cowpuc

Clay: THANK YOU for your sacrifice and personal attention to the cause of Liberty. Please remember that you have a whole country behind you and that your sacrifice is a worthy one. I met a Major with the Rangers while traveling to Sturgis 3 years ago, he got to the resturant that I was sitting in about 3 minutes to late to get served and I ended up giving him my dinner (even though he really didnt want to eat it) - at first he refused and said he couldnt take my dinner but when I told him that I was NOT going to eat it knowing that one of my brothers had just gotten home from Iraq and was hungry!! He ate and while he did I talked him into riding with me a few days - what a BLAST we had. LAst year he came and spent 3 days here in our home with us while on leave - he is now a son to me! Just so you know, there are millions of people just like myself back here in the "World" that feel the same way about YOU!! We are proud of you!!! Also, like I told my Major buddy,, the flag on the back of my bike is flying half mast in respect of the men and women that are fighting for my freedom to live.. It will and has remained there since 9/11 and will stay there till this god aweful mess is finally over and all our sons and daughters are out of harms way. War is serious business and I just want you to always remember you are not facing it alone!! If you ANYTHING please let us know so we can help! (Pic) Three weeks on the road on the smiles only get bigger,,,, THAT is freedom worth fighting for Clay!! 'Puc

On my way to the poll as soon as I am done here! Thanks too all for making stuff like this happen!!! 'Puc

Dont know exactly where you all are headed but if your anyway near the Red River Gorge you dont want to miss it! I did some two tracking looking for abandoned coal mines a while back and came across the gorge in the process - WOW!!! GORGEous for sure hahaha 'Puc

I wont bother rehashin the normal stuff from the normal folks but will add a few of the things that the kids and I like to do out there on our “normal” Sturgis rides.. Just east of Wall Drug and not far off 90 is a little Cow Town called Draper,, still in SD.. I LOVE to stay off the highway and that is how I bumped into this spot – still has dirt roads even for main street – GREAT bunch of folks live there too!! If you do stop in there look up the Mayor – names Ray – and tell him the Chopper rider from Michigan told you to say hi!! WAYYYYY cool town!! Yea,, Wall Drug is cool and so are the Badlands BUT if you wanna do a little different go thru the east entrance to the Badlands National and instead of taking the normal persons loop go into Interior (it’s a town) and take the back road across to Rapid City. Lots of real west left out there.. You say you don’t camp,, we don’t do motels and generally just pull off and camp where ever so when I tell you this one I cant tell you exactly where to try cause we did walk a little but,,, just east of the entrance into Custer State Park there is a creek bed that crosses.. You cant miss it cause its covered with piles of fallen stone.. Try your hand a panning on that creek,, we spent the better part of 4 days following that creek and did pretty good.. We used an old hub cap for a pan and it worked great.. There are a number of abandoned Missle Silos that you can get into but you have to ride some dirt roads and they are more conducive to those willing to rough it a little – REALLY fun exploring.. If you decide to try this TAKE A FLASHLIGHT and lots of extra batterys!! The “normal” folks tour the one at Edwards in Rapid City but its pretty touristy and you have to do the background check stuff so it takes time – still fun though.. Years have taught me to ride the Black Hills before 1pm cause later afternoons are rain time.. My daughter and I had a tornado go over our heads (small but it was in rotation) that came up real fast – those mountains may be smaller then the rockies but they do get weather!! Go into Sturgis and on the main road going back to mainstreet (its also the road that Sturgis Harley Davidson is on) and locate Gypsies... Its a real small shop on the left hand side.. You want to stop there because this spot is where the action all started many years ago.. There will be a bronze plaque on the front of his store that says something like "Sturgis Rally Ground Zero".. Go inside and say hi and LOOK at all his gorgeous old bikes!! Yea,, its not the museum of down town BUT its wayyyyyyyyy cool original unmolested the way it was when we were kids.... Now go in town and ride mainstreet at least once.. Picture the main street of town being SOLID bikes with the center of the road filled nose to nose and you will get a little hint of the biker days.. Now go back west toward the highway entrance and Deadwood and just before leaving Sturgis you will see a small "Chicken House" (cant remember the name of the place but they are on the right hand side before crossing under the highway.. Stop and eat there,, they are the ONLY establishment in town during the rally that doesnt raise their prices during that two week period!! REALLY great people who deserve the business!!!!!!! Their fried chicken dinner is really good - especially after 700 miles of riding!!! Go into Deadwood on mainstreet and at the end of town you will notice mainstreet goes uphill big time after going thru town.. Climb the hill and turn around. Put her in neutral and let her coast – our record (done during Sturgis Rally so timing was crucial) was a coast all the way back thru town and into the highway!! Try it!! Follow the Spearfish Canyon Road back into the Mountains (it is GORGEOUS) and you will come to a Lodge right on a sweeping corner.. Their driveway will be off from a small gravel road.. I cant remember the name of this lodge but you cant miss it.. Anyway, follow the gravel road beyond the lodge and you will eventually come to a really pretty waterfall – very nice place.. Now continue on the gravel road if you don’t mind getting your bike a little dirty.. About two hours in and you will see a small sign on a tree announcing Wyoming State Line! Couple more hours and you will come out about ½ hour from Devils Tower! GREAT RIDE!!!! You really should try at least one night up in the mountains.. You will swear you are in outer space its that clear!! Oh yea, watch the animal life out there.. ride the center line to give yourself space for those Mulies coming out of no where!!!

