Subject: RE: Adirondack got back
Author: David J. Otis
Date: Aug 28, 2001, 4:10 AM
Post ID: 1708028493
Don't get sensitive now :-)
I think Dave wanted to do just that....get all the Loops together for a
photo. Unfortunately the rally site wasn't good for that and with all the
travelling needed to get to the restaurants people weren't in much of a mood
to take the time to get all the bikes together...they wanted to eat! We'll
definately have to do that at the Md rally. After the Loop loop will be a
great time....maybe at some point along the route.
I will have my camera ready, I will have someone taking a movie also when we
roll into my drive for the burger blast after the cookout.
No doubt about it......any restoration is a labour of many loves. I (and
everyone else) can vouch for that too. I also think the thing that I am most
proud of is that I can get on my bike and ride it to the rallies no matter
what the distance. Last year's National was a real turning point for me as
to the reliability of these machines. I will have no problem hopping on the
Ambo and heading to Md next month.
They simply are the greatest bikes built! Norine was a hoot to build, %100
completed by me no out sourcing of a single task. It is neat to think while
you are riding a bike, that you know every part it, I was thinking back to
when I assembled the engine while I was riding it at 80 mph, imagining the
rods pumping up and down, the gears driving the cam etc., etc. pretty
awesome experience!
Another thing I like about these machines is that they are easy to figure
out if they misbehave. After the Sunday breakfast my bike died. Literally
all the electrics quit. Before I could borrow a fellow rider's tester I knew
that the problem was a ground. Traced it to the main ground wire...sorted it
out and was on my way in 15 minutes.
No doubt you have one of the nice Loops out there Tom. I would never dream
of taking that away from you and you deserve every award. You said that
being able to ride to a rally was worth more than the "award". To
me....being able to have fun bantering back and forth with my fellow riders
is worth far more than any award . It isn't who wins that is
important....but rather how much fun you have in the process...and I had a
blast hanging with you and the other people there. I only wish our bikes
were parked next to one another all weekend :-)
I personally think awards suck! I prefere the fellowship and riding! All
loops are cool and some have extreme character (like Kermit) I like em all!
Been doing bikes and shows for years, even won several awards, but the most
fun has always been the ride!
All the best....Ian
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Bowes <kk-@home.com>
To: Loopfram-@topica.com <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Date: August 27, 2001 10:06 PM
Subject: RE: Adirondack got back
| Ian, Gotta' agree that it is great to see all the different variants for the looper restorations. Too bad we didn't get them all assembled in one spot for a group photo. Thanks to all who decided to "Go Green!" and voted for my Ambo-turned-Buick Roadmaster. It's nice to know that my seven months of work didn't go without notice. As far as being cocky goes....I don't know, seems like six months of polishing aluminum and riding 620 miles to go to a meet oughta count for something! Not to mention, my tent didn't have a pretty girl to keep me warm! What can I say, credit for the good looks of my bike are shared by many people, such as Mark Etheridge of Moto Guzzi Classics (paint and seat), Jim Brown of ABC Custom Chrome, Bill from QC Coatings (powder coat) and Buchanan's Spoke and Wheel. Unlike some of the other "show bike" loopframes out there, at least I can claim to have done most of the mechanical, electrical and polishing work myself. The part that people don't see are the things like rebuilding the rear end, and transmission, which were both in need of serious repair. Not to mention the forks, u-joint, brakes, starter, etc., etc., etc.. Nor do they see all the mistakes I made in the process, or how many times I had to go back and redo something that was already supposed to be complete. That's the great thing about this list, it's mostly guys that have had their hands in trans dope and gasket shellac, and not just a bunch of "boutique" bikers who simply financed their dream bike, only to have somebody else build it for them. For the true loopers, the ritual of the care and feeding of the machine are as much part of the "zen" as is the riding. As for me, the satisfaction of having ridden there, and home, over 1300 miles, without having to call for a pickup truck to come and get me are worth more than any "people's choice" award that I know of. Tom |
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