Here I am about to leave.

The first day of the trip was beautiful, sunny with a light breeze. I left home at 7:30 am Tuesday and had my first rest stop in Guelph at the park that runs along the Speed River. A quick Horton's snack, a few pictures and I was on my way to the next stop, Elora at the gorge. I stopped in at the Conservation area and got a small map to the local free park in town.
While running through Arthur, I had a small mix up with "Concession 2" versus "Sideroad 2" but soon had the problem solved out after a few km run down a gravel road (yeech).
The next stop was at Eugenia Falls, a small park overlooking a nice set of waterfalls. This was also at the beginning of the Beaver Valley Road. A wonderful run through ski country, up and down and twisting this way and that until you pull into Thornbury. At this point I was about an hour behind schedule so I passed on the bay road in Owen Sound and went straight on through to Wairton. After climbing the hill I turned off on to Reg Rd 9, to Lionshead. Some of the beginning scenery was quite nice around Colpoy Bay, and the beach was nice at Lionshead, but the road itself wasn't that great.
When I arrived at Tobermory I had missed the ferry by 30 minutes, and when I read the website prior to leaving I had misread the schedule, I had to wait 4 hours for the 8:00 pm sailing. I was the first bike in the motorcycle lane waiting to board so I went for a walk through town, had a $12 fish & chips and when I went back for the loading there was only one other bike, an older Yamaha. The young guy riding it had just got his license and was going to meet his girlfriend at South Baymouth. It was a wonderful trip across, watching the sunset and cooling off with the breeze blowing . When we arrived at the dock it was 9:45 so the trip was dark and the bugs were unreal. After so many hours in the saddle, getting bug splattered, and even seeing a pair of black bears cross the highway I decided that I had to pull into the motel in Little Current at almost 11:00 pm For $61 I got a postage stamp sized room with a ceiling fan instead of air-conditioning.
I awoke the first time at 2:15 to the crash of thunder and after tossing and turning all night I finally got up at 7 am got ready and sat and watched the rain come down and watched the Weather Channel. It said that the rain was going to keep up all day Wednesday and Thursday too. At 10 am I figured "what the hell" saddled up and off I went. There is a bridge that rotates to allow boat traffic and during the pouring rain I found out that it was made of planked wood with potholes big enough to hold a tire, and some you could see the water down below!! Talk about unsafe! This was an omen of the day about to come, 6 hours of highway riding in a downpour. Needle face, clothes soaked through, boots full of water and leather jacket weighing about 100 pounds. After the third set of full body shivers I decided to pull into Parry Sound to find No Vacancy signs in all the motels. I had to bite the bullet and drop $145 for the 4th choice and jump into a hot bath. I spent the evening at the local laundromat trying to dry my sodden mess. I think I have written off the leather jacket.
Thursday was an enjoyable ride home with only a few brief splatters until I was coming down Diltz Rd, with 5 minutes left and it started to rain yet again. It was also my first trip down the 400, across the 407 and then the QEW riding the bike. Luckily it wasn't that busy, so I just cruised in the slow lane at 100 kph and watched the packs of vehicles approach in the mirrors, fly on by and then peace until the next group. It wasn't that bad, just staying on your toes for the trucks.
All in all it wasn't a total loss of a trip, but Wednesday truly was the ride from hell.... not soon forgotten! After 3 days the final total was 1350 km.

After a cancellation and numerous plan changes, I am off on my big bike ride tomorrow morning.

It will be a solo endeavor up to Tobermory, across on the ferry and then back around Georgian Bay.

More.... so very much more.... to come!

I finally broke down and bought the tank emblems, and I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised.

The story begins with the former owner telling me that she had "steam de signs off de tank because I don't like them". I was suspicious, but I can't see any signs of major damage that would of called for tank repair, and if you are getting THAT done why not have the decals put on too. So I felt by leaving on the "Classic" sticker on the front fender it was just a small way to make it look a little more .... shall we say "Harleyish".

But the tanks looked so plain and empty, I went to Baldwins to see how much they would be, and I was shocked to hear $80. I was under the impression that these so called decals would be a sticker. I even went so far as to looking into getting the tank air brushed, and found a very reasonably priced guy in a small town nearby, but that was still going to cost me over a hundred.

