Bollocks - More than you ever wanted to know
Permalink | Tweet This! | | October 28, 2008 by John in Interesting/Trivia, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America
Regarding the vanity plate on my motorcycle, “Bollox” (usually spelled “Bollocks”):
“Bollocks” is a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning “testicles”. The word is often used figuratively in British English, as a noun to mean “nonsense”, an expletive following a minor accident or misfortune, or an adjective to mean “poor quality” or “useless”. Similarly, the common phrases “Bollocks to this!” or “That’s a load of old bollocks” generally indicate contempt for a certain task, subject or opinion. Conversely, the word also figures in idiomatic phrases such as “the dog’s bollocks” and “top bollock(s)”, which usually refer to something which is admired, approved of or well-respected.
It’s really quite versatile, perhaps more so than any American profanity, which also makes it difficult/tedious to explain when people ask.
Ground up Triumph Chopper
Permalink | Tweet This! | | September 4, 2008 by John in Motorcycle News, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America
I’ve always wanted to make a chopper out of my bike (the new generation, not my actual current bike). Someone just posted this on BonnevilleAmerica.com: Ground up Triumph
Probably wouldn’t come cheap and they don’t appear to be offering a rolling chassis kit. More pictures on their site…
Yep, It’s a Monday
Permalink | Tweet This! | | August 4, 2008 by John in Health-Medical, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Shelby Dakota
- At lunch a large filling that must’ve fractured recently came off one of my molars. Saw the dentist and it’s one of his from last December when he replaced a much older filling.
- The transmission shop called and the Shelby’s transmission is in bad shape and needs to be rebuilt to the tune of $1600. Based on my research online this is pretty typical.
- The drive belts for my bike are currently backordered 6-9 months. Either I can live with the squeak or go Harley (again) for $50 more.
That’s the hat trick. Thank you and good night!
Best. Vacation. Ever.
Permalink | Tweet This! | | July 21, 2008 by John in Motorcycle News, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Travel
(Note: Updated several times after posting. My pictures now available. Zdenko’s too: 1, 2)
Reflections, in no particular order (and barely scratching the surface):
(more…)
2008 Kootenay Raid/PNW Tour
Permalink | Tweet This! | | July 11, 2008 by John in Motorcycle News, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Travel
Well, I’m off to meet up with Halpop (”Freedom” on BA.com) at his place in Thompson Falls, MT. Tomorrow we’re heading west over the Northern Cascades of Washington, rather than north up into British Columbia. This year we decided to make a run out to the west coast prior to the Kootenay Raid (Triumph Rally) in Nelson, BC (our fourth time at the event, and my fifth trip into BC). While out there we’re going to meet up with a couple of our Triumph brethren, tour Vancouver Island and ride to Nelson as a small group.
While in Nelson (Thurs-Sun) we’ll once again be staying at the Mountain Hound Inn. The only thing that would make this hotel better is if they had a back door that opened up directly onto the Grand Hotel’s parking lot, also known as Kootenay Raid HQ.
As per usual, watch this space for pictures and a ride report.
Time to ReTire?
Permalink | Tweet This! | | June 24, 2008 by John in My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Travel
My latest thing to obsess about on my bike is whether I should replace my rear tire before or after (or Zod-forbid during) my trip to Seattle and British Columbia in July. Last year I posted that my odometer read 33931.6 miles when I put the current set of tires on. With my odometer currently reading about 40250 right now, that means I have about 6318 miles on these tires. I usually get around 8-9000 miles per rear tire, and the upcoming trip is at least 1884 miles. It’s gonna be close. I’ll have to watch that rear tire like a hawk. And I’m not riding it very much between now and the trip.
The front is no problem. Typically it lasts 50% longer than the rear.
Fire Sale
Permalink | Tweet This! | | June 13, 2008 by John in Auto, Mustang, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Shelby Dakota
EVERYTHING MUST GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
With regards to my latest acquisition in the form of a Shelby Dakota, I’m not simply adding to my fleet. I’m reducing it, as well as some other possessions.
- Porsche 914 Project Cars SOLD!
- 1975 Jeep Pickup SOLD!
- 1967 Chevy 327 V8 longblock SOLD!
- NordicTrack CX998 Elliptical Trainer BROKEN!
I’ll sell the Golf as soon as I’m relatively certain the Dakota is healthy, tuned up and sorted out. I’m thinking late Summer. The gas prices will still be high and school will be starting. Prime selling time for a 4banger. I would sell the Ford drivetrain bits (302 V8, automatic and rearend) if I thought I could get anything for them. I might hang on to them because they are good spares for the Mustang.
No, I’m not selling the Mustang or the Triumph. The plan is to keep those two vehicles and the pickup. That’s it. If the Porsches or Jeep do not sell, I will consider parting them out. Heck, the Edelbrock 4bbl carb and intake in the Jeep is probably worth more than the whole truck.
Prescott 2008, Day One
Permalink | Tweet This! | | May 28, 2008 by John in My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Prescott 2008, Travel
[Note: I guess my day one draft didn't get lost after all. Rather than delete it I'll publish it with the caveat that it may or may not be better than what I eventually included in my trip report.]
I spent the whole day dodging shitty weather. I started out the morning by getting run out of town by a storm approaching from the north. I froze on the way to Butte, where, after an Egg McMuffin and the search for better gloves or glove liners (I found the latter and boy are they stylish) the storm caught up to me and again I skeedattled my ass south.
Monida Pass, at I-15 and the Montana-Idaho Border, was dry but had snow flurries going. And cold! My Gerbing heated jacket liner paid for itself today.
After that I found my stride, my groove, and really rolled on the miles. I made my goal, Ogden, UT (455mi), at around 5:30-6:00, and decided to keep going. I planned on staying in Provo, but then I saw a billboard for a Cracker Barrel in Springville. Sold! And sure enough, there is a Days Inn next door. Tomorrow I only have about 385mi to go to get to Vegas.
I love it when a plan comes together, or even improves!
(Tapped out on my Nokia Internet Tablet from my hotel room in Springville, UT.)
Prescott 2008 Trip Report
Permalink | Tweet This! | | May 21, 2008 by John in Freelancing, My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Prescott 2008, Travel
(Updated 05/27/08)
I’ve posted my pictures from the trip on Picasa. I tried to start posting updates on this blog on the first day from Springville, UT, using my Nokia internet tablet, but all my work tapping away on that tiny on-screen keyboard was lost and I was too pissed to try again. Not sure why WordPress didn’t automatically save the draft as it normally does in Firefox. Maybe it’s a javascript thing that is unsupported by the browser on the Nokia. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway…
What follows is a rough, day-by-day recounting of the highs and lows of my trip. It’s probably going to get long. I feel like rambling on. My updated/final maps can be seen on my TBA Wiki.
Leeeeeeeeeevin’ on a Scooter
Permalink | Tweet This! | | May 6, 2008 by John in My 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, Travel
Well, the bike seems to be running fine, and more importantly stopping fine, so I’ll be riding down to Prescott, AZ(1 , 2), by way of Las Vegas (map) next Monday for the Southwest Triumph Fest. It’s about 2,260 miles round trip. This time it’s all about the destination(s) not the ride, so I’m just going to jet down the interstate most of the way there and back. I’m saving a few hundred miles by not going back through Vegas on the way home; it’s as much a straight shot as I can make it.
I’ll spend a day in Vegas with a few family members, have lunch with a buddy and try and catch Speed Racer at the IMAX. Thursday a few of us will meet in Vegas and head for Prescott. On Saturday the 17th our little flock of Triumph cruisers will head for the Grand Canyon (map), which I’ve never seen.