I'm back--I think
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:10 pm
Well, I'm back, I think. I've been distracted for quite a while now. My focus has been on my new (to me) home in Boise, primarily getting my new shop with attached den (The den is not a man-cave, though the casual observer might not be able to discern the difference between the two.) I know, I know. Pics! It ain't so if there's no pics. But I have a plan for that. I have an old high school friend in a nearby town who is a photographer. As you might surmise, from all these years of no pics from me here on Boxerworks, I'm inept and haven't mustered the fortitude/will to become ept. That's still the case, but my plan is to give him beers and otherwise amuse him while he takes some good pics of my shop and den. He's also computer ept so hopefully he'll 'train' me on how to set up an account on one of the pic hosting sites.)
You may wonder why I've been away from Boxerworks for so long. Me too. What has happened is that I have submerged myself in my music. I'm still not a very good musician, but I like my singing and playing much better now than I did. Admittedly the main driver has not been to become a musician, but rather to exercise and improve my brain, so I can be all that I can be. This has come about because I recognize some short term memory issues and my Dad was an example of what not to do. He used to joke that he knows all that he needs to know. I shuddered at hearing him say it then and his view didn't serve him well.
But there's another factor that's leading me back to Boxerworks. Make that two factors. Recently I gave my brother an '82 RT, one that I bought some years ago and never got around to doing anything with it. He has been a dyed in the wool Harley rider, but now he's refocusing on airheads. So he and I will be working on his 'new' airhead to get it up and running well. That, if noting else, will get my airhead 'juices' flowing again.
But I really don't need an external impetus. Those of you who have been to the Boxerworks rallies at my place in Oklahoma will remember my '77 S bike. It had a custom paint job (red) which wasn't half bad. But a few years ago I commissioned Justin Bowser (who most of you know) to paint up some bodywork for my S bike. And as Terry and I are working on getting his RT running I will also be installing the bodywork on my S bike. And that has gotten my juices going.
The bodywork (tank, fairing, fenders etc.) is done in a Smoke Red, though I didn't try to duplicate the BMW colors. And I'm itching to finally see my '77S bike in it. I even have the scarce 3/4 solo seat in addition to the usual long seat. I expect it to look gorgeous, but likely it won't fit my butt as well as the regular seat. But that's not a problem. Just having that good looking solo seat is worth the price of admission.
Before I close this message I have to talk a little more about the den. It is part of my large dream shop, but is entirely a separate room, plus a bathroom including a by gawd urinal for us guys! I spend quite of bit of time in the den. It is a place I like to hang out in even just by myself.
The floor is a painted concrete, a high tech paint with speckles in it. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. The walls are done with knotty pine with semi-gloss varnish. The ceiling is conventional sheet rock. Around the walls I have lots of memorabilia. I have flags draped on the wall including the three states that have been important to me and some motorcycle flags, specifically Harley Davidson, Triumph, and BMW. (They don't make other flags I would want such as Husqvarna, BSA, Royal Enfield, and such.) I also have those steer horns that used to hang on the porch in Oklahoma. Also hanging on the wall is a Hagstrom electric guitar (much like the first guitar I owned) and the lap steel guitar that my dad played with me chording behind him). And the tin motorcycle signs that used to hang in the garage in Oklahoma and now on the wall of the den. I have some comfy chairs to sit in and the obligatory fridge with beer and soft drinks. I also have a book case half full of various motorcycle books.
I've got to get those pics posted, but it will be a while.
Also in the Den I have two motorcycle engines displayed on top of rolling tool boxes. There's the BSA Gold Star engine and transmission that graced the garage in Oklahoma, and the engine from my brother's hot rod Harley. Soon to come will be an airhead engine. Years ago I bought a parts bike airhead with no title so that engine will go on display.
Oh, I almost forgot. Also on the wall are the two posters that used to hang on the ceiling in the garage in Oklahoma. They are of racing airheads, back in the day.
The motorcycles I have on display on the floor are my '78 R100S 'Touring', my '82 RS, my '78 Triumph Bonneville, my old '57 Triumph Thunderbird, and my '74 Clews CCM motocrosser.
