xt500 bobber from idaho and tmi

Found this killer XT500 bobber that was built by a gentleman who calls himself Pugi. He lives “in the sticks” of Idaho. It’s 75% complete but it’s much too cool to wait and see what the next 25% looks like.

When it’s finished, I’ll bring it to you.

Here is a magazine ad from 1976 advertising for the XT500 Enduro. This is the first bike I ever rode on. My step-father, a former Marine imprisoned for beating a man so badly he’d never walk again, bought it new and put me on the back as we jumped through dirt hills and six-foot tall weeds mere yards from our townhouse in Scottsdale. If he only knew today how that changed my life. It was dangerous, scary, and fun. *** bless you, Al. Where ever you are.

Three years earlier, Al had been drinking heavily to celebrate that he had just turned Corporal, an amazing feat for a 19 year old on the deck of the Enterprise. He worked on F-4 Phantom fighter jets. On the night he was promoted, he crippled a man who he always said was “coming on” to him.

Those were the days when you could enlist, tell them you were 18 and be 16 or 17. That’s what Al did. When the defendant showed up in court he was in a wheelchair and he wore a priest’s collar.

In 1974 it was incriminating. How could a priest be gay? No, really…. A priest was beyond reproach.

It reminds me of a joke. Do you know the difference between Michael Jackson and Neil Armstrong? Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon…. and Michael Jackson f***ed little boys.

Al was sent to prison at Marion. He told me when I was 10, “if you ever end up in prison, be the crazy motherf***er. Nobody messes with the crazy motherf**kers. Understand me, boy?” I understood. He then detailed some of the crazy stuff he did that I might utilize the mad skills if ever I was incarcerated. He became a trustee because he was fearless and not affiliated with any group, gang, or other organization. He was supposed to be in prison for ten years. He was released in two. He met my mom a few months later. He was 21. My mother, 30. Score one for mom. She was hot and he was bad.

I learned a lot back then.

Interesting how some dude’s chop from Idaho reminds me of these things. ***, I love garage-built metric motorcycles. Good job, Pugi, and thank you.

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