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| jsprunner | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 31/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 91 | | Location | : | Houston, TX, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 02:23 Post title : Can't believe I waited so long.... | | | Here I am, taking the class, getting my license, and getting my first motorcycle (Tbird!!) at nearly 56 years old back in December, and I'm literally having the time of my life! I don't have anything to compare this too (I've never ridden any other bike other than the 250cc's in the training class), so I'm not sure if it's the Thunderbird, or just enjoying being on a motorcycle whenever I can. 2400 miles in my first 3 months of ownership, and that includes the first month or so when I was still figuring things out in my neighborhood! Now I can't wait to ride 50, 75, 100 miles, stopping to fire up a great cigar, then turning around for the ride back.
Yes, I'm extremely jealous of all of you who have been doing this for a lifetime:) But trust me - I'm trying to make up for lost time!!
What is for you out there? Is it just the ride, or has the TBird invigorated your passion for riding?
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| eightrackpony | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 21/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 53 | | Location | : | Canada |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 02:37 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Congratulations!! Wow you've really shown how to "Go Big or Go Home" !! Enjoy flying on your Bird!!
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| simons_thunder | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 20/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 248 | | Location | : | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 03:19 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Hey Jeff,
Great to hear your story and pretty good jumping on a Bird first up.
For me the Bird is perfect, can go quick, can cruise, can corner (some clearance issues in real twisty stuff just have to lift a foot up) and sounds brilliant. I even get joy out of watching the tree reflections flick by on the chrome headlight and I don't admit this to a lot of people (till now) but actually start smiling in my helmet about how good it all is.
Add to that time with mates and the wife and daughters who like hopping on the back, drinking cappuccinos, pubs, cafe's, not caring what the time is, dressing up in leather (no I didn't say that). Brilliant
Hope you enjoy the many miles to come.
| Heated grips, heated seats, electric screen...etc...etc..
| | Post edited by simons_thunder on 01 Apr 2011 - 05:55 |
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| Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,589 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 05:06 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: simons_thunder) | | | Congrats Jeff and welcome. Big step straight to a Bird, but good for you, stuff going up in cc's gradually
I just love bikes, the bird has certainly given me plenty of fun so far. I still find myself yelling out a big yahoo at 120 kms/ hr on a great day on a great road.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it 
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| magpie | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 1,507 | | Location | : | NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 05:50 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: Leethal) | | |
Jeff,
You have discovered what a lot of us have known for a while......how good is that !!
I always feel better when I come home from a ride. I always feel great when I start it up.
I am 54 . I also wished I had started a lot earlier.
Magpie
| Magpie - "I dream of a better world.....where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned "
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| daz | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,731 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 05:50 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Wow. 1st bike at 56 ! I'm about your age but got my first one in '69. A tiny thing, 160 honda. You really went right for the prize ! But i'll tell you this, you not knowing much about other bikes i can assure you of this....you couldn't have picked a better bike to start on if you had to go big. It feels more like a 900. Have fun, but be careful and remember that now the work begins too....learning to be UBER aware of your surroundings and never let your guard down. Thats the only way guys like me made it to old age on a bike. You're right, they are really fun. But also incredibly dangerous if you aren't fully aware of just how dangerous they can be and how important it is to learn awareness as much as anything else. Not trying to rain on your parade, just want to make you aware of how those of us who've ridden a while made it as long as we did. Now go have a blast !
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 06:16 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | welcome jeff
fantastic story, its great to read news pieces like that where we can empathise and feel your enjoyment
glad your having the time of your life
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| Birdy68 | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,352 | | Location | : | Bad Zurzach, Aargau, Switzerland |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 08:14 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | jsprunner wrote:
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What is for you out there? Is it just the ride, or has the TBird invigorated your passion for riding? |
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 Jeff...
I too started only a short while back, in 2008. It was a Triumph Speedmaster. It was brilliant!
