blamin' Rat

he triggered memories of ridin' in Germany - bought a honda from a friend - Dave, went to his girl's house for dinner one Sunday - ate, drank and listened to the stories from the other side -
paid 200 for the bike - sold it for 200 a year and some change later
older honda - a 450, modded for the tracks over there - drop bars, full race faring - wasn't balls out off the line but damn!!! - it had no top end - just kept goin' - gonna twist that thing, it's more than happy to go faster
blowin' through a curve one day - 110, takin' it easy when - oh fuck!!! - a farmer takin' his cows for a walk in the road and me with little or no brakes
chasin' a Norton and a BSA up a "hill" one sunny Sunday - sure, they got off fast but I'm gonna blow past those fuckers like they was standing still - cheat some on this curve and - oh fuck!!! - car - grabbin' brakes that weren't there - slammin' gears while that side of the "hill" is approaching fast - a sheer drop, no guardrail - maybe a whole buncha hundreds of feet
runnin' on fumes one night - had some friends follow me off base so I could fill the tank - couldn't buy gas on base, needed a ration card - didn't have that cuz I never registered the fucker - no euro license either - fuck em if they can't take a joke - so, fill up and heading back when the throttle cable snaps - mighta been a bit - or beyond a bit buzzed - well, bright idea occurred to me - tie a small knot in the end of the cable - put it all back together - ride it home - fucker wouldn't fire - kick start - I kicked the fuck outta that thing in a lot with a big ole restaurant with massive windows - which I was facing when I was kickin' and kickin' and gas pumps that I was damn near leanin' on and facin' as I was kickin' and kickin' til
I said - hey, you guys - push start - and the fucker fired
wide open
I lifted the bike up off the ground - got it pointed straight down a road and went for the ride of my life - pitch black out - no lights on the bike - blew through 5 gears in about a heartbeat and a half - never knew the fucker was that fast - guess I never twisted hard enough before then
got it shut down - undid what I'd done - fed the cable between speedo and tach and rode the fucker home - tuggin' - no more twistin' that night - already had my ride
gettin' run off the road by the ghost white Mercedes that haunted the Bitt/Spang highway
man - those were some good fuckin' times
thanks Rat - for the memories

A flight of stairs and BOBs at the border..

Many years ago in a far away land,,well Texas a strange thing happened..I was working a shrimp boat out of Freeport with the psycho skipper Rudy..we both rode and both scoots had there place on the boat,,or at the fish house..We were coming in for some maintenance on the boat and had planned a road trip to Matamoros Mexico..we had done it with success before..well we came back alive or partially..

The night before we leave we were packing our gear or did I say beer when in walks Captain Scotty..Now I'm not a big fan of the jerk off but try and be cool and just act like he's not there..His claim to fame was the scene in the movie Scareface where Pacino is sneaking into the country in the hold of a shrimp boat, well it was Scotty's boat..So he rides to and the dumb ass Norwegian has to tell him what were doing so he invites himself..Your not even here how can you do that..

So around 7am we pack them up and roll south..Through Brownsville and into drunkarks paradise..Hit our favorite cantina..well the only one we knew and was open, rented a room on the top floor and went to parting..Now tequila has always been something that I can handle, well the first three or so anyway..after about 107 shots..I guessing things got blurry..DRS..Don't remember Shit until sometime the next afternoon when I awaken in a fog with the shovelhead sitting at the end of the bed and a couple of dark eyed cuties lounging around the room..I could still feel the hairy legs of the tequila worm moving around my mouth, well I was hoping that's what is was..I set out the front door it get some air and about fell down the steepest stair case ever build,,it looked like it could fall at any time..one way the shovel could have got up in the room..well two but I had left my magic lamp at home that day..So guess a couple of shot of courage and some corona's were needed for the next silly stunt..It was one for the books believe me..The two captains were at the bar when I rolled in, pissed of and ready to roll..Were the hell was I?? That might explain the ride up the stairs..OK let's go..

We roll out and I am bringing up the rear I notice Cap. Scotty's bags are about to explode..Not my problem..I thought..we hit the crossing and happen to find the only Boarder Patrol agent who had neither got laid or bribed that day and he pulls us in..Pat down, have you been drinking..no we went down for mass..So he starts looking into Cap. Scotty's saddle bags..I hear a giggle then an aw fuck..I'm thinking at this point it can't be good..He pulls out the first on many BOBS..or battery operated boyfriends..and he just keeps pulling them out and standing them beside the bikes, along the road in plain view for god and the rest of the world..

