Bubba

Dunno. This year's was the 38th Annual gathering. Always some spectacular machines on display. I didn't even include the pics of the typical classes like the 50s-60s-70s American Performance or the modern Supercar class. There was a privately owned Porsche 918 at the show. Could easily have spent another day just drooling...

A few inexpensive ones of the 4-wheel variety.

Mostly cars. A few bikes.

I believe that's the "Home Wrecker Special" you're referring to. attachment.php

Sounds like you're pretty disappointed you missed out on the bike, and that's understandable. However, I'm with the seller on this one, too. Unless you're a personal acquaintance/friend, I'm not holding something for a buyer any longer than overnight unless I've got cash in hand or a signed/dated Contract of Sale. And I would NEVER…EVER…have a title notarized into the name of the buyer without cash in hand, no matter what conversations had gone down previously.

Ooops. My bad. I see you said FZ….not FJ. Nevermind.

Welcome! You'll find a few OR folks in the C-bus area that like to get dirty. In case you're not familiar with ADVRider, you'll find lots of folks who are gettin' dirty... ...here: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28732 ...and here: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758808 There's also some pretty decent riding over in Hoosier NF, but that's a pretty good distance from C-bus. You'll find even better riding in eastern KY and western WV.

Might have been Jeff (Sherpadude) from LocalRiders. He's got an FJ-09 and was riding out east yesterday at Jim-Bo's. http://www.localriders.com/forums/showthread.php?p=167358#post167358

….National Bubba Day!!! So, which one'a you'se worthless bastids is gonna take me out fer a beer or three? http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-bubba-day-june-2/

BTW, Eastern Beaver offers relay kits for the headlight circuit that eliminates the amp surge thru the starter button circuit. Not that expensive and comes with the added benefit of making your headlights brighter (more amperage going to the headlights).

This ^^^ and the frame/engine grounds, for tightness and corrosion.

You could be right about the starter--if the motor is weak or the brushes/armature are shorted, it could be drawing so many amps that it jiggers the electronics. However, if it was my bike, I'd check the start button in the bar housing first. The way many "modern" bikes are built, the headlight circuit is routed thru the start button so that when you hit the button, it temporarily shuts down the headlight, saving amp draw during starting. What this eventually does, tho, is cook the contacts in the button due to the amp surge from the headlight. I'd take the housing apart and at the least, check and clean the starter button contacts. Easy and cheap!!! If that isn't the problem, then look elsewhere.

Never been that impressed with the 'in-pocket' armor in either the mesh or the textile pants….or jackets, for that matter. Unless they fit like a leather race suit, the armor can shift position in a get-off. When I'm riding street or hooning the backroad twisties, I always wear the MX-style knee/shin hard armor, sometimes under jeans, sometimes under the mesh pants if it's stupid hot. In a low-side, first thing that 'dabs' is your knee. I want a hard ABS shell between me and the road.

You won't have any problems. The H-Ds are pretty low seat height and carry their weight well. Even slow speed maneuvers in a parking lot are as easy as your lighter--but taller--Versys. They're quite pleasant to ride at a relaxed pace. Main difference is the clearance when cornering. Foot boards/pegs/pipes/primary case all drag at more extreme lean angles, so don't overcook any corners. Oh, and get used to short shifting. Low redline but prodigious torque numbers from 1200-1500 RPM means shift early and then cruise around town in 3rd or 4th with only an occasional downshift needed in traffic. Most stock motors, unless they've been modded, run out of breath at much over 4500 RPM, making wringing their necks an exercise in futility.

If you're not already familiar with the Adventure Rider site, check it out. There are two forum threads from folks based in Ohio, one more centrally located that rides more eastern--where all the real good stuff is--and one based in Cincinnati that rides both eastern and over into Indiana. Look in the regional forum section and you'll find what you seek….

Stands are sold.

Not right offhand. I always attended the Superbike weekend, but that's not happening and I'm not planning on hitting Vintage week. Long way to go for a set of stands, and I'm sure shipping would be a deal killer. Sorry.

