Another bagger joins up (Howdy from SA,TX)
#1
07-11-2006 | 05:21 AM
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 2
From: Sooner Central
Another bagger joins up (Howdy from SA,TX)
A re-post from New Member area (hope it doesn't draw ire of the Moderator) because I've been spending my time on the Touring forum. Now if I could get the picture thing to work...
I’ve lurked around the HD Forums for a while and have finally decided to join the fray. I’ve found this site to the best HD site on the web for information, entertainment and activity – hopefully my posts will add a small part to this site’s excellence.
For my first, and possibly longest, post I’d like to introduce myself and my ‘01 FLHPi.
Like many of you, my (step)dad is who I point to for getting me interested in motorcycles. My dad told fond stories of an old Indian he rode in his younger years. He had several metric bikes while I was growing up – keep in mind back then HD was still part of AMF. I remember his brand new ‘77 Yamaha 750/3cyl/shaft-drive and a mid ‘70’s Honda 350/4cyl with a 10K redline on the tach because these were interesting bikes – he remembered his KZ 900 because it went the fastest.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and passed away last November. During this period he kept a Honda 250 scooter and could be seen, sometimes bald as a cueball from chemo, tearing around local roads at full throttle – he would say “It’ll do 65 MPH!” every time the scooter was the topic of conversation.
I bought my Road King in March 2004 and my dad is linked to it as well. While he was still healthy enough, his last long-distance trip was to visit me in San Antonio a couple of months after I bought the Harley. I waited until he got here so he could pilot the chase vehicle for my Texas motorcycle license riding test. He got a kick out of taking me to get a license again after 25+ years. BTW: There was a lot of me going “vroom, vroom” sitting on the Harley in the garage those two months.
I took the Road King for many of the 600+ mile trips to visit my dad when he was ill. Each time gave us something else about motorcycling to share. Showing him the latest modification on the bike, talking about the hot/cold/wet weather for the ride or him giving me a hard time about being a “bad*ss biker” (yes, you could hear the quotation marks) are great memories.
Unlike my dad, I don’t care about top speed and the Police-standard Stage 1 TC88 on my FLHPi will get going fast enough to scare me. Besides HD being an American icon, the black & white 2-tone paint on this bike is what originally caught my eye/heart/’nads/wallet. All the mods, adds and customization I’ve done are to give the bike a nostalgic, Dou-Glide type look that I knew was just a few key parts away from that plain Police Road King I saw in front of me. And then a few more parts…
I’ll detail some of the more interesting customization to my FLHPi in a future post (this one’s plenty long). For now, here’s some pictures of my Road King while it was shiny:
photos
Sol
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/24448600202D4BBD8CE3CD3F2ACF3553.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/EB2FB4EA3B944F288CE4F3C6502D836E.jpg[/IMG]
I’ve lurked around the HD Forums for a while and have finally decided to join the fray. I’ve found this site to the best HD site on the web for information, entertainment and activity – hopefully my posts will add a small part to this site’s excellence.
For my first, and possibly longest, post I’d like to introduce myself and my ‘01 FLHPi.
Like many of you, my (step)dad is who I point to for getting me interested in motorcycles. My dad told fond stories of an old Indian he rode in his younger years. He had several metric bikes while I was growing up – keep in mind back then HD was still part of AMF. I remember his brand new ‘77 Yamaha 750/3cyl/shaft-drive and a mid ‘70’s Honda 350/4cyl with a 10K redline on the tach because these were interesting bikes – he remembered his KZ 900 because it went the fastest.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and passed away last November. During this period he kept a Honda 250 scooter and could be seen, sometimes bald as a cueball from chemo, tearing around local roads at full throttle – he would say “It’ll do 65 MPH!” every time the scooter was the topic of conversation.
I bought my Road King in March 2004 and my dad is linked to it as well. While he was still healthy enough, his last long-distance trip was to visit me in San Antonio a couple of months after I bought the Harley. I waited until he got here so he could pilot the chase vehicle for my Texas motorcycle license riding test. He got a kick out of taking me to get a license again after 25+ years. BTW: There was a lot of me going “vroom, vroom” sitting on the Harley in the garage those two months.
I took the Road King for many of the 600+ mile trips to visit my dad when he was ill. Each time gave us something else about motorcycling to share. Showing him the latest modification on the bike, talking about the hot/cold/wet weather for the ride or him giving me a hard time about being a “bad*ss biker” (yes, you could hear the quotation marks) are great memories.
Unlike my dad, I don’t care about top speed and the Police-standard Stage 1 TC88 on my FLHPi will get going fast enough to scare me. Besides HD being an American icon, the black & white 2-tone paint on this bike is what originally caught my eye/heart/’nads/wallet. All the mods, adds and customization I’ve done are to give the bike a nostalgic, Dou-Glide type look that I knew was just a few key parts away from that plain Police Road King I saw in front of me. And then a few more parts…
I’ll detail some of the more interesting customization to my FLHPi in a future post (this one’s plenty long). For now, here’s some pictures of my Road King while it was shiny:
photos
Sol
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/24448600202D4BBD8CE3CD3F2ACF3553.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/EB2FB4EA3B944F288CE4F3C6502D836E.jpg[/IMG]
#2
07-11-2006 | 05:36 AM
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Southern California High Desert, here and there....
#3
07-11-2006 | 06:06 AM
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Another bagger joins up (Howdy from SA,TX)
[sm=welcomesign.gif] Welcome to the forum, from an old Texan, last lived in Waco,now in Wa state. Enjoyed your story, sounds like your Dad was quite a guy, glad you had something in common to enjoy. My son and I both have Harleys and enjoy riding together. Sorry to hear your dad passed, but sounds like you spent some quality time.
You're right ,this is a great place to talk shop, get advice,or just shoot the bull,........welcome!
You're right ,this is a great place to talk shop, get advice,or just shoot the bull,........welcome!
#4
07-11-2006 | 09:03 AM
Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
From: Houston
RE: Another bagger joins up (Howdy from SA,TX)
Sorry about your dad Sol. My wif has just come off 2 1/2 years of chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries for breast cancer. That's why we bought the '06 EG. It was time to get our lives back and the bike has definitly done it. We are in Houston and travel through your area going to the Hill Country. We and some friends of ours and planning a bike trip that direction in October (when it cools off some). I'll give you a shout and maybe we can visit. Again, I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Good luck and God bless you and your family.
BTW, along with the bike came a boob job for the wife. It's been like the Christmas for me. Will post pic's of bike and ***** when camera comes out of shop.
BTW, along with the bike came a boob job for the wife. It's been like the Christmas for me. Will post pic's of bike and ***** when camera comes out of shop.
#7
07-11-2006 | 12:31 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 3
From: TX