Now I can handle some shit without turning red..but as the nice agent began enjoying his job I wanted to first kill Scotty' Second mame Scotty..Thrird kill Scotty and Rudy,,who was at first in shock as I could see, then like myself looking for a place to hide..So after Mr. Agent finishes unpacking what seemed to be 100 of the things and the rest of his brethren had made there way to the spectacle he turns and asks..Do these dildos belong to all of you,,do you share..laughing rather loudly at the time followed by a chorus of hyenas..Then it was would you fellows mind opening them up for inspection..that was it,,I was done..Not mine and I ain't playing this game anymore..well the joke was over..they let lose one last laugh at our expense and told us to take our toys and go home..

Well if there was a finally, I missed it..I fired the shovel up and down the road I went..Give me tickets, lock me up just get outa here..

Scott tried to explain himself I few days later..all I could say was hey dude go fuck yourself..you are equipped to do so..

Rat..

Always thought about crotch rockets..My ass can't sitting on anything made by those who bombed Pearl Harbor..So this project had been in the works for awhile..I picked up a 2000 Dyna and the shit came together..Road Rage in Fresno built the motor..103ci..SS 560 lift cams, Kieth Black 10.5 to 1 piston, ported and polished, fueling oil pump, TRW bearings through out.Mukuni 48 with a K&N..gears gone through..Paint is Dupont Tangerine Orange Satin..Ness fairing and we raised the the headlight 10 inches and used all the existing chrome..Topped it off with a White Brother Tunable header..The rear wheel dyno was 127hp

Got it running Sunday afternoon about 4pm and rolled 500 miles on it today..The fucker runs..120 in fourth...I would guess 155 top..New rear metzler is half gone right down the middle..Is it fun yes,,but much more seat time and I will have to call Dave and find the cure..LOL..So 600 miles in three days and in the morning the Old Shovel comes out my ass and blood presusure need a rest..Ride on..

Rat

Update on the Project Bike

i'm getting excited here here's me frame in basic mock up with forks and wheels more updates as i get em to say i'm Excited is a fucking understatement 

Cheap plastic helmet saves a life today..

Went to pick up a new toy today, test project stuff with a friend..2000 Dyna,,cafed out, satin orange with a Road Rage built 103 in it..Now the need to test this stuff is something I can never stress enough..you have to be sure they are good..The brother who built it was in need and we made it work, he say's watch it till you get the feel it will light it up from fourth to fifth..OK sure it will..The bro was an honest man..I think it needs some extra test time..

So so I putt around for a few, hit the brake, feel the controls, work the throttle before jumping on the freeway..Ya she has a little extra punch..Jump it on the 99 and do the onramp test,,oh 105 before we even got close..impressive..but not something I would make a habit of doing..Get up to cruise speed and look down,,he said all the gauges work perfect, well if the fuel gauge works I could be screwed..So pulled he off and by god it works the tank was empty..Back on the free way running in the fast lane..damn why is everyone going so slow..shit 90..back off and cruise it in the slow lane..don't need no stinking speeding tickets..time to back road it..hell that is the only way to get to my shack..

Nice clean ride,,this is one nice riding Harley..Get just outside the little burg I live in and this punked out Accura..I mean punked as the meaning we grew up with OK pulls in behind me..Running way close, I can see the shadow of his bumper..So I roll off nice and slow..all sorts of space to pass..No he goes for another run at me..That was twice..I live in a three stop light town and we hit the first..extra lane asshole go around..no right behind me..Light goes I stay for a few seconds..no still sitting there..I roll and he pulls around..I let him go wondering if you have to put extra springs to support the giant muffler and useless shit bolted to a fifty dollar car..Forget it they are history..well no quite..

This sawed off, weaselly punk cuts in front of me..OK enough, roll it on hard and shoot around,,he has no fucking idea what just happen to him..The 400 pound pitbull in the passenger seat is confused..might of been his date,,hard to tell when your pulling serious G's..I back off and he pulls up beside me and starts yelling..I can't hear anything just see his goofy ass face moving..He speeds up and cut's me off again..Well we hit the light I pull in the turn lane and he is trying to get out his door..Damn bikes are not equipped well for these situations..He is thinking about getting big..his pet cow looks to be egging it on..Plan B..pop the helmet strap and let it fly..Arm is not what it once was..I missed the window and bounced it off the door post..He decide he really didn't want to play that bad..went through the red light..I got my trusty $4.50 lid back..got some scars..but it saved a life today..go figure..

