Bubbleman was 32 years old when he died. He barely fit into the stereotypical biker facade. He was, as my ol man puts it, A daddy that rides. albeit hairy, dirty and rough looking daddies. Bubbleman had 3 toe headed little girls, all under the age of 6. They adored him, and he would do just about anything to make them smile. He wasn’t on the best terms with his ol lady, but that is quiet normal in his lifestyle.
Bubbleman was bestowed that name because he was a children’s entertainer. He was hired by many individuals and cities to perform his one man show. Bubbleman was a science freak. Loved everything about it, but his choices in life and his love of more uncouth behavior kept him from perusing a career in the sciences. However the life he chose was his own. He set his on schedules and was able to have the freedom’s that a 9-5 job would keep him from. He took that love, of physics especially, and turned it into a profitable business. He donned brightly colored “hippy” clothing, that went wonderfully with his long blonde air, scraggy goatee and his bright blue eyes, not to mention his outgoing personality and his love of children. (please don’t mistake it for anything perverted). And there, in the middle of the fair, a concert hall or a grand opening with a baby pool ad a hoola hoop. He made bubbles in various shapes and many different colors. The children ooohed and awed as the explosion of thousands of bubbles tickled their noses and floated over head. e had some filled with smoke f blue or red and he would stand in the hoola hoop and developed himself in the bubble. Children would clamor to be the volunteer in the bubble. He did a little jig and floated around the crowd. All eyes were always on him, his daughter also bragging and filled with joy that their father was the Bubbleman. He was a wonderful friend as well, and all of us that knew him were proud to call him one.
One night he got a speeding ticket. Not an uncommon event, but is a part of his story. He then forgot to pay it. We all know where this lead, he lost his license. But like so man people, that didn’t stop him from riding his pride and joy, a 1990 Shovel head, cherry red. He rode no matter the weather, but on one of the clearest days, the perfect riding weather, he would lose his life.
Bubbleman was not someone that wore a helmet. He knew the statistics, and a helmet would not have saved his life. All of us know it. He had just finished up a private show, and had everything loaded up on his bike. The baby pool was deflated and in the saddle back, his hoola hoop strapped to the sissy bar. and he was making his way home, 2pm, to keep an appointment with his daughters. The light at the intersection turned solid green, and Bubbleman pulled out into the intersection, waiting for a break in the traffic to turn left. A woman driving a large SUV, distracted by her cell hone was turning right from on coming traffic. She claims to have never seen his bright cherry red tanks, or the bright “Hippy” colors as she speed to turn, hitting his scooter, and running over his chest. Crushing him, he died instantly. She pulled over and sat, waiting for some one else to call.
I wish I could say that she was punished with something, even a ticket of some sort, but that is not the case. She was never punished for what she did 3 long years ago. Her friends claim that she suffers from guilt, yet she insists that it was all Bubbleman’s fault. For he didn’t have a DL and wasn’t wearing a helmet. We all know whose fault it truly was, and man morn the loss of there beloved Bubbleman. His daughters, they suffer more than she will ever.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Truth Riders: Never Touch Another Man's Ride
There are a lot of stories out there, and I thought I would bring you some of the stories about my riding buddies. Even in Podunk Kansas, life as a biker can be a little unnerving. So here you are, for those long winter nights, a little story telling. The True Stories of Real Riders. Enjoy.
The first time I met Rich, was at a small motorcycle shop off of a major highway through the city. I had begged my ol' man not to take a job there, the rep was a bad one. And he really didn’t need the stigma that came along with the place. My ol' man had been clean for a couple of years now, and I knew that getting back into the life would bring about the lifestyle. One that we had worked so hard to get away from. But this was what he wanted to do, and he was good at it, so I supported him one hundred percent. This small factory authorized shop was the only one hiring when we came back from Florida. There was little choice, he had to take the job. If only a temporary one. We had spent years, building his rep as a shade tree mechanic, and a good one. A few customers stayed under that tree, but other decided to come to the shop. And his rep built as new people met him.
