Today, December 24 I had a experience very unusual....I don't know if because I am alone (the wifey is in San Francisco w/her parents) or because I am missing my daughter and grandson (now in Heaven[smiley=angel.gif]) too much for these Christmas day or maybe is a mix of everything.....
Anyway, the day started beautiful here in South Florida...sunshine, open skys (it had been rainining for several days), 80 degrees and breezy [smiley=divers009.gif].....I had to clean the CUSE because since Terry and Suzanne had been here after Thanksgiving day the bike needed a real wash...almost a month had passed by...so I took her out of the garage and left beautiful, shine, polished, detailed [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif].
So right after I put her back inside the garage I looked the VRSCSE and I felt that she was looking at me and asking: how about me? Do I deserve to be clean as well? :'(All the memories came out and started to remember the first time that I saw her....that was during the Posse Rally back in August '04 (In the attached pic Martha is on her that day) when I fell in love with her (with the bike not with Martha
) and said myself that I had to have that bike some day. Three months later I was attending the Florida State Rally in Leesburg (Central Florida), went to the dealer there and saw her in the showroom......I approached to a guy and asked: Are you a salesman here? He answered: Yes, may I help you? So I told him: I am participating in the rally and very interested in this bike pointing the VROD SE orange/black......I handled him a CD with several pics of a Fatboy 2001 and a Sportster 2003 that I had and willing to give in trade so I said him: take a look of this CD and let me know what deal we can make.........I left from there and anxious to hear from him the following week....He called me next Monday and told me: Give me 5 grand and your bikes and the VROD is yours....I couldn't believe that I was going to be an owner of that bike.....it was a good deal for me since I had both bikes paid. I gave him my cc for the deposit and then Friday after Thanksgiving day I put both bikes in the trailer and headed to Leesburg. I picked her up, put in the trailer and back home.......again I couldn't believe, I was so happy[smiley=huepfenjump3.gif].
During the year 2005 I rode once a while and I put 3500 miles on it......Martha never wanted to be behind because she said that the passenger seat was unconfortable...(I can't argue) so I was a solo rider everytime that I rode it.....
My CUSE was delivered in January of 2006 and I forgot the VROD, I left "abandoned" in the garage, I NEVER rode it, I NEVER washed, I NEVER took care of her, the registration expired in April and I didn't mind to renew it so I couldn't ride. Several times when I tried to turn it on the battery was dead so again I left abandoned to her destiny..........
So back today when I woke up of remembering all the past I felt guilty
and at the same time very angry
and sad
for my behavior during the present year.
I took her from the garage and I made the same treatment than the CUSE. I found the bottom of the triple tree rust and other parts as well......more :-?
I was........I said myself that this is not going to happen again [smiley=nervous.gif]
After I took a shower I put on a VRODSE shirt which I didn't wear for more than a year and went for a ride. First I went to a gas station to ckeck the air pressure (front tire 10 instead of 36 and rear tire 12 instead of 38) [smiley=nixweiss.gif]. A couple of persons admired the bike asking questions about her: model, year, cc, etc. After that I went to have lunch and again more people stared and admired that beauty.......it was shiny and clean [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
To make this story short I now decided not to sell the bike. I had been in the last couple of months looking for the way how to get rid of her and get another bike......Now, I don't want to sell it.....I will keep it!! If I sell it NEVER I was going to have it again......
So I am planning to install the wide tire kit & brembo brakes (standard in '06), better seat (maybe Corbin) so my wife seats confortable and no complaint, windshield, saddle bags, and other goodies to make it suitable for short rides like inside the city or going to Daytona and of this way having the CUSE only for long rides.......
Now I am happy [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif] to have a project for next year and to take her to Daytona Bike Week next March and then [smiley=drink.gif] and more [smiley=drink.gif].
Merrry Christmas and God Bless all of you mis amigos.........
Jorge [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]
Jorge, what a touching post, and I'm so glad you've decided to keep the VRod. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] It's a beautiful bike.

As Terry mentioned, he was so sweet

to add the extras to his VRod to make it comfortable for me as a passenger. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] Tell Martha that she will love riding the VRod once you make the additions. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
We can't wait to follow the progress of the rebirth of that beautiful bike.

Terry will be more than happy to offer advice.

I wish we had time to come visit and Terry could help you with the transformation. Once it's done, we'll have to have a VRod party! [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif]
Happy and Safe Trails to You and Martha,
Suzanne