Then at the end of 2009 I traded my Speedmaster with 11'000 km on the clock and rode away with a Black 'Bird! My 'Bird!
I consider myself as a very cautious rider and have no intention to race ahead - rather enjoy the moment I'm in. Stop if the moment is special - take a coffee, take a picture, make mental notes, make memories!
I enjoy the openness - freedom that you get when sat, riding your bike over country roads, the smells and sounds so sharp and ever so real. The feeling of one & machine together navigating their way to destinations free of influence - free of the pressures of time - free of the worry of 'must'.
Listen to your heart - Go your own way!
Happy travels!
Remember - we like pictures!
| Birdy68
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Leave the pork pies for now - get the sausage rolls while they're hot!
 -x-  -x- 
more info at Fuelly.com
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 08:31 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Sssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Dont tell everyone how good the TBird is - there will be none left when I want another.
Glad you like it.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| jsprunner | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 31/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 91 | | Location | : | Houston, TX, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 14:55 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: daz) | | | Thanks for all the great feedback! Not sure why I originally posted, but I just had to tell SOMEBODY who could understand
Trust me, the first week or so after I got it, I was thinking this was a HUGE mistake and maybe I should have started with a scooter or something. But I stayed close to home til I got extremely comfortable with the hand/foot coordination, then gradually ventured onto side streets, etc, and now I go pretty much anywhere - carefully. Still have much to learn and experience, but I work really hard at keeping myself out of bad situations, and if I'm riding with others I just make sure we all know where we're going; I have no problem letting them leave me behind if it means doing something I'm uncomfortable with. (I guess that's called being "old":) Other than practicing my braking on my own, I have yet to be forced into a hard or sudden stop because I try to leave so much space around me. But I know it WILL happen eventually...can't control the knucklehead Texas drivers.
A friend with a Rocket III Classic convinced me that if I went with a smaller bike, I would be trading it within 6 months. I have to think that was great long-term advice, even if it initially scared the you-know-what out of me in the short term. I suspected that the TBird itself was playing a huge role in the fun I'm having and you long-time riders helped confirm it for me. Over the summer I plan to test-ride a few other cruisers & tourers just to get a feel of the differences. Even though I had my license, I didn't even test-ride ANY bikes before I bought the TBird, and I actually had it delivered from 35 miles away.
Oh well, thanks again for indulging me. Looking forward to reading more from you guys in this forum.
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| lioneloxford | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 231 | | Location | : | Oxfordshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 15:11 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | I'm in a similar position.
About the same age as you, not ridden since the late 1970's. Son took a Direct Access Course here in the UK about two years ago and bought a Road King.
I fancied riding again and bought an America, then traded for the Thunderbird.
Before that last bike I had on the road was a 650 Panther.
The thunderbird felt so much different than the America, more comfortable, felt better on the road, more power that comes in a very controllable way.
I read there are two maps for the ECU. twist the throttle slow and you get the slow map, give it a handful and the fast map comes into play.
When I did a test ride, I went through the town, out on a dual carriage way and back, the bike feels so balanced.
Looking forward to the weekend to get a few more mlles on it.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 15:48 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: lioneloxford) | | |
lioneloxford wrote:
Before that last bike I had on the road was a 650 Panther.
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Bet you wish you still have it.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| Anaconda44 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 53 | | Location | : | CT, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 15:50 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Almost the same story for me.
Bought my first mc a few years ago at 46. Played it safe and bought a 07 Honda Shadow 750 to learn on. "Liked" the mc and riding but it didn't invoke any passions in me at all... Averaged about 1500 - 2000 miles a season. Was time to maybe upgrade to a larger bike and the TBird just came out. Sat on it and took it for a test ride, I was hooked!
Shortly after I traded in the Honda and picked up my blue/white 1700 baby!!! I'm so addicted to this thing!! I only rode it for 4 months late last year but put 3800 miles on it!! Ordered a bunch of stuff over the winter from MADSS after finding this site!!
