Recently I once again admitted that I am a Sportster guy. In actuality, I've only owned four of them in forty years. Except for an MV Augusta and a Munch Mammut (but I know guys who did own them), I've pretty much driven everything on two wheels.

But I cannot shake my love of Sportsters, and that's a desire above all others. I won't turn my head to look at anything (even some women), but when I see a Sportster go by I cannot help myself. Oh, I toyed with the idea of getting a Suzuki R109 as a second bike, but frankly, it would never be a Sportster.

When some unexpected inheritance money appeared (magically) as the then new 2010 Sportster 48s came onto the scene, I jumped. It had just enough modern parts to be realistic (electric starter, EFI and oil tightness) in my adult life, but it retained enough 'outlaw' to make the bike fun to ride.

So why would a guy park a 32K dollar chrome-plated, asphalt-shredding ego machine just to drive a primitive, flighty, juvenile wet brick like a Sportster?

Well, I would, and I've never been happier in this latter half of my adult biker comsumption. I threw a sheet over Betty. Yes, I feel guilty about it. I love Betty, and I love the idea of two bikes. And if a friend wants to do some serrious long distance trekking on the slab, Betty is the clear choice.

But if it's just me and a sunny afternoon with nothing to do, I'll take "Spinner," and I don't know why.

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 01-105.jpg

easy
spinner =

LOL. I know, I know. I have been seduced by the miniscule side of the Force. Little bikes, big fun.

Guilt, flat out guilt. Betty had to have a new battery installed this winter. I had her on the battery tender, but she really hadn't been run for a longer period out on the slab. It was fairly warm and dry here in Wisconsin on Thursday (or Friday, maybe, all days look alike to retired guys) and I honestly went to the gym early to go ride Spinner. There Betty sat...

A few pangs of confusion later I'm on Betty headed north on 39/90/94, in the opposite direction of free latte' at the dealership. Oh, I did have a blast. I made a big loop, blasted down a few on-ramps, passed a few Kenworths on the lean side of being prudent and actually earned that free latte' later on. Always fun.

(It did feel odd to roll up +70 miles without a fuel warning light popping on, however.)

But you know the adage, "Shut up and ride." I retired young, Betty is beautiful, the sun was actually shining and the coffee was free. Horrible, horrible way to live.

yeah I completely agree...

Nothing on two wheels moved today. We had thunderstorms. I did stop off at the bookstore on my way home from the gym and passed two long distance bikers seeking shelter at the mall. They were in drenched rain gear, frozen to the bone and seeking scalding coffee.

Tomorrow it will be in the 70s, dry and sunny. I'll take Spinner out in the afternoon and report on any shenanigans I produce...