| Author |
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Ara
| | Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2006 - 12:25 pm: | 
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Thank you, Marine. I'm very glad to hear that you're home and safe. |
Southern Marine
| | Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
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Thanks everyone, it's great to be home. My bike has been in storage and I pick it up Tuesday. I plan on being really careful and taking it really easy.
Court, I dropped you a PM with my contact info.
Again, thanks to everyone. |
Brotherbuell
| | Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2006 - 01:32 pm: |
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Thanks Marine. Welcome home. The best way to take it all in will be on your bike. Ride the a$$ off it. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2006 - 10:14 pm: |
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Thanks Blake.
Rocket |
Southern Marine
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 08:04 am: |
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Well, we stopped by our local HD/Buell Dealership and I got to sit on the Uly. My wife saw it and she likes it better than my Firebolt.  Of course i can't do anything about it right now. Dang, I need to come into some money so I can have a Uly and a Firebolt. |
Iamike
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 12:16 pm: |
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Rocket-
I was reading an article in our paper today talking about how many cameras are installed in Britan to monitor autos. This was explained to keep track of and catch criminals.
Is it mainly around London and other big cities or is it pretty widespread? I was curious if the article made it sound worse than it really is. |
Tripper
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 12:23 pm: |
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While in London recently I heard a news broadcast that claimed 40% of the camera installations were bogus. Just a box. They do the trick though. |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
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I read another article about IL setting up vans with picture radar. They were supposed to get your pictue plus the tag and send you a ticket.
There are a few holes in this idea:
1:what if there is no front tag (like KY)(Yeah KY!)
2: What if the rider is wearing a full face helmet?
3:M/C's don't have front tags.
I think that the radar companies did a hell of a marketing sell. The story was the state didn't have to pay for the hardware, the company would take their payments from the ticket revenue. Sure sounds like a conflict of interest to me.
I think I'm in the wrong business, my company makes me sign a "conflict of interest" acknowledgement form. Must be that Golden Rule thingy again.
Time2Roll
Neil S. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 08:23 pm: |
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Yes it's true, and it's getting worse.
Scotland is massively infected with cameras. They are all over the UK but some counties, like mine for instance - East Yorkshire, isn't so bad. There's a reason for this but that has just recently changed.
Previously, revenue generated from speed cameras was paid into the local authority, and spent as to how that authority determined. This lead many police forces to install speed cameras to generate funds to support their spending budgets. The government has recently changed the collection of revenue from speed cameras, and now the revenue is paid into government central funds. How this will affect the growth of new camera sites I'm not clear, but thousands more are planned throughout the UK.
Speed cameras come in many forms too. Mobile cameras placed in the rear of vehicles are parked at the roadside. They have constant video recording synchronized to a lazer and still images are taken from the video tape of the offending vehicle. As in most cases the speed recording and photo image can be of the front or rear of the vehicle. The images can be and are often used in court to identify drivers who claim they were not the driver at the time of the alleged speeding offense. In court they blow up these images too!
They've also got these fancy SPECS cameras dotted around the UK. Fortunately for now there aren't many. They work by recording ALL the vehicles passing them in every lane. A mile or three down the road more cameras are passed again. Your average speed to cover the distance is calculated and if you've passed the second set of cameras to soon, you're nicked my son!
It doesn't just stop with speed cameras either. They have cameras, mostly in central London, that know if you jump a red light. They have cameras to watch bus lanes in case you wonder in to the bus lane when you shouldn't.
Most traffic cop cars now carry a small pod like camera on the roof. It's a rear facing camera and its purpose is to see the 'road fund licence' disc we have to display in our windscreens. Commonly referred to as 'tax', this is renewable every 6 or 12 months and cost around £190 a year for a car, or a £1000 for a big truck. For the past year or more, all new tax discs issued have a bar code on them. The bar code carries the relevant information and it is this bar code that the camera on the roof reads. For years one of the easiest frauds was to photocopy or forge a tax disc and enter your own details. The chances of getting caught were being stopped by a police officer and him noticing it, or like wise an eagle eyed traffic warden checking a parked vehicle. Now of course, that roof camera scans cars as they ride behind it and no one can get past the bar code can they?
Since sometime last year, though not mandatory, all major insurance companies have given their customer details to the police. If you're number plate is scanned by police vehicles or you are stopped by police, they can now access the Police National Computer (PNC) and within about 1% accuracy they claim, they know if you're insured or not. If not they have the power to impound the vehicle from you there and then.
