Thanks. Well, I hope one day soon you'll have another one =)

Oh f*ck! Not you too!

I've had a year and a half of bed rest, one surgery, and now dealing with physical therapy - most likely for the rest of my life to one degree or another. I feel your pain, literally =/

I hope you have a full and pain free recovery!!!

This reply is out of order, sorry. My computer hates me and I hate it right back XP

I had 4 series of the epidurals; the first 2 lasted about 2 weeks each, the last 2 only about 24 hours each. Surgery was the only option after that. My injury was at L4 and L5. The surgery got me up and walking again but I still have a lot of pain - we're hopeful the PT elevate that over time; otherwise I'll be facing more surgery.

Good luck to you! I hope those epidurals work for you!

eliminates the pain not elevate the pain LOL

Is that a deer rump impression on the back seat?

Nice ride dude.

Don't I wish...

Thanks! I'm very proud of her -she turns a lot of heads =)

Awesome ride man. Makes me miss my bike. Twas a sportbike.

Thanks!

All that matters is that it has two wheels and a motor. I hope you'll get another one soon!

As I keep looking at yours, I can't believe how clean and flawless it is. It has that ridden, but almost brand new appearance.

Thanks, but you're not close enough to her to see the patina, pitting, dings and scratches that only comes from over 20 years of being ridden in inclement weather all over the USA. As I've been virtuality bed ridden and unable to ride for the last 3 years I've had a lot of free time to polish the chrome and tweak a few things. I've only been strong enough to ride since about the end of this September and couldn't get much riding in this year before the rain and snow started - and I'm still too unsteady to balance her on slick roads - it's tough enough for me to pick her up off the kick-stand as she weighs in at over 600 lbs. I've put 105k on her (this is her second odometer) which is actually kinda like dog years when comparing it to car miles since most of the places I've lived you can't ride for 4 to 6 months out of every year.

Wow! That's an awesome bike. My Grandfather absolutely adored his, and worked with it constantly. It was amazing, even if at the time I didn't understand half the things he did to it. I've always favored the beauty of nature, personally, ( tree huggers! XD ) but even something like this, with enough care, affection, and dedication can seem beautiful, in it's own, natural, way..........

...Plus it's freakin' cool! You really did all that customizing yourself? Leaving only those two things the same means you sure put a lot of work into it, and it shows. I also love the paint. It's a very 'realistic' black, if that makes sense. Not a glossy, futuristic, sci-fi kind of look.


...Sometimes I wonder if I even make sense. XD

(damn it, I did it again...)

Thank you.

Yeah, I could do that kind of stuff before my back got hurt. Now I have a tough time changing the spark plugs. One the other hand, before the surgery, I couldn't walk farther than the bathroom. So there has been a lot of improvement =)

I don't know about these modells, but is this one a solid frame? or has it the
rear shocks underneath? I always wondered how it may be to ride
a solide frame bike.

It sounds like you're refering to the 'ridged' frame also called a 'hardtail'. My bike's frame was designed to look like the old ridged frame models but with the softer ride that shocks provide - so, yes, you had it right, my bike has the shocks mounted underneath where they are mostly hidden from view. That's why Harley calls this model the 'Softail'.

I borrowed a friend's ridged frame sporster once just to experence the hard tail ride - I learned then why ridged frame bikes are also known as 'kidney busters' =/

I don't know anything about bikes but that thing is sexy!

Thanks =)

I envy anyone who has that level of mechanical skill.

Nice one TOR!

D.O.P.R

Thanks! What infuriates me is that I can visualize every nut, bolt, gasket, and seal and how the whole system works but I can't understand the technical manuals for using any kind of software for my computer =/

I want something old, loud, black and chrome and I shall drive it across country then up the pacific coast highway. That is one of life's goals.

one day my friend one day.

Do it dude! Do it while you can!

If my back is up to it, two of my friends and I will be riding our Harleys from Washington state to Sturgis and then on to Maine and then back this coming Bike Week 2008. We're planning on taking 4 weeks to make the round trip.

It involves buying a bike. The farm and the horses come first so my money goes to them. One of my clients is a bike shop and if I ever have to pull them out of a serous bind its been hinted that a really good deal could be made if I go easy on their bill.

Maybe if I do and my own back will support it I might join you on such a ride one day

I know how it is with priorities =/

First thing comes first...

Unfortunately, none of us is getting any younger =(

Don't put it off too long or it'll be too late...

