Finally took possession!!

[obiwanbill]

With a missing leg, have been looking for the right bike to not kill myself on. Going back to 2 wheelers wasn't going to work and after looking at many rebuilt/crashed Gold Wings, I bought a Spyder SE5. Started off with a 3" riser and 12volr plug add ons. At the dealer, the riser on hold for me was missing the mounting hardware, so they had to over night a new one. Then was to pick up soon after opening on 5/12. UPS-FedEx didn't bring. Oops! a young man jumped on a bike and made a 3 hour round trip to another dealer to get one. At 430 we were finally on the way. As we hadn't installed a hand brake yet, my son drove the Beastie and I drove the truck;).
Act 2, got caught in traffic, Kamikaze drivers, bad roads, detours in the Detroit Freeway system. 3 hours later We arrived at (Jimmy) Mels Monster Garage. He had taken a hitch mounted wheel chair rack (Tilt and Tote) that I previously had and fab'ed it fabulously into one of his hitches, then powder coated it. It needed some minor tweaking as he didn't have the wheelchair to pre-tweak with, so tired, we left the Beastie there and ran off for Toledo:ohyea:.
Act 3, Everything tweaked, tall windshield to replace the postage stamp sized one and 3 covers for the 3 shocks, emblazoned with the spider emblem. While there, he gave us a preview of other projects: hitch mounted flag carrier :2thumbs:, an air vent that runs from one of the fog lamp holes, black wire (looked like a spidey web) luggage rank on his Dad's yellow spyder.

On leaving they escorted us to the freeway (So I wouldn't get lost again). so we had a truck and three Spyders (2 grey, 1 yellow) in convoy. Was kinda surreal, like the bike ride at the end of the show each week on American Chopper

A word of note: where the dealer staff seemed asleep at the switch and mostly not full of energy, The Boss and crew at Mels were first rate at every step of the process:thumbup:. Pricing for these aftermarket items was within reason, not like a radio gadget I saw a post on for 2300$:lecturef_smilie:. Sorry, if this is starting to sound like a ad for Mels, but it's obvious to a blind man how passionate he is about his work.

Act 4 Now my son is starting on rigging a mechanical hand brake and I'm golden for the first time since losing my right leg 2 years ago:clap:

[jedd]

:congrats::clap::2thumbs:welcome

[Rando]

word of note: where the dealer staff seemed asleep at the switch and mostly not full of energy, The Boss and crew at Mels were first rate at every step of the processThe dealer staff you mentioned, would that just happen to be Champion Powersports of Belleville? I only live a few miles from them but I think I am going to switch to a different dealership! By the way, I received the same treatment from The Boss and crew at Mels when I purchased a back rest.:2thumbs:

[DynamoBT]

Congratulations!!! May you enjoy many safe miles on her.

[MSGTDOC]

welcome:ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::2thumbs::2thumbs::2th umbs::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::congrats:

[Star Cruiser]

welcome Nie to have you "aboard". I am an AKA (left) so the SE5 was just the ticket for me. Have a friend with the hand brake mod, he's a BKA (right). You can run this baby like nobody's business. I am loving the freedom all over again.
Hope to meet up at one of the "Clutters" (you know a group a Spyders)

Ride safe!

[NancysToy]

:thumbup: Glad you're on the road at last. BTW, everything you said about Detroit freeways is true. :D
-Scotty http://www.pmdawnonline.com/forum/images/smilies/velo.gif

[fastfraser]

welcome:congrats: Happy:spyder2:ing.

[Greg H.]

welcome:congrats:

Very cool!!! :thumbup:

[8LEGS]

:congrats: & welcome

[bjt]

Congrats obiwanbill. Glad Jimmy Mels was able to help you out. I met him once and he was obviously very pationate about the Spyder and helping people. :thumbup:

[dltang]

:congrats::2thumbs:

[jeuchler]

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1965&d=1242252710

That is just awesome! Good luck, and glad you're in the saddle!