There are other cameras too. If this stuff really interests you there are many good UK sites that have a vast amount of information available. They'll tell you what cameras do what, and how they work, What detectors will and can do for you. Your legal rights etc etc. The list goes on. speed-trap is a popular site and offers as much info as the rest of them.
It's worth saying, all camera sites, even mobile ones, are and have to be published by law, I think on a weekly basis or very similar timescale. Be it newspapers, local radio, web sites or whatever. The speed cameras can only operate legally if the speed camera site is made known to the general public. Fixed speed camera signs exist permanently wherever speed cameras, permanent or otherwise, operate.
Forward imaging speed cameras have little chance of capturing motorcycles. There are many infamous published pictures of bikers wheelying or 'saluting' in the time honoured fashion at these cameras, whilst they break the speed limit. There is talk of government looking at ways to fix front number plates in a non dangerous manner to bikes, and some rumours suggest it could happen sooner rather than later. I know there's just been a huge thing in Australia about the same thing but I don't know the outcome of it over there, though it's said the British government is monitoring the progress of the Australian law makers.
I have been using a Valentine 1 radar detector for several years and it is regarded as one of, if not the best, radar detector on the market. That said, I'm about to change to a New Road Angel 2. These detectors are programmed with all know camera sites, as well as accident black spots, schools etc etc, and they come with an inbuilt modem so one can download updates for new cameras etc when one chooses. Like I said, all camera sites are public knowledge.
Phew, I'm done!
Rocket |
Charlieboy6649
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 08:53 pm: |
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Thanks for the report Rocket. I think we're headed that direction here in the states. Many HOV lanes can function as ticket booths if your ticket comes in under a certain time...
It was that way in Japan while I was there too... |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 09:28 pm: |
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Rocket,
Sound like HELL!
You have my sympathy. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 10:09 pm: |
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I've been caught several times in the last two years. There are loopholes, and I've been lucky, and that's all I'm saying!
You know, last year I bought an old Maserati Bi-turbo. Lovely car despite what anyone who's never owned one will tell you. I love my classics. The more unusual the better, but the Mazza was fire engine red. I've not been stopped by the police that much since I use to ride an old Triumph chop wearing a denim cut-down over my leather, and that's a lot of years ago. I sold the Mazza recently.
I appreciate your sympathy Bruce, but it's a New Road Angel 2 I really need LOL.
How about a truce Bruce? Hands across the water...........lovely.
Rocket |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 10:28 pm: |
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That Road Angel looks pretty cool. If I faced what you guys are facing, I would likely spring for the RA.
Yes, a truce is very good indeed.
BTW-I really do have sympathy for you guys. I am all for prudent driving but this garbage that you cite seems like pure and simple harassment.
Reminds me of the book, "The Road to Serfdom" by Hayek. He warned about this type of government way back in the 40s. |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 10:30 pm: |
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BTW- A fellow I worked with back in the 90s (RIP) had a Bi-Turbo Mas. I loved that car and if I recall correctly, it hauled along very nicely.
Are they as tough to keep running as I have heard? |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 11:11 pm: |
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Well Bruce, my Bi-turbo was the 2800cc later model with 250bhp. About as quick through the gears as a top end Saab Turbo. About 145mph top, but I didn't get that high in it.
They're awkward to work on. Can rot like hell and the electrics can be nasty, but overall nothing like what those who've never experienced one would have you believe. I'd have another but I have a few projects to get through. My TVR Taimar is needing its engine put back in. That is exciting. I'm toying with putting triple Weber's on her seeing as I've done a very fancy job of the motor. Should be around 200 + bhp with a 390 Holley but those Webers would really put me in the 'needing supertanker' category. It's a balance between ultimate ultimate performance over fuel usability, or a little more 'economy' for a little less ultimate performance. Looking good though.
Rocket |
12r
| | Posted on Monday, January 09, 2006 - 08:07 am: |
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Nice summary of the speed camera situation Rocket, you are indeed very lucky if your shire hasn't been overrun with them. Staffordshire and the Midlands is some kind of testing ground for these devices and we have whole sections of road with varying speed limits 'enforced' by cameras.
The mobile camera locations are posted in the local papers but they cover stretches of several miles so they're not much help. But on the plus side the camaraderie between road users is great - motorists signal to bikers and vice-versa when one of the b******s is skulking around the next corner  |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Monday, January 09, 2006 - 08:57 am: |
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Good stuff on the Mas. I stayed away from buying one since I am no mechanic and Mas mechanics are few and far between here.
