Friday, May 3, 2013

That First Ding

Ken’s post over at Passes & Canyon blog about his new to him used bike already came pre-scratched brought this memory come flashing back.

True story. 12/26/1992 brand spanking new first Harley a FXSTC (that's a Softail Custom for you non-Harley folk). To say I was a proud man would be the understatement of the day. Now considering I live in Iowa you can bet that day was plenty chilly. I ride a few miles from the dealer and load it in my buddies truck to get it the 45 miles home.

I'm walking around it in the garage with a smile as big as can be. My boss and wife even drops by to have look at all the shiny black and chrome. They want to hear it and well with stock mufflers... well you know. I had always like the sound of the stock pipe on the Evo motor with just the plugs knocked out. Not to loud with a nice deep throaty rumble.

So after the boss and the misses leave I walk over to my tool box an grab my long pipe for beating on an a big BFH. A few smacks later plugs are removed and I've got to hear this thing. So instead of replacing the tools in the box first I just let the big pipe hit the concrete floor. When it did it bounce up off the floor and hit the rear fender. First paint ding! I just kind of laughed saying well I got that out the way now.

I rode 100 miles that night showing off my new prize to any an everyone and enjoying the sound of that Evo with the open mufflers.

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I had a great time for 10 years and 114,000 miles on ol’ Silver until some low life piece of shit stole him in October of 2002. My buddy was just as reliable as a guy could ask for. A voltage regulators or two, a stator and countless batteries and tires. Dropped a small bolt in camshaft at about 50K for a nice little bump to 70HP and we would ride together all day long to any and and everywhere. We seen both coast together and an unknown number of states. Like I said we had a great time together. 

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Miss you ol’ buddy!!!

fasthair

9 comments:

mq01 said...

fasthair! :) youve been missed around here! i hope that life has been treating you well.

yup that 1st ding seems to always be memorable....

Kathleen Jennette said...

I've missed you too. That first ding was my first dump, after that everything was oly oxen free. Hope all is well :)

Learning to Golf said...

Echo the ladies and glad ya posted.

Webster World said...

Yeah what they said. A friend of mine had just put the finish touch on his total custom Sporty. Molded frame. Custom paint with the Freak Brothers. He pushes it out of the shop walks back inside comes out with a ballpeen hammer bends over swings and hits the under frame. What the hell you doing Jim. Well now it has a ding so now no one will scrath it. lol

fasthair said...

Thanks ladies and gentleman!!! Sorry I haven't been around but know I check out all of your blogs when you post something new. Sometimes Blogger won't let me respond for some reason still. Case in point...

Congrats AHD!!! Enjoy your FREEdom. I'm about to "retire" soon too but unfortunately it's not really my choice. I'll have a post on about this shortly.

WW: Funny friend you have there :) But there really is something to just getting "that first ding" over with and out of the way.

fasthair

IHG said...

I'm cleaning house on my blog list and clicked on your link! So good to see you posting again. Hope your post that's to come about why you have to retire isn't some horrible news!!

Janet / Corn Dog said...

Seems like I'm a little late to the Welcome Back party too - I got a li'l confused in the whole "Google Reader goes away / what friggin' rss reader to I switch to" debacle of 2013... anyhoo, just clicked through to read... LOVE IT!! My poor hubby, bought a brand new Heritage in '04... took it home to put on pullback risers. Loosened the bars and PLUNK, down they went, nice little dent/ding in the tank. A little sick to his stomach, then said, "Well good thing I got that out of the way quick." Guess that is the only way to look at it. More soon from you, I hope, always enjoy your posts! ~ Janet

Anonymous said...

I like to call it "FSS" or First Scratch Syndrome...Remember 33 years ago,taking a face shield off and sticking it between the tank bag and the tank pad while riding my new xs11. It went under the tank pad ,and I still remember the feeling:(...And a couple of weeks ago on my brand new Street Bob (600miles) pulled into a friend's driveway and my boot hung up on the footpeg.,,RATS....but now that's out of the way.

mq01 said...

fasthair? where are ya, my friend? and whats with this early retirement not really being your choice? whats happening with you, babe? you ok?