Aunt Nene, well if you do decide to come to WD let me know. My wife and me are already signed up to go. We got a accessories shop in the area called Wingman and they put out for a package tour to go. It's got 11 days and 10 nights on the road with all hotel accommodations taken care of, 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners are included. Got a nice route to WD with some National Parks going and coming back. We leave July 1st and return July 11th to Wingman. My wife is really looking forward to it since we didn't get much riding in this year. Glad to have a trailer too with my CPAP to go. My wife is glad I got a handle on my sleeping problem as I seriously considered not riding any more. Was getting hard to stay awake at all some times.

I know it's really tough reading what some people are going through to get CPAP to work. I had a rough first four months but finally got it. The ones that really hurt to read are the ones about the kids who are having problems. It's tough enough as an adult to deal with but these kids have it even worse.

I would kill for a new Goldwing (or even a older one..). I ride a 1986 Honda Magna VF700C.  This is my 2nd bike. I bought it for $700 with only 4000 miles on it!

My first bike was a 1983 Honda Nighthawk CB650SC. It looked like !@#! and smoked, but ran like a top. When I bought it (paid $400 from a motorcycle salvage place. They were going to scrap it), the tank was covered in fur..... dont ask me why.... I took and stripped the tank and repainted it with some emerald green spray bomb.  Also painted the side covers. I bought it without a tail light or rear trim, but I bought one off of ebay for $20.  I had "Mosquito Patrol" painted on the tank later in it's life. I ended up selling the bike for $400 to a kid who was learning to ride.

Back to my Magna. I had to rebuild the carbs, replace the fuel lines, flush the tank, replace the tires and brakes, rebuild the forks, and put a new battery in. The bike now has 10,000 miles on it, and I have had to do other small things to it (throttle cables, speedo cable), but it runs great and is fun to ride. Sure, it has some rust here and there (tank, mirrors, handlebars, headlight bucket), but I plan to fix it as time and other hobbies allow.

I ride because it relaxes me.  I believe in "It's not the destination, it's the journey."


_________________
NeonHomer
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are..."

Respironics BiPAP Plus @ 6 cmH2O EPAP/10cmH2O IPAP
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I'm sure when the time is right you will get your Goldwing. Hope its soon as I'm sure you'll love it. The 750 you got sounds like you put alot of work into it. How long have you had the 750?

Just about two years.  In that time I have put just over 6000 miles on it (for a total of 10,000). I have had to do some maintenance stuff to it, like throttle cables, speedo cables, and fuel/air filters.  These bikes are notorious for having cam problems due to a lack of oil. I have modified the oil system to allow for more oil to the heads so the cams get adequate oil. I also run 15W-40 Delo 400 diesel truck oil, which is tougher than even the motorcycle oil.

Up on the porch is my old Nighthawk. The Magna is the one in the center. The bike in the lower left of the picture is my friend's 81 KZ750 that I was working on for him. (Had to put a new chain, sprockets, and swingarm bearings in it.) I need to get my wheels and some of the aluminum polished out on my Magna, but otherwise it is a nice bike to ride.





_________________
NeonHomer
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are..."

Respironics BiPAP Plus @ 6 cmH2O EPAP/10cmH2O IPAP
Respironics REMStar Heated Humidifier
Fisher & Paykel HC407 Nasal Mask
ResMed Mirage Swift

Well, you know they say, "another mans trash is another mans treasure" and you are proving this to be true. You have done a lot of work. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

We had a 1976 Goldwing that we sold to a friend because our boys were still at home and it wasn't getting ridden. My husband knew someday we would have another bike and when they could support themselves, we took the plunge and bought our 1800. So, your day will come too. It doesn't have to be new, especially since you like to work on them. Keep your eyes and ears open.

Confession time    I had a fit when my husband said he wanted to buy a bike. I had a ton of excuses. I finally went for a "test" drive with him and we came home with ours. Now, riding can make the worst day melt away and I look forward to even small trips we take within our own state. Our first trip was to Colorado but our longest was to Washington DC to visit our youngest son. Yep! With a kid on each coast and gas prices like they are, I'm now thrilled we have our bike.

I was drooling over one up at Cycle World of Daytona the other day.... $20,000!!!!!!  

I am actively looking for a mid 80's model. Even if it needs some work, I'm game for it as I am getting better at motorcycle mechanics!!


