PROUD OWNER

[Lucasind]

.... Some of you may remember a post I made a year ago about my son's best friend Brian that had me resurrect a 32 year 550 LTD........Well.... that was his first bike, and a great bike to learn on. Brian is a big boy ,now 20 years old 6'2 hovering the 300lb range .the old 550 LTD served him well the first year of riding.

But now it's on to bigger and better things. He bought my 03 connie from me and immediately got on the horn to C.BAILEY and ordered a custom more modern looking blacked-out windshield for it. saying " it don't look like a old man's bike anymore" (his bike , his choice)


So were all riding to the rally in N.C in July, First rally for Brian, but the 2nd rally for the connie, as my son rode it to the previous rally in LOGAN. It's not even broke in yet, 11 years old and only 10,880 on the clock.............................................tony

[Bruce in OK]

Congrats to Brian. He will be happy with the Connie. Thanks to you, Tony, for bringing in new blood to the riding community!

[ekap1200]

Your right Tony , he is a big boy. Bet he makes that LTD look like a mini bike when he's on it..

[Lucasind]

....yes , thank you Bruce, I'm trying ! These guys are REALLY looking foreward to the rally this year . Just hoping for better weather than last year !.............
and GENE, you sure hit that nail on the head ! He is way to big 4 a 550,heck he's too big 4 the connie ! Brian and his girlfriend get on that ol 550 LTD , and that bike gives it 's ALL to propel them along sometimes ,,they blow past my wife and I at 80mph when we go out for our family rides, Suspension sacked out, but that SWEET in-line 4 is givin up that sweet familiar tone ! love it !

Speaking of SWEET tones,





We drove up to Detroit last sunday morning, to check out this 2010 fuel injected ZX 1400. Bitter cold outside, icy streets , But we did get in a test ride. MAN ! is that a A$$ haulin machine !! With only 12,000 miles on her she sounds tight with a flawless exhaust tone. Were going back up this Saturday morning with my truck to bring her home. Been nearly 30 yrs. since I had a F.I. bike,( had the ol' Z-1 classic) Gotta brush up on my F.I.A.T. skills more on that later....tony

[Lucasind]

....So saturday morning finally came,I got up early to check over my "old grey dodge" it has'nt left the backyard in months. Dug it out from a snow bank, checked the fluids and she started right up. Pulled her up near the garage to air up the tires and off to detroit we went. Made the deal with the seller and loaded her into the truck.

Here is a pic of the bike in the back of the truck while were headed south back to toledo roll ( yes ... I installed SHAG carpet in my van when I bought her new back in 87 )

after getting back to the house , I squared up the truck at the base of the driveway so the rear bumper is LOW (makes loading and unloading a bike a breeze) and of course I did'nt let the kids unload the bike , everything went very smoothly and I did'nt want any disasters at the goal line



Bike is safely unloaded and my son Brad could'nt be happier about the new addition to our stable !We then moved the bike into the back for a thorough inspection, found that the header is loose due to a missing rear exhaust mount. also the horns don't work and I can see the horn wires hanging down along the neck of the frame, and the instrument cluster is VERY loose and wobbly. I think when they took it apart for a change of exhaust system , they got in a hurry, and left some details un-attended These minor issues will be addressed in the days to come, Now if we could get mother nature to cooperate we might get to ride some of these bikes what do you think ...........................tony

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

You asked what do we think, well I think I'm in pretty tough competition for dad of the decade with you pulling outstanding stunts like this Tony. I admire your involvement in your kids lives, I am the same way and a few fellows I know make me cringe cause they couldn't be bothered.
I consider your actions a learning lesson for your sons, it will definitely help them be better men and fathers with a role model like that. Digging the van out, driving to and from plus the "watch how this is done" loading and unloading. Great Job Dad!

[ekap1200]

Tony, looks like you got Dad of the Decade , hands down..... What a guy What a guy..

