Webmasters Bikes and stuff

I got Yamadog, a 72 Yamaha XS650, from Doug's Dad, I saved him from sitting out in the weather in Galesburg. He has a special place in our hearts as he showed us that you don't have to have a big engine to have fun!

I got Bigdog, the 79 Yamaha xs1100, in 96, and I used him for long rides until I found the 84 Venture Royale in 98.

One night, in the early 80's, as I was trying to start Beulah, she coughed and the carb mesh screen had filled with gas and caught on fire. Then the right gas cap started blue flaming. The tanks were full. I burned the inside lining out of my leather jacket trying to stop it. It burned better. Then my wife (at that time) brought a blanket out that was flame retardent. I took the linkert carb off and put it on the shelf. That's the last time that the float would stick with me. I put a Bendix on, and I like it.

As you can see, I was still running the 21" Hallcraft at this time. I finally broke down and bought a repop front brake setup so I could put the original style wheel on the front.

- Spottydog, a 1978 Yamaha XS650, became my good friend as Yamadog and Beulah both needed repair in 96. Spotty was missing the right side cover, which I found one at a salvage yard in Minnesota. It was Red. Spotty became his name as I didn't paint the red cover right away. I got this bike from Dick Stickle for getting his 72 XS650 running. For those who don't know, they detuned the motors to make them run smoother in the mid 70's. Spotty now has a 72 motor in him and I recently put a 30 tooth rear sprocket on, down from the 34 tooth that is stock. That dropped highway rpm's about 400/500. I get parts online from Mike's XS

Our Jan 1, 2000 Ride on the 84 Venture. We had to quit riding "Goldie" as the plastic fairing tabs on the right side started breaking off in 2002. I guess this is a common problem with the Ventures.

Yamadog and Spotty's new Sister, Babydog, also a 1978 Yamaha XS650, was reborn in Feb 2005.

Babydog has a rear aftermarket Duo-Glide style frame section welded on. (Again, I didn't hurt Genuine Parts!) We have a set of fiberglass saddlebags so we can haul stuff when we ride. We took Babydog to Sturgis in 2005 in the back of the dually. We stayed at Glencoe for 14 days, so we took the 17ft Holiday trailer that you can see above in the Chiggerfest picture. We got this bike, not looking for another one, but our very good friend, Hawk, got it in trade for a tattoo. He is a long time friend and likes Triumphs and Harleys, and has Hawk's Tattoos in Galesburg. His picture is below.

At the ABATE Charity Bash, in 1985, at the Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville. Jim Hawk, Hawk's Tattoos, Galesburg, with his bike.

At my trailer, Tommy Cecil with his 76 Sporty "Ruth" in 1980. He had taken it apart to get frame painted, wanted to get a picture before getting it all put back together.

Swede, 1981, with his magneto 63 Sportster. He bought it from "Goose", but it didn't like to run top end (Goose had it set up for 1/8th mile) and shucked the primary chain going to Wataga from Galesburg (last one had to buy). Broke the left case

It was well known that I cut peoples' heads off when taking their pictures with my Instamatic camera, as evidenced by the above two photos!

1982 Register-Mail ad for Harley's Barn, opened by Larry Whitman, Ed Derry, and Cowboy.

Memorial Weekend, 1990, Big River State Forest near Keithsburg, IL on the Mississippi River. Tenth Anniversary Picture with original members (that were present) of the first ABATE of Illinois, District 3, which later became Central Illinois A.B.A.T.E., Inc. on July 29, 1985.
Left to Right: Pure Pork, Hawk, Newt, Pam, Bernie, Swede, Stormer

1989 Appreciation Party, left-right: Bernie,Doc, Tommy, Sue. At Dick Stickles place near Alpha, in the country.

Monmouth Sesiquentennial Bike Show, 1981, on the Square, with Bruce's 1951 Panhead Chopper, Swede's 1977 Superglide Custom, and Pure Pork's 1956 Panhead Chopper. It rained a lot that day. We all got certificates for being "Brothers of the Brush", for having facial hair (they had a contest).

