My Story!...Part 2 Sep 09 2013

“SHIFT DOWN…SHIFT DOWN!” my friend Pat yelled over the sound of my rapidly accelerating 197? Suzuki 100 Enduro that must have weighed 700lbs.  Why would I shift down?  We were riding two up and I was fast approaching a hill.  The only thing going through my mind was, “If you’re gonna climb that hill, hit it and hit it hard!”  At the age of 11, little did I know gearing down and grabbing some low-end torque was the right thing to do in this particular situation.  As we sailed through the air I had plenty of time to reflect on my training which consisted of multiple figure eights around my backyard.  I’m sure my dad showed me how to start it and some basics.  Other than that, he went back in the house while his helmet-less son road around and around.
The ground was fast approaching and a colony of goat heads were chanting like a tribe of cannibals salivating for contact with human flesh.  The bike’s engine flooded out from laying on it’s side atop my leg while Pat fought the urge to cry.  At the same time he was giving me permission to release the tear ducts...I can still hear these words today, “You can cry if you want to…I won’t tell.”  
That was it for the bike and my mother forbid any further adventures.  No more riding in the dirt.
Fast forward 20 years.  Driving home one day, gazing over fields of sagebrush as I’d done many times before, I noticed a cloud of dust being tossed in the air from a dirt bike.  I also noticed numerous trails carved through the desert.  Next, I answered an ad in the classifieds and after minor negotiation I shook hands on a deal…it was a straight trade.  I handed him the keys to my beat up  half ton Chevy pickup.  He delivered the bike to my door in his ‘new’ truck.  The bike was an older Honda 500XL that was a PITA to kick.  I quickly put a hole through my shoe; yes, my shoe.  I had no experience working on motorcycles.  All my attention had been spent tinkering with cars.  
I didn’t want to spend any time with the XL but a co-worker aspiring to be a small engine mechanic wanted a project bike.  I sold it to him along with boxes of parts it had come with then scored a great deal on a CR250.  I got the appropriate riding gear and set out to tackle the dirt with a better appreciation of a motorcycle transmission.  A few years prior I bought a Honda Magna 750 and ran around the street like a free man, enjoying the commute to work much more than in my car.  When on the Magna I would stare at the trails lining both sides of the road, fantasizing about hopping across the field and back to the pavement to shave miles off my routes.
Now, with road experience under my belt and my new CR, I tore off down the street and hit the dirt running.  I soon discovered some small mounds that repeated themselves every 3 feet or so, like moguls.  These mounds were amazing, they would suck all the stamina out of my legs.  If I grabbed hold of the bars for better stability the planets would align and I would slip backwards due to the extra burst of the mighty throttle. To this day I can’t comprehend or, better yet, my brain will not allow my hand to whack the throttle wide open ripping across the top of the whoops. They say the same goes for sand…How can it be?  I enjoyed the CR the best I could for a few years, unfortunately, only riding with one other person one time.  His single mission was to convince me to launch my bike over the railroad tracks like the Metal Militia during the X-Games.  I have no doubt that I could send the CR orbiting into the atmosphere since I had prior experience with such a feat; it was the landing that had me worried.  I did work on simple skills and played around on smaller jumps giving that CR everything I had. (*Fouled plugs and all…I didn’t learn until later I was supposed to rap out 2 strokes.) Retiring from dirt bike riding while I was able to walk away injury-free was the foremost thought on my mind.  It would be 7 more years before I scheduled my comeback tour.  If Ozzy Ozbourne can have 6 “Final Tours” I might as well have mine, right?
After the CR I turned my attention back to cars, trucks and Jeeps.  Did I mention I have a family?
In 2003 I acquired a 1977 Porsche 924 “Martini & Rossi” limited addition for pennies.  After applying some TLC I zipped around town with that car for roughly a year.  It was fun car.  
A buddy of mine was storing his 1988 Kawasaki EX500.  The next year Kawasaki started turning out the same or similar bike with a new name: “Ninja.”  Bryan’s bike was cherry and he was the original owner.  It had never been down and if you didn’t know any better you would swear it was the new model.  After some negotiation Bryan and I agreed on a straight across trade (for the Porsche) and we were both happy.  I had a blast on this bike and used it on my first long trip to the Oregon coast, leading my family (there’s that word again) down the twisties to Tillamook, then up the coastline to Cannon Beach.  During this period I also had a 1942 Willy’s Jeep (vehicle number 28).  The Grim Jeeper was lifted, outfitted with a 6 point roll cage and housed a Buick V6.
By this time in my life, my wife and I wanted a larger home with less property.  We moved across town, I sold the Jeep for home improvement funding and decided that I wanted a BIG screen for the new place.  Since my daily commute was within a mile from work the EX would go as well.  Now here’s where it gets sappy.  With no cars to tinker on, no bikes to ride and the home improvements completed, I realized that I had spent countless hours in the shop and not with my kids.  I re-geared my priorities and for three years focused on God, family, friends and my music.
