uncledj

Man,,,,I wish I could be there. Dad and I went today to Family Services, where we started the application process to get him admitted to a nursing home. He and I spent an hour or so talking about old times today, sitting on the porch. He related some good WWII stories that I hadn't heard before...we spoke about our lives, ...triumphs and regrets....We spoke about my older brother Jeff that Lisa and I care for. (Autistic) It was a great hour...Dad seemed to have more clarity than usual. He's fully aware of what's going on, and is on board with it. He knows it's time. Anyhoo, We'll be there next year for sure. Lisa and I've talked about it already, but we need to be able to get away before we can do much of anything. I'll be thinkin' of y'all. Have fun, and if you think of it, have a little drinky for Lisa and Me.

Don't remember ever dragging my 2nd Gen. Having said that, I remember dragging all the time on my 81 Honda CB750 Supersport. Don't ya hate it on a curve when you drag, so you straighten the bike up a bit...but then there's the guardrail, so you have to put it into even more of a lean to avoid the rail....and so you drag again...... Then you say to yourself...." I gotta take it easier on those curves"...lol I swear,...when I was young...someone up there was watching out for me......Amazing I lived this long.

Back in "The Day" I had a 65 Pontiac Tempest with a straight 6 in it. I pulled the 6 banger and put a 326 out of a Lemans in it. Anyhoo, just out of curiosity I pulled the valve cover off of the 6 banger and the sludge had completely filled the top of the head to the point that when I pulled the valve cover, there was an impression of the cover on the head. Kind of like dropping a bundt cake out of a pan. I don't know how that thing was still running as good as it was.

I'm sure others will chime in on this, but that's usually the rear shock. Mine does it sometimes when I first sit on it after it's been sitting, then goes away after I ride a bit. I figure I'll eventually have to replace the shock, but I'll wait until it starts leaking oil.

I would'a been about 6 or 7 and I was up the cabin with my older brother. He gave me his Iver Johnson .44 magnum to shoot, (very supervised...he was right with me) and before I shot he said "wait" and took it off of me. He then put his motorcycle helmet on me and we proceeded. When I fired it, the recoil to my young hands was violent, and the hammer put a chip in the forehead of that helmet. Good thinkin' on his part.

Thought I should mention that, on the flip side, I've a M1A, civilian version of the M14 that I had gone over by Springfield Armory to all USGI, with a laminated stock. Of course, it's a .308, and I can shoot that bad boy all day long comfortably. Just sayin'....

What's the most uncomfortable firearm you've ever fired? For me it'd have to be either a .45 flintlock muzzleloader with an uncomfortable butt design that hurt like hell....or maybe a short barreled 20 gauge slug gun....or maybe an old contender .50 cal muzzleloader that liked to spit bits of the primer into my cheek / eye. Never really cared for full magnum loads in my .44 mag Super Blackhawk either.

With everything going on, I had the bike out once last Summer for a trip up to the cabin for a total of 900 miles, came home and put it in the shed and that's where it's sat since. I had a bit of time to myself today and decided that, since mechanical things don't like to sit, I better start it and run it around the block. Thanks to Seafoam and a battery tender she started right up and I put a whole 3 miles on her. Told the wife I was going to have to give her a quick going over and we should try to burn out some of the old gas before putting her away again.......hope I / we can get the chance to get away for a couple of hours. On a related subject, Dad told me the other day that he thinks it's time for him to go to a nursing home. With Lisa and I working full time, we can't be there all day and he says he thinks he needs someone around all the time. He's worried that he may fall or have a situation where he needs help right away. At 95, pushing 96, I didn't argue. I offered to have someone check in on him a couple of times a day, but he didn't think that'd be enough. (Lady across the street is a friend and is a retired nurses aid and she offered to do it.) SO.....I've applied for the necessary assistance to make it happen....looks like it may take up to a couple of months, but once it happens, we'll have some of our lives back. I think it'll be a good thing for him, as he now spends most of his time in front of the TV, alone, or sitting on the porch, although it's tough for him to get around on his own....hard to get out onto the porch and into his rocker on his own, and the place we want to set him up in seems pretty nice, ...lots of activities and people around....even a couple of other WWII vets. I pass it every day on my way home from work, so I can stop in daily for a visit. Not an easy decision, and I told him before that he can stay with us as long as he wants to, but it was his call, and I feel a bit guilty to say that I'm feeling relieved that he's decided to go to an elder care facility. It's pretty much consumed Lisa and I caring for him. I thank God for Lisa, who's done so much over the last few years to care for him. Next year we'll be able to make it to MD and WNY Rally. Anyhoo, I wanted to share that with my Venturerider friends.

I've a buddy looking to sell a lever action Marlin 45-70, it has a scope on it, and he says he'll throw in a couple of boxes of shells. He's looking for $750. I was interested, but I've got too much of that stuff already.

