BigLenny

I've been a member here for 4 years. This might be the most unique question I've ever seen here. LOL.

This is just an idea for you satellite subscribers out there. My Mom who is 70 and lives by herself, has Dish Network. She loves it, with one exception. When storms or even just heavy rain comes, she gets the blank screen thing. Arkansas is always in the top 5 of states that get tornados. Having a TV screen go blank when the weather man is tracking a tornado headed your way is not an option. It's about life or death. So, I went to Best Buy and bought her one of those new High Def antenna's. There were several to choose from. I chose an RCA brand one that looks like a square plate. I screwed it into the TV input on her set, and after programming her TV for the channels, and moving the antenna around until I found a sweet spot, she now has the ability to watch NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, WB, and a few other channels in High Def coming free over the air. The major networks are clearer through the antenna than they are through Dish. She watches TV on the Dish Network 90% of the time, but if a storm or heavy rain comes, she switches the input to TV and watches the free stuff. It makes her feel safer. Just a suggestion. I'm sure some of you have already thought of this.

Another thing that kinda makes me go huh. At the rally, Yamaha, Victory, Harley, and Indian were there with their corporate bikes letting people do test rides. Victory, Harley, and Indian were set up where all you had to do was have them scan your license, put a few entry's into an iPad and you were ready to wait on a bike to ride. Very high tech feeling and looking. Very streamline operations, with plenty of bikes to ride. At the Yamaha event, you had to sit down with a clip board and a long ass form to fill out, and then go through two different peoples approval to get in the que to ride. AND, they had so few bikes that it was an eternity to wait on a bike. It felt so archaic and slow. Very embarrassing.

That would be awesome! And we all know Yamaha has the know how to pull it off. It comes down to do they have the "want to"?

I forgot to tell you all. I went to Bikes Blues and BBQ last weekend and the Yamaha factory truck was there doing the test ride thing. They had all the same boring bikes they've been trying to push for some time now. I mentioned to the head guy there that it is sad that Yamaha has decided to abandon the full dresser market. I told him I don't understand Yamaha's strategy. Lets say a person starts at a young age riding yamaha dirt bikes, then graduates to street bikes as he gets to be an adult, then as he's become a Yamaha loyalist, he is forced, when he gets to the point that he wants to tour this great country, to look at another brand because Yamaha doesn't seem to care enough to provide an updated touring bike and keep their loyal customers. His response was for me to not go anywhere yet. He said he knows for a fact that Yamaha is doing a redesign on the Venture. He said he knows people that have seen the prototype, and it will be very nice. I told him with all do respect, Yada, Yada, Yada, Yamaha loyalists have heard this too many times before.

Haven't heard of that before. So.....what is it for?

Very good point. However, I realize now, after looking at my post again, it comes across as me suggesting to him to not have a girlfriend. I worded that wrong. I fully believe he should have one if it helps him heal, but moving off to another state with her while the kids are left with one parent to pull the daily load of raising HIS kids, is in my opinion a no no. Additionally, you are very right that having exes bickering back and forth is obviously not good for the kids. I probably should've stated if he stays in town, DON"T BICKER WITH THE EX. Not really sure what you meant by "putting his life on hold". I've never really thought of staying close to your kids, being there for them as they experience growing up, assisting them with challenges they might face as, "putting ones life on hold."

