Saying good bye.

Today I said goodbye to a very special motorcycle.

This motorcycle was my grandfathers first and last Harley. Was the first motorcycle my wife was on. Was the first motorcycle that all three of my kids got introduced to riding on a motorcycle. The motorcycle that I passed my test on. The first motorcycle that tried to kill me. 

Little back ground. My grandfather was always a Goldwing man. This is my grandfather, uncle and me cleaning his Goldwing. 

That Goldwing was the first bike I was ever on. My grandfather was involved in an motorcycle accident and it ended up saving his life.. after his recovery it was time to look for another bike. He had a few friends that where giving him crap as good friends do about what bike he should buy next.  There where few that joked he should get a Harley.. they all laughed it off.

Later that week off my grandfather and I went to look for a new bike. Talk about my surprise when we stopped at a Harley dealership. We walk in the doors and there was this blue ultra classic on the floor. The bike was so pretty sitting there. It caught my Grandfathers eye too. He walked over to the salesman and told him I would like to buy that motorcycle right there. The salesman informed us that they where holding it for someone and they couldn't sell that one.. my grandfather not one to really take NO for an answer he asked the guy if the gentleman put any money down to hold the bike. The salesman informed us he didn't.. the smile on my grandfather face was priceless. He ask the salesman if I where to pay CASH right now could he walk away with the bike.. remember this was 1991 they where asking $10k for the motorcycle and that was a lot of money back than.. the salesman just laughed... My grandfather reached into his poke pulled at a roll of 100's and starts counting them out. The salesman just turned white and stuttering "sir we cannot sell that bike it's on hold". My grandfather looked at him and reminded him that we just struck a deal for cash for the motorcycle. After a talk with the manager at the store we we walked away with that Harley.

I remember going everywhere with my grandfather on that bike. He did take a few trips without me but 75% of all the mile he put on that bike where with me on the back of it. Now there was a problem. While my grandfather had the bike he only put about 12k to 15k total miles on the the bike.

During this time I was riding a 80's 450 Honda rebel than after that a 70's Honda 750 four. For fun and long distance riding I had a 80's goldwing aspencade. Everything once and awhile I would take out the Harley. When it was time to take my motorcycle test the Harley is what I took and passed the test on.

Now while the Harley was amazing bike my heart was with my 77 Honda 750 four.. I loved that bike. When the Honda let me down and was beyond repair. My grandfather gave me his Harley. The full dresser was never my style of bike but this was my grandfathers bike and it was an honor for him to give me the bike so I road the shit out of that bike. Then I got the Harley it only had 12knto 15k miles on it. I drove it every and up till I parked it because my family could go with me I had put on 20k miles on the bike myself.

Thanks to my friend who lent me a motorcycle to ride for a day.. I got bit hard with the motorcycle bug. I turned my attention to the Harley and getting it running again. After a few weeks of turning wrenches and a new carb the Harley was alive again. With the Harley on the road. Both my younger kids that have never been on a motorcycle now get to ride with there dad like I did with my grandfather. 

My wife and I where out and that when we found my dream bike the Suzuki m109r for sale and at a steal of a price. We bought it and brought it home. Since I have bought the new bike the Harley just sat again. 

After taking a month and talking with my wife I came to the conclusion I don't really care for the ride of the Harley. While it was amazing and I had a ton of memories on the bike it just wasn't me and it wasn't my grandfather earlier. We where left with that it's most likely going to sit in the garage and collect dust and just rote out. Not sure I can watch that. So we said it's time that the bike moved on to another family.

So today I said the goodbye and it went off to it's new home. Not going to lie that I thought I would be more emotional over it but with the money we got from the motorcycle I am going to take the kids on a few trips on the new motorcycle and make my own memories.

Farewell and thanks for all the memories and the good times that we had.