Luggage Rack Problem
I’ve been exploring the custom luggage rack problem. The more I look into it, the more I realize that I don’t know enough about metals to make my own, so I’ve talked to some professionals. I talked to a welder in town, and he had a hard time coming up with a number. But he seems like a good guy. There were two kids dirt bikes up against the building, and a cruiser out back. He did seem interested in the problem, and knew what I was looking for. But said he’d have to spend at least an hour just staring at it to get a handle on what needs to be done. But when I let him know I wouldn’t hold him to a number, he said around $300. Then I decided to check into a custom motorcycle shop. Felt very awkward, but I got over it. Interestingly enough, the Chop Shop had just as hard a time coming up with a number. The project is apparently fiddly whether or not you done it before. These guys have built custom racks for metric sport bikes. His number was higher, $500, but I got the impression he highballed it. He did say it might be less, and it definitely would be less in the winter.
So, now I’ve got some decisions to make. The cost of the custom rack is reasonable no matter which number it turns out to be closer to. The question is: how long am I going to keep the bike? I love the Blast. It’s so much fun to ride, but I know that eventually I’m going to want a bigger bike. The Blast just isn’t long enough to carry clothing, camping gear and my photo equipment. And truth be told, I really like the Triumph Bonneville. I’m probably a good enough rider already to be comfortable with the Bonnie now. But, it’s twice the price of the Blast, so I’d not have much money after making payments. If I did buy a Bonneville, I’d still need to spend money on luggage racks, although there are off the shelf options. Plus, I’d want things like engine guards and highway pegs.
The main competitor for my motorcycling money is training. There’s the experienced rider course, the Women’s Riding School, Lee Parks Total Control, a dirt riding couse, maybe a cheap dirt bike for my own practice. Turns out riders with dirt experience are substantially under represented in motorcycle accident statistics. Since I don’t want to become a statistic myself, I want to know whatever it is that dirt riders know that keeps them out of accidents. And considering the kinds of “roads” I keep finding myself on, dirt experience is certainly transferable to the kind of riding I seem to do.
It’s going to be a difficult decision. I’ve always believed that tools don’t make the craftsman. And a skilled craftsman can make art with any tool available. But jobs are always easier when you match the tool, the job and the craftsman. I’ve matched the camera to me the budding photographer. While I can’t currently push the limits of the D200, and I may never do so, it’s comfortable for me, and never gets in my way. The limits are all mine. The Blast is just a ton of fun, but I’ve got a sense already what it’s limits are. The Bonneville looks to be the motorcycle equivalent of a prosumer SLR.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
