Well, after having been off the road for a year, due to circumstances I ain't talkin' about, 1998 was the year for gettin' it on. (big smile!)

          Since the FXR hadn't been run since 1996, I figured it was time to tear a lot of it apart, and fix all those little (and some larger) things that I made a kind of a list of, back then. Of course, as with any project, I knew there would be things I found while I was doing this  —  and I was ready for 'em, I thought... I hoped... Hell, yes. I was!

          I wound up doing a cases-up rebuild; once I got into the cases, it became painfully obvious that the previous owner (or someone acting on his behalf) had really screwed things up royally. The oil breather gear slot was completely buggered. The breather gear had over an eighth of an inch of clearance! When we went to do a leakdown test, we couldn't get any air pressure in either cylinder. And the list went on...

          So now the bike has new H-D cases (with original numbers), V-Thunder 3010 cam, V-Thunder adjustable pushrods, Keith Black pistons and Hastings rings, new H-D tappets, new H-D rocker arms and shafts, a QuikSilver 38mm. carb, S&S oil pump, H-D breather gear, high bars, new bar switch assemblies and wiring with Jay Brake grips, an H4 headlight with a Rainbow Strobe, and the single-fire electronic ignition with mechanical advance that I put in in 1996.

          Right up front, I want to thank Chris, at Northeast Motorcycles (used to be at 168 Rear, Boston Street, Lynn, Mass, but he's now at 286 Lebanon Street, Melrose, MA (781) 662-5288). He's a true and a righteous guy; he owns the shop and his wife May does the detailing. She does a fine job of it, too. Chris has years of experience in both dealer and private shops, as well as MMI school training, and he sure knows what he's doing when he works on Harleys. I can't recommend these folks highly enough, so I've decided to devote some of this site to them. Just a way of saying "THANKS!" for all their courtesy and assistance, way above and beyond "the call of duty."

          Go visit the Harley Rendezvous Classic, by the way - it's the BEST damn party I've ever attended! Here are some pix from the 1997 'Vous for you to take a look at.

          Watch Chris and Steve build a rigid chop  —  right here, we'll follow the progress of this wicked red rigid! Keep checking back; we'll have more pages, photos, and a rundown on the parts they use. (Well, with luck I'll have this part up soon...)

          This series of pages isn't going to be a list of links, nor a collection of everybody's Harleys, nor even a list of places I've been or things I've done  —  or not done. It's a place where I'll put some pix of my FXR (large images), and maybe a few other bikes I've seen and liked; a place where I might decide to write something about why I ride, or why some of my friends do; a place, in short, where I'll do exactly as I feel like doing. And as I learn things that might not be common knowledge, I'll put them up here, too. I hope you'll come along for the words and pictures; and maybe even email me.

          NEWS FLASHES will go here, from time to time, as I find out about them.

          I've been a motorcycle rider for over 34 years; I've owned a variety of bikes from around the world, including a Zundapp, a Bridgestone, three Triumphs (two TR6, one Bonneville), two BSAs (one Star, one Rocket), several Hondas, a Montesa, a passel of two-stroke Kawi twins and triples, a VF1100 Magna, and most recently an '84 FXR.

          Right now, I'm making changes and adding parts to the FXR on almost a weekly basis. Here's a rundown on where I'm at, right now, with this project, with a couple of pix of it.

          My very first bike was a Honda 150cc Benly Touring  —  I commuted on weekends between Suffolk County, Long Island, and Hingham, Massachusetts with that thing. Any of you remember that little dog of a "motorcycle?" Damn valves broke just before ten thousand miles, in spite of "dealer service."

          I've ridden through the Long Island, New Jersey, and New England winters, and in all kinds of conditions. I average about 10K miles per year 'cause I don't get enough time to ride (does anyone?) I prefer long distance touring to anything else  —  although some of the places I've been to that I like the most are within 400-500 miles of where I've lived.

          I also intend to comment on my experiences with parts dealers, motorcycle shops, and manufacturers of both bikes and aftermarket items. I'm not going to report rumors, throw shit at anyone, or lie about anything. I am going to tell it like it is; just as it happened to me. If anyone reads these experiences and wants to take issue with them, fine. If anyone happens to work for any of the folks I talk about in either a good or a bad way, and wants to comment about my experiences, I may find it in my heart to offer them a place for their comments.