Eck

A little more on Michael: Michael is part owner of Ballard’s Full Throttle S’loonshine distillery “A true art in the making of real Tennessee Moonshine”. I don't drink the stuff, but I now own "1" of only "120" signed first run bottles of S'loonshine. Michael also owns a retail store, and is in the process of building a (whiskey Barrel), storage facility in Trimble. I was able to see the beginning stages of this building as my wife and I were given a tour of his distillery. If you ever visit Trimble, TN., be sure to visit what everyone is raving about, “Miss Vicki’s Diner”! Oh, forgot to mention this but Michael owns this place also. In fact, this is where my wife and I ate and talked with Mike and his wife Angie today. Michael originally became wealthy by running a cellular phone business called Cellular Plus, which he sold in 1999. He married his girlfriend Angie Carlson on August 26, 2012, during throttlefest in Kansas City. Ballard's net worth is currently about $3 million dollars.

My wife and I met and had lunch in the same restaurant with Mike Ballard and his wife Angie and their baby daughter. No pics of his wife or baby, but I did get a hug from Angie..so did my wife.h Here is mike and I.

Don, I agree with you that maybe we should do away with the Goldwing section since this is a site geared towards Yamaha's and I also agree with you that there are other sites folks can visit and get all the technical information they want on Goldwing's or any other bike out there. If anyone has a question on a Goldwing I would jump at the chance to help them out only because I have learned quite a bit about them as you have Yamaha's. The site has dwindled in visits from the "old timers" yet I see new posts some times daily and sometimes weekly where a new member joins. The VR "family" atmosphere is what the new members feel and they see how easily they are welcomed by all those VR active members. The willingness for one to jump in and offer assistance and guidance has never failed whether that particular subject / issue was previously discussed here. The site has slowly become a family oriented place to post our daily family activities, things purchased (bikes, vehicles, accessories) including jokes, weather, job and embarrassing moments, and yet there are still new posted threads related to technical issues. It is a large mix of just about any subject out there excluding religion and politics (which is a good thing). The Forum page reminds me of a LARGE restaurant menu with so many things listed to choose from. It has grown to accommodate requests for features that in my opinion should be re-evaluated and see if we can't remove some of them and turn the site back towards motorcycle talk. I am Soooo guilty of posting stuff here that was not motorcycle related only in an effort to bring a smile to someone's face or post on how my day was going. I will stop here and leave that to be digested for now. Eck

Check for a Loose nut between key board and chair.....

Yesterday morning I deleted an ad out of the watering hole. I thought it may have been yours Bill, since you mentioned a moderator deleted your ad. I really don't remember who's ad it was or what it was about. As Don said, I did not delete an ad from the classifieds, and would never do that unless that item was sold. The name calling was unnecessary and not appreciated at all. I make mistakes as well as you and everyone else. Humans we are and always will be. Eck

You can blame me WildBill. I deleted your post. Reason: You posted your item for sale in the watering hole. That my friend is a NO-NO.. Anything you want to sell you MUST post it in the classifieds, not the watering hole Please read. This was posted 07/12/14: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?87332-Classifieds-No-more-mister-nice-guy ( I just sent you an email of same)

A few more thoughts to ponder when thinking of getting a different bike. Will I need new tools to work on it or do I have what I need now..(Metric v/s imperial)., Will I need a different floor jack to pick it up/ work on it? Does the helmet I presently own (color) go with the bike I'm considering. Will I need to a new one.. (more $$$). (Same question applies if you own a tow behind trailer that matches your present bike in color). Will the intercom system I have in my present helmet work with the new bikes system (5 pin v/s 8 pin cords)? Will the wax I presently use... work on the new bike........

Here is my opinion in trying to provide you with an honest answer to your question: To buy or not buy another bike... I always try to look at (consider) one's age and health when asked this question; Which bike should I get, or which bike is better, and should I or should I not? I have no idea what your age is or your health at this point and time so I can only provide you a "guestimate" which may lead you down a path that is not a good choice for you. So if it were ME looking for another (new) bike I would have to consider some things before I decided which I am sure you are pondering now. 1 - My present age and how much longer do I plan to ride. 2 - My present health, ailments, aches and pains and is there a chance of them getting worse (like knees, hips, back, etc. those major things). 3 - The spouse (if married) and consider her opinion's, and what SHE would like to have on the bike when SHE rides. (like more real-estate). 5 - Will I be traveling long distances or will this new bike be a weekend toy? (include spouse on this). 7 - Consider technical issues, what type of dealerships / service departments are widely available (Like Harley / Honda shops, they are everywhere), or are the shops few and far between (Indian). 8 - Will you be riding in lots of traffic? Ease of handling, balance, how much "oomph" does it have. 9 - Bikes come in different shapes and sizes, and so does the human body, so try a bike on for size, take it for a spin, and find that "ergonomic experience of riding". 10 - Can you pick it up if you are riding solo out in lah-lah land? - So in short, I feel there are a number of tradeoffs associated with both new and used bikes. T here is no single "right" choice. The choice is individual and depends on personal preferences (not to mention $$$.) Many experienced riders will suggest you buy a sensible first bike. If you can find a motorcycle that fits all the logical criteria and also makes you excited to ride, you've chosen well!

HEY GUYS..........Lets all send Black owl a PM.........

