| Author | Message | ||
     Ray_maines |
Blake, I'm just now reading the morning paper about the fireworks explosion in Kilgore. I'm struck that it sounds so cold and impersonal in the paper. Two short paragraphs in a sidebar on page three. Fifteen seconds to read it, max. If it even caught your eye. Yet, so intensely personal in your account. Knowing there is a real person named Angela and her ears will be ringing for a month, knowing that your mom might have been there, knowing that three friends with real names and real faces and real plans and dreams are dead is so very sad. My friends, life isn't a TV show! Sometimes things don't all get better in a half hour, sometimes real people suffer unfairly. Worst of all, sometimes those real people are you or your family or friends. That sucks. I would be grateful if all my BadWeB friends did two things for me this weekend. First, excuse my nearly incoherent blabbering, and second (and most important) be careful! Wear your protective gear when you ride even if it’s too hot, don't do stupid things with fireworks even if it’s fun, don't drink and __________ (Fill in the blank: Drive, Boat, Swim, Ride, whatever). Sometimes do-do occurs, but we can control a lot of the risks in our lives. I've gone on too long already, sorry. Thanks for reading this. We'll chat on Monday. Ray | ||
| Loki |
With the rise in temp here in the mid east.... I keep getting the following: "aren't you hot in that?" My answer to that is a very qualified "yes, but it is mind over matter" " I don't mind so it really doesn't matter" So even now the thought of getting on the bike without my gear does not even register anymore. My thoughts to my fallen brothers and sisters out there. My wishes to those that are still here. My prayers to those who will follow. I did my time and do not regret a moment of it. In fact I now do my best to give you the best aircraft that can be had. After working these blessed C-5 things.... I am glad I never really worked them on active duty. Besides I am kinda partial to the following: "It is better to screw your way around the world than suck and blow" Long live the (M)C-130 and (M)H-53! The SOG Paratools of the aviation world.... Time for a ride..... | ||
| Blasterd |
Happy 4th of July everyone, going to have a big bash down here in 2 days, it's my 30th B-day! Anyway, I had a question about the DPR9EA-9 plugs in my 2000 M2. At what gap should they be set? Its not in the manual, it still refrences the other plugs. Thanks in advance, Ken | ||
| Hans |
Blasterd, When the set up of the engine together with its electrical system is asking for a certain gap, then all plugs from any brand have to be set on that gap, no matter if the factory preset of that plug is another one. I had to re- gap my box with Bosch plugs for my 2000 M2 from the preset 0.7 mm to 1 mm, if I remember the right value well: In any case: I followed the manual and gapped just as the original plugs.  Hans | ||
| Rattler |
<<Blaster, That seller of that bike is FOS!! Its a standard M2 and that color scheme was readily available.>> Yep..they are...their is the same type, a 2002 M2, sitting at F&S HD/Buell in Dayton, Ohio..for get this..the unholy price of $6300.00. Blaster..save about $4500.00 & get away from this add on this bike. Dale A. Still Activated! | ||
| Rocketman |
AS Jim Bantz will tell you my taste in music is wonderful and varied. Several years ago I saw a gig advertised much later than I should have. I called the venue only to be told it was sold out. The lady took my number and said she'd call me if they had any cancellations. She did. The tickets arrived sometime later. They were numbered something like Row xx Seat 26 and 27. Imagine our surprise when we found ourselves on the front row. What a gig. What a performance. Many many times during the show, mid song or not, women of all ages stampeded to the front, many offering bouquets of flowers, some offering handkerchiefs for the great man to wipe his brow on, others threw nickers and bras to this larger than life performer, a pure musical genius and a talent the likes we'll probably not see again. That was the great Barry White. God bless Barry. Rocket | ||
| Kevyn |
Interesting that Ray mentions safety gear/rider wear...The Vanson Cobra2 is my favorite and I just spent nearly 12 hours cloaked in it, baking in 100+ degree indexed heat...having encountered Thompson's Sausage Monster, never want to do it again. Mind over matter for sure. Wouldn't even consider anything but a full face helmet. Jeans will be an item from the past as soon as I make up my mind and choose padded/armored leathers or synthetics to protect my legs. Boots? I like 'em. From the Ducati boards; interesting that a recent informal poll found the vast majority of respondents wearing leather first and foremost, followed by Synthetics with armor, full face helmets and any style of boots as long as they offered extra ankle and shin protection... I can hear the band singing this one loud and clear. | ||
