Well That’s Odd
TL;DR DNS was broken after a server move causing requests to go to old server. Some posts have gone MIA..No clue where.
If you checked out my blog recently you might have noticed it hasn't been around. My hosting company moved my sites to a new server and didn't update DNS settings which caused all requests to go to the old server. So, that's awesome. In other news it also seems that I'm missing posts. No clue where they went. I'm looking at my old database backups to see if they're hiding there.
Trip Planning
There really isn't anything that makes me happier than trip planning. Motorcycle trip planning that is. I love the entire process from looking at Google Maps trying to find a place to go, to actually planning the route. I try not to over plan b/c having done that before I felt locked into doing everything I had listed and it was a vacation full of stress. Now, I just plan the initial route to get to where ever it is that I'm going and the route back (usually going a different way that I went). Leaving days at the destination open to exploration.
Now don't get me wrong I do look for stuff to do at the destination, but instead of "yes I will go to X" it's more of a note filed away of stuff to see if I don't find anything else more interesting.
Music Memory Monday (Bring It On Edition)
Heard this song during the last season of Sons of Anarchy and I was hooked. It fit the scene and intensity level perfectly and I get fired up everytime I hear it.
Straylight Run - Hands in the Sky (Big Shot)
[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/jtRhi-P_MjM ]
Music Memory Monday (Special “Not Monday” Edition)
In honour of the 20th anniversary of Metallica's "Black Album" I thought I'd post one of my favorite songs from that album..This was the first CD I ever bought. I remember sitting on the floor in my room simply amazed at the sound, the lyrics, everything about it..Simply perfection.
This is one album that I love every single track, but here's one of my absolute favs "The God That Failed".
Music Memories Monday
I thought I'd start a semi-regular posting schedule around here so I sat down to figure out what I wanted to write about...I still don't really know but I came up with "Music Memories Monday". Basically it's going to be me linking to a song/video/lyrics of a song that has impacted me.
I love music of all types. Growing up I'd always listened to the radio and radio in rural Mississippi consisted of top 40, country, classical, and more country.
I heard this song when I was stationed in Korea...I couldn't get enough of it. The first time hearing it was at a party in the barracks of the unit I was attached to and I'm fairly certain I had been drinking which may or may not have made a difference 
. But, without further ado here is the band Bush and their song Machinehead...
The New Ride
For those that don't follow me on FB and/or Twitter, back on Memorial Day I added a new pony to the stable. I bought a Harley (insert gasps and various snide comments here, I'll wait....)
Since I sold my Jeep in February I've been a single motorcycle kind of guy. The entire time I've been worried about what I would do if my current bike broke down or I attempted to make upgrades over a weekend and didn't get things buttoned back up before work time. I knew that I didn't want to go back to 4 wheels, I'm actually *really* enjoying being 100% motorcycle. It makes some things difficult but I've found ways around the hard parts and I'm managing quite well.
I finally decided that I wanted another bike and I wanted a Harley (see above to post gasps and various snide comments kthxbye). For those that know me I've talked a lot of smack about Harley. My personal favorite comment about The MoCo is "Harley is the greatest clothing and accessory company to every put a motorcycle out". Funny right? Well, I thought so..Anyway, I do them credit for marketing. Man can they market that bike. Looking at the bike I have (more on that later) and one that was made in 1999 I would be hard pressed to tell the difference just by looking at them. Slap a new paint scheme on the bike and limited to no mechanical improvements and Harley calls that a new model year. Brilliant marketing, shitty for someone looking for new features.
Thanks to many visits to a local bookstore who is well stocked on "American Bagger" magazines I developed a crush on the Road Glide model Harley. There are simply so many options and accessories and ways to customize the bike that the bug to get one just kept growing and growing and growing. After several months of internal debate I pulled the trigger and picked up a 2007 Road Glide. The bike is used with over 44k miles on it...Due to a colossal mix up at the dealership I was able to pick it up for a great price and get a full 4 year warranty on the bike.
Having a second bike has really taken a lot stress off me, stress that I didn't fully realize was there until it was gone. Now I can mess around and take things apart and not worry about being stranded.
I'm looking to start buying parts and slowly customize the bike over the next few years...Luckily parts are plentiful and moderately priced. So if anyone is looking for gift ideas let me know and I'll point you towards the correct wish list.
On to the pictures!
Bike the day I picked it up:
Two bikes together:
I haven't been able to find any pics on exactly what I want..But it's going to be blacked out with a big front wheel with air ride that let's me drop it all the way to the ground so I won't need a kickstand.
I'm working on another post comparing my 2 bikes but I need a bit more ride time to get used to the new(to me) bike.
Until then....
Paint Project
If you know me, you know I don't like chrome...at all...I took my windshield apart a while back and had it powdercoated black. I loved the look but since I had no place to keep my bike UV rays faded the paint really quickly and it looked worse than it did when it was chrome. Last week I ripped it apart again and tried something different this time. Instead of using paint I picked up some truckbed liner. For those unfamiliar it's a textured paint that hardens and should withstand the abuses that a truckbed sees. It's also fairly UV resistant.
Still together
First coat done
Second coat done
I'm going to let this coat dry and I may do a third coat. I've found that I really enjoy the process of cleaning, prepping, and painting all the bits. I seem to remember there are other colors of bedliner so I may get creative and see what comes out
More Space!!
In November of this year I'll have had my bike for 3 years. Throughout that entire time I've had space issues with the stock saddlebags. It had always been more of an inconvenience and really only affected me during camping trips on the bike. When I sold my Jeep a could of months ago I ran into some issues I hadn't really thought about...Grocery buying, secure storage, etc..After much thought I decided to drop the bucks to get some high quality hard bags that are lockable. I ended up getting the Corbin FleetLiner Saddlebags.
I finally got them installed today and these things are *huge*. And since it's taken me an hour to type this little bit, I'll stop and post pics now 
One side done:
All done and open:
Get Your Shit Together, This Is Going To Happen
My house to Deadwood SD, 1815 miles...This *is* going to happen....
I Hate Rust
Now that I'm 100% two wheels I've had some rust on my bike that's been bothering the hell out of me everytime I ride. I thought the pieces were just shitty chrome covers but turns out they're not actually covers..I decided I would sand the rust off with some 200 grit sandpaper and the hit it with some bed liner paint..Think Rhino Lining for truck beds..It's textured and drys to a really hard finish. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.
Rusty and Nasty
Sanded and not so rusty
Taped off ready for paint
The finished product
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