Also in the den I have a sound system set up so I can sing and play to myself. I love the sound I hear from the sound system (with a bit of reverb). I also credit the Shure SM58 mic for making me sound better than I am.
I know this post if filled with braggadocio, but what you're reading is really enthusiasm (may story and I'm stickin' to it).
Ken
You may wonder why I've been away from Boxerworks for so long. Me too. What has happened is that I have submerged myself in my music. I'm still not a very good musician, but I like my singing and playing much better now than I did. Admittedly the main driver has not been to become a musician, but rather to exercise and improve my brain, so I can be all that I can be. This has come about because I recognize some short term memory issues and my Dad was an example of what not to do. He used to joke that he knows all that he needs to know. I shuddered at hearing him say it then and his view didn't serve him well.
But there's another factor that's leading me back to Boxerworks. Make that two factors. Recently I gave my brother an '82 RT, one that I bought some years ago and never got around to doing anything with it. He has been a dyed in the wool Harley rider, but now he's refocusing on airheads. So he and I will be working on his 'new' airhead to get it up and running well. That, if noting else, will get my airhead 'juices' flowing again.
But I really don't need an external impetus. Those of you who have been to the Boxerworks rallies at my place in Oklahoma will remember my '77 S bike. It had a custom paint job (red) which wasn't half bad. But a few years ago I commissioned Justin Bowser (who most of you know) to paint up some bodywork for my S bike. And as Terry and I are working on getting his RT running I will also be installing the bodywork on my S bike. And that has gotten my juices going.
The bodywork (tank, fairing, fenders etc.) is done in a Smoke Red, though I didn't try to duplicate the BMW colors. And I'm itching to finally see my '77S bike in it. I even have the scarce 3/4 solo seat in addition to the usual long seat. I expect it to look gorgeous, but likely it won't fit my butt as well as the regular seat. But that's not a problem. Just having that good looking solo seat is worth the price of admission.
Before I close this message I have to talk a little more about the den. It is part of my large dream shop, but is entirely a separate room, plus a bathroom including a by gawd urinal for us guys! I spend quite of bit of time in the den. It is a place I like to hang out in even just by myself.
The floor is a painted concrete, a high tech paint with speckles in it. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. The walls are done with knotty pine with semi-gloss varnish. The ceiling is conventional sheet rock. Around the walls I have lots of memorabilia. I have flags draped on the wall including the three states that have been important to me and some motorcycle flags, specifically Harley Davidson, Triumph, and BMW. (They don't make other flags I would want such as Husqvarna, BSA, Royal Enfield, and such.) I also have those steer horns that used to hang on the porch in Oklahoma. Also hanging on the wall is a Hagstrom electric guitar (much like the first guitar I owned) and the lap steel guitar that my dad played with me chording behind him). And the tin motorcycle signs that used to hang in the garage in Oklahoma and now on the wall of the den. I have some comfy chairs to sit in and the obligatory fridge with beer and soft drinks. I also have a book case half full of various motorcycle books.
I've got to get those pics posted, but it will be a while.
Also in the Den I have two motorcycle engines displayed on top of rolling tool boxes. There's the BSA Gold Star engine and transmission that graced the garage in Oklahoma, and the engine from my brother's hot rod Harley. Soon to come will be an airhead engine. Years ago I bought a parts bike airhead with no title so that engine will go on display.
Oh, I almost forgot. Also on the wall are the two posters that used to hang on the ceiling in the garage in Oklahoma. They are of racing airheads, back in the day.
The motorcycles I have on display on the floor are my '78 R100S 'Touring', my '82 RS, my '78 Triumph Bonneville, my old '57 Triumph Thunderbird, and my '74 Clews CCM motocrosser.
Also in the den I have a sound system set up so I can sing and play to myself. I love the sound I hear from the sound system (with a bit of reverb). I also credit the Shure SM58 mic for making me sound better than I am.
I know this post if filled with braggadocio, but what you're reading is really enthusiasm (may story and I'm stickin' to it).
Ken