The oldest mechanic in the shop was Rich. He was tall, olive skinned, with jet black hair, a scruffy untrimmed beard and the eyes to match his weariness. Most said he was trouble, but I knew better than to judge anyone by appearances alone. I had spent too many years in the atmosphere of these types. Spent a lot of time with lawyers telling me about so and so’s case even if so and so was standing right there. People just wouldn’t dare look any of them in the eyes. Mothers at parks would grab their children away from those dirty, menacing looking bikers when they came to push their own children on the merry-go-round. It was always a sad sight to watch those things happen, I feel for them, I know them. And none deserve to be treated so harshly. But they, they always allow it to slide off their backs. They become use to being the outsiders. The ones that people make snap judgments about, the ones were people never look them in the eye and have their cell phones ready to dial 911, just in case they sneezed the wrong way. Rich was the same. He could care less what others thought. He was tired, but that came along with living the stereotypical biker lifestyle. One many of us grew tired from. Rich might have been tall and harden by bone and muscle, but he behaved like a skinny Teddy bear, still one that the ladies wanted to squeeze, especially those wayward ladies looking for a cheap thrill on the back of his scooter. But Rich was a loyal man, devout to his long time wife. He watched over her and pampered her after she had fallen and had to have surgery on her legs. It’s funny, you hear all these stories, or watch these horrible television shows about rough and tumble bikers. But most of the time they are more family orientated and loving then those 9-5ers. It isn’t the traditional sense of family fun, but it is there.
Rich looked after you once he decided that you were part of his family, my ol' man and I quickly fell into his good graces, and soon discovered that he had a cocaine problem. No big deal, that was expected in our world, someone or other has an addiction to something, even my ol' man and I. As long as they didn’t flaunt there addiction wares under our noses, we live and let live. To each their own happiness. And Rich knew this, and understood. He kept his secret his, and never asked us to partake. Another thing that we were always grateful for among our friends. Even the junkies knew to keep it away from us. Rich and my ol' man became fast friends. And despite what would happened later, he still remain fond of him. We know things happen, and we know that the drugs only amplify it all.
Rich went on a bender of sorts. Meth kept him up for several days, and then he slept the typical three. The first day he was out, an acquaintance pounded on the door, wishing to score a bit of powder. With Rich unresponsive the boy, as he was merely a nineteen year old, walked through the back gate and straight for the shed. Inside the padlocked shed sit Rich’s 67 Iron head. Rich spent hours and a lifetime restoring her to her glory. She was his pride, she was his all, second to no one not even the wife he adored. The boy in his desperation broke the lock, and pushed the scooter out of the shed. She was shining and apparently calling to him. He then pushed it down the road and up into the back of his pick-up. Some would guess that this had been premeditated, and they would be correct. The boy then took it back to buddies house where he planed to break it down and self her bits and pieces. Unluckily for these boys, Rich lives by You never touch another man’s ride. One thing that any people should think about before mounting a ride outside a shop. It might have an owner.
Rich woke to find his ride gone. Furious and in the midst of a cocaine high, he dialed the phone with a force that could have snapped it in two. He called various club houses and people. Attempting to find out if anyone had caught wind of who had his baby. Several people had heard of a certain boy that was selling parts to an old iron head, others had heard the story of how one had stolen it from a house. These boys had no loyalties, and the one was quickly ratted out. Now Rich had his name, and address, it was time to get his baby back.
He left his home early the next morning. He knew that he had to catch the boy at home and not give anyone any time to warn him. Without pausing to knock, Rich kicked the door in, and found the boy standing in his boxers with a bowl of cereal, the bowl quickly fell with a crash the floor as he saw who was there. A terrified scream was emitted as Rich smiled and closed the door.
“Where is she?”
The boy shook his head. “I don't know...” Too late and wrong answer. Rich grabbed the boy and pushed him down on the kitchen chair, from there he bound him with the rope her had the foresight to bring. And asked him again With every wrong answer, Rich punched him in the face. But the boy put up a good fight and said nothing further. Rich slept at the home that night, and interrogated him again the next day. Again the boy denied any involvement, and the pain only got worse for him, as Rich slammed the boys own baseball bat into his shins. That was the last straw, the boy confessed and told Rich where he could find his motorcycle. With a satisfactory grin, Rich dosed the boy with too much meth. And as the boy lay close to death, Rich pushed him out his car, barely stopping, in the parking lot of the ER. It was time to get his girl back.
