Blue Dog Diaries: For want of a thread
Terry Roorda
May 21, 2013
We were an unlikely trio gathered in my garage that afternoon. There was me and Robert Pirsig and Richard the Third slouching on shop stools trying not to think too much while I softly sang, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” the biblically inspired folkie chestnut by Pete Seeger; so I guess Pete was there in... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: Rider Education 101
Terry Roorda
May 3, 2013
For over 40 years people have been asking me to teach them how to ride a motorcycle, and as a result I have schooled dozens of such supplicants, some of whom are still with us today thanks in large measure to my careful instruction and the miracle of respirators. With a track record like that it comes... Read more »
Ghost Rider Customs Kevlar Riding Jeans
Terry Roorda
April 8, 2013
These Kevlar Riding Jeans are the ideal attire for the fall—and that’s a double entendre. The first entendre is the fall to the pavement after misfortune has struck and then the inevitable sliding about that ensues. Short of chain mail, no material is as effective as Kevlar in taking that kind of... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: The year of the Indians
Terry Roorda
March 25, 2013
History ain’t what it used to be, and neither is what passes for hard news in these media hype-saturated days. A case in point is the promotional video released by Indian Motorcycle in December featuring American Pickers star and Indian celebrity pitchman, Mike Wolfe, enthusing to the viewer, “I’ve... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: Wet work
Terry Roorda
February 20, 2013
There was a chunk of muddy sod staring me in the face, wedged into the top edge of my face shield, gouged out of the perfect lawn I had plowed with my head and upon which I now lay spread eagle and motionless. An arm’s length away lay my pride and joy, my new ’71 Kawasaki F7 Enduro—still running,... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: The operating theater
Terry Roorda
January 1, 2013
As the years go by, a man begins to take stock of himself; to assess his strengths and weaknesses, his temperament and prospects, and to begin to get a more realistic picture of what he’s likely to become and what he’s likely to accomplish before laying down his burden, and settling in for the big... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: The Da Vidson Code
Terry Roorda
December 12, 2012
Willie G. handed his Versace bag to the strapping albino attendant and boarded the Gulfstream IV. With him were his wife Nancy and son Bill who likewise handed off their carry-ons—a pair of fatbob fuel tanks. “Rome, James,” Willie G. instructed the pilot, who was an albino. “And step on it,... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: Place your bets
Terry Roorda
November 15, 2012
Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary celebration is now officially underway, folks. The limited-edition anniversary models have been revealed and shipped to the showrooms and the traveling big-top Harley party machine is fired up and once again commencing to crisscross six continents spreading the... Read more »
Blue Dog Diaries: Trend spotting
Terry Roorda
October 18, 2012
It was but a dozen years ago that the Big Rubber Revolution began as the upstart production-custom sector of the industry strayed from their bread-and-butter business of cloning Milwaukee models for an undersupplied buying public. In an effort to remain relevant at a time when Milwaukee was catching... Read more »
Harley-Davidson Shrink Sack sets
Terry Roorda
October 12, 2012
There’s a campaign underway to eliminate the use of plastic grocery sacks at supermarkets and convenience stores and we’re all for it. These bags are, after all, a tragic waste of petroleum which would be better purposed in the gas tank of your bike. They also litter the landscape through which we... Read more »
