, all of the amenities can be achieved with one bike. A ducati monster. So, I combed the nation's craigslists for an old monster in good shape for as little money as possible. ...along with other bikes that fit one or more of the above. I put a max of $6000 at first and rode a couple bikes. I rode three FZ-1's and loved them all. I just couldn't spend the $6000. I put money down on a couple then chickened out. I rolled my price-point back to $4000 and found another FZ-1 but it was in shady condition. Then I found a 1995 Ducati Monster 900 with a great add for $4500. I ran to go test drive. It was awesome. Never rode a monster before. It was in need of some cosmetic love and every question I asked about maintenance the guy said, "I don't know man, I haven't had to do anything...", "...but I really like it!". Ducati's, like Porsche's, need vigilant maintenance in order to last forever; which they are capable of. Otherwise, off to the poor house for you. I learned that valuable lesson with my first Porsche. That story will come later... Anywho, I offered $3800 and he said he'd go $4000 and I said no. Note to self: when I have enough to buy a new bike and a garage to put it in, it's a brand new monster for me.
Then I moved my price-point down even more to $3000 and started looking at early 80's standards like the one my buddy just bought. They're usually around $1500 and need a couple hunge to really get them road ready. I looked at some adds, didn't drive any. They just didn't do anything for me.
Then I saw her... the exact model as my very first bike. Sudden nostalgia overload. Memories of the years where all I had was a bike. Rain, snow, heat, art school. Yes, a bike for art school. Try carrying your portfolio on a bike. Not easy. How about a clay bust you're working on. Yeah, not the brightest idea. ...but I looooved that bike. He was asking $3000. I went, I drove, I remembered, I needed. I offered $2400 and he bit. Bam! I gotta 1988 Honda Hawk GT nt650. It's at my buddies garage right now and coming home this wknd. I can't wait. It's blue, it's got a single-sided swing arm, it's got history with me, it's a twin, it's a very pedestrian reach to the bars, and it's ohhh so affordable.
Sooo, there you have it. I'm back on two wheels but just for fun. Good, clean, safe fun. I'll keep you posted/bored with all the work/upgrades I do to bring this bike beyond it's original glory. I needed something new to obsess over and now I have it! Time to dust off the helmet, get a good jacket and some gloves.
Watch out for bikes out there, they're people too!! (except for the ones who wheelie on the highway)
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