a1bummer

Well, its an 84, not an 85. It does look like it has a 1300cc in it. Fairing is pretty beat up on the right side. Starts and runs good. Plenty of snort! Filthy and needs some TLC. Can't have the 2nd gear problem if its the 1300, so I bought it. Now I just have to go pick it up. Bill

Hey everybody, I'm trying to find out about when the second gear problem was resolved on the first gens. Seems like I've always heard somewhere in mid 1985. Does anybody have anything more accurate to go by? Engine numbers? Month? Anything? Reason I ask, I'm going to go take a look at an 85 later this afternoon. The ad says its a 1300cc. So either this guy doesn't know what he has or someone dropped in a 1300cc. If it IS a 1300cc, I don't have to worry about that 2nd gear issue. But if it is actually a 1200cc, with 55,000 miles, I'll have to take the 2nd gear issue into consideration. Unless its late enough in 85 that they figured out the problem. Thanks in advance for any info. Bill

Yup, stator is shot. Good voltage across two phases, but 1 volt across the third. That was easy. Now its just hurry up and wait for a new one. Bill

Well, made it home a bit ago. 2196.2 miles round trip. It was a good ride overall. The ride home from Illinois was a bit white knuckle with the charging problem. But after a jump from Mike's awesome sister in Jacksonville, Illinois, I got home without further incident. Stayed in Viroqua at Orlin & Sharon's last night and we put a battery charger on it over night for added insurance. Had a good long nights sleep and was back on the road home somewhere around 11ish. Time for something to eat now. Gotta call the landlord and ask him why the grass is up to my knees too. I'll poke around to see where the Gremlin is hiding later. I'm sure he won't be to tough to find. I'll let ya guys know what I find.

Thanks everyone, I just pulled into Orlin and Sharron's in Viroqua a bit ago. Mike's lovely sister was kind enough yo give me a jump this morning and hot me back on the road. I just got on and booked it north as fast as I could. It started to charge better as I got closet, but its still not right. The volt meter hovers where it should, but when I turn on my LED's, the needle takes a dip. But for now, I called it quits in a good place. I'll update when I get home tomorrow. Thanks again everyone. Mike, please give your sister a big wet one for me, will ya?

Well, the trip was going well until this evening. I was on my way back north towards home after being on the road for 2 weeks, then either my stator or rectifier appear to have taken a dump. I managed to get myself into a hotel in south Jacksonville, Illinois. Not enough juice to get restarted. I found a loose positive battery cable half a tank back, but tightening it didn't appear to have helped. Anybody in the area with some jumpers and a volt/ohm meter that might be able to help me do some troubleshooting? I'm hoping the Captain & Coke will help knock me out soon so I can get some sleep. Then get at figuring how to get us both home. If anybody has any ideas, I'm in the Baymont Hotel in room 214, my cell # is 715-495-0171 Thanks in advance for any help, Bill

Sorry guys, I haven't been paying attention for a while, again. How about you, your bike, and a clown?

Thanks, I figured somebody would, lol. You wouldn't happen to have any links or know where those documented cases might be, would ya? I wouldn't mind reading up on them and doing more research. So far, my searches are coming up empty. The only thing I can find is this so far. http://www.barksdale.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123292314 Bill

Lead? Superman won't be able to find it then. I believe the systems they use to disable those "bait" cars is simply a remote kill switch, not an EMP. EMP = ElectroMagnetic Pulse. Radars doen't emit EMPs. EMP's couple with electrical/electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges. EMP's are generated from lightening strikes, and explosions. Biggest amplitudes being from nuclear explosions, NEMP's. In weapons, non-nuclear, NNEMP's, a much smaller explosion, somewhere around 1 millionth that of a nuclear explosion is needed. Most likely a chemical explosion. Then it's energy would have to be harnessed and directed in one direction to be of any real use. RADAR = RAdio Detection And Ranging, which do emit radio waves, or microwaves to be more precise. Radio waves, microwaves, visible and invisible light, etc., are all forms of electromagnetic radiation. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they would be using anything that could emit an big enough EMP to kill a vehicle, anywhere near an airport. If you want to protect your electronics from EMP's, build a Faraday Cage around them. But then no signals could get out either. Which would be much lighter and easier to work with than lead.

