My girlfriend and I took the Hayabusa to Northern Arkansas for a three day adventure. We rode highway 7, which was beautiful, up to Harrison on Saturday. Even though my tires were on their last legs, I figured they might last until we got back home. When we were in Harrison, I saw some steel showing through on the rear tire, but she wanted to go to see Mystic Caverns, which was our original plan, and I didn't think it would make that much difference to do an extra 14 miles. It made a huge difference!
We had a great time at Mystic Caverns, and we were the last ones to leave at the end of the day. The girl who worked there asked if we were there for the big motorcycle event at The Hub. I said no. Then I asked where The Hub is located. She said it was just down the road, turn left, then go up to the top of the hill. I thought, why not? I'm the kind of guy who says yes to life.
As we crested the hill, on our right was a circular building called The Hub. In the parking lot was a big, nice white race trailer with about six trick sportbikes around it and a few more in a couple of trucks. Included were a Ducati 1198S, an Aprilia and a Honda RC51. I rode over there and asked them what's up with The Hub.
We talked for a little while, and the subject of my wasted rear tire came up. A couple of the guys looked at it and said things like, "That tire is wasted! You can't ride on that thing, it's dangerous!" Another guy went to the front of the bike and said, "The front tire is worse than the rear!" I said that I was hoping to make it back home so I could get some new ones.
They decided that I was not going to ride one more mile on those tires. One of them said he had a Diablo Corsa III, and another guy said he had a good front tire, a Michelin Power. These were great tires, and they rode on these tires for two days and then changed to new tires. I asked them what I owed them for these tires. They said nothing. I was floored. Then I told them I didn't have the tools to change them. They said they had a tire changer and that they would do it. I was floored again.
Then this group of super-cool guys, these angels from heaven, these friendly, generous, kind and caring people swarmed my Hayabusa, stuck two bike stands under it, pulled both wheels, set up the tire changer and pulled my old tires off. Wow, the front tire was showing cords in four places on one section of the tire. They put the other tires on, slapped the wheels back on the bike, I did a little test ride and everything was good to go.
The rear tire was slightly narrower than the old tire, and I knew from my motocross days that a slightly narrower rear tire makes the bike turn like a dream. We thanked them and rode away as the sun was about to set.
The bike handled like a dream, and it lays over really nice in the turns, with excellent traction. When I order a set of rubber, it will be in these sizes.
The main man who was behind this whole tire-changing effort, and the man who actually changed the tires and even balanced them, is a guy named Dave Frick, who is the President of Frick's (Quality Meats Since 1896,) Frick's Quality Meats, and owner of Dynamic Pet Products. He is a class act, and he helps all of the riders who were with him. I hope that if you go to a store and see Frick's meat products, you'll buy them. I also hope that if you go to a pet store and see Dynamic Pet Products, you'll buy them. Guys like Dave Frick and his friends are the kind of people who give riding and racing a good name.
I wish I could remember all of their names.
They didn't do this act of kindness because of who I am. They didn't know I was a jumper until after they changed those tires. They did this act of kindness because of who they are - because of what they're made of. Because they cared about a stranger's safety. I hope that good things come their way a hundredfold.
JA
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