| Motorcycle musings |
[06 Nov 2009|07:55pm] |
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After working hard all summer on a large contract project, I now have some time on my hands. I have been spending a lot of it taking care of my poor sick ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) gowanmetal. But I have also been spending a lot of time riding, posting and scheming about bikes.
I have been increasingly active as a commentator on motorcycle sites like The Kneeslider. Some of the posts have been essay length and I'm thinking about reposting them here. . . we'll see if I end up that motivated.
As for my bike situation, I sold the Magna. I guess a lot of the appeal is getting them dialed in and perfect. Once they are 'done' and I have logged a few thousand miles of ride time on them I'm ready for the next project. When it is all said and done, I usually make some money on the deal, but I am putting a lot of time into the bikes. Within 24 hours of selling the Magna, I had picked up another.
Anyway, the current bike is the newest vehicle I have ever owned. It is a 2005 Honda Shadow 600, aka the VLX 600 CD, meaning it is the deluxe model with all the extra chromed bits and better paint. The VLX is an odd bike -- its MSRP is within a few hundred dollars of the Shadow 750, and due to the difference between shaft and chain drive, has nearly the same power at the rear wheel as its big brother. And, it is considerably smaller looking and lighter weight than the 750, which presents like a large bike. Having owned both, I prefer the VLX.
It is the least powerful bike that I have had in years, but all the power is right near idle not hidden up near redline, and it is surprisingly light and agile (for a cruiser -- it aint no Hawk GT. . . I miss that bike). Plus the riding position is incredibly comfortable for my poor aching back. I have had it for about 2 months and put on about 2k miles, so I guess I like it. It is fairly stock, although I did the "Holey Order" mod and removed the rearmost baffles in each pipe (leaving the front baffles) for a bit more rumble and better flow, without sacrificing necessary back pressure, or being jackass loud. It was so easy and effective that I'm convinced that Honda either intends for us to do this after purchase, or that the SE Asian models are made with only the front baffle and that the extra rear baffle is only put on N American and Euro models. I also tracked down a rare Honda bikini fairing from a mid 90s Magna which fit perfectly as the bikes use the same headlight. It looks great and provides a little wind-pocket on the freeway, especially if I want to tuck down into "jockey position" and put my feet on the passenger pegs -- so much for comfortable. . .
Of perhaps more immediate excitement is the immanent arrival of my winter project. Next week I am supposed to take possession of a rather rare 1976 Honda CB500t. The CB500 was only made for two years and was the successor to the famous CB450 Black Bomber, and the biggest parallel twin honda made during that era. This one is in pretty great shape, and my plan is to do a moderate cafe job on it, including fitting a 60s era 305 Superhawk tank (or a Black Bomber tank, if I can find one. . .), and some Dunstallesque megaphones, low bars and bar end mirrors. I'll post pics as that develops.
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| Back from the Burn and dealing with life. . . |
[15 Sep 2009|08:12pm] |
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In retrospect, the truncated Burning Man trip that Gowan and I took last week was about the most problem free of any of my prior years:
There were no vehicle mishaps -- no wind damaged cars, broken axles, no exploding cans of fix-a-flat, no out-of-control 180 degree burnouts on twisty roads, no failed starters, flat tires, or any thing else
We proceeded at one mile under the limit for the duration and thus had no unpleasentness in the speed traps which fund all the little towns along the way.
Upon arrival Thursday morning there were no lines to speak of.
We found our friends with only minimal hassle, and they had held a camp spot for us a three minute walk from center camp (at the corner of 6:30 and B street.
Exodus on Sunday morning was smooth and trouble free -- we got out in less than an hour.
Ganesh be praised.
Highlights of the even include:
Our incredibly annoying neighbors at VEG Camp (a.k.a PETA Camp, VAG Camp, Whiny Bitch Camp, etc) who played disgusting animal snuff propaganda all night every night, getting a counter protest in the form of a bunch of off duty Black Rock Rangers who set up "Turkey Fried Bacon Camp" complete with handing out fresh cooked bacon to passers by accompanied by a megaphone proclaiming that "cruelty tastes good!"