Well, I had to call Light-Pros yet again this morning because I STILL haven't received a replacement for the faulty ballast I got back in May. I've sent several emails requesting a replacement this summer with no reply. I called a couple months ago and finally talked to a fellow named Chris who assured me he was sending me a replacement. Another month went by and nothing, so I call again and explain that I still haven't received my replacement. This guy said they were out of ballasts before even asking me which one I needed or who I was. After getting my name and looking up the order he said he would have one out that afternoon. Another month goes by with nothing in the mail. I call again this morning and get Chris again. I ask him why I haven't gotten my replacement yet. Again I get the old line about them being out of stock. This time he said he would send a label for me to send mine back to them. I asked when I can expect to get it. This week, next week, three weeks? Then he gets pissed at me and starts telling me he doesn't like being called a liar and didn't like my attitude. I tell him he told me he was going to send me a replacement 2 months ago and it never happened. He said it must have been his brother I talked to. I asked if his brother's name was Chris too. Then I asked for the owner's name and asked to speak to him. Turns out his brother is the owner and his name is Jerrold, but he wouldn't give me his last name. When I got the owner on the horn, he immediately started giving me crap about being a smart ass and said they don't appreciate being called liars. I explained how long I've been trying to get a replacement ballast and how many emails went unanswered and how many times I've been told one was going to be sent out that day. Then asked what he would be calling me if roles had been reversed. Then I said, "you people have lied to me several times now." Then he got really pissed and asked me what I meant by "you people" and that he was black and take extreme offense at what I said. I said you people, as in, you people over at Light-Pros. I told him I could care less what color he is, and I'm talking to him on the phone, so how the hell am I supposed to know what color he is in the first place. He kept going on about me being a racist and calling him, "you people." I was about to call his a dumb son-of-a-b*tch, but I caught myself at, you dumb. Then he insisted I was about to call him a niger. The conversation just got more and more out of hand as he kept going on playing the "race card" on me and I finally hung up on him. I kept my composure as best I could and never went with any name calling or race bashing no matter how pissed I was getting. NEVER before had I ever been treated so nasty by customer service or company owner. Long story short, STAY AWAY FROM LIGHT-PROS.COM! Still don't know if I'm going to get my replacement ballast either. lol!

It would jut be another excuse to go or a ride and see some friends and make some new ones. Who could argue with that? Bill

I got my CREE LED and installed it a few weeks ago. I noticed right away that it looked to be about as bright as the HID light. I took it for a ride at night and it lit up the road nicely on low beam, but high beam didn't add much to the beam pattern. It did add some, but not as much as I hoped. Only one LED comes on for low beam, and both LEDs come on for high beam. The top LED is for high beam and is a bit closer to the tip of the bulb. I'm thinking the high beam LED is a bit too close to the tip of the bulb for the headlight bucket to reflect that LED properly. I'm going to try adjusting how far the bulb sits in the headlight and see if I can get a better pattern on high beam. I had also talked to Light Pro's back on Oct. 8th about the bad ballast I was sent for my HID bulb, and they were going to send me one right away. I tried several times in the months before that to email them with no response. Almost a month later and no new ballast in the mail. I called again today asking where it was. That guy on the phone said they were out of ballasts before even asking my name or what ballast I was referring to. I asked him how they could be out of ALL their ballasts for the last month and nobody bothered to notify anybody. The last guy didn't say they were out of them and they would send it out that day. Now this guy says he'll have one out today. I also asked what they were going to do about the one year warranty since it was bad from the start and I've been trying to get a new one for months now. He said he didn't know what to tell me. I called HID's old number and Light Pro's answered. I asked "Chris" if they used to be HID Country and he said they "bought" their old number. Who ever heard of that? He's also the one who told me a while back a different time I had called them, they bought HID Country's domain as well. Which now leads me to Light Pros. I also found HID Country's videos on Youtube that a Mason Deane had posted. I followed Mr. Deans link to find both the HID Country and Light Pro's logos on his page. It all seems to be way to coincidental doesn't it? It's certainly feeling like these people are a bunch of liars to me. Bill

I had checked them out when they first came out. I had emailed them with a few questions but never got an answer back. Unless you consider the email I got back months later with some generic info on how to set up a test ride. Either way my questions were simply ignored. The prices looked good at the time, but now they have about doubled in price and puts it out of the possibility that I will ever buy one now. At least new anyway. Bill Oh, here's a link to their website. http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

At one time, I could've sworn they had the same address and tele number as well, but now that I look again, HID Country 3333 N. Washington Blvd., Unit 4 Sarasota, Florida 34234 941-365-1305 and Light-Pros 1963 12th St. Unit B Sarasota, FL 34236 941-952-3960 Google Earth shows them being about 10 blocks or so apart. That's what I found on the BBB website as well. HID Country had 39 complaints over 17 months. So far, Light-Pros has 1. But from the complaints and the descriptions of the issues and owners, it sounds like they could very well be the same people.