I Wanna Ride!!!
|  2010 Blue/White Thunderbird 1700
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| ray548 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/02/2010 | | Posts | : | 299 | | Location | : | sylmar, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 17:20 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: Anaconda44) | | | Welcome, and have fun catching up. I've been doing it for the last four years. Got the America at 59 and the TB last year. Take your time getting use to it and you will have no problems. It's a matter of attitude and watching out for others on the road. I know conventional wisdom says to start small, but going big kinda of cuts out the middleman.
Daz is right, fun but there is a risk. And everyone takes it different, just ere on the side of caution.
| 2010 TB, 2007 America
2009 Black Bonnie
owned by daughter, but fun to borrow
| | Post edited by ray548 on 01 Apr 2011 - 17:22 |
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| zolti | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 18:26 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: lioneloxford) | | |
lioneloxford wrote:
Before that last bike I had on the road was a 650 Panther.
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get out of here......
no way man......
i had a 600cc sloper, with the decompression lever so i was saved the one way trip to the moon
wish i still had it. used to fire every lamp post. never used t with the side car though
well i never!
enjoy the w/e mate
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| jensen | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 13/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 150 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 20:13 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Jeff, no need to try to explain.
I understand - no - we understand and this is why we do it.
Have fun! 
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| Druid | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 20:45 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jensen) | | | First bike at 44 . Well not counting the yamaha 125 I bought when I just got married that I blew up lol. Kawasaki vn900 to practice on after I passed my test, then on to the Bird .
Its one of the last freedoms left and when you ride others look out of their prison cells and wish they were you but they cant be because they havnt got the balls and because the system has beaten them. To ride is to stick it to the man . To ride is to be free. No traffic jams are going to stop you . You feel the air and you smell the grass after the rain . You ride past other people on bikes and you wave and nod. You talk to complete strangers and you have something in common with each and every one because you ride and are free.
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 21:20 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: Druid) | | | Druid wrote:
First bike at 44 . Well not counting the yamaha 125 I bought when I just got married that I blew up lol. Kawasaki vn900 to practice on after I passed my test, then on to the Bird .
Its one of the last freedoms left and when you ride others look out of their prison cells and wish they were you but they cant be because they havnt got the balls and because the system has beaten them. To ride is to stick it to the man . To ride is to be free. No traffic jams are going to stop you . You feel the air and you smell the grass after the rain . You ride past other people on bikes and you wave and nod. You talk to complete strangers and you have something in common with each and every one because you ride and are free. |
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.... and it pisses the neighbours off on a sunday morning.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
| | Post edited by mat1600 on 01 Apr 2011 - 21:20 |
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| Druid | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 21:45 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: mat1600) | | |
mat1600 wrote:
.... and it pisses the neighbours off on a sunday morning.
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Pubs shut early up there mate? 
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| jsprunner | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 31/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 91 | | Location | : | Houston, TX, United States |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 22:01 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: Druid) | | |
Druid wrote:
First bike at 44 . Well not counting the yamaha 125 I bought when I just got married that I blew up lol. Kawasaki vn900 to practice on after I passed my test, then on to the Bird .
Its one of the last freedoms left and when you ride others look out of their prison cells and wish they were you but they cant be because they havnt got the balls and because the system has beaten them. To ride is to stick it to the man . To ride is to be free. No traffic jams are going to stop you . You feel the air and you smell the grass after the rain . You ride past other people on bikes and you wave and nod. You talk to complete strangers and you have something in common with each and every one because you ride and are free. |
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WOW! I knew there was a visceral response or two out there! I'll try to work this into my answers from here on out!
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 01 Apr 2011 - 23:30 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: Druid) | | |
Druid wrote:
mat1600 wrote:
.... and it pisses the neighbours off on a sunday morning.
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Pubs shut early up there mate?
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Gave the pub a rest so I could get out riding - great warm night. Jacket open and no heated gloves - just fantastic.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| zolti | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 02 Apr 2011 - 06:03 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: mat1600) | | |
mat1600 wrote:
Druid wrote:
mat1600 wrote:
.... and it pisses the neighbours off on a sunday morning.