When I called Kelly's in Hamilton and I was told that they would be $31 per side I decided to get them, but when I went into pick them up, they were NOT stickers, but 3D chrome plaques with VStar on them. Almost worth the money ;) And they look great mounted, although I had to use alcohol in order to clean off the wax on the tanks before using the two-sided tape to mount them. So this obviously led to a full "scrub & shine" the next day.

Today was the longest cruise so far, 260 km!

I started out with a ride to Dover, there are so many bikes there it is crazy. I saw a custom chopper today with an unreal paint job of layered devils all entwined. The rear fender was carved into a point with about a 230 on the back tire. Took my sandwich from Horton's and walked through the lot at Rosi's, where all the "big boys" hang out, then bought a drink at the Arbor and ate there.

I continued westward and then down to Port Rysere. From here it was along Front St. through Normandale, where I caught a few rays and watched all the boaters. The price of gas sure doesn't seem to hurt the boating industry, they were all over the place. Chatted with a fellow rider who knew Vic Powell from town, small world. I then jumped back on Front St. (this is a great ride, 80 km limit with some sweet curves) through Fishers Glen with that great hairpin turn, and onto Port Rowan. I am going to have to stop one day and try The Boathouse restaurant in Port Rowan.

Next came the windmills. There had to be sixty of them scattered all through the countryside. Giant white structures silently turning and turning. It was quite the site, almost hypnotic watch them turn. I then arrived in Port Burwell where there was another crapload of bikes. Some racers, but mostly roaring hogs screaming up the main drag with straight pipes blowing out about 200 decibels. I sat down by the beach and had a nice rest checking out the highway map and planning possible trips.

I traced the same route back home, while out that far it seems like a waste not to ride the best, even if it is repeating the same route.

It cant really be over a month since the last entry?!

That just goes to show how much I have be in the saddle lately. Any free time is good enough for either the one hour Reg Rd 69 run, the two hour Lakeshore ride, three hour cruise out to Chippewa and then south on the Niagara Parkway to Fort Erie or even the 5 hour loop through Rd 69, Thorold Tunnel, up to Niagara-on-the-Lake and then south through Niagara Falls to Fort Erie and back home again.

I had a few problems with the baby lately. They started with a bunch of tacks in my rear tire, removal and new tube ran me 90 clams. Then a starting problem was traced back to the battery having a loose connection in the negative terminal. Although the screw was tight in the nut, the nut was loose inside the terminal so that it would vibrate out of place and presto...no go!!

I have since changed the oil, which didn't come without strife, the darn drain plug was on SO tight I had to wrench my back wrenching the bolt. The spark plug change went quite easily and the air breather was clean. The bike is running like a charm now.

I've noticed that somethings you wouldn't give a second thought to in the car, really bug my ass on the bike.

For instance, twice now I have been waiting to turn left because of oncoming traffic, when the goof in his car puts two wheels on the shoulder and uses the right side of the lane to drive passed you. That feeling of being trapped between two cars, both moving in opposite directions at 80 kph and any escape route is cut off... I did not like it!! The second time it happened I had deliberately angled the bike in such a way as to cut off 2/3's of the lane. What happens... he flips me the bird while driving by!

But with the bad stuff comes a glowing moment. I had stopped at a light while an elderly gentlemen crossed at the crosswalk. He was easily in his 70's, and he paused, looked at the bike and gave me a nod and a smile that made me certain he was a rider in his day. "Nice bike son." he said. I thanked him, it felt great, something only another rider would understand.

Here are a couple of pics with one being closer but both reflections in my helmet taken by Donna.

May comes around, and with it my first ride into work. It was a treat getting to ride home, but damn cold riding in. The parking area designated for motorcycles at work is getting quite full, and I noticed a brand new black V Star Classic in there in the beginning of the week. Looked real nice!

