The big annual antique motorcycle ride meet in Borrego Springs CA is this week. One of my favorite events with a parking lot that looks like a big outdoor antique motorcycle museum (usually over 100 bikes). Normally, I get one of my antique bikes in riding order well ahead of time. This year, because of taking delivery on my 2013 FX, and a nasty head cold, I put off readying a bike until the day came to load one on the trailer. One by one I wheeled an antique out of my shop only to find it would not start for various reasons. Since I only had the bikes with current registration to choose from I soon ran out of bikes to try. I then turned to my trusty non-antique (but looks like one) 2001 Royal Enfield. It has been my antique "stand-in" before. It has electric start but even though it's been on a battery tender, the battery was bad. Finally, I got it kick started (about to give up when it "barked") rode around the parking lot, and loaded it on the trailer.
Then I rode my 2013 FX onto the trailer and I was ready to go. Of course the FX isn't an antique either but I'm taking it so I can do its first desert riding and for general all around good fun.
I realize that I was dealing with antique bikes - a cantankerous bunch of machines for sure - but it sure added to my appreciation of electric power!
Trikester