Bubba

Chad: I know nothing about that particular bike, but having spent quite a bit of time riding the single-track trails and high pass jeep/quad roads, that doesn't look like anything I would pick for a DS bike to ride CO. First thing that hits me is too much plastic….although I realize once you fall over enough and tear it off, it becomes a nekkid. I'd wait until you spend some time out there and even go so far as to do some rentals and ride the local terrain. If it was me buying, I'd get something with FI to account for the large fueling requirements of altitudes ranging from 5000' to almost 14,000'. I'd get a bike that was plateable, i.e., with lights and signals and mirrors, because you will be connecting trails by road. I'd get something dead reliable because you REALLY don't want to be sitting on a high ridge with a dead bike and a storm moving in. And I'd chose to pay a little more for lighter vs heavier so you can sample some of the sweet technical single-track in addition to the bigger trails. I had a DRZ400 that had some light mods for riding the rough stuff--skid plate, folding shifter, engine covers, bark busters, folding mirrors, pivot pegz--and it went everywhere the boys with the full-on KTM MX bikes went, albeit with a bit more sweat on my part. The carb was a little glitchy in the higher elevations, but still worked OK and didn't cause any problems. If I lived out there, I bet I'd get really good at re-jetting for the particular trail I was riding…. BTW, if I didn't already say it….color me jealous!!!

That trike makes you look older than your avatar….and your butt looks bigger, too.

Not familiar with the Hawk model, but I'm guessing from the year that it's carb and not FI. If it sounds like fuel delivery, check for a dirty/plugged fuel filter, either in-line or in the bottom of the tank? However, is there a fuel pump? Disconnect the outlet side of the fuel pump and check flow rate; check for a plugged filter at the fuel pump intake. If it appears to be electrical, first thing I'd check (after the battery ritual you performed already) is corroded ground connections (at the frame), fuse and fuse box connection integrity, and then go on to trace the wiring circuits for breaks, worn/cracked wiring insulation, melted connectors, oxidized pin junctions. Lastly, are the plug wires original? You can lose a lot of high-voltage charge thru cracked/dry-rotted plug wires/caps by jumping to ground. Replace as necessary.

Take the time to at least file a report. You are correct that nothing will happen IN THIS INSTANCE….ex post facto, it becomes a he said/she said circumstance with no legal recourse. That being said, I would also caution against using your 180# self and 500# motorcycle as a "puny" demolition device against a fully armored 2-ton death-and-dismemberment machine. You will almost certainly end up the bug on the windshield. You'll live longer avoiding the immediate conflict and riding away with the intent to plot revenge and retribution later.

I believe the term he's groping for is 'delayed gratification'…. It fits in the category as autoerotic asphyxiation.

Those aren't stick figures of my family on the back window of my mini-van….those are confirmed kills.

Hoblick: Here's a link to the 2-day route we took on the LocalRiders fall trip last year. Runs from Cinti to Abingdon, VA and them on to Waynesville, NC. You'd obviously need to modify it some if you're planning on ending near Deal's Gap. The roads are all rural, low-traffic volume with tons of twisties and great scenery. Hard to go wrong anywhere down there. Have fun! http://www.localriders.com/forums/showpost.php?p=164437&postcount=88

I shared your post and the pic of horsey with my Sis this afternoon. She basically confirmed what I suspected--and prolly what you've experienced also. That being, offers of free horses to a good home are a dime a dozen. Think of how hard it is find a safe 'forever' home and committed compassionate adoption for a dog….and now compound that 10-20 fold for a horse. Can't even begin to imagine how difficult elephant adoptions must be…. She did take a look at your pic and said you had a good looking animal, and that the breed would be one of the more desirable to people looking for a western horse. She's gonna share your post on OR with the folks of the Cincinnati Equestrian Society and the regional barn forum (~50 stables) in the SW OH area. Hopefully, there'll be some interest. If you want to follow up with her directly, send me your personal contact info via PM and I'll forward it.

OK, so I was gonna up the ante and guess a classic mid- to late-80s UJM based on ND's banter, but there's no way that TC and ABS go with that option. Me thinks there has been some intentional obfuscation here in this thread, hmmm? So "needs cleaning and tweaking" means NOT a new FJ-09 or the new Versys 650, and TC/ABS has only been around as a package for a few years. At this point, I'm still sticking with the classic UJM, maybe something like a Sabre (staying with the V4 Honda brand)….OR….possibly a clean older Interceptor 500 if one was to be found.

Certainly your right to specify terms and conditions as it's your pet, but I would argue that the news has been full of sad stories of horses being neglected by their owners on rural land and being starved from lack of pasture and feed supplement. I'm of the opinion it's more a function of an individual's personality as to how they treat animals, no matter whether they're kept on private property or boarded. The same folks who payed their cash to keep a horse in board and then ignored it would just as likely do the same on their own property. Problem then is there's absolutely no oversight by anyone, no one to see the neglect by the owner. I can assure you that my sister's animals are more well cared for and fussed over than most folks' kids. I'll show my sister your ad and ask if she has any interest or knows of someone looking for a horse.

Little bit of JBWeld will fix that right up!!!

I'd guess this has something to do with where the sensor is located in the tank. My DL650 is the exact opposite--2-3 bars when rolling into the driveway but reads 'E' on start-up the next day. If you park your bike on the sidestand, the fuel either runs toward or away from the level sensor. Whatever algorithms are designed into the fuel level sensor circuit for stability (so the fuel gauge doesn't jump around due to sloshing) account for the length of time it takes to get back to an accurate measurement. Obviously doesn't apply if you have a center stand.

