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Little Juniata Machine and Cycle
Service Completed
I dropped the bike off on Saturday. The service was complete of Monday. I was thrilled to get the message. Being able to have the Himalayan worked on locally was something I wished for but firmly believed I only had three choices — haul the bike to the dealer a hundred miles away, do the service myself, or sell the motorcycle. None of those choices felt good. Finding Little Juniata Machine and Cycle purely by accident was an unlooked for gift.
My friend Howard drove my to Tyrone to get the Himalayan so I could ride it home. Brent Knarr, the owner and machinist/mechanic is standing on the right.
Continue ReadingIs It Time to Surrender the Royal Enfield Himalayan?
A Workhorse
Make no mistake, the 411 version of the Himalayan is a unique motorcycle. It looks different, sounds different, and acts differently than any other motorcycle I have ever ridden. Even with a meager 24 horsepower it far exceeds most of my riding abilities. And for the kind of rides I make it’s a nearly perfect companion.
Making this photograph of it in the driveway before a recent ride I wasn’t thinking about the positive aspects of ownership. Or admiring the camouflage styling.
I was standing there wondering, after four years of riding, is it time to surrender the Royal Enfield Himalayan?
Continue ReadingSticker Shock and Other Puzzlements
Puzzling Economic Thoughts
Having a head full of 1980s prices leads to endless shocks when paying for things. Doesn’t matter if it’s a ribeye steak at the grocery store or a new pair of jeans from L.L. Bean. Thankfully I seem to be insulated and unconcerned about the price of gas at the pump. No doubt buoyed by fuel stingy two-wheeled machines and an insignificant number of annual miles on our four-wheeled vehicles.
Wandering around the past few months shooting film costs money compared to the mindless triggering of digital images. Even processing Tri-X 35mm film myself costs $0.55 each time I press the shutter button. For some reason I don’t flinch. But there are a few things lately that have strained the economic area of my brain.
Continue ReadingRiding-Based Winterization
Accepting Colder Weather
It’s no secret that I ride in cold weather. There may be a growing element of secrecy regarding my feelings about doing it. While the 2006 Vespa GTS 250 scooter is still ready and willing to head out in the coldest weather I cannot make the same claim. Each year as winter approaches I feel a greater resistance to abandoning the warmth and comfort of home so I can continue with my annual riding-based winterization program.
The idea of parking the machine for five or six months did not sit well. Too many warm days during the winter that I would want to ride. And plenty of freezing days where the roads were dry. Twenty years ago I swear I never felt cold. Now I am chilled lingering too long in front of an open refrigerator. But if I am going to avoid draining fuels, pulling batteries, or adding Stabil to tanks, I need to keep riding.
The best method for me now is to start early, ride often, and ease into the cold.
Continue Reading