WWJD
Donating Member
he didn't die, he just moved on.
There was this guy at my dealership who used to tune race bikes at the track for a number of years. he's been riding/tuning/mechanic for decades. He was the BEST and I could always tell he was the one the tuned my bike when I took it in.
He saw the number on the nose cone, the low lean faring scrape, realized what I was doing and he set me up. tuned the suspension to my weight, added an adjustable cam tensioner thingy, safty wired it, installed the sliders, and ALWAYS did all the little things great machanics do like checking all the bolts and cleaning parts I never see - basically kept my bike in excellent shape. I would ALWAYS demand he be the one to work on it and my stop ins were good money so they treated me like royalty [almost annoying so]. But man, did my bike feel tight and new every time he touched it.
Well, businesses change and he left the dealer joining with a band of local high end QUALITY chopper makers. Which is really kind of a dream come true for him.
I happened by the chopper place today and caught him outside fixing up someone's ride, and asked him what it would take to get him to work on my Hayabusa again. Tween the chopper action and family life, it just wasn't gonna happen. He recommended another place besides the dealer, and I thanked him and went on my way. At least I tried. the cold reality of it finally solidified today. Time to move on.
hats off to the guy for getting where he really wanted to be. AND for putting family first. I'll make do with the dealer's new blood, but it is always sad when certain phases in life come to an end. Having a GREAT mechanic who is dedicated beyond the call of paycheck duty, knows and loves his work, is a phase I wish could have lasted longer.
There was this guy at my dealership who used to tune race bikes at the track for a number of years. he's been riding/tuning/mechanic for decades. He was the BEST and I could always tell he was the one the tuned my bike when I took it in.
He saw the number on the nose cone, the low lean faring scrape, realized what I was doing and he set me up. tuned the suspension to my weight, added an adjustable cam tensioner thingy, safty wired it, installed the sliders, and ALWAYS did all the little things great machanics do like checking all the bolts and cleaning parts I never see - basically kept my bike in excellent shape. I would ALWAYS demand he be the one to work on it and my stop ins were good money so they treated me like royalty [almost annoying so]. But man, did my bike feel tight and new every time he touched it.
Well, businesses change and he left the dealer joining with a band of local high end QUALITY chopper makers. Which is really kind of a dream come true for him.
I happened by the chopper place today and caught him outside fixing up someone's ride, and asked him what it would take to get him to work on my Hayabusa again. Tween the chopper action and family life, it just wasn't gonna happen. He recommended another place besides the dealer, and I thanked him and went on my way. At least I tried. the cold reality of it finally solidified today. Time to move on.
hats off to the guy for getting where he really wanted to be. AND for putting family first. I'll make do with the dealer's new blood, but it is always sad when certain phases in life come to an end. Having a GREAT mechanic who is dedicated beyond the call of paycheck duty, knows and loves his work, is a phase I wish could have lasted longer.