In the summer of 2007 I awoke with what seemed to be a stiff neck from sleeping wrong.  After suffering through a weekend camping trip popping hydrocodone as if it was candy, and just hoping they would help me make it through the next hour, I headed to the chiropractor.  Neck X-rays showed that discs 6 & 7 were out of whack.  All that was needed was to adjust my neck in the other direction opening that space, which would, in turn, relieve the pressure on my nerves.  Six weeks later the CAT scan revealed to the neurosurgeon what I’d been dealing with:  a herniated disc and a piece of it was lodged behind a bundle of nerves … causing hours of pain, pacing the hallway at home in the middle of the night and more friggin’ PAIN!
During this time I befriended my neighbor Tom.  This guy would rip up and down the street on his bright red shiny Buell.  This bike was the bomb.  I hung out at his house and tried to pass the painful time getting involved with the countless hobbies he and his dad were working on.  During my 13 week leave of absence from work (I had spinal successful spinal surgery) Tom was in the mode to sell his BB (Beautiful Buell) and I was convinced that I had to have it.  His new direction was to obtain a BMW GS and go on some long-distance adventures.  I was all set to buy the Buell and was waiting for Tom’s return from what would be his last ride, on what was soon-to-be MY  Buell.  To keep my mind off the BB and neck pain that weekend, I loaded disc 1 of the series, “Long Way Round” which Tom loaned me before leaving for his Mt. St. Helens trip.  Have you seen this film?  It’s awesome!  I watched all 10 discs in one sitting and said, “That’s what I want to do.”
Tom returned from his trip and quickly sold the Buell to some guy across the country and my search for a dual sport machine was on.  After joining ADVrider and KLR.net (my first experiences with the world of online communities) I had my sights pretty much set on the-most-bang-for-my-buck KLR.  I spent the winter months looking for the best deal I could get.  I was hoping the doctors would grant me a full release after surgery recovery.  
My co-worker Mamacone was also toying with the idea of a dual sport and jumped for a very clean 04? in Boise, ID.  We set out early one morning in November on the icy roads asking truck drivers at every little station if the roads were any better over the next hill.  After running out of gas, catching a ride with the Idaho State Patrol and buying a gas can for top dollar we were back on the road ready to trailer home his new KLR.
When we saw the bike I was hoping Allen would pass on it because it didn’t have hard luggage.  It was a clean beauty and I would have snagged it if he had passed.  We went and looked at another one while we were in town and both agreed despite the first one not having Happy Trails bags it was still the better of the two.
January 10th 2008 was my 6 month post-surgery appointment. The doctor signed off on my neck and said everything had healed better than expected and I didn’t to see him anymore.  I drove straight to the bike shop to check out the new ‘08 KLR, no kidding!  The next day I went back and rode it home.  
I enjoyed the bike and did mega mods but only had it eight months.  The KLR’s destiny was to experience traveling from Seattle to Panama with its new owner.  It almost made it out of the U.S. before it was obliterated all over the highway.  It seems that the “Death Wobble” or ”Tank Slapper” got the best of it.  Paul walked away with only bumps & scrapes but otherwise was fine. The KLR was HEAVY and should be called the Rhino if the XR is coined the BRP.  I had my KLR so dolled up it looked like a mini BMW GS.
The goal was to wait until ‘09 to pick up an XR and outfit it as a minimalist adventure bike.   The XR is 100 lbs. lighter than a KLR and more nimble in the dirt.  I trailered mine home from Reno within 2 weeks of letting go of my KLR.  
Now, my history, you see, isn’t going well and my saddle time is minimal…Why?  Maybe I’m a wimp (or gay), not that there’s anything wrong with that.  Maybe a smaller, less-monsterous bike is in order?  Will I try it again?  Probably.  For now I’m looking for something the family can enjoy together.  My son & I did our first mod to our ‘64 VW bug by swapping out the steering wheel to better accommodate my legs.  We had a good time together and he participated greatly.  I spent the last year tinkering with either the KLR or the XR, leaving the family by the wayside on a few occasions.  Without influence from my wife (who by the way has never given me any grief regarding the time spent in the garage or on the trail), I have come to the realization that I don’t enjoy riding in the dirt, gravel roads, or moondust.  Still, to this very minute I love the “idea” of adventure riding.
I started the XR Forum because I couldn’t find a suitable one specific to the XR.  I modeled it after the KLR site and a bit from ADV.  I enjoy the camaraderie, tech tips, mod posting and trip reports.  My hope is that it will continue to grow.  In fact, two more members joined today!  My thought for turning it over to someone else is because I no longer have an XR.  The forum should be administrated by someone with a long history and a future of owning an XR.  Why would you guys want a trader to administer the site?  When I bought the XR and created the forum I had no idea how long the venture would last.  Do I dislike the XR? No, absolutely not.  I simply can’t afford more than one hobby (for lack of a better word) at a time.  I’m truly sorry if I misled anyone.  I’m sorry for disappointing a few.  I hope now that you have the full story you better understand my decision.  I will miss riding for the time being but have no doubt that I will return on two wheels!