_________________
NeonHomer
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are..."

Respironics BiPAP Plus @ 6 cmH2O EPAP/10cmH2O IPAP
Respironics REMStar Heated Humidifier
Fisher & Paykel HC407 Nasal Mask
ResMed Mirage Swift

You've done a great job on that bike. Looks sharp. I've got a friend here that has a '88 Wing he bought new. Has a 140,000 on it. Looks like new. He has really taken good care of it. You find a used Wing where they have taken care of it and you can get 250,000 miles on the motor with few problems. My '95 has only 31,000 miles on it and I figure I should easily get ten more years out of it, barring any accidents or otherwise. I bought it used in '04 from a guy that had taken pretty good care of it. You might look at Cycle Trader here on the net. They have the best selection of used bikes for sale.

Had the sad job today of putting the bike up for the winter. The end of the 2006 riding season for me. We up here in the northwest corner of Oregon have been getting lots of rain and wind this last week. We are currently expecting another rain / wind storm to come through today. Well went out to the garage and started the bike up till it ran warm. Hooked up the battery tender to it. Start the bike every two weeks and run it that way till riding season 2007 rolls around.

How's the riding season holding up for the rest of you?

We took our last little jaunt to Branson, Mo. in the Ozark hills last month but as for wintering the bike, we don't. We are among the crazy group of riders who think if the sun is shining and there is no snow or ice on the street, we can ride. We layer our clothing and wear ski pants and take short rides just to relax.  We have a friend who tears  his bike down and drains anything that can be drained, out of it for the winter.  He's never ready when Spring brings in that one warm day that is perfect for a ride. We are in the process of mapping out our California coastal ride with a detour to see the kids in Bakersfield. Long about Feb. , I'll not be able to sit still in anticipation of  the 2007 season.

ride safe (wear a helmet)

Auntnene,

When I lived in Spfd., I use to take motorcycle rides to Branson and to Riverdale and Lindenlure for swims.  I wore shorts on a bike only once, and that was back in my younger, stupid days.  It was a trip to Lindenlure for a day of swimming and I was a passenger on a friend's BMW.  The tailpipes stuck out much further on the Bemmer than the Honda I was use to riding on and I badly burned my leg on the tailpipe.  I vividly remember sitting by the river in the most pain I'd ever been in.

Those Ozarks are so beautiful to ride through and all the smells...

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Well the wind storm they expected for this area on Sunday was as bad as predicted. Won't be much motorcycle riding up here with the debris on the roads. Thought it was going to blow us into Idaho.

Vicki don't you still have riding weather down there is So. Cal.? I remember when I was stationed at Castle AFB near Merced CA we rode till about mid December and then picked it up again in March. One of the best places for riding almost year round.

Yes, the weather is great, but my friend with the bike is in San Diego (I don't have one).  He rides 26,000 miles/year, but I had my foot reconstructed and couldn't pack the crutches for the past 13 months.  I'm good to go now though.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Yes, the Ozarks are beautiful and I agree, the air smells so much cleaner there then further north where I am. Isn't it amazing the things we do when we are young? I bet you were in a lot of pain.

Ozone, we are getting the remains of your wind but the rain went south. The wind chills are in the 20's.

When our sons were in Marine Corps boot camp, we went out to their graduations in San Diego and then our oldest was stationed in Yuma, Arizona so we would go back there from time to time. They say 'it never rains in southern CA" .... it ALWAYS rained on us

Well we got a break in the weather up here. Did not take long for several motorcycles to be spotted on the road. If I hadn't had to work I would have gone for a ride. Auntnene like your husband and you we don't winterize the bike. Start it up every couple of weeks. We do get a nice day every so often and get to go for a nice BRISK ride. It's usually around Feb. that we get a really nice week of weather. Really kinda odd as here it will be winter and we get this week of just really nice weather. Happens just about every year too.

Vicki, hope you and your friend get out for a ride before the weather gets bad down there. From living up in Palmdale / Lancaster area I do know that even So. Cal. gets cold weather.


_________________
Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

I think I am going to take mine out tomorrow.... but I need to get a can of Seafoam to run in my tank... it has been a few months since I have done it. Helps keep the carbs clean!

Winter time in Florida means just grabbing the jacket out of the closet......


_________________
NeonHomer
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are..."

Respironics BiPAP Plus @ 6 cmH2O EPAP/10cmH2O IPAP
Respironics REMStar Heated Humidifier
Fisher & Paykel HC407 Nasal Mask
ResMed Mirage Swift