I have been called strong


I miss my bike.  I really do.  I can’t ride my F8 or any bike for that matter.

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This was my last and almost first real ride since I busted my tibia.  About a month ago I went out and it was like a breath of fresh air.  My last 2 years have been challenging to say the least.  Someone sent me message about how “strong” I have been throughout these years.

Multi-Ethnic Group Of Diverse People Holding Letters That Form D

My diabetes has gone from Type II to what some call Type 1.5.  Sugars out of control, complicated now by thyroid issues.  I am weak, I tremor, I am exhausted all the time and I can’t ride nor work all my on call shifts.

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The only good thing with an over active thyroid is loosing weight.  So, since I have moved back to the USA from Canada I have gotten into a motorcycle accident, broke my tibia, was out of commission for 7 months, my diabetes has progressed to the point I may need an insulin pump and now my thyroid is out of control.  All of my issues can be treated.  Good news eh?

Treated with drugs.  More drugs and always paying attention to my body.  Sounds easy…to me it’s annoying.  Am I strong?  I feel overwhelmed and week again.  I just want to catch a break, no, not literally.

I have the most incredible partner who inherited  a partner who continuously gets sicker and sicker.  sick2

I read all those great FB pages and see so many out riding old and new bikes.  Having the adventures of their lives or just riding for the enjoyment.

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I am happy riding…yet I feel for now this is another loss.  Anyone who rides understands what two wheels feels like.

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I dream about the 1200 I trashed, I dream about being healthy.  Not pitying myself, I just want normalcy.  Every time I look around a corner there seems to be a surprise not in a good way.  I am sick.  I look well but I am ill.  I am trying to look forward but I always seem to think about BC, Canada.

Our new President was elected.  Perhaps I am sick over that too?  cropped-voting-fraud2

I guess now everyone knows who I voted for and why I think about canada-cool

I will end this by promising myself to get the medical help I need and comply.  Now, I also have to figure out a way to do my job.  24 hr shifts between 14-18 times a month.  In the  mean while I will try to be a good partner and will dream about my present bikefullsizeoutput_100a

and the new bikes coming out.  😉

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One year later and my leg?


It’s been a year since my crash…

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Snap

Never did get surgery for these breaks and now my foot is about 3 degrees out of placement and although I did a ton of PT, hired a personal trainer I am left with a leg that does not perform as it did prior to the accident.  I went hiking in the White Mountains a few weeks ago and it was at that time my leg weakened quickly to the point it felt like a peg leg.

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The fall foliage in New Hampshire was amazing though and worth every limp.  😉

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This past weekend was my first decent ride since I have moved to Connecticut.  Went out with some gals from New England, Minna and Victoria.  Continue reading “One year later and my leg?”

FOR SALE ’13 BMW F800GS


FOR SALE- ’13 BMW F800GS with extended transferable warranty (just need to find out what I need to do to transfer the extra warranty)…a little over 28,000 miles. No big service needed until 40,000 miles.
New Heidenau K 60 tires
New air filter, new oil/filter
Jesse Luggage
Scottoiler-plus extra oil
shortie levers
LED signal inserts

Continue reading “FOR SALE ’13 BMW F800GS”

Healing and more changes


Recap…this blog has been a bit sleepy because well?  I haven’t been doing much since October 17th, 2015 except trying to heal from my crash.

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Even Charley has accidents…


February 17 2016

I just heard yesterday that Charley Boorman was in a motorcycle accident in Portugal.  He broke his left tibia, fibula and right ankle requiring surgery. 

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Charley Boorman’s Twitter pic

Here is a tweet:

CB had accident today in Portugal @ Global launch of Triumph Explorer

I bet he’s home by now and beginning his road to recovery.  I can relate as my road to recovery just got longer even though my cast was removed on Feb. 12.

Continue reading “Even Charley has accidents…”

Taking longer than I thought


Tibia
Need more bone to close the gaps

After 3 months of complying to the strict “rules” set out by my orthopedist-no weight bearing, continue full length cast “prison” therapy I was told on January 12th, 2015 that my leg needs at least another month.  Same therapy.  I will continue to comply but it’s tough when you’re not able to drive, have no income because I can’t work and still completely dependent on others.  Momentary lapse in my life.  Only 4 months plus rehab I should be feeling lucky.  I do in some regards but can’t help to feel frustrated. Continue reading “Taking longer than I thought”

How tall is too tall?


Most pics can be enlarged! Updated from a previous post

Check Out your ERGO’s by CLICKING HERE

I have been asked many times “how can you ride such a tall bikes”?  So, I have put together some pics to try to show as close as I can with the specs I know what I might look like on all the recent bikes I have owned or “borrowed”.  My height is 5’5″, well almost 5’5″ 😉 with an in seam of 30.5 inches. 

Riding “tall” bikes within reason is doable for any rider who can ride.  All about your own comfort and instincts.  Trust them and learn. Continue reading “How tall is too tall?”

What comes around goes around


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Good bye 1200GS for now

I feel like I am always saying good bye to something…this time it’s my brand new 2015 BMW 1200GS.  Totaled on October 17, 2015 only after owning her for 3 months.  Welcoming back will be my loaded 2013 BMW F800GS.