Your friend,
~ Focker

I thank you for your work on the site.

You were always cool with me.

Good luck in your adventures dude. We'll be here to welcome you back when you miss the BIG RED PIG and buy another one some day.

Good luck you Focker, I too know the difficulty of balancing family and ride time.
Tim

Focker,

Thanks so much for getting this thing going. It is an excellent resource for us. You see, we all suffer the same affliction. So much cool stuff out there....fuel injection, light weight bikes, electric start, street legal ds from the factories, etc. etc. Yet we seem to NOT want all that. I'll take the sledgehammer hammer please.

I think, maybe, just maybe, like a boomerang, you'll be back. That's my hope anyway.

I, for one, am not willing to let this forum jump the shark.

Thanks again Focker. Even if you do let the reigns go, check in on us from time to time.

R,

Lee

Focker:

Carry on with the site as Admin. You are doing a great job!

Thanks for your efforts, thus far.

Dave

In alot of the forums I go to just because you dont own the product doesnt mean you dont have 2 cents to put in.

I wanst here from the begining, I came in on it later but the results look pretty good

Son of a..... The first post I make is to introduce myself, the second is to bid farewell to the site creator? Well, I sincerely hope everything goes stellar for ya Focker. Thanks for the site and if you pass the torch to someone else, at least check in every now and again and say hello. Take care.

Bruce

I've decided that I'll still administer the site!

Thanx for the great feedback and I'll continue to do my best to keep it running!

~Focker

Read your story. I could relate to the father/son time...when I go riding, I leave him behind (he's not a rider, but did ride when he was a little guy...now he's 16!), and sometimes feel like maybe I will regret the time lost.

Anyway, thanks for continuing to admin the site.

Focker wrote:I've decided that I'll still administer the site!

Thanx for the great feedback and I'll continue to do my best to keep it running!

~Focker

Focker wrote:I've decided that I'll still administer the site!

Thanx for the great feedback and I'll continue to do my best to keep it running!

~Focker

Alright!

Focker wrote:I've decided that I'll still administer the site!

Thanx for the great feedback and I'll continue to do my best to keep it running!

~Focker

Sweet! And Focker, feel free to post up your VW progress. Since we all own 650Rs, *AHEM*, except you, we'll need a reason to flip someone $#!t because of what he rides (drives). lol

Hey gang,

I'm considering handing over the XR650R Forum over to someone else.  I haven't had a XR for over 4 years now and just picked up a 2007 KTM 450 XC with plates.  I'm excited to get back at the "Dual Sport" gig and give it another go.

Any thoughts of a new Admin?  I haven't been to active other than changing/fixing a few things here and there.  I love the growth of this forum and the users who contribute.  I don't want you guys to feel ripped off because the sight Admin isn't a XR owner.  If you don't care then I guess there's no harm in hanging on to it.

~Focker

Focker,
I have just taken over the Kawasaki Rider forum over here in the UK....
http://www.kawasaki-rider.co.uk/phpBB3/
It took a bit of doing but we managed to export the forum from it's current location to my webserver which hosts all my other sites. I can provide server space and admin for the site if your planning on letting it go, no offence intended but it would suit me better bolted onto the www.xr650r.co.uk website which as you know I set-up and maintain.
Failing that if you wanted to maintain the current name and independance of the site then again I can provide the website hosting for free...140gig a month bandwidth and unlimited space not that we need much .
All we would need to do is change the DNS settings to point domain name at my hosting site and the hard part would be moving the database over.
If your interested in any of the above give me a shout....not sure what else I can offer ?

Fooker i wonder how long will the new ( orange ) relationship last   , you seem to be still looking for the perfect bike to fit your needs , i am not sure if the 450 is what you need going by what i just read about you , but who knows it might be the ONE . Just remember it does not matter what you ride , what matter is that you ride  

You did very good job running this forum , but i understand that you dont own XR anymore and possibly lost the enthusiasm about the Pigg ( nothing wrong with that ) .
If i could vote i would like to keep things as they are , but if you feel that you no longer have the drive , resources and time to do this we will understand if you decide to pass the torch on to someone else . Keeping in mind that we are relatively small comunity/group , not as busy as some of the big forums , Mauser i like your idea of merging Pauls site with the forums in case that you take over from Fooker , that can be more practical solution and it could help Paul too ( all he needs to do is to comunicate with potential customers   ) . I dont thing that the forum would change , most people come and gone , only the hard core remains and they stay no matter what  

Mauser wrote:It took a bit of doing but we managed to export the forum from it's current location to my webserver which hosts all my other sites.

Unfortunately the data base with this forum cannot be transferred.  I would just give someone admin rights and probably remain here just in case things went south and my assistance was needed.  Thanks for your willingness to be involved.

Mad Frosty wrote:Fooker i wonder how long will the new ( orange ) relationship last

My friends give me 6 months...

Mad Frosty wrote:If i could vote i would like to keep things as they are

It's not a hardship...We'll see.

~Focker