Pictures! K60 tires, Seat Concepts seat cover, heated grips

Parts/Upgrages:
Seat Concepts KTM 690 SMC, Enduro R (2008-2011) Will work on 2012-2014 as a Low option
SKU KTM001SC
http://www.seatconcepts.com/products#!/~/product/category=1671352&id=7072115



Yes, I proudly park my bike in the living room. I'm single. I can do that. Also, the tile is very easy to clean, and it is easy to keep a clean work space.

I was blessed to find on ebay a listing for the Seat Concepts seat cover, brand new, never installed, and exactaly as I wanted, the gripper fabric on top, carbon fiber style sides, and orange stitching. I trip to a Cow Polk's Leather Shop in Van Buren Arkansas, and Roger had by fixed up and happy. I would recomend anyone nearby give this guy a call. He does custom leather seats, foam and more.

A much needed update...

It has been much too long since I have spilled my thoughts, concerns and fears onto this page. But, with delayed enthusiasm, I have finally chosen and acquired my trusty steed!

2013 KTM 690 Enduro R

Much debate inside my own head, and hours spent reading tech specs, and forum sites, building pro/con lists in my head brought me to this decision. I am satisfied with my choice. I believe I have the perfect long distance adventure bike for me, but do I have the stones and fortitude to be a long distance adventure rider? Only one way to settle that debate.

This is my first ever brand new road vehicle, and that brings with it an inherent anxiety. I have parked this horse in the living room of my apartment, and nights when I fall asleep on my couch, I wake looking at her across the room. Perhaps she is more anxious that I? She needs a name, but names must be earned. She is still a baby, still needing to see those first break-in miles, and go through those first oil changes.

I am fretting over decisions for my next adventure. If I talk about it here, then it becomes real. I need reality. This must give me the kick in the pants to complete all the prep work and planning now, and have time to relax. November 20th I will throw my leg over a newborn motorcycle and take off on a 3000+ mile round trip journey to spend Thanksgiving with sorely missed family in upstate New York.

-What am I searching for?
I truly don't know, but I will know when I find it
-Will I reach my destination?
Geez, I hope so.
-Have I lost my sanity?
Maybe
-Do I care?
Not really, no.

I just need this, I really need a journey. I need to find "it", and I don't know what "it" is. I don't think I will this trip, but this is just practice run, for a much longer trip. I do want to make my goal, but my only real goal is to try. It will be cold. Terribly cold. I need to decide on riding gear, luggage, and necessary all necessary modifications. I still need insurance and tags. I haven't rode any discernible length in oh, 8-10 months, and granted I was no "expert" even then. I have absolutely no experience on a dual-sport, however this trip will be limited mostly to pavement. I still don't have my route, daily mileage budget, and I really don't have the monetary budget for any of this. All those things bother me. They worry me. They consume me, and I love it! I welcome the fretting and the fear. When give in, and it take control of my mind, I forget other things. The private personal things. The things I can't control. The thinks I don't want to share. Perhaps that explains my procrastination. The deadline is approaching, and I have things to order still, and personal affairs to get in order ASAP. Updates soon.

One new hurdle, and a weekend of reflection

Cycles South (1971)
On Any Sunday (1971)
Dust to Glory (2005)
180° South: Conquerors of the Useless (2010)

My weekend: My weekend was full of inward reflection with the exception of a tremendous mistake on Friday night/Saturday morning. The mistake is just another chapter in my life story. I still see this one as just a stupid mistake with bad timing. I hope the judge will agree on Wednesday morning.
Saturday and Sunday I was engrossed in the movies listed above. These movies are very inspirational. So many people have set a goal, had a dream, and fought to achieve it. A year ago I had a plan. It was my "American Dream". I was to be married this fall, almost out of debt, and shopping for the house that I would start raising my family in. This past January all that fell apart. Mistakes and experiences in my past will always haunt me, and unfortunately I let those experiences beat me down, into a horrible angry person. I believe now that I have found my way to deal with the accident, and I can see a future that allows me to manage the memories and guilt. The other side of losing my "American Dream" and driving away the woman I wanted to share it with has left me with a new guilt, and respectively a new anger. This is the source of my current frustrations and the darkness that haunts my path. When will I abandon this, let go and move on? It may sound simple to some of you, but if you think it is simple, I think one has not experienced anything like it before. Those of you who have, I pray you find your way through this dark place. The one in which I am, twisted, lost, and confused.

I must find a new solution. I must set a new goal, find my new dream. It will be hard. I am a person of varying and contradicting interests. There are factors in my life I can't control, such as If a new lover will come into my life or if a past lover will return. All I know is that my previous dream is gone without my fiancé in my life.
My New Plan; I still want to travel. Do some personal soul searching, find a challenge and experience all of my own. I would love to compete in the Baja 1000. It may be farfetched and unrealistic but I can dream. I still see a short term goal of touring the Baja peninsula, I hope to "waste" two months of my life down there. It would be my trial run for international motorcycle travel. I thought I would try that in late November, when I am able to purchase my next motorcycle. Looking at weather almanacs I should postpone for a warmer season, but of course I am tremendously impatient person. How do others fund this stuff? I'm afraid of long unemployment gaps, but if I had some decent plan to fund this I would embrace this dream easier. For hours on end I sit with ideas swirling around my head. I could dig deep in my "real world career," and make a good try at that "American Dream", but I lack the motivation without hope for a family. As it stands, looking at my immediate future, with my solo existence, I really want to embrace my time alone, burn the directions, and grab the experiences of a lifetime. It would help if I can find a way to incorporate a higher purpose to my travel, some way to make an impact on the lives of others. If my dream was less selfish then I believe it would make the plunge somewhat easier.

--Fish

It starts soon...

Recent events in my personal life have inspired a change in my life goals. Soon, and very soon I hope I will be eliminating all of my unnecessary possessions and reducing my monthly income obligations. I have read of those who live what I believe to be the new American dream. Step one for me started last year when I chose to reduce my possessions. Step two is to find my starter camper just small enough to tow with my current pickup but large enough to build into my new starter home on wheels. I have big dreams of travel and simplicity. Wish me luck as I attempt to live out my new dreams. I hope this blog will serve as a record of my new life. I also hope to offer my experiences, skill, and knowledge as I maintain and upgrade my new home, motorcycle, and pickup. If I accomplish anything I hope it would be for someone to come to this site and learn something from my experiences.

--Fish