| Author | Message | ||
     F1johny |
Hey all, got a pet peeve issue. I have a co worker at my Hotel here in Seattle who has a 21 year old daughter who has never ridden a dirt bike, mini bike, or street bike. All her squid pals drive gixxers, R1's etc. I know none have endorsements on theor WA licenses. She is convinced she needs a 2004 R6. I have counseled against it, told them about MSF clasees, blah blah blah. Guess what... some asshole at University Yamaha Honda in Seattle saw fit to sell her a used 600 superbike. I went in and warned the sales crew that she was eminently unqualified, but no dice. I am really worried about her welfare. I believe in Darwin but shucks this aint cool. | ||
| Outrider |
F1...Tis the problem with the low cost 600's for many years along with a particular mind set among the bulletproof generation which most of us miraculously survived. Looking back I often wonder how we did survive as we were relatively untrained and on inferior equipment. I won't even bother with mentioning safety equipment. Would suggest you continue to explore creative ways to get to her riding peers and communicate the need for her (and them) need to get training so they are better prepared to explore the "Outer Limits." I know it is like talking to a rock, but perhaps generating some peer pressure will help. Wish I had some suggestions on how to make the training and the concept of getting a motorcycle endorsement more fun/challenging for the group? Perhaps if you had some background info on their contemporary heroes/idols you may find a link to training and licensing. Good luck! | ||
| F1johny |
I guess I have to admit that when I bought my 1981 550 Seca I was without an endorsement and I was 19. I did take the MSF classes, get good protective gear, etc. It is scary to remember the first time I skidded through an intersection because I used my rear brake only.... It is easy to be an expert in hindsight. I have been telling this girl and her Dad the impotance of training and gear, plus the incredible joy of riding, so i PLAN TO handhold this as much as possible. seeing as how I had someone (thank you Bill Bircher aka Cobra) help me learn the ropes. JC | ||
| Firemanjim |
I just got home from work and went to open my BRAG packet for the No Wine-n Tour and a second packet was stuck to mine.So I have the packet for Glenn Johnson of Houston Texas out here in CA.If you know him/or you read this,do you want me to try to drop it in mail or just bring it to the registration when I go?Can't call BRAG until tomorrow. | ||
| Chainsaw |
F1johny : Print out relevant data from the infamous "Hurt Report" on motorcycling fatalities. She will come to the realization that a MSF Course, safety gear, and an actual motorcycle endorsement are imperative to her own safety. If she refuses, ask if it's ok for you to take out a life insurance policy on her, so you can buy yourself a shiny new bike upon her untimely demise within six months. Tough love, brother, tough love. | ||
| F1johny |
What about the clown who sold her the R6? I am not one to give a hoot what or who you do but I find it pretty slimey to sell someone that kind of bike with no regards for her skill level........or lack of... JC | ||
| Outrider |
F1...Nothing you can do about the dealer. The dealers are protected by the law as it requires the owner/operator to go through the licensing process for endorsement. Plus, that endorsement usually is required to insure the bike for use on the road. In essence, the dealer sold the bike in good faith that the buyer is a law abiding citizen. It is up to the girl (a 21 year old adult) to take responsibility for her actions. Her parents either don't know of the law, trust their daughter's skills and judgment immensely or could care less about either their daughter or the law. Any way you look at it she is too old to spank, at least by her father. Assuming not many on the BWB would approve of their offspring getting into motorcycling in this manner, many of us did as there were no laws governing motorcycles, no courses, no training materials, no real safety equipment, etc. All the dealer did is take your money and tell you it rides like a bicycle. Wonder how we made it, eh? Unfortunately, some of us didn't. As a suggestion, perhaps you can give her father all the State's publications concerning motorcycle laws and licensing as well as some training materials you or some of your riding friends may have around the house. The softer caring approach may work much better than anything else. | ||
| Sandblast |