When some unsung heroes covered the Deathguild ThunderDome sign with a sign proclaiming it to be Hot Topic Dome!
Chilling in Center Camp with Gowan for long stretches watching people and occasionally even talking with them.
The bloody mess that was the slide.
My solo trek in the heavy winds and whiteout duststorm conditions and less than 5' visibility from the Temple to Center Camp and back -- 45 minutes of terror and exhiliration, that was.
Watching the Man burn from the Temple -- first time ever to watch the burn from outside the inner circle as I was not in the Conclave this year.
All in all an adequate trip. But, increasingly I feel as if the event has somehow congealed in the past few years. By this I mean that Burning Man has increasingly settled into a firm and fixed notion of what it is. Eight or nine years ago you didn't quite know what to expect when you got out there because there was a sense that the event was free and wild and anything could happen. Now, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect -- from the art cars to the fashion to the DPW attitude to the theme camp attitude -- it is all like reading from a script.
What was once spontaneous (like the baristas in Center Camp taking a dance break on the counters when the lines got long) is now apparently on a schedule. Burning Man fashion is now a settled thing -- and there are people who make a living making playa clothes to sell to Burners and wannabe burners. Fire performance is so commonplace (and universally tired and uninspired) as to leave a veteran of the old days like myself past apathetic and just plain sick of the whole charade. The event runs on nepotism, hookups and a weird class system. And, don't even get me started as to the Org itself. . .
I still go back for the art, the random conversations, and the amazing beauty of the desert. And, frankly I go back because despite all this it is still pretty amazing. But I do feel like something has been lost.
I dunno, perhaps I'm just old and bitter.
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| Burning Man afterall. . . |
[02 Sep 2009|03:31am] |
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So, after much deliberation, gowanmetal and I will be attending the Burning Man Festival after all.
This is my first last minute trip to Black Rock City -- every other year has been months in the making. We found a pair of tickets on Craigslist for $400, which I will pick up tomorrow morning. Assembled all our years worth of gear, bought some basic provisions and replenished consumables in the desert camping kit, and are packing and loading up the trusty old Volvo wagon for the trip.
We will leave tomorrow in the early evening (when Gowan's classes are done) and hopefully arrive at the Playa early in the morning on Thursday.
I have never done less than a full week at Burning Man before, but frankly 4-5 days out there is usually enough for me anyway -- hell after early arrival last year I was ready to leave by Thursday. . . So, perhaps this will end up being a good compromise.
Burning Man has served as my yearly reset button for almost 10 years now. During that time I only missed it once (2006) and I felt somehow out of whack until I made it back in '07. These days it is less of a fire focus for me, and more of a yearly pilgrimage to the desert to commune with art, music, caustic dust, bad food, good people and about the only modern culture which means anything to me.
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| Summer is Motorcycle time |
[24 Jul 2009|04:46pm] |
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Gowan talking about dogs. . . |
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So, it has been a while since I posted about bikes. . . Perhaps it comes as not surprise that I have gone through a few since then. Highlights include a cafe modern Suzuki GS500e. I put a racing pipe on it and did some serious custom fab work to a Targa fairing to make it look more like a vintage racer fairing. It was a fun bike, but I'm a Honda guy at heart. The Suzuki has a new home now.
The current ride, another VF750c Honda Magna sport cruiser, this time a 2001 model. This one is even more built than the last one and has all the best accessories: including a stylish and great sounding set of after-market pipes(4 to 4 Jardine Rumbler Megaphones), a super comfy touring saddle (Corbin Gunfighter), and some misc trim like a crashbar and whatnot. I also had badges removed and the the tank professionally repainted for a super clean look -- nothing looks as good as black and chrome. Its blazing fast, super comfy, and stylish as hell. And the best part is that no one will ever mistake it for a Harley.
In other news, like is ok. Maybe, I'll post about it. . .
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| The days of wine and roses have come to an end. |
[14 Jun 2009|11:44pm] |
My days of wine and roses* have been the days of the Vorpal Space.
