Saturday, December 4, 2010

"...Then I Ripped That Borrowed Seat To Shreds."

There was a butcher shop on West Side Avenue, in my native Jersey City, where my mother would occasionally buy veal cutlets and sausage. I remember two things about this place: the sawdust on the floor and a poster on the wall. I wondered why anyplace would spread sawdust on the floor but later learned this was the trademark of upper crust saloons. The poster depicted the profile of a steer, divided into sections representing each cut of beef.

I was fast to make comparisons as a kid, and I referred to this artwork on the wall of the butcher store as the “map of the cow,” as each outlined section reminded me of a state in a beef-shaped country. I once asked my mother if she could buy all the separate parts of the cow so we could reassemble it back in the kitchen. She looked at me like I was a twit, apologized to the butcher, and explained that I had been dropped on my head five or six times on the day I was born.

Yet the idea never left me that some things should be easily broken down into their more obvious components and reassembled nearly blindfolded, like the way a US Marine can assemble a .45 automatic with his eyes closed. Motorcycles should fall into this category.

Consider the profile of the average motorcycle, a cruiser if you like. Most everything is exposed and in plain view. Visually, it is like the profile of the steer on the wall in the butcher store. Plugs, air filter, the battery, essential wires, tires and drive train are all in plain view. To the child in me, these should just pop off and pop on again, with a minimum of aggravation. But despite an incredible mechanical evolution (or as a result of it), motorcycle maintenance continues to require an intuitive ability to read engines, an understanding of spatial relationships, patience, and a high degree of manual dexterity. Attempting to address a clutch issue, a transmission issue, a Hall sensor issue, or even a question of a blown or loose relay, demands a good deal of experience, knowledge and sense.

Nothing is ever as simple as it should be, or even as it looks, when it comes to mechanical issues with a motorcycle.

Even aftermarket stuff that is advertised as “bolt-on” generally requires some fiddling, or a degree of customization to make it fit. When a part or an accessory is described as “universal,” this means it will seamlessly mate with 680 models of 12,000 kinds of motorcycles. The unspoken line is, “not necessarily yours.” I have purchased a number of items off the shelf at Hermy’s Tire and Cycle, my BMW dealer in Hamburg, Pa, only to discover the bolt holes are off a bit; that a wire is shorter than it’s supposed to be; or in one case, the directions were mislabeled and the roles of the connecting posts on the relay were reversed. This last situation upset me so badly that I poured myself three drinks trying to figure the damn thing out. It was much worse for my friend Jim Sterling, who was actually out in the garage attempting to install the new horn. (This sometimes happens with aftermarket products but is never the case with OEM BMW parts.)

While most shade-tree motorcycle mechanics are delighted by this kind of challenge, I am not. It is my thought that if I have to drill a hole in something, solder a connection, or fashion a bracket out of another existing part, then I am undoubtedly doing permanent damage to an already functional design. And on a BMW bike, mistakes become the subjects of new chapters in thin checkbooks.

Some adjustments or replacements look ridiculously easy, and give the expectation that they can be addressed by an idiot in an hour or an expert in ten minutes. Yet attempting to resolve the issue (by any means other than by throwing money at a dealer) is often met with frustration and aggravation. Dedicated Twisted Roads readers will remember when I ordered my custom “really fat-assed saddle” from Russell Cycle Products last year. This meant sending off my existing seat pan, leaving bare metal for a few weeks of the early spring riding season.

Gerry Cavanaugh — a fellow member of the *Mac-Pac — came forward with another K75 stock saddle for me to use until my custom number came back. On the second day of riding on this borrowed saddle, I managed to catch the upholstery with the metal eyelets of my riding boots. There were six little tears in the vinyl. Looking down at the damage, I thought, “I should be able to fix this myself for under $50.” That simple assessment was interpreted by the motorcycle gods as pure hubris... And they smote me accordingly.

Above: Mac-Pac member Gerry Cavanaugh was kind enough to lend me the seat from his BMW K75, while my seat pan was off getting rebuilt into a work of structural art at the Russell Cycle Products facility. I repaid his kindness by ripping it to shreds — but he didn't know that. Cavanaugh is seen here getting stuck with the tab for lunch at Crawdaddy's, a local Cajun gin mill. He suspects he is getting screwed but hasn't felt the bite yet. Photo by the author.

