Saturday morning and the usual Star Buck rejects show up at the local watering hole. There, coffee and day old donuts are shared with the latest BS and what didn't start this morning. (44 degrees)Today many are attending a " block gear head " event some fellow puts on every year at his home-garage. I figured there'd be a slew of old Harley's and Indians... (yup) So I thought I'd add some class to the gig with my 450 Ducati " Jupiter ". I hook up with Patina Pete..he has a 72' or 73' XS with a hard tail frame.... Kaw 400 front brake, boat trailer fenders... He's had it since the peanut farmer lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
All of Patina's Pete vehicles have that '' junk yard mongrel " thing going. We fire up the bikes get on the freeway.. for about a mile and... the " mogrel " is on the side of the road. I pull over and hump back...
" it just started to run like crap "..Pete said... as he took his Leatherman and rapping the voltage regulator.. I ask'd him how healthy was the charge'n system... he replied he put on a new (used) volt reg last year.. ran fine a couple days ago but this is only the 2nd time he's had the bike out this year. I pointed out the very..very loose wires at the (dry) battery... " Oh, they've been like that for years.."... I attempted to explain that electrical systems don't like " loose " connections... " That's not the problem ! ", was his short response. I suggested at least use good old duct tape and secure the wires.
Patina Pete kicks the bike and off we go... for.. another mile... I asked him about the battery... Perhaps leave the headlight off with that Hagon 100w bulb off until the charging system makes the battery happy. So, off with the searchlight and away we went. About 15 miles later we hit the gig.
Plenty of cars... a tubbed out Rambler station wagon with a 598 big block.. " what's that dear, ? you need a quart of milk ? Why I'll be glad to drive to the market and get it.. with a stop at the auto parts store for another case of octane boost and a stop at the gas station..". A US Army 41' Knucklehead Harley, with Garran M-1. (did I spel Garran rite?). Several Indians, flathead Harleys, more Knuckles, nice K900, 56' K Harley, and others.
Plenty of food, soft drinks, barley pops (beer) and hard booze. The HD golf cart had a loose wire and the largest muffler I've every seen.
Time to leave and Patina Pete and I hit the freeway.... cruising alone.... everything going great... until... ^%$#@)(*"{.... now.. it's d e a d .. dead.. no lights.. nothing. OK, we push the bike off the freeway to a Mac D's… and I tell Patina Pete I'll get his pick up..10 minutes away. Nope... seems yesterday his city had the yearly " put your crap on the curb and the city will haul it way .. except the load of crap Patrina Pete will fill the back of his pick up with ". Oh, happy joy joy.
About 35 minutes later, I'm parking the 450 Ducati and fire'n up the little red truck.... drive back and we load the dead Yammie. I ask Patina Pete about his brushes on the rotor/stator... " I put new ones in years ago.. but haven't rode it much... they should be fine... "...… I told him I always start the brushes... He replied his are fine, but he just got a set from Mike's XS yesterday. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.
We off load his bike.. and then I give him a hand off load'n his pick up with " treasures " from the day before. As I started to leave... he flip'd the " searchlight " on..... and it was.. dim.... " I bet it will start " he exclaimed.... I waved (with all five fingers) and drove away.