My observation about your ad would only be to comment that there's no such thing as a "free" horse…. I'm interested in why you specify no boarders. Very few folks of ordinary means own sufficient pasture land to support even one or two horses. A good boarding facility with ample pasture, safe fences, and top-notch stable facilities with an enclosed rink for all-weather year-round riding/training is the way to go if you live in an urban/suburban area. My sister is and always has been a nut for horses. She got her first horse at 14 and trained and rode professionally out east in NJ. Does both dressage and hunter/jumper. She even has pics of giving riding lessons to Jacqueline Kennedy/Onassis and JFK's kids back in the early 70s. And in spite of being one of the most compassionate people toward animal welfare, she's mean enough to take that knife you thought you were gonna kill her with and gut you like a hog!!! I'll gladly pass this along to my sister, but not if I'd be wasting my time and hers. I have no idea if she'd be interested personally, but she's been connected with the horse community for the last 50 years here in SW Ohio and may know someone who'd make a good next owner. Lemeno.

Some sketchy pavement, but most of the blame goes to the rider for too much brake….prolly rear but maybe both F&R. If he has collision insurance, that"ll be a salvage title in a couple of weeks to a month, and he"ll be riding a shiny new bike at triple/quadruple his prior monthly rate. Learning the hard WAY can be expensive; at least it wasn't his FINAL exam….that he failed.

Oh no!!! He's gone squid boy on us and bought a turbo'd Gixxer with a streched swing arm and ghost-flame paint…. BTW, whatever it is, sincere congrats on rejoining the fold. We're all happy that you were able to man up and 'own' your addiction!!! Acceptance is the first step toward healing.

Nice! That a snapper? Or a soft-shell map turtle? N'mind. Just googled and it looks like a snapper. I've just usually seen 'em with bigger ridges on their shell.

I think 2tt is looking for specs on the hydraulic lift table. if not, never mind….

Check out the Stromtrooper forum for excellent in-depth instructions here: http://www.stromtrooper.com/maintenance-how/27756-dl650-valve-adjustment-notes-tips.html ….and there's many more if you want to spend some time searching. A trooper that goes by the username BlackLab has many how-to articles.

7" to the the top of the lip on the platform and just under 12" to the top of the clamp. Unless they've changed the clamp design, it's pretty useless. I'd change the clamp over to a HF wheel chock or even better, a full-on bike stand for stability. Don't forget to account for the tie down bolts, which bring the height minus the clamp to 8.5". Without the clamp, it easily fits under my 2wd truck between the wheels.

Chad: Sorry to see your SV going back under the knife….mea culpa. If it's the same or similar to a Wee, lash check is pretty easy, although most folks say taking the radiator out is the way to go. Adjustment is another issue. Cams have to come out to change shims, which means pulling the cam tensioners--and I've read the rear cylinder can be a mother-- and then re-timing the valve train according to the cam timing marks. If you have to go the whole route, set your clearance to the high range of adjustment, since valves tighten over time as they recess into the valve seats. Good luck, dude!

Almost positive that there's a state law in KY that REQUIRES A HOMEOWNER to discharge their lawn clippings into the street. The heavier and wetter the grass, the larger the fine if you don't….

Seriously? Since when can I NOT hold the front brake lever when dismounting/mounting from the left? Maybe a guy with T-Rex arms….?

H-D's with their low seats are easy to get off to either side. Try that on a tall 34-36" seat height ADV bike with a trunk or tail bag attached, 'specially when you get to be 65 yo! Low side for me. BTW, what's for breakfast tomorrow? When should I plan on eating?

Bumping this up for great weather!!! If you believe the TV "meaty urologists"….the forecast says sunny and 70* tomorrow. Probably be 1 or 2 more folks from the LocalRider Cinti crew along, too.

The route itself is approximately 203 miles, all back roads. Ride time is calculated by GoogleMap based on posted speed limits, so the suggested time may be longer than our actual ride time….or not, depending on the group's pace. The ride time does not include stops for fuel or food; that would be additional. There are short-cut options we can take to save time if we're running slow. Meet-up in the morning at the McDonald's on KY17 at the I-275 Exit 80 interchange at 9:00 - 9:15 AM. Kickstands up promptly at 9:30 AM. There are several gas options available along the route, with the most convenient at the Thornton's next to the McD's in the morning and at the Williamstown exit at about the mid-point of the ride. There are fast-food lunch items available here as well.. The end of the route is at Petersburg Exit 11 on I-275 in KY. You will have to calculate your additional mileage and riding time from the start/finish point of the route from/to your house. If the map links below don't work, cut and paste them into your browser. Morning route (starts at I-275 Exit 80 in KY, east of I-75): https://goo.gl/maps/orz52 113 mi/approx 3.25 hr Afternoon route (ends at I-275 Exit 11 in KY, west of I-75): https://goo.gl/maps/nE6mp 90 mi/approx 2.5 hr I'll throw out a few typical ride cautions. If you're an experienced rider, these will sound trite and unnecessary; if you're a relatively new rider, please take them into serious consideration. These are rural, two-lane country roads with all the normal dangers of an urban street along with the added dangers of poor pavement, gravel, challenging corners and terrain/elevation changes, domestic animals, livestock (yes, I've encountered both cows and horses in the street) and farm equipment. Please make sure your bike equipment, especially tires, drivetrain and starting system, are in good working order. You are responsible for controlling your bike--ride at a pace that is comfortable and safe for your abilities and within your skill limitations. In the unfortunate event of an accident, you are a long way from emergency assistance!