I got one of those kits that claim you can repair a tear in vinyl upholstery “with invisible results, just like the pros.” There are several kits out there ranging from $18 to $29. Mine was acquired at the local auto parts store on the low end of the pricing scale. It included some backing to be inserted into the tear, chemical filler, and five little paint containers, the contents of which could be mixed to match the vinyl in question. There were also a handful of patterns to emboss on the soft vinyl and a device like a little soldering iron to heat everything up.

Above: Gerry Cavanaugh in his red "Stitch," beside his trusty BMW GS, which he named "Faded Glory," in honor of his years of motorcycle riding. In the picture above, Gerry is saying, "If we all split lunch, how come my bowl of gator gumbo cost $361?" This was one occasion when a certain red K75 lived up to its name (Fireballs), and shot out of the parking lot before Cavanaugh could get his "Stitch" zippered. Photo by the author.

According to the directions, you shove the backing into the slit, spread some filler over the wound, color it, cover the soft smear with a texture pattern, heat it with the branding iron, and buff it with a little stick. Five minutes later, the tear is miraculously repaired and invisible to the naked eye.

Bullshit.

I followed the directions like a novice on the bomb squad. In print so fine as to be mistaken for a crease in the paper, the directions warn against overheating the vinyl, which can occur in .03 seconds. When this happens, the invisible repair looks like an acid burn on the face of a Victoria Secret model. Two attempts left Cavanaugh’s seat with vinyl leprosy five times larger than the original tears. The whole thing was a complete waste of time. And then I had to ask myself the question, “if you lent a flawless motorcycle seat to a friend and it came back covered with invisible tears hidden by seat cancer, wouldn’t you feel screwed?”

I felt so sure of the answer that I decided not to let Cavanaugh in on the joke.

Calls to two dealers regarding torn motorcycle upholstery produced the response, “We send it out.” But no one would tell me who they sent it out to... Which led me to believe that motorcycle seats are repaired with living tissue taken from dead bodies by unscrupulous morticians. I also suspected that my initial cost estimate of $50 was low by a factor of five.

So I started calling places in the phone book that dealt with automobile upholstery. I figured that vinyl is vinyl and a bike seat has to be easier to repair as it can be tossed on a workbench. Wrong again, Bullwinkle. A number of places that repaired car seats wanted nothing to do with a bike seat. One guy offered to take a look at it, but couldn’t tell me when he’d get to it, or what it would cost (not even a ballpark figure). Another guy told me that I could drop it off there, but that they would “probably send it out.” (Repairing motorcycle upholstery is apparently on a par with international espionage.)

Enter Chris McClintock of Bux Customs. An unassuming but incredibly talented artist in vinyl and leather, McClintock turns motorcycle saddles into bold statements of contemporary styling that go far beyond the stock seat.

Above: From a Yamaha, two colors and two textures create a unique seat statement. Photo courtesy Bux Customs.

Above: Cross-brushed suede coupled with a carbon-fiber texture create a one-of-a saddle. Photo by Bux Customs.

Above: Sculpted foam and one-of-a-kind blue flame stitching added an extra dimension to this black solo saddle. Photo courtesy of Bux Customs.

“Two areas that get minimal attention by motorcycle manufacturers are horns and seats,” observed McClintock. “ The horn is invisible. Yet next to the gas tank, the seat is one of the most noticeable characteristics of the motorcycle. And whether you are screaming on the asphalt or riding cross country, the design of the seat impacts the rider from the bottom up.”

“Do you have any experience with vintage motorcycle seats,” I asked?

“Like from a ’47 Harley or something like that,” McClintock asked in return.

I explained that the pinnacle of vintage motorcycle seats was the stock unit from a 1995 BMW K75. (He hadn’t known that. And when I showed him the K75 seat, he thought it had come from a Vespa. Not that coming from a Vespa would make it a little girly seat or anything like that.)

McClintock produced an album of his high-end custom work, which adorns some of the highest powered squid-rockets in southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. These saddles flow with the lines of the bike, combining different materials, textures and patterns to create an extension of the machine’s (and the rider's) personality. While some of his unique designs can best be described as “crescendoes in understatement,” each emphasizes “lethal power” and “raw sensuality.” These seats ooze hot, screaming bike sex.

