Ibaraki Touring

Every time I take the bike out of Tokyo, a few things become very obvious.  The first is that no matter what time of day, all the logical, well throught our road systems in Tokyo have yet to find a way to reduce the horrid amount of Traffic.  The second is that once you get into some nice country like Ibaraki you realize that Japan is soo beautiful and more wide open than you had imagined, in its own way of course.  I guess just about the only good looking thing in all of Tokyo is the women....past that you can have the concrete jungle.  Leave this country boy in Ibakari.

New Bars for the shovel

These bars were made by Eric Barnett of the famed Speed Junkie Cycle works.  Check him out!  I've also got a cool little master cylinder that'll get installed tonight as soon as I get my hands on some smaller banjo fittings.

Getting Excited

Need to finish the import, wires, oil, and Shakken....then this little kitten will be putting all over the nice curvey mountain roads of Japan....and hopefully Hokkaido by summers end.

Just can't stay away from a shovel

For christmas I decided I'd get my self a new shovel.  I have mine back in the states but it is registered as a 2009 special assembly and as such, makes it nearly impossible to get legal in Japan.

So the executive decision was made to get a facotry shovel at a reasonable price and make it cool.  Here is the before and after so far, I'd say Fab Kevin is doing a reasonable job :)

I intend to use this bike for the complete tour of Japan before my time here is complete. Hopefully no one in the Shaken office tries to hold that up...at least not for too long.

Before

Currently

Super cool! Thanks Dan R!

Some new stuff in the works....

Its been a while, young children have a way of keeping you off your bike.  Got a new bike coming to Japan soon but not before it gets the proper Michigan treatment.  I do belive the engine is in good hands with Dan R.  Next up Fab Kevin hard tail.  It's going to be a keeper.

Ride today you might not be here tomorrow....

Is not just a saying, it's a fact jack.  Chris Price had brain cancer and rode the stampede in 2011, I'm sure somewhere in his mind he thought it might be the last chance...and it was.  He passed away from brain cancer recently.  Either way you slice it, the dude IS an inspiration to all and we should not wait to do what we want in life.

RIDE FREE BROTHER CHRIS!