PMELAH, Where do I begin? I don't personally know you, other than our conversations we've had here on the forum. Even if I had met you face to face at some bike gatherings, I wouldn't be able to say that I "know" you. So, given that fact, I am not going to lie to you and tell you that I know things are going to get better for you. I would hope and pray for you that they will, but that will all depend on how you react to this tragic period in your life. My wife and I have been married 31 years. That's amazing considering that between my mom and dad, and my wifes mom and dad, there have been 16 marriages. During my youth, everytime I turned around there was a new step father or step mother coming into my life. I have so many step and half siblings now its ridiculous. My wife has the same story from her youth. When my wife and I were married 9 years, we separated for 9 months. We were sick of each other, and had become pretty adept at pointing fingers of blame at one another. I got a lawyer and started down the road of divorce. During that period of separation, through a friend of mine, I made acqaintance with a pastor of a church my friend was attending. I went to lunch with this pastor and I was able to tell him "my story" and what my wife had done, and why I was filing for divorce. His response to my pity party story was shocking, and at the time was a slap in the face to me. He told me that I needed start praying for an answer as to what I had personally done to cause my marriage to fail. He told me to earnestly seek it with an open mind and heart. He explained to me that women are attracted to "real" men. He said it's obvious I was not being a real man in some areas of my life. Look, I'm 6'6" tall, ex athlete, been known to be brash when I need to, ran multiple buinesses, telling me that I wasn't a "real man" didn't sit well with me. I would've been a lot more comfortable if he would've talked about the wrongs my wife had done. Well, for some crazy reason I listened to him and started down the journey of trying to find out what my short comings were. To my surprise, a revelation of who I was, and who I needed to be started flooding in my heart and mind. The changes I put in place saved my marriage, and certainly caused me to not be a victim of the generational curses that had plaqued my parents. So, I can't tell you if your life will get better or not. You might just blow through this bad period and never personally learn what you need to, and wind up in another divorce someday. 3 things I want to address from your post and then I'll shut my pie hole: 1. You mentioned kids. The kids didn't asked to be brought into this nasty world. And they certainly didn't ask for you and your wife to screwup their lives by blowing your marriage apart. Sadly, they're innocent bystanders that will suffer more ways than one from this for the rest of their lives. Moving out of town away from them is a definite no no. You should be in their lives constantly to make sure they stay stable. It will pay off in the end for them and you. 2. The girlfriend. What? Really? Go ahead and dream up whatever explaination you would like, but the truth is it's gonna be in your kids minds that you chose moving to Greenville with the girlfriend over staying close to them. Think about it. 3. "Where do I keep going wrong?" This statement almost goes unnoticed in your post because of all the other stuff, but I encourage you to slow your mind down and truly go on a journey to find the real answers to this question. Who knows, you might do like me and find out your not even close to being the "real man" you should be that it takes to be a great husband, father, person. It sure changed my life for the better. Anyway. Enough of my opinion. Keep your spirits high. Take your steps carefully. And, my number is in my profile, give me a call if you need to talk. Good luck.

Uh Oh! After that statement, you might wanna keep your head on a swivel tonight.

What an unbelievable concidence. Just today at lunch one of my best friends called me to sing praises about this product. He said he put it in his tires before he went on his 3500 mile ride out west last month. He said it totally changed the ride on his bike for the better. He really pushed me hard to go get it and try it. I guess I'm gonna hafta try it. I'm mainly concerned about the puncture protection it provides, but if it improves ride and handling, I'm all for that too.

Really really glad you're okay. That could've been a bad one. I've gotta ask this question though; I know there are a number of bad drivers out there, but is it a possibility that you just happened to be in her blind spot and she just didn't see you? I know that doesn't make for as good a story as the other, but maybe, just maybe that happened. And then, when you went all ape sh*! on her doors, yelling and kicking and such, that she got scared enough to not want to stop and get hurt by you. I know my wife who is 5'2" and 125lbs and mild natured is gonna get scared when faced with a situation like that, and who knows how she would react? On second thought.....she was probably just a dumb ass driver who had it our for you and made you a target and by God she was gonna come into your lane or else. LOL.

Is anyone gonna attend this great rally this week? I'm gonna head up Friday. Looks like I'm gonna hafta ride in rain to get there Friday, but Saturday is supposed to be beautiful.

My wife and I have the Nolan N43 Trilogy's. Love them. We use the chin bar most of the time. Especially when we're on the freeway. The face sheild comes down so much farther than other open face helmets that it knocks the wind off of our microphones and makes things quieter when we're talking.