"Will one of your seats get me laid," I asked candidly?

"I'd have to make it big enough for you to wear," said McClintock.

Above: Bux Customs seats can be made to compliment any custom paint job. According to Chris McClintock, a custom seat can add a new dimension to a bike with a "near custom" or limited edition paint job. Photo courtesy of Bux Customs.

McClintock works with each rider to match the expectation of the seat’s comfort and practicality with its overall visual appeal. He offers a broad selection of materials, including vinyl, leather, and suede, in a range of colors to compliment every paint scheme. And depending upon the application, he can sculpt seat contours to order.

McClintock explained that making six repairs to a motorcycle seat was ridiculous and that the unit should simply be recovered. Evden so, he found my order to be extremely challenging. My directions included no sculpting... No exotic foam compounds... Nothing more elaborate than basic industrial black vinyl, typical of soft cafeteria seating at federal penal institutions. His biggest challenge would be in not falling asleep while meeting my specs.

“How long will this take,” I asked?

“I’ll call you in a few days,” McClintock replied.

“To give me an estimate of completion,” I prodded.

“No... To tell you to come and pick it up,” he smiled.

Above: The Bux Customs seat on this gorgeous Hayabussa captures the lines of an exquisite paint job, carrying them throughout the length of the machine. Photo courtesy of Bux Customs.

Above: Here is a variation on a similar theme, but using three colors, instead of two. Bux Customs seats are very popular with the "heavy power crowd," but McClintock has done a great deal of work on cruiser seats as well. Photo courtesy of Bux Customs.

The seat was ready in five days. It had the crisp appearance of a uniform shoe at a really tough Catholic school. Yet instead of the stark, totally austere look of the least expensive vinyl, it had a cool textured appeal that would go great on Gerry’s otherwise stock K75. “All of my seats have to have a slightly unique aspect to them,” said McClintock. “It’s not the K75’s fault that you are an unimaginative, cheap pain in the ass.”

The job was more than $50 bucks too... But it was well within the parameters of great value and service for the price charged.

“Are you sure this is my seat,” said Cavanaugh, as I returned it to him with a bottle of Scotch. “This looks brand new.”

“Gerry, I take care of stuff people entrust to me,” I said.

Cavanaugh grunted in total agreement, looking at me the way a prosecuting attorney sizes up a carnival barker.

So if you’re looking to get a highly personalized, highly-visible, high-end crafted saddle, or just looking to get a good one repaired, I highly recommend Chris McClintock at Bux Customs. The riding season is already over for many in the "savage power bike" catergory, and a seat from Bux Customs makes a dandy Christmas present. Why not put a bug in your spouse's or significant other's ear and get something you'll really like? (And if they surprise you with a wheelbarrow or a 12-step book on relationship building, you can piss away their Valentine's Day gift cash on a little reward for yourself.) The number for Bux Customs is 610-505-2042. Or reach Chris McClintock online at www.buxcustoms.com. Tell him “Jack” at “Twisted Roads” sent you.

I have no financial interest in Bux Customs, nor did I receive products nor services by way of compensation for this story. This story is factually presented and accurately illustrates my attempts to get a stock motorcycle seat repaired at minimal cost. If I had another issue with a torn motorcycle seat I would have no qualms about taking it to Bux Customs for repair, recovering, or redesign. You shouldn't either.

*The Mac-Pac is the BMW riding club serving southeastern Pennsylvania, chartered by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. With some 250-members, the Mac-Pac advocates safety, training, and camaraderie through a common interest in BMW motorcycles and social networking. The club routinely aligns itself with local charities ranging from free clinics to the MS Foundation. They have also raised funds for local hospitals and sponsored participants in three-day walks to defeat breast cancer. While interests of members vary greatly, the Mac-Pac pursues motorcycle restoration, advanced riding technique, track days, seasonal group rides, and long-distance riding. The group meets for breakfast at the Pottstown Family Diner, (Rt. 100 in Pottstrown, Pa) on the third Sunday of every month.

Advisory:
I'd like to thank everyone who contacted me about my article (The K75 — A Love Affair) which ran in the November 2010 Issue of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America's publication: ON (the Owners News.) December's story in the same publication details the previously undisclosed facts regarding the questionable credentials I used at the BMW Rally in Burlington, VT (2006), and how I found ethics in the moonlight that week. If you ride a BMW and have not yet joined the MOA, this magazine is but one of many membership benefits. Click on the MOA logo at the right for details.


