dynodon
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Everything posted by dynodon
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Well, bad weather has hit the central US, the plains, the NE, the north and the NW, and sometimes the SE. OK, you in the South and SW must take the ball (camera) and bat (your bike) and go get a picture of a tug boat/tow! My Wing has been grounded and I finally relented and plugged in the Battery Tender, but my coat, chaps, gloves etc are draped over the bike and ready for the next clear road day that isn't wet/super cold. Barge traffic on the Illinois is still moving, river levels aren't very low. Let's keep this going!
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A few years ago I was at an outdoor seating area at a restaurant in a suburb of Detroit. Sitting just a few feet from a busy street. just down the street, a block away was a biker bar. Bikes of all sorts were coming by, choppers, old Harley, new Glides, cruisers etc, and the occasional metric. Funny thing was that none of our conversations were disturbed in the least. ALL the bikes, including the custom job with ape hangers were quiet as a stock glide. That city must have had one heck of a noise ordinance. All of us there loved that the people seemed to be having just as much fun on their bikes, and the rest of us could carry on a conversation. Loud pipes can KILL if you are surprised by the rap of a really loud bike. I have been distracted big time by some jerk rapping his super loud pipes. NO way you can tell where the noise is coming from. I have pretty good control in those situations, but I saw other cars zig and zag at random, all because this jerk at a stop sign was having fun rapping his Harley. I live in a mostly quiet town on the south edge. I know all the roads in the area. One night with the windows open, I heard a loud Harley coming from near the river (that is over 6 miles away), heard him come into town, go to each stop light and around the city square and knew he was coming past my house. I live about 400 feet off the road, down and surrounded by trees, usually I can't hear any highway noise if it isn't pretty loud. I heard windows in my house rattle as this bike came by (did I mention it was after midnight?) Then I heard him take a typical country road with a few curves, and I heard him take every curve, every shift and every mile till he got on the interstate almost 8 miles away. Yes, that far. This was the loudest thing I have ever heard other than a top fuel dragster. And he was milking it (cracking the throttle so he accelerated like a lot of Harley riders do when they hit that noisy sweet spot) for all it was worth. Amazing. I would rather hear the music in my headsets than my pipes on my Wing.
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I think I counted exactly 10! Good job. OK for the next target......does a Barge tug/tow count? I live a few miles from the IL river, so any river with barge traffic would be OK for those away from the coasts.
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I grew up in Arthur, IL where we had an active Amish colony, plus the wife has horses now, so I guess I am kind of immune to that "country air" by now! Not sure about the other riders, but if they were like me, they were so in awe of the scenery, and non-industrial quality of the air in general, that we just weren't paying attention to the aroma!
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Van, New target should be good for almost anywhere in the states. About that "mud" On my first big Western trip last year our group of 4 bikes and 4 trikes were riding in Utah and saw signs about "open pasture". We knew what it was but kind of let it slip to the back of our minds. Then we got on one two lane road where there was a lot of mud on it, and it was a little squishy. Living where tractors track mud on the roads all the time, and not seeing "piles" we just went on. Not able to dodge all of it. Then we saw it....a cattle drive. Friendly cowboys and cowgirls on horses watching about 30 head just walk down the road in the direction we were riding. Then we knew what we had been riding through! The cattle made a single hole for us to ride through, and one with a calf at her side decided she was going to get up close and personal with me! I managed to avoid her, and we continued, but that night we found a car wash and removed the "mud".
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Van, that looks pretty off-color to me, what you say Joe?
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I'm Doing the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure
dynodon replied to adventurer 08's topic in Watering Hole
You will have a blast! I gave my two son's a similar experience at the oval at Memphis Motorsports Park a few years ago. Nationwide or Truck vehicles, and the grin on their faces was worth every penny! If you have your own helmet (they may want Snell SA2005 or newer, probably won't accept motorcycle helmet, check with the group), bring it, much nicer than wearing one everyone else has sweated into. They will probably provide a fire suit and gloves, but they aren't as nasty. -
Hey! Where are all you warm weather people at? There are churches everywhere. I have been looking, but can't ride every day. Or the church has a plain cross.
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We support our 11 YO grandson as he plays hockey for the love of it. He got a hat trick as his team won their game Sunday. I would rather watch these kids than the pros any day.
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you have to follow the wire to the connector that will mate up with your meter. I think I did that one time, but I can't remember exactly where it was. Under t he seat.