| Ray_maines |
Kevyn: Which Ducati BBS? Web address please. Blake: Your tragic story gets more press and a picture in todays paper. Seriously sorry. | ||
| Dave |
Geeeeez Kev ... after seeing your knee opened up from the MO farming episode I figured you'd be in leather or the Power Ranger suit.  Crashing sucks but the bristle brush to get the gravel out of the flesh really sucks! DAve | ||
| Kevyn |
DAve, indeed, the PR suit is just too 'over-da-top' but the MO farming incident left a deep impression(pun intended) and it seem the $$ spent on gear is a reasonable investment for on-going physical operations!! I'm likin' the Vanson cordura stuff, Bat Pants get good reviews, any comments suggestions? Ray, I'm an amateur, but try this: http://speedzilla.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=15609 | ||
| Dave |
I bought a set of Vanson leathers off eBay and sold the jacket for nearly what I had into both. I like'em. The leathers keep me planted in the seat unlike the 'Stich (and I imagine other cordura suits) that slides around a bit too much. I'm gonna see if I can attach something to the 'Stich seat area.... DAve | ||
| Court |
I nearly ALWAYS wear the full Aerostich Roadcrafter. When the smart assed HD rider told me I looked like I was dressed for winter, I simply replied "I always dress for fall". I've worn it in ambient air temps up to 120oF. Lots more people SAY they wear full leathers than actually do, I'd surmiziate. | ||
| Firemanjim |
I just tell people I would rather sweat than bleed. Besides ,after full turnouts at a roof fire on a hot day,motorcycle gear is nothin'. Surmiziate?????? WTF???? | ||
| Ccryder |
Hey Mark: My question was could I ride Stripe'r in her condition another 150 miles? The thought was yes, but, be real careful. The other question was could I do a field repair with the proper parts? The answer was yes but to check the bolts every 50 miles just to be sure. Time2Tear Stripe'r down. Neil S. | ||
| Dynarider |
Lots more people SAY they wear full leathers than actually do, I'd surmiziate I agree. Its ez to say it & very PC to do so. I wear the gear when I feel like it, on track days, on cold & rainy days, etc etc. But when its 90+ degs out its simply too damn hot for me to wear a leather suit. Not saying I wont crash, have in the past. Its just a risk that I am willing to accept. Had the bike in Vegas & arizona before & it was so damn hot that the wife I decided to simply leave it parked at the hotel instead of gearing up with the helmets & sweating our asses off. It was truly miserable wearing all of it when its 110 degs out. Lots of folks will say they never ever leave the house unless they are dresses like a power ranger, but I also see enough of these same folks riding around wearing shorts & a t-shirt. BTW I never ever wear shorts...too damn scary with em on  For those who choose to wear the whole getup on a 90+ day I say great, but its not for me. Every day we have to make decisions regarding our lives & the paths we decide to take. If I wanted to be truly safe I would never ever get on a bike again. It simply increases your odds of an early dismissal. | ||
| Anonymous |
>>>check the bolts every 50 miles just to be sure. That was every 25 miles. | ||
| Hans |
Yeah, Americans are riding in full leather and don`t use cracked software on their computers. Once upon a time, I will come over and see that for myself.  Hans | ||
| Ccryder |
Hello Anon: With all the juices flowing I'm sure that my knowledge retention was marginal  (but the information in the heat of the moment was essential). Fortunatly with the help of Scott I would have been able to do the job right. Unfortunatly, with the left mounting bolt in the head broke off, the job was left untill I got home. I did check with my Dealer today and he thinks that maybe my extended warranty might cover the repair. He's going to turn in the claim on Monday. So besides ruining my FL trip it's brought me and my new GF  closer together. She even has a Hertiage Softtail that wev'e been seen cruising around on ( No I will not be going over to the dark side of the Mo-Co and the only tail that's soft has 2 wheels). It is nice that I at least have something to ride, and it's even better that I have a fine looking GF to ride with me and hug&kiss all over me  . So I've got Passion's newly shod wheels back, and I'm heading over to the GF's for a Bar-B-Q of Vension steaks. CU all later. Neil S. | ||
| Doncasto |
