Most people don't own a bike for 30 years, than again most people don't own a Harley. Me and the Shovel have been together that long and many other have sat in the stable during it's stay. From day one it fit, we got along. Over the years it seems we change at the same pace. Let me explain..
The tranny is the place to start..Lifes gears..When I was 18 and the Shovel was fresh off the showroom floor dropping it into first was a breeze, smooth and ready to roll. Today dropping her into first means a little more boot and even then there is a chance it will jump back into neutral..and neutral is hard to find if your looking. First is short and sweet..The next step to adventure..
Second gear meant we were moving,,When she was new we didn't spend much time there..always rushing for third..Today we can spend a little more time there as the rush to third is not as important as it once was..and it takes a little more boot to get it there..
Third gear is like a forgotten gear. Top side of the midway point to reaching you goal of forth gear. Now third gear and me share allot of traits..Our synchro's are a little worn and it is a hard shift..we do it knowing to reach were we are going it has to be done..Could the problem be fixed,,sure but does it need to be ??..do I miss lifes smooth shifts when I'm at 48 mph and it's time to grab fourth..No third gear has got to be a habit..
Forth gear, never need five or six we have got along fine with four..Forth meant look out world I'm coming at ya when she was new..Now it means we are rolling, we know are limits and the only rush is to soak up the freedom forth brings..Don't need to go fast anymore I just need to go..Like life we have learned the faster we go the faster lifes little speed bumps jump out at you..Back to neutral..
Downshifting was easy in it was new but we never made a point to slow down. Neutral was easy to find but hard to stay in..Now neutrals a bitch to find and hard to get out of..takes a push and a pull to get it there..sometimes it will do it by itself..but only popping out of first. I'm not a fan of neutral but as the years roll by I realize you spend more time there in life than anyplace else..Time to find first..
神宮前/北青山/渋谷
1 week ago
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8 comments:
"dont need to go fast anymore, just need to go". i like first too...great meaningful stuff in so many ways rat, thank you.
I prefer second - perfect for cruisin' curves
lol, gotta point roo. id take any gear right now...im itching to pack up and split
Got my gear ready..Rolling..Tat and a Rat..
Neutral is a bitch to find & harder to get out of....no doubt!
did yer hear about the asshole who reversed his bike out of his living room and snapped the clutch lever on the door frame as he bumped it down the kerb , still managed to get out for a ride just had to drill two big holes and nut an bolt the lever together as a temp measure till i find anutha lever later this week .enjoyed the Read Rat
I see the clevis pin and 1/4 bolt and duct tape story in the near future..
i clip my levers each time i roll out too. and ive gotten crash bars stuck in doorframes before, that was a bitch. i keep wondering when i'll break something worse but i do it anyway...lol...the shit we do...
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