Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 11:05:18 -0800
From: Brian Simon
To: Cybertwisties at your fingertips
Subject: bye, 97

97, for me, was the year of firsts. Finally got off my butt and took the MSF class. That was in August, I think (sure was hot on the parking lot). Serendipity steered me through the rest of the year. Bought my bike from another student's boyfriend; he'd built it for her, but she was intimidated by it, so they sold it to me. Turns out the bike was made from the best of two others, my cost was $450.

I started riding to work. Stayed on the side streets for a while before braving the freeway. Finally took it one day to meet former coworkers for lunch. That was kindof a rush; hitting 65 after a former top-speed of around 40.

Took the girlfriend for an afternoon ride sometime in fall. Tried to buy her a helmet, but it seems like most mc shops close on Sunday. One place though, was having their fall bash. Watched for a little while. One guy started his bike on fire while doing a donut burnout; a couple minutes later he dropped another bike doing another burnout. We split pretty quick after that.

November was a rough month. Between precipitation and cold temps, I didn't get a ride in. Began to worry that I wouldn't even get a season-ender to warm the oil before putting her away. Finally, Dec 14th, I was able to get out. 40 degrees and sunny. That was my first ride out of the metro area, on the 2 lane roads. Wow. Gotta get me some more of that. Also the first breakdown, of sorts. Limped home on one cylinder; don't want to do that again.

Two days later I put the bike away for the first time. Discovered that the prior problem really was fouled plugs. Found a toolkit that I didn't know I had underneath a side cover. Drained the carbs; changed the oil; flushed the brakes; pulled the battery. Now she's stuffed in the corner of the garage, waiting for March, which is the next time its likely to be warm & dry enough to ride. Start 98 with my first case of PMS.

bs