Red wine for the gallery functions and the countless social visits. Bottles, and cases and boxes of wine. Good stuff -- that French Syrah [best shit for under $5 I ever found], Argentine Malbec, and good dark smoky Hungarian Red. And the bad shit like Charles shaw [three buck Chuck] and the boxed stuff that I gave away free to the unwashed masses who swarmed the space for the openings.
Red roses for gallery openings. And lilies too because the make the whole gallery smell good especially in the warm summer nights. And roses for target practice in promo videos and cutting out of my assistant's teeth in circus shows.
Increasingly I am forced to conclude that maintaining a storefront is not viable. Blame the larger economy. Blame the fact that people in these troubled times seem to prioritize things like rent and food over art purchases.
A few years ago, the shows at Vorpal Space were successful one after the next, for years. Now it seems that I put up an excellent show, buy wine and flowers and generally throw a free party for the general public, only to yet again have that sad conversation with a downcast artist, about how I consider their show a success and how I like and believe in their art, despite the fact that nothing sold. I think the recent shows have been every bit as good as the old ones, but the larger context has changed.
I know that I have often featured marginalized art and that the consumers of such are often themselves marginalized and that such individuals are hit hardest when things taken a turn for the worse. I didn't get into the art gallery game to set artists up to fail. and I'm not willing to feature art I personally find uninteresting to appeal to a wider audience.
So, as of the last week, Gowan and I have moved our base of operations to a beautiful space upstairs in the same building -- over 1000 sq feet of briick walls and hardwood floors with big windows and good light -- plenty of space for receptions and parties (the invite only kind), and a big 45' long wall for art. Gowan has an excellent studio set up, and I will continue to deal in art and curate art and events without the issues of a street level storefront.
This evening I wandered around the empty shell that up until last week has been Vorpal Space. It sounded different empty -- my voice and footfalls echoed in the empty space. The walls are pocked with holes beyond counting, and from each one hung artwork. The big holes are from drywall screws to support heavy canvasses, the small holes from nails to support photographs, There are marks on the wall where the chair backs used to rub, a the patina of the floor reflects the patterns of foot traffic. During the time I had the space I watched all but a handful of art galleries in Portland fail or turnover. It was a good long run, but I am ready to move into the next phase of the Vorpal Space, and that phase is upstairs.
Gowan and I are planning to kick off our new space with a Vorpal Space retrospective featuring 40-50 pieces from my private collection amassed over the last 3 and a half years. It should happen in the next few weeks. Contact me for details.
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* The phrase "days of wine and roses" is originally from the poem "Vitae Summa Brevis" by Ernest Dowson (1867-1900):
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
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| George W. Bush is Officially the Worst President Ever. . . |
[04 Nov 2008|06:30pm] |
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NPR's Election Coverage on the Radio |
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According to the LA Times, as of this weekend, George W. Bush has an approval rating of of 26%, the lowest recorded approval rating of any President in the history of the United States. His disapproval rating is 72%, i.e. 3 out of 4 Americans don't think he is doing a good job. From what I hear, his activities of late have revolved around preemptively pardoning himself for his gross (not to mention illegal) abuses of his office.
Right now I'm holding my breath about the election results. . . NPR just called Ohio for Obama. . .
If things go left tonight, I'm predicting that the birth rate is is going to spike in urban areas 9 months from now, due to hookups at election parties.
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| In other news, Robot Camel Jockeys. |
[08 Oct 2008|06:34pm] |
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In response to alegations of horific abuse of child camel jockeys, robots have been built to act as camel jockeys in the notorious Camel Races in the Arab countries of the Middle East. Apparently, this has been going on for a few years now, but I find it amusing beyond measure. The robots are designed to pull the reigns with one "hand", whip the camels with the other, and shout invectives (presumably in Arabic) at the camels during the race. And, Robot Jockies don't grow or otherwise gain weight, so it is not recessary to starve them half to death like they were doing with the child camel jockies.
More here and here
This is the most bizarre thing I have found on the interweb all week.