Rat

Riding with the enemy..LOL..jail house rock..

Must of September of 1985..my last of five trips from California to Florida solo..Working on shrimp boats and partying way hard..riding hard..No fear..I was going to stop stop in Vegas and visit a bro..Rolled into town on a Thursday night and headed for the HorseShoe..Worn out I got a room a steak and a few beers..decided to play a little blackjack and crash. Sat down, still leathered up and smelling the sweet smell of the road in my hair..About half an hour later this long tall hombre walks up and pulls up third base..He looks about forty and is wearing the colors of the big Texas club..VP patch above the pocket..Curt nod and we had an understanding..

We played the table for a few hours..win, lose and break even about 4am decide to get a bite and regroup..The horseshoe had the best earlybird ham and eggs in town so we went for it..Learned his handle was Stretch..patch was Austin and so was he..After a good breakfast and having shaken off a few to many drinks we decided to hit the tables again..We played until two that afternoon..drunk but not broke we headed outside for some air..well bad idea in Vegas in the summer drunk..we found a bench and sat back..I don't know how long it was but someone was shaking my shoulder I jumped up turned and guess I took a swing..wrong move..Stretch had a fellow on the ground when my boy pulled his badge..

Well we had earned ourselves a trip to the brand new Las Vegas lockdown..and about fifty six hours in a holding cell dealing with drunks and bologna sandwiches..took a long time before I could stomach those left over floor scrapings again..Monday morning we were sentenced to seven days for drunk and disorderly..Hell I will take it..could have been way worse..

So during our mini vacation my new bro made sure the scooters were cared for..I was headed the same direction somewhat so he passed along an invite to ride as far as Austin and hang for a few days if I wanted..Hell not like I was going anywhere but back to work anyway so I said sure..We spent the next few days playing spades and eating popcorn,,no shit..

Got cut loose about 1am Saturday morning and walked over to the Horseshoe, scene of the crime and another breakfast..By about 5 am we were rolling out of Vegas going to Austin..Now I grew up with our local California club in my blood but never had an inkling to be part of it..Not my bag..But you still feel a little like your hanging with the enemy..not the case I was riding with a friend..we rode, we rode hard for 16 hours to his pad..You know how the head works your expecting a run down trailer at the city limits but you wind up in a nice hood in the uptown area..cool with a pool..

Now the two best parts of Texas have always been New Mexico and Louisiana in my book, for those who don't get it leaving and leaving..but what I found in a week was Austin must be a state all it's own..Nice place, good music, better food and good people..Rode with Stretch and a few of the brothers a couple of times..never felt more welcome, went back a couple of times after..I was leaving Saturday morning I had out the skipper off for a couple of weeks, not that he minded but funds were getting low and I was starting to enjoy not slaving for three weeks straight..The club had a run to Galveston that weekend and I was invited to ride as far as Houston..Now I am not a group rider but went for it..Never forget, by the time we hit Houston there had to be 600 Harleys..Mounted by hard riding brothers who owned the road..we were in the front of the pack, I will never forget a long sweeping left hand turn that put your ear into the sound of the pack..the roar, rumble and vibration of pure American thunder in action..

Waved Stretch off at the I-10 and headed towards a night in the French Quarter, a big ass bowl of Gumbo and a morning cup of French Market..Thanks for the boots bro..wore them out walking but still have them sitting on the memory wall..ride hard..

Rat

The Bear, old dirty biker or dirty old biker..

When it was said in a old post it brought back memories..1984 in Casa Grande Arizona. My first ex wife had got tossed out of the military and we were road tripping..A friend of a friend was told she was good with an airbrush and had contacted us about doing some painting..We pulled into town in a truck with a cabover camper and a trailer full of junk and the FXST..Now the old saying Bum Fuck Egypt came to mind when we pulled in to the burg..Directions were easy take the main road to the IGA and hook a left,,the big barn at the end of the road..

We pulled in and saw a giant walking across the lot..Bob I was told was a tall dude, that was an understatement..Bob was 7'1 3/4"..and owned two carnivals..He wanted us to rebuild and paint the carousels and offered stupid money for doing it..We were home in Casa Grande for a few months.. I would take the horse off and sand blast them, prime and base color then the ex would work her magic..she was damn good at it and made a living doing it long after I went out for a pack of smokes..

