Photo Credit - Lee Wonnacott
I think I was probably hosed on the insurance settlement by many thousands of dollars, but the current 'mortgage mess' crises in the economy has really come to roost in any industry driven by investment dollars, and that includes insurance companies. The lawyer assured me I probably could get more by following the process through the court system, but it would take at least another year. Okay, the insurance company wins the game and I come out short handed. But making me whole again was the purpose of pursuing a claim, not making a fortune on the personal injury sweepstakes.
When it came time to pick up the new machine I thought I would be standing on the pegs for the first few miles shouting my heartiest "Yeee HAAAA!", but instead all I could do was grin. My son came along on the ride home, following me on his '84 Honda VT750. Each time he came alongside at a stop light or stop sign all I could do was turn my face to him with a thumb up and show a grin that just hurt my cheeks . . . THIS is one fine machine, but until I gain the confidence to stand up on the pegs at 100 MPH I won't be shouting "Yeee HAAAA!".
It's only 19 miles from the dealer showroom to my house. The odometer had over 150 miles showing before I arrived home. During that first ride I learned many important things about the bike and myself;
The second modification on the list is a handlebar riser kit. The 'sport' heritage of the machine has me leaning forward a bit too much to be comfortable beyond 100 miles. The hands and wrists are okay now. I quickly learned how to sit without placing weight on them, it's the constant reach forward that stresses the muscles between my shoulder blades that causes the most pain. In the last two days I've done more one handed riding than I ever hought possible. The riser kit brings the grip up an inch and a half and back two inches, and that should solve the problem.
Of course there is a long list of other items the machine will need to become my ideal touring platform. A throttle lock, louder horn, highway pegs, headlight modulator, and heated grips only begin the list. By the time the odometer rolls past 100,000 miles I may have it right. Motorcycles and their riders are like men and women. Riders and women are always trying to change something about their paramour, the difference is that the machine doesn't care it's being changed and will serve the rider faithfully without complaint. Men, on the other hand, know they are running fine without any modifications and will likely revolt at the first hint of improvements to the basic operating standards.
The 600 mile break in service work will be performed tomorrow and on Wednesday Art and I will head south, through South Carolina and Georgia, into Florida and down to Key West. This is a relatively short trip, only about 2,500 miles, and it's intended more as a shakedown cruise than anything else. I'll be able to figure out the best ways to pack all of our gear and become confident with the machine during the next several days. This is the first leg of an adventure that will consume the better part of three years, as I work to attain my goal of visiting all 3,059 counties of the lower 48 states. If you want to know more about my plans, visit www.RideAroundAmerica.com for complete details.
Oh, this may sound stupid, but lots of people give their bikes some sort of nickname, a persona if you will. I remember several in my past, "Coon Killer" comes to mind as one of my SilverWings. I ran over and killed a raccoon on my very first trip aboard it. I might tag this new Honda with the name "Mr. Burgess" - as a remembrance of the idiot who was driving the Lincoln Town Car that ran me over and destroyed my last bike. I think it's appropriate, don't you?
Remember, "Ride today - Tommorow you may not be able!"
-LW