| Elwood and Shirley Bikes Gone By |
1965 Sport 50
This was purchased new in 1965 when Elwood was 17 years old. This was his first
real motorcycle and you can see how he showed off!
It was purchased at the Western Auto store in Shelbyville and he wrecked it within
minutes of driving away. But he rode it for over a year.
This was purchased new in 1965 when Elwood was 17 years old. This was his first
real motorcycle and you can see how he showed off!
It was purchased at the Western Auto store in Shelbyville and he wrecked it within
minutes of driving away. But he rode it for over a year.
1966 305 Scrambler
This bike was purchased new in 1966. When Elwood and Shirley met, she had only
seen him on this bike and didn’t even know if he had a car! But he showed up in a
car for their first date and her parents wouldn’t allow her to ride the bike anyway.
It was a nice little bike but he got a couple of speeding tickets with it.
After their December, 1968 wedding, Shirley started riding but they didn’t have
much time because Elwood left for Viet Nam in July, 1969. This picture was taken
when he was on leave. Two weeks later he was in the jungles of southeast Asia
carrying an M-16. Unfortunately, we made the wrong decision to sell the bike when
he left. Live and learn.
This bike was purchased new in 1966. When Elwood and Shirley met, she had only
seen him on this bike and didn’t even know if he had a car! But he showed up in a
car for their first date and her parents wouldn’t allow her to ride the bike anyway.
It was a nice little bike but he got a couple of speeding tickets with it.
After their December, 1968 wedding, Shirley started riding but they didn’t have
much time because Elwood left for Viet Nam in July, 1969. This picture was taken
when he was on leave. Two weeks later he was in the jungles of southeast Asia
carrying an M-16. Unfortunately, we made the wrong decision to sell the bike when
he left. Live and learn.
1968 CB 350
We purchased this bike in mid 1970 after Elwood got out of the Army and
started attending U of L. We had a lot of good times on it and thought we were
really the cat’s pajamas on our “big bad bike”!
We took this bike to Las Vegas with us in August 1972, in a home-built trailer.
Pulling the trailer ruined the transmission in our 1969 Mustang fastback but it
was a great trip anyway. This is our German shepherd, Robin, who loved
riding and would bark until bystanders looked at her!
We purchased this bike in mid 1970 after Elwood got out of the Army and
started attending U of L. We had a lot of good times on it and thought we were
really the cat’s pajamas on our “big bad bike”!
We took this bike to Las Vegas with us in August 1972, in a home-built trailer.
Pulling the trailer ruined the transmission in our 1969 Mustang fastback but it
was a great trip anyway. This is our German shepherd, Robin, who loved
riding and would bark until bystanders looked at her!
1971 CB 450
This bike was purchased in late 1972.
In May 1973, we wrecked this bike on I-65 and Shirley was laid up for two months with all the
skin gone from the back of one leg. That fake sissy bar flipped her right off onto the pavement.
The first paycheck after she returned to work was spent on getting the bike fixed and customized
(not her idea).
We sold the bike in 1976 and didn’t ride for 25 years.
This bike was purchased in late 1972.
In May 1973, we wrecked this bike on I-65 and Shirley was laid up for two months with all the
skin gone from the back of one leg. That fake sissy bar flipped her right off onto the pavement.
The first paycheck after she returned to work was spent on getting the bike fixed and customized
(not her idea).
We sold the bike in 1976 and didn’t ride for 25 years.
1981 650 Custom
Jesse purchased this bike in 2000. This is the bike that got us riding again,
and we have Jesse to thank for it. He was turning out to be a responsible
young man so we helped him get this bike.
On Good Friday in 2001, he called his Mom and asked her what she was doing
the next day. He “forced” her to ride with him on the Bunny Run and since
she didn’t fall off the bike or faint, she was hooked.
Jesse bought his 1995 Intruder later that spring and gave us the 650 so we
could ride together.
Jesse purchased this bike in 2000. This is the bike that got us riding again,
and we have Jesse to thank for it. He was turning out to be a responsible
young man so we helped him get this bike.
On Good Friday in 2001, he called his Mom and asked her what she was doing
the next day. He “forced” her to ride with him on the Bunny Run and since
she didn’t fall off the bike or faint, she was hooked.
Jesse bought his 1995 Intruder later that spring and gave us the 650 so we
could ride together.
