Motorcycle Swap Meet

Motorcycle Swap Meet

I made it out to the Fort Worth Texas Scooter Times Motorcycle Swap Meet last Sunday. I went early with two of my sons; Joshua and Jacob with my grandson Ryan. There were a few vendors still getting set up but the majority of them were ready for business. There were all types of vendors and wares for sale from all over Texas.

We saw stuff for guys, gals and kids. Of course, almost all of the miscellaneous motorcycle parts were for Harley’s. I think you could have purchased all the parts there to put together a complete bike.

The swap meet seemed to be well attended with a lot of people going through and carrying armloads stuff they had purchased.

Jake bought a pickup piggybank for Ryan which he pushed around making engine sounds on our second time around the swap meet.

Ryan on the strangest ride out there

Of course I did not get out unscathed and purchased a raccoon tail for Joshua. We were there about an hour and a half and headed home. Texas Scooter Times has Swap Meets scheduled for Houston and San Antonio in the near furure. They have a Video walk through on their website. Be sure and check one out when they come to a town near you.

Ride on,
Torch

Honest Scrap Award

Midlife Motorcycle Madness Has Received the

Honest Scrap Award

Yes, Midlife Motorcycle Madness has won another award that appears to have been circulating the blogosphere since 2008. The Honest Scrap award was given to me by Nancy Frye-Swope from The Retired Biker Housewife Blog. I am honored to have received the award and I too will attempt to pay it forward.

Here are the rules of the Honest Scrap Award:

Thank the person who gave the award and list their blog and link it.

Share “10 Honest Things” about yourself.

Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.

Tell those 7 people they’ve been awarded Honest Scrap and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award

Here are the “10 Honest Things” about myself:

1. Interesting enough, Nancy Frye-Swope is currently working on a fictional novel, Ride the Warrior’s Fury, which takes place in the past and unbeknownst to her, I am working on a Science Fiction novel called Future Cycle, based in the future. However, she is in the final stages of her novel and I am just in the beginning of mine.

2. I have a very eclectic taste in music but cannot sing one note or carry a tune with a bucket. I like the genres of Classic Rock, Rock, Instrumental Rock, Oldies, Classic Country, Country, Classic Blues, Modern Blues, Christian Rock, R&B, Motown, Soul, Praise & Worship and Jazz. I love to hear a good solo or jam on any musical instrument that is played well. I would try to list some favorites but I just like too many. I have a huge music collection.

3. I’m pretty good at guessing the band or artist by just hearing part of the music, remember Name That Tune?

4. I am a fairly large individual, 6’2” quiet, and do not smile much, but I'm a softy at heart. I tear up way too easily at the movies.

5. I enjoy reading Science Fiction, Science books, the Bible, anything motorcycle or firearm related, and Christian literature.

6. I own a beautiful Guild acoustic guitar and a wine colored Fender Stratocaster but can only strum chords.

7. I have a terrible memory and can only remember about 3 phone numbers, my social security number, my driver’s license number, my anniversary date, my wife’s birthday, and my 6th child’s birthday, (born on our anniversary), but can remember millions of song lyrics.

8. I consider myself to be very antisocial. I’m a loner, hate crowds, meeting new people and strange places. I just never know what to say, but most people tend to like me once they get to know me.

9. I am very sarcastic and have an extremely warped sense of humor that often times will get me into trouble if I am not careful.

10. I am extremely acrophobic, scared of heights. I can’t even look at a movie when they peer over the edge of a precipice.

Whew, glad that is over.

OK here are the Seven Bloggers I wish to bestow the Honest Scrap Award to:

1. Stephanie aka Iowa Harley Girl from the many thoughts of harleygirl. She is winning all kinds of awards and deservedly so.

2. Stacy at bolty.net. Can't wait to hear about her new bike.

3. Bob from Bobscoot: West Coast Scootin. A true photofest.

4. Jack Riepe on Twisted Roads by Jack Riepe. Jack always tells it like it is, or rather how he sees it, lol.

5. Steve Williams over at Scooter in the Sticks. Two wheels & a camera, what more could you want?

6. Chessie from Chessie’s Tales, Motorcycles and Rides. A blast of good information.

7. Allen’s Allen Madding’s Musings. Always good info.

There are too many great blogs out there to choose from.

Ride on,
Torch

Kewlmetal Kewlock Review

Kewlmetal Kewlock Review

My Mistress, a 2003 Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic, came with Kuryakyn ISO grips and a pair of Kewlmetal Kewlocks already installed when I purchased her used. I must say that I have found the Kewlocks one of the most useful accessories on the bike, especially since purchasing a Scorpion EXO-1000 full face helmet for winter and rain riding. It gets used almost every day during the winter now.

Here is a shot of the Scorpion EXO-1000 hanging from the Kewlock, (click on all photos for larger image).

On the V-Star the factory helmet lock is ingeniously located on the left rear fender so that if you install a set of saddlebags it renders it absolutely useless. Makes you wonder just what the engineers were thinking, or smoking, when they designed the bike. Anyway, Kewlmetal has designed a useful accessory to add a helmet lock to the end of one or both sides of your handlebars or grips called a Kewlock.

I know she needs a bath, but keep in mind I almost always ride and its winter.

You can get installation directions online at their website to see how they are installed. Once they are installed they are simple to use. They come with a key which fits into the end of the lock. When the key is turned in the lock a center spring loaded pin pops out about ¼ an inch which opens the slot in the side of the lock. You simply slide in one of the metal rings from your helmet strap into the slot and push the pin back into the lock and it automatically locks the pin in place with the helmet ring inside.

Close up of Kewlock side view of lock with pin in center.

If you do not have a ring that will fit up into the Kewlock slot they make extenders that make it easier to attach. The extenders are a 1 ½ inch thin piece of metal that can be slid into your helmet ring and has a hole on the opposite end that fits easily into the Kewlock. I have not had to use an extender but I do have to turn the helmet rings sideways to get them to fit up into the lock far enough to lock in. Kewlmetal also has neat designer helmet lock extensions on their website.

Closer shot of the helmet ring inside Kewlock.

I usually do not lock up my half helmet at work or at home in the garage; I just lean it on the right saddlebag or hang it on the right handlebar. I do lock it up anytime I go someplace public. My full face helmet I always lock up, the darned things are just too danged expensive. The only disadvantage to using the Kewlocks that I have found is that if your bike happens to get caught out in a shower your helmet gets soaked inside. Don’t ask me how I know. However, that can happen even when not using Kewlocks though.

You can store your gloves & other headgear inside your helmet.

Kewlmetal Kewlocks are a simple tool that makes riding much more convenient and when left unattended, your helmet much more secure. Torch gives the Kewlmetal Kewlocks a M.M.M. Rating of 9.5 on a scale of 1-10.

Ride on,
Torch

Note: All picture except the top one taken with an old little Sony DSC-S650 7.2 Mega Pixel camera.