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I emailed them last year asking if Mid-Ohio would be on the schedule anytime soon. Their answer eluded to Mid-Ohio not being safe for motorcycles. They said when Mid-Ohio makes the necessary upgrades, they will consider running there. I don't recall ever hearing anyone complain about safety there. I know they moved the wall back off of the front straight after a fatal accident, and turn 1 has to make your sphincter pinch a hole in the seat, but I can't think of anything else that is bad.

Very cool, but too expensive for me.

I had mine done over 15 years ago. I had it done by Dr. Marino at LasikPlus in Cincinnati. I had both done for about $1500. I had a slight astigmatism too. They were able to correct that as well. The surgery was a little stressful, because I was awake, and afraid I would move my eye and end up blind. Just me worrying. In those commercials, they used to show people sitting up and seeing 20/20 across the room immediately after the surgery. It wasn't like that for me. My vision was a little off for a day or two. I had the night time halos that some people get, but after about a month those went away. My advice would be to do your research and then do it! Good Luck!

This explains it better than I did... https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/mig-versus-tig/

With a MIG, the heat source is the wire, so the material being welded is heated right at the weld point. With TIG, the heat source is the tungsten torch, so the material being welded tends to have the heat spread farther into it. Supposedly this makes the MIG weld cool quicker than TIG which makes it harder (a little like hardening versus tempering). I'm a self-confessed rat turd welder, so I guess I qualify more as a grinder, and a MIG weld always takes more time to grind. Now, that could also be that you can't control the speed of the wire (during the weld) with a MIG where you can control the flow with a TIG, so maybe I just get more wire into the weld making me have more to grind. LOL

Chris, Mig is a decent starting point. You can get setup fairly cheaply. The biggest downside I have found with MIG welding is that the welds are very hard. Sometimes that's what you want, but you spend a lot of time, and generate some additional heat if you want to grind the welds smooth. I would love to have a TIG, but I just can't get over the cost. I would also like an acetylene setup, but they cost as much as a MIG to get started. I guess for all around welding and reasonable cost the MIG will be the way to go. It just might not be great at some things. Good Luck!

They do a good job with the classes. I take the ARC every couple of years just to stay fresh. Good luck with the class and welcome!

I watched it on Netflix. It is really good. I like how they compared the two generations of road racing.

I hoping to go up Saturday and come back Sunday.

I'm an AMA life member. I don't always agree with their priorities, but I do appreciate all of their efforts to keep an eye out for us. They do a surprising amount of work protect individuals rights. They have lobbied for stiffer penalties for people that hit and/or kill a motorcyclist, they have helped with legal representation for folks that have been wronged, and they have held officials accountable for their votes and decisions. They did screw up road racing real bad, but to give them a little credit, they realized they weren't handling it correctly, so they sold the rights to DMG who who was supposed to know what they were doing. And again, a little too late, they realized that DMG wasn't driving the sport even further into the ground, so they pulled back the rights. Hopefully they keep a closer eye on it this time. I like the magazine, and recently (last couple of years), they split the magazine into two magazines. One is focused on off-road, and one on street riding. Its not a great magazine, but it does have some info that you don't see in all of the other magazines. Luckily (knock on wood), I have only had to use the roadside assistance once. I was in a car and broke down at midnight in Germantown. The folks on the phone were very nice and patient, but they weren't able to find a company that would come get me were I was. I was maybe 15 miles west of Dayton. Ultimately, I got a lift home and went back in the morning with a flatbed (anyone want to buy a 02 Protege 5 with a cracked head?). I was out a little bit, so I didn't hold it against them that they couldn't get a tow company to come get me. But, had I been in an area that I wasn't familiar with, I would have been less forgiving.

I'm just glad the term "crotch rocket" is finally fading away (even if it is a slow death).

What's that saying? This thread is useless without pictures.

I can relate to this topic. When I got married, there were four guys in the wedding party counting myself. I'll be 50 this year, and there are only two of the four left. About 5 years ago, one OD'ed on pain killers and the other committed suicide. It seems like it hit all of us at about 45. You finally grew up a little in your 30's and started to be more responsible. Then you realize in your 40's that you are working your butt off most of your waking hours, and what is it getting you? You're putting money in your retirement fund, helping your kids with college, and trying to save money wherever you can. If your not careful, the weight of life can really drag you down. I have to work really hard to force myself to take time out for myself. I hate to admit this, but I haven't been on my bike in two years! I've worked on it, but haven't had the time for any rides. I have to fix that this year!

