Last updated 1 year ago
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas…….
It is hard to believe but that time of year is here again. As Christmas seasons seem to roar past us faster and faster it is easy to take them for granted. You may find yourself saying “I’ll do that next year” or “I’ll wait to call that old friend of mine” or “I’ll give thanks in the summer” but even with our best intentions it is hard to make up our digressions at a later date.
My favorite poem is titled Around the Corner by Charles Hanson Towne. While it is absent of any hint of Christmas it does speak to the passing of time and friends and the difficulty we all share in “keeping up” with those we love.
Now that this season has snuck up on us again we get another chance to reach out to others and with express to them what they mean to us. The most heart felt simple expression probably is the most meaningful, kind honest words go along way. Sometimes we want to give a gift of appreciation to others, to show they are in our thoughts and prayers, thus the traditional Christmas gift giving season.
If you find yourself looking to give to you’re loved ones we have plenty of ideas to share with you. Latus Motors Harley-Davidson Motorclothes department has a tremendous selection of H-D products and licensed apparel and collectables, we also have the largest selection of gear and fashion from many other quality vendors that make shopping at Latus Motors a truly unique experience.
We pride ourselves in having lots of great gifts at under $10 and $20 all year long so if you need a little something to say you care, come in and check us out. Our Motorclothes department is the Best in the West hands down and I’m sure you will find that perfect gift. Our expert staff as an accumulation of 32 years in the H-D business and 92 in apparel retailing so rest assured we can help you out.
Cheers to you and Merry Christmas to all!
Last updated 1 year ago
We have an incredible event coming up here at Latus Motors: the truly inspirational author of Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons From Friends Who Faced Cancer, Tamela Rich, will be here for a book signing on Dec. 15.
Live Full Throttle is a powerful collection of stories from women facing cancer with grace, humor, moxie and joy. Tamela shares poignant lessons including the healing power of joy, channeling sorrow into service, and using laughter to help lighten tragedy. The book is available online at Amazon.
You won't want to miss this event! For more info, check out the details below or call us at (503) 980-4060.
Last updated 1 year ago
Steve Breslow works in the Sales Department at Latus Motors. He has graciously agreed to begin writing a column for the Latus Motors Blog called "Hardtail Diaries". To read the first installment, click here. To read the second installment, click here. The third installment can be read here. The latest column appears below.
When we last reminisced about my 1961 Cycle framed Honda 50, I was a VERY young, happy and single enlisted man living in the wilds of Memphis, Tenn. Courtesy of the U.S. Gov’t. This Honda was my Touring Bike. Luggage – simple; just bungee it to the rear seat. I didn’t own anything so what could I take with me except a tooth brush and a change of underwear? I put about 5,000 miles on my Honda in three months. I recall going to a gas station close to the Base and saying ”Fill’r up”. The pump jockey did his best diligence; finished filling my tank and said “That will be 42 cents, SIR!” Gas was about 32 cents per gallon in 1963 and that 42 cents would take me about 80 miles. My polite response was “Would you mind checking my oil and checking the air pressure in my tires – Please?” I will not print out his response, but suffice to say, I stopped frequenting his establishment for the duration of my stay in the gracious city of Memphis, Tenn.
Now that I had the bike in Memphis, what would I do with it when my tour of duty was up in two more months and I had to return to my home duty station which was Floyd Bennett Naval Air Station, Brooklyn N.Y.( Regrettably closed as is New Millington N.A.S. Memphis)? I considered riding the bike back from Memphis to N.Y. but the Navy refused to give me dispensation from flying back with my squad. Also the time frame required would have taken considerably more time than the 24 hours on my transfer papers.
May I go back a few months and admit that there was a catch in having my parents send me the money to purchase my bike (but it is MY money, Mom). I promised to make a “reasonable” attempt to sell the Honda 50 before my return home. I then learned the word “reasonable” can be defined VERY broadly. Broad enough to drive a motorcycle through it – a red Honda 50 motorcycle, to be precise. Well, since I bought the bike used for $125.00 and a new one cost $295.00, I just posted a “For Sale” sign on the barracks wall listing the selling price (remember my “reasonable” promise) of only $500.00. Surprise! There were no takers! “Gee, Dad, I’m sorry but no one bought it. I guess I’ll just have to ship it home.”
Another explanation: There were no motorcycles within the area where I lived. None, Zip, Nada-you get the point. There were also no foreign automobiles either. Was this a conservative area? Does Harley make V-twins? My parents reasoning for their reluctance to break down the two wheels barrier of East Hills, Long Island, New York was simple. As was explained to me, I would “destroy the property values of all the houses in a 25 mile radius” and my father’s reputation would evaporate like an ice cube in an exhaust pipe once the good citizens of East Hills found out that the “two wheeled criminal” was related to the Breslow family. They mentioned the possibility that I change my name or that I undergo an exorcism to rid myself of the demons that seemed to possess my body and spirit. A compromise seemed to be in order. It was decided that I could in fact bring my Honda 50 home (did I mention that it was already on the freight truck and was rolling inexorably northwards towards upper middle class America. BUT – I would only ride it after dark so maybe the neighbors wouldn’t see a previous member of their society being dragged to the dark side on two wheels. I readily agreed because I did not disclose what time zone I had in mind and it’s always dark somewhere in the world.