Neil: It sounds as though it is very good to be you in spite of your recent mechanical adventures. Did you get some very large emails from me last month with graphics attached? Don | ||
| Loki |
Dyna, You are right in it is a choice to be made. Every choice has its consequence also. Finally had to dig out another useful piece of gear for riding, my 50 oz Camelback. | ||
| Jprovo |
Dyna, Ever try on the Joe rocked Phoenix stuff? (or Fieldsheer, or...) It's not much warmer than wearing a tee shirt, and it protected my butt from a low speed crash a while back. I used to ride without full gear on occasion, now that I bought the mesh stuff, I never leave the house without gear on. James | ||
| Laps |
Vanson Leathers, perforated jacket and pants,every time I ride the Buell (cause I like to go fast). I keep the Aerostich in the side bag of the FLHTC and wear it regularly on longer trips or during inclement weather. The Aerostich is one of the greatest products ever developed for motorcycling. | ||
| Rocketman |
Somewhere on this Orb you can purchase denim jacket and jeans with kevlar inserts \panels stitched in. Their advert shows a guy wearing this stuff being towed at speed behind a motorcycle and no he's not on his feet!!!! Rocket  | ||
| Ray_maines |
My BadWeB friends, please observe a moment of silence for the one year anniversary of the passing of one of our own. Thank you, RaY2K M2aines  | ||
| Dynarider |
James, I have the Joe rocket phoenix jacket & pants I use them on the X1..well when it was running anyways. They fit well with the riding position of the bike. On the Dyna the armor causes the sleeves to bunch up, forward controls, etc. Just makes for a miserable ride. On the hot days we tend to stick to the untraveled back roads & just take it ez, avoid the traffic as much as possible to limit the possibility of an accident. Still not 100% safe, but it beats riding down Lakeshore Drive at 90 mph in shorts & flip flops | ||
| Bart02m2 |
I just picked up a Joe Rocket Reactor jacket. Its mesh like the Phoenix, but has some light weight perforated leather on the shoulders and sleeves. I liked it better then the Phoenix because it holds the armor pads in better, and just generally fit better. One thing I noticed real quick over my heavy weight leather Vanson was the huge difference in air resistance. I was cruising at 85+ and slicing through the air like a knife. Usually anything above 80 hits me in the chest pretty hard on my M2 with leathers. Bart | ||
| Roadrunr |
Dyna, 90 MPH on lake shore drive?  ....Maybe 9 mph | ||
| Snail |
July 10th, '02 as the morning sun climbed into the cloudless MT sky, and the temp was at 80 dgrees and rising, one of my riding partners asked me, "are you really going to wear that whole suit?" "Yes", I responded. Four hours later the temp was over a hundred, and I was still suited up when I got tail ended by a rapidly moving auto. The impact split my tibia, and launched me off the bike in a splendid somersault. I landed on my head, then my shoulder, then my legs came over the top and I was sliding down the pavement on my back, listening to the sound of kevlar rubbing on pavement, and the sound of an arai face shield being ripped off my helmet, thinking, "I'm allright!" I didn't lose a drop of blood, and I had zero rash. Had I not been wearing a full suit, boots, gloves, and full coverage helmet I would have been a mess. If its too hot to wear the gear its too hot to ride. Paul | ||
| Dynarider |
Roadrunr, 90 mph is done all the time by the idiots out there. Sure the road is in rought shape & has more dips & turns than the dragon, but folks still do it. Remember a few years back where that kid "set a record" for highest recorded speeding ticket? He got it on Lake shore drive doing something like 163 mph. | ||
| Court |
Paul, ya said it all. Motorcycle accidents are funny. MOST (over 92%) occur within 5 miles of origin which MOST (over 88%) of the time is home. The intended journey in MOST (over 80%) of the cases is less than 5 miles. I never forget that I am far more likely to wrestle the pavement monster on a 5 minute trip to pick up a quart of milk than I am at 140 MPH playing with the boys from Hot Bike in Arizona. The complicating factor in all of this is that MOST of the time you and what you do has little to do with causation. Your role becomes one of mitigating damage and protecting your own ass. The moment you put the bike in gear and let the clutch out you've done MOST of what you can do. The balance will be skill and training. I'm incapable of deciding where and when it's okay to ride 90 MPH scantily clad. So I err on the side of Arai, Aerostich, Garne and Held. When your hobbies are motorcycles, handguns and airplanes you develop a tendancy to hedge your bet. Court |