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| Back from the BURN. . . |
[01 Sep 2008|11:47am] |
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 drained |
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SILENCE!!! |
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So I have been back for about 24 hours now.
Gowan and I left just before the Man burned because the FIRE CONCLAVE SHOW WAS CANCELED at the last minute after being on standby for hours. Apparently the 12 HOUR DUST STORM was just too much for the organizers. It certainly kicked the shit out of the rest of us.
The return journey was somewhat protected due to DRIVING THE ENTIRE 500+ MILES AT UNDER 45mph due to a DAMAGED TIRE. Infact, the entire event was so rough on my car I expect the insurance company to total it when I make my varous claims.
But, we're back safely, so I guess that's good. And, the event itself was, of course, amazing. Details to follow.
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| Steampunk Coffee Machines, Armor and Burning Man 2008. . . |
[14 Aug 2008|05:10pm] |
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 caffeinated |
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Depeche Mode, Violator |
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So, many of you know me as a tea geek, a label I will not deny. However I'm also coffee geek. A couple days back I indulged a long standing obsession with perhaps the original steampunk kitchen accessory -- the La Pavoni Europiccola. First designed in the 1950s, this machine has been the gold standard ever since, and remains in production with only minor modifications.
Basically, it is a chromed solid cast brass boiler, with only the very minimum of modern accouterments attached. It is both refined and primitive -- when it is warming up, jets of steam shoot out of the valves, but one also is part of the collection of the museum of modern art. I first became aware of this machine during my first throes of coffee obsession in Seattle in the late 90s. Anyway, as of a few days back, I finally own one. It is one of the new millennium models with a nifty automatic pressure regulator and the larger group head than the older models. The consensus on Coffee Geek is that my obsession is justified.
In other news, Vorpal Space Has had a couple of excellent months. This month Vorpal Space has featured "Sketches of Hell," a series conceptual design sketches by my Friend and neighbor Matthew Clark. Matthew was commissioned by DC Comics to redesign Hell for the DC universe, and these are the concept drawings! It is an amazing show. Next month is a show of paintings by my friend Peter Archer. This will be his second show at Vorpal Space following the highly successful Sleeper Cells last year.
And, Burning Man prep is ramping up daily. gowanmetal and I are making the trip together, planning to join up and camp with the Garnish posse in BRC. She as usual, is amazing. As I write she is hammering sheets of aluminum into fully - functional armor plates to augment my standard post-apocalyptic samurai thing. Her own outfits (including a chased and repoussed copper scale armour bikini top) are pretty damn impressive as well. I'll post some pics soon. . .
p.s. I still have the same motorcycle, the NT650 GT Hawk. It is amazing and I don't think I'm going to sell it. I even bough a Corbin seat for it. And gowanmetal and I made a custom aluminum luggage panel for it out acid etched with Masonic and Rosicrucian emblems.
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| Another month, another Motorcycle. Plus new Garnish '08 Video, and misc. ramblings. . . |
[15 Jul 2008|01:11pm] |
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Vroom Vroom Vroom |
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So, in the established trend, I bring you info on my latest Motorcycle acquisition: a 1988 Honda NT650 GT Hawk -- a.k.a. the Hawk GT . This bike is nothing less than a cult classic, and quite rare to boot -- only made for three years in the U.S.. Most of 'em have been chopped into track racers, and no wonder -- it has an aluminum aishbone frame with single-sided aluminum swing-arm (licensed from ELF Racing), and a liquid cooled 650cc V-Twin engine. 58 BHP @ 8500 RPM, 43 lb/ft Torque @ 600 RPM, 410 Lbs wet weight -- 0-60 in 4 seconds, 12.7 second quarter mile.. And, widely condisered one of the most agile and best cornering bikes ever made. I have been looking for a Hawk GT for years, but finding one in stock, unmolested condition with low miles is near impossible. Again, most have been chopped into track racers -- or run hard and put away wet. My girl has less than 13K miles, all stock, and is in pretty primo shape (expecially for an '88).
