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"Life Should Be An Adventure"

Motorcycles and Narrow Misses

I met fellow adventure rider Jim Plumb for lunch to discuss our favorite subject...Motorcycles! Jim is the consumate motorcyclist. With more than 5 decades of riding under his belt, he has owned a wide variety of makes and models. and currently restores some of the classics. After a good meal and interesting conversation, we decided to take a ride out to the Eastern plains of Colorado, and then over to Jim's shop to see some of his handiwork.

Along the way, I was following Jim, when I saw his front tire strike something in the roadway. The object was thrown back and it bounced several times before striking me on my left ankle. I got off the KLR and looked down and saw that my pants leg had been torn open, but my heavy leather boot was intact and I could walk without too much discomfort. Jim rode back down the road and picked up the object that he had run across.

It was a large piece of fabricated steel weighing about 5 pounds. I was amazed that it had hit hard enough to rip my denim jeans, but did no other damage to me or my boot. I make it a point to always wear heavy leather boots, and in this case it really paid off. Neither of us have any clue what the object is. I have known for a long time how important armored riding gear is, and I never ride without it!

I'll be saving this little trophy for Show and Tell.

Fortunately, Jim's 2007 KLR 650 was not damaged either. After a quick inspection, we continued our ride doing about a 20 mile loop, enjoying a mix of asphalt and unpaved back roads. Then over to Jim's shop to see some of his restored classic motorcycles.

While Jim has a stable of motorcycles to choose from, this 1959 Triumph Trophy is his current pride and Joy. Jim's wife and one of his sons gave him the used Triumph as a birthday present. Jim stripped it down to the bare spokes and then meticilously restored it to it's current award winning condition.

Like many others I consider motorcycles a work of art, and Jim's Triumph is a restored masterpiece.

This immaculate 70's model Kawasaki 250 Trials is another of Jim's restoration Projects. Unfortunately photos cannot do justice to his bikes. The attention to detail is amazing!

Don't we all wish we could have back some of the motorcycles we have gone through over the years? With a lot of hard work, Jim has managed to save some beautiful machines.

I have to admit that I had a hard time keeping up with Jim on some of the really squirrelly sand and gravel roads that we rode today. At 75, Jim rides like he loves it, and it's obvious from his passion for motorcycles that he does. I'll ride in his dust anytime!