[emrat:3395] Odometer/Speedometer Woes--and Relationships

Well, on Saturday, when I picked up the Daytona, the odometer and speedometer were working, and they worked yesterday when I rode to and from work.  Steve, the long-time Triumph mechanic at Erico’s, offered me a technical explanation, which I did not quite understand, of why it might not have functioned.  Anyway, I’m having the sending unit replaced.

 

Then it occurred to me—which ties in with Dave Warfield’s comment—that the bike had sat outside in subfreezing weather for a week before I picked it up, which would have certainly decreased the strength of the batter somewhat.  Perhaps that contributed to the malfunction the day I rode it to Erico’s.

 

Now, to Mr. Warfman’s comment:

 

Dan, with as many bikes as you have, you don't need to tarp them. She won't even notice, as long as her car still goes into the designated space. Besides, they're your bikes, why hide them from her?

Back in October 2012, as some of you may recall, Mr. Graves bought a new Speed Triple.  And then—without telling any of us!!!—he posted his yellow Sprint RS on Craig’s List on a Monday, and I just happened to see it.  The following Sunday, I told Madie that I was going to go look at Curtis’ new bike.  I came home and told her that I had looked at his new bike . . . dramatic pause for effect . . . and then I told her that I had bought his old one.

 

Her reaction was immediate and emotional, as if I had hit her with a (soft) bat.  She was not angry, but I could see that she was very upset.  Later, she calmed down and said that I could obviously buy anything I wanted and it was none of her business.  She was great.

 

The prior December I had sold the Joel Wey 1971 Triumph Café Racer.  Because of that sale, she said, “I thought you were getting out of motorcycling.”  I replied, “I had six motorcycles, and I sold one.  Why would you think I was getting out of motorcycling?”  And we had a good laugh.

 

Some of you may know the story of why motorcycles are such a sensitive issue for Madie.  In 1981, her baby brother, Charlie, 28, a budding documentary filmmaker, was killed on his BMW in Seattle at night by a drunk driver who came up a ramp the wrong way.  Because of that, the entire family was traumatized.  Thus, I try to be sensitive to that deep emotional wound that she and other family members will always have.

 

I’m just not ready to let her know that I’ve passed the fine line that separates motorcycle passion . . . . from madness and obsession.

 

But, at some point, the two new bikes will be unveiled . . .

 

J

 

Dan