Planning

If you didn’t read my last blog entry, let me catch you up real quick. The last time I was on two wheels was June 24th, 2025. That was the day I had an oopsie on Booger and broke my clavicle outside of McCall, Idaho. Since then, I have seen three different orthopedic surgeons, gone to physical therapy for months and grew increasingly more frustrated with lack of progress. The last surgeon shot my shoulder joint full of cortisone and I am finally feeling remotely normal again after several weeks.

I can tell I am feeling better because my mind is wandering towards adventures on two weeks again.

Good thing I didn’t land on my face. Back to fullface helmets

I ordered a new helmet yesterday. The helmet I have been using for the last few years (Shoei J-Cruise II) saved my brain in the crash and is no longer usable. My other helmets, all purchased when I was 50-100 pounds fatter no longer fit. The new helmet (another Shoei RF-1400) is two sizes smaller than the last one I purchased. I’m 50/50 whether it will now be too small.  Why didn’t I go to the store and try it on first? Shut your face. That’s why.

So, you’ve got a new helmet. What now?

That’s a great question. I don’t currently have any bikes I can ride. Booger is still wrecked. The Ural and Goldwing are too heavy for me to manage confidently since I lost a lot of upper body strength over the last ten months. Sounds like a good excuse to buy something new.

In order to make room in the garage (and budget) for something new, a bike needs to go. It came down to the two heavyweights and, ultimately, I decided the Goldwing was the appropriate sacrifice. It has the highest resale value, will be the easiest to sell and has not been ridden nearly enough to justify the financial investment. The Ural hasn’t been ridden nearly enough, either. However, it is a niche product with limited appeal. They don’t make it anymore, either. Not that they made that many to begin with.

So, the Goldwing for sale. She’s a dirty girl and needs a deep cleaning but I decided to list it first and clean it later. The sooner its out there, the more likely it is to sell. Maybe the fact that it isn’t clean and presentable will make people interested just to force me to scramble and get it detailed.

Once the Goldwing sells, I’m already 90% sure what I will be picking up. That’s a secret for now. I will tell you that it will be something lighter and less suited to long distance adventures than what it is replacing. Accessories and modifications are also being planned including a ride up to Shasta Lake for a Day-Long saddle from Russell Cycle Products.

A Busy Summer

There are a lot of other things I hope to do accomplish this year. The most important task is evaluating Booger’s damage and getting it back to a ridable state. Then, of course, riding it. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just safe. I’ve got some moderately interesting adventures planned once that occurs. Probably not going to get to the 1000 miles in 24 hours attempt this year. Baby steps.

At the same time, the Ural has been neglected and hasn’t been run in two years. It needs maintenance and a cleaning as deep, or deeper, than the Goldwing. Black paint was a mistake. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it once it is back to 100% but I am imagining date night with the Mrs. riding monkey will become a regular thing. If not, it will be sold, as well.

My YouTube channel is stagnant and needs a lot more content. I haven’t had much motorcycle content to make but that is going to change. Same goes for this website. Plus, I’ve got a second, non-motorcycle channel I’m trying (not very hard) to get some traction. Good thing my income isn’t based on generating content or I’d be a broke boy.

More than anything, I really need to just get out and ride. I’ve got some plans but all of them are contingent on selling the Goldwing, fixing Booger and not having homeownership chores getting in the way. Let’s not forget that I may still need surgery, as well.

Nothing is likely to progress until the end of May which gives lots of time to think and plan. My plans usually fall apart, sometimes in spectacular fashion. No promises that anything will get accomplished but I’m in that planning stage where the world is full of possibilities.

There’s nothing to do but think about how great things may turn out. And get the Goldwing prepped for a (quick) sale. Anybody need a Goldwing?