When we met by chance in the summer of 1999, she was a one owner commuter; garage kept and well cared for. It was a love at first site that would change my life forever. I named her ichimokusan but a year later I would start calling her The Shop Whore because she like to be on her back on a lift letting the mechanic fuck with her. She didn’t blink a headlight as I forked out almost $10,000 over 18 months and what’s worse, neither did I. Who know you could have an S&M relationship with a motorcycle? She kept hurting my wallet and I kept coming back for more. She owned me.
After 181,000 miles shared together, making her carry WAY more than her makers ever designed for and trying hard as hell to convince her she was indeed a dirt bike and just needed more practice, the toll was too great. I put her out to pasture in hopes that one day I would have the time and money needed to do a full restoration.
Instead, one day never came and years pasted and she became an edifice to my desire exceeding my resources.
Last week as I looking for ways to save or create funds to make ends meet, I thought I could sell her for parts because she was worth more dead than alive.
It was killing me to think about it. I stared at own failure to honor my trust to take good care of her. I felt guilty for sitting on the potential resources she could provide for my family.
I was crying while trying to pulling The Shop Whore apart but I Jim Beam will ease any pain…for a while.
You can't know what this bike has meant to me and you can't know how deeply I have loved it. I don't expected anyone to understand how I feel about my K11's not even my husband. He dose try though, or at least doesn’t dismiss my feelings.
The next morning we talked and it was agreed we would find the money somewhere to make ends meet.
This has been her sad tomb for over three years
After skinning her, I started gutting her.
I disemboweled her.
Bleeding it out is best done before gutting, but in my distressed state of mind I forgot this.
Next hang it up but I would suggest not using suboptimum string, even if it’s all you have laying around; smashed fingers will delay proceeding
Now It’s mostly apart
And the wiring harness is mostly intact.
Remember the bleeding before gutting part…just sayin’
This week I’ll start cleaning, bagging and tagging parts and making a shopping list.
Tomorrow I’ll mount the engine.
My basement aka workshop when I last saw it.
After the New Year I’ll start by powder coating the frame dark blue.
Anton has always been so kind to me and supportive of my wrenching. When I spoke with him this week he offered to help show me how to do a complete top end, rings and water/oil pump rebuild.
I’m glad to be owning my responsibility to The Shop Whore and I hope with the extra hours I’m working at the hospital and possible second part time job I could be done in 1 year.
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