Since alcohol's legal, marijuana should be legal as well. My only issue with legalization is that if it's legalized, you should be allowed to grow it in the backyard for personal use. Gubment should stay out of it as much as possible. Having said that, I doubt I'd use it anyway. I did it a few times 30+ years ago, never since, and I really didn't care for it. Made me laugh too much and then get mellow. With alcohol, I'm pretty good at metering my "dose" and, depending on the situation I can get to where I'd like to be and stay there. I'm not experienced enough with weed to know how to do that, and since I'm happy with booze, I'll just stick to that.

Haven't done any real off road riding like I used to for a while, and I really don't want to try. I'm 55 now, with responsibilities and can't chance getting hurt. I don't bounce like I used to, and don't heal as quick when I take a fall. What I can say that hill climbing was always what interested me, and I used to notice that it was the old guys with the extended swingarms that used to conquer the monster hills, while it was the youngsters that used to buzz around like lunatics. I used to like to hang with the old guys even back then. My old buddy that I used to ride with still does it, but, now at 56, I'm sure he'd be the first to admit that he'd have a hard time spending the whole day on the bike like we used to. I know that a day of working around the property, or even working on the truck, climbing around under it will get me hurting that night. Been there, done that, and I know what it's all about, so I'm happy to sit around the campfire with a few beers and listen to the bikes off in the distance. I still enjoy a bit of off roadin', but have gotten a bit long in the tooth to think I'm invincible, and no longer feel that I've anything to prove. I'd be surprised if anyone past 50 would say they can ride like they used to. Getting old definitely has it's limitations, but, at this point, I'll say it's not ALL bad. Do what you enjoy, but there's no shame in acknowledging that you're getting up in the years. Kudos to you for being willing to get out there and enjoy life, ....just don't overdo it.

This gettin' old stuff ain't for sissies. I'll keep ya in my thoughts and prayers for the best possible outcome....we need ya around here.. Be well.

Saw this on Craigslist. I'm sure The Boss will put it where it's supposed to go. I couldn't figger out how to put a link in classifieds. https://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1983-yamaha/6632270681.html

Good stuff. I'll tell ya, I own a First gen MKII and a Second gen, and there's no way in Hades that my Second Gen could keep up with the First. I had a buddy ride the First gen and I rode the Second gen and I was hitting the rev limiter and he only had to give it half throttle to keep up. Second gen sure is comfy, but the First gen is funner to ride.

They'll probably be faster and more reliable than the motorcycles. Just sayin'

I read where some posters think this is a dangerous thread.....I don't see it. This forum has accepted a variety of topics for discussion, which is what makes it interesting, and this thread doesn't strike me as being political at all. We're simply discussing the pros / cons of trade tariffs. Having said that; I've heard many experts over the years speak of how vital it is to encourage international trade, and I do believe that's true, but it does make me wonder.... Here on the North American Continent in general, and in the US in particular, we've been blessed with great resources, and we have the education / intelligence and inventive spirit to create great things....the workforce to build them....and the population to consume them. It makes me ask why we can't build and buy all within our borders. Before anyone gives me grief,...as I said....I'm sure that plan is flawed....I'm just not sure why.

Not concerned as a Yammy Rider, ...just as a US Citizen. Not a Harley fan either, but as a US company, I'd like to see them do well.

This is all over my head, but I seem to remember that the import tariffs were to be a like for like tax. If they tax our steel at 25%, then we do the same....That seems pretty fair to me, but what do I know about international trade policies. As far as Harley goes, I wonder how many of them they sell overseas. IMHO, Harleys are pretty and a lot of folks like that sound, but not at the top of the game as far as performance, reliability and longevity (at least without major rebuild) goes. If you take away the "Made in America" selling point so popular with our citizens....how do they stand up against Japanese or European bikes in overseas markets? Just wondering.

I've a first gen and a second gen and a second gen and can tell ya first hand the whine is way worse on the second gen. It's annoying, but it's just one of those things. When I focus on it, it bothers me, but I am usually able to put it to the back of my mind and enjoy the ride. I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it had I not read about it on VR...lol...

UH.......You guys know that those are SKUNKS......Right???..... Cute though. Congrats.

Patted both my gals on the tank and told them that I haven't forgotten about them....then went ahead and put salt in the softener. My gals sit in the 10 x 14 shed that houses the well head / tank / softener. Heated in the Winter, and I leave a dehumidifier run year round. Hell, I haven't had the 87 out in 3 years....don't know how long that Seafoam will hold that gas, but I did start her last Spring, and she fired right up.

Until I came across this on Craigslist. Tempted to buy it just to tinker with it. https://columbus.craigslist.org/for/d/flymo-hover-mower/6625167639.html

Read thru the thread, and didn't see anyone question the shocks / springs, or steering head bearing. Just axing if that could be the issue....don't want to suffer from tunnel vision here. Just sayin'

Thanks Randy.....You Rock !!! This forum is my go to for pretty much everything.

Sent ya a pm with my e-mail. Thanks a bunch !!!