motorcyclebloggers.com

I was forwarded a link to a series of photos by a member of smugmug.com and it reminded me of the one person I know that has his motorcycle adventures chronicled there.  He’s a proud ‘old fahrt’ (as the term has been floated recently).  I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance via a motorcycle forum called the EXUP brotherhood.  I was a participant of that forum back in my Yamaha days when I was the owner of several YZF 750’s, a Dutchman Yamamonster, and an R1.

He goes by Mr. COB (Crabby Old Bastard), and sports (still) a 1998 R1, among many other bikes.  When I was an active member, he was the ‘adult’ in the group when the online community got out of hand.  I’m sure he still is.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. COB back in 2000 when he was traversing the country from his home area of Seattle to Virginia for a Vietnam Veteran reunion (thanks again for your service).  We met in Mackinac City, MI and I was much delayed from our original rendevous time.

SIDEBAR:  There is a funny story as to why I was delayed.  I was to meet Mr. COB at the Lower Penninsula side of the Mackinac Bridge at a Denny’s.  I was on my Valkyrie and I loaned my buddy my new (to me) 1990 Yamaha FJ1200.  Literally, I hadn’t ridden the bike except home from the seller’s house a couple miles a way from mine.  Not smart.

The bike ran totally rich and was getting about 60-80 miles to the tank!  No matter as we had miles to put down and keep a schedule.  We probably stopped for fuel 8 times on our 350 mile trek.  Silly I know, but the plan was to get to our cabin up north (our place to crash for the night) where we had tools and sort it out.

When we finally arrived, Mr. COB wasn’t pissed at all, although he was pretty coffee’d out.  As my buddy and I told Mr. COB of our woes over a hot dinner, he mentioned that this one time he (or a friend…I can’t remember) had a bike in storage for a couple of years, and it did the same thing.  The root cause was that a mouse built a friggin nest in the airbox.

Do I really need to continue?  I decided to lift the tank and take a quick peak.  DAMNIT!  After digging out several handfulls of cieling insulation and other sit that this mouse found to keep himself warm, I buttoned it back up and go figure - it ran perfect.  You will be happy to know that Mr. COB had the gall to capture my nest dismemberment on video with nothing but laughter in the background.  I would never fess up to this, but there is proof…undeniable video.  END SIDEBAR

Anyway, we spent the next several days traversing Michigan on two wheels.  After he took a day off to rest his ass back in suburbia at my house, he continued on to his reunion.  It was a great time with some great stories.

Every time I think I am an enthusiast, I remember that I can’t hold Mr. COB’s jock.  If you want to see what a real addict does in his retirement, check out his photo diary.  Brace yourself because if you are like me, you will be jealous…in a good way. 

Enjoy.