Hello everyone!
I imagine you have missed my typing errors and my sarcasm the last two years. But don't you worry... I am back!!!
An update for anyone who doesn't talk to us on a daily basis or follow me on facebook (because the guys don't update like I do), there is a new edurance race for antique motorcycles. The Motorcycle TransAm is essentially the same thing we have done on the Cannonball. You ride your antique motorcycles across the country, trying to get as many miles as you can with as little issues as possible (HA!).
The organizer of the Motorcycle Cannonball had decided to push back the event a year. Now, others have taken on the challenge of coming up with a route and planning the TransAm for this September.
Unknown to me, Mike decided that he had to do one more adventure like this. Although, he has said many times "this is my last one".
Mike had some random dude reach out to him from the area, asking advice about the Motorcycle Cannonball. He had bought a bike and was interested in doing the event. Long story short, they became friends. Scott has now become all of our friends - lucky for him. And of course his wonderful wife Beth. Scott will be riding on the TransAm as well! Welcome to Team Butts!!
Larry will also be continuing on with his antique motorcycle adventures too!
We had been at the AMCA Viking's Chapter meet and our friend Jerry (if you've read our other blog posts, you have heard about him) was doing a speech. Jerry had loaned some motorcycles to the filming of "Bike Riders". He had been the motorcycle mechanic on the set. He talked about his experience. At one point, he said something about once you become his age you take all the adventures you can. Naturally, we jumped on that and told him he has to come ride on the TransAm. By golly, it worked! He will also be on Team Butts!
I had been disappointed that Mike didn't have a motorcycle for me. Not in a bratty way, buuuuuuut had to give him a little crap that I was "pushed" out. The TransAm had made a 100+ motorcycle expectation, so my 1929 Indian Scout wouldn't qualify. Mike has a 1913 Henderson that has been being worked on, he said if that got done I could ride the bike that he was originally going to ride, but we wouldn't know until August. However, I was reached out by one of the organizers and asked if I would be interested in riding. They would allow my 1929 Scout but I wouldn't be getting points or awards. I never expected or cared about the points/awards. I just want the experience. As of right now, I will also be riding on my 1929 101 Indian Scout. To say that I am excited is an understatement. This is going to be so much fun, especially with the added people on the team.
The bikes that will be rode.
Mike will ride either a 1913 Henderson or a 1920 J
Larry is riding a 1920 J
Scott is riding a 1922 J
Jerry is riding a 1925 JD
I will either be riding my 1929 101 Indian Scout or the 1920 J that Mike may not ride.
As the trip is quickly approaching, the guys are working hard on their motorcycles. I have learned a few things on the J and we ordered some parts for the Indian to get that ready to ride. Things will be coming down to the wire, which in Butts fashion is what we expect.
I will continue to do the blog as much as possible, and then on the ride as well.
There is so much that goes into planning a trip this long. We often do team t-shirts. This year I decided to make stickers so I designed those and worked with a coworker on adjusting the tshirt design. Oh and I personally have made some decals for the bikes and making some numbered shirts for the guys. There is also figuring out what vehicles will need to be taken to accommodate the motorcycles, extra parts, tools and luggage of all riders and support crew. Plus, people interested in being along and helping drive those support vehicles. On top of that, getting hotels and all the little things you need throughout the trip. Why do we do this trip? I have no idea because it causes me a lot of stress and I'm not even remotely "in charge". But man, I am grateful for these opportunities and the hard work of everyone involved. I get stressed just participating - I can't imagine for others.
Check out the Motorcycle TransAm website for more information! TransAmerican Motorcycle Endurance Run – For Antique Motorcycle Riders by Antique Motorcycle Riders
So far, I don't have much for pictures of the bikes. This past Sunday we got most of the 1920 J of Mike's together. We had to fight with the handlebars for putting the throttle cable in. One piece, a stopper?, had gotten stuck in the handlebars. Scott, Mike and I fought that for a very long time. We eventually did get it out and were able to thread it the cable through it. We had to clean the handle bars as there was a lot of sand inside. Scott was using an air compressor to shoot through the handlebars and the rubber part shot out into them, that is now part of the motorcycle. We did the brake, put both the front and back fender on. The back brake is hooked up and the tanks are on. It's interesting that yuo think something is going to be easy peasy but it ends up taking 4x as long because you come into issues. It does appear that we often put something on just to remove it to put something else on then put the original thing back on. For example, we put the back fender on and the wheel. Then we were putting the battery box on and realized we needed to use two of the main bolts from the fender... We could have done this all at the same time but did not plan ahead.
<3 Breeze