Galesburg, Swing's Trailer Court, at Swede's place before our trip to Tovey, IL in 1981 for an overnight party put on by ABATE of IL. We were to camp at Sanchris Lake below Springfield.
Left to Right: Swede, Newt, Bruce, Bernie, Newt's wife Anna.

East of Jacksonville, IL, 1981, on the Tovey Run, Bruce's Panhead motor seized up and Newt's back tire on his Sporty went flat. The guys from ABATE of IL came with a Datsun pickup to take them to Tovey. They had to ride in the back to keep the bikes in.

West of Lake Storey, at the "Ponderosa", where we held the first Member Appreciation Party, October 17, 1981, ABATE of IL Dist 3. Ed Derry and Tommy Cecil lived there and hosted this party. Ed on Left and Tommy on the Right.

West of Lake Storey, at the "Ponderosa", Member Appreciation Party, waiting for people to show up.
Left to Right: Swede, Bernie, Tommy, Bruce

Appreciation Party Attendees, at the "Ponderosa", Woody is on the Right .

Appreciation Party Attendees, at the "Ponderosa", Ima Hood holding lighter up to flooded carb to get better view.

At the "Ponderosa", Ed Derry chewing on some food. 1982.

At the "Ponderosa", Donnie Bill Anderson, unknown, Tommy in 1982.

At Tommy's Trailer on Emery St in Galesburg, late 1980. We tried to go to a Swap Meet in the Quad Cities earlier in the day, but Max's VW bus had seized the motor when the oilfill cap came off and the oil pumped out the back. Terry Pendry came and got us. We finished the day at Tommy's.
Left to Right: Swede, Tommy, Max, Pure Pork.

At Tommy's Trailer, after the failed swap meet trip Max and Swede play backgammon.

At Lynard's Bike Show, LaHarpe, Sept 1981, Dirty Harry's Rat Trike (Monmouth)

At Lynard's Bike Show, LaHarpe, Sept 1981, Lynard doin' a burnout on the highway with his dragbike.

At Webster Street, Galesburg, 1982, Joyce and Swede on his 81 Heritage that he bought new.

At the Ponderosa July 4th, 1983, where we had a "trail ride" set up in the pasture. Slim McGann in front, unknown behind.

At R and K's Annual Columbus Day Party, Kirkwood, IL. This picture made it into a national magazine, but it's been so long ago, don't remember which one. Ron Tinkham (R and K) is getting to set them off on the slow ride.

At the 15th Campout, at Big River State Forest South of Keithsburg, IL. Left to right: Pure Pork, unkown, Bird, Swede.

Hawk moves Ed's Shovel into the shop and got their picture in the Register-Mail during November 2007. Copyright by Register-Mail 2007.

After the 28th Campout,Memorial Weekend 2008, at Big River State Forest South of Keithsburg, IL. Hawk on his panhead on Sunday.

After the 28th Campout, at Big River State Forest South of Keithsburg, IL. Mike on his panhead on Sunday.

After the 28th Campout, at Big River State Forest South of Keithsburg, IL. Hawk, Swede, Pure Pork on Sunday.

After the 28th Campout, at Big River State Forest South of Keithsburg, IL. Hawk, Mike,Pure Pork,Swede on Sunday.

I scanned this picture before it completely crumbles into little pieces on 12/3/07. It is from the April 1977 issue of Choppers magazine and is copyrighted by them. A freelance photographer stopped at the gas station across the street and took this picture of "Gunnies" in the winter of 76-77. This is next to the Burlington RR Tracks on East Main in Galesburg. We spent a lot of time there in the late seventies. It still exists, but is now called "The Office". The scan is not a quality, but where stuff looks white on the tires and seats, it's snow!

03/29/08- These are the fire damage pictires below. Cry!!!

The xs1100 yamaha backfired and then caught fire with leaking carbs.