Sportster Sunday: A Sporty under the tree...

This week's edition of Sportster Sunday is brought to you by the spirit of Christmas.  With the traditional Buddha-family Thanksgiving meal (turkey, beef roast, pork roast, Louisiana-style rice dressing, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet peas, gravies, cranberry sauce, and various pies) prepared and consumed it was almost too much to come up with any ideas for this week's Sportster Sunday.  But then I started decorating my Harley tree and it hit me...

Yup, that's a Sporty under the tree.  Wonderful Wife is going to make me a tiny little green bow to drape across it and the color is definitely in keeping with the season.

A little Sporty under the tree

Every year I add a new Hallmark Harley Davidson series ornament to the tree and this year's addition is a 2011 V-Rod Muscle.

2011 H-D Keepsake Ornament from Hallmark

A new Sporty under the tree is not in the cards for me this year and I am OK with that.  These are tough economic times for lots and lots of people and while we may have to be a good bit more frugal than in year's past we are doing fine and that is one of the many things I am thankful for this year.  Other things I am thankful for include that my Wonderful Wife has seen fit to put up with me for another year (that one was pretty close a few times though) and that all my kids  and grandson are all healthy (had some scares there too).  

Maybe it is because I have been putting in so many hours and finally have a few days off.  Or, maybe I'm just getting older but I have spent a few hours just sitting and thinking things over this Thanksgiving.  I haven't come up with answers for fixing the economy or world peace.  Heck, I haven't even come up with the answer to peace in the family but one thing that is crystal clear to me is that good friends and family are more important that most of the crap that the media tries to convince us we need at this time of year.  

So, to all my friends and family out there, I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.  I hope and pray that the remainder of the holiday season brings you peace and joy.

Merry Christmas y'all.

-Buddha

I would so ride this...

Anyone who knows me knows that I am partial to V-Twins.  I am also partial to black motorcycles.  So it is probably no surprise that I would like the new Moto Guzzi V7.  

A Guzzi with attitude

Outside of the incredible good looks of the new Guzzi, the cash infusion of parent company Piaggio has resulted in some serious improvements in the classic 750 cc twin.  The new mill increases HP to 51 and Torque to 43 while increasing fuel mileage and lowering emissions. It isn't just ECM either, word is most of the engine parts have been redesigned for 2012.

I would so ride this bike.  It is a truly lustworthy Guzzi.

No word on when the new models will start arriving to the few dealers in the US which is is good because old Buddha is pretty cash strapped right now and this would just about break the bank and my marriage.

Hang in there...

-Buddha

Sportster Sunday: Hill Country Sportsters

Well, as you may have noticed (or not) Backroads Buddha has been on Hiatus for a while.  Until work settles down it will likely continue to be a little more miss than hit.  But I am back with a picture from our Hill Country trip.

We stopped along one of the Three Sisters (RR337 to be accurate) and took a few snaps of the bikes and the scenery.  This is one of my favorites.

Pair of Sportsters in the Texas Hill Country

We put almost 800 miles on the clock for this trip and a great time was had by all.

Moose was there and put the same number of miles on the Road King but can't have a Road King in the picture on Sportster Sunday.

Hang in there...

-Buddha