[ataDude]

welcome:congrats:

[0228lisa]

Congrats!! You will love the folks on this forum just as much...:2thumbs::spyder:welcome:congrats:

[obiwanbill]

The dealer staff you mentioned, would that just happen to be Champion Powersports of Belleville? I only live a few miles from them but I think I am going to switch to a different dealership! By the way, I received the same treatment from The Boss and crew at Mels when I purchased a back rest.:2thumbs:

I live in Toledo and tried the Honda East (which is a CAN AM dealer also). The salesman was dumber than a box of lint. Coupling that with the ****ty repair shop (I had many bad experiances there with my Honda Shadow over 10 years), I drove up to Belleville. Initial impression was good, but once they had my deposit it seemed to fade. They told me that the wrencher at their other dealership in nearby Monroe (Atomic, formerly Ray's) is trained on Can Ams, can do routine stuff like oil, plugs, tires etc. That makes me feel good as in 06, I bailed out of Honda East and started taking my bike to Monroe.

Ah, the adventure begins. Warp 5, Engage!

[obiwanbill]

welcome Nice to have you "aboard". I am an AKA (left) so the SE5 was just the ticket for me. Have a friend with the hand brake mod, he's a BKA (right). You can run this baby like nobody's business. I am loving the freedom all over again.
Hope to meet up at one of the "Clutters" (you know a group a Spyders)

Ride safe!

not sure where Brampton is...have to dig up the yahoo map. I'm AKA on right; stump long enough to grip the side of the seat:2thumbs:

yep, It's great to also be a member of the Jimmy Mels fan club. Was great meeting his staff, nephew, Dad and wife. 2 dogs that were big sweeties! Seemed like a neighborhood out of the 50's as some neighbors dropped by while Jimmy was wrenching. Amazing!:doorag:

[babyanlee]

:yes:welcome:congrats::yes:

[Lamonster]

:congrats: and welcome:yes::spyder2:

[dltang]

not sure where Brampton is...have to dig up the yahoo map. I'm AKA on right; stump long enough to grip the side of the seat:2thumbs:

yep, It's great to also be a member of the Jimmy Mels fan club. Was great meeting his staff, nephew, Dad and wife. 2 dogs that were big sweeties! Seemed like a neighborhood out of the 50's as some neighbors dropped by while Jimmy was wrenching. Amazing!:doorag:

So Obiwan, you want to ride to Cleveland with us on Sat for the banner signing and passing? We have to go right through Toledo on our way.

[SpyderByter]

welcome

Glad you found a way to get the wind back in your hair.....

[Director]

not sure where Brampton is...have to dig up the yahoo map. :doorag:

Look at the map of Ontario, Canada. Find Toronto at the top of Lake Ontario. Look just a smidge to the left and you will find Brampton. It's part of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), or as the rest of us in Ontario would say, the Centre of the Universe. :D

And :congrats: on your new Spyder!

Cheers,

Bruce

[northramp]

:congrats::congrats:where there is a will..there s a way ..
welcome and congrats

[obiwanbill]

So Obiwan, you want to ride to Cleveland with us on Sat for the banner signing and passing? We have to go right through Toledo on our way.

Think I'll need a raincheck for now...son is still working on hooking up the mechanical brake line...may not be done by Saturday. Thanks for asking:2thumbs:

[obiwanbill]

got some more photos:thumbup:

[obiwanbill]

Woo Hoo!
Son and his friend are moving crapola out of way to have a clear work area to measure the cable length needed for the mechanical brake. Shop opens at 10am to buy needed parts once we know which size. With any luck I will be riding tomorrow afternoon/evening!!
first time in 2 years since I lost my leg due to MRSA infection:ohyea::D:2thumbs:;):2excited::thumbup::y es::firstplace:

[ataDude]

ooooh... the flesh eating virus. How are you doing now?
.