I went with the wife to the local motorcycle store, Baldwins, on Highway 3 in Dunnville. She has decided that she trusts me enough now to get on the back. We went and bought a new helmet for her, a nice half helmet with silver flames, looks cool. So that night we jumped on and went for a small ride to Grand Erie Bar-B-Que in Byng, just over the river from town. I went for about a 10 minute ride prior to stopping for supper, with a few different roads and a minute or two at 90 kph in order that she could get the feel of the wind. Donna has a history of allergies, and that night we found out that the pollen count was high. We aren't sure if it was the pollen count, or the wind driving it into her head, but she had a beauty of a sinus and allergy attack later on that evening. One of the worst ever! Let's hope it was just the pollen count, or her riding days may be limited.... very limited! Although she did say she enjoyed the ride.
It sure is different with a rider on the back, I can especially notice it in first and second gears... for the half a second that you are in each one! And with the raised passenger seat, they ride higher than the driver, so she is holding on at chest level instead of waist. I imagine as she gets more use to the gearing and riding of the bike there will be less clutching of the jean jacket. But it certainly makes for a better driver, you are trying to be as smooth as possible, avoiding the jerkiness, so they have a fear free ride too. Gives you good practice on fine tuning the downshifting, which is an area in need of practice, and without a tachometer that does take time to get the feel and sound of the engine before shifting down properly...without the rocking or jerking motion!

A fantastic ride today! Left home at 11:00 am and went to St. Anns and around the Effingham loop but then I veered off to Chippewa and then south down the Niagara Parkway. I can see why they call this stretch of road Millionaire's Row. Tons of other riders out, all enjoying the great weather, seemed like riders at ever bend.

Fantastic ride today full of firsts.

It was finally warm enough to go without the chaps, and for the first time I tried a pair of polar fleece long johns I got for Christmas under my jeans. Worked out great, with a lot more mobility than the chaps. I am glad to be rid of them for a while, lets face it, they are not made for short guys. But they are a necessary evil for the Canadian rider.

Went for my first ride out to Port Dover today. I love the Lakeshore Rd. part, (heard on the Haldimand County councilor meeting that they want to pour some dough into road repairs out there, keep your fingers crossed) and I was surprised at some of the greenbelt area around Lake Erie Works (Stelco). Then when I rode passed Tim Hortons and Rosi's parking lot in Dover....... about 200 different bikes! On the way home I had a customized 1100 V Star riding behind and then roaring past... giving me a big old wave. A real sweet ride, copper coloured with fender extensions, loud pipes and it looked like it had been lowered. Somebody had spent some big $$$.

Almost at home and I had my first "switch to reserve". Happily everything went good, gas station not too far away, money in my pocket, and I remembered to switch it back to main tank after filling up :)

Good Friday has arrived and the rain with it. Not much in the way of bike news lately. The rides have been intermittent, getting out whenever it is warm enough. I still haven't taken it to work yet this year, almost did yesterday with 19C but still dam cold in the mornings, especially after just crawling out of a warm bed at 5:15am.
I went for a ride out Lakeshore Rd. to Selkirk, but it was still rather chilly, so I stopped at the Parrot Head Cafe. While there I ran into an old high school buddy who just happened to be admiring the bike. After 30 years, sure is a blast to run into someone like that.

I had a buddy telling me about these two friends of his at work who were getting back into riding, they were real Gung-ho, riding at any opportunity that came up. Then it ends up that one of them was an old room mate of mine back in the 80's. We have since emailed each other and are planning a ride together as soon as Mother Nature helps out. He sent me an email of this road in the States called "The Dragon" ... 10 miles of switchbacks
Looks unreal!! They have their own website dedicated to this stretch of the road with all the stats of accidents and even deaths every year. I guess people are just pushing that edge a little more each time until ... too much!

Finally a nice day!! With temperatures in the mid teens the ride was a real pleasure.

I went out along Reg Rd 69 by St. Anns and instead of turning around at RR 24 I continued on 69 easterly until I came to Effingham Rd. Right turn here and this was a real pleasure, uphill twisters as you climb the escarpment. This is another road I had heard about on Great Ontario Bike Roads. http://bikeroads.atspace.com/
Read through the "contributions" area for tons of different roads to try. A short but sweet one near home is at the top of Diltz Rd. turn right along RR 45. I like to go this way when doing the "69 route". Just watch out for the 2 one lane bridges.

Last Saturday I went to the Bike Show at the Automotive Building at the Ex, and I was not too impressed. About 50 nice customized beauties, with 40 grand price tags. But after walking around the whole thing 3 times, we went home, an hour and a half after we arrived.

I have attached the sissy bar and the whole scrub & polish session took about 3 hours. Does anything look better than your bike polished, with the sun gleaming off it? I can sit and look at it for ages.

I remember when I first bought the bike, I would sit outside and just look at it, still unbelieving that it was mine.