Well, you talked me out of it. Chris is right. I'f I'm gonna spend money, I should get something a little easier to maintain and more modern. Something like a TW200.

I forgot about them being 6 volt. I think they were wired so that the ignition and lights work off of the battery versus off of the alternator. So a dead battery means your dead in the water.

Hey guys, I have an opportunity to buy a 1974 Honda XL175. It looks like it is in good shape. I am going to look at it on Saturday. They were asking $1100, but they have been trying to see it for a while. I offered $800, and they said they would consider it. So, is it worth $800 assuming it runs well and is in good shape? I have a DT125, but don't have a title for it. They have a title for this, so I could hit the roads and the trails with it. And being a four stroker, it might be a little more fun puttering on trails. Let me know what you think.

Where's the pics? Which model did you get?

I stumbled onto a 05 Impala for $2000. Its in good shape, Ironically, the guy asked me if I wanted it about an hour before the Mazda bonked. I swear to you, I aid "No thanks, this one (the Mazda) is still doing okay." I must have jinxed myself. I called him the next morning and told him I would take the Impala. I could fix the Mazda, I'm just not a big fan of it, and honestly, the way the rust has popped up so quick, I'm not sure if it will hold together for 5 more years.

^ Ouch!

I did a little checking on donating it. Apparently the IRS has decided that they don't like the idea so much anymore. They can make you cut your deduction back to the value that it brought to the non-profit. So, if they junk it for $50, then you can only deduct $50. It could be more of a pain that I want to deal with. blue-yamaR6s, there's no sentimental value on this one at all. We bought it new in 02 and it has been a money pit from the beginning. I should have sold it a long time ago. Since they only made those for two years, every time I went to buy a part for it (often), I always heard "oh, you got one of those expensive ones." You would have thought being a Protege, they would have had a lot of similar to parts to a, well, a Protege. I think I will do what Durk suggested and put it on Craigslist. Thanks for the suggestions. I post back if I have any luck getting rid of it.

I have a 2002 Protege5 with almost 200k miles on it. The water pump failed and dumped all of the water out while I was driving on the highway. Before I figured out what was going on, it was too late. At the least, I have blown the head gasket, but I could have cracked the head. Even if it is just a head gasket, I would still have the head checked and probably reconditioned, so I am looking at a minimum of $300-$400 if I do the work. On top of that, I need a new water pump, rotors all around, a new caliper, brake pads all around, and a couple tires. So, when its all said and done, I could have $1k in it to get it back on the road. (I admit I have let it go a little) I have another car that I am driving that is fine, so I don't need the car. Should I fix it? Junk it? Try to sell it? Part it out? Any other ideas?

I used (or at least tried) the Roadside Assistance for the first time this past Friday. The water pump on my car blew out near Germantown, OH. It was just past midnight. I thought that was as good of a time as any to try out the Roadside Assistance. While the folks on the phone were very nice and seemed sincere, after an hour and a half, they were not able to find anyone to tow me. I finally had to call the wife and wake her up to come get me. I towed it myself the next day. I have talked to some other people with different types of assistance, and from what I have heard, my experience, being in a small town after midnight and not being able to get a tow, is normal. So, I guess you need to break down in a larger city, during the week, between 8:00am and 5:00 pm? One guy told me that AAA only covers the first three miles of the tow. Can that be right? By the way, anyone interested in an 02 Mazda Protege5 with a blown head and water pump?

I hit my 25 year mark with the AMA last year. I am now a Charter Life Member. I think they do a great job of keeping an eye on our rights and issues that might impact us. They have some really good benefits for members. Probably one of the best benefits is the American Motorcyclist magazine. They now have two versions of the magazine. One for off road, and one for street riding. I do wish I would see them at more events in Ohio (Their home state). Sign up and help make them more relevant!! http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join

Jacks are used for lifting the car. Jack stands are used for supporting the car while you work on it. The wood things are used to keep the car from sqooshing you if the car slips off of a jack stand. I have been fighting a stuck bolt with a 3' breaker bar and had the car move on the jack stand. I won't lie. I peed a little. Now, I always throw at least one tire under the frame. If it comes off of the jack stand, at least it won't come all the way down on me. The wood is probably a better idea. Thanks for the tip!

Hell No! I pissed a little just watching that!