Took a trip down some beautiful winding mountain roads - as in real involved curves in a crisp winter morning with great sun ! Had the bike purring and my fav track (for now ) on repeat. Wound up listening to the same song over the entire ride.

lovely day to be alive and able to ride.

 

Got out for a glorious first ride of the year/probably last ride of the season (snow should finally be arriving in a few hours). Weeks or even months worth of anger, frustration, and anxiety melted away the moment I got on the road. I really needed that. It felt great.

That said, it was also my first drop of the year. *sigh* I need to either find a better way of approaching sharp corners or simply avoid them entirely, as it wrecks my confidence. Thankfully another rider spotted me almost immediately and helped me get it back upright, as the pavement angle made getting it upright on my own difficult. Definitely further evidence that I should stick with the Sporty and not something heavier, but I digress. It's not the first time I dropped it at a stop trying to duck walk into a sharp corner on slanted, loose pavement. My nerves were a little higher after that, but it was still great.

 

It started life as a 1996 883 hugger and in 2016 it was converted by Sleadhead Custom Cycles in Wales using their own frame.
in 2020 it was stripped down and completely rebuilt by Bods Custom Cycles, where the engine was upgraded to a stage one 1200 with skimmed and ported heads.
The paint was done by Flakeys Custom Paint Studio with finishing at Tonys perfect polishing.
Since then I've done some more fabrication on it, changing it to air ride, forward controls and adding brass fitting etc.

 

Returned back from Dubai. Somewhat chilly, but hell of windy, especially on the highway.

 

Made a promise to a gent (a friend of my brother) that I would hold and sell him the Sporty come spring.......I didn't have it advertised I had just mentioned to my brother the last time he visited that since I bought the 05' Springer Classic the Sporty would probably get sold. A word dropped here and there and it will be gone.....if he doesn't get cold feet that is. Not likely as he is recently a widower and a previous Sporty owner.

 

My condolences to your friend. Neil Peart's book Ghost Rider about his experiences with riding after his daughter and wife both passed within a year has been an incredible read, as well as an inspiration for me getting out on the Sporty. I simply prefer lighter cruisers to the BMW touring bike that he used, but man has "wind therapy" been a thing for me. Sounds like getting on a Sporty is just what your friend probably needs right about now.

 

Ok nice. But what did you do to it today ? Wash it for him ?

thanks,

T.

 

Nope, just covered it and made sure the battery tender was working. At -9 F it's way to cold to contemplate washing.

 

Hot Springs at -9. There's a contradiction!