The weather forecast is crappy for the next few days. So she is shiny..... but covered.

I put the battery back in today, and apart from the cover giving me a little grief, it went okay.

After missing the Saturday morning biker TV shows I was determine to go for a ride. A few other riders out, mostly big hogs. It was a little cool, but the bike was riding very well. I have read other owners mentioning that the bike rides better in the mid to mid-high tach range, and I definitely found that to be true today. I think I have been having a tendency to "pile through the gears" too quickly. In fourth gear and I'm barely over 50 km. Today's ride was a lot nicer.

I still have to get it cleaned up and get the sissy bar re-attached. The headlight visor looks good, for $25 it was a good deal, and really adds to the "classic" look. The Yamaha version was almost triple that for a little Star stamp in the visor.

And here's another move you don't want to do.

I wasn't sure when it was finally going to be the last day and time to put the bike away for the winter. I was going out for a ride most November evenings, and then on the way home I would fill the tank.

I had put it away in the shed, added my Stabil and was going out to check on it on one of those 10 degree Celsius January days. As I opened the lock I could smell the gas. I freaked! Dashed in thinking that I had maybe left the little bleeder scews open when bleeding the carb bowls. No nothing there. I went to the other side and the gas has puddled on the floor and is pouring out of the side of the cap. I flew into the house, grabbed the turkey baster and sucked the level on down.

I guess that since the tank was cold when I filled it, put a little too much in, then the couple of tablespoons of Stabil, then the temperature change and voila.... a freakin mess!!

So when the say fill the tank.... it doesn't mean like your car. Leave some room for expansion. Live and learn.

A real bonus about living in Dunnville is some of the local roads. Lakeshore Road along Lake Erie is a twisty curvy wonder that has to be experienced. It takes about an hour to get from Dunnville out to Selkirk along the coast line. One of my favourite rides.

Like a kid with a new toy I couldn't get enough of it before the winter came.

Funny story looking back........
My buddy was on night shift and had said that he wanted to go for a ride together. I had been pounding in the miles so I now felt comfortable riding with the "Harley boys". I woke up early and went for a 2 hour ride, got home just in time for lunch and the phone ringing. He had got up early from nights.... let's go!! So I jump back on the sled and fly over to his place. We then proceed to ride for about 3 to 4 hours. I must admit my ass was killing me, and I was a tad stiff when we pulled back onto the buddy's gravel driveway. I went to get off (don't ask me what the hell I was thinking) but I brought my left foot up towards the gas tank instead of bent backwards, I caught my toe in the space between the gas tank and the seat and having the momentum started already....I go flying! Actually do a shoulder roll up the stones and HORRORS the bike fell over too! But, typical Harley guys, they are at the bike in a flash helping me. Thanks again Joe! I was devastated, I figured scratches, dents broken stuff!!! But no!! Nothing!! It seems it landed on the saddle bag, foot board and front right turn signal! Dam miracle. I guess I looked a little shook up, Joe said I still looked pale 40 minutes later.

Now.... it's funny! That night I had a nightmare that I was rounding a corner and the bridge was out on the Welland Canal. I put the bike down, but it was too late and it started to fall in the water. Luckily, I landed on a ladder with one hand and held up the bike by the handlebars with the other hand. I told you it was a nightmare!

How about that Mother's Metal Polish?!? The bike was clean, but after getting into that magic potion, I was truly shocked. A bit of elbow grease and the dam thing shines like glass!

I had a 3" or 4" stain on the pipes from the former owner. She had hung the saddlebags centred over the rear fender so once something was added to the the bag it rested on and melted into the pipe. Easy to do, hell I almost did it myself. A buddy at work saw it and suggested 00 steel wool to clean it off. Worked great!!

Because there was no manual with the bike I ordered one through Amazon.ca I made the order late Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend and it was in my mailbox on the Tuesday morning. Truly amazing delivery! It was a Clymer book, but I must admit, the few things I have done were not quite right in the book. For instance, the book stated during an oil change you had to drop the exhaust in order to get at the filter. Not true on the 650!