Well, I finally got a hold of light-pros to get that ballast replaced. I never got a response to ANY of my emails, so I had to call them. The guy asked me why I hadn't called sooner. I told him I sent several emails but got no reply. He said it was better to call rather than email as they get so many emails, they tend to get lost easily. Funny, their site says all support needs to be done vis email. I also asked if they were affiliated with HID Country. He said no, the owner simply bought their web domain, so they get asked that a lot. So i guess if you paid the extra $$ to get HID Country's "lifetime warranty," they stole your money. I did end up buying one of the CREE LED headlights. I'm hoping to get it and have it in by this weekend to go on the Leaf Lookers Run. I'll let ya guys know if its any good. I've already tried another LED "headlight" bulb. It has 120 super bright SMD, (Surface Mount Device) LEDs, but they were nowhere near sufficient to use in a headlight. They produced more of a flood pattern than a spot. I already have 4 LED aux lights on the front that do a very good job lighting up the road where the headlight doesn't hit it directly in front of me and light up the ditches real good as well.

Well, still no reply back on my email I sent to them on Tuesday. On their website it states "All emails received after 12 noon will be answered within 24 hours." I sent another with a little attitude this time. Now its hurry up and wait again. Bill

Does anybody have any experience with these CREE LED headlights? From what I've been finding, they're comparable to HID headlights. I liked my HID headlight, when it was working properly. First ballast lasted 1 month to the day, second ballast lasted 10-11 months, third ballast will only give me a split second of light when I turn it on and it is bran spankin' new. WARNING: stay away from HIDCountry, now known as Light-Pro's.com. I'm still waiting to hear back from them about the DOA ballast I got. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2013-new-design-5000K-High-Power-50W-Cree-chip-H4-LED-Headlights-Bulbs-Upgrading-Fog-lights/1260079384.html Thanks, Bill

I keep a bottle of Splat windshield cleaner/polish that I picked up while at J&P Cycles during out International Rally, and a nice clean cotton terry cloth towel in my saddlebag for cleaning on the road and it takes the bugs off super easily. http://www.jpcycles.com/product/960-010 I usually hit my shield with some Meguiar's PlastX every spring. IT buffs the tiny swirl marks that you get after cleaning all summer right out. The ones you generally only see when the sun hits the shield just right. I do both sides and the shield stays crystal clear. http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4596 This summer I used some Turtle Wax after a good cleaning to see if it would help with the swirl marks. I got stuck in the rain a couple weekends ago and the water beaded up the same as if I use Rain-X. After the windshield dried, there were no water spots any where and it was still nice and clean. http://www.turtlewax.com/detail-Super%20Hard%20Shell%20Liquid%20Wax-42-44.aspx Just make sure you use a good clean cotton or microfiber rag to apply and clean everything. I keep a couple of the cotton terry cloth rags in a heavy Ziploc bag in the saddlebag. I keep the dirty ones seperate and wash them regularly. Hope this help someone, Bill

Marshmallow butt? Lmao! Ya, I'm not so sure my butt could take it with my seat, (bike seat that is), feeling as worn out as it seems. That Butler mod sure sounds enticing. Maybe I'll just have to have it sent out this winter. Yes Andrew, if I'm able to get out to do it next summer, I sure would like the company. I get 3 weeks per year of PTO with this new job, so time shouldn't be a problem. They just asked me to try taking at least a week at a time if I can. We'll just have to come up with a good destination. I see the IBA has several options for running around the great lakes as well. Could be an adventure. Bill

Thanks for all the input guys. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like its going to happen this time around. My only bank card got shut down Tuesday after the bank noticed some suspicious transactions. Luckily it was caught right away and no harm was done. I have a CC I could use, but I'm trying to pay it off, not add to it. I also came down with sinus/head cold problems. Last thing I want to do is be all doped up and trying to make a 1,000 mile trip on my scooter tomorrow afternoon, then do it again to get home to work Monday morning. I need more time and planning to into this. I'll have plenty PTO banked to do it right next summer. Then maybe I can get some others to go with me too. Thinking a Butler modded seat is in order as well. L8r G8rs! Bill

Thanks for the reply man! And thanks to Bob Myer for posting the link to the IBA in another thread I finally found. Reading through it now. Sounds reasonably simple enough. I've been down there before with this bike on her maiden voyage. Hopefully if I do take her gain, it will be a bit warmer than 17 degrees out when I leave and I won't have to run through a snowstorm for almost my entire way through MN. and IA. and the rest in a cold rain. Bill I almost forgot to repost that link. http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/getdocument.cfm?DocID=1

So what's involved? Besides the obvious 1,000 mile ride in 24hrs. I mean. How do you prove you actually rode that far in said amount of time? Just curious because my niece is getting married in Oklahoma this Saturday. Thought about taking the bike so I could kill two birds with one stone. Thanks, Bill

For those of us who have never heard of Teddy Ruxpin.

Ta Da! Nowhow about you, your bike ans a Teddy Ruxpin? A real actual Teddy Ruxpin not a picture.

Ball stud? A trailer hitch? I have "ball studs" on my R/C car & trucks. But for some reason, I doubt your referring to those. Bill