Lifting the curse: Sometimes in life, we may find ourselves trapped in a situation where our progress is hindered and our efforts seem to go in vain. It feels as if a curse has been placed upon us, preventing us from achieving success and happiness. However, it is important to remember that nothing is permanent, and curses can be lifted if we have the courage and determination to do so. The first step in lifting the curse is to identify its root cause. We need to reflect upon our actions and choices that may have contributed to our current predicament. It is essential to take responsibility for our own mistakes and learn from them.
It is essential to take responsibility for our own mistakes and learn from them. This self-reflection and self-awareness will help us gain insights into our own patterns of behavior and make necessary changes. Furthermore, it is imperative to surround ourselves with positive and supportive individuals who will uplift us and motivate us to break free from the curse.
Could this wild Honda cruiser Rune your bank account?
In a very general sense, those who enjoy the open road on two wheels tend to fall into two groups: custom builders and the finance-the-leather-jacket-with-the-bike owners. Outfits like Honda have regularly sought to blend the two together by building a factory custom. Something wild enough that the buyer doesn’t need to take the bike from the showroom straight to a custom shop to stand out from the crowd. The Honda Rune is one such attempt, and for one year only it was the wildest thing on the road.
Longer, lower, wider. Those are the three traits that customizers tend to emphasize when building a cruiser. Honda took that strategy to heart in 2004 when it built the Rune, a wild version of its Valkyrie model. At the time, Executive Vice President of Honda America, Ray Blank, said of the model, “We wanted to set the bar higher than ever, erecting standards that no one else had yet imagined, while also exploding old limitations on what an original equipment manufacturer could mass produce.”
In that, Honda undoubtedly succeeded. The Rune is an exercise in excess. Its flat-six engine is shared with Honda’s Goldwing model, displacing 1800 cc (111 cubic inches). That engine size lines up with the big-inch cruisers of the era, but triples the cylinder count. Six pistons, instead of the traditional two, bestow a jet-like engine tone to the Rune in a market filled with “potato-potato” machines. The engine was uniquely tuned for the Rune model and pumps out 118 horsepower and 123 pound feet of torque.
That is a lot of power, so this thing must be a rocket ship to ride, right? Sort of. Raw performance was not the Rune’s goal. The styling came first and foremost, which explains how the model somehow, in photos, hides its staggering seven feet of total length. It’s long. Heavy. As it rolled off the Marysville, Ohio, production line it scaled at 850 pounds. That is nearly a third of the weight of a brand-new Civic Sport. A sport bike this machine is not.
It did have sport-bike technology, though. While the single-sided swing-arm rear suspension has a scant 3.8 inches of travel, Honda Pro-Link technology (a proprietary suspension design that allows for a rising spring rate) helps improve ride quality. The front suspension is a bit of an optical illusion. The trailing-link design gives the look of a massive front rake—think Easy Rider chopper—but actually maintains conventional factory cruiser geometry for predictable and user-friendly handling. With a multitude of bushings and connections, the trailing-link system is complex, however, and likely factored into the considerable financial loss Honda suffered on each Rune sold.
Honda reportedly had $100,000 tied up in each Rune produced, which were then sold for $26,000. Even if it was intended as something of a loss leader, the Rune still wasn’t affordable in the greater marketplace. That relatively high price kept buyer interest low, even beneath what was necessary for the 1500 examples Honda projected it would build. Perhaps potential buyers preferred to wait for the depreciation to hit on used Runes and snap one up just a few years after the release.
“The Rune is another example of a a polarizing bike in its day that wasn’t too well received. At more than $25,000, the price was steep and the number of buyers was slim,” says Hagerty valuation analyst and bike enthusiast James Hewitt. “Despite slow sales, the bike managed to capture interest from those who wanted to wait for used prices to drop, and when you have a cult following and people waiting for used prices to drop they don’t drop too far. Prices bottomed around 2012 (Honda was still selling new old stock ones in 2008 and 2009) and have remained strongly in the mid teens since.”
All that said, the Rune is a fascinating tribute to custom bike culture that came with the backing of a reliable manufacturer like Honda. As of this writing, a solid Rune runs between $15,000 and $18,000 on average. Sport bikes of the 1980s and ’90s are gaining popularity and therefore some collectibility, but oddities like the Rune stand out and have already made the leap in the market to reflect that reality. It may not have been a hit when it launched, but the Honda Rune is having the last laugh.
“The Rune is another example of a a polarizing bike in its day that wasn’t too well received. At more than $25,000, the price was steep and the number of buyers was slim,” says Hagerty valuation analyst and bike enthusiast James Hewitt. “Despite slow sales, the bike managed to capture interest from those who wanted to wait for used prices to drop, and when you have a cult following and people waiting for used prices to drop they don’t drop too far. Prices bottomed around 2012 (Honda was still selling new old stock ones in 2008 and 2009) and have remained strongly in the mid teens since.”
These people can provide us with guidance and encouragement during challenging times. Their belief in us can help us regain our self-confidence and belief in our abilities. Moreover, a key aspect of lifting the curse is adopting a growth mindset. This means that instead of viewing setbacks as permanent failures, we should perceive them as opportunities for growth and learning. By developing resilience and perseverance, we can overcome obstacles and strengthen our resolve to lift the curse. An essential component of lifting the curse is forgiveness – both towards ourselves and others. Holding onto grudges and resentments only perpetuates negativity and hinders our progress. By letting go of past hurts and forgiving ourselves for past mistakes, we can free ourselves from the emotional burden that has been holding us back. Lastly, it is crucial to take action and make proactive choices that will break the cycle of the curse. This may involve stepping outside our comfort zones, taking risks, and embracing change. It is through action that we can manifest our intentions and create the life we desire. In conclusion, although it may seem daunting, lifting the curse is possible. By identifying the root cause, surrounding ourselves with positive influences, adopting a growth mindset, practicing forgiveness, and taking action, we can break free from the chains that hold us back. It may require time, effort, and resilience, but with determination and belief in ourselves, we can lift the curse and create a brighter future..
Reviews for "Cursed relationships: Breaking the toxic cycle"
1. Brian - 2/5
"Lifting the curse" was a disappointment for me. The storyline felt disorganized and rushed, with loose ends that were never tied up. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The writing itself was also subpar, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and forgettable.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I cannot express my disappointment with "Lifting the curse" enough. The plot was predictable and lacked any suspense or excitement. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, with cliched personalities and no growth throughout the novel. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, making it a struggle to get through each chapter. I regret wasting my time on this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Jessica - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Lifting the curse" but was ultimately let down. The concept was intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The writing was mediocre, with overly descriptive passages that slowed down the pacing and took away from the plot. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard to believe in the interactions between the characters. Overall, the book had potential but failed to deliver an enjoyable reading experience.
4. Michael - 3/5
"Lifting the curse" had an interesting premise, but it fell short in its execution. The plot was convoluted and confusing, with too many subplots that distracted from the main storyline. The characters were underdeveloped, making it hard to emotionally invest in their journey. While there were a few moments of excitement, the book overall lacked cohesion and left me feeling unsatisfied.