My birthday is in November, so my wife bought me a nice rain cover for the bike. And then for Christmas she bought me a bike jack that was on sale at Crappy Tire. Dam heavy thing. I put it together and the wife and I slugged it out to the shed. In the house when I checked out how to use the jack it lowered very slowly ( I know, I know...that's 'cause it has no weight on it stupid). I had raised the bike up, but when I got down on all fours to check the "level" it was only on 3 of 4 points. So I stepped on the release pedal. Well, let me tell you, it came down a lot faster than I had expected. Almost flattened the wife!

And her she be....

This picture was taken at Lake Erie near Freedom Oakes Golf course. Since then I have replaced the sissy bar pad, chromed the rear tail light, license plate and bought a nice Highway Hawk master cylinder cover. As you can see the former owner steamed off the V Star and Yamaha decals, but left on the Classic one.... makes me feel like a Harley wannabe......... so I have a date in late April to see a guy in Waterford who does some really impressive air brushing. After checking out the price of "official" Yamaha decals (almost $100!!) it seems the better option with some real customizing.

End of September 2005, on a Saturday morning, and I had to go get a hernia checked out at Shouldice Hospital in Toronto. While we were there I wanted to check out a couple of bikes in the Trader. The first guy was so adamant that his price was firm I didn't even bother to go by, instead I went to see a lady in the Lakeshore area who had a 2004 VStar Classic with 4000 km that she had originally asked $6700 for but had lowered down to $6300.

It was in great shape. Two tone blue, navy on the top and light metallic blue on the sides. No scratches or dings and she had saddlebags and a sissy bar (but she had lost the sissy bar pad). I asked the lady if she would take $6000 even for it, and she balked. So I took a chance, I gave her my phone number and said that 6 grand was my limit, if it didn't sell by Tuesday she could call me. All the way home I questioned what I had done, was I going to lose the bike I wanted over $300.

She called about 30 hours later, early Sunday evening. It was mine!

We arranged for the pick up for 4:00pm on Tuesday, but getting on a new bike and then jumping into Toronto rush hour traffic seemed like a torture test to me. So I called a buddy with lots of miles under his belt on lots of different bikes, and I asked if he would mind piloting my new baby home for me. He jumped at the chance.
The seller of the bike seemed to be getting on nicely with Scott when we went to pick it up. So nicely in fact, that she had a small confession. It seems that the money I had given her for the bike was going toward her new BOOB JOB. She was a French-Canadian lady and said, "my whole life I have nothing, now I am happy!" She was going to put in the ad...Bike must go, Twins on the way! I felt like my money went to a worthwhile cause!!
Thanks again Scott, I don't know what I would of done without your help. But I must admit, that was the longest dam ride home from Toronto ever, me grinning like a freaking idiot the whole way.

Then by the time I dropped Scott back off at home and I raced back to get on my new baby, the whole dam neighborhood is out checking out Steve's Mid Life Crisis. So I threw my leg over, cranked her up and (Thank God) didn't stall her as I putted down the road, with that same "ear to ear grin".

What a feeling!!!

I was now an official M2'er. Actually I had to go get the temporary license renewed before the hard copy arrived in the mail months later.

Time to decide on a bike. Let's face it, the bank account is what does the talking. Also, because I still have to go for my full motorcycle license in 18 months or so, I was very leery to "go big you'll just move up later" philosophy some of my friends had stated. I understood what they were saying, but after 20 years on 4 wheels I wanted to feel safe and have fun!! Then after talking to the insurance shylocks my mind was set.

I was looking at both the Honda Shadow ACE and the Yamaha VStar Classic. I liked the classic look of both the bikes, they seemed a good size for me and most importantly the buying price and the yearly insurance gouge were manageable.

I was so in tuned to the Bike Trader online version, that after a while I figured out the new postings arrive at about 4:00 pm on Wednesdays. (A little helpin' hand for you shoppers!)

The hunt continues................

Went to the St. Catherines Motorcycle Store, had a nice 2003 (I think) black and cherry VStar, but for $6000 it had some damage to both front and back fenders. Plus I got my first taste of "no test rides for M2'ers" which alot of places seem to adhere to.

Looked at a few black VStar Customs at Kelly's in Hamilton, but decided I wanted the Classic.

Motorcycle School was a blast!

The Friday night class was all lecture. But I was so pysched for the actual hands on riding the following two days that even the lectures were tolerable.

