rentalguy1

That's why I have a Sportster...

Just curious as to why you shouldn't use fiberglass resin. Will it melt the ABS or something? I have used it a few times to repair bodywork on sportbikes. I used it extensively on one Ninja that was biffed up real bad. I never had any issues, but I have always mixed it and metal set weak on hardner so it will cure slowly. You get a stronger bond that way. Thanks to the OP for this thread. I have several hairline cracks on my bodywork as well. I was only going to wet sand and hit them with touch up paint prior to 3-step polishing the whole bike. I think I will reinforce all of mine now, too.

Awesome! That's a big baby! Ours is three weeks old today (today was her actual due date, too), and is only up to around 7 pounds. You gotta post up some pics

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/rentalguy1/ChalkLine.jpg

I shop around every year. I was with Allstate for years, and they insured everything I owned. I had a very good personal relationship with them, and really hated to drop them, but my agent told me that it was business, and should be viewed as such. She told me to just make sure that the coverage was comparable, and that the new company had a good track record. Ended up switching the house, the rental and the trucks to Farm Bureau, the bikes to Safeco, and leaving the boat with Allstate. I'm pretty happy with the premiums, coverage and deductibles on all. I won't hesitate to switch when renewal time gets here if I can find a better deal, though. I don't have any experience with the company you switched to, but since the regulations are so strict on insurance companies, I'd guess that you'll be fine. Just remember to shop around when the time comes to renew. It's a big hassle, but it could save you several hundred dollars a year.

It's a very good idea to keep both eyes open when shooting a handgun. You may also want to practice "point shooting," instead of aiming down the sights since your vision has changed. I learned these methods while in the army and I've never went back to the old way. You should also practice shooting from many different positions if you carry daily.

sounds like a rotovirus. It's that time of year and it's making it's rounds in my area. It's also called a 24 hour stomach bug. Basically it comes out both ends and feels like someone is hitting you in the stomach with a baseball bat when you're not puking. I had it a few years ago, along with everyone else in the house. It sucked, BAD! Push the Gatorade and suffer through it. It doesn't last long. Hope you feel better soon.

I carry either a Taurus PT1911 or a Taurus PT92AF every day, and the wife carries a PT709 Slim. Okay, sometimes I carry the slim, especially on the bike. Taurus makes great firearms, and they have great prices, too. http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/rentalguy1/018-1.jpg

According to NADA it is. KBB has its retail listed as $2500.

Ya, umm, no. Statistics prove otherwise. This is also the best reason to carry close to where you keep your wallet, and to practice practice practice.

Full frame Taurus PT1911 in a Fobus paddle holster almost every day. Some days I am lazy and carry the wife's Taurus PT709 Slim in a Uncle Mike's IWB. A lot of concealment depends on your frame. I'm 5'9" and 205lbs, but it's all up in my shoulders, which makes shirts hang loose on me. I can pretty much conceal the 1911 with just a t shirt.

I live nearby (Bristol) and I'm going to attempt taking my son out for a hour or two this Saturday or Sunday. I would hate to commit to a certain day or time with a new baby in the house, though. May try to contact you when it gets closer to the weekend. As for riding, head up towards Bristol, and ride across US Hwy 421 to Mountain City. It's better known as the "Snake." Very fun ride if you are into twisties and switchbacks. If you prefer highway riding, head up Hwy 11W to Hwy 394, and it will take you around the back side of Bristol Motor Speedway. You can get to the Snake following the same route, as Hwy 394 dead ends into Hwy 421. You could also head north out of Kingsport on US Hwy 23 (called Lynn Garden Drive in Kingsport) toward Gate City, VA. That will take you to Natural Tunnel State Park. The coalfields are beyond that. It's impossible to have a bad ride in this area once you get out of any of the little towns. If you like Barbecue, there is a place in Kingsport called Pratts. It's on the main drag, named Stone Drive (which is also Hwy 11W). You can't miss them. They have a huge "wooden indian" in the parking lot. There is a world famous BBQ joint named Ridgewood between Bluff City and Elizabethton, which is about 30 minutes from where you are staying. It is worth the ride. If you need something quick for lunch, there are all the major chains, but I suggest the Purple Cow on Stone Drive (awesome onion rings) and Pals (several throughout town - sauce burgers with cheese). They are both drive through only places, and regional. Don't bother with the local MC stealerships. Their inventories were so low a few weeks ago that I am surprised that they keep their doors open. Atlas Honda/Yamaha/Kaw/Suzi in Bristol and Jim's Cycles in Johnson City are worth hitting up, though. There is a MC salvage place in Morristown, too. I can't remember their name, but they are well known. If you have the time, you may want to ride down there. Probably about an hour away. They have all kinds of used parts, and you might just find something you need there. I plan on heading down there when I start working on my VR. Have a safe trip and enjoy yourself. Stay safe! (the drivers in Kingsport suck - especially on Stone Drive)

LIke to add to my statement that I learned the bob and weave method in a rider's course years ago, and it has saved be from banging up a bike at slow speeds on a few occasions. I still practice it every time I ride, just so it will be somewhat instinctive if I ever need it. The laydown method comes from personal experience (by sheer accident) and from my nephew who was a AMA licensed superbike racer. Those guys are taught that it is better to slide on the ground in a controlled manner at higher speeds than go over the bars in a out of control manner. He says that if at the first gut feeling that you are no longer in control of the bike, it is time to part ways with it. Lock up the rear, lean to the left, and let go as it starts going down. I did it this way once, by accident, a long time ago. The bike was trashed, but I walked away without a scratch. I also got a death wobble by crossing RR tracks at 115 (young and dumb) once. I decided the best method was to ride it out. Bad move. I still have asphalt embedded in my chin bone, and that was 20 years ago. I hate to admit this one, but I have also hit a car head on at about 50mph. The cager and I were both in the middle of the road in a blind curve, so we were both at fault. Again, the car was trashed, but I walked away without a scratch. I can only attribute this to having enough reaction time to bring the bike upright, and faith in God. I cleared the car and landed in very dense bushes on the other side. I was also lucky in that I knew the cager, and he was driving his wife's LeBaron, instead of his '56 T-Bird. Anyhoo...interesting discussion. Safe riding!

purposely high side it. Road rash hurts much less than broken bones. It's also usually cheaper to repair fairings than replace the front end. I'd lay my bike down in a heartbeat to keep from t-boning/getting t-boned by a cage.