Mike’s Typo

If Lost can do it, why can’t I.  I’m talking about getting you all lathered up with a series of good shows and then - BAM! - everyone goes on Summer holiday.  What’s with that?

So.  I thought I’d try it.  We’re off to the woods in Canada.  No Internet, no blobs, no newspapers, no cell phones - really no nothin’.  Just nature and us.  It’s a ritual for our family this time of year.  But, it makes it hard to keep the Typo thing goin’.  But, alas, how about we run our own variation of the rerun?  For the next several weeks, you’ll have to re-enjoy some of the posts you saw a while back.  Or, better yet, maybe you didn’t see them.  What a treat that would be to stumble across an outrageous post that you missed!

Here’s what we’re gonna do.  We’re launching a new category called the “Best Of.”  Like the Typo name, it’s pretty descriptive.  But, the idea is, we’ll throw the posts in there that you, our valued readers, have spent the most time reading.  No, not the ones that are the longest.  The ones that more of you read.  Or, you read more of.  Well, you get the point.

Hope you enjoy the “Best Of” until I can get back to civilization.   Better yet, get out and ride.  Enjoy the road!

It’s bike show time. Wow, last year was nuts but this one will be off the charts! Hot bikes, hot women, hot food, hot inventory, hot hot hot hot! Enjoy a BBQ, great music, in-store specials, and more! Get your bike foto’d with our Biker Babes - FREE. Show off your bike - take home a cool trophy. No entry fee. Sunday, August 17, 2008. Registration 10a - 11a.  Whatta ya got to lose?  

How many times has Indian died and risen again?  Certainly this isn’t the second coming.  Third?  Fourth?  Who knows.  But, I’m sure tired of it.  I suppose it’s news.  The “new” Indian company is claiming 2009 models and they are showing pictures to back it up.  So, in the interest of covering the interesting and the absurd - you decide which - here is a link to the site.

Got a touring bike?  Well, I’m your “Accessorizer” (today and today only).  It turns out that Bob Davis reminded me that I am the expert on center stands.  He and I spent a lot of time playing around with this stand and that stand for the CHP project.  Turns out the folks at the Product Design Center (PDC) were PDQ (pretty damn quick) at putting together what I think is the best center stand made for a dresser.

Many of you have gotten a chuckle out of the fact that I can’t seem to get my bike off the center stand.  It’s no problem gettin’ it up there, but then it’s there.  I know.  I know.  How good is it, if you can’t ride it off or push it off (easily)?  Well, BD played a little joke on the boss.  He ran those adjuster bolts way out.  So, when the bikes on the stand - well, it takes some real effort to get it off.  He thought that was a hoot.  There’s pictures of this; even a video.  But, I returned the favor with a little prank of my own in that next paycheck.  I think we’re even now.  Fortunately, Randy took pity on me and put the bolts where they should be.  It’s true I’ve been seen lately just puttin’ the bike up, so I can roll it off.  Thinkin’ about taking it for a ride next.  But that’s another post.

So buy one of these things.  They’re great.  Great for the road.  Great for the garage.  Great for cleaning.

Heck if you buy it from Julian, he’ll probably give you a break on the labor to install it.  Don’t tell him I said that though.

Seems to be what everyone is talking about these days.  So, we’re doing something about it.  See our latest commercial thanks to the magic of YouTube.  I was amazed when I saw the script for this.  Our math and science department worked hard to calculate these astounding statistics.  You’ll be amazed too!  Really makes me wanna get out and ride.

On a more serious note.  Fact is this is always the best time of the year to buy a new Harley.  Haven’t I said that before?  Truth is that we’ve got a bunch of great inventory that we’ve got to find new, loving owners for.  Otherwise, we won’t have room for the more expensive 2009s that are loaded and ready to ship.  We’re pretty thin on Sportsters (more are on their way), but we’ve got a great selection of Softails and touring models.  So.  Really this is the best time to deal on a 2008.  Chance, Sean, and Nick are motivated to do what it takes to get you down the road on your new Harley.  Come see us today!

Hope you enjoy the commercials.

Why didn’t I think of that?  That’s just one of the seven secrets of Southwest Airlines’ success.  This kind of article wouldn’t typically hit the Typo editorial radar.  But, we’re dealing with an airline that for some time has “done everything right.”  So.  When you read this article, you quickly get the sense that it’s the unconventional decisions that fueled their success.  I can just picture Herb Kelleher (Southwest’s founder) riding his Harley with a bunch of buddies - stopping for a beverage - talking about all that’s wrong with the airlines - and then ole Herb sticks out his chest and says, “Shit, I’m gonna start me an airline and do everything the opposite of these yoyos!”  He did it, and, well he was right.  The article is a quick read.  Very interesting.  I’m sure there is a book on it’s way.

Whenever I read that kinda title, my response is always: “Says who?”  But, that title always sucks me in.  So.  Today, Wired magazine’s blog offered up their opinion in the article, Ride the World’s Best Motorcycle Roads.  Still skeptical that the good folks at Wired are qualified to pontificate about the virtues of this road versus that road.  But.  Noting as they did, that many of the roads are California, and specifically northern Cal - their list can’t be all that bad.  I gave it a quick once over and thought, these roads represent a good list to pin on the garage wall and set about tackling.  Read it.  Print it.  Post it.  Knock ‘em off.  Let’s ride!

Novelty helmets - as they are called - are growing in popularity.  Heck, we even sell them.  And, we’re always looking for - well, just the right look.  A brit bike friend sent this link along.   (Follow the link and then search for “skull helmet.”)  He thought it was more appropriate for our bad-ass, open-throttle, hell-raisers.  Warning: these helmets aren’t DOT or Snell approved.  Oh, but I think the point is, “who cares?”  We’re goin’ straight to Snell anyhow.

911.  Will we ever forget?  No.  Our world was forever changed.  So, now we tap phones, read emails, hold people without cause.  All because we’re scared to death of the next one.  Years later, we’re still rattled.  It’s what they wanted.  Mission accomplished.  I think Bush said that.  Only it wasn’t ours that was accomplished, it was theirs.  Stop me before I get too political and piss off a reader or two.  A friend sent this video along a while back.  I watched it and thought, “hmmmm.”  So, I offer it up.  Makes you think.  Who’s at the helm, anyway?

Tell me I’m seeing things.

Editor: You’re seeing things.

Thanks.  That didn’t help.  That better not be George smokin’ in the store.  We’re gonna have OSHA and CalEPA and Harley and the local law firms all lined up at our door tomorrow.  What’s that?

Oh.  Well, I guess the photo is a bit odd in it’s entirity.  Aside from the smokin’ part.  After we close, you’ll often see the guys riding the bikes around (never the consignments).  Just blowin’ off a little steam.  Motorclothes gals were busy folding (they’re so responsible).  So, leave it to the boys.

As one of the locals so aptly pointed out: “That’s Just So Wrong!”

You go guys.  Oh - next time wear helmets, ok?

(Yes, double-clicking the photo will make it bigger.  Although, I don’t necessarily recommend that.  You may have to head back to some volleyball shots to get this image out of your head.)