Ted’s essays

two-wheeled psychotherapist

There seems to be a common thread in the motorcycle community that transcends all the different types of bikes and riding styles. Choppers, cruisers, sport, touring, dirt, racing, scooter, townie, trails, vintage … We may disagree significantly on how a bike should fit and function for us, but we agree on this main point. All of us find riding them to be theraputic. Riding a motorcycle is similar in that way to painting, making music, skiing, shooting, meditation, dance and so many other activities that require the full employment of our minds. There simply is no space in the conscious mind for whatever troubles or trivialities of life may sometimes bother us, once we get into the zone. The […]

road rage avoidance

My frisky young friend stopped by yesterday on the way home from picking up his frisky 2-stroke 250 Yamaha. We went for a ride around the block – a 7 mile or so loop that is half gravel/dirt and half paved. He, of course, was ‘on the pipe’ all the way as I plodded along riding Dr Zee at my own pace. The rain started almost immediately, but we went anyway. Near the half-way point, on the dirt, a newish pickup and newish Suburban were mostly blocking the road parked window to window while the drivers chatted. I stopped, then began to inch around the front of the Suburban that was aimed in the direction we were headed. I […]

Dr Zee comes online

The weather has been in and out of season for me until recently, but gardens, shop and yard work grabbed every decent outdoor day that came along. FINALLY I got my Suzuki DRZ400S in a ready-to-hop-on mode and my head-space corrected. Today I ran an errand to the bigger town 18 miles downstream and Dr Zee got the nod as my preferred transporter. Of course the route he chose was not the main highway, but the scenic old road way. It put a smile on my face and in my spirit. I gotta get out more… and think I will now. I must say that I LOVE the lowering we did to the 400S, turning it into a 400SM […]

Harbor Freight trailer build

I was going to build my own utility trailer from an old boat trailer I bought, but came across a more commonsense approach at Harbor Freight. To the left is the completed unit with my added decking lumber. Its maiden voyage was ferrying my Dr. Zee to an Idaho Star motorcycle class in Twin Falls. Here you see my wife’s brother Bruce tying it down HIS WAY for our trip back home. Assembly was not overly challenging, but without a significant tool set, skill set and helping hand friend it would have been difficult or not possible to complete. The result is a new trailer with new lights, wires, bearings, tires, paint and all. Sure, they are all of […]