Hey everyone. I have a quick question about motor mounts- my bracket is barely touching my head- is this normal or no? Heres a pic.  | ||
| Awprior |
Sandblast, It's normal. For those of us who have replaced rockerbox gaskets, you'll know about the clearance issues. I had to grind a bit off of the corner to get it to fit easily. I can take a pic in the morning if you'd like. Alex | ||
| Sandblast |
Thank you very much- there was a small impact  And I cant find any damage to anything big- but I noticed that was kinda touching and it freaked me out. Thank you. | ||
| Sandblast |
Thank you Ferris also for helping me out the other night, you rock. | ||
| Captainkirk |
F1johny.. WOW!!! Someone else rode an '81 Seca 550 besides me! (Still got it, by golly!) I recommend "the Proficient Motorcyclist" by David Hough. Buy it, rent it, steal it, whatever, MAKE her read it! I didn't realize what I DIDN'T know until I did...then I read it four more times. Unfortunately, most dealers don't give a rat's ass about anything beyond the sale. Encourage her to ride with others in a group for the first season.Push the MSF course, big time. Talk candidly with her and her father about the risks. Then pray she survives not the first season, but the second or third, when we all start getting cocky. Have them both check out the numerous "newbie" posts on this site. There's been a lot of good info in previous posts. Best of luck! | ||
| V2win |
Sandblast, The front mount should NOT be touching the rocker cover. It should be very close, but NOT touching. If it is, I would address the issue asap. For what its worth. | ||
| Bomber |
Outie "bulletproof generation" . . . .I love it! don't ferget, it wasn't all that long ago that you and I were BOTH part of that generation . . .and frr time to time, I still am (although rpaidly approaching turn 1 at Balckhawk reminds me that I ain't) | ||
| Choptop |
My father, Arthur "ChopPop" Galbraith, passed away Saturday afternoon with his family at his bedside. He had suffered a very severe stroke on Monday and was unable to recover despite prompt and excellent medical care and the constant presence and encouragement of his family. My family and I are pretty tore up over this, its not something we will get over, we’ll just have to come to terms with it. For my Dad’s part, he wouldn’t want us to sit around crying, but we are still going to do some of that anyway.  He told me on several occasions that he was grateful my “motorcycle friends” included him and made him feel welcome. He liked the “ChopPop” nickname, and was kinda tickled that people referred to him as such. I would like to thank ALL involved with the Team Elves effort for welcoming us on the Salt, and making possible what will be several of my fondest memories of time spent with my Dad. When we set our first record on the funny little YSR, he had tears in his eyes. We laughed and giggled like schoolgirls for months over what we had done with that little bike. And it wasn’t just the time spent on the Salt, the prep work for all of our Bonneville trips put my Dad and I together in the garage for months before hand, working up some Budweiser inspired engineering and creative interpretations of the rule book. We had a lot of fun together making plans, working on bikes and daydreaming of going fast on the Salt. He was as proud as can be of Melissa and I when we set our records, and didn’t miss an opportunity to tell us so. He was soooooo excited to be able to ride a bike through the traps at Bonneville and even more excited to get his name in the record books and on a trophy. He had wanted to ride the Triumph again this year, and set a record that was faster than his age (77), we would have done it too. We had spent a lot of time together over the past 6-7 years doing things with the thought of, “…one of these days we wont be able to do this together, so lets have fun now…” And we did. We had sooooo much stuff to do together, and sooooo many projects to work on that we often had the problem of, “…what do we want to play with today?” But no problem having fun doing it. There was no denying that my Dad was getting older and was starting to slow down a little bit. For him that meant more frequent beer breaks during a project, and a little more time spent sitting and looking at a problem before tackling it. But he was by no means “old”. We had made plans to start construction of a new garage in a month or so, and he was going to build a deck last week. I hope I am as physically able when I reach his age. Everyone keeps saying this, and its true… my Dad was fortunate that he went the way he did. Everyone has to go. I wish that weren’t the case. But for someone as active as my Dad a long and protracted illness would have been a heart breaker. He often told me that if it came to that he would just go to Fort Bragg, get in the boat and head West… and we wouldn’t see him again. As it was, I did get to see him on Easter Sunday. We had beer together and talked about plans for the upcoming week. Everyone has to go. My Dad just had to go too soon. Melissa said, “…he could have lived to be 120 years old and it would have been too soon for him to go…” Very true indeed. | ||