As soon as Rich stepped onto the property of the other boys house, his bike had been pushed into the driveway. The boy stood there. He told Rich that it had gotten back to him that this was his bike and he was looking for it. The boy defended himself, saying that if he had known, he would have helped the other one out. Rich calming walked over to the boy, taking note that his bike was no longer complete, and quickly hit the boy square in the mouth. Several minutes later, Rich pushed his bike up into the bed of his truck and headed hoe. The boy that laid in blood in the front of his yard would later have to endure hours of reconstructive surgery just to be barely recognizable.
Rich was arrested, then convicted for many different crimes, including false imprisonment, aggravated assault and attempted murder. He did his time with the full understanding that he had broken the law, and that he did deserve his punishment. He only suffered inside for 5 years, while the two boys would have scares for the rest of their lives. t wasn’t the scares that Rich left them, but the physical reminder that you never touch another man’s bike.
Once back outside, Rich took his bike and his wife and moved to a healthier climate.
The first time I met Rich, was at a small motorcycle shop off of a major highway through the city. I had begged my ol' man not to take a job there, the rep was a bad one. And he really didn’t need the stigma that came along with the place. My ol' man had been clean for a couple of years now, and I knew that getting back into the life would bring about the lifestyle. One that we had worked so hard to get away from. But this was what he wanted to do, and he was good at it, so I supported him one hundred percent. This small factory authorized shop was the only one hiring when we came back from Florida. There was little choice, he had to take the job. If only a temporary one. We had spent years, building his rep as a shade tree mechanic, and a good one. A few customers stayed under that tree, but other decided to come to the shop. And his rep built as new people met him.
The oldest mechanic in the shop was Rich. He was tall, olive skinned, with jet black hair, a scruffy untrimmed beard and the eyes to match his weariness. Most said he was trouble, but I knew better than to judge anyone by appearances alone. I had spent too many years in the atmosphere of these types. Spent a lot of time with lawyers telling me about so and so’s case even if so and so was standing right there. People just wouldn’t dare look any of them in the eyes. Mothers at parks would grab their children away from those dirty, menacing looking bikers when they came to push their own children on the merry-go-round. It was always a sad sight to watch those things happen, I feel for them, I know them. And none deserve to be treated so harshly. But they, they always allow it to slide off their backs. They become use to being the outsiders. The ones that people make snap judgments about, the ones were people never look them in the eye and have their cell phones ready to dial 911, just in case they sneezed the wrong way. Rich was the same. He could care less what others thought. He was tired, but that came along with living the stereotypical biker lifestyle. One many of us grew tired from. Rich might have been tall and harden by bone and muscle, but he behaved like a skinny Teddy bear, still one that the ladies wanted to squeeze, especially those wayward ladies looking for a cheap thrill on the back of his scooter. But Rich was a loyal man, devout to his long time wife. He watched over her and pampered her after she had fallen and had to have surgery on her legs. It’s funny, you hear all these stories, or watch these horrible television shows about rough and tumble bikers. But most of the time they are more family orientated and loving then those 9-5ers. It isn’t the traditional sense of family fun, but it is there.
Rich looked after you once he decided that you were part of his family, my ol' man and I quickly fell into his good graces, and soon discovered that he had a cocaine problem. No big deal, that was expected in our world, someone or other has an addiction to something, even my ol' man and I. As long as they didn’t flaunt there addiction wares under our noses, we live and let live. To each their own happiness. And Rich knew this, and understood. He kept his secret his, and never asked us to partake. Another thing that we were always grateful for among our friends. Even the junkies knew to keep it away from us. Rich and my ol' man became fast friends. And despite what would happened later, he still remain fond of him. We know things happen, and we know that the drugs only amplify it all.
Rich went on a bender of sorts. Meth kept him up for several days, and then he slept the typical three. The first day he was out, an acquaintance pounded on the door, wishing to score a bit of powder. With Rich unresponsive the boy, as he was merely a nineteen year old, walked through the back gate and straight for the shed. Inside the padlocked shed sit Rich’s 67 Iron head. Rich spent hours and a lifetime restoring her to her glory. She was his pride, she was his all, second to no one not even the wife he adored. The boy in his desperation broke the lock, and pushed the scooter out of the shed. She was shining and apparently calling to him. He then pushed it down the road and up into the back of his pick-up. Some would guess that this had been premeditated, and they would be correct. The boy then took it back to buddies house where he planed to break it down and self her bits and pieces. Unluckily for these boys, Rich lives by You never touch another man’s ride. One thing that any people should think about before mounting a ride outside a shop. It might have an owner.