The NT650 GT was one of the first naked V-twin sporty standard bikes on the market -- way ahead of its time. The Suzuki GT650 and the Ducati Monsters are mere copies -- this is the original made over 10 years before them. It is my favorite bike ever. I think I'm keeping this one for a while. . . although I might have to paint it black. . .
In other news, the gallery is doing well. Check out www.vorpalspace.com for more infor on shows and whatnot.
I am increasingly excited about Burning Man, and have all sorts of plans for this coming Burn. . .
In that vein,, kingneptune has posted the 2008 Garnish Conclave proposal video! Check it out at www.garnishfire.com. It features a number of performers from a variety of locations, including me. The clips of me are surprisingly decent, given that I lit up for the first time since Buring Man last year to participate in the video shoot. It was more fun than I had expected it to be. . . Perhaps I'm not quite over fire afterall. . .
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| update. . . |
[13 Jun 2008|02:08pm] |
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 busy |
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Vroom Vroom Vroom |
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To those few benighted individuals who still read my increasingly irrelevant blog, I offer the following excuse for my neglect: I have been busy.
Among other things, there have been a series of great shows at Vorpal Space, with more greatness to come this summer season. Also Vorpal Space has partnered with Gowan Metalworks, who has set up a small but full featured Goldsmithing and Silversmithing operation in what used to be the bar area of the gallery. Gowan makes amazing traditional jewelry, and the highest quality body jewelry which I have ever seen. Check out her work here: www.gowanmetal.com.
I have been doing a surprising amount of antique weapons dealing out of the display cases in Vorpal Space, I have features sharp dangerous things in the cases since the beginning, not only due to my own proclivities, but also as a connection to the name and Jabberwocky poem. Some of the the current lot (mostly vintage Malaysian and Balinese pieces) are damn cool:
 
I love buying and selling sharp pretty things. . .
I am part of a proposal for a Major Consulting Project, which if we get it will make me incredibly busy for months and pay me more money than I have made since the lawfirm days of old. I am especially excited because it is working for a great non-profit whose mission is incredibly worthwhile. Wish us luck.
I have bought and sold 5 or 6 motorcycles since I last blogged on the topic. . . Apparently, I get bored easily (and the VF750c Magna was a bit heavy for around town). . . Anyway, the current bike is pretty awesome -- a 1978 Honda CB400t Hawk II. The Hawk II has damn impressive specs for a vintage bike: 370lbs, 395cc (OHC, 3-valve parallel twin), 5-speed, 43HP, tops out at 110mph, and gets 50mpg. Light and agile with plenty of power, this little guy has been restored and Cafe'd out. Cafe treatment includes: super comfy custom seat (built on the original seat pan), vintage wire wheels (instead of the ugly stock mag wheels), custom vintage TT style drag racing pipes w/ spring clip mountings (loud), an even older chrome fender w/ support bars and fabricated bracket mounts, a chrome headlight visor, lower "Super Bike" touring bars and billet aluminum bar-end mirrors, and a bomb proof "paint job" which is actually industrial grade truck bed liner (which means that I could probably lay it down without messing up the "paint"). And it runs like a top -- a 30 year old bike which starts on the first kick!
Question: should I get a little vintage Bikini Fairing for it, or leave it naked?
The various occult and esoteric projects are going well. Our new Masonic Lodge focused on esoteric research received a charter from the Grand Lodge. And, a paper which I presented to the Rosicrutian College a few months back, is being considered for publication in a national journal. Other publications have expressed interest in it, should that one not decide to publish it, so apparently my career as a writer on such topics is progressing.
Tea is still a focus -- I have found a good local source for Chinese stuff in the outer PDX. They don't speak English very well, but via pointing and pantomime we have developed something of a rapport, and I'm getting great hookups. I gave away about a third of the enormous bag of Oolong I posted about back in February. The remaining 60 or so pounds I traded for a .5 carat Diamond. No shit -- apparaised and everything. Now I have this big bling, which I am at a loss to find a use for. . . I suppose it is a good problem to have. I'll probably let Gowan make it into something.
And, Artemis, as always, is good. Apparently, I am as well.
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