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Mike G in SC

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Everything posted by Mike G in SC

  1. Mike G in SC
    Some notes I took today while talking to a mower pro (engineer): 140, Low end JD. Probably made in Greenville SC. Which only makes JD, cheap machines demanded by big box stores. Factory was set up to compete with Husqvarna of Orangeburg SC, which makes several brands including big box Husq and Sears Craftsman. Cut corners anywhere and everywhere they can. (Made to make it through warranty period.) Big Box machine, but had to also be offered by JD dealers (who will likely then bait & switch you to a serious JD). Lot's of Chinese parts inside. (Same for the Husq factory & Sears now too,,,, for sure.) If you pay $1500 for a lawn tractor, you get a $1500 machine, no matter the color. He didn't say don't buy, just, like said above, be aware what you are buying. Mike G in SC
  2. Mike G in SC
    Art,,,, Which way does the passenger face??? Hey, the guy in my club looking for a RSTD test rode your old one in Sumter. He went home to think about it (don't know why) and someone bought it a half hour later. Ain't that the way it goes.
  3. Mike G in SC
    Over the top,,,, unless you have small kids or frantic pets,,,, then put it to the back so they don't run it all on the floor. That's cute once. Let's not get into how many sheets,,, okay. Funny this is in the "Watering Hole" section. So many other forums seem, almost, appropriate for it.
  4. Mike G in SC
    Biker Hiway (Stebel horns and lots of other stuff). They sent me an email for Black Friday,,,, to this link. Mike G in SC http://www.bikerhiway.com/?utm_source=blackfriday09&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bhoptin
  5. Mike G in SC
    My weather cleared in time to see them both last night. I have watched them for years but this is the first time I've see them chase each other across the sky. Ken (Slick97), yeah, looking up in the night sky, it's easy to remember family past,, but fortunately, my 88 yr old Mom G (visiting for Thanksgiving) was able to be at my side to see them last night. She lives on the SC coast and can actually see them rise shortly after takeoff. She was reminded of the first moon walk in 69 and looking up that night knowing she would remember it for always. And Spear, thanks for that link. I walk early in the mornings and a few times a month see "some" satellite crossing the sky. Edit: Oh,,,, if the NASA list shows more days,,,, but you know the Shuttle has landed,,,, ah, no need to look up for it. Fooled me again. Mike G in SC
  6. Mike G in SC
    Use "PI",,, Polite Intimidation. The whole idea is to get them to look at you. Don't have to get them mad, but put them "on-guard". I use PI when coming to any traffic that may present a problem. When you see someone from leaving a side road or a gas station or one of those people headed towards your lane or center lane,,, turn on your brights and even better, wiggle your handle bars towards them like you are going to get unpredictable. Get their attention before they create the situation. Someone 30 years ago told me to "make them think you may be crazy, that will get their attention". (Oh, Make sure your rider knows you do this so they don't freak.) Never stay in someone's blind spot. Got Throttle, use it. If you are going to turn and traffic is behind you, don't break late, start slowing early. This will force them to start slowing before you get on the turn. Works in a car too. If someone is in the lane beside you, riding too close to your side, when you get past the driver window, come back towards them (cautiously) to "herd" them back to their lane. Also, when leading a group, I always have my BRIGHTS on (at daytime). Yep, and a air horn. And, use hand signals all the time, along with signal lights. You really do get respect from most cages when you do that. (It's not just a group thing.)
  7. Mike G in SC
    The below link is to NASA and will help you find sightings this week on the Shuttle and the Int. Space Station (ISS). The dates with longer duration and higher elevation are really awesome to watch. Just saw on the news a minute ago that the two have split, so you may see them chasing across the sky. Sorry if you have clouds. Check it out, find your state/city. Times are usually right on, so bring the family out for a few minutes. I did that once during a small party and when the Shuttle showed,, they all looked at me and said, "Your were serious,,,,!" I told them "I got connections." http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+States Mike G in SC
  8. Mike G in SC
    NOT BEETS !!! Twice in my life I have been outwitted by those dirt tasting tubers. When I was 7 or so, at Grandma G's I saw these cool looking cranberries,,,,, give me three, Grandma. Pickled beets. Gagged me, expecting jelled cranberry taste,,, SO NOT CRANBERRIES! Then a few years ago at the Dillard House (NE GA), saw these big cherry looking things,,,,,mmmmm. NOT,,,, Harvard Beets. SO NOT CHERRIES! So,,, maybe cranberries? In fact, it is my annual function to concoct the cranberry sauce (Chopped cranberries, pecans, orange & peel, generous on sugar, a bit of bourbon,,, good idea Mom. Or look on the back of the Ocean Spray bag.) Enjoy, Mike G in SC
  9. Mike G in SC
    Was it something I said?