The priorities are paying the mortgage, keeping the lights on and keeping the ponies fed. With gas prices and the droughts hay and grain prices are through the roof.

I still remember fondly the little 80cc yamaha i had. I miss being on a bike. One day I will. One day things will get better. One day the bills will be paid and I wont be at risk of losing my farm... then I will ride again.

As for getting any younger... tell me about it when I wake up in the middle of the night with so much back pain I am pacing the house.

*hands you a geek cookie* nibble sparingly, it will engage your inner techno geek.(pretend its doe aphrodesiac) (am I the only damed gearhead harly rider who simply grocks software amd computers?)
I'm keeping my eyes open for a 55 preferably basketcase as I want to build a leaning trike. (I have the crud worked out in my head. 94% chance it will work as i see it, 6% chance it will go up like thermite) to be a companion to my 55 willies overland pickup.
been watching your art for years.
peace out man, may your back quit giving you as much grief.

If it was only that easy... *nibbles*

I have a few biker friends that do but they're all younger than me =/

Man, if I'd only bought all the basket cases I've looked at before the Harley craze started =(

Before I had my back surgery, I'd been worried I was going to have to sue the insurance company to get a trike frame for my bike just so I could keep jamming. Luckily, it looks like this back surgery will keep me on two wheel for a bit longer ;)

Good luck on your quest. I look forward to eventually seeing your project take shape - hopefully in person =)

we should talk more at some point. you seem to have the potential to be someone i could waste hours chattering with :p
im 42 so i have no idea if that is younger or older.
the reason im looking at the trike is I fractured the bottem two vertebrea when i was 14 ish hillclimbing on a extended swing arm 3 cyl 2 cycle honda street bike(stupid me)- (it healed badly/poorly as i was still convinced i was bulletproof back then) I'm avoiding surgery till its "posativly gotta be done or you aint walking no more son."

Ahhh... to be that young again ;)

I can't do the on-line chat stuff because sitting at the computer is still too hard on my back - when my back allows me to sit in a chair for any time at all I'm trying to get some drawing done. I last longer sitting on my bike, strange as that might sound, and I'm not sure why except I love the feel of the wind in my face =/

I'm always willing to exchange e-mails. Right now I'm a bit behind with several friends as this December has been really hard on my back and I've slipped on ice twice in the last two weeks and have ended up sending the whole holiday season in bed. At best I can sit at the key board for 5 minutes at a time until my back is better again =/

We both know all too well what a bad back day can be like =(

Oh cool! that neat that you can do all that customizing yourself. Im decent with cars, but not in the realms of customizing, wouldn't know where to start on a motorcycle ^^;

Thanks!

Well, I guess it's like anything; if you have the right tools, a good teacher, you start young, and you get lots chances to experiment and learn what works and what doesn't - anyone can do it. LOL...

heheh, very true :)

its the overall posture that setting on the bike produces - clip a drawing table to your handlebars :p but do not, i repeat do not draw and drive.
peace be with you, Ill continue writing, and throw an honest to goodness e-mail your way.
i need to get pics of more of my projects up online.

LOL, good idea... I was thinking maybe I'd just put a fan in front of the Wacom tablet facing me and turn it up real high (wind in my face) XP

Yes, please do, I'd be curious to see what you're working on.

**doop** got busy forgot to make a real e-mail... mind if i do drawn art of your one true love ?

no, not at all; go for it =)

I think ill skip trying to draw a descent deer tho ... although that is my next step, get better at drawing different species (oh gawd i just had visions of an anthropomophised harly leg humping).................

LOL, just so he isn't taking a piss on my bike ;)

the vision was your bike *as* a leghumping anthro ;p *twitch*
i am so not responsible for what my imagination comes up with *whistles innocently*

OMG, it is a lovely baby, I wish to get such one day although I think I'll start with a XL1200C because of the price :/ but I'll always keep the Softail for when I can afford it :)
*falls asleep with the idling engine sound*

The local Harley shop just had their annual "It's dry enough to ride!" day this past weekend. I rode mine up there for the free food and to see who'd survived the winter ;) I noticed that the cheapest Softail on the floor was about 20 grand... I paid 3 grand for mine new (bone stock) in '85... Keep the dream my friend and save every soda can!!!

