Jim was a guy I first met 6 years ago when we bought the house next door when we moved to Ft.Riley on a PCS move. He was a retired combat engineer Bde CSM about 20 years my senior, Jim had his flaws but hell who doesn't. He would be out watering his yard usually when I would ride up into my drive with my Fatboy. I could tell he never liked the pipes....especially in the early mornings at oh dark-thirty. But he never said nothing....then one day he came over and asked me what it was I liked about that loud thing. I told him I didn't really know but the one thing I did know was when I turned the motor over everything that ever bothered or currently was bothering me was instantly gone. I then made a joke in reference to an old airborne song (Jim and I were both once paratroopers) about 3 things to ride before you die.... bicycle, tricycle, and a bow-legged woman with a crooked smile....he laughed. I told him this was better than all three. He then said well lets go get me me one and off we went and he bought an 04 Night Train.
That night in his garage we got drunk and he was sitting on it and he dropped it.....
Over the next 6 months he wrecked that thing 3 times and I thought holy **** I am going to be the cause of this guy killing himself. He had only road once before in his life when he was 15. But each time he picked up and off we went again (after it got fixed). I always said hell you wreck it one more time and its paid for. Never donned on me it was the bike that just was not suited to him. I bought a second bike an Ultra and let him ride it thinking well I didn't really care for that color anyway, thinking about the color I would paint it when he wrecked it. But he never did and he traded in his Night Train for an Electra Glide....never went down again.
We rode many miles, had many laughs, drank beer, talked ****, harassed each other over anything we could and sometimes argued. But Jun 27th a summer cold, turned pneumonia took his life.
Jim....I miss you man
PS.....I drank all your beer in your garage last night....except one
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2003 Carburated Custom Fatboy (sold)
2002 EFI Ultra Pearl White (98ci kit)
2007 VRSCDX (Night Rod Special) (sold)
2006 VRSCD Night Rod, Flame Red/ Black (Wife's Bike)
Whiskey Barrel Motorcycle Trailer
http://www.myspace.com/davemhughes
www.kan-ag.com
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