I arrived at the parking lot for the Saturday riding 20 minutes early, and there was about 8 people there already. We were all biting at the bit, checking out the Kawaski 100's all lined up and ready to go. There was 15 guys and 5 girls in the class. They started us out by pairing us up, and then with the bikes in neutral, we sat on and our partner gave us a small shove. We had to coast forward and then come to a controlled stop. We did the same thing and veered away to the right and then the left side.

Time to start them engines. vrooom vrooom! We had a good time Saturday and Sunday.... then we had a break after lunch and they set up the courses for the M2 Test. Dum De Dum. You could see the tension on everyone's face.

A short girl fully decked out in Gold Wing gear was so involved watching the group doing another test that she drove straight into the cement blocks around the edge of the parking lot, flew ass over tea kettle into a small gulley, and then.. ouch.... the Kawi 100 climbed the parking block and crashed onto her. She got in her car and drove home, but I'm sure alot more than her pride was aching. I felt sorry for her, but then one of the other girls said, "Her old man has a Gold Wing in the garage waiting for her after she passes." Thank God she didn't. Actually of the 5 girls only one passed and 3 of them had already bought Harley Sporsters to ride with their boyfriends. The girl who did pass deserved to, and I give anyone who passed credit, it was fun but you had to have control of that little bugger at all times. If you messed up on any rules, like shut down etc. they would get you in a group and then as they were explaining the next exercise to you, one of the other instructors would check the bikes. If something was wrong they would push it out into the middle of the parking lot so as you returned to your bike ... it was gone.... oh crap there it is ..... embarrassing but you only did it once! Let me talk from experience!

As you probably figured out by now..... I passed!

Jump ahead 25 years, after 18 years we have finally paid off the palace, one kid in University and the other in high school. I have always told my wife that if we "won the million" the only thing I would want would be a Harley.

One day she starts talking about bikes, what size, how much, motorcycle school etc. And then I get the "blessing". Lets just say I was surprised. Bike Trader was now my constant companion.

In July, 2005, my eldest was going for her Driver's Test, so I figured while I was waiting for her, out came the $17 and I wrote my motorcycle beginners. I passed!! (Oh yeah, and she passed her driver's too.) By the way, anyone thinking about doing the same as me, take a tip from me.... read up on the new fangled graduated license stuff!!

The following Monday I went to the Canadian Motorcycle Association office in Hamilton, laid down my $350 and registered for Motorcycle School in September. Next stop with the wallet was at the local motorcycle store for a helmet. Does everyone else feel as dorkey as me trying on helmets? Mind you, everyone else doesn't have to look for "pumpkin" sized lids.

Years passed and I started working for Stelco (29 years later and I'm still there) when a friend who had a Honda 650 was talking late one night shift about his cousin who was selling a Honda 350 on-road off-road ..."perfect for someone wanting to get back on two wheels". I went home and tried to get my parents to co-sign a loan for the bike, but as my Dad put it "not a bloody chance son". I figured what have I got to lose, so I went to the bank myself the next day and lo & behold they gave me the loan. I'll never forget the front curtains flying open and the look on my Mother's face as I wheeled the bike up the driveway. I took it out that night for a test ride....dumped it up some guys front lawn at about 25 mph, ripped off my watch, scraped myself all up the right hand side, and came wheeling it home with a bent back brake. The parents were "oh so impressed". I kept that bike for 3 years then I got an offer for $150 less than I paid for it ... couldn't turn it down. But many a summer day since than I have had the "urge".

My first experience on two-wheeled motorized devices was way back in about 1968. I was 11 at the time, (you do the math and the Blog's title starts to make sense). Two friends of mine, who lived next door to each other both had mini-bikes. This was something that I didn't even bother to dream about, owning a mini-bike! We definitely didn't have that kind of money in our family. I do remember one being a bright yellow Rupp owned by the Clark brothers, but the other one was a no-namer that the Alford brothers owned. The no-namer was the one I rode the most. When they excavated the basement for the local school they created one big pile of earth that was about 20 feet high at the one end, and tapered down to the ground at the other end and ran about 300 yards long. Then they made a field full of dump truck loads of earth .... mini bike heaven!! All our spare cash went into gas and to this day I still remember the taste of gas we siphoned from dubious places! Aaah the joys of youth. The Big Dirt Hill (as we so imaginatively named it) was a mecca for local dirt bikers so it wasn't long until I had my first taste of the dreaded CLUTCH, borrowing a friends' Honda 100.