Yep, I wish I could find one for 3 grands, actually they are so rare here (France) that such bikes are sold before they are even put to sale. Cheapest used XL I've seen was already 7 grand. But I won't let that stop me :)

France! Oh, I didn't realize. I just thought you were bilingual =)

Well, if you could make it over to the states you can find lots of good used Harleys in the classified ads in any local paper. I'm sure it wouldn't take you long to find one you like - but wouldn't it have to be totally factory 'stock' for you to be able to ride it in your country???

Well, first even factory stock wouldnt work in EU, because mostly of sound limit: 89dB for big bikes. Afaik, no US bikes are that low.
Second, there's a 1984 law that is still active in France and limits the power to 100 HP.
And there might be other things that do not comply our laws, so it would be more expensive than getting a brand new one here.
So the big deal would be to find a job in US and ride there, I MUST ride the Route 66 on a Harley at least once ^^;.

LOL... We have a saying here you might have heard: "Loud pipes save lives!" -)

I could be wrong but I don't think any of Harley's current models exceed 100 hp without modification =/

A lot of the accessories offed by the after market catalogues list pasts as 'TUV' or 'approved for on-road use in Europe' =)

I've had the chance to ride a lot of Route 66 but not at on time =( It's something I hope to do at some point as well. My roomie an I are planning to ride from Washington state to Maine and back, with a short stop in Sturgis, this August if all goes as planned. But we'll be taking the northern route across the country =)

That sounds like a hot road to ride!

Well, I never heard of that saying :p. But from what I know Harley had to install valves on exhaust to limit sound in order to comply with EU regulations, the valves open depending on the demand, and I'm not sure but I think they had to modify the engine some too but I'd need confirmation on that.

"But from what I know Harley had to install valves on exhaust to limit sound in order to comply with EU regulations, the valves open depending on the demand, and I'm not sure but I think they had to modify the engine some too but I'd need confirmation on that."

Hmmm... I didn't know that. That sucks! There's nothing I love more than the sound of a running Harley =)

Well, the sound is here actually, just not as loud :p

LOL, well, take it from me there is something about the sound of a hundred plus un-muffled Harleys tearing off down the hiway all at once =)

Years ago I was Road Captain for a 100 plus Harley 'club'. Now I usually ride 'stag' XP

Woah, yeah a road captain ;).
I don't think Bikers would accept a girl as a road captain anyway ;). Well, I'm mostly a solitaire but I don't mind a ride with others. Well, I say that as if I had ridden for years when I had my license only in November and money has been an issue enough not to own a bike yet :(.

Sorry I missed your reply until now.

Yeah, I just one of the 'Senior Members At-Large' now and although I still wear my colors at the local runs, I'm no longer living in the state where the club originated.

Well, the way gas prices have been going up - I'm riding mine for every errand - and I got my saddle bags back on her so I can even do my grocery shopping now - so keep your eyes open for a good used bike =)

I don't know - short of the "1% gangs" - I'd think many clubs have or have had female road captians - we're not all pigs ;)

I keep my eyes open, we are moving to a house in less than two months so I'll have a garage for it. Man, I can't wait till I can ride it all night long and go like "WTF? the sun is already up?" ;)

So er, I havent posted it anywhere because it is not mine yet and I don't have nice pictures of it but I found a XL1200C 2007 with less than 500 miles on it so as soon as I get a job, I sign the loan :p.
With a special though for Killian, hope we will ride together one day.

(bad pictures of the bike: http://delphineuni.free.fr/moto/Harley1.jpg (harley2/3/4 also))

Very cool! I wish you the very best of luck on getting it =) I'll keep my hoovies crossed for you!

Now that's what I call a bad muthafucka

Thanks dude =)

Sweet ride, TOR! I want to own a bike like this someday. I love the freedom of the open road. I hope your backs feeling well enough now to use it often.

Im inpressed Ive always loved your art and your a Biker too I <3 you now :P

Thank you =)

There's an old saying: "Don't call him a 'biker' until you've seen his tatoos." Back in the day that used to be true but now everybody and their dog seems to have tatoos =/ But, yes, I fit the bill ;)

Do u realy :P id like to see that?

also this is me I ride a gsf650sa 08 http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1872778/

Cool! Keep the rubber side down!

Nice ink! I'll have to look for the flash for my my one-and-only tat; its a stylized running reindeer on my shoulder =)

Id like to see that :)

Imay have a shot of it when it was brand new on my hard drive... somewhere... but it's not sowing up using 'find', I can't remember what the file name is... I'll have to take another. I'll post it to my galery when I do =/

okay boss looking foward to it