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Pubs shut early up there mate?
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Gave the pub a rest so I could get out riding - great warm night. Jacket open and no heated gloves - just fantastic.
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and there i was thinking it was you riding home from the pub.
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| Ninox_s | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 755 | | Location | : | Naracoorte, South Australia, Australia |
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| | Posted : 02 Apr 2011 - 06:17 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Welcome Jeff.
Glad you are enjoying the bike. I must admit riding it as a first bike might have intimidated me but well done!
Getting the T/Bird certainly added a new enthusiasm to riding that for me had waned a bit in recent years. A bike that has the comfort, power, style and handling of the Thunderbird cannot fail to inspire.
Not only the bike though.
I think having access to this forum and being able to share ones enthusiasm for the bike with the likes of the people that have already answered your original post, takes ownership to a whole new dimension. While we cannot always agree on everything, it is great to have the opportunity to read of other peoples ideas and alternative perspectives. On those days when you don't have the time, energy or weather to ride, you can participate in an international discussion about one of your passions in life. (With the odd laugh now and again.)
I'm sure that we will all come to enjoy your future contributions to the forum.
Regards Frank
PS Never thought I'd meet a Texan that could appropriately use the word visceral in a sentence?
Obviously went to a different school than some other famous Texan residents.
| I'm Incredible! Believe Me!!
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| jsprunner | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 31/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 91 | | Location | : | Houston, TX, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Apr 2011 - 13:27 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: Ninox_s) | | |
Ninox_s wrote:
Welcome Jeff.
Glad you are enjoying the bike. I must admit riding it as a first bike might have intimidated me but well done!
Getting the T/Bird certainly added a new enthusiasm to riding that for me had waned a bit in recent years. A bike that has the comfort, power, style and handling of the Thunderbird cannot fail to inspire.
Not only the bike though.
I think having access to this forum and being able to share ones enthusiasm for the bike with the likes of the people that have already answered your original post, takes ownership to a whole new dimension. While we cannot always agree on everything, it is great to have the opportunity to read of other peoples ideas and alternative perspectives. On those days when you don't have the time, energy or weather to ride, you can participate in an international discussion about one of your passions in life. (With the odd laugh now and again.)
I'm sure that we will all come to enjoy your future contributions to the forum.
Regards Frank
PS Never thought I'd meet a Texan that could appropriately use the word visceral in a sentence?
Obviously went to a different school than some other famous Texan residents. |
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Well, Frank, eloquently put, and thanks for the words and the welcome. I must come clean though. You are looking at the Rochester, Pennsylvania 4th grade spelling champ. As much as I've loved my 30 years here in Texas, the school systems here get no credit for my vocabulary:) But Texas and it's open roads get lots of credit for much of the fun I've had since I got here!
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| PES | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 03/01/2009 | | Posts | : | 927 | | Location | : | Tulsa, OK, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Apr 2011 - 18:43 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | I'm a little late to the party (as usual), but congratulations Jeff!!  I too thought I had made a big mistake when I first bought my bird. I had come from a TBA I had for 8 years and the T-bird felt huge. Now when I ride my son's America, I feel like I am riding a scooter.
| "Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."-author unknown
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| Ninox_s | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 755 | | Location | : | Naracoorte, South Australia, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 Apr 2011 - 07:51 Post title : Re: Can't believe I waited so long.... (Re: jsprunner) | | | Congratulations Jeff on your 4th grade spelling championship, it shows.
Now if I only knew of an undeserved derogatory generalisation about Pennsylvania and its people I'd probably use it but your safe.
Enjoy the rides and the forum. I'm sure you will want to share some of the thrills and sheer pleasure you get out of the bike as you start to tentatively work out some of its and your limitations. Take your time and keep us posted.
| I'm Incredible! Believe Me!!
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