Subject: Thinkin about Loopin' - long
Author: Ian Adkins
Date: Jan 16, 2005, 5:51 AM
Post ID: 1718218658
Morning Y'all,
Up early on this Sunday...catching up on the "Loopchatter". So much fun, all
of this stuff.
Will get up to 50f today in the north GA mountains... thoughts of a ride
dancing in my head. I feel for you folks up north that still have a couple
of months to go :-)
Last Sunday I felt the need for a ride. My plans to wrench with Ed had
fallen through and I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm Jan
temps (into the 70's) to take the old 70 Ambo for a run up to Suches,GA. I
am very lucky to live on the edge of some of the finest motorcycling roads
anywhere in the US and the 15 mile run up to the gas station next to the TWO
Waystation (the one always featured on the various bike shows) was the
perfect destination.
The run up was routine...little traffic and comfortable speeds. Usually, I
ride one of my other Loops, which have windshields, however on this day the
"resurrected to stock original" Ambo was given the nod. She was the perfect
bike for this day. Without a windshield the sense of openess is much more
pronounced.
As I pulled into the station and parked the normal gathering of city folk
that had ridden up for a day of "twisties" on their sport bikes and HD's
were there. I suspect that on this day there might have been 500+ bikes
passing through. Most were "rice burners" and HD's. A few Ducs came in.
Interesting to observe the dynamics of all the various groups. Each group
that arrived wrapped themselves in discussions of the twisties they had just
ridden or the roads they were intending to ride. Of course, being the only
Looper, I was free to sit in the warm sunlight alone and chit chat with the
various people that came up to admire the "old girl". For the most part my
thoughts were of peace. I thought a lot about what was important in my life,
of the friends I wish were sharing the beautiful day with me...and of lost
commrades.
I have been asked and have wondered why Loops are such special bikes to me.
While it is true that motorcycling in general is a "special" experience
Loops are truly spiritual. Why?
When riding a Loopframe...
There are few motorcyclists who ride 30+ year old bikes, who ride a bike
they have personally torn into the smallest of components and reassemble
themselves, have had their fellow riders come along...only in their
thoughts... who spend a day in the saddle....having seen hundreds of bikes
but having not seen another bike like theirs.
Loops are truly a unique bikes and their riders truly special people. We are
a group of diverse peoples, brought together by a love for riding, for
wrenching and the internet. We are all brought together...as family....by
one machine which culminates these things into one. I never ride without
thinking of my fellow Loop compadres. I may ride alone but I am always in a
familiar crowd.
Ride safe...