WHY HARLEY-DAVIDSON?

My tribute to Sturgis and Harley-Davidson

WHY HARLEY-DAVIDSON?

Native Americans call it “The Iron Pony,” a description well put. When you straddle the leather seat, there is a feeling not unlike when a cowboy mounts a bucking bronco at a rodeo. You know something awesome is about to happen, but you’re not quite sure what.

Starting a hog for the first time is part of a love affair that will last forever. When that “Twin V” engine comes to life between your legs, you will have an idea of how that bronco rider must feel.

Nothing on the planet sounds like a Harley. At an idle, it has a low chugging beat, slow and strong like a rhinoceros just before the charge. The weight and massiveness of the machine is deceptive, even a little intimidating. Your first thought is that if this bike falls, it’s all over but the crying. Oh, well, either ride it or sell it! Once you let the clutch out and start to move, magic happens. The ponderous, chrome hog becomes a graceful lady, responsive to your every touch. Each gear is a different dimension to her character. Every mile per hour faster is a study in stability.

You look at your companion riders in front, on the side and behind. A knowing smile spreads quickly. You are part of an American legend. Ride your “Iron Pony” into the sunset. A great adventure waits!

Mitt Winstead 1996

Write on,

Mittster

Sunny Saturday

OK, I promise not to rub it in that we were riding Harleys during sunny, 73 degree weather in Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday. We ended up at Arrowhead Haley-Davidson just in time for a great swap meet. Later the four of us had a fabulous lunch at a great Italian restaurant across the street.

Today (Sunday) we are heading back to Phoenix to visit Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson so my son Jay can shop for a bike. He is ready to buy another Harley after selling his 1979 Shovelhead almost ten years ago. He has been riding, shall we say, “other” bikes ever since. He has finally decided to retire his 1975 first-year Honda Gold Wing and join us in the 21st century. I knew he couldn’t stay away forever.



Arrowhead Harley-Davidson



Swap meet



Bikers taking advantage of warm weather



Mark and Julie's Super Glides



Hoppy and his V-Rod in the back ground



Mark (right) holding down the fort while the rest of us take a pee break



Hoppy strolling back from checking out all the wall pictures



Mark and Julie



Hoppy and yours truly (no, we are not an item - our wives don't ride! lol)



When this body finally wears out - I plan on jacking it up and putting a new one under it so I can ride for another 50 years!

Saturday's Sunday Funnies

OK, it’s time to purge the memory banks of all the cartoons accumulated from Facebook Tomfoolery. I hope all have a very wonderful Saturday and I will think of you as I am riding the Harley in Phoenix while touring all the dealers and drooling over the new 2012 models! Oh, by the way, did I mention it will be 73 degrees today and sunny? So sorry....









My redneck Harley riding bud

My Friend Hoppy

My Harley riding bud Hoppy decided to get his first tattoo and asked me who the artist was that tattooed my full dragon sleeve. I replied that it was done by Adrian at Physical Graffiti in Sedona, Arizona.







Hoppy made the appointment for his sitting and I showed up about forty-five minutes later to get some pictures. His first sitting took about three hours and the next one will be about the same. He chose a large bald eagle for his right shoulder, which I thought was ambitious to say the least for a tattoo virgin.













While the outside of Hoppy was all smiles and giggles, I bet the inside was pure pain and misery. He handled it well and is now waiting a few weeks to heal before the final sitting. Of course he won’t admit it hurt, but for those of us who have large tats, we know better. My helmet is off to you, Hoppy; ya done good!




For those of you who might want a tattoo, I recommend Adrian highly. As a matter of fact, Sandy and I are going in this Saturday for some additional tats and color. If Hoppy shows up with a camera, I can guarantee you it won’t be all smiles and giggles for me while I am bleeding like a stuffed pig. I hate freaking needles, but my twin brother, Walt, and I love tattoos!




I’m just saying,

Mittster

Welcome to the 21st Century

Whoever said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks has never ridden a Harley-Davidson VRSCA. This old dog is now riding the first water cooled bike made by Harley. The V-Rod was offered up in 2002, but at the time I was still “old school” and riding a Twin Cam 88 Road King. I didn’t pay too much attention to the hype and went on about my business.

In 2005, I test drove a silver anniversary model 2003 VRSCA at KA Cycles in Cottonwood, Arizona. I was impressed with the ease of shifting and the smoothness of the lighter, rocket fast V-Rod, but, alas, I was still old school to the core. The ride left a lasting impression on me though, as did the looks of the bike. It reminded me of a Café racer, but still distinctly Harley-Davidson.

In 2010, I did the unthinkable and sold my Road King to help finance Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker, two murder mysteries I had written and published. I missed my King, but was very excited to see my books on Amazon.com. Although my timing was lousy because we fell into the deepest recession since the Great Depression, I was determined to continue authoring and started my third novel, The Phoenix Code.

As fate would have it, I have returned to construction and started earning more money again. Now is the time to get back on a Harley. My decision to look for a V-Rod was one of common sense. I was tired of air-cooled bikes that didn’t much care for the hot Arizona sun, and they protested by pinging loudly if I let them idle too long in 100 plus degree heat. You could cook a full course meal on the engine! No such problem with the V-Rod; that is if I remember to check the water. The other issue is weight. I was also tired of man handling 800 pounds of road hog and welcomed the idea of only having to handle 575 pounds with a very low center of gravity. I also realize that my long hauls all over America are finished and that I don’t need a lot of storage space anymore.

I have found a perfect low mileage, “pristine silver,”


V-Rod at the best motorcycle store on the planet, Buddy Stubb’s Harley-Davidson in Phoenix, Arizona. I jumped at the chance to grab it up before someone else bought it. The V-Rod is truly is a cruiser on steroids and perfect for the short charity runs we have in northern Arizona. My first ride is for the Humane Society of Sedona, Arizona, in May. I look forward to riding with all my motorcycle friends again and at the same time supporting our favorite charities. Life is good….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Ride The HIgh Country

If you click on the title of this blog you will be able to see the video of our ride to Colorado over Labor Day Weekend. I guarantee you won't be disappointed even if you don't ride motorcycles. The three newbies who rode with us this year came away with a new understanding why the Colorado Rockies are a biker’s paradise.

The newbies are not virgins anymore and they are already talking about next year. That's what happens when you make this trip for the first time – you can’t wait to go back!

Enough said...click and enjoy!

Write on,

Mittster

TGIF

My head is still not back to normal operating condition after four days riding the Harley in Colorado. Tuesday, everything I touched turned to caca and I couldn’t even add numbers correctly with a calculator. You would think with four Red Bulls and a couple five hours down the gullet things would get better, but no, the day lasted a week.




Wednesday was a little better, but I spent the day apologizing for all the stupid mistakes I made Tuesday. Hump day became rump day because my ass was still dragging. I told my boss he should never let me go with the crazies again to Colorado. He agreed….




Thursday I actually got some work done, but nothing to brag about. I did ride the bike to the car wash after work. Just sitting on the seat caused my butt to spasm like a worm on a hot frying pan, but I had to get all the bugs off the bike before baby became permanently disfigured with bug guts.




Today I am actually looking forward to honey dos at the casa this weekend; no bike riding for me until next weekend when Willie Nelson will be in town. Willie next Friday night and a rally in Old Town Cottonwood next Saturday – life is good!




Come to think of it, I haven’t ridden New Mexico yet. I wonder if any of my riding buds and buddettes are up to it yet.

I'm just saying,

Mittster