| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Quiet! In 2015, I bought the Roadster. When I got it, it was wearing a pair of Roaring Chicken slash cut mufflers. And it was loud; too loud. I found a pair of stock mufflers for short money, and even though it didn’t seem that much quieter to me, everybody else told me how much quieter it was. I like quiet. The bike now has 100,000 miles on it, and it needs new mufflers again. I think that this is the third time I’ve replaced them. The first set (after the Loud mufflers) was fine until the baffles broke loose and rattled around making a very annoying ringing sound. The next set got pretty loud, so I replaced them. Now, the third set is loud. Last fall, a friend gave me some money to buy a set of new mufflers. I stashed it away and promptly forgot about it. But the other day, I discovered it, and I decided to use it for its intended purpose. This was before the hot water tank started leaking, so I wasn’t quite so broke. There was a set of stock (PN# 64842-04) mufflers up for auction on fleaBay, so I put in a bid at the starting point of $20.00. I figured that I’d be outbid, but as time went by, nobody did. To be honest, once I discovered that the water heater needed replacing, I was hoping I’d be outbid. I turned out to be the only bidder, so I won the auction. It cost more for shipping than I paid for the mufflers, but it was still the best price I’ve seen on a pair of stockers in a long while. As I said, I like quiet. My house in Leominster was just before a fork intersection, and it used to piss me off when some hammerhead with loud pipes would whack his throttle open as he powered by at 2:30 AM on his way home from the bar and wake me up. I used to like loud pipes. I liked the added performance I got from them. But back when I had my ’86 XLH1100, I put a set of loud mufflers on it. One weekend, I rode to the Half Mile in Hagerstown, Maryland. I stopped at a truck stop in Carlisle, PA, and when the waitress asked me what I wanted, I couldn’t hear her. All the sounds in the restaurant seemed to be at the same volume and I couldn’t separate them. That was when I first realized that the loud pipes were actually hurting my hearing. Adding the two instances; my loud mufflers hurting my hearing and other riders’ loud exhaust waking me, makes me realize that I like my hearing and don’t want to disturb others unnecessarily. I’m glad I discovered that money and that I bid before my life got expensive. Now, I’ll survive until my next check (my freezer is full of food) and the Roadster will be quiet again. That’s a win/win in my book. | ||
| Court |
It's winter. . . . in my mind, I just have to dial that into my emotional windage calculation. It's also snowing like the dickens here and We're racing toward concluding a job that has $1.3M/day damages for late completion . . . it makes for some funny things like working 18 straight 7 day weeks, working Xmas day and New Year's Day . . . But . . I am READY for spring . . . . I'd keep looking at those pics of the fender and thinking warm thoughts . . it looks like he's doing a bang up job. Amazing . . . even in the dead of winter . . .how damn many things are going RIGHT. Here's the bottom line on the hot water heater . . . well, it's water. If you have the "I need hot water" problem solved you're in fine shape. Let the internet academics cuss, discuss and opine with respect to the myriad of ways that cat could be skinned. No one gets truly cheap until that want to show someone else they paid less for something . . . again, it's hot water, just freaking water. Off I go into the snow to freeze my add of for the next 2 days and think of summer and BBQ ! | ||
| Ourdee |
With modern water heaters I don't think there is a wrong choice. I have bought top of the line and I've bought lowest price. There are good reasons for each. The best educational hot water experience for me was owning a camper with I think it was an 11 gallon heater and having 5 people in the camper for weeks at a time. Everyone learns to conserve for the family's sake. The trick was the off valve on the shower head mounted on a hose. You do not need water except to get wet and to rinse off. The rest is all luxury. I often think of a time on this world when even kings didn't have the plumbing we take for granted today. There is so much today that is wonderful. | ||
| Crusty |
“You Paid Too Much” Back I 1971, I was reading a new magazine that I’d discovered, called Easyriders. There was a full page ad in the back for a mititary surplus Triumph TRW. It was a rigid framed flathead 500cc twin, and they were asking $995.00. If I remember correctly, D&D Distributing was running the ad. A few weeks later, I was out for a Sunday Drive with my wife and we saw one on the side of the street with a “4 Sale” on it. I stopped and we looked at it. The owner came out, and we talked about it a bit. He gave me his phone number and I left. He was asking $725.00, and his wife wanted him to get rid of it. Long story short, I went back a couple of days later and I bought it. It was a great bike. It would start with one kick, and it was pretty much stone reliable. Once I got it, I had all kinds of people coming up to me telling me that I could have gotten one for a lot less. Building 19 was selling them for $500.00, or less. I even heard of one for $350.00. However, I got a ton of pleasure from that bike. And the amount of joy vs the amount of money was still in my favor. It seems like that’s been a common theme for me over the years. My Moto Guzzi Sport, my FXE, my Buells, even the Roadster could have been bought for less, according to some people. No matter what the bike, I always had someone who knew where I could have gotten one a lot cheaper come up to me. Yet, I still don’t regret any of my purchases because of price. Now, I tend to be a I have bought bikes I didn’t care for; so I suppose that I paid too much for them; but the bikes I loved were all a bargain. Even when I could have paid half of what they cost. | ||
