What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

What a lovely way to spend your time, Sandi - such a different way of life to what we have over here and so much the better for it (well, save for the excessive heat, which would take a lot of getting used to). That's some collection of Harley's too, I'm bound to say - again, suited to your collective lifestyles over there, with the big roads and big miles.

Sigh... one can but dream

 

We went south for a little Cajun food. Not quite as good as the real stuff in Louisiana but close, really close.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/skN8kpKiVSgsro5N9

 

I have to say, @learningtofly, that I love living in the American West--and the American Southwest in particular. There's a sort of "vibe" here that I don't feel in other parts of the United States. Maybe it's the vastness of the skies and landscape, maybe the adventurous nature of the people (vast generalization, I know, but often holds quite true!). Whatever it is, I love it. And the riding is wonderful, too! You do get used to the excessive heat but, that said, it's currently 101ºF here today and I--and everyone I know--is pretty much done with that for this year. But the mornings are in the 60sºF which is pretty much perfect! And finally, you're right, the big roads and big miles and that "vibe" I mentioned are very well suited to Harleys. I am truly blessed. And I truly appreciate my blessings and am thankful for them.

 

Looks like a fun, down-to-earth place. And excellent Cajun food to boot! Thanks for sharing the photos of your day out, @Traveler.

 

Wow Sandi, I missed that purchase , did this replace your bronze Low Rider ST?

 

Hi, @Dartplayer! Hmmm, I think you might be a whole bike behind. It was my 2021 Fat Boy that was replaced by my new 2023 Low Rider ST. And the Fat Boy replaced the bike that I think you're thinking of, my 2020 Low Rider S. I also had a 2017 Dyna Low Rider S. I traded that plus my 2017 Road Glide Special for my current 2020 Street Glide Special. I looked back over that progression and said to myself, "Geez, just accept that you're a Low Rider rider!"

Here's the 2017 Dyna Low Rider S


And the 2020 Softail Low Rider S

I did get a sad bit of news about this bike. I traded this bike for my Fat Boy (best trade value I ever got!). The guy who bought it from the dealership got t-boned by a car and was very badly injured. He spent 10 months in the hospital. The bike itself was totaled. The guy is ok thankfully. And he got a big settlement so when he started riding again came in to the dealership and bought not only a '23 Low Rider ST just like the one I just bought but also a Road Glide! I did feel quite sad that this beautiful bike is now in a junk pile somewhere.


Here's El Gordo, the Fat Boy that I slid in between the two Softail Low Riders. I sold this bike to my boss who is also is a friend and riding buddy of mine. She's in love with El Gordo. So that was a win-win-win. Win for my boss, win for me, and win for the Fat Boy!


And here's my new(est) Low Rider, the 2023 "Fast Johnnie" ST version. Now I'm the one that's in love!

 

Thanks Sandi, yes remember El Gordo fondly, time is just flying by.
Sad news for your old ride and it’s rider, happening too often with distracted drivers.
Happy new ride

 

Hey @Sandi T, there's me trying to catch up after getting back from the Red Sea and you go and get yourself another new bike

 

Thanks, @Dartplayer! I do miss El Gordo but am loving the Low Rider ST. Four of us just did a little overnight ride to Silver City, New Mexico so I'll post a ride report here in a day or two when I've caught up with work and a couple of other "real world" obligations. Yes, it was very sad news about my old ride and its rider and it is definitely happening WAY too often with today's drivers.

 

Yes, I thought I'd quick buy a new bike while you were looking the other way.

How was the Red Sea??!! Steve and I are heading to Cozumel a week from Saturday for a week of diving and swimming with the fishies!

 

Started the 900ss Ducati to make sure it still runs - hasn't failed me yet. Moved the Honda CT90 from under a tarp at the side of the house to where I cleared some space in the garage at my other house. The Honda will be a winter project.

 

I have been exceptionally busy this week working, but have sourced a replacement upper right OEM fairing for my Fireblade which should arrive next week. (It was cracked when I bought it from the fairing bolts being overtightened and then a month or two ago I had a mishap putting it onto the paddock stand which cracked it further ). I am going to have all of the fairings custom painted. I cannot decide between just as it currently is, but with paint replacing the decals and just a very bright, lovely red shiny paint or having something different done to customise it.

Sadly, artistic talent is not something I possess, but I am toying with the idea of some sort of tribute (not a copy of) to one of the 900RR colour schemes as I like them. I am going to go to the man who did @Helmut Visor's Aprilia tank as his work is incredible and he will I am certain have some great ideas…but any input welcomed, appreciating that the old Blade colour schemes are very much not to everyone’s taste .

I do like the bike red, so thought something using some of the old tricolour combos:

 

Of the 2, I prefer the bottom one as it a more modern design. The top one is very late 80's early 90's.

 

My normal inclination Mrs V is to keep things original. But, a bit of what you fancy does you good or so they say. Go wild.

 

Sorry but original or do it on a second set of panels

 

Sorry to hear of the miss-hap Mrs Visor, happens to us all, I dropped one into a drum kit once , of the 2 pictured, I like the 2nd better. But I'd be torn between the keeping it original dilemma.

 

At least it was the fairing that was already cracked....the crash bungs would have saved it if it hadn't been near to the kerb, it caught the edge. I was devastated but actually it came off pretty lightly thank goodness - probably better than your drum kit fared . It is a dilemma for sure as it's a lovely bike as it is but the idea of something a bit different also appeals!

 

This morning Helmut and I went along to The Piston Club at Stag https://thepistonclub.co.uk who have started to hold a bike meet every Sunday from 0930 - 1130 to have a look as it’s a nice ride out for us. I took my Fireblade and he took the Multistrada.

It was absolutely packed but we had got there towards the last half so some people were starting to leave. There’s plenty of parking, it’s well marshalled and organised and although the queue for food and drinks was big they got through it really efficiently and it was tasty too. Most importantly, there was a great atmosphere and there were loads of bikes and cars to look at; it’s definitely somewhere we’d return .

 

So, today was a decent day and managed a good ride round Cheshire and then up to Southport before home. Bike clocked over the 10,000 miles and still good as ever. Got back and gave it a proper clean and polish, as usual, but this might be its last outing this year (though with global warming who knows).




Mind you if it’s only half decent I’ll be taking the Tiger out

 

A mate had a slight mishap in the days of Kawasaki GPX 750.
He decided to go down the custom paint route and matched his white boots with coloured flecks ( pinks and yellows etc IIRC) and it looked ok, he loved it.
When it came to sell it that was a different kettle of fish.
Nothing screams out "previously crashed bike" more than a one off paint job to most folk and I'm in that camp I'm afraid.

Think about it very carefully!
Long term keeper and not bothered about the residuals - go for it