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 Just another hard day... | Pizza and a Dirt Rider...
when you can't really be there! |
| So I was talking with a long-time customer the other day, reminissing about the "old days". We were discussing the days when a ATC110 was a BIG machine, 700 Nighthawks were fast...wow! Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you're to young to know what ATC stands for, you might as well click out right now and go text somebody....or somthing. I remember my first truly "fast" 3-wheeler. I had modified a Honda ATC110 with a piston out of a Honda CB750k. I had figured out just how thin I could bore the stock cylinder and get away with it, and with calipers in hand went thru the parts department, matching up motorcycle pistons until I found the one that was just right. Still had to hand-grind the skirt to clear the stoker crank I had purchased. I performed my first cylinder head porting,getting braver with every tear-down. Pushing the limits of flow and casting thickness...I thought. Now I needed a bigger carburetor, and as luck would have it, there was a shed full of old motorcycles out back. I made a carburetor off a Yamaha DT125 2-stroke work with, again, a custom-made slide and jetting, lots of other mods. The hours spent in R&D on that machine were seemingly endless, all late at night after my mechanic duties were done and the shop was closed. Lots of cool stuff happens about 1:00 in the morning! That machine turned out to be truly legendary for several years as I could out-run anything that came along, even after Honda came out with the ATC185 and other guys had modified them. Everybody always wanted to know which hop-up kit I had bought and just couldn't understand why they couldn't buy some kit and bolt in. I had a one of a kind. Right up until it literally exploded the clutch out the side of the motor one night, nearly took my leg off. Guess there is an RPM limit after all.***** I remember installing a Powroll big-bore kit in a customer's 1978 CB750F. 900cc+ on a 750 crankcase. The customer had been working on it and had seen fit to hacksaw the 2 center sections out of 3 main frame backbone tubes directly underneath the fule tank (so he could pull the cylinders without removing the engine). Should have been my first clue. Hacksaw marks and missing pieces. Hmmm. After I installed the new BIGGER big bore kit for him, I was ready to go see just how fast this thing could go. I recall looking at the removed frame sections, and in my infinite wisdom (at age 18), deciding the 1 remaining frame tube outta do the job. A little over 100 MPH, I...almost wet my pants. That thing started into a front end tank-swappin' shimmy.....would have made a great UTUBE video.(That's back when UTUBE was a personal floatation device...for those of you busy texting). Probably had my $20 open-face plastic helmet on too, the one with the cool custom red metalflake paint job and matching flat amber yellow face shield- the ones that really cut the wind. **** Mabye this is all related to jumping off a grain elevator in our pasture when I was a kid. Had a perfectly good bed sheet all puffed up above my head like a parachute and all. It should have worked. ****
I'm turning 51 soon, and still get excited with all the fast new stuff. I've been blessed with being able to live this dream, having seen all the cool new products come out over the years, having the opportunity to drive nearly all of them. And literally by the grace of God, I have survived. I think after all is said and done, I still like my CRF250 the best. Nothing like a fast woods bike. And this, in the company of Can Am Spyder's, Honda Goldwings and CBR's, Yamaha Raiders, and the like! Sometimes life is just hard.....
We had our annual September Colorado ride this year, more beautiful than ever. We went 3 weeks later than usual, a risk at that altitude. We have encountered snow in years past during the first week of September, and this was week 3. We first went to the Hahn's Peak area, North of Steamboat Springs. Just about as far North as you can go and still be in Colorado. One trail actually takes a loop up into Wyoming. The Aspen trees were absolutely BRILLIANT! Colors brighter than I have ever seen. Literally riding on trails of gold, as the bright gold leaves were falling, covering the trails, and gathering in the pine trees adorning them much like lighted Christmas trees. Riding sparkling trails, topping plateau's to see valleys of gold with the white trinks of the aspens gleaming in the sun. Incredible. God's beauty is unmatched!
After 3 great days there, we moved South to our property by Colorado Springs. We rode 3 days out of there, covering the Rampart Range area 1 day on the bikes, and then taking our wives out for 2 days on ATV's. They can be big chickens on the steep stuff, but we got to some incredible views!Even got some Fly Fishing in at the Ranch. It is a beautiful place, make sure to check it out at www.RainbowFallsMT.com. ****
As for the Powersports business, things are really picking up. We experienced the slump in sales as with everyone in 2009, 2010 came back with a vengance, and 2011 is probably going to double 2010! ATV's are still our biggest seller overall, with tremendous excitment around the Can Am line, especially the new COMMANDER SUV. 1000cc, 85 HP, a machine that will pull the front end off the ground with 2 drivers in it, then do 80 MPH plus! Wow. And their new Spyder Roadster continues to turn heads and be a great seller. This is one machine you just have to ride! Our same crew is still in place, with a few additions as of late. I really appreciate thier talents and dedication to this business. Makes life much easier for me, and certainly a benefit to all of you, our loyal customers. So there it is, lots of great adventures, and lots of great rides yet to come! Been another year full of travel for us with the business in Colorado, and more great memories! Gonna go out in the garage tonight and prep my CRF for another ride. Either that, or sit on the couch and play bass. I've got a bass amp that could blow that old '78 CB750F off the road..........see ya- Richard
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| Yeah, they wish they could keep up with me!! NO respect.
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| Rider's view, Hahn's Peak Park, Colorado. Next is a view from the top of "Hippie Mountain"...ask me sometime! |
 Look what I found in the woods... |
 Just 4 happy guys... |
| It's why we go...Bob Johnson, east end of Hahn's Peak |
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| Just had to stop and take it all in! This was one of many old mining towns. Next is a view down a beautiful valley, we rode all the way down and out of sight. |
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| All good things must come to an end. Until next year... |
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