| Ourdee |
I have bought bikes I didn’t care for; so I suppose that I paid too much for them; but the bikes I loved were all a bargain. Even when I could have paid half of what they cost. I have not bought enough bikes. I have not bought one I didn't care for yet. | ||
| Crusty |
Currently (6:30 PM) it's 18 * F (-7.77* C) It's supposed to go down to -5* F (-20* C) . Tomorrow's high temperature is supposed to be 5* F (-15* C). WINTER SUCKS!!! | ||
| 86129squids |
Wow- for $hits and giggles, just boil a pot of water on the stove, walk out quickly and toss- whoopfh! More snow! Or just stay in and grab the blankets, your warmest critter, and surf the streams. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Winter of 76-77 Chicago saw Lake Michigan freeze over for the first time in history. I was there. 49 days below freezing, -36 with a 30mph wind... -85. A spitball bounced off the sidewalk. pussies | ||
| Pwnzor |
One of my drivers is feeling it right now... can barely keep the truck running. Check engine light keeps coming on, and it's sputtering every time he takes his foot off the pedal.  | ||
| Ourdee |
Poor guy is in the windy city today. It's windy in Indy right now. Going to be -13 blown down to -38 for skin feel. Probably not riding LilRed today. | ||
| Zac4mac |
If y'all haven't yet, put a piece of cardboard in front of your radiator. My CJ5 had a vinyl cover that snapped on. if you remembered to put it on while warm enough to stretch a little. Good luck out there everybody, be sate. Z | ||
| Crusty |
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| Etennuly |
Z, 76/77. Good one. I was to the right of Southern Lake Erie by about 50 miles making snow at a ski resort. I was outside in it 12 hours each night blowing water into the air one way or another. When it got near zero you could not take a break. Hustle to keep everything going. Rode a snowmobile to work at 8:00 every evening. No heated gear back then. I often stayed a few extra hours in the mornings to plow the parking lots. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
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| Buellish |
He forgot to plug his Gerbings in! | ||
| Zac4mac |
Crusty - that's my profile pic on some M/C forum not here. I LOVE that driveway art. Haven't ridden in weeks due to : Winter, plates expired in August, told Progressive to kiss my butt-no insurance right now.... Gotta call USAA in the next few days. Z | ||
| Crusty |
Screwy; Ain’t It? Yesterday morning at this time, it was -7 F (-21.6 C). This morning it’s 20 F (-6.6 C) and heading for 30 F (-1.1 C). The cold wave has passed. Tomorrow, it’s supposed to hit 48 F and starting Sunday, we’re looking at highs of 60 F with occasional showers for the next 5 days. That should get rid of all this ugly white crap and wash the salt off the roads. Now, all I have to do is figure out where to go on the Roadster. This is a very lean month for me, so it won’t be far, but the poor bike needs to get out where it can run long enough to blow out the carbon and get the battery up to a full charge. And I need to get out and feel the Road a little bit. A tank of gas is cheap therapy to keep me from going over the edge. I’m really looking forward to the Springfield Mile in May. There are about two dozen people coming in this little “non-rally” right now, and it’s looking like it’s going to be a good time. People will be arriving on a bunch of bikes; Harley, Buell, EBR, Kawasaki, BMW, and Indian, and a few will be arriving in cars or pickups. Jerry and Carol are hosting a party on Friday night. We’re going to go out for BBQ to a joint that supposed to be really good, and Carol’s making a Lasagna. I don’t know how we’ll be able to eat so much, but I’m certain that nobody will go hungry. They’re also offering a place to sleep on Friday. They have a couple of spare rooms. I think I’ll bring my sleeping bag and pad and just find a bit of floor space, out of the way. I’m going to be riding in a group all weekend. Normally, I don’t enjoy riding in a group, but I think it will add to the experience. I’ve ridden to Springfield in a group many times, and I’ve also ridden solo many times. There are positives to doing it both ways. If we do it as a group, we’ll all be bonding and sharing something special. The main idea is to get everybody together so that they can experience what I do. Most of the people going have never seen a Flat Track race, I think they’ll love it. I remember the first time Peter Dickie rode out to Springfield with George and me. At the end of the Main, he was so excited, he had trouble talking. He was sputtering and stammering, but he managed to say, “Any time you’re coming back, just let me know and I’ll ride out with you!” I’m hoping that that’s how everybody feels on Sunday night. With Jerry and Carol’s party on Friday, the TT races on Saturday evening and the Mile on Sunday, it should be a Sensory Overload weekend and I hope it all comes together for everyone. | ||
| Crusty |