[kjsett]

My Dad (passed away last summer) was a DAD of an era.
He once (i thought) gave me a car to drive, and I learned a lot fixing it up (66 Rambler American 440 SW). Unfortunately, when I was away for 2 months at 17, he traded it to my sister for a 327 engine. Again, unfortunately (I think it was to give her reliable transportation) her husband at the time tried to treat it as a hot rod or something and tore out the rear-end (couldn't find one anywhere). When I got back, he staked me to a 58 MGA. I shoulda stayed with the Rambler, as I couldn't keep it working. I didn't know not to put DOT 3 into the hydraulic clutch. After 3 rebuilds, I sold the car for $300. (1974). Later I bought a 63 TR4 that I really did love, but parenthood sometimes makes us put away our toys.
By the time I became an adult we actually did become friends and I loved him dearly. Not always easy to get along with, he was always worth it.
One more thing, if nothing else qualifies him for Dad of an era, he once drove overnight with me in his pickup to rescue my wife from a car breakdown and then we towed it back, again overnight (Portland, OR to Sacramento, CA and back). He loaned my wife a car to get home and then (i was driving long haul truck at the time out of California, he lived in Vancouver, WA) rebuilt the engine on that 68 Ford Ranchero (looking back we should have just replaced the car) for the cost of parts.
Too many other times and things he did for us and his other 13 children (5 he married into with my mother). I hadn't mentioned that, not all great dads are biologically related.
Anyway, Congrats on being a great dad.

[SgtSlag]

I tell my son's (step-son's, legally), "being a 'father' is an act of biology, being a 'Dad,' is a choice." I don't know know how to be a step-father, I only know how to try and be a 'Dad.' My three sons are all I have, all I will ever have. Biology has nothing to do with it.

You choose to be a Dad, or you choose not to be. Biology is a physical act. Being a Dad, is a lifetime commitment. That's my opinion, that's how I choose to love. Love is not synonymous with biology, unfortunately. Cheers!

[joerod777]

I had a 1982 Kawasaki KZ-1100 for many years...a great bike and fast!

[Lucasind]

Thanks for the kind words , guys ....................tony

[Bruce in OK]

That looks like a fun bike, Tony. Hope the snow and sand leaves soon for you.

[Lucasind]

....So yesterday afternoon ,Brad got the new NINJA out of the garage to take the bike around the block. It is still cold here, about 30 F, no snow or ice on the roads.
He seemed to be gone way to long, for a quick ride around the block. After a bit here he comes into the back yard pushing the bike. Seems a MINOR disaster happened.



Said he was rounding the corner, at less than 20mph,about to come out of the corner ,gave it some throttle, and the bike did a 180 and down he went.scuffed up the side of the bike and gouged the mirror.



Said it scared the $#it out of him, and his heart was pounding. he quickly snatched the bike up and hit the starter button. bike would not start so he pushed it home. He's O.K' just a minor scrape, but I think he learned a lesson about the power this new bike possesses

So the concrete burned a few holes in a pair of jeans, the bike will have the damaged pieces replaced, and Brad ,having been riding(dirt) since he was a small boy, has learned a bit more about motorcycling.

[debron]

"Less than 20 mph" ??? - "burned a few holes in a pair of jeans" ???

[Lucasind]

what's so hard to believe about that ? I remember playing "pass &tap" football in the street and doing way worse than that to a pair of pants and a knee-cap,
anyway , that's his story, and he's stickin to it................................tony

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

He's walking and the bike is whole (basically), it's all good! And could have been much worse.
And Tony don't tell Pam, for God's sake don't tell Pam!

[debron]

And Tony don't tell Pam, for God's sake don't tell Pam!

+1!

[Bruce in OK]

Yep. Consider yourselves lucky. I won a Ninja 250 from my Kawasaki dealer the year the Vaquero came out. It ended up being in my possession for only about six months.

My son (22 at the time) was supposed to ride it with me and my church group on a New Year's Day lunch ride. He didn't get home in time to leave with us. When he did get home, he decided to go ahead and have his New Year's Day ride by going to visit a high school friend in a nearby town. He hit some loose gravel pulling in to the friend's drive and the bike went over. It didn't do too much to the bike. It bent one clip on and tore up the plastics on the right side. The muffler was pretty rashed up.

In the end, the insurance adjuster said the repair bill for the bike was going to be too close to it's value and he totaled it. It was a fun little bike to tool around on. It was one of those life lessons that (maybe) helped my son to realize cause/effect consequences.