GIVE THAT MAN A CEEEGAR!! I have had a number of bikes with forward controls and I do like having my feet forward --- at times that is.. I understand marketing and the like BUT the idea of having a bike that I will ride distance on and having a bike that I cant stand up on just doesnt make sense to me.. I ride my Venture standing up ALOT,,,,,, and then some.. Also,, as mentioned earlier, there is nothing like ripping up the twisties on Touring bike with a V-Max motor in it....

Something that I have ALWAYS enjoyed about Mountaineering is the weird weather.. "riding west" has always been a yearly tradition in my life and, being a Michigan born biker, I learned early on to never travel without warm clothing. Mountains are as unpredicable as life on the road - take xtra hooded sweatshirts and a good leather jacket.. Something that I learned a long time ago and it has served me really well is that the weird weather in the mountains happens during the afternoons when the desert floor starts to get hot and then it meets up with the cool mountain air (this is my theory and that is ALL it is).. Last year my daughter and rode under a tornado in the makings just south of Rapid City SD during the second week of august - at 3 in the afternoon!! What I do is mountain ride till noon and then come out of the mountains (if possible) and play in the desert where I can out run bad weather for the rest of the day... Of course, when I travel I usually ride "hardcore" (dont care where I am when I am) so thats easier to do than if you have an agenda... Regardless, keep an eye on the sky in the afternoon in the mountains!! Have fun 'puc

Autopilot,, I too have many years of bike racing under my belt and I can assure you that the technique you are describing is a very valuable tool for bike riding - and not just on a race course either!! I have won several 3 hour Harescrambles and even more Motocross events by being well versed in what you are describing.. Applying those same techniques got my daughter and I home from the west coast with NO clutch not long ago.. We were out of time and could not stop for repairs so I literally "felt" the gears for shifting both up and down for over 3000 miles!! It does help to understand what going on inside the tranny and too BUT having learned the skills you and I use a habit can come in real handy regardless of tranny knowledge.. Also, the idea of not downshifting until below 16 mph is crazy,, especially in traffic - I totally agree with everyone that being right on the power curve is where I want to be so I can pull the trigger and get out of the way instantly,, its more then riding here- its riding to stay alive!!! Another quick thought, use your clutch the same way down as you would going up and you will be fine.. Just remember that the same damage will occur to your clutch plates if you slide your clutch alot going down as if you slip it alot going up.. Indeed you dont want to lock your rear tire up (and you wont if your not on loose ground - just like dumping your clutch while upshifting on gravel) which makes it even more important to downshift so you know what gear your tranny is in at all times WITHOUT looking down at your gear display (very dangerous in traffic) - with experience you will know what gear your going to just by the sound it makes when you downshift... Thats my story an I'm stickin to it 'puc

I hid the spare key to the dog kennel under the water dish inside the pen Budster,, also I found out you can actually stretch out on the floor if you sleep diagnolly and pull all the hay away from the walls, the hay makes an ok pillow too!! Ol Pucs got cher back Buddy!! Yes honey, :Im not listening toI'll finish the laundry when I am done with this toilet bowl....

and ol Cowpucky can TOTALLY relate to that!! For me it always happens while out exploring the desert and when the noise starts you REALLY want to say QUIET - I AM TRYING TO CONCENTRATE ON SEEING A GAS STATION OUT HERE (seems like knowing that if you tighten up all the muscles in your body and stare off into the distant desert a gas station will magically appear is some big secret - all bikers know that!!)... To bad the wife dont buy my ol saying of "an old indian taught me that" - my kids always did...

