Time To Reflect...

Now that it is officially Fall, it's a great time to reflect the Summer activities that has allowed me to experience moments that I would not have otherwise, if it hadn't been for my love of motorcycles.  I have met so many great people and established strong relationships, some of whom I can legitimately call my friends.  So as my first post, I would like to say "Thanks".  I am extremely honored to have been invited to become a contributor to the blog for an event that truly set it off for me... the Violation Tour.

-Ken

Harvest Run 2013

 Another perfect weekend in the books!!! Thanks to ken and Dick for organizing the Harvest Run. I had John Cougar Mellencamp playing in my head all weekend while we where riding through the cornfields. Roads where smooth and everyone that came was cool and down to earth.....the way it should be. Thanks again dudes! I needed this. Looking forward to Harvest Run 2014!!

Forever Two Wheels

1988, 9 years old, high on life. Before the time of Ipods, laptops, cell phones, internet. Building ramps out of 1/2" plywood with bricks, and riding my BMX was the only thing I obsessed about. There was a place called "the bowl" behind a Sybaris and Lays potato chip factory out in the Northwestern wooded suburbs of Chicago. A dried up river bed gave the perfect natural area for teenagers to build dirt jumps, get high, and drink beer. I remember watching all the older kids ride and I couldn't wait until I became old enough to be able to get "air". Every now and then the Forest Preserve would come through and try to bulldoze or fill in all the areas with wood chips and debris. I would come back a couple weeks later and it would be rebuilt even better than before. No one was in charge, it was just a place to ride if you where "in the know".

I remember even when I was younger than 9 they made this plastic contraption for bicycles that you would mount to your bike with this crappy fake throttle and you could control it to emit sounds of a real motorcycle. I would ride around like a maniac and use my imagination to make myself believe I was on a real motorcycle. Of course, even at an earlier age we would use baseball cards to try to re-create that sound in our spokes.

I would ride all over the place and we would ride with no helmet or pads. My friends and I, at a young age, we where always on two wheels. Tail whipping things in peoples yards. Chairs, flags, whatever we deemed cool enough to destroy. We'd garbage dive for old playboys, build custom BMX bikes, drink Pepsi with real sugar in it, set bags of shit on fire, and make illegal forts in the woods. We where full of energy and could make use of it at our disposal. No one was on prescription anti-hyper active pills.....we burned it all off. From the age of 10 I was barely home.....I was out on my "bike".

My parents where cool enough to cave in and buy me a mini bike and eventually a 1974 Yamaha RD60 when I was in 8th grade that I found in the Trading Times for $200. Even though I didn't know it then, the motorcycle bug was already in my head. I would ride around in circles in our culdesac for hours and sometimes venture out into the street and ride around the block at full throttle which would normally make the neighbors call the cops.

I feel like there has always been some correlation between BMXing with your friends and then years later, riding your motorcycle with your friends. Its like the adult version of being a kid. For those hours or days you ride you can let your mind wander into the deep abyss but stay focused on the task at hand.....staying alive and adjusting to the current mechanical abilities of your motorcycle.

I went out yesterday for a nice long ride with my friends.My kid is two weeks old now so "free time" is more valuable than anything else as the riding season comes to an inevitable end. By the time the day was over I was entering the highway alone. Its a straight 30 mile blast until my exit and usually entails a certain type of aggressive riding style since you are competing with highway drivers. I felt like I was doing 90mph as I clicked into 6th gear. Cars where standing still as I raced passed. Everyone of them on their cell phones, caught up in whatever was more important at that moment in time. Facebook, Instagram, texting, email, etc. The Zombie Apocalypse has already began and we haven't even noticed.

This one of the many reasons I love to ride a motorcycle. I can turn off my phone, hop on my bike with my friends, and have a certain sense of no responsibilities for a short period of time....just like how it was back in 1988.

Don't be a Zombie. Find your own fountain of youth and ride a motorcycle!!!

Forever two wheels!!!!!!!!!!!

WELL HELLO

I'VE DECIDED TO COME OUT AND PLAY AGAIN.
CHECK OUT THOSE SWEET HARLEY MUFFLERS.
WORKING ON GETTING THE DIRTY BIRD ROADWORTHY,
SHE'LL BE ON THE ROAD SOON ENOUGH-

Here is some shit that you all need to put on your calendars!!!!!

 This weekend!!! Hardtail Pary in Milwaukee!!! See ya there! The flyer says it all!!!

