Speedy Recovery ! I was down hard 1 time in 36 years of riding, second year of my riding, totally my fault, early spring ride, roads dirty, fast sweeping corner, did not turn out well, junked the bike, major road rash, broken foot with other misc injury. Funny part of story is my mind/body never forgot that deal and everytime the back wiggled, loose gravel, sand, leaves, moisture, my butt puckered up to my eyeballs for a second the next 34 years, It always made me chuckle to myself. It seemed every year someone tried to kill me once or twice and with cell phones it got worse IMO, I survived many close calls and quit at 62 when I retired thinking it was time for me to sell bike.
I lost my Buddy’s son three days ago . He was a very respectable person , hard working , Hot Rod and Harley lovin’ person. He left behind 2 children and a wife . I saw this kid grow up into a respectable outstanding man . He was riding on a straight two lane black top road ,30 MPH speed limit , bright sunny summer day . A food delivery driver turned into the side of him and smashed him . Dead at the crash seen. Please be aware of bikes on the road and pay attention , the phone is a needed tool that is abused daily and has cost lots of lives . I suspect the delivery driver , was looking at GPS for an address to deliver a lunch meal . My Buddy is a biker himself for over 50 years . I can not describe the conversation , I had with him . Life will never be the same .
When I read your report about your friend's accident, I realized again how incredibly lucky I was in my accident 5 weeks ago. Please send my condolences to the wife of the accident victim.
Speedy recovery sir. One beautiful panhead. New forks are available. Hope the frame neck is ok. We're all here to help. Best wishes.
Many thanks for your sympathy. Unfortunately, the frame is not anymore useable and also with the gearbox is something wrong. The insurance company made a good offer to me so I’m not anymore interested to repair the bike. I also see this accident as a sign from God(or wife ,children)that it’s time to stop riding a motorcycle.
At a local show this morning. All original with left hand throttle and right-hand shifter so the meter maid could chalk the tires of parked cars. Been in same family since the sixties.
Built & ridden for 43 years. Finally had to part out to help cover some medical crap 5 years ago. Always enjoyed the screams & hair pulling from the purists (first year '55, R69, serial #150). Recently replaced with a nice '08 Honda Spirit (not bad, but not the same at all).
Here’s my 58 Hummer and my 48 cushman stepthru with electric start/disc brake/ 12 hp engine/split dual exhaust
Here I am in 1952 at age 13 on my Cushman Pacemaker. Here is a 1950 Vincent Black Shadow that a previous owner tried to turn into a chopper. Stupidly I swapped it for a B Altered drag car.
If you are old enough and have been riding for a long time, then you will remember AEE Choppers in Buena Park on Manchester Blvd. You will also remember the riders shown. Did lots of mail order, started a magazine that turned into lots of magazines.
So there was this cool old Sporty chopper yesterday. Reminded me of my first one, rigid with long springer. Then, when he went to start it, also a good reminder of why my right knee clicks to this day. Ah, kick start magneto Sportsters.. It was entertaining, particularly watching his left leg, like a major league pitcher in the windup, high above his head. I had to video it. After enough effort, his pals finally came over and gave him a bump start. Off and running.
The Jalopy Journal
