another wanderer from Texas

[graler]

Wandering about on the interwebs. See a post on FB for some FJR stuff for sale. It lists this site. Say what? How long has this been here? I have stayed between the lines on the other place. Never strayed off and gotten into trouble. I do appreciate all of the help that I have received from these resources and when I can I will also provide advice and assistance. My motorcycle life started as a very young boy on the mini bikes with Briggs and Stratton. I graduated to the Honda 50 and 75. Then finally to the Yamaha 125 and 175 bikes. Then I stopped riding for decades - life happens. I wake up when I was 47 and want a project. Picked up a Honda Nighthawk 450 - cheap. Gave the keys to my wife with the instructions not to give them back until I completed an MSF course. Cleaned the carbs, cleaned rust out of the tank. New tires. Got it running. Took the MSF course got my license. Rode that bike until one day on Craigslist the Nighthawk 700 I always wanted showed up. Picked it up. Cleaned and rebuilt the carbs, cleaned the tank, new tires and rode the crap out of that bike. Started taking longer rides. 1 year later. Spotted an Honda ST. Hmmmm longer distances - hmmmmm. Started doing some research. Came across the FJR. Started shopping. It is 2010. Found an 06 listed in West Texas. Price was too high. Start the negotiation. Walk away from the table a few times. Owner calls me - right price - needs to go - he is collecting Ducatis, needs more space. Tank has a new ding from being trailered. Price moves down. 1400 miles on the bike - call the dealer, dealer tells me to come rescue this garage queen. On a plane helmet in hand. Take the bike for a ride, hand off a check and ride 300 miles home - with the biggest grin ever. Nighthawk sells in hours. Great guy. Been a farkling fool. Lights, seat, smuggler, GPS, Volt Meter, grips, fuseblock, Sena. New job has me driving too much for work 16 states to cover. Not much bike time. Hope to change that this year. Too many planes, too much stuff to carry.

Sorry this is so long - not a claim I can make very often. Glad to be here. Hope I can contribute.

Graler - or otherwise known as Joe.
PS. I am a Sales Rep for 3M. Communications Products - Fiber Optics and stuff.

[fontanaman]

Welcome to the FJR Riders forum. Nice story and it is short considering it covered many years. Similar to my story but I never really quit riding.

[HotRodZilla]

Glad you're here.

[Old Michael]

.
Sorry this is so long - not a claim I can make very often.

Good to have you, Graler.
Sorry this is so short. (Bust says that a LOT!)

[fontanaman]

.
Sorry this is so long - not a claim I can make very often.

Good to have you, Graler.
Sorry this is so short. (Bust says that a LOT!)

+1 Gunny And that is just too damn badddddd.

[0face]

Welcome Aboard!

[El Toro Joe]

Welcome from the north coast of Ohio...and yes it's still snowing here.

[wheatonFJR]

Welcome graler!

Like you I always color between the lines...

[beemerdons]

Glad you're here.

+1, Gunny! JSNS!

[Bust]

I don't know about Texas after seeing this Band? I think O'Keeffe is the front man.

http://youtu.be/Y7sLYNwevDQ

Welcome graler

[graler]

OMG - that is now filed in the things that cannot be unseen category.

It does make one wonder what exactly Bust was searching for when he ran across that particular video.

[HotRodZilla]

I don't know about Texas after seeing this Band? I think O'Keeffe is the front man.

http://youtu.be/Y7sLYNwevDQ

Welcome graler

Seriously dude...WTF were you searching for when you found that?

[Bust]

I don't have to search for nasty stuff guys.. The boys in the USMC seem to find everything, and for some reason it ends up in my lap.

Don't let yer kid be a Marine.

[Owsley]

Hi Graler, nice to see you at Lone Star last month. P.