Living in the desert in the winter it's rats ass cold in the mornings and wind blew the rest of the time..at 24 I rode..tiny roads and major roads, explored the landscape looking for nothing but a place..still looking..I was about 20 miles from nothing one afternoon when I found the bar..I spent the last day trying to remember the name,,it's gone..There was a cherry FL parked in front so I pulled up and walked in..Bar tender and the widest not fat just wide old dude sitting at the bar..He seemed to be four feet wide and maybe five foot five..You could tell in his day he was a bull..well a bear..I sat back and ordered a beer..He glanced over and that was it..

The bar became a favorite stop..after the sixth time in and the big dude sitting in the same place every time I asked the bartender what his story was..He said that's the Bear and he has been here forever..I asked if he could talk..ya when he feels like it he will..A few more times in and the same deal, a glance and a nod..Until the day he say's hey kid..Now biker creed would not have allowed Joe Blow that pleasure but the Bear got away with it..I still threw out a gruff what..He asked of I rode much..I said everyday..

That was it for a couple of days, I walk in early on a Saturday afternoon..place was packed, must of been six people there..Bear had his stool so I sat down a few away and ordered a beer..Bear looks over and say's I hate crowds you wanna go for a cruise..Sure,,where we going..as he fired up that old FL he says follow me..We rode in a big circle of Joshua trees and desert..we put down a couple of hours of up and down and round and round..I was taking in the road..as we pulled back into the bar I remember thinking how I got to know Bear that day without saying a word..there are those you can share the road with and there are those you never hit the click with..we hit the click..I knew it and the Bear knew it..we back them in and and rolled off..Bear patted me on the back and said great ride..he felt the bond of the road too..

Bear looked to be maybe sixty but was seventy four..lost his wife ten years back and just never really got happy again..He would have a few and hit the jukebox..play Patsy Cline songs and sit and stare at the walls with tears rolling down his face..Never heard him raise his voice but the bartered said he was hell on wheels before he lost his wife..We rode, we went to Nogales, Tuscon and many a little towns that may not exist today..we never really talked about much but bikes and the road..He was happy when he was in throttle..never said so but you could see it..I never learned much more about the Bear, never knew where he lived or what he did..never knew his given name..

Last time I saw the Bear I stopped to tell him I was heading out..alone..Headed back to California by what ever road got me there..no hurry..He asked if he could ride to the boarder with me..Sure Bear you can ride any where with me friend..We pulled them in to the last truck stop off 10 and sat down and had dinner..we walked out and the sad look in the Bears face damn near got me all choked up..I said got to go..He shook my hand and said ride safe kid..I swear I saw a smile..ride safe yourself old timer..

Rat..

4th May 2009

Not a Day i'll forget . Today Joe the frame builder turned up me an him had a 3 hour seesion about how the bike will be built , made a parts list , swopped titles for the legal shite he know owns my FXR Rolling Chassis and i'm gonna be Bikeless for 8 long weeks 

chassis wise it won't be anything flash no stupid curvy fashionale frame shite or huge balloon Tyres no Billet shite either , no fancy paint just a plain looking hardtail frame with 30 degrees of Rake and 4 1/2" of ground clearence , it'll be plain Black with the odd shiny part no logo's 

Allways wanted a few things for this Bike so in the mix it'll have a open belt primary , chain drive to the rear wheel and a springer front end , lights well no indicators probalby no mirrors a mini bates and a side mount tailight 

lastly the one thing i've allways loved a nice one off set of Staggered Stainless Fishtails 

pictures to follow as when joe starts laying Tubes in his Jig and welding it together 

kinda stroked that it's finally started , but also kinda sad the FXR had to go to pay for it all but i've kept the motor , carb and ignition for the Build

so for a couple of years the FXR will be the Test Mule for the Chassis sometime hopefully in 2011 a new S & S Shovelhead Engine will be purchased the FXR Engine will be Removed cleaned painted an polished up then retired to the Coffee Table in the Living room till maybe anutha idea pops in me head

till then it'll be stuck in the new chassis ans treated to the packmule  future as i put some miles on my dreamBike ,park it at rallies go to the beer tent and get drunk just like all my other bikes have

Note to self though !!!!if there ever is a  next time when i'm a kid don't let a girl say hey lets go to the pictures and see that new biker movie "Easy Riders" coz one day you'll buy a Harley and go *remember that dream you had 30 something years ago about owning a Custom Built Harely one day......................*

Three day's, sixty miles and the new FXST..how it happened to be..

