Other than grinding the crank, there is little I haven’t done or have gotten intimate with on my machine. 2 to 3 years of tweaking and diddling with every imaginable aspect and then it happens. It’s perfect! It runs just the way I like. Handles just the way I desire. Solid and dependable.
I become stumped as to what else I can or should do. And in that lies my dysfunction. I love to work on it. For so long it consumed much of my time and was/is the source of much pride. Yes, my mind says “just wait, something will happen”. I try to figure out what I can improve for winter projects. I mourn for the activity. Oh, I suppose I could pull the head and lap the valves this Sunday. This winter I may rebuild the gear box, easy enough. But in the mean time all I can do is ride it and look at it with gleam in my eye.
Don’t get me wrong here. I am grateful for what I have and in no way wish to minimize your issues. I am not alone here. Many others will admit the same feelings that I have if they can be honest with themselves.
Snorton74, in some sick way, I envy you and many others. Your bike begs for your attention and mine…….well …….it doesn’t seem to need me anymore, at least not today.
But I remain hopeful.
I guess what I am saying is that it is so hard to compare the feeling of riding down the road on a 40 year old motorcycle, Norton to be specific, a feeling of which that is unattainable with any other motorcycle IMHO. But there is a price, monetarily, physically and emotionally. Kickstart pawl? Shit man, that’s a 30 minute walk in a beautiful park. Someday that feeling of “damn, it’s always something” will dissipate and be gone and you too will feel empty in that dysfunctional way or maybe not.
JimC says,
“If you smile every time you flip on the garage light, you own the right motorcycle.”
This may be the only thing I choose to agree with him on.
Just a perspective.