Rich woke to find his ride gone. Furious and in the midst of a cocaine high, he dialed the phone with a force that could have snapped it in two. He called various club houses and people. Attempting to find out if anyone had caught wind of who had his baby. Several people had heard of a certain boy that was selling parts to an old iron head, others had heard the story of how one had stolen it from a house. These boys had no loyalties, and the one was quickly ratted out. Now Rich had his name, and address, it was time to get his baby back.
He left his home early the next morning. He knew that he had to catch the boy at home and not give anyone any time to warn him. Without pausing to knock, Rich kicked the door in, and found the boy standing in his boxers with a bowl of cereal, the bowl quickly fell with a crash the floor as he saw who was there. A terrified scream was emitted as Rich smiled and closed the door.
“Where is she?”
The boy shook his head. “I don't know...” Too late and wrong answer. Rich grabbed the boy and pushed him down on the kitchen chair, from there he bound him with the rope her had the foresight to bring. And asked him again With every wrong answer, Rich punched him in the face. But the boy put up a good fight and said nothing further. Rich slept at the home that night, and interrogated him again the next day. Again the boy denied any involvement, and the pain only got worse for him, as Rich slammed the boys own baseball bat into his shins. That was the last straw, the boy confessed and told Rich where he could find his motorcycle. With a satisfactory grin, Rich dosed the boy with too much meth. And as the boy lay close to death, Rich pushed him out his car, barely stopping, in the parking lot of the ER. It was time to get his girl back.
As soon as Rich stepped onto the property of the other boys house, his bike had been pushed into the driveway. The boy stood there. He told Rich that it had gotten back to him that this was his bike and he was looking for it. The boy defended himself, saying that if he had known, he would have helped the other one out. Rich calming walked over to the boy, taking note that his bike was no longer complete, and quickly hit the boy square in the mouth. Several minutes later, Rich pushed his bike up into the bed of his truck and headed hoe. The boy that laid in blood in the front of his yard would later have to endure hours of reconstructive surgery just to be barely recognizable.
Rich was arrested, then convicted for many different crimes, including false imprisonment, aggravated assault and attempted murder. He did his time with the full understanding that he had broken the law, and that he did deserve his punishment. He only suffered inside for 5 years, while the two boys would have scares for the rest of their lives. t wasn’t the scares that Rich left them, but the physical reminder that you never touch another man’s bike.
Once back outside, Rich took his bike and his wife and moved to a healthier climate.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Winterizing Your Bike; Step Three
Don't.
Winter is a great time to get your must have customizing or time consuming repairs done.
Some of the things that wrenches like to see coming into the shop at this time are top in rebuilds, persistent leaks, horny naked women, and engine machine work. Bringing your bike in for general maintenance will keep you on the road come spring, and a wonderful preventative for staying out. The list is a scientific poll from various mechanics in various shops.
Winter is also the best time to have that talk with your wrench. You know the talk, the one where you have all these grandiose plans for your bike. Winter is a slow time for mechanics, they are better able to answer all your questions and give you your best options, rather than in the spring where the hustle and bustle of making sure that bikes are out of the shop and under the owner in a short time.
A big mistake that many owners do, is forgetting about needed work until riding season comes around. If you have a problem, or there is something that is concerning you, talk to your wrench now, rather than later. The turn around rate for major repairs at this time is much quicker than in the spring and summer. And if you don't talk now, please hold your tongue come spring, it's your fault that your ride is up on the lift. Think ahead and have your wrenches complete attention.
Winter is a great time to get your must have customizing or time consuming repairs done.
Some of the things that wrenches like to see coming into the shop at this time are top in rebuilds, persistent leaks, horny naked women, and engine machine work. Bringing your bike in for general maintenance will keep you on the road come spring, and a wonderful preventative for staying out. The list is a scientific poll from various mechanics in various shops.