On the TVR, I was a big fan of the Griffith, the coupe with the V8 stuffed in it.
You still see one out here everyone once in a while.
Good stuff. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Monday, January 09, 2006 - 03:45 pm: |
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Bruce, the Griff is my all time favourite car. Unusually for me though, I like the first generation pre-cat 1992/3 model but the lesser production 4.3 engine one. The 500's are more common, by about a thousand or more produced LOL.
12r, just got a great deal today on the New Road Angel 2. I traded in my Valentine 1 and for £95 thye're sending me an RA 2 with the add on motorcycle kit, which is a bar mount and ear piece basically. The catch? You get 6 months subscription in with the price then it's £49 a year. Still not bad though when it's 3 points on your license and a £60 fine for one conviction.
Isn't it daft really. How we get excited by a license saving device. I can't wait for the postman to come. I can't wait to go test it either. Test it???? Do I have to try and break the law to test it??? YELP!!!!! Such luxuries 
Rocket |
Hans
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 06:52 am: |
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Maserati, Oh, sweet memories. Owned one for five years. Zagato designed open two seater, 6 cylinder biturbo engine. First time putting your right feet down, there was some disappointment because a slight hesitation at 110 MPH. But the thing was only changing gears before at started to push you again in the back. Had an automatic gearbox. No technical problems, as it was a model after Fiat took the brand over. And the importer was only 2 miles away from the place we were living then. The disadvantage was that it had a big, big gas tank, which had to be refilled very frequently, but through a small throat: A considerable amount of time I was busy at gas stations. Don`t ask me about the costs for services and parts: That had to play no part in the equitation between power, luxury and desirability.
Hans (still kicking around) |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 11:20 am: |
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"Isn't it daft really. How we get excited by a license saving device. I can't wait for the postman to come. I can't wait to go test it either. Test it???? Do I have to try and break the law to test it??? YELP!!!!! Such luxuries "
Let us know how this works ie did you a avoid tix in some fashion.
Good luck! |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 08:59 pm: |
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Hans, how good it is to feel some spirit from you. I only wish I'd have known you more when we briefly met. Sometimes in life things can't be the way we always want them to be. Thanks to our Buell community we have met, shared nearly - a strange Dutch meatball, and continued our friendship through BadWeB, and in all that time I find out only now you once owned a Maserati LOL
My friend had a Bora about 18 years ago. The biggest engined one too, and it was incredibly fast. With the motor just behind your ear holes that thing really did sound like an open piped race car.
I recall with fondness blatting down the A12 from the wilds of Suffolk to London one Saturday morning in that Bora. Every opportunity to press the throttle pedal harder, I did. I was much younger then! Trouble was, to much traffic on the road so there I was flashing full beam headlights at cars in front. Get outta my way. Get outta my way. My friend says to me "what kind of car are we driving"? "Maserati" replies I. "then why don't you use the ******* horn seeing as Maserati invented it"? Those twin tones once found made everyone move over. I felt like Moses in a Mazza I can tell ya.
Great health to you Hans.
Bruce, I'll let you know what my findings are. Loopholes may take a thread all of their own!
Rocket |
Artful
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 11:32 am: |
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I am finally back!!
I am now able to rebuild my engine and need some advice, I want a bulletproof but monster engine, so what components and where should I get them?
My budget for the engine parts and labor is about 3500-4000. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
For anyone interested, the backstory is this; about a year and a half ago I was on a Saturday ride with the Tucson bunch, at that time it included Bartimus. We rode down to Patagonia from Tucson and back, during the ride my 2000 S3 developed top end knock at about 3k rpm. Into the shop it went and the diagnoses was the oil pump gears shredded and sent metal throughout the engine, scored the cylinders, burnt the valves from oil starvation, the whole bit.
It took a while, but I am finally financially able to rebuild. So here goes. Thanks for any suggestions.
Art..... |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 12:14 pm: |
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Welcome back rich guy!!!
One thing that's a must if you're out for bullet proofing - decent quality cylinders and piston kits.
You can keep the head stock with all its contents but consider a flow job, but that will require pipe and carb etc at more expense.
It's a good ideas to use better quality / performance lifters and pushrods and marry up a cam to your head job.
