Background

Two wheels, motors, and the thrill of riding down the street without pedaling. It started with a Whizzer Schwinn Motor Bicycle. No driver license, no license plate, no insurance, no helmet, no key just get on and go; ahh the wind in your face and the open air feeling. The Harley Davidson Hummer 125 cc, was the next adventure, everything was the same just a little bit faster, a 2 cycle machine, and it was a real motorcycle (no pedals). It got me to work at the gas station and through High School.

Life’s responsibilities set in, education, marriage, family, military service, career and eventually a window opened to get back to two wheels; a KZ1100 shaft drive, 4 cylinder Kawasaki ($800 buck and it was mine). Times changed and many new requirements happened; driver’s motorcycle permit, license plates, insurance, a helmet, and boy did that 1100 fly.

I didn’t realize just how fast she was until I sold it looking to get back to a HD bike. I sold the KZ1100 in February, in Wisconsin, for the same price I bought it. The guy who bought it took it on a test ride and said he was interested, but I had to get the all 4 cylinders working? He took off his glove and grabbed the 4th cylinder exhaust with his bare hand, it was cold. The carburetor had a sticky throttle, so no gas made it to the cylinder. 

After a little carburetor-cleaner and easy re-assemble the bike was ready to rock again. I took if for a test ride myself and really ran it through its paces; wow! What a difference, I guess I had become a geezer-glide rider and didn’t even realize it.

The bike sold, and I was down to just a 1991 HD Electric Glide Classis. I took a solo trip out to Sheridan, Wyoming (son’s college was there) in the late spring 1993 (May), what an adventure! Yellowstone Lake was not even thawed yet.

Since then, it was HD for many years, some with a Hannigan Sidecar (that’s how I got my wife to go along) and numerous cross country tours, HD rallies. The Last HD was a 2003 HD UltraGlide, 100th anniversary edition. We were riding two up (no sidecar), and enjoying life. Eventually, we retired and moved to AZ, longer riding season, and great country to explore on the bike. 

After 10 plus years it was time to get a new bike. A small group of retired guys in my local community went to BikeWeek ; I test rode a bunch of bikes including the Indian Chieftain, and it was love at first sight. Performance, comfort, torque, handling, old school style and a 5 year warranty, that was why I bought it. I continue to enjoy the ride, riding with my new family (IMRG), the Az landscape, and Peoria RideNow.