You do realise that you dont have to actually wreck stuff to prove your from Rector dont cha?? Sorry,,,,,, I just couldnt resist... Sorry about your misfortune but very glad you were not hurt.. I have a real close friend of mine that did almost that same thing and fell with the bike on him and he ended up breaking his shoulder!!! Hope your repairs go well!! Puc

Ok ok ok,,,, you asked but, as always I gotta short story to tell before I give up the secrets I hold.. Way back when music was really music was my tender years.. My Dad always had to work at least 2 jobs (normally 3) to keep us five kids fed.. During this time frame (the 60's) his main job was delivering Milk and on occasion I would help him.. Well, it just so happened that one of his stops was the Roller Rink in Grand Haven MI.. The man who owned the place at the time became a really close friend of my Dads.. My dad was a police officer before this and when the owner of the rink found out he offered my Dad a job as a " Bouncer" on Saturday nights.. Well, come to find out, my dads job with the rink had nothing to do with rollerskating.. On Saturday nights the owner of the rink ran a Dance night and had some really crazy groups that came and played LIVE.. Groups by the names of Tommy James and the Shondells, The Monkeys, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Bee Gees and on and on.. Of course, later in life it occured to me how special those days were - getting to actually rub shoulders with Names that would become rock and roll history.. Its to bad that I didnt know then what I know now!!! That being said,,, alot of the hits from those days are from one hit groups that were exactly that so, my MP3 player is FULL of those one hit songs hahahah Except for Willie Nelson, Tommy James and the Beach Boys that is the way it is..... Personally I can still listen to anything Willie for thousands of miles and never get enough..... Mamas dont let your babies grow up to be ... 'Puc

Personally I think the Indian Chief was/is/will be the most handsome motorcycle ever built but hey,, that and 4 dollars will get a coffee at starbucks LOL 'Puc

