Something Special
Originally Published Quick Throttle Magazine March 2007
Story by Robert Sweeney
("Click to Enlarge")
Dan Rutherford wanted to do something special for his wife, Denise. For some guys, "something special" might involve lavish flower bouquets, first class accommodations on a Caribbean cruise, or just about anything shiny containing large diamonds. But Dan had something else in mind.
A big part of the Rutherford's lives had been an '89 Softail Harley, affectionately dubbed the "Red Bitch". The bright red bike had transported the two of them on many an adventure to Sturgis, Laughlin and other points of interest across the land. The "Bitch" even acted as a getaway vehicle at their wedding, much to the displeasure of Denise's mom, who was not at all amused when her daughter donned a helmet, hiked up her wedding dress and hopped on behind Dan for a quick exit to honeymoon land.
Denise eventually got a bike of her own, a '91 Fat Boy, which she rode for about 9 years. After suffering heat stroke on one particularly grueling trip, Denise and Dan gave up long distance touring for awhile and toyed with the idea of selling the Fat Boy. They put it up for sale, but at a ridiculous price they were sure no one would pay. The first guy who stepped into the garage bought it on the spot. So Denise was without a bike of her own.
Meanwhile, Dan had discovered he was no longer 25 and the Softail was not a bike that his aging bones could be compatiable with on long hauls anymore. He came to this conclusion after one pleasurable, but rather long day in the saddle, when he pulled into a motel, got off the bike and found he couldn't walk! He spent the evening in his room nursing life back into his aching joints, while his companions went out and partied, occasionally stopping in to check on him. And so a bagger, that marvelous invention that keeps thousands of geriatic bikers on the road and out of the bingo parlors, became the Rutherfords' ride of choice.
Now a couple of years had passed since Denise had a bike of her own and Dan got this great idea: he'd take the "Red Bitch", which had always been his bike, and remake it into her bike. The "Bitch" had already been through several rebuilds, but this one was going to be very special. And it was all going to be a complete surprise to Denise!
Dan began carefully selecting parts and components that Denise would want in her bike. He enlisted the services of Thunder Cycle in Las Vegas to do the reconstruction and chose airbrush artist extraordinaire, Shawn Ealy of Henderson , to do the incrediable paintwork. The bike is a true custom, the frame being the only original part left of the Softail that left Milwaukee in 1989. Construction of the bike took the better part of a year, with completion taking place just in time to become Denise's Christmas surprise of a lifetime. And surprised she was, not even recognizing the bike as the "Red Bitch" of old; she at first thought Dan had gone out and bought her a new bike!
Looks aren't everything though, which is why the bike sports a balanced and blueprinted 104" Sputhe motor. Denise will never have to worry about being left behind by the rest of the pack, that's for sure!
Flowers fade, cruises only last a week or two tops, and diamonds....Well, diamonds are forever, but can you ride one to Laughlin? I think Denise got the best "something special" of all, and the bike he gave her is pretty special, too.
Story by Robert Sweeney
("Click to Enlarge")
Dan Rutherford wanted to do something special for his wife, Denise. For some guys, "something special" might involve lavish flower bouquets, first class accommodations on a Caribbean cruise, or just about anything shiny containing large diamonds. But Dan had something else in mind.
A big part of the Rutherford's lives had been an '89 Softail Harley, affectionately dubbed the "Red Bitch". The bright red bike had transported the two of them on many an adventure to Sturgis, Laughlin and other points of interest across the land. The "Bitch" even acted as a getaway vehicle at their wedding, much to the displeasure of Denise's mom, who was not at all amused when her daughter donned a helmet, hiked up her wedding dress and hopped on behind Dan for a quick exit to honeymoon land.Denise eventually got a bike of her own, a '91 Fat Boy, which she rode for about 9 years. After suffering heat stroke on one particularly grueling trip, Denise and Dan gave up long distance touring for awhile and toyed with the idea of selling the Fat Boy. They put it up for sale, but at a ridiculous price they were sure no one would pay. The first guy who stepped into the garage bought it on the spot. So Denise was without a bike of her own.
Meanwhile, Dan had discovered he was no longer 25 and the Softail was not a bike that his aging bones could be compatiable with on long hauls anymore. He came to this conclusion after one pleasurable, but rather long day in the saddle, when he pulled into a motel, got off the bike and found he couldn't walk! He spent the evening in his room nursing life back into his aching joints, while his companions went out and partied, occasionally stopping in to check on him. And so a bagger, that marvelous invention that keeps thousands of geriatic bikers on the road and out of the bingo parlors, became the Rutherfords' ride of choice.
Now a couple of years had passed since Denise had a bike of her own and Dan got this great idea: he'd take the "Red Bitch", which had always been his bike, and remake it into her bike. The "Bitch" had already been through several rebuilds, but this one was going to be very special. And it was all going to be a complete surprise to Denise!
Dan began carefully selecting parts and components that Denise would want in her bike. He enlisted the services of Thunder Cycle in Las Vegas to do the reconstruction and chose airbrush artist extraordinaire, Shawn Ealy of Henderson , to do the incrediable paintwork. The bike is a true custom, the frame being the only original part left of the Softail that left Milwaukee in 1989. Construction of the bike took the better part of a year, with completion taking place just in time to become Denise's Christmas surprise of a lifetime. And surprised she was, not even recognizing the bike as the "Red Bitch" of old; she at first thought Dan had gone out and bought her a new bike!
Looks aren't everything though, which is why the bike sports a balanced and blueprinted 104" Sputhe motor. Denise will never have to worry about being left behind by the rest of the pack, that's for sure!
Flowers fade, cruises only last a week or two tops, and diamonds....Well, diamonds are forever, but can you ride one to Laughlin? I think Denise got the best "something special" of all, and the bike he gave her is pretty special, too.
posted by GrimLenZ at
2:26 PM
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