cowpuc

A Robin Williams quote: “There are so many beautiful parts of the world . . . Thailand, Italy, the south of France. There are places in Spain that are astonishing. But here . . . 25 miles and you go up on Mount Tam to see the fog come in; 25 miles the other direction and you're somewhere else that takes your breath away. There's no question this is where I want to live. Never has been.” Mr. Williams, THANK YOU for bringing smiles to so many! May your soul have found everlasting peace and beauty well beyond the majesty of Mount Tamalpais! R.I.P.

Sam, one of the tires I wore off my 83 last year was a Commander 2.. The last sentence of your post describes a warning that I received from a friend who owns the Tire Dealership where I purchased the tire from.. Worded something like this "this should help in your tire wear because these are much harder rubber BUT - be careful in the twisties and in rain cause I have had LOTS of complaints on loss of traction issues.. I did experience a few occasions in cornering where the tire spooked me pretty good, one of which was coming off a sandy corner where I was expecting the tire regain traction like a Dunny and it didnt do so .. In rain, I have a habit of actually speeding up to stay dry and also found the Commander had a different feel to it.. The tire did in fact handle the desert temps much better than most tires I have used though, IT LOVED GETTING HOT.. It was a MUCH stiffer tire to install - needed to get very warm (set in sunshine for a couple hours before fairly pliable) before spooning it on - I am sure due to a harder rubber compound.. All that said, it proved to be a good enough tire that I didnt hesitate installing another one just recently (got a good deal - 65 bucks) and will run it till its gone.. Bottom line though, if your rides are gonna be filled with worrys of "can I trust this tire" cause it did this or that I would change it in heart beat.. Biking is suppose to be about having fun and getting rid of worrys - not the other way around..

WAY COOL JACK!! I could spend the rest of my life going from school to school learning from the pro's brother!! That said (I can hear you saying,, here we go again:rotf:) I gotta say.. I was down at our local Harley shop yesterday watching the "advanced Harley instructional class" ride around the practice course.. I inquired as to whether or not this was a class for people preparing to ride the roads or for people headed into racing.. I was told it was strickly for highway management. When I asked the instructor how come they dont toss some sand or gravel on a couple corners and turn the sprinklers on some others for the riders to buzz through, he laughed at me and looked at me like I was nuts (I get that a lot).. I told him that, IMHO, there is a difference between learning to read a track and learning to handle stuff that the road throws at us everyday out here in the real world.. That said, I REALLY appreciate your comment of - a lot of these tips can be used in a limited way on Ventures as well. Maybe correcting bad habits?? By the way brother,, those guys at the Harley Advanced Training were riding the brand new 500cc Harleys (looked like baby V-Rods), REALLY neat little bikes in their own right!! Puc

Hmmmmmm... Many years ago Tippy wanted me to hang a clothes line,,, WOE NOW,, I can hear it already,, WHAT THE HECK DOES A CLOTHES LINE HAVE TO DO WITH BUYING A MOTORCYCLE PUC - YOU DONE GONE MAD YA BOZO!! Well,, let explain.. So Tip wants a clothes line, I go about welding pipes together making the bestest clothes line holder upper that ya ever did see.. Than came the day to put it up... Tippy wants it put in the ground so the line is running north and south.. I, being the "see the big picture" kinda guy, explain to her that the wind usually blows from west to east and that the clothes would dry better hanging west to east.. BUT, in her eyes, it wouldnt look right.. We discussed the matter and, between the two of us, decided on a clothes line mounted at an angle so it looked good and the clothes dryed fairly well.. We were both happy and our kids enjoyed a life of running around with dry clothes:rotf:.. Working together to find a solution that we both can enjoy is where we have found ourselves over and over again in this crazy thing we call life.. Lord KNOWS we have had our struggles (and those usually come from one of us being bullheaded and unwilling to negotiate and compromise ) All that being said, I wonder if you went together and chatted with the Sales people about your concerns on what may be coming in the Slingshot line.. Maybe set up an arrangement with them that will allow her to purchase any future add on's available at dealer cost if she ordered one now.. I can see where having her learn the bike, riding techniques and proper road behavior without the added weight of a full touring machine could work in your wifes favor. Kinda the crawl before ya walk routine.. Also, Dealers are "suppose" to work with perspective buyers on fulfilling their needs and wants. If you ran into a Dealer unwilling to work with you and her I would RUN, not walk, RUN from that dealership and never look back.. In the end, finding a GOOD dealership is a goldmine in itself, especially when dealing with a first year model.. Ya better be nice to her Don, you always wanna be able to depend on her to let you ride on the back of her bike if you ever find the need to be rescued.... :motorcyclehelmet: Brothers and Sisters on VR,, if you dont hear from me for a while you will KNOW what NOT to say here on the forums

wow!!!! THAT is gorgeous RJ!! VERY VERY well done my friend!! Godspeed as you and your NEW bike enjoy many many fun filled hours of watching the miles go by!! Brother, THAT is beautiful! Puc

I HEARD A RUMOR WHILE READING TODAY, ABOUT A BUDDY OF MINE WHO'S NOT FAR AWAY. TO HIS AGE HE HAS ADDED ONE MORE, WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS I ABOUT HIT THE FLOOR. MY BUDDY DONT APPEAR AS A GEEZER LIKE ME, MUCH YOUNGER AND SWEETER IN SPIRIT IS HE. HIS SMILE IS CATCHY, HIS KINDNESS RIGHT BOLD. A WELL LOVED FELLER IN THE VENTURERIDER FOLD. MY FRIEND BONGOBOB IS WHO I SPEAK OF, A BETTER PERSON AM I BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE. I WISH HIM THE BEST ON HIS SPECIAL DAY, AND WISH I WAS WITH HIM SO WE COULD GO PLAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BONGO!!! PUC

Titanium Bob,, that would be TITANIUM!! Keep it up and you'll be sitting on a bottom made of Diamond!!