  10. Mike G in SC
    I own a Strat,,,, and I own a RSTD. Like both, I love the RSTD. If I want to ROCKET, I ride the Strat. If I want to lay back and ride all day,,, I ride the RSTD. If my wife said I have to get rid of one,,, I'll miss her. But if I went broke, I'd keep the RSTD. IMHO. Mike G in SC
  11. Mike G in SC
    Okay, yep, so I see, I still have a few things to check. So, what I hadn't said yet: I have not checked the front fork pressure lately. Have not done the test for the bearing slop. The new rear shock is Yamaha, put on my Matt in Sumter (good mechanic). I do have the Barons rear lowering kit but had dogbones made to only drop it 3/4". I did lower the front 1/2", which is about all you can do on a RSTD. I do have the smaller MT90B 16 74 Avon Venom (like the 130). (So the bike is basically back to level but down 3/4".) I'm caging it out for the weekend but will do the checks during the week. Thanks, Mike G in SC
  12. Mike G in SC
    I'm 59 1/2 ! And all my teath are paid for. That makes my grandson laugh.
  13. Mike G in SC
    So, if you were way out in back country, good road & visibility, you know your bike is in good shape (tires, shock, steering is tight, stock windshield), and you should take it up to 110 MPH (Mom, don't read this), what would make it get a steering wobble if you let off the gas to coast back to highway speed. Testing the (RSTD) bike yesterday, after a new rear shock was installed, I took it to speed. Acceleration and sustained speed 100 to 110 was fine, but when I let off to coast back to 60 it started pretty serious wobble. I corrected it by bring the engine back up to speed and decelerating more gradually. Seems, perhaps, the engine torque did not agree with something about the quick drop in speed. As it was correctable by increasing the RPM's, I don't think I can attribute it to steering (pretty new Avon tires and the steering head is tight). Ideas,,, (besides don't do that)? Mike G in SC
  14. Mike G in SC
    I know the post is more about the bike but some have mentioned personal factors. On a group ride last January 1st on some twisties we had a novice rider miss a turn, hit the ditch and was lucky enough to get ejected before her bike hit a parked pickup. She was okay, just stirred and shaken. But what she said was that her hands were too frozen to control the bike. I ride all year (ok in mid SC) but if you do open winter group rides,look out for those that may not be as hardy. Stop often enough to make sure they aren't headed for trouble. As we were remote, we built a fire to sit around till we got a hauler. Made a nice day after all.
  15. Mike G in SC
    If you are just going to lower 1/2", I don't think you need to worry about the kick stand. At 3/4" lower, I still have the stock kick stand. I do pay attention if I park sideways to a slope or if the left ground is higher than my tires (like the road shoulder). But that's not often enough for my concern. Mike G in SC
  16. Mike G in SC
    WHY,,,,,,, YES I DO! Actually, I just measured my template (on cardboard). Center of holes measure: Barons = 7 5/16" Stock = 6 7/8" Hole diameter should be safe at 1/2" or a fine hair smaller. (Always drives me nuts how longer makes lower!) For me, he centered at right about 7". I did not have him trim them to dog bones, just rectangular pieces. I ground down the sharp corners for knuckle safety. He used tough steel, Mack Truck frame rails! Just the right width. I painted them so I felt like I did something. I did leave the Barons caliper locator mount on, makes it easier to check/change the rear brake pads. But, yeah, if you can lower just a bit without buying the whole kit, do it. Mike G in SC
  17. Mike G in SC
    Mine went at about 50k. If you get stuck, like Wizard said, you can re-route the fuel line to the carbs. in 15 minutes. Remove the seat, remove the rear tank bolt, lift the rear of the tank for access to the carb port. Pull the line off the top of the filter and re-route it to the carbs. (obviously you have to pull the line that came from the bottom of the pump to the carb.) Make sure you have a good needle nose pliers for the clamps. Oh, and a flashlight incase it happens at night. You should also open the left side cover and disconnect the electrical connection to the pump so it won't try to poop out any remaining gas. If you think you may do this for a while, buy a small cheap inline filter and a couple of inches of gas line and put it inline close to the fuel cutoff valve. You are good for lot's of miles this way. Might have issues if you let the tank get too low. Ah, and don't smoke while you are doing this!
