2024 has been a hard motorcycle year.  

My beloved dr650 broke a valve spring cap and it bounced around inside the head until it punctured the piston, and the bike shut off and I coasted to a stop in Wisconsin, along a rural highway several miles past the last one-horse town.  I always knew a breakdown was a possibility on this kind of travel but I had never really thought what I would do about it.  In this case, cell phone local sheriff, to local tow, to local U-Haul rental. Tow guy said a mile either way no cell service lucky.

My original plan was to get into town then get a ride home and come back with my trailer.  I was only three hours from home at this point.  After a few hours, including attempted hitchhiking, I thought of U-Haul.  I knew I had to proceed with the plan immediately here on Saturday afternoon to succeed before business close.

I called-ahead and rented the van while waiting for the tow truck to show up, they were closing as we arrived, and left the parking lot before I did.  I had the truck operator stop at the hardware store on the way to buy ratcheting tie-downs.  I then had him align his deck with the van bed, but I had to roll it myself for legal reasons.  I never would have got it up the ramp from the ground by myself.

A lot of pieces to think through and I was hot and dehydrated from not bringing water on the sunny hot day, the Sheriff brought me some.  Lesson learned.  In the end only a 5 hour delay in my trip.

So happily eating cheeseburgers and drinking ice cold soda in the loud cab of the U-Haul stopping to check the bike every hour.  I'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight instead of in the bushes in my moto suit

 

This Summer Moto Ride North Through Duluth then Iron River WI Brad Wilson

 

 Friedman Metro D (Detroit). Tele was always the best shape

 These three furies will put me in the ground. Loves of my life

Met Met Met Met Met Met Met Met Metalshop

 

Placeholder Moto trip north adventure

 

Kathleen Donohoe is my girl

Things that are different than my current 2006 ride...

* 29 inch wheels roll fast

* Geometry has changed a lot (again)

* Suspension becomes invisible when riding

* One-by wireless electronic transmission (two things)

* Tubeless fat tires

* Seat post dropper

* Through-axles front and back

* 200mm disc brakes

did I mention geometry?  It's a different bike

I rode S4 S5 today at my 6 feet zero inches tall  Shorter leg longer torso  S5 is it no doubt

 

Mara Maeve

 Winston

 

Twin Ston

Long lost relation MPLS 50th dog park?  Very cool. Win has a mostly black tail

 

 

 

 Toyota Camry died a few days ago. 1998. 15+ years in the family. 243k miles

 

 

City Lights 1931

 

City Lights 1931. Incredible movie.  Silent with music and sound effects.  Some storyboard one sentence explanations of what is happening. Chaplin is an amazing actor.  Amazing understanding of the camera and the story. The end nearly made me cry 1931

 

Uncle Steve

 Uncle Steve

Metropolitan Building, Minneapolis MN

 1890 - 1961  Sure would be cool to be able to go there now.  Huge center light court with glass floors and open cage metal elevators. They fucking tore it down. What were you thinking Minneapolis?