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Well lets see if I can help you out with your indecision… 1st and foremost is to remain organized with your decision making, here is how I do mine,, notice how I work from bottom to top (not that this has ANYTHING to do with actual value of said machine in my mind).. I have a 1969 Honda Z50A in the color of Blue.. I learned to ride wheelies on one of these as a kid so I save this priceless little scoot to show of on in parades and the like.. I have a 1967 Rupp Roadster in all its trim, original headlight and mirrors, adorable stock little pipe. I use mainly to tease my neighbor Larry with cause he always wanted one and cant find one hahaha I have a 1968 Heathkit Booney Bike,,,,, you don’t even know what that is do you?? Heathkit built the coolest little 2 speed jackshaft back then that you can even imagine.. They connected a 5 horse MTR to a real wide back wheel using this little “tranny” and it PERFORMED like no other Minibike.. So I kept one.. I have an real gorgeous Honda Trail 70 in the K1 model that I keep for my wife and girls to ride around the yard on.. I only mention this because they only ride about once a year which means I have to spend riding time on it just to keep it running.. This ones the automatic. I have another Trail 70 that is the H model. If you don’t know the H means it has the 4 speed manual (hand clutch) and that makes it more fun for people like me who aren’t lazy and really enjoy the control a clutch gives you on a mini. I have a 1966 Honda Trail 90 that is “grand fathered” here in Mi as a moped.. You see,, we still are not a free state where you can ride with out a helmet UNLESS you are riding a moped soooooo I ride this little beauty when I feel the urge to taste real freedom! I have a 1970 Suzuki 185 in the TC model.. Any bike conisour knows this means high low tranny AND this scoot also has the original starter/generator that is totally functional! I ride with a motorcycle gang I am part of that consists of a 78 year man, 2 58 year olds and myself.. I have 1969 Bultaco 250 Pursang Professional Hill Climber that I have kept because, well, because you cannot find another one and they don’t make them anymore.. I have a 1973 Honda CR250M Elsinore that I have kept. I raced Harescrambles and MX on one of these jewels back in the day… WOW the change from racing a 68 Yamaha 250 that I had modified to the hilt to riding that 1st year Elsi was UNBELIEVABLE so I have one now just for fun.. I have 2001 Yamaha TTR 225 that I keep because it was labled as the pig of pigs and dog of dogs by all dirt riders everywhere.. I take it out on the trails on occasion when I want to show the youngens that even a total underdog can be real fast if handled properly.. I have 1984 Honda XL 250R that I keep because of its frame design. Honda didn’t realize what they were doing with this little beauty – they actually created one of the most hard soil hill bikes in stock form I have 1967 Honda 305 Super Hawk, I have kept it because it’s the rare one with the lipped seat right behind the gas tank.. It still has its original mirrors and OHHHHH that special vertical odometer and both dials under the same glass.. I have two Honda SL350 Motosports, both K1s that I keep because I grew up trail riding Motosports and they deserve to be called my friends.. I have a 1985 Honda XR 350 that I use as my “gonna be gone exploring in the deer woods for a couple days honey” bike cause I like to get out of the woods when I say I am going to be out of the woods. I have a 2001 Kawasaki KX500 because until you have ridden a true 72 horse (on the dyno) two stroke trailbike you haven’t lived.. I have street legaled this sleeping beauty and have thousands of cross country trail miles on her. I also still to do an occasional wheelie and this bike is my elevator.. I remember drawing pictures of Choppers back in my early elementary school days and have come full circle in my life and have spent the last 8 years building old schoolers.. I built a 69 Santee framed Honda 750 with a California springer a few years ago that has stayed with me.. It is the “Santee Soft Ride” which is really rare – everyone built hardtails back when we were kids.. It’s a really fun bike and I have crossed the country a few times on it.. My main stay for REAL long cross country highway rides has been the Yam Venture of which I have 2.. One is my 1st one that I bought back in 85 out of an estate sale – A true blonde 84 Royale, it lost second gear at 55k while out west with one of kids on the back, I short shifted it thru MANY more huge trips and retired it as a parts bike at 192k. The 83 I am currently riding will be my mainstay until either I give or it gives.. We are already good friends and have made the west coast 2 times together, Sturgis twice, Florida once and Lake Placid last year… I have 1968 Harely Shovelhead that I keep to work on,, someday I hope to finish it just not today.. A real cowpuc always keeps a bike to work on you know.. My typers are getting tired so I will stop there.. Nice to see there are others in the world who enjoy this sport as much as I do!!! Its more than a life,, its an adventure!!! ‘Puc

I actually did that TX!! The "rim" on these hubless wheels are acutally a bearing race and the interier of the rim where your spokes would normally attach is the ID of the bearing,,, pretty cool really!! The only functional downfall that I could see (and I checked it out very closely at Sturgis) was that the way the secondary drive sprocket/sheeve has to protrude from the side in order to work - it has to be the same size as the hub(bearing race) - this makes it VERY close to the surface you are riding on.. I showed that to another builder who was there and he says "so?".. I then said,, ok,, picture this,, your riding along and your in a corner - a rock is in the road and it manages to get between the secondary and the pavement - again he says "so".. Then I said, did you ever try to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk without tires when you were a kid???..... He says,, oh yea - that wouldnt be nice would it... 'Puc

Yammer has it mirrored in my life!! Exactly the same word for word only my sport was swimming and when I realised how much wind those Cancer sticks cost me I tossed them - it was TOUGH cause I really like smoking but I did it!!! Still miss them (and I havent smoked since 1978) especially after dinner!! It truely is all about MONEY!! It has NOTHING to do with health issues of people.. In the good ol USA the insurance companies RUN the nation.. They are the ones who decide what freedoms we get to keep and which ones we loose and it IS because of their LOBBY dollars!! Of course, BIG lobby dollars are there for Cigs and Booze or they would be longgggg gone!! To bad too, it should be a persons CHOICE as long as they are not infringing (like a drunk driver does when he takes an innocent life).. Another thought here that hasnt been mentioned.. I broke my back in 2001 and had to loose 50 pounds before they would do the Neuro Surgery thing (its a good thing I wasnt a smoker as it alone would have taken my chances of recovery down by 50%!!).. I was in a wheel chair and with parallisys as a diagnoses without the surgery I lived on chopped chicken and mustard sandwiches and Wendys Chili for 7 months and lost the weight and am walking now.. Since then I have found out how wayyyyy overweight most of us are and how destructive to our bodies it is!!! Being heavy now kills over 60% more people each year them smoking does including teenagers.. I just thought I would toss that in to stir the pot hahahaha 'Puc