Hey Shotgun, Good to see a fellow Arky on the site. My wife and I also have a 2007 RSTD. We love the bike, and have ridden it from North Carolina to Arizona and most states in between. After realizing right off the bat that the stock seat pretty much sucked, I invested in rider and passenger seats made by Ultimate Seats. It changed our world. My wife loves her seat. By the way, I noticed on your profile pic that the sissy bar has been removed. You do still have that for your precious wife to rest against don't you?

Is this where I insert my endorsement of the dominating SEC?

So saddened to hear of Steve's passing. Obviously, he was a great man who made a positive mark on the lives he touched. I will keep you in my prayers.

It was a Suzuki Trail Hopper 50 that I got when i was 8yrs old that started me down this path. After I got married in 1982, I abandoned motorcycles for 25 years and went through a series of 3 and 4 wheeled atv's to satisfy the toy urge. After getting all of the kids raised and out of the house, 5 years ago I got back into motorcycling with the RSTD, and it has been a total renewing of life for my wife and I. We love getting on Red (the RSTD) and just letting the road take us wherever. Truly clears the mind. I hope I never abandon motorcycles again.

You took the words right out of my post.

Okay, All this information has made me dizzy. Will someone just please tell me definitively whether I should run all the time with it on "reserve', or with on "ON"? And while we're at it, should I fill up with it on "Reserve", "ON", or "Off"? Thanks so much. LOL! Lynn

Uh ohhh. Somebody must've gotten left on the side of the road by their biker friends.

Yammer, We do plan on stopping by the meet in Mena. Will get there Friday night and eat with everyone, then head out Saturday morning for the Hill Country. Look forward to meeting everyone. That reminds me. I need to book my room in Mena.

Hello All, My wife and I are planning on leaving out on October 4th to head to the Texas Hill Country for a week. If we station ourselves in Kerrville, will everything to see be a day ride away? Also, I am open to any and all suggestions of things to do and see from the folks that know about that area. Thanks so much, Lynn

Hi Patti, I know this a special request. And I know the answer is, if I really want to know, I should make it to one of the events. But, is there any way to tag or list who is in the pictures. I haven't been to a large VR event yet, and consequently haven't been able to put a lot of faces with the screen names I have conversed with on our wonderful site here. Just wondering. Thanks, Lynn

Okay, I'm gonna throw one at y'all that is gonna be touchy. Don't reach for your rifle too quick when I throw this out there. Give it some time and think about it. So, here it goes; If you think the financials of charities don't exactly balance out, and they kinda make you have a wierd "I wonder if this is going to the right place" feeling, ponder for a moment the financials of..............here it comes............churches. Now, before y'all roll your eyes and label me a crazy athiest or something, do know that I am a God loving man who lives everyday totally thankful for what He has done in my life, and I do attend church regularly. What charities receive in our nation each year is a speck of what churches receive. The business model is something only genious' could've thought of. The city I live in is filled with churches. My mother in law lives 3 miles from our house. One time a few years back I left her house to head home, and for some reason I decided to count how many churches there were between her house and ours. The count was 13! In 3 miles! All of them believing they are absolutely correct in what they doctorinately teach, and all of them bringing in money. There is a church here in Little Rock that sits on I-40. It has about 3000 members. About 15 years ago they built a big huge complex with big marble columns, and all of the ornations of a reverenced temple you could think of. The cost was $25 million. about 8 years ago they cleared land right beside the huge church and built a complex that was identical to the first one, but it is twice the size and it costs $70 million. So, now they have two complexes sitting there that costs $100 million to build. All of this audacity is right across the freeway from one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in central Arkansas. I can't help but think how much help all of that money could've provided if that church would've financed a strong program for community enlightenment and rebirth in that area, instead of building themselves a shrine of their financial successes. Anyways-Just another thought of where we send our money, and what it is REALLY used for.

Wow! That AFX helmet is cool. It looks a lot like the Bell Mag 9 but for half the price. I wonder if Bell is really any better quality?