Okie Dokie..........Im a happy camper (so far anyway). GEICO just called me.... The bike driver / rider owned up to hitting my truck with his motorcycle. Sooooo, his insurance company (Geico), and I made some arrangements for me to drop my truck off Dec 1st @ 9:30am at the collision center here in Huntsville, and I pick up a rental car that they are paying for. At first the Geico lady said that they would provide me with a COMPACT rental car.. I told the lady that a compact car would not work for me and that is one of the main reasons I own a large truck, to have some room to move since I am fairly am a large size. She came right back and said; NO problem sir, we will give you a full size vehicle at no charge to you, will that be OK sir? I said that would fit me a whole lot better and thanked her. SO next Tuesday the truck gets dropped off for repairs..

Cant agree with you more Puc. I would rather eat left overs the next day then freshly cooked. Goes with most anything too not just Turkey..

His wife and some other guy came and got him and the bike. I have pictures of his bike on a trailer but don't want to post them here for public view, because the license plate is visible of the truck pulling the trailer and I don't want the owner of the truck suing me for posting his license plate if that make sense. Even if the jerk was sober, he could not have ridden the bike anyway, because one eye witness told me that when he dropped the bike, he bend the right handle bar down against the gas tank and it busted his throttle cables. The eye witness said he saw him holding the throttle cables in his hand and was looking and trying to see if he could get them back in the housing on the end of the handle bar. Now I have another issue that I just saw in the pictures I took.. I also just noticed this morning on the picture I took of his drivers license that he doe NOT have a motorcycle endorsement on his drivers license. How in the world did he get motorcycle insurance from Geico with out the endorsement? ... Hum.. this is giving me a baddddddd feeling.. I also noted his wife's name is on the insurance policy and it leaves me wondering if she even has a motorcycle endorsement on her license. Even if she does, she was not the one driving the bike at the time of the accident. Just my luck..

I'm in Alabama and I'm interested in riding around in all three areas mentioned...

If you click on the below link, and then zoom in on the state of Florida, it will show you where the VR family members are located (reference the small looking tear drops). If you click on one of those tear drops, it will tell you WHO the VR family member is. Hope this helps. Eck PS: WELCOME to VR.Org ...........and please do ride safe. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/dcMembermap.php

Hey Puc, Alabama is a no fault state and I do have that coverage, but I'm not going to use it this time. I have used it in the past when I wrecked my RSV. As I mentioned above, I called his insurance company this morning and they have already filed the claim and sent me a copy of the claim which includes the claim number. His insurance company told me that they must 1st call a couple of my witnesses and verify what I told them is true and also stated that even if the motorcycle rider states he didn't do it, that with the words coming from a few witnesses that visually saw what happened, that they will go ahead and fix my truck. They said they just have to verify what I told them is true and verify how it happened. No biggie ........(yet.......).

I totally agree boss... By creating a cornball TV ad that portrays everyday tasks as being next to impossible without "THIS" product.....the true results range from ridiculous to downright sad. As they always say...Buyer beware!!!....

I have not heard from the guys insurance company so I decided to call the main claims office of the little lizard this morning and found out that the so called BIKER that dropped his bike on my Avalanche has not even reported this accident to his insurance company... SO ....I DID...!!!!!!! I cant believe after being so nice to the guy and letting him deal with his wife instead of calling the police on him, that he hasn't called his insurance co. I have around 6 to 8 witnesses that he did it, (and a few of their names & phone numbers) so he CAN tell his insurance co that he did not hit my bike, but I have proof he did.. This guy has no right to call himself a BIKER............Bikers don't do this......

You could send Santa an email Puc........@ emailesanta.com

. Yep, me too on what Freebird said: I could care less about following the crowds or fitting in with the Harley crowd. I ride the bike that brings me joy at a particular time in my life

I was in same situation on New Years eve about 5 years ago in a strip mall type parking lot. A lady was leaving a bar and she backed her Ford truck into my Silverado left rear fender. The cops were called, and after reviewing the incident/details, he tells me he can not get her for DUI unless she pulls out onto the road since the parking lot is private property. She called her husband who came and got her and they left her truck there overnight to avoid the DUI charge.. Other (somewhat funny) info: Not only was I in this same situation 5 years ago on News Years Eve, I was with the SAME son in law both times.. I told him last night after my Avalanche got hit, that he is just plain bad luck to be around!!!

I would make one of these...

Read this and it should explain in detail, with more photos http://gl1800riders.com/forums/4-general-mc-message-board/112274-eck-stend-grips.html?action=thread

SOooo, my son in law and I were in a restaurant. bar type place, and we were playing pool and having a few cold drinks. The bar tender comes up to me and asks: Do you own that black avalanche out front? I said yes I do. She says: Well the guy sitting on the motorcycle along side it just dropped his biek against your truck three times. All of us at the bar saw it and watched him. I said: WHAT...three times? she said yes.. He was parked along side your truck and when he got on his bike he began walking his bike backwards to leave. When he got to the back of your truck he dropped it and it hit your truck. He then picked the bike back up, got back on it and he walked it forward about a foot and dropped it again. He got off the bike and picked it up so fast that it went over the other way and landed on its other side. He walked around the bike grabbed it again and lifted it really fast, and it fell against your truck the third time. He again picked it up and moved it back in the same parking spot and he is sitting there talking on his phone.. I walked outside with my cell phone in hand, and walked around to the back of his bike and took a picture of his license plate, then the side of his bikek with him on it, then I walked to the front of his bike and took a picture of him sitting on the bike. Then I took pictures of the damage to my truck.. I then asked him if he had insurance. He said yes, I said let me see your drivers license and insurance please. I snapped photos of both his license and insurance, and said: Sir, you have no business riding a bike in your condition. He said I know, My wife has called me for the past 4 hours telling me to get home. I should have left hours ago. I said that is between you and your wife. All I want is my truck to be put back in the same condition that is was before you hit it. He said its my fault and I will take care of it. I said Oh, I know you will, and walked away..