Hello all!
I am the current custodian/proud owner of Igofar's former ST 1300. Beautiful bike, amazingly well kept, smooth as glass, and finally (today) equipped with new Battlax tires.
As many/most of you reading this know, Igofar put the first 102,000 miles on this one, and then did a complete nose to tail refresh that left it literally better than new. As the song says "smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy".
Sadly, shortly after, Larry had to hang it up for the size/weight of the ST, and the torch passed to Shuey.
Shuey did a bunch of tweaks to refine the bike for his style of riding - lots of energy invested and more than a little $$.
Sadly, about 2,000 miles later, Shuey also found that the mass of the ST just wasn't working for him anymore, and the torch passed to Valker.
My introduction to the story was in reading Valker's "Ode to the ST/Igofar" post, where he raved about the ride home to Texas on the ST, and all of the care given to the bike by the previous two owners (mostly Igofar). I wrote a note to Valker saying that if he ever decided to sell it, I wanted a chance to buy it. I had spent quite a lot of time and money "rescuing" my first ST1300 - Lazarus -- and I had more in it by then than it would have taken to have bought the 2007 directly from Igofar when he sold it. Alas, I was not in the community at that time. Valk sent a very kind note saying he would keep my contact information, but fat chance he would sell it anytime soon, because it was the smoothest thing he had ever ridden.
Sadly, about 2,000 miles and a surgery later, Valk also found that it was no longer comfortable to ride.
I conned a friend with an airplane into to flying me from COS to Valk's house in TX, got a quick check out, and practically flew back to Colorado.
Sadly, (change of pace), I discovered that the shenkos pretty much delaminated on the way home, and my piggy bank was empty.
Far more sadly, by the time I got the new tires bought, my knees were hurting so bad I was afraid to rock it off the center stand. and since I don't have a lift, I couldn't get down low enough to even work on it (not that it needs it).
Can a bike be cursed? Are the subsequent owners being taken down by the bike, or is the bike the unlucky one, going through so many broken old men?
On the bright side, with the help of compression wraps, my knees are waaaay better, (that's a whole nuther post) but sadly, my company is on hard times, and I may not be able to afford to keep the ST's.
I rode it home this morning with the new tires, in a slight rain. But it looks like decent riding days are going to be rare in Colorado for a while. At least I have gotten in some good rides on the 2003 in the last month or so.
Any thoughts or musings on all of this? Between rehabbing the '03 (which is nearly done) and buying the '07, I have about $10K in STs, and I have loved every minute of the rides, and most of the wrenching. I really don't want to give up riding again - it's the only thing, other than the dogs, that is pure joy .
Lee T (and yes, that is the Igofar in my new profile pic)
I am the current custodian/proud owner of Igofar's former ST 1300. Beautiful bike, amazingly well kept, smooth as glass, and finally (today) equipped with new Battlax tires.
As many/most of you reading this know, Igofar put the first 102,000 miles on this one, and then did a complete nose to tail refresh that left it literally better than new. As the song says "smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy".
Sadly, shortly after, Larry had to hang it up for the size/weight of the ST, and the torch passed to Shuey.
Shuey did a bunch of tweaks to refine the bike for his style of riding - lots of energy invested and more than a little $$.
Sadly, about 2,000 miles later, Shuey also found that the mass of the ST just wasn't working for him anymore, and the torch passed to Valker.
My introduction to the story was in reading Valker's "Ode to the ST/Igofar" post, where he raved about the ride home to Texas on the ST, and all of the care given to the bike by the previous two owners (mostly Igofar). I wrote a note to Valker saying that if he ever decided to sell it, I wanted a chance to buy it. I had spent quite a lot of time and money "rescuing" my first ST1300 - Lazarus -- and I had more in it by then than it would have taken to have bought the 2007 directly from Igofar when he sold it. Alas, I was not in the community at that time. Valk sent a very kind note saying he would keep my contact information, but fat chance he would sell it anytime soon, because it was the smoothest thing he had ever ridden.
Sadly, about 2,000 miles and a surgery later, Valk also found that it was no longer comfortable to ride.
I conned a friend with an airplane into to flying me from COS to Valk's house in TX, got a quick check out, and practically flew back to Colorado.
Sadly, (change of pace), I discovered that the shenkos pretty much delaminated on the way home, and my piggy bank was empty.
Far more sadly, by the time I got the new tires bought, my knees were hurting so bad I was afraid to rock it off the center stand. and since I don't have a lift, I couldn't get down low enough to even work on it (not that it needs it).
Can a bike be cursed? Are the subsequent owners being taken down by the bike, or is the bike the unlucky one, going through so many broken old men?
On the bright side, with the help of compression wraps, my knees are waaaay better, (that's a whole nuther post) but sadly, my company is on hard times, and I may not be able to afford to keep the ST's.
I rode it home this morning with the new tires, in a slight rain. But it looks like decent riding days are going to be rare in Colorado for a while. At least I have gotten in some good rides on the 2003 in the last month or so.
Any thoughts or musings on all of this? Between rehabbing the '03 (which is nearly done) and buying the '07, I have about $10K in STs, and I have loved every minute of the rides, and most of the wrenching. I really don't want to give up riding again - it's the only thing, other than the dogs, that is pure joy .
Lee T (and yes, that is the Igofar in my new profile pic)