Woo Hoo!
Son and his friend are moving crapola out of way to have a clear work area to measure the cable length needed for the mechanical brake. Shop opens at 10am to buy needed parts once we know which size. With any luck I will be riding tomorrow afternoon/evening!!
first time in 2 years since I lost my leg due to MRSA infection:ohyea::D:2thumbs:;):2excited::thumbup::y es::firstplace:

[Director]

ooooh... the flesh eating virus. How are you doing now?
.

Dude, to be completely accurate, it is a bacterium. Not that the distinction is particularly meaningful to the patient, I guess...

[obiwanbill]

ooooh... the flesh eating virus. How are you doing now?
.March 28 '07, parked Shadow in garage, walked into house and blacked out until May 20th. no open cuts, was in ICU with 104 temp, cellulitis and pneumonia. Misdiagnosis of water retention with leg swelled. Kidney fail x 3, but no dialysis.:dontknow: Podiatrist walked by and claimed it was infection; they told him he was nuts. Popped a small nick in ankle and a full cup of puss drained out. Ta-da! MRSA! Surgeon looked at rotted bones in leg and recommended to wife to amputate my right leg on May 14th. Been driving a truck with left foot gas pedal for 2 years, but dying a little every time I saw a bike on road. Hopefully very soon,:2thumbs: I will be doing strafing runs thru the Glass City

[bone crusher]

:congrats:welcome
Glad to hear you're on the road riding and loving it! Live long and prosper (on the Star Trek theme!)...

[ataDude]

I'm glad you survived but sad you lost the leg. I almost lost my left one below the thigh in a m/c accident in 1987. It still is a pain-in-the-butt but nothing, I suspect, to your situation.

Glad you found the Spyder!

.


March 28 '07, parked Shadow in garage, walked into house and blacked out until May 20th. no open cuts, was in ICU with 104 temp, cellulitis and pneumonia. Misdiagnosis of water retention with leg swelled. Kidney fail x 3, but no dialysis.:dontknow: Podiatrist walked by and claimed it was infection; they told him he was nuts. Popped a small nick in ankle and a full cup of puss drained out. Ta-da! MRSA! Surgeon looked at rotted bones in leg and recommended to wife to amputate my right leg on May 14th. Been driving a truck with left foot gas pedal for 2 years, but dying a little every time I saw a bike on road. Hopefully very soon,:2thumbs: I will be doing strafing runs thru the Glass City

[obiwanbill]

I'm glad you survived but sad you lost the leg. I almost lost my left one below the thigh in a m/c accident in 1987. It still is a pain-in-the-butt but nothing, I suspect, to your situation.

Glad you found the Spyder!

.Thanks. There is an upside with parking lots and having cute young girls open doors for me:ohyea: However despite the Ameicans with Disabiliries Act, 80% of the world isn't open to me. The worst? narrow door ways in doctors offices

[Tom in NM]

Where ( and what ) is your Spyder saddle, as seen in the additional pictures you added? Looks comfortable and just what I have been looking for.

And, now it is your turn to get back those little bits of heart you lost when you couldn't ride. Plus, you have the pathfinder position on the track to show others how they can get back too! Welcome back!

Tom

[obiwanbill]

Where ( and what ) is your Spyder saddle, as seen in the additional pictures you added? Looks comfortable and just what I have been looking for.

And, now it is your turn to get back those little bits of heart you lost when you couldn't ride. Plus, you have the pathfinder position on the track to show others how they can get back too! Welcome back!

Tomsaddle is stock/no mod. :dontknow: Dunno what you are seeing.

I know there has to be other Wh Chair riders out there that wanna get back out there. been passing on photos and enthusiasm on sites, by email to friends...got one from Kansas yesterday. Jimmy is also doing the same; it's more than just shop profit, it's an out growth of his faith to not just support his familly, but to help others with his fabrication skills.:thumbup: