PBJ
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Everything posted by PBJ
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Sorry not even close. Corporate likes throwing around numbers like that but only a few years ago it was $66 dollars and hour and i can tell you that many plants have taken serious cuts in pay and benefits so not even that $66 dollar number is realistic if people are going to pass around numbers as fact then get the facts right! Sadly GM was the biggest kid on the block . If they had invested in good engineering and design they would still be on top. But they've spent more time in the last 20 yrs. chasing stock prices. Workers could see what was happening . They used to tell us "we need you to help us make a better product" but when we'd try to point out defects or problems they'd tell us we weren't engineer so what do we know. Or went schedules were tight just push the product through so mamnger could get their production bonus' or stock options. After awhile you just stop trying to make suggestions. GM paid to send me to school and when I came back I was full of ideas and energy to help. They whated to know none of it. I wasn't alone. it was awful watching that happen. Plenty of workers want their company to succeed ,their products to be respected but we can only make what they give us to make.
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Man Jeff thats wild. You got lucky another reason why sidecars are pretty cool. Awful about the tire going like that. Was it already worn down or was it new? Sidecars will wear out a tire faster. Just keep an Eye on that rear. The tire I mean not Mini"s LOL!
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I moved my kids to a farm home 25 years ago for many of those reasons. It was heaven,nature surrounded us and we appreciated it every day . You could see every star at night. A simple life is a wonderful one. Thanks for that post!
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Thanks Carl Canada has always held a warm place in my heart . Strength, warmth and an open hand of friendship have always been extended when i'm in Ontario and I can't wait to get back. Thanks for the article . Its about time Canada gets the recognition from the rest of the world that it truly deserves.
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Unions aren't perfect I had my share of troubles with them but those were local gripes with casper Milktoast that thought they were Big Sh*t cause they were in the union. On the national level they really tried to give the body of the union fair deals. They were called communists , socialist, terrorists, But they pay they got into workers hands created one of the strongest middle classes in the world. For almost twenty years they've been wittling away at that middle class and this economic collapse is a direct result. people with out good paying jobs buy less and the machinery of captialism grinds to a halt everywhere else. The rich can not and do not spenfd at the higher opercentage rate that the middle class do of they annual income. Want to fix that then pass a law that the rich have to spend at the same percentage as we do or pay a penalty mthen you'd never have to raise another tax. I promise you that!
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To hear you guys repeating the myths and lies GM and other manufacturers have been making about Labor to get the ignorant on their side. Labor coss on American automoblies has risen only 3% in thirty years ( from 7% to 10% of every dollar) Where as scrap costs in the auto industry used to be 25% of every dollar and still hovers close to 15% . Its a well known secret that American industry spends more of its profits on management pay than it does on design and engineering like they do in Europe and Japan. In fact the ratio's are almost exactly opposite to other manufacturers. Gm spun off it's parts divisions 10 years ago then gouged out the guts of those divisions by asking back for all the over pricing they had been putting on those parts for years. But prices didn't go down! Delphi the spun off company spent its first 5 years buying up foreign companies all over the world using America profit money . Then 3 years ago when the company CFO got caught trying to jack up the falling stock price with a $20 million dollar "loan" from EDS which he gave back right after the quarterly profit declaration. The Feds actually caught that one. Cfo gets Fired Ceo takes an early retirement with a golden parachute . And the new Ceo ,Steve Miller ,the guy who gutted Bethlehem steel sent the company into Bannkruptcy. He started but spreading the lie about how GM and Delphi were paying Laborers $66.00 an hour to cut the grass. It was always labors fault, then he wanted to turn around and give bonus' to all those upper management guys , that he need to run the company to stay on. These were the same guys that ran the company into Bankruptcy but he thinks they deserve a bonus for the great job they were doing. Interestingly The division that was making the profit that allowed them to buy those other companies. (The U.S. Division)was the only one going into bankruptcy. The Uaw along with the Steel workers and 4 other Unions fought Delphi aand GM in the courts. Some of us got early retirement buy outs everyone else took major cuts in pay from $24 dollars down to $12 and $15 for many employees. And for many there are no longer pensions offered. That means that for many who wrere squeeking out a one family income that was over! But did car prices go down NO! Now management wants a bail out and I'll garauntee the lions share of that money won't go to research or product development or retooling. Management has to get their share first and always. The shame of it is that many retired white collar workers ( secertaries, accountants, engineers) are getting screwed now because they had no contracts to their benefits. Earlier this year they lost their medical benefit in exchange for a $200 a month raise in their pension. So $200 from $600 premium cost means these people on a fixed income now have to dish out another $400 from their pocket. I will promise you that some upper management guy got a big Bonus for that idea! So please , please if you don't know the facts about whats going on in the Auto industry stop buying into the Coropate BS about labor cost. 10 cents on the dollar isn't bringing GM or Ford to its knees. Look elsewhere!!!
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king of curious whats the reason for the search?
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Thom I just read what you were saying about your pay pal addy. I sent my payment to you there did it get through? I didn't send you my mailing address its in my VR account by i can send it to you if you need it. Let me know.
