STDS: The best presents never fit under the tree

But before we start really anticipating warmer riding weather in earnest here in Philly, I want to take one last look over my shoulder at Christmas.

Credit for this Stuff that Doesn't Suck story goes to Common Tread junkie Todd S., who turned us on to this story of a Texas biker. George Johnsen, a 69-year-old Vietnam veteran, was short on words and long on tears this Christmas. His son picked his bike up in late November under the guise of “doing some work” to it. Technically, it was the truth. Scott Hartman added a fresh exhaust to his dad’s 2013 Honda VTX 1800 Retro. In the process of bargaining for a new set of handlebars and Kuryakyn grips, it came to light that the seller, Jeremy Worth, was also a combat vet, and simply gave them to Hartman for his dad’s bike.

The story really gets personal, though, when the paint comes into play. Hartman had an acquaintance break out the airbrush, and the result was literally a tearjerker. The tank was graced with a stylized version of the 101st Airborne Division’s shield. Johnsen belonged to the unit, one of the most highly decorated divisions of the U.S. Army. On the side of the tank is a mural featuring two grunts on the ground in Vietnam. It’s hard to imagine a more personal Christmas present. Here's the video of Johnsen's reaction from TV station KSLA.

Todd, thanks for sending it in so we can re-broadcast this story to the world. While we’re on the topic of Christmas gifts that don’t suck, let me share with you a video that Spurgeon and I both have loved for years. I think we’re both hoping to make a video at some point in our careers that hits home like this one does. (Scrub through the boring sections; there's no plot spoilers in here.)

Now lace up those sneaks and start running off some of those rum balls! Bike season is coming.