 My Madison WI Homies put on a super great run called the Cheeseball. Check out http://lostcauseengineering.blogspot.com/ or more info or email paddyrotten@gmail.com Aug 30th-Sept 1st. I have to bail on this one since baby Hank is due super close to the run...but you should all go and drink a beer or ten for me.

Violation Tour will be sponsoring the pre-party for Harvest Run on that Friday Sept 20th. Bring your dollars, febreeze, and tents. This one is bound to be a great ending to a shitty riding season!

Harvest Run September 21st

If your looking for a good way to end the riding season with some good people you should check this out . Chris Lite and myself went last year and although we had some tire issues we thought it was a great idea and a nice way to close out the Summer. Rumors of a pre-party the night before with the actual ride starting on Sat morning heading down 120miles of scenic IL to a private camping spot. Doesn't get any better than that. Email Dick for more info at the8life@gmail.com

See ya there!!!

Tour the Lake

Really looking forward to heading out on the bike this weekend. 1,000 miles around Lake Michigan Looking to hit some new roads and put the 6-speed into use. Feel like there is never enough time to ride this thing, and when I have time, that usually means I have no money/no job. Getting ready to make sure shes good to go for the weekend. Time to get living!

Toys

 Full House.

 1978 El Camino Black Knight Replica. 350/350turbo trans,cam,headers,flowmasters

My O.L car. Slow as dog shit but deserved a much needed bath.

Tour the Lake 2014

I did this route last year and this year we are getting a small group to do it again. Prob be staying in some motels instead of camping. I want to make it to Traverse City MI the first day from Chicago approx 400 miles. But I guess we will see what happens. 1,000 miles, 3 days, doing Mach 1 the entire time. Cant wait.

For Sale

Our friend Drew from Iowa is selling this nice little bagger.

Its prior salvage. A tree limb broke trunklid and fairing and knocked it over, the previous owner says. I've sold the trunk, crash bars and put different bars and seat on. All guages and cd player work. Has had oil pump and gear replaced. 48k miles and the motor is sound. Need to sell. $7500....or its getting chopped!

Contact Drew at redrider_38@hotmail.com for more info

The Weekend

 I felt like the fat dude in American Pickers this weekend. We got the chance to go through this old 2500 sq ft house down South and pretty much have anything we wanted that we could fit into our car. Pretty cool. Lots o shit. Got an O.G. Jesse James wanted ad, old ammo box, old helmet, old license plates, and random shit my ole lady wanted.

 Using the El Camino for what its intended purpose is. Hauling sweet sweet pile o shit.

 The Saloon area.

 Sat Night:Headed over to Scabie Scotts on Sat to watch him dream up this bike and drink his beer. Thanks Marone. He's hoping to have it road worthy by next weekend. We should have made a bet on that one :)

 Sunday: Fathers Day Hillclimb; Oregon IL. Running out of gas. Got 76 miles out of my tank and that was it. Make metal note.

Perfect end to a good weekend. Gotta get em in while I can.

VIOLATION TOUR Shirts - Last Chance

People seemed interested in us doing another printing of VIOLATION TOUR shirts and hoodies, so here is your last chance. We want to print the shirts asap, so if you want one, be quick. Please send payment via Paypal to cokrocker@hotmail.com by Tuesday. Specify size, quantity, hoodie ($40 shipped), or shirt ($20 shipped) in your payment info along with your mailing address. Once we have everyone's money we should be shipping them out in a couple weeks. Thanks for the support!!!!!

VIOLATION TOUR Day 3

VIOLATION TOUR Day 2

 

Darryl's Iron. Won MVP for putting this together in 4 days and only did 2 shakedown miles before riding the whole trip.

 

 

Ken's Triumph. Best In Show

 

 

Ed's workhorse. Rode EDR and then met up with us. True road warrior. Won the VT trophy knife with a custom sheath from Dead Horse Customs for furthest ridden to attend.

 

 

Josh's clean sportster. Runner up for Best In Show.

 

 

Drew's long chop. Second place Best In Show.

 

 

Leaving Savanna, IL. with one of the best group of riders you can have. 

 

Gas stop in Prairie Du Chien. 

 

 

Cruising the Mississippi on our way to Ferryville, WI. 

 

 

Wooden Nickel in Ferryville, WI. 

 

Camp in Mauston. Thanks again Pete. 

 

 Detail shots of Ken's triumph. This thing ran like a clock the whole trip.