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That's a nice bike...


I've recently heard that a few times from folk I have not met before. I was at the Whitewater Brewery for fish and chips two nights ago sitting at one of the outdoor tables when I saw two gents pull up on their Japanese sport touring bikes, all funny angles and the promise of deadly speed, and park behind me. A few minutes later an older couple exits the restaurant and approaches the truck I parked beside. The old duffer is giving my bike some heavy eyeball when I noticed that he didn't even look at the other two cycles.

Today at lunchtime I was backing the bike into a parking spot when a very attractive young woman gave me a smile that made me feel sixteen years old (in an aww shucks kind of way). Poor girl, she would want to take that back once I ballooned out of the jacket and exposed my fat bald head. After the meal as I was getting back on the bike two city workers were heading to the chip truck when they took the time to compliment me on my bike. Sweet!

On a less sweet note... yesterday I noticed the first chip in the powder coat of the lower swing arm. I gave it a daub of touch up paint and I think only I can see it now. This bike isn't going to get younger, I should resign myself that things are going to happen and I should just concentrate on the enjoyment part of the ownership.

Back on track... there were bigger bikes, there were shinier bikes and there were faster bikes at the Harley dealership the day I bought this one but I'm positive that there was no bike better suited to me. She's all that and more.

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