Winter is also the best time to have that talk with your wrench. You know the talk, the one where you have all these grandiose plans for your bike. Winter is a slow time for mechanics, they are better able to answer all your questions and give you your best options, rather than in the spring where the hustle and bustle of making sure that bikes are out of the shop and under the owner in a short time.
A big mistake that many owners do, is forgetting about needed work until riding season comes around. If you have a problem, or there is something that is concerning you, talk to your wrench now, rather than later. The turn around rate for major repairs at this time is much quicker than in the spring and summer. And if you don't talk now, please hold your tongue come spring, it's your fault that your ride is up on the lift. Think ahead and have your wrenches complete attention.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Winterizing your Bike; Step 2
You really need to show your motorcycles battery a bit of love. The worst thing for a battery is to be discharged and then get cold.
For under $30 you can get a Battery Tender.
Or for $85-$110 you can replace your battery. You decide.
It's rather simple, just put this little baby on your bike, and it will keep your battery warm. It plugs into your wall outlet, and at times, the tender will check on your battery to see if any charging is needed, if so, it will switch on and stroke it for you, if not, it goes into stand by mode.
This product, not necessarily a certain company, is a must have for those long winter nights to keep you baby warm, and to be able to get her started up several weeks or months later, as if you just put her to bed the night before.
You can purchase a battery tender at just about any of your local shops.
For under $30 you can get a Battery Tender.
Or for $85-$110 you can replace your battery. You decide.
It's rather simple, just put this little baby on your bike, and it will keep your battery warm. It plugs into your wall outlet, and at times, the tender will check on your battery to see if any charging is needed, if so, it will switch on and stroke it for you, if not, it goes into stand by mode.
This product, not necessarily a certain company, is a must have for those long winter nights to keep you baby warm, and to be able to get her started up several weeks or months later, as if you just put her to bed the night before.
You can purchase a battery tender at just about any of your local shops.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Winterizing your Bike; Step one
It is getting too cold out for many riders. Some of us however don't care what the weather throws at us, except hail, that hurts just a bit. But it is time to start thinking about winterizing your bike, for those of you that put her (or him) to sleep this time of year.
The most important thing to do after you park your bike, is to turn off the gas and run your carberators dry. Many people neglect to do this, and will call their wrenches in the spring in a panic because all their small gas componantss have varnished and now their bikes will not idle without the choke wide open. And their bikes sounding like shit.
Doing this simple trick will save you money in the long run.
The most important thing to do after you park your bike, is to turn off the gas and run your carberators dry. Many people neglect to do this, and will call their wrenches in the spring in a panic because all their small gas componantss have varnished and now their bikes will not idle without the choke wide open. And their bikes sounding like shit.
Doing this simple trick will save you money in the long run.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Are Volenteers Getting too hands on?
Disclaimer before I start. This is only one side of the story, I was unable to talk with anyone that knew or was willing to give the other half of the story.
There might be some trouble brewing for the Salvation Army and their involvement with the Annual Wichita Toys for Tots run. For the past several years, the directors of Toys for Tots have had issues with the Salvation Army and them disclosing how many families they actually serve each year. This does cause many problems for the directors as without this information, there could be trouble if they were to be audited for the fundraiser.
The Marines have served this area, participating with the Toys for Tots program without complaint. They have one man that stays in contact with the directors all year long. Checking in with them at least 4 times before planning for the event actually begins. They are a big reason why Toys for Tots is successful.
The Toys Runs for Kansas have always been quite successful. Thousands of families have received new unwrapped toys for their children every year. Unfortunately many bikers and other witnesses have claimed to seen some unsavory conduct by the S.A. Volunteers. It seems that they have been seen pulling aside some of the more expensive items, and saving them to give to their own family and friends.
How the toys are split up between the two groups, is an even distribution, however it is the S.A. Volunteers that decide what their organization receives, and what the Marines get. An Example is any new bikes go to the S.A. while refurbished bicycles go to the Marines. This is not a prearranged agreement. Fortunately the families that receive this gifts do not complain, they are grateful that someone cares enough to actually donate something to their children without expecting anything in return.
It is to be seen if the volunteers from S.A. will once again pillage from the donations, or if the Organization will step up and allow the directors to know how many families they serve. If they are unwilling o unable to co-operate, I fear that they will no longer be allowed to continue with the run.