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Continue reading “What comes around goes around”

The Lure of the Motorcycle


October 17th, 2015 was a new adventure for me.  I crashed and totaled my brand new 2015 BMW 1200GSW.  Some were hoping this would be my wake up call hoping I would not want to ever ride again.  I wonder if those same people question those who have been in a car crash?  I digress.

My life with my bike(s) has been full of LIFE.  Exploration, going places I would never dream about going in a car.  Meeting so many people who don’t share my passion about bikes but want to know “how do you do this alone?”  What is it like to ride in bad weather?  Don’t you get scared?  Aren’t you worried you will crash and die?

My life with my bike(s) has been about meeting people who share my passion and want to exchange stories.

Well, the later question is easy, not one I hope many experience but was I worried I would ever crash and die?  Yes.  It’s the truth.  Always in the back of my brain, somewhere was that thought but I was never scared for that day if and when it happened.

What scared the crap out of me on October 17th was the fact I had precious cargo on board.  I never envisioned myself jeopardizing another life all the while doing what I LOVE and know can be dangerous.  I mean pretty much just living can be dangerous into today’s society but we all know riding on two wheels, exposed to many things makes us more vulnerable to  “accidents” and injuries.

IMG_3534 Continue reading “The Lure of the Motorcycle”

2015 BMW 1200GS, FOLIAGE RIDE….CRASH


October 17 2015 – beauty turns into pain, all pics clickable to enlarge

Lessons learned…no one is immune to accidents no matter how many miles you have under your wheels.

Gear: Alipnestars Toucan boots-SAVED my Tibia from shattering, KLIM Altitude suit – saved my body from drainage ditch rash and broken shoulder, Shoei RF 1200 helmet – saved my head after landing on it, KLIM gloves saved my hands

so sad to see BLUE in this shape

2 UP – Joe Rocket basic gear, saved my partner from ditch rash, broken shoulder and her SCORPION helmet saved her head as well.  KLIM gloves protected her hands and TCX boots protected her feet. Continue reading “2015 BMW 1200GS, FOLIAGE RIDE….CRASH”

BMW’s new air-cooled GS


Published: 08 October 2015

BMW stumbled over a rampant global sales success when they released the R nineT. The world went nuts for the air-cooled retro roadster, leaving the factory struggling to keep pace with demand, and as hungry owners twiddled their thumbs for delivery, bikes were changing hands in the order queue at a £1000 premium over the retail price.

Now, two years on from the first unveiling of their nineT, BMW are set to add to the range with up to four further models based on the same platform – as imagined here by our MCN’s talented illustrator. But rather than going high-end with a bejewelled version, the new range will be built around the exact opposite – a budget version fit for customisation.

The first bike expected to arrive will be a Scrambler, something BMW have already as good as confirmed with ‘Path 22’, their bonkers surfboard-equipped concept bike shown in June this year. While that boasted a smattering of Öhlins, Akrapovic exhausts and a 9ft surfboard, we’d expect the production version to be somewhat more conventional, and certainly sans surfboard!

What was immediately clear from the concept though was that the new iterations will have a cheaper-to-produce steel petrol tank, more budget suspension, and alloy wheels instead of expensive laced rims. The brakes are also likely to be taken from a cheaper parts bin, while the nineT’s pressed aluminium trinkets and costly exhaust are also likely to be casualties of the lower price tag.

We expect the Scrambler to be released in production form at next month’s Milan show, but our German sources suggest that this bike is just the tip of the iceberg with a four-bike family set to sit beneath the R nineT in terms of spec and price.

While they may be another year or so away from being unveiled, we believe the Scrambler will be joined by a back-to-basics roadster that more closely mimics the nineT’s styling, and offers owners an ideal blank canvass from which to build their own vision of boxer perfection. Arguably more attractive though is the suggestion that there will be a GS-esque version that draws inspiration from the original R80G/S of 1981. Described as looking not unlike the original Paris-Dakar bikes, it’s sure to attract riders who don’t see themselves in the hipster camp, but who want the retro vibe. It’s interesting that when BMW released the HP2 Enduro in 2005, no-one wanted it. The Megamoto of 2007 didn’t fare much better, while the HP2 Sport was an instant – if small volume – icon. Proof, maybe, that timing is everything. The rare Enduro now commands upwards of £12k if you can find one (there’s one on mcnbikesforsale.com right now for £12.5k), while other retro offerings from the same period, Ducati’s Sport Classic springs to mind, are also soaring in demand, and value.

Ducati’s experience leads us neatly to the fourth of the rumoured bikes, which is expected to be a café-racer described as having a seat unit similar to Moto Guzzi’s V7 Racer, and an Imola-style nose cowl that’s redolent of Ducati’s Sport 1000.

The base model roadster is expected to arrive at sub-£8000 to compete heavily with the rest of the burgeoning sector for retro roadsters, while the three pre-styled models are likely to command a slight premium, but to still limbo neatly under the £8500 bar.

Continue reading “BMW’s new air-cooled GS”

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