Rizoma mirrors are sold!!!

Joe: Thx for the info. Kind'a figured they shared some common DNA. Price change on the stands. Quality-wise, I'd rate them about on par with what you'd find at HF and after checking, they're selling the F&R set on sale for $70 new. New LOWER PRICE on the stands is $35/set including the gnarly stickers which make even your maintenance chores and repair work go faster!!! Somebody needs these!!!

More freebies:

Back story: I bought a 2010 Zed1K from Joe (Scuba) for a good price a couple of years ago, rode it for awhile, and then sold it. My plan was to pass along the extras Joe threw in with the deal to the next owner, but the bike was actually purchased by a dealer here locally who had no interest in the box of extras. Bottom line, I ended up with a box of Z1000 stuff that I have no use for but has some monetary value. The big items for sale are the FX stands, SW-Motech Blaze Sport saddlebag system, Rizoma Elise mirrors, black anodized shorty levers (NOT Pazzo!) and a Kawasaki factory service manual. If you have any interest in the above items, I'll gladly throw in the other stuff for free, which includes a K&N filter (used, needs cleaning), a set of Pro-Bolt orange alloy valve caps and lever adjuster (new/in bag), rear spools (new/in bag), rim tape (orange/Kawasaki Racing), OEM levers/bar ends/rear fender with hardware. I have this stuff listed on the ADVR forum for mo' money, so the OR discount is already factored in….but I ride a WeeStrom, so I understand "CHEAP" Stuff is located in Cincinnati--shipping is gonna be extra….IJS. FX front & rear stands--not top quality but perfectly functional. Rear adjusts for width and spool-or-swing arm fitment. Asking $59/both OBO SW-Motech Bags-Collection Blaze Sport Saddlebag Systemhttp://www.twistedthrottle.com/sw-motech-bags-connection-blaze-sport-saddlebag-system-kawasaki-z1000-10-11Mounts to the passenger peg frame attachment. Expandable. Look like they've been used a couple of times, never in the rain. Retail for $370--asking $119 OBO. Rizoma Elise mirror set--Black with amber-tint mirror glass, like new in original packagehttp://www.motostrano.com/Rizoma-Elisse-Mirror-p/bs171-fslash-172.htmComes with the Zed1K adaptors. Retails for $376--asking $129 OBO RideItMoto black adjustable shorty levers (Chinese Pazzo knock-offs). Retails $62--asking $19 OBO Kawasaki Factory Service Manual for MY2010--$49 OBO Freebies if you buy the good stuff:

I think you and others may have hit it on the head--valve clearance. If you haven't checked them in 5-6000 miles, that'd be where I'd look. Difficult starts and reduced power when hot is a sure symptom of overly tight valves, most likely the exhaust valves. You could prolly check the compression cold vs hot to get an early diagnosis, but as long as you're pulling the body work and other parts off, go ahead and set 'em while you're in there.

I agree that good gear makes your ride--in any weather conditions--a better experience. Problem is that most us, myself included, start out riding when we're young, stupid, "bulletproof" broke dicks and make do with what we can afford….which then becomes our way of riding, sometimes for years later. I've been on two wheels for over 50 years and just this spring bought my first high-end riding suit--an AS 1-piece Roadcrafter. But just like most of my other gear, I bought it used. Suit goes for $1400-1600 new, and I paid $400 for something that looked like new and should still have the shop tags on it. Reach out to those who race--if they're racing in sanctioned events, gear ages out pretty quickly and can no longer be used according to the rules, but still may not have many rides/hours/miles of wear/sweat on it. I recently bought a Shoei RF1000 helmet from Andy for $40 and it looks like new.

Gump: Sent you a PM.

Chad: Any chance that it's as simple as a kink from your recent off-road excursion? Might be as easy as using a chain tool to re-set the roller pins a fraction to ease the tension on the affected side plates. Can't hurt to try--8000 mi isn't many miles and I'm sure there's not much wear. If you can fix the binding, it won't wear funny or quickly.