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I rode a used Venture 2 years ago and was fairly impressed, but the back brakes didn't work and there were a couple other major faults, but as a used bike, I couldn't hang those on the make, but the owner/dealer. Then earlier this year I rode a Cross Country Tour and was amazed at the vibration. As in a LOT of vibration! Plenty of power, good protection, and I liked the looks, but the vibration killed it for me. A Harley vibrates to beat the band at idle, but smooths out, a Victory is pretty smooth at idle, but vibrates more the faster you go. Was a deal breaker for me. I wound up with another GoldWing. I started out my modern era of riding on a Yamaha Venture Royale (86) and loved it, but did sell it late this summer. The Wing is something I am absolutely in love with at the moment. But if Yamaha came out with a true wing competitor, I would consider it and give it a real chance. But I am just not into stuff that looks like a Harley, if I want that look, I will get a real one. I do have two friends that own Cross Countrys, and they both seem to love them though.
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Joe, I would say you nailed it....twice! What's next?
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Well, my drama about how to post a picture may have delayed getting the next target! So here it is again: A Picture of you and your bike AND.......one of those seriously hacked up trees around power or other lines. The ones where they cut most of the tree out, or make it U shaped around the lines. Been a little while on this one, if nobody get it in a few more days, I will entertain ideas for a new target.
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Ok, I will try using photoshop or some other program to save the picture, did you change the size any at all? (thanks for your help). Edit: OK I tried just renaming the file that I saved from the camera phone. Still got a link. Then I took that picture, opened it in Photoshop, saved it without any changes as the same name in the same folder and it then posted it as a thumbnail. So your suggestion worked. I will now do that in the future. THANKS!
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Joe, I appreciate the tip(and complement), but I tried that the first time. This isn't the only forum where I can't get pictures to post, might it have something to do with my browser? I use Firefox.
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testing to see if picture shows up. Tried clicking on paperclip, still uses a linky!
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Chris, I was actually waiting to post hoping you would get there first. Nice grab on the picture though, you look a lot happier than I do! I wish I could find a way to get my pictures to show up without a link, any tips? OK, so I thought about this, and for the next target, how about: A Picture of you and your bike AND.......one of those seriously hacked up trees around power or other lines. The ones where they cut most of the tree out, or make it U shaped around the lines. I think something like this should be available in most parts of the country. The weirder the tree the more bonus points. Those that live in the middle of death valley or in a desert may have to sit this one out.
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OK, Not sure if I will get this in time, but took a nice 50 mile roundtrip ride to Peoria, and got this compass rose on the riverfront, I think you can see the stacks of the paddlewheel "Spirit of Peoria" working paddlewheel boat at dock. They are probably about ready to take it south for the winter. Second picture shows the compass closer. Edit, gosh I look serious, I really was having a good time. And Chris, if you get your picture today, I will be happy to step aside and let you take the lavish prizes for this time, and also set the next target!
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My brother in law has one, he likes it for short trips, I haven't ridden it yet, hope he gives me a chance one day. Let us know how it goes with yours, should be a blast.
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I have been looking but haven't found one yet, and it has been a bit cold up my way. Your decision if you want to change it but i would say give it some more time. I thought it was a clever choice. Got some good weather the rest of the week, I will be looking. EDIT! I just googled Compass Rose in Peoria, IL and found one on the riverfront with a street close enough I can get a picture without getting arrested for driving on sidewalks. I can get it in the next day or two. Hurry if anyone wants to beat me! Don
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After fighting with various lower priced tires, I have bought higher range tires the alst two times, one is Toyo, which surprised me as a higher priced tire, but they were wonderful except bad when worn in rain. Then I went with a Michelin (these are on my 2005 Chrysler 300C) and I LOVE these tires, worth every penny. Very round, take very little weight, and they got top ratings on TireRack.com for wet traction, good snow traction and very good dry traction. They are wearing like iron. Ride a touch rougher than the Toyo's but have so much better traction. Also, $40 PER TIRE to mount/balance and tax? Should be half that. I guess if they are adding a valve stem, then $25 per tire is more normal. I would go to Tire Rack, check their price, and find a Tire Rack installer on their web site.
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Way to go Joe! Not only got a good pump, but gave us a new and different target.
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You said Picture Pump, could it be an actual pump? or just a picture on a sign? Could it be more of a modern hydrant where it doesn't pump but has a handle? just asking.
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Looks good to me Van! If others agree, then what is the next target?
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I never put the bikes away, just keep the tanks topped off and watch the weather. If roads are clear and it isn't below freezing too much, I like to take a ride. Nothing like seeing all the faces in the cars as I go by on the bike on a freezing day. For me, it is toe warmers in the boots, jeans and chaps, long sleeve T and long sleeve shirt, winter jacket with liner and heated gloves and grips. For B2Mom, seriously, try heated clothing if you would like to ride and be warm. You can go foot to head if necessary, but many get by with the previously mentioned toe warmers, insulated pants and a heated jacket liner. (add heated pants and socks if necessary) and heated gloves. There are some good battery powered units out there, but if you plug in, the heat is not going to go away. I am already putting out the word for my New Years Day ride here in Peoria, IL. Had about 6 bikes lastyear, and 3 the year before. Shooting for 10 or more for 1-1-13. (just hoping for safe roads, that would put a stop to the ride).