I've got a Migraine and my head feels like a rotten melon, but I've got to share these Pictures. I'll write about them tomorrow.   | ||
| Ourdee |
That air cover is nice! | ||
| Crusty |
The fender looks good, too!  | ||
| Pwnzor |
That paint is lustrous. Well done! | ||
| Ourdee |
Wax on. | ||
| Etennuly |
Looks nice.  | ||
| Crusty |
Paint Yesterday was the kind of day that was pretty eventful, for me. It seemed that I was hit with one thing after another. It started when I looked at my checking account. I had gotten my Income Tax refund. That caught me off guard; I had just filed last Sunday and I thought it was going to be a few weeks before it came in. I didn’t want to go off half-cocked, so I gave the idea of what to do with it some serious consideration and decided that the smart thing to do was to spend part of it on some new T-shirts, shorts, socks and a few other basic items and put the rest on the Plastic. So, I went online and spent a bit on Hanes site, and I started looking at socks and sweatshirts when I got a call from Joe. He wanted to discuss the paint job he’s doing on my fender and A/C cover. We talked about the paint and a few other things (he was calling me on his lunch break, so he had the time to talk) and it was looking like it would probably be a couple of weeks before they were ready. After the call, I was gearing up to go out and run a few errands when I started getting Aura (Visuals). That’s the precursor of an oncoming Migraine. Since I haven’t had a Migraine for a few weeks, I knew it would be a rough one, so I hit the recliner and figured that was the end of the day, for me. The headache was rough for a few hours, but then it eased considerably and I was able to fix dinner. While eating, I did my usual and went online. Joe had sent me an E-mail with three pictures of my parts. He’d been able to do a little painting on them. They look beautiful! I don’t know if they’re done or not; though I suspect there’s more to go. I’m not a painter. Hell; when I paint a room in the house, I wear almost as much paint as the walls; but my lack of ability in this area makes me appreciate someone else’s skills all the more. Joe is a Professional, and he’s good. So, then I start to feel that I’m “betraying” Vern. Vern is another Professional. He did the gas tank for the Roadster back in 2016. It was a really beat up and dented 4 ½ gallon tank from a Custom that I got from fleaBay. He made it look beautiful. One reason I didn’t ask him to do the paint was that right now, his life is Complicated. Another reason is that he’s in Tennessee, while Joe is here in Ohio. Yet, I still feel a bit uncomfortable. I’d probably feel uncomfortable no matter which of the two Experts I chose. They’re both Good Guys and they’re both friends. At any rate, the paint is looking good, and the Roadster will look a bit better wearing it. I was also awaiting the arrival of the Mufflers that I’d won in that auction. USPS Tracking had been posting that they were on schedule to be delivered before 8:00 PM on Friday, February 1. They made it to the CINCINNATI OH NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER yesterday morning at 11:45 and they haven’t budged since. Since it’s almost 9:45 and there are no new notifications, I doubt I’ll get them today. I used to swear by the USPS, but lately, it seems like they’re dropping the ball a lot. A few weeks ago, I bought some tire mounting gel from NoMar. It took a week to get from St. Louis to here. And last year, when I bought that gas cap on e-bay, it went from Walton, KY to Cincinnati to Greensboro, NC to Fayetteville, NC to Charleston, WV to Cincinnati and finally got here a week and a half after it was shipped. Walton is just over the River; I could have walked there and back quicker. I thought Priority mail was 2 to 3 days? Well, it’s warm outside and the fog is as thick as Sea Poop. I have a number of errands I need to run today, so I’d better get to it. | ||
| Ready2ride |
Crusty, I too suffer from those migraines. As soon as I see what I call the swirlies in my vision, I'll take a couple excedrins and many times it will prevent the headache. I sure wish I could figure out what triggers them... | ||
| Ourdee |
Mike, Start a food journal. You have to log everything consumed, smelled, drank, and even bright lights experienced. Mine can be triggered by MSG and some other stuff. | ||
| Etennuly |
I appreciate that John. And I'm totally good with it. I know the cost of packing and shipping both ways probably is equal to the cost of the parts. Glad to see you have found a local pro.  | ||
| Crusty |
Right now, it's 38 F and the temp is supposed to hit close to 60 today. I need to get out and ride. I just came up with a destination, so I'm heading North (kinda). (Message edited by Crusty on February 03, 2019) | ||
| 04buell |
Jerry just got home from a 2 hour ride on his Versys. Its 60 degrees. I opted to stay home and pretend I'm camping by watching Netflix in the camper. I also did some rearranging so Jerry can do some construction around the bed area when he gets the motivation. It was 73 in the camper with no heat on. Very nice! I scheduled a camping trip in July at a nice COE campground. I love being a little old. 12 bucks a night for full hookup with the senior park's pass. I'm a little spoiled. We put our little z125 pros in the camper and putter around d the campground while we are there. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Zac - USAA will send you to Progressive. They stopped carrying motorcycles in-house back around 08, I believe. |