For information about Toys for Tots, either to help or seek assistance, go to the Marines Toys for Tots Website. And don't allow what a few miscreants might be doing to dissuade you from giving this season. And don't forget about the teens when you donate, they tend to receive less donations then the infants and toddlers.
There might be some trouble brewing for the Salvation Army and their involvement with the Annual Wichita Toys for Tots run. For the past several years, the directors of Toys for Tots have had issues with the Salvation Army and them disclosing how many families they actually serve each year. This does cause many problems for the directors as without this information, there could be trouble if they were to be audited for the fundraiser.
The Marines have served this area, participating with the Toys for Tots program without complaint. They have one man that stays in contact with the directors all year long. Checking in with them at least 4 times before planning for the event actually begins. They are a big reason why Toys for Tots is successful.
The Toys Runs for Kansas have always been quite successful. Thousands of families have received new unwrapped toys for their children every year. Unfortunately many bikers and other witnesses have claimed to seen some unsavory conduct by the S.A. Volunteers. It seems that they have been seen pulling aside some of the more expensive items, and saving them to give to their own family and friends.
How the toys are split up between the two groups, is an even distribution, however it is the S.A. Volunteers that decide what their organization receives, and what the Marines get. An Example is any new bikes go to the S.A. while refurbished bicycles go to the Marines. This is not a prearranged agreement. Fortunately the families that receive this gifts do not complain, they are grateful that someone cares enough to actually donate something to their children without expecting anything in return.
It is to be seen if the volunteers from S.A. will once again pillage from the donations, or if the Organization will step up and allow the directors to know how many families they serve. If they are unwilling o unable to co-operate, I fear that they will no longer be allowed to continue with the run.
For information about Toys for Tots, either to help or seek assistance, go to the Marines Toys for Tots Website. And don't allow what a few miscreants might be doing to dissuade you from giving this season. And don't forget about the teens when you donate, they tend to receive less donations then the infants and toddlers.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
9 months no bike
Back in January, we dropped our shovel engine off with a machinist. This guy is very good. However his priorities have suddenly become skewed. The first thing out of my mouth back in July was, Is he tweaking?
I feel I was justified in asking that question. He is a 1% from back in the day. Most of his cronies are either dead or in jail, and some of those jail birds have been trickling out. And unfortunately there are a lot of tweakers out there that pass themselves off as bike wrenches. We end up with a lot of bikes from enthusists that seem to be oblivious to this fact and allowed a tweaker to touch there bike. To be honest here, tweakers are good for our business, without them, a $500 repair would never turn into a $1500 repair.
Turns out that this guy isn't tweaking, some of his riding buddies have shown back up and he was spending his days riding instead on working on any of the engine that have shown up at his place. He showed up about a month ago, showing my ol man that one of our heads was done, and it would be only a week before he could get the second one done and back to us. Did I mention that was a month ago?
Now my ol' man is very laid back. Takes quite a bit to get him angry. So we wait patiently. However I am not only hard head, but hot headed, and I am more than happy to go get our stuff back. No one will let me. I have no idea how much longer it will be before we get the engine back. But come rain or shine, snow and freezing weather, as soon as that engine is back in our bike we will be bundling up and hitting the road. It has been a long time coming,
I feel I was justified in asking that question. He is a 1% from back in the day. Most of his cronies are either dead or in jail, and some of those jail birds have been trickling out. And unfortunately there are a lot of tweakers out there that pass themselves off as bike wrenches. We end up with a lot of bikes from enthusists that seem to be oblivious to this fact and allowed a tweaker to touch there bike. To be honest here, tweakers are good for our business, without them, a $500 repair would never turn into a $1500 repair.
Turns out that this guy isn't tweaking, some of his riding buddies have shown back up and he was spending his days riding instead on working on any of the engine that have shown up at his place. He showed up about a month ago, showing my ol man that one of our heads was done, and it would be only a week before he could get the second one done and back to us. Did I mention that was a month ago?
Now my ol' man is very laid back. Takes quite a bit to get him angry. So we wait patiently. However I am not only hard head, but hot headed, and I am more than happy to go get our stuff back. No one will let me. I have no idea how much longer it will be before we get the engine back. But come rain or shine, snow and freezing weather, as soon as that engine is back in our bike we will be bundling up and hitting the road. It has been a long time coming,
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