A little Rebel's story- 1985 Rebel

**Kelty Rebel Rider** · 04-06-2009, 10:23 AM

I found my first 1985 Rebel tucked away in a corner of a back yard where it had been for the past 10 years since it's owner had died. I paid fifty dollars for her and loaded her up in the back of my truck. I was pretty excited when we unloaded her.

After about 3 weeks of ebay and local shop purchases she was up and running.

I like the rebel's size. I live up in the mountains and I can go sight seeing in Kings Canyon National Park and not scare all the wildlife. I can just put it in the back of my truck and head to Pismo or where ever. One time it started to fall over when I got to the top of a hill and I was able to pick it up myself.

I had a harley sportster, but I realized it was too heavy for me to ride without another rider with me. One time it started to tip over in the shop and I realized.....dang ... this thing is heavy. So my son rode it till a taxi pulled into him and totaled it.

I can also teach someone who has never ridden a motorcycle to ride on my rebel.

I bought the honda shop manuel and I can work on it myself.

I will never sell my rebel even if I get a bigger bike.

I just bought another 1985 rebel for $200.00 and I am going to do some custom stuff to it.

I don't have anything negative to say about the rebel.

Kelty Rebel Ryder

**maddogg240** · 04-06-2009, 05:12 PM

I like the part where you said even if you got a bigger bike you would still keep it. the dang thing is so cheap why wouldnt you keep it. My next bike is going to be big and expensive and this little baby is what gets me to and from work to pay for it. Iv'e already done too much to it to ever sell it and will probably get another one to really trick out soon. (lots of cutting and welding planned for that one). ANyway great to have you on board I love to see pics of everyones bikes especially for ideas. if you have any I would lov eto see them.

**Guba** · 04-06-2009, 11:02 PM

Kelty Rebel Rider I wish I could find a rebel that cheep! Look forward to seeing what you do to it!

I'm divided on the issue of noise. I LOVE to have a quiet bike, but last May I hit a deer and it's always been in the back of my mind that if I had a louder bike that maybe that wouldn't have happened.

Got my ride bell last Friday, as soon as I finish my voodoo dance lessons I'll have some kind of ceremony to hang it.

**flitecontrol** · 04-07-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guba

last May I hit a deer and it's always been in the back of my mind that if I had a louder bike that maybe that wouldn't have happened.

Got my ride bell last Friday, as soon as I finish my voodoo dance lessons I'll have some kind of ceremony to hang it.

A blind man would have a better chance of predicting the trajectory of a roman candle than you or anyone else would of predicting what a deer will do in a given situation. As a wildlife biologist, I can assure you that the deer knew you were there. Their sight and hearing are phenomenal. A deer responds to threats by running away. It is a strategy that serves it well except for motor vehicles, for which it has little experience. It can outrun almost anything in its environment, and they figure they can do it with vehicles. However, they don't realize how fast vehicles are going, and often misjudge escape routes with fatal consequences.

Do an extra voodoo dance for the deer. It will be as effective as loud pipes, and you can keep the quiet bike you have and like. Given your wildlife impact history, maybe you should also get a rabbits foot and lucky charm or two. Or possibly work on reducing your animal magnetisim!

**Fridgitator** · 04-07-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flitecontrol

A blind man would have a better chance of predicting the trajectory of a roman candle than you or anyone else would of predicting what a deer will do in a given situation. As a wildlife biologist, I can assure you that the deer knew you were there. Their sight and hearing are phenomenal. A deer responds to threats by running away. It is a strategy that serves it well except for motor vehicles, for which it has little experience. It can outrun almost anything in its environment, and they figure they can do it with vehicles. However, they don't realize how fast vehicles are going, and often misjudge escape routes with fatal consequences.

Do an extra voodoo dance for the deer. It will be as effective as loud pipes, and you can keep the quiet bike you have and like. Given your wildlife impact history, maybe you should also get a rabbits foot and lucky charm or two. Or possibly work on reducing your animal magnetisim!

Deer whistles are very effective if used properly. The key is not to start the engine. If you are pushing your bike, no deer will ever get in your way with a deer whistle mounted on the bike.

**maddogg240** · 04-08-2009, 07:26 PM

You guys are all just plain mean. heres a loyal forum guy who clearly is lucky to survive this tragedy and now has a complex but i mean who can blame him with this event were lucky he still rides.

Deer whistles are fine but I found that after a few miles I became very winded. I too dont like a loud set of pipes and at the speed of light that I travel I still doubt the deer could hear me well enough in advance to escape my rath! I switched to the traditional poker cards in the spokes this way even when im coasting I make a terrible sound well known to signal to others that something mean is tearing down the avenue. give it a try! race through the woods this weekend and tell me how it goes.

Another favorite is dragging pop cans behind youon a long string!!!

**cagie** · 04-08-2009, 07:37 PM

It kills me to see deer crossing a major highway. if they are as intellegent as said, then why cross? I know they have a herd mentality and will follow the lead buck, but that buck must be on something.

I was went to York one evening and saw a herd, probably 10 -12 head, grazing in a field about 50 yards from the highway. Coming back later I witnessed them crossing, first one jumping out into traffic, getting confused, stopped, two more came out, all the while cars are starting to dodge and weave. I pulled off to the side about a quarter mile from the carnage as the rest of the herd entered the highway. By this time there were two deer down, one fallen then smeared by a truck, the rest making their way across the 4 lane. Two cars wrecked, three deer dead and a traffic backup for three miles. What are they thinking? Why can't they cross at those pretty yellow signs the highway dept puts up for them?

**Jakeman** · 04-08-2009, 10:15 PM

Here in Colorado the DOT got a letter from a nice little old lady asking them to move the deer crossing sign from in front of her house because too many deer were being hit there and she thought DOT could find a safer place for them to cross. Dead serious.

**Guba** · 04-08-2009, 10:46 PM

LOL! Hey Moe, hey Larry! We all put the yeast in! nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

Flightcontrol your right, they always run. In this case he started across ( from the left side of the road) and saw me coming. I figuered that I could pass behind him, but HE figuered on going back. So I had to adjust for him adjusting. As it ended up, with my speed (50MPH) and now me trying to go toward the right side of my lane, I ended up running over his front legs which made him lose balance and head butt me. OOCH! Worst charlie horse I ever had. Ah...but today I hung my ride bell! Now I'm ready for Bigfoot, may the jingle make him kringle! (Okay so I'm not a poet)

**flitecontrol** · 04-08-2009, 11:19 PM

Deer whistles, beer schmitzles, it don't matter! Mount twin 50 calibers to your handlebars, angled out equally from the center of the bike and horizontal to the ground. When you see a deer approaching, open both of them up! If you don't take the deer (or oncoming traffic) out, the recoil should be sufficient to bring you to an almost immediate stop; much quicker than brakeing, and a lot more fun! And you might get some venison too!

Kelty: Don't think we intentionally hijacked your post; it just happened.

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