I have wrote some day stories about Vegas, I spent a month there..Lot's of miles and smiles..damn wish they had Blackberry's back then. Nothing really worked so let me tell you how the Vegas trip came to be and a little bit about the Rat..

My mother had passed away a year before the trip happened. She was my best friend, the bottom line. I still feel today in many ways she was the one person who understood how I could be in a crowd yet still alone. That at sixteen I preferred riding over hanging out with the crowd..She died from complications of a botched surgery Thanksgiving day 1981..at the age of forty..

The hospital admitted guilt and wrote a check, I put mine away and had not touched until I laid eyes on the FXST..It was the first thing I knew she would be happy about if I bought it..In doing so I knew it was past the time to move on..I had got laid off a few days before and I was worn down from the gloom of the fog..no sunshine in your life is hard to do with out..I needed a road trip and time to clear my head..I was drinking and drugging far to much and taking chances that I would normally avoid,,well sometimes..Even today I still wind it up a little tighter than I should..it's freedom..Hey I rode a wheelie about a half mile on a sporty today..why you ask..because I could..

That's how Vegas started, I rode everyday I was there. I rode to Flagstaff in the snow, I rode to Hoover Damn four or five times..it is still a site today that amazes me, I went to Pahrump..I rode 95 north..I put the past behind me in fourth gear with the wind in my face..I made choices and have spent many years trying to live by them..some I did and some were pipedreams. Some took time to understand while others were clear..It's life, I stopped trying to figure it out, you can't..When in doubt I ride..

So that's how Vegas came to be..I spent some time trying to be what I wasn't to make others happy..I learned from it and slowly got back to where I needed to be..Here..riding. ratting and living..Sharing with those who understand..It took some help and some time..Thanks Tat for your support and understanding..the little push to do what I enjoy..thanks to all who read and enjoy..

Rat

Age has not a fricking thing to do with being smart..

Dirty Ernie called like on Monday, Hey Bro me and the old lady want to buy you dinner at the casino..My reply was just ring bro..Knowing my long time bud,,if he was taking me to dinner it was going to cost me..or I would be eating hot dogs standing by the penny slots..Can't say no to a bro and it is the though that counts..

Couple of day's later To Tall Tim calls and say's Ernie had invited him to ride up with us,,any problems,,no dude..never..Now the what the fucks going on is swimming around in my head..Maybe Ernie hit the lotto, have fun with it..

Friday rolls up and got some sprinkles dripping in the morning. About 10am The call comes, are we on Bro..it might rain..so let's ride the Mary and Tim's wife can take your truck..see I knew it was going to cost me..cool dirty one,,what's the witching hour..5pm my house,,be there..

I roll the Shovel out at 4:30..fire it up..rap the pipes to piss off the neighbors hand Dot the key's to my truck and me and To Tall roll them for Ernie's..raining a bit now but what are we men or pussies..Well fuck we won't melt..I hope..We hit Ernie's the ladies do what ever it is they do and we hit the road..About the time we hit the 99 it was a good steady rain..traffics mild and the road is still the road..

About the first exit into Fresno a local yokel in a new Challenger pulls up along the straight pipe side and proceeds to give me the I'm a bad cop eyeball..Well I gave him the finger..it was on the clutch side, high on the ape and other side of the bike so there was a small chance he missed it..He stuck his ass right there, one exit OK, second exit your getting on my nerves, third exit I have had enough..crank the throttle back and blow by Ernie..Loud and proud and pissing off the crowd..OK jerk off there's the chance, take it..He rolls up, smiles and gives me a thumbs up while getting off the road..OK got me asshole..LOL

We jump the 41 through town and up the hill to Coursegold..When we hit 41 we had the groove on..wet or not we ride to enjoy and a little bobbing and weaving with cation was in store..we rode hard..we were safe yet still absorbed in the reckless abandon of the ride..Hit the passing lane, roll right and go..make some noise,,feel the elements, vibration, stones in the road..ride the shear wall at 70..the sound of three Harleys winding up in a stone canyon for a mile is heart stopping..I can never get enough..Drop off the last turn coming in to the Casino, wishing it would rain for ever and the road would never end..

We had steak for dinner, my wallet never came out..as we walked out I asked Ernie what's up..He punches me on the arm and say's just thinking of you Bro..Well Ernie just thinking of you Bro, just thinking of you..

Rat