Recycled Aluminum Cans

So, last summer, I helped a fellow Tiger rider load up his motorcycle to ship to the Triumph shop for a damage assessment after an unfortunate accident.  He was banged and bruised, and his poor motorcycle was broken.

  .....And that just SUCKS... 

After getting his estimate for repairs, I told him to save everything as Triumph parts are expensive and hard to get a hold of in a hurry. Long story short, they even replaced his Trax Evo Aluminum Panniers and brackets... Yes they were bent and dented... and I wanted them if he did not have further use of them.  

The factory panniers I have are plastic.  One of them is cracked and the other will just barely fit a granola bar, due to the exhaust pipe routing. 






  So these would fit a ton of stuff for Adventures with Bud E.

So out come the repair tools, and let the beatings begin.

There are few things more therapeutic than beating something with a hammer.

It was a lot worse..forgot about before pics

Bud E Inspected and Approved

 After knocking out most of the damage, I test fit them and submitted it to Bud E for evaluation.  He gave his approval. Now I need to order the Quick Release Bobbins from Twisted Throttle and we will be sitting pretty...

These Boxes are Like Timex watches..Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.  If you don't believe me, watch what this Yeahoo does to them.


Twisted Throttle Loaded BMW F800 Stunting 

So that's my story today, saving the planet by recycling two very large aluminum cans at a time.   Thanks Jim.

The Mind Has Funny Filing System

So Feb.14 came and went..I ended up working late, but I brought home flowers..

I generally buy Carnations..I think they smell better and last longer...Besides, I would hate to ruin my reputation as cheap bastard...  The night wore on, and I began to not feel so well...and had Big Meeting to attend in the morning..

Anyway, 5:00am rolled around and I found myself unable to get out of bed...sent the email I would be unable to attend the meeting.......which was probably a good thing as this flu would have wiped out half our workforce.  Naproxin, Ibuprofen, and anything else I could get my hands on went past lips to try and knock this out. My wife will tell you that I am a not a very good patient.  Ever seen a Polarbear with a cold.......Its not pleasant.. They are even more grumpy than usual.  So, I kept myself heavily medicated and unconscious.

       Thursday found me more vertical than horizontal, however still not up to any heavy lifting.  Poking around on the computer looking for more pictures of BudE, i couldn't find where they were located.  So I ended up reorganizing and backing up all of our photo files... Which, my wife was happy about since we have relatively short lifespans with computers, and this one is nearing its end I am sure..In my  searches and reorganization, I came across these photos from my very first group ride.  some will recognize these.

Troubadours America doing its best vintage impersonation. notice the leakage underneath it..  I thought there was something wrong.

Troubadour was JEALOUS when he saw me on this fab machine.

Out to Rittner Creek bridge.

I remember being so nervous.  I think I stalled it twice in front of Troubadour and kept forgetting to cancel my signals.. Out through south town, around the airport, out to Rittner Creek, up to Monmouth, over to the Wheatland Ferry, across to Silverton. Lunch. Run through Silver Falls and back home..  There were a lot of good people on that ride.. Jim on the V-star, Wiley on Grace, RickRick, R1Jackal

     My how things have progressed...Troubadour and Jim both have Tigers.  Wiley has added to his stable.  I have led parts of rides and swept others.  I know who I am comfortable riding with anywhere.. and I know when to pass on rides...and not feel bad about it. the nerves are all gone.. its just a good time...

All of that through the semi-lucid hallucinations of over the counter pain and cold medicine....The mind has a funny filing system......that whole first group ride memory was spurred by the picture of Troubadours America with the fuel leaking out the vent tube underneath....

Meet Bud E.

Meet Bud E....He is the perfect travelling companion.  Doesn't say to much.  Doesn't care what the weather is or how long we'll be gone.

Bet you didn't know this....but.... Polarbears love  to ride motorcycles...they are kind of the badboys of the natural world, maybe he's full of crap...but that's what Bud E  said.


I tend to spend a lot of time riding solo, mostly because I tend to use the term road very loosely and  press on when everything says turn around.  I myself have been called a polarbear by several parties that shall remain anonymous, through various frigid adventures.  As I tell the tales of my adventures...the most common remark is your gotta be crazy to do that..  It was after one such adventure that Bud E and I were introduced.  So, Bud D and I traverse the highways and byways wherever the wind blows us.

 So, Welcome to the lunacy that is motorcycling, life, laughter, and wisdom, that is "Adventures with  Bud E".

p.s. Bud E has firm Triumph ties....as well as the play on words....Legendary Bud Elkins