1983 Honda GL1100 Gold Wing
We purchased this Wing in 2001. This was our first “big” bike. Unfortunately, it
had a lot of mechanical and electrical problems.
We were able to sell it to someone who wanted a bike to tinker with in his spare time.
We purchased this Wing in 2001. This was our first “big” bike. Unfortunately, it
had a lot of mechanical and electrical problems.
We were able to sell it to someone who wanted a bike to tinker with in his spare time.
1983 Venture
After trying out a couple of other bikes, we found this beautiful Venture and
purchased it in 2001.. It’s actually Shirley’s favorite bike we’ve had but was
difficult for Elwood to drive because it was so top heavy.
We used to ride over to the nursing home to visit Shirley’s mom, who never let
us forget about how she took care of her after the wreck!
This bike went on several trips including Pine Mountain State Park in a
thunderstorm. That was quite an adventure!
After trying out a couple of other bikes, we found this beautiful Venture and
purchased it in 2001.. It’s actually Shirley’s favorite bike we’ve had but was
difficult for Elwood to drive because it was so top heavy.
We used to ride over to the nursing home to visit Shirley’s mom, who never let
us forget about how she took care of her after the wreck!
This bike went on several trips including Pine Mountain State Park in a
thunderstorm. That was quite an adventure!
1987 Honda GL1200 Gold Wing
We purchased this bike 2002. This was the Gold Wing that made us realize how great
Wings really are and it is also the bike that got us involved with the GWRRA.
The day after Jesse and Kristen’s wedding on May 14, 2005, we took off on our first
grand adventure to the Smokies, South Carolina, and across Tennessee to Lake
Barkley. Almost 2,000 miles in a week was quite tiring but a trip we’ll never forget.
This photo of our grandson, Trevor, was taken in 2002 when he was five years old.
We purchased this bike 2002. This was the Gold Wing that made us realize how great
Wings really are and it is also the bike that got us involved with the GWRRA.
The day after Jesse and Kristen’s wedding on May 14, 2005, we took off on our first
grand adventure to the Smokies, South Carolina, and across Tennessee to Lake
Barkley. Almost 2,000 miles in a week was quite tiring but a trip we’ll never forget.
This photo of our grandson, Trevor, was taken in 2002 when he was five years old.
1983 Honda GL1100 Gold Wing
We purchased our second GL1100 Gold Wing in 2003. We got a great deal on
this one so we got it as a second bike for other riders.
A good friend of ours wanted to get back into riding and convinced us this
would be the perfect bike for that. He was right!
We purchased our second GL1100 Gold Wing in 2003. We got a great deal on
this one so we got it as a second bike for other riders.
A good friend of ours wanted to get back into riding and convinced us this
would be the perfect bike for that. He was right!
1988 Honda GL1500 Gold Wing
This is our current 1988 Wing, purchased in 2005. It has taken us over 40,000 miles
and the matching trailer has allowed us to take several trips that wouldn’t have
been possible otherwise, including the campouts at Mount Vernon and
Elizabethtown with Chapter A.
Although we can’t be gone for more than a week at a time due to Elwood’s work
schedule and health, we don’t hesitate to take off and it’s not unusual for us to ride
150 to 250 miles in one day. We enjoy the rides with you guys and love going new
places. Riding together has also brought us closer as a family. Our daughter
Charlotte and her family have joined us at various times and our grandson, Trevor,
is a real biker dude. Jesse and Kristen have ridden with us for many miles and
hours.
This will be our last bike and we enjoy it very much. We intend to ride until our
bones are too brittle to allow us to mount up!
This is our current 1988 Wing, purchased in 2005. It has taken us over 40,000 miles
and the matching trailer has allowed us to take several trips that wouldn’t have
been possible otherwise, including the campouts at Mount Vernon and
Elizabethtown with Chapter A.
Although we can’t be gone for more than a week at a time due to Elwood’s work
schedule and health, we don’t hesitate to take off and it’s not unusual for us to ride
150 to 250 miles in one day. We enjoy the rides with you guys and love going new
places. Riding together has also brought us closer as a family. Our daughter
Charlotte and her family have joined us at various times and our grandson, Trevor,
is a real biker dude. Jesse and Kristen have ridden with us for many miles and
hours.
This will be our last bike and we enjoy it very much. We intend to ride until our
bones are too brittle to allow us to mount up!
