Harley to Honda

 

I've had Harleys since in the 70's, bought a new FXRS in '85, wonderful bike not much power but head work, cam, carb took care of that.  Went on the 3-Flags, most everyone was on Goldwings or Beemers.  In the meantime we bought a Honda dealership.  A used Goldwing came in and I bought it for the trade-in price.  I put 60,000 miles on it through the years, if we were touring, take the Honda.  In '95 I was out of the Honda business and my son convinced me to buy a new Harley dresser, sell the FXRS and the Goldwing and condense the insurance.  Six weeks and a huge phone bill later, I found a new Ultra-Classic.

The first time I rode it I thought "what kind of mistake did I just make"?  Wobbles, no power, couldn't touch the ground, my buddies telling me to duct tape a 4X4 to my boots to hold the bike up straight.  Hundreds of dollars later, cam, carb, pipes, ignition, lowering kits, the power is starting to get there, but also there is the blown head gaskets, leaking lifter blocks, U-Haul rentals from Laughlin to get home, and no confidence in the bike. 

Two years ago I started looking at Valkyries.  Where is the fuel injection, I quiz the salesman?  Last April while surfing the net, here's a Valkyrie, an easy flight to get it, below book price to buy it.  I have ridden my Valkyrie more this year than I had ridden the Harley in the last 3. 

Well, the Harley went to E-Bay land and found a happy home.  The Valkyrie is housed in the garage, clean, warm, and dry.  Now I'm convincing my girlfriend we need a new Goldwing for her comfort on the big trips.  I did add the new trigger wheel, WOW, and a mustang seat.

 

 

"Obewon"
Nevada