| Sarodude |
Chop- May you always carry those fondest of memories of your father. I think I gotta go have some Fish & Chips with my dad and at least WATCH him drink a beer. -Saro | ||
| M1combat |
Sounds like he had a good time Chop... That's what it's all about. | ||
| Henrik |
Chop: my sincerest condolences on your and your family's loss. My thoughts are with you. Henrik | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Chop, our condolences to you and your family. may your Dad ride in peace. Ferris & Denise | ||
| Davegess |
Chop, so sorry and Godspeed to ChopPop. Dave Gess | ||
| Bomber |
Chop my thoughts are with you and your family . .. . . you are all very lucky to have had each other . . . . | ||
| Glitch |
But he was by no means “old”. Only the good die young. God Speed ChopPop. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Chop, I don't know you or your family but I do know that the day my Dad passed was one of the largest turning points in my life. I aged 100 years in the months before his death and damned near died myself. Family is what it's all about, everything is tied to the people that we love and the mark that we leave on them. God Bless you and your family. Make sure that you re-live one of those great memories everyday. We all go, but not everyone has the kind of opporitunities that you had to spend that time with your father so treasure that, it's a true gift. JT | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Chop, My most sincere condolences to you and your family. I am honored to say I had a chance to meet and spend some time with your dad at Bonnneville last year. Folks like that leave a lasting impression, ChopPop certainly did. I can still see the smile on his face when they announced the times for yours and Melissa's runs. He was truy a Gem, and will be missed. God Speed Art, keep an eye out for all of us this fall. I for one will come up with some meaningful gesture in your honor at Bonneville. Brad edited by bluzm2 on April 19, 2004 | ||
| Roc |
I'm very sorry to hear that Choptop. Your dad was great. edited by roc on April 19, 2004 | ||
| Cj_xb |
My condolences on the loss of your dad, sounds like you loved him very much !! I'll say a prayer for you and your family !! CJ | ||
| Dirtsquirt |
Choptop Barbara and I send our prayers and condolances to you and your family. We feel fortunate that we were able to meet Choppop and share some beer and BS with him at Bonneville. It was an honor and a privilege. I believe there are motorcycles in Heaven, and have visions of Choppop going thru the clocks on an 80 HDflathead/side car rig. Look close and you will see a huge grin. Dick and Barbara German | ||
| Outrider |
Choptop...Am sorry to learn of your Dad's passing. My condolences to you, your family and all that knew him. Mine went a few years back and in as much as I miss him, I feel we have a stronger bond today. Is nice to have a pal like that looking over your shoulder, laughing with (or at) you and advising you on various matters. God Bless. | ||
| Court |
Alan: First, my most heartfelt condolences. I've been through this recently enough to know that all the consolation in the world does little. I extend mine and Vickie's condolences to you and your family. Second, I'd submit it's less when we pass as how we lived. Your Father, through you, gained family and respect throughout the Buell world. Your Father's presence in our world and at Bonneville earned him the admiration of more folks than most his family may know. Please tell them for us. Eventually all flames turn cool; our gifts are measured not by how or when they are extinguished, but by how brightly they shone. Your Father, you know this and please tell your family for us, changed the world. My sympathies are with you, Court | ||
| Pammy |
When someone you truly love becomes a memory...The memory becomes a treasure.. You have a lot to treasure. Your Dad was a dear man and you are his legacy. Deepest sympathy from Wes and me to you and your family. |