Well well well,, look what the cat drug in.. We didnt make it out this year TX but I been thinking about you guys!! Been watching for a pic or two.. THANKS for the update!! Who is the pic of (looking for a Ural in there ) Glad everything is good, have a great trip home if your still out there!! Puc

OUTSTANDING!! :clap2:You tell that Granddaughter of yours ol Puc said he would hire her as a Photographer ANYTIME!! Da kids got talent! Oh yea,,, and on that GORGEOUS trike too - flat out BEAUTIFUL!! Gotta say, I also LOVE the name, Olivia - real classy!! Puc

OUTSTANDING Sarge!! WOW, what a trip eh! Glad you and Marilyn got there safely and had a great reunion! Wishing you both safe travel and decent weather for the final leg of your amazing journey!! THANK YOU for keeping us posted, been really really fun!! Puc

I remember those Orange and Black AMF Sk-Daddlers - I am with ya, sure seems they were Harley Colors!! Funny though, I vaguely also think I remember actual Harley Davidson Snowmobiles and, if I recollect correctly, they were Blue and White?? Some weird times for sure.. :rotf:I am :rotf:sorry OldGoat.. I dont :rotf:usually laugh at a :rotf:friends waterloo :rotf:but I gotta say:rotf:,, sometimes its impossible to not do so:rotf:... You ever watch The Red Green Show?? Bill,, Bill,, you might wanna slow down Bill,, Bill,, there's a fishing shanty there Bill... So,, am I assuming that thing drove like a dozer or tank? Slow down a track to turn it? I had a couple Raiders that were twin track also but NOTHING like this machine - those had ski's out front to steer with and were much later in design..

Your more than welcome Brian, THANK YOU for the kudo's my friend!! The drug is life, more than happy to share - take all you want my friend!! Word of warning though,, its addictive - it can be dangerous and, some folks will run and hide when they see ya coming.. On a positive note though (always end on a positive note), most bad guys,, gangs - real bikers - thugs will also leave ya alone when your "buzzin"..:rotf:

I hope this aint to close to the "selling in the Waterhole" line here Don, if it is PLEASE forgive me and I will remove this thing - my intent with this is STRICKLY from a - WOW, LOOK AT THAT WEIRD THING perspective... Was into sleds pretty heavy back in my shop days, did a LOT of business with a couple big dealer auctions.. Had sleds way back into the early 70's but never,, no not ever, did I ever see one of these... Anybody else ever seen such a contraption?? http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/mcy/4611034299.html

Hi Doug!! EARTHQUAKE?? Is that common in Alberta?? Sheeshhh.. I am with Doug,, hope all is ok up there Neil!!!!! Puc

Nope, the old girl's gotta have her vitamins,, shot of lead additive with an 87 octane chaser (I use to ride a KX500 2 stroke MX bike cross country and always poured my two stroke mix oil over the fill nozzle as I pumped gas into the tank - Olivia LOVES this trick for lead additive)! Her little 45 inch heart just amazes me. The military ordered these 45 inch power plants with a reduced compression ratio so they would run on low octane fuel..

Indeed Stealthy, to bad that one didnt work out my friend - had that ol WLA all warmed up and everything LOL.. Counting my pennies, would LOVE to meet you over in Wisconsin.. Gotta lot going on right now with a daugher, a college and the financing of bringing the two together.. We shall see my friend,, we shall see!

Ahhh ohh,, I am telling Sunn:rotf:Ok ok,, will stop teasin... That new Wing always has the look on its face of: Just tell me where you want me to take ya, I am ready, willing and able!!

Thats my Son,, your ol Pappy is proud of ya champ,, your Mother is too!! :clap2::clap2:

When I was a kid, racing motocross on my 68 Yam DT250, I used to repack my Bassani Expansion Chamber silencer with Fiberglass batting I had borrowed from the insulation out in my Dads garage.. I would squish it down and make a small blanket out of it, cut the blanket and fit it in.. Worked pretty good too until my Dad discovered what I was doing.. The glass didnt work as well quieting down my Dads screams,, it made my ears itch.. Later in life I discovered the fiberglass sheets used in repairing boat hulls and stuff.. Really tight woven stuff that lasted longer than house insulation..

Ya know,, I aint gonna embarrass myself by hitting that little emotion icon thingy and rob you of that which you have totally earned YamaGrl,, nope,, instead,, let me put it this way: YAMAGRL - YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!! I humbly tip my hat to you on your accomplishment!! Well done!! Puc

Now there's another VR friend I would LOVE to meet!! That Eck always comes up with the coolest ideas.... Keep shaking the tree Randy!!!!

Dinner Time Prayers Up, Blessings Down

Indeed brother, we are still kicking it around too.. I am still counting my travel pennies and not giving up yet though.. Would really love to see everyone... Decisions decisions decisions

Soooooo,, does this mean that Dark Blue is now faster than Faded Blue?? Wellll,,,, you didnt specify exactly what you were asking when you said, anyone?