I also liberated the good burghers of East Hills, New York from their “no foreign cars” policy by purchasing a Sunbeam Rapier as my 4-wheeled transportation (think Hillman Minx with fins – or England’s revenge for losing control of the Colonies). Yes; they knew me in East Hills! It was about this time that I started to realize that maybe I was not cut out for the type of life that my parents had planned for me. Not at all! And it all started with the little cycle framed Honda 50 – bless its little 4 stoke heart.
Some people I knew were not put off by my Honda. My older brother expressed a mild interest. So, being a good sibling, I suggested a quick Motorcycle Riding lesson might be in order. Of course, brother Lee had never been within 20 miles of a bike in his life, but he thought that it looked like fun and since I was still in one piece, maybe he could try it and not get harmed too badly. WRONG! I remember him sitting on the Honda 50 and I was showing him all the controls. He started the motor (big mistake) and while I was explaining the intricacies of a cable operated hand clutch, he turned the throttle wide open and popped the clutch. At that point, he was basically a passenger as I had not yet gotten to my lecture on where the brakes are.
I quickly found out that Honda 50’s make great hedge removers. Unfortunately they were my father’s hedges. He was not amused. I pointed out to him, optimist that I am , how much money he could save on hedge maintenance. He, again, was not amused. It was the last time my brother ever sat on a motorcycle. This story still gets recounted at all the infrequent Breslow family gatherings. Only the bike gets bigger, the hedges longer, and my family’s temper shorter. Did I mention that I was starting to believe that it was time for a new environment? (Otherwise known as “Get out of Dodge!”)
After putting another 5,000 miles on the Honda; it was time for it to go. It had served its purpose admirably but a Ducati had turned my head. Ever hear of a Ducati Falcon 50? Don’t feel alone. I think they sold 6 of them in the States and the other 5 people worked for Ducati and purchasing a Falcon 50 was part of their employment contract. The Falcon 50 was, as its name implied, a 50cc bike-2 stroke-3 speed gearbox (on the clutch lever scooter style)-premix, but so was the Saab 850 GT that I purchased, after the Sunbeam Rapier blew up for the last time). The Ducati’s top speed was up 4% from the Honda to 49 (from 47) . It was also fan cooled. Fan cooled? Yup! They took their standard 50cc motor which had a distinct tendency to overheat and then immediately seize, and encased the head with a shroud and installed a small fan which caused it to overheat and then immediately seize. When the motor seized, I would yank in the clutch, coast to a standstill off to the side of the road and wait for the motor to cool down to a point where the reciprocal parts of the motor would again reciprocate!. A trip to the city of New York went something like this: drive 4 miles, seize, wait 6 minutes, start bike, drive 4 miles, seize, repeat until destination or AAA intervened. The Ducati did NOT last long. A Montessa Impala Super Sport caught my fancy. It had a monster motor-175CC! But that is a story for next time.
Thanks for listening,
IronHead Steve
Last updated 1 year ago
IronHead Steve sayz:
Latus Motors Harley-Davidson is proud to offer this Black 1996 FXD Super Glide with 19,452 miles for sale. For fans of "Sons of Anarchy" (all the unenlightened can skip down about 5 sentences) I pose a Question: If the show debuted in 1996, What would Jax Teller have ridden? Answer: Something very much like the 1996 Dyna Super Glide presented here! Of course the buck horns would have to be deep sixed, but the rest of this cool Dyna would be about it. The exhaust is a Thunderheader-voted by me to be the best sounding exhaust system made. The seat is a Badlander-the same as today's 2011 "Anarchy" Dyna's, and yes they still ride Dyna's. The color is Vivid Black-look familiar? This 1996 Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide has only 19,452 miles on its odometer. A tachometer has been added. Other options include a set of mid capacity saddlebags with ghost (read: easily removable) brackets; a padded passenger's backrest/luggage rack combo; a large touring windshield; Kuryakyn hand grips and high flow air cleaner; wire wheels; a lay down license plate with integrated directional signals and a few other goodies that space prevents me from including. At $9,995, this FXD is a bargain. Low miles, lot's of extras and a healthy dose at personality make me want to trade two of my current Harley's for this one. Give Internet Dave a call, schedule a test ride and help keep my marriage intact by beating me to this one. (#312817)
Call Internet Dave at (877) 468-7587 with any questions or to schedule a test ride. Also, be sure to check out the entire Latus inventory of used motorcycles.