  18. Mike G in SC
    Mine is a RSTD but, kinda same. I got it used, it already had the Barons rear lowering kit. Also had the Road King mufflers. MAJOR SCRAPES on the cans. I put back the stock dog bones. then I went to a local fab shop with a template of both stock and Barons dog bones. I had him make a pair exactly 1/2 between. He was having fun so only charged me $20. So, I am down closer to 3/4". On the front of the RSTD you can only lower about 1/2" to 3/4" due to the air caps on the forks. So, I am basically leveled out 3/4" instead of 1 1/2. I like it. Oh, I also got the Barons 4-2-4 mufflers. They sit higher that single cans and only scrape if I am basically in trouble anyhow. PS: I also have the small front tire. But I am in debate on that, not sure the low speed steering benefit outweighs the change in dynamics at speed. Mike G in SC
  19. Mike G in SC
    On a RSTD, you can actually lower about 1/2" by sliding the tubes into the triple tree. And if you flip (swap top to bottom) and machine the fork washers, a tad more. And, if you put the smaller tire too, you get about 3/4" inch lower on the front (in total). Done it, it does put the air valves just a hair below the bars, but no problem. I have the Barons rear lowering kit but felt the 1 1/2 drop was too much. So, I took a stock dogbone and a Barons to a shop and he made me a pair half way between. So, now the entire bike is about 3/4" lower. I'm 5'9" but say, 29-30 inseam. This was "just right". (Oh, I have the Ultimate seat, so I was sitting higher than stock.) I didn't like just the Barons lowering kit (1 1/2") by it's self. Scrapped the mufflers. And felt some high speed wander due to the higher rake. 3/4" level feels more natural. It wasn't so much worry riding solo, more of a issue stopping with 2 up. Or wife mounting or dismounting. WANTED MORE SOLID FOOTING. Got it.
  20. Mike G in SC
    Pick up a small LED flashlight too. Aim it down the mirror. Really helps if it is other than a bright sunny day. Pick those up where you buy flashlights,, LOL. (You may already keep one in your bags.) Mike G in SC
  21. Mike G in SC
    A SC Vet rider on another forum said he got his SC MC Vet tag. THE SC DMV site says they will be issued 8/1/09. Guess mine should be sent soon. I don't know if they got the 400 apps or just thought it was a good tag to issue. Thanks to anyone else who applied. Mike G in SC
  22. Mike G in SC
    If you appreciate the rhythm of a sweet machine, you may get a chuckle from this. http://fschnell.net/WordPress/?p=1094 http://clipart.coolclips.com/AGifm/tf05242/CoolClips_wb027519.gif
  23. Mike G in SC
    For those who don't know, Star Touring is having it's SE Star BQ in Charleston this weekend. Those in Star Touring already know that. But a welcome to those who don't. The overall event does have a registration fee but to come by if free! It's at the Embassy Suites parking lot in North Charleston (near I-526 and I-26). The Yamaha truck will be there for demo-rides. Ultimate seat, Thunder Mountain lighting (Custom Dynamics), Amsoil, more,, and food vendors. Friday PM or Saturday, drop by and see what's happening. Most stuff does not require registration. (The Saturday BBQ and auction do, not sure about the Sat main ride.) There is a ride to the VA leaving at 7:30 AM Sat. You may also run into a few hundred of your best friends!!!! Join us if you can. Mike G in SC
  24. Mike G in SC
    Just a quick bump here,,,, life moves fast on this forum!
  25. Mike G in SC
    So, for the rest of the story,,, I went to Extreme Sports today to have them remount my front, thinking I lost the bead. Loosing a pound or two a day. They took a good look and found a pin leak in the tire near the bead/rim. I needed a new front tire. But still had good tread. As it turns out, I was only about 2k short of needing the rear so, I had them replace the rear too. They gave me a fair discount on the tires and labor. But here's the good part: They reached the Avon rep after I left. As the front tire had right at 1/2 tread remaining and should not have a hole there, Avon comped the tire. They called me at home to tell me they would be putting a credit back on my card for the cost of the front tire. Art,,,,,, what you said !!!!!!
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