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Well Bob my first project is trying to get togteher with you and big tom for lunch after Thanksgiving. Next My 85 also needs a front end redo. My fork springs are as weak as spaghetti. Definitely needs a Progressive spring fix. Then my 84 V65 Honda Sabre developed an electrical short in my ignition switch that has left me without any instrumentation. Bike still runs and all the lights and switchs work but no tach, fuel guage, temp guage, clock. Then the fairing frame bracket on my XS1100 crack this year so i have to weld or replace it and while I have that apart i hope to hook up a set of fog lamps i got this year and never put on.
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Hey Tom we just had a week of 50 to 70 degree days up here in New Yawk! In the last few years we haven't gotten real snow until february. Maybe this global warming thing ain't so bad. But heck its not really the snow we're afraid of its the salt on the roads!
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I won't count my mini bike. My first real motorcycle was a 1971 Yamaha RD350 2 stroke. I traded a guy a car for it.I recieved some old Cycle magazines years later that had an ad for the 350 that called is a mid sized touring bike!!! Man the world has really changed.
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Okay Paypals been feed money is on its way. Can't wait to see it thanks Thom.
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I'll take one too not sure how to get the paypal going to pay you but i'll try to get the money to you as soon as I can. Don't need a name on it .thanks. Phil.
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You can get away with water cleaning on the bottom half if it's muddy. Then Orange Pledge to clean and polish everything else, It can save hours in drying time.
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whats all the kvetching about? Several people say they've done it too. (Only one said it was with a rider they knew or have ridden with before). In California it's legal right? Though Its never right to be going to fast or stunting. I've had harley guys do it too while commuting to work. I just got back from Italy and its just the way it is there. It seems to help filter smaller vehicles to the front. Again I'm not advocating irresponsible riding but if some of us have done it whats with the whining are we getting that old?
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I've been using Pledge on my Bikes since the *0's. I used to use lemon pledge but when the orange pledge came out I tried it and found that it rubs in quicker and leave less of an oily film that needs to be rubber out. The lemon Pledge seems lighter with a little more water content to it. I usually rub it in with one clothe then rub out any excess with a drier cloth. If a bike isn't muddy then it will clean any surface including the engine cases. I had black aniodized cases on my Honda and its kept them looking like new.
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looks like were going to have a another new member soon. Lets make sure someone grabs the buyer.
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Yamaha makes some nice smaller V Twins like the Roadstar 650 and 1100 then too theres the new Yamaha 500 scooter thats more like a touriong rig than a scooter, It even has automatic transmission. Like Mini said you don'tr have to leave based on being a Venture owner. Being a Venture owner is like being a world war II fighter pilot , just because you don't fly anymore doesn't mean yopu aren't a pilot.
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Hey greying sorry I haven't getten to this sooner i was in Italy. Anyway I've been running a velorex 700 on a yamaha XS 1100 for almost 10 years now. Before that I had it on a 850 yamaha. Rmemeber your Vulcan is only putting out about 50 Bhp at the rear wheel so it shouldn't be too strong for the car, Its going to depend on what your putting in there. a person, a pet or just equipment. A great ballast will be car battery in the car to power the bike. This adds weight and extra juice to power the extra lights. set up depend on riding conditions. do you ride highways flat roads or more back roads with high road crowns. This will determine some of your set up. send me some questions and i'll try to answer or look up Hack'd.com to see more info on sidecar set up.
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I just wanted to add my prayers and good wishes to your recovery Hopefully Big Tom will bring me up to meet you up there. Good luck.
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Is this one of those mystery threads like the one started last week about why someone was upset about why someone acts a certain way. But what that person did or who that person was never got mentioned and everyone started guessing who and what it was. But no one ever mentioned the actual incident and the thread started getting squirrelly. If so. it seems a little cruel to play these cames with members here who ask out of real concern for the happiness or sorrow of a fellow member. If you want to share a happy moment or need to share a loss then share it it don't play games. People here
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Hey is that like a Segway with a gyro in it?
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Hey does that thing work like a segway with a gyro in it ? Is there a You tube link to a video of it in movement?
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Hey steoppenwolf. If you look at the Venturte history you'll see that your bike in full touring trim was actually the the first Venturer. I know because I have both a 79 XS 1100 in full tour trim and an 85 Venturer. The XS has a powerful kick mostly because of less weight. The Venture at 800 lbs and only 15 more horse than the XS doesn't quite equal it. But The Venture is a complete package with a t frame meant for sportier riding. The XS was considered a power bike more for straight line excelleration. My XS is hooked up to a velorex sidecar and bulls like a bull all day long. The XS and the Venture have a similar characteristic of getting smoother as they go faster. Both seem happier higher in their rev range. The Venture I have is an 85 and still runs great. Then too so does my XS11. The Venture was such a good bike I believe thats why Honda produced the ST1100 and kawasaki the Concours in 87 to each have two bikes to compete with it. The Venture 1st Gen.was and is a real Sport touring bike. The second gen. is sporting but more a touring bike in keeping with the newer Wing, and Victory Vision. The First gen's real decendant now is the FJR1300 in my opinion.
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wow thats 540 miles a day for eight days.