©Copyright Jack Riepe 2010
AKA The Lindbergh Baby (Twisted Roads)
AKA Vindak8r (Motorcycle Views)
AKA The Chamberlain -- PS (With A Shrug)

37 comments:

redlegsrides said...

Jack, a lovely tale...remind me to lend you my motorcycle's seat someday when you see the light and come over to the airhead side of the Teutonic path of reliable motorcycling....

dom


Redleg's Rides

Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

Unknown said...

Jack:

Can I loan you my seat too ? I've never had a custom seat before. I've never had a custom anything

I agree with Dom, the R80GS is the most beautiful MC in the world. I could look at those two jugs all day. They are so senuous . . .

bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin

Unknown said...

Jack:

See, what did I tell you. I was so blinded by the sight of those two jugs that I forgot how to spell "sensuous"

bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin

Jonesy said...

Jack, classic "Murphy's Law" applied to borrowed motorcycle pieces! Another great post and some useful information. Those seats are some of the nicest I've ever seen.

Jonesy

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Charlie6 (Dom):

No one will deny that any of BMW's "R" bikes are anything shy of sheer mechanical perfection. But I will never own one as the ability to shift gears and shovel coal is beyond me.

I am delirously happy with my "K" bike, which is free from original sin and runs with the grace and beauty of a pedigreed sunbeam. There is a lot to be said for a bike with a proper cooling system. So there.

Thank you for reading Twisted Roads and for commenting. Letters like yours go a long way to easing the pain of the one that follows.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Bobskoot:

The mad passion to experience the thrill of "custom" anything begins with acquiring a BMW "K" bike, or one of the lesser "R" machines, if there is no alternative. Getting the bike will compell you to go to a rally. Once there, the dull throbbing in your ass (from the stock saddle, which is a painted piece of slate) will cause you to notice that thousands of rally-machines have custom seats. Then you will notice hat there is one custom seat-builder for every three rally participants.

This is no coincidence.

You will have a choice of strapping a block of ice onto the Beemer, or walking home alongside it. At that point you will start selling family members to get a custom saddle. We've all done it.

What are you waiting for? Buy the Beemer and start the process. (You know this has been gnawing at you. You know you want to learn the secret handshake. You know you want the secret decoder ring. You know you want a bike that you can start doing little things too that will render it a signature machine, that you will never sell.)

Buy the Beemer and you can loan me a seat. Thanks for reading and for writing in.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

RichardM said...

Great story. I couldn't figure out how you went from the butcher shop to repairing vinyl. Had to read it over a couple of times.

I guess I'm one of those that enjoy the challenge to get things working. I'd rather do the work myself to insure that it's done right. Right now I'm need to get the valve seats replaced and spent a lot of time looking for someone to do it right. I'm afraid our local dealer is nowhere on that list.

Richard

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Jonesey:

It's always a pleasure to hear from a unicorn rider like yourself. Chris McClintrock does make some great seats... But I swear you'd have to be 25-years-old to get the full effect from them.

I love the work that the Russell folks did with my saddle. Yet advancing arthritis will cause me to srnd it back to them for a rebuild. Maybe a year or so after that, I'll have Chris stitch it up in leather with flames and red piping. That would go well on a smoking hot K75, huh?

I love Tennessee. I'll look you up on my next run down there. Thanks for reading Twisted Roads and for commenting.

Fondst regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Richard:

The transition from the butcher shop to the seat was an easy one for me. The seat is on top... It pops off... There is nothing to it... I couldn't find anyone who would work on the damn thing without a song and a dance. I figured there would be dozens of places who would do this. Nope. And there wasn't one easy listing either online or in the phone book.

I hate doing anyhing mechanical on this bike. Gerry Cavanaugh, the guy in the story, was here three times in the last two weeks to show me how to get to the battery and access some wires. I am so dense.

Do you ride with a local club? Someone in the club must know a wrench. I am very lucky in that I have two mechanics and a great dealer with 60 miles. I hope you get this sorted out.

Fondest regards,
Jacl • reep • Toad

Cantwell said...

