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I decided to get in on the big cat herd ride around the Cherohala Skyway loop. It was kickstands up time and I was ready, but then had a wardrobe malfunction. The zipper let go on my old Bates jacket and I had to cut myself out of it with dykes and scissors. With the new jacket on the ride went great, for a time.

At the first overlook stop, Ric said he would be going 5 or 10 over the limit and anyone who wanted to haul ass to go on ahead. I didn't necessarily want to haul ass, but Don and I left ahead of the group at the second overlook. We missed the turn for the waterfall. I think it was where there were some girls in bikinis alongside the road, which would of course make me miss the sign.

A few miles from the gas station the clutch lever started going away, like the cable needed adjusting. Then it was gone. No clutch. I pulled off the road in neutral. Tried the kicker and it did nothing to turn the engine. Tried pushing for a bump start but couldn't get it in gear.

Most of the group had gone to the waterfall, and would be a while. But some just went straight through, and V4rick stopped. He gave me a ride to the gas station, which turned out to be less than half a mile over the hill. There was a big group of Harley riders there from Brazil with a U Haul chase truck. They were going my way but the truck was full of a spare Harley and all their luggage.

Tom Judkins offered to take me back to base on his ST1100 to get a truck or trailer. If it had to be a pillion ride, at least it was a big comfy 'Strato Tanker' where I was able to maintain a respectable air gap between Tom and I. As we painstakingly worked our way through the Brazilians, I was thinking what a beotch I am riding pillion when I should have opted to source a tow rope. But with the earlier wardrobe malfunction and all I just felt a little bad juju in the air, and would hate to wreck the guy towing me. Later events, which are not part of this story, proved that Don and I could have easily (ahem) pulled it off.

We passed a crashed rider off the side of the road with two other bikes in attendance. They seemed to have the situation in hand so we continued. Instead of back to headquarters, Tom decided to go to his place in Robbinsville for his trailer. What a guy, above and beyond!

Back over the Cherohala with the trailer we saw the crashed guy was still there. There's just one guy with him now. We presume help is on the way, but note to get extra water at the gas station after picking up my bike. We do that, and find them still there on the way back. Upon seeing the guy up close we decide that their guy coming with the van is taking too long.

Rags on the front seat for the blood, and beat up BMW S1000 on the trailer, we slowly followed the other rider back. S_l_o_w_l_y, gawd he made the Brazilians seem like road racers. Turns out he didn't even know the guy who crashed. He was riding solo, stopped to help, and ended up sitting there with him at least three hours while the guy's friend went for the van. Truly stand up.

It's amazing that no cop came by to serve and protect. The guy was active duty Marine, and they apparently don't like soldiers getting injured in silly civilian ways. We met the friend with the van conveniently right by where all those dumpsters are. A good place to transfer the bike and rider.

Exploratory surgery on the H1 revealed the clutch rods had welded together, then the weld broke. Apparently you cannot coast for extended periods with the clutch pulled in. I had read the stickies in the wrenching section the things to look out for. But some lessons you have to learn the hard way, it seems. I'll do a thread with pics of the repair, eventually.

The next night Tom said, yesterday was my 60th birthday and I can't think of a better way to have spent it. Wow, that made me feel good! I hate the idea of spoiling other people's fun because I was dumb. There will always be cold beer ready for that man

First Overlook


Ride leader Ric in hi-viz


Ric without hi-viz




V4rick by the FZ6(?) who gave me the ride to the gas station, also the bass player!
(photo bomb by Jim Hobbs)


I had the feeling that Dixon was keeping watch over my bike as we went for the sag wagon


My hero and savior


He doesn't talk about it, but this man used to fly F-16s!!!

Thank you James, for the full scoop that I hadn't heard until now. I'm sure you'll upgrade your clutch system to have a ball or roller bearing pusher, or at least an H2 style ball. I had a great time at the meet, and it was great hanging out with you, who are intent on having fun at a level higher than most.

What was I doing in the photo? It looks like you caught me right as I sneezed.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

I also didn't hear the "rest of the story". And I will have to talk to Tom about the F 16. And you can do all the "fuffie" stuff, or just not ride around with the clutch in.......

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........

Jim, not sure what was going on in the photo, but it's a good candidate for a caption contest
And, there are many regrets in life. I don't want 'should have had more fun' to be one of them...



There is no "rest of the story". It is a separate story, which may never make it on line for legal reasons.
Just imagine a cross between flat tracking and water skiing, but with less rake and trail.

Great story Jim, you should be a writer!!!!

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Lisa

"I tried to restrain myself, but I escaped."

AH, a "hole nuther story" is there too! I was talking about the the downed rider, hadn't heard about that........

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........

What was I doing in the photo? It looks like you caught me right as I sneezed.[/quote]

Jim, not sure what was going on in the photo, but it's a good candidate for a caption contest


" too many boiled peanuts last night"

Aw thanks, Lisa. It's pretty rough, just typed out quickly. I actually did have a gig writing for a few years, a regular column on racing called Hot Lap in Iron Horse magazine. It was unpaid, but I got press passes to MotoGP and such, bikes to ride, and some free gear like the jacket and helmet I wore at the gap.
The magazine folded a couple of years ago.



Oh, yeah it was an eventful day... He was a good guy, surely in a bit of shock but toughing it out. His knee had a full length tear across the cap, about 3/8" wide when he wasn't pressing it together. You could see tendons moving the kneecap when he bent the leg. Bloody hip too...

Jim, not sure what was going on in the photo, but it's a good candidate for a caption contest


" too many boiled peanuts last night" [/quote]

Good one Shane

I went back and edited in a caption, not as funny but fits in the story

Pretty funny. I keep trying to remember what what going on, but no luck yet.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.