The bottom end, I went S&S complete crank and rods but that's overkill depending on where you want your performance figures to end up. Lots of good results with the stock crank assembly, but if you ride hard often?
I'm sure lots will chime in with their great advice so you're not going to be short of ideas with 3500 - 4000 K to throw around presuming you're doing your own labour.
Good luck!
Rocket |
Hotrodsportster
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 07:51 am: |
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Why not give the good folks at Nillian or Cycle Rama a ring. Either shop can assist you with a monster but reliable power plant. Tell them Nascar Tom sent you.
Ride Safe |
Bartimus
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 09:22 am: |
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Artful,
I highly recommend Aaron Wilson at Nallin racing in Denver. Here is a link to their big bore kits for Buells: http://www.nrhsperformance.com/ekitbuell1200.shtml |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 10:53 am: |
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Aaron Wilson, NRHS, is currently doing my S-2. I've been having Buells hot rodded for 20 year and the attention to detail is spectacular.
Kinda cool that 2 of the folks working there own 6 Buells each. There money **IS** where there mouth is. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 10:56 am: |
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By the way Artful, let me speak to "bulletproof". I have no intention of going particularly fast aboard my S-2. It's a FUN bike that's already seen 440 of the 48 contiguous states and I'm planning a similarly circuitous "deliver it home" trip.
The criteria I provided Aaron when it arrived in Colorado was "I want to be able to leave Colorado, ride 12-18 hours a day for 12 days and never think about the engine".
Just a thought. |
Blake
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 03:21 pm: |
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Art (Artful),
As I posted in the other topic where you raised this question, I suggest you call the folks at Cycle Rama or Revolution Performance, each a loyal sponsor of this site, and each very pro-Buell, pro-BadWeB, and extremely enthusiastic about helping fellow Buell enthusiasts bring out the beast in their bikes.
Talk to Pammy or Wes at Cycle Rama. She rides an 88 cubic inch 160 rwhp Buell X1. At Revolution Performance, try to talk Brian Nallin, founder of NRHS and two time ADBA drag race champion engine builder, or one of his crew.
If it were me, I'd talk to all of them and on multiple occasions. Make 'em earn your business! It's possible you'll get different recommendations from each of them.
For $4K, you should be able to have the work done and end up with a very strong very reliable 110+RWHP motorcycle without resorting to boring the cases, which not only would tend to impact the strength of the engine cases, but adds more cost to the effort too.
There is a LOT to consider beyond just the baseline 10.5:1 compression ratio 1250cc kit ... cams, EFI augmentation or carburetor retrofit, headwork, exhaust tract, ignition module, dyno tuning.
Figure out what you want from your engine in terms of personal expectations, in real world terms, and do your best to communicate that to the professionals I mentioned above. For instance, do you like to push all the way to the rev limit, or do you prefer to have more beef down low and in the mid-range? Cams and exhaust selection can move the torque peak of the engine around significantly, meaning they can greatly affect the engine's personality, big bad yank your arms off torque down low versus hard charging stretch your arms acceleration right to the rev limit may influence cam selection.
Bottom line, the folks I mentioned are each professionals who are 100% invested in the motorcycle performance industry and have been for a long time. It is all they do and they do it extremely well. |
Artful
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 06:01 pm: |
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Hi all,
Thanks for the input, I was leaning towards Nallin already and I think you guys pushed me over the edge, I think the 1250 with stage 2 kit is how I would like to go. I will call people this week and firm up my plans afterwards. Thanks again for the advice and I hope to see as many of you as possible this Spring and Summer.
Art..... |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 06:38 pm: |
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Art, I think what Blake was trying to say without wanting to start a flame war was, if you come to BadWeB seeking the answers to your kind of question, Blake would appreciate you going to several of the BadWeB's sponsors for your enlightenment.
To be clear, Nallin as in NRHS, is NOT a BadWeB sponsor despite Blake's best efforts. My guess is, Blake seeing people posting suggesting you should try NRHS for your answers is not what Blake wants for the BadWeB. It is unfair on him and the board sponsors. I'm sure Blake would prefer $3500 or $4000 spent with a board sponsor, which would be cool with him if that were NRHS too. But they aren't, so it isn't.
People have to realize it is not Blake who wishes NRHS not to be here, and those same people should in any effort support what Blake sees best for the BadWeB, or say nothing at all.
To put it plainly USE A BOARD SPONSOR. RECOMMEND A BOARD SPONSOR.
Rocket |
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