Jack,
Remember this spring when I came up for the GWR ride. Well, while in YOUR garage, that damn cat of your neighbors (the one who likes to piss in your helmet) tried to climb my bike like Mt. Everest! You should see all the claw marks! I blame you.

So, when can I expect my new seat?


Dreaming of riding on a seat that wasn't developed for torture during the occupation,
Michael

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Michael Cantwell:

You're first on the list. At least your seat woud fit my bike. I am going to ride at some point today. I want to do a more thorough test of my electric gear. Is the ground snow-covered up there? Or is the issue sand and salt? The mercury is at 30ยบ and the bike is on the charger at the moment.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

BMW-Dick said...

Dear Jack:
Another masterfully crafted piece with only minor factual distortions. When you told me to "just leave the tip" at Crawdaddy's I thought you had picked up the tab. Nice one, Slick! Call me when you want to ride.

Unknown said...

Jack,

Well done. Bux does fine work and it is nice to know they are close. I love their shop wagon. FWIW, when I had a tear in my K100 seat I was able to produce a satisfactory repair with the $14.95 kit from National Auto. It was not easy, but it worked just fine.

FYI, I finally finished up my article on tire pressure gauges and submitted it. Thanks for your help.

Ride Safe,

Joe

Unknown said...

Unicorn rider???

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Jonesy:

A unicorn rider is my term for the rare BMW rider. I am going to list your blog on my "destinations site."

Fondest regards,
Jack

Unknown said...

I knew it must have the connotation of "rare"; I just wasn't sure if it was good or bad! :) Thanks for the link and I really enjoy your writing style. Would love to introduce you to some TN BBQ and catfish if you're ever down this way.
Jonesy

Canajun said...

I loved this line: "mistakes become the subjects of new chapters in thin checkbooks."

Oh so true - and not only in BMW land either.

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Dick:

I had fun with this piece, and even more fun with the captions regarding the pictures of Gerry. As ever, a number of guys have come forth with suggestions for sources of motorcycle seat upholstery in the area, but it i long after the fact... And I was/am delighted to send business to Chris McClintock at Bux Customs.

You were missed at breakfast today. Present were G. Cavanaugh, H. Oberst, and P. Frechie. We all went in cars. The cheap thermometer in the bsack scored 22ยบ at 8:30am today, and I was running on 2 hours sleep.

Your name came up once in conversation, and that was when we all tried to "free associate" using the word "douche."

Let's ride this week.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Joe (Dille):

The story you wrote regarding the tire pressure gauges is very significant for several reasons. From a guy's perspective, it provides great comparative data. From the biker's viewpoint, the conclusion is emphasizes a key point of safety. And for the operator of any vehicle, there is the question of tire wear and overall gas economy.

I was thrilled you sent it to me first and am delighted to hear it is on the way.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Canajun:

There is also the question of confidence. Since I am far from sure of what I am doing when probing with a drill bit or cutting through something, I am never comfortable with the results. Now it could be argued that this piece was much ado about nothing, but that can be said of all my pieces.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Jonesey:

I am going to do a piece on "southern cuisine" very soon. I hope I can rely on your input.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Conchscooter said...

I have never ever had a custom seat. Now you've got me thinking which is always a bad thing. Mind you, what sort of seat does Neville merit? a bowler hat style? Flames?

BeemerGirl said...

Great similie of the beef cuts to motorcycle repair. I've always loved looking at maps and decoding the secrets locked within. Just need to love puzzles to apply it to those schematics of the motorcycle.

I think Fireballs would benefit from a flaming seat... But ya know, as soon as you install that beautiful new seat, those eyelets will again scratch it. Murphy's Law. Take precautions. :)

Great article. Bux does some great work on line matching.

-Lori

Unknown said...

Nice one Jack. My seat will be done when I get back into the states.

Nikos said...

"This sometimes happens with aftermarket products but is never the case with OEM BMW parts"

A box arrived today at Nikos Towers containing the parts for the engine protection bars for Tubbyballs. Purchased for £85 from Motorworks these came from an ex-Police machine and have extra barckets for mounting lights.

Do you know how these 2 chromed bars and 298 mounting brackets, screws, bolts, gherkin washers etc fit together onto the K75?

Beats me.

cpa3485 said...

Great read, Jack.
My only fear is that maybe I have become one of these "dedicated Twisted Roads readers". I gotta do a life assessment.