Say Frogster,, I have owned a few and installed a number of them through the years.. Personally, I prefer the manual lift blade.. The winch style is ok but you do tax your electrical system and they are slow to activate.. Its a LOT faster job lifting the plow with a handle.. I have altered a number of handles over the years though to add leverage for some underpowered ladiemen... Cycle Country is the best known around here and they use a universal lift and blade with different mount kits for each atv.. Tuff blades for what they are too!! I also have a 10 horse 2 stage blower.. Honestly,, for moving deep snow, you cant beat a blower as it tosses the snow away instead of just piling it up.. Also, if you live in a windy area, remember that piled snow creates snow drifts that create bigger piles that create bigger drifts... Up in Gods country (U.P. of MI) the Road Commision uses truck mounted blowers for their serious business... I also use to have a nieghbor who had a 4x4 Kabota with a rear mount PTO driven blower - what a hoot to play with that bad boy!!! It could take out 4' of snow in seconds!! Big $ outfit (to me) but he did indeed just laugh in Mother Natures face.... Alas, I am becoming more and more interested in "snowbirding" every year... Michigan in summer and Arizona in the winter...... 'Puc

I was going to ask that same question Mammie,,, oh wait,, mine wasnt about holeshots/burnouts - mine was about dolls.. I watched a News Show last night and they had some women (not spring chickens either) on there who spend thousands of dollars on these little "look like real" dollies.. They are sooo attatched to these little pieces of plastic that they take them everywhere with them and treat them just like a real child.. The real answer to your question and mine is - we do it cause it makes us who we are and it gets other folks to look at us ,, we are human beeners that need to be recognized once in a while.. All right guys,,, all together now,, let 'er riiiiiiiiiiiiiiipp

I dont recollect how far North Interstate 15 goes but I have ridden it a bunch of times and REALLY like it cause its on the west side of the rockies - much less chance of snow, rain and the like.. It goes directly into Vegas, From Vegas there is short cut across to Needles that is a fun ride - cant remember what that road is but real fun rolling hills on it.. take 40 east (or is it 26,,, this is all memory,,,) thru AZ and your in business.. I wouldnt ride/drive on the east side of those mountains during the winter if I didnt have to!!!! I am headed that away on the bike as soon as it warms up - gonna ride Route 66 start to finish and do some more exploring at the Canyon and some Ghost Towning... Anyway,, have a GREAT trip!! Puc

Shep and WIfe: Truely sorry to hear about your mishap - but THANK GOD you two are ok!! Hoping and praying your total recoverys come quickly!! I agree with using U-Haul.. THey are cheap!! ANother thought on hauling,, if you have to lay the bike down on what ever trailer you get - go to a store that sells beds and pick up couple queen size mattresses - lay the bike down on them and your good to go!! I have hauled several bikes cross country like this and it works GREAT!!!!!! 'Puc

'Puc

Thanks for the reply Dan but actually that doesnt sound like it.. These hobos were saying that its right off 40,, down a couple unpaved roads but fairly close to the highway.. they also said that it is NOT occupied and that the historyof the town is acutally unknown... Thanks for the reply though and I DEFINITLY will check that out this coming year!!! 'Puc

I have 8,,, yes I said 8 inches of fresh powder here at the house.. Muskegon Mi - lake Michigan shoreline - wayyyyy to cold for my blood!!! \ 'Puc

Ok all you far riders and local yocals to the great state of Arizona.. Reading the recent post about the Canyon area brought up a question for you guys.. A few years ago I was exploring the Black Hills of SD and stopped for lunch in a small town.. There were a couple hitch hiker backpacking hobos there who I got yappin with.. We got talking about how much fun exploring Ghost Towns is and they asked me if I had ever been tothe one just off 40 - I think they said west of Flagstaff - that no one has been able to figure out exactly where it came from.. Anyone know what, where, how to find it and the like on this?? Any other really cool out of the way Ghost Towns and the like you would be willing to share??? Planning another bike trip!!! Thanks for the help!! 'Puc

That is soooooooooooooooooooo awesome you girls did that!! I travel the desert region every year and EVERY time I see pics like that it still stirs a longing in my heart - indeed,, there is NO WAY pictures can do that region justice.. Everytime I see the canyon I just stand there looking over the edge thinking "that isnt real - it isnt possible that something could be that beautiful... Thanks for sharing 'Puc