[Ducati] Don't Borrow Staten's Bike (was Hill country ride)

[Peter Bonner]

There it was, saturday morning and another frigid Texas Hill Country day,
with temps down in the low 50s. However by 10 am when we started out, it was
already in the 60s and promising 70s with clear skies. So we left Kerrville,
the intrepid four, with only John Whiting on the Pom bike, Staton, Scott,
and myself riding spaghetti bikes. Staton's bright red Ducati 900SS shone
brightly, expecially after all the polishing Staten did in the parking lot
before departure. A bit more dingy would have served better perhaps, as it
turned out.

So we rode down thru Hunt, past Stonehenge and then to hwy 336 via Hwy 41,
and as we got close to Leakey on 336, it happend that Staten was leading
whilst I followed on Black Beauty until we came to the hwy junction, 1 mile
from Leakey, the headquarters of Officer Sanchez, the biggest arsehole to
ever don the Texas DPS uniform.  (Interesting to note that California got
the glamours CHIPS, but all Texas ever got was a bunch of DiPS). Anyway, I
offered Staton a ride on BB and he said fine, but you lead the way on my
bike. Thus we rode a short ways up, met the rest of the gang and turned
around. As we proceded back to the intersection, with me leading on Staton's
bright red shiny beautiful Ducati, the enemy of all motorcycle riders,
officer Sanchez was approaching and immediately hit his lights, pulled us
over, and proceded to dismiss Staton, saying I only need him, indicating me.
Guess Sanchez totally overlooked the fact we were traveling at exactly the
same speed. However I asked Staton to stay, since he had the insurance card
( I could only hope) for the bike I was riding. Shitehead Sanchez then noted
I was doing 66 in a 55, plus the bike I was riding (Staton's) didn't have an
up to date vehicle inspection sticker on it. So I not only get a speeding
ticket that was kind of bogus, but I also get one for Staton's out of
compliance bike. And bloody Staton, who was traveling just as fast as me
just smiles and gets out of the whole thing, because he is riding my
Hypermotard!

Well we laughed the whole thing off, because in TX, a speeding ticket just
means you pay a fine, fix it with the local judge, and it doesn't even go on
your record, so we had a great ride after that on the 33X roads out of Camp
Wood. As we stopped in Leakey for our last pass through, we visited the
Motorcycle Stop, a bike friendly place, to have a coke. Talking to the
friendly gals there, I noted that I got a ticket from Sanchez, and that 5
years ago I had gotten one from him when two of us were witness that I was
doing exactly the speed limit, but still pegged for 10 mph over. The older
gal replied Sanchez had done her the same, and the younger one explained
that Sanchez always gives sportbikes tickets, but usually doesn't bother
dual purpose looking bikes, like my Hypermotard. Both thought it was rather
typical Sanchez that he would also do the cheap shot ticket for a non
inspected motorcycle.

Staton's basic response was, "well I guess I will just park that bike for a
year or so and let them come get you for non compliance". Hence my
recomendation to you is that you never borrow I motorcycle from Staton
without inspecting everything from insurance to stickers.

Warning, don't take any of above too seriously, I am sure Staton will be
sending the compliance notice in, just wanted to josh him a bit. But do be
warned, that total pr#ck of a cop in Leakey is one absolute shite head, best
to go 10 miles under the limit to make him happy. And other than one badge
heavy cop, this is a totally great riding area and one heck of a lot of fun.
Since the tickets are just revenue, and don't go on your record, its not a
big deal. Besides, Staton did buy me lunch that day :=)  And John Whiting
bought dinner that night, thanks to a big thank you check that Tom Cruise
sent him

Peter