Jimbo

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Conch:

There is nothing like a well-made custom seat. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.

I have never heard you complain about your seat on either of your two Iron Butt runs... And comfort hardly seems an issue for the vast 28-mile rides you take in the Keys. And I do like the bench-seat nature of the Triumph. Even on my one ball-busting ride from New Jersey to Niagara Falls, New York, the primitive bench seat on the 1975 Kawasaki H2 seemed okay. (Of course we were talking about 21-year-old hips and knees.)

But the comfort of a Russell Day-Long Saddle defies description. So does the cost. Mine was $700 for the solo rebuild. If I ever have money again, it will go back for the dual rebuild and a couple of preferential spec changes.

Bill Mayer Saddles are another outfit with a great reputation. I have had seats from Sargent (great looking) and from Corbin (interesting), but bothing like the one from Russell Cycle Products.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Beemer Girl:

There reaches a time in a man's life when he starts thinking about his ass at least as often as he thinks about the other thing. Speed, performance, and comfort become the holy trinity of the ride. Still, if I had cash to burn, I'd get my seat rebuild from Russell, and have Bux Customs stitche a flaming ball into the cover.

Thanks for reading my blog and for leaving a comment.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Nikos:

Congratulations on finding a set of "authority" bars. They are close to impossible to find in the United States, and they are a great design (better in my opinion than the "civilian" market version).

Send me your e-mail address, and I will send you photos of how my crash bars are mounted. There is one through-bolt at the top (under the black plsastic covers) and a couple at the bottom. However, I do not know how they mount if you have a fully-faired RT, which I think you do.

There are about 6 different lighting options, many from PIAA, that will bolt directly onto the mounting bars. I used PIAA's round mounting brackets for the HID lights. That leaves the tabs open for mounting an air horn.

E-mail me at jpriepe@aol.com.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Corey:

Have a great time in New Zealand. Anmd when you get back, send me the before and after shots of the seat on your GS. I'm curious to see what Bux Customs does for you.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear CPA3485:

I would be delighted if being a dedicated Twisted Roads reader led you to a "life assessment." Reading myu blog has forver changed Michael Beattie's life, to the point where he made a pilgrimage to the source. I have changed Bobskoot's life to the point where he dreams of owning a K75, or a Beemer GS model.

There is a Teutonic plate shift in your life too, no doubt.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad

John said...

When I was a small child my sister's told me that the saws I heard at the butcher's section of the store was the cows screaming as they got slaughtered. I always was a sensitive child and that little piece of misinformation has me bawling. I have had motorcycle seats re-done a few times. It is always fun.

Classic Velocity said...

Jack,

BMW seats have been getting progressively worse for decades. The most comfortable seat ever is the solo seat on the /2 and earlier models. The least comfortable are the newer seats on the GS. The aftermarket is probably not complaining, but I think there are thousands of BMW stock seats sitting in basements and garages, while the bikes themselves have hundreds of thousands of miles.

Wayne (classicvelocity)

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Wayne:

The stock seat for the BMW K75 was designed by the North Korean Secret Police. It is patterned after a splitting maul and you would sign anything after a three-hour ride.

The Russell Day-Long Saddle was great for a year, until my arthritis advanced... But I am getting an extended riding season with the Air Hawk Comfort System.

Than God for options.

Fondest regards,
Jack • ®eep • Toad

Jack Riepe said...

Dear John (Clauss):

Three blocks from where we last lived in Jersey City was a place called Miller's Abattoir. The motto was "City Dressed Veal," and they showed a pcture of a girl in jeans with a cowboy hat posing with a lamb.

I didn't realize that meant railroad cars (stockyard cars) would pull up on a siding, and unload thousands of bleating lambs, led by a Judas goat. We got stuck there at the ralroad crossing to witness this once, and my mom said, "Look at the lambs, kids."

My brother asked, "Where are they going..."

The answer had him stupified.

Fondest regards,
Jack • ®eep • Toad

Anonymous said...

Do you sit on them or hang them on the wall, lol? They are works of art.

Chris said...

Jack, could you buy a R1150GS? Preferably a 2001. My pillion seat has a small tear in it. I was going to just put some super sexy duct tape on it (BMW approved I'm sure), but now I want to lend it to you. Thanks in advance!

-Chris @ everydayriding.org