SpeedTriple44444

Hello... welcome to the site. That's a seriously ugly bike. I would be embarassed to ride something like that. You ever want to ride sometime, I am always out that way.

That seems to be the going wage, even for low-level skilled labor. I am an electrical technician. I make more because I do engineering level work designing control systems, with some other specialized job functions . My last job, the cap was around there (probably closer to $18-21) for panel assembly. I didn't make nearly that much. When they closed the plant I worked at, I found my current job. I also found that I was much more capable than how I was beign used in my last job, so I worked my ass off to move up in position. The company I'm at allowed that to some extent, and it has really worked out. The problem with having someone making $30 an hour for doing general labor is that there is no incentive to move up and do more. it's a waste of a good person to not challenge their potential. On the other hand, a wise company sees potential in individuals and promotes and assists with education.

I understand... just pointing out that a company has to stay in business, and that reasonable wages are a part of that. There has to be fairness on both sides.

Therein lies the problem. Morality. It's moral to pay someone a fair wage. It's moral to work to the best of your ability. Nobody has any sense of what's right any more.

It all depends on where you work. it's not that way everywhere.

I don't want to sound like (more of) an a-hole, but for unskilled labor, how could you expect a company to pay $30 an hour? I'm assuming it's unskilled based on the starting wage, so excuse me if I made a bad assumption. While I understand incremental pay increases for a loyal employee, it's ridiculous to have to pay someone that much $$ for the same job you could pay $8-$15 / hour. A smart company would let the employee know early on that the max wage for that job was $15 an hour, and no more. If the employee wanted more, he/she would need to look into changing positions.

Man! Sign me up for Fridays! I'll be there!

You have a point. I've worked some places like that, but in general I've had it pretty fair with my non-union employers. Maybe my outlook would change if I were in a place like that. I know what it's like to have a supervisor like that. One place I worked while I was layed off temporarily, there was a guy that liked to be a dick about everything. When I got my call to go back to my normal job I quit immediately, and told his boss just what the score was, and that he was the reason I was walking with no notice at all (which was true). I hadn't ever done that before, and I wouldn't again, unless it was a similar situation. It's sad that there is a need for a union. Whatever happened to work ethic on the part of the employee, and appreciation on the part of the employer?

I won't... no need to worry about that. Where I work, they pay more than a fair wage without the union. Not saying every place is like that, but there are some. Those "scab" owners you're talking about are the people bringing jobs to the economy. But I guess if everyone has your mentality, they would be better off just outsourcing them to China or India. After all, when you're just trying to run a successful business and your workers are basically telling you to fuck off, why keep them around?

I don't know about your line of work, but in manufacturing, it's really difficult to fire someone without worrying about getting sued. You have to document it to the max. On the other hand, my uncles were long distance truck drivers. Some of the hours they were expected to drive were insane. Without any checks and balances, I can see them pushing the drivers to keep illegal and unsafe hours.

tbutera... I don't think any of us have a problem with someone working hard and getting what they're due. It's just the many examples of those who work the bare minimum, expect the maximum, and don't give a crap about anyone around them or the employer they're working for that ruin it. Unfortunately, that has become the sterotype of a union worker (UAW in particular). My good friend from high school told me how they used to sit in the breakroom for half the night and get payed for it at one of the local stamping plants. He's now just getting done with school and moving into a different career after the plant closed. We can point fingers at the execs, and they would deserve it, but there are plenty of reasons to hate the union mentality and tactics. I also work at a company that is non-union, but has many employees with that union "I'm entitled" mentality. Funny, when the economy tanked, a lot of those people (some who had been here 30 years) were let go (good riddance). There was a time and place for the unions, and we owe them for bringing workplace standards up, but that time has long since past.

Trust me, been there with that type. Another site I get on has a couple BMW and Harley fanboys, and you would think (and they would tell you) that they are the best bikes in the world. It's a total joke. I didn't get that vibe from you. Others have suggested KTM to me... I just hadn't looked into them yet, because of the price tag.

I followed a guy on the turnpike the other day with one of those giant union worker stickers on the back door of his beater minivan. I had to take a look to see if he fit the profile, so I passed him. Yeah... 350 lbs. with the seat reclined back to fit behind the wheel... there's your typical UAW member.

Hey, I don't care about the connection there... I appreciate the advice. As far as specs go, the 530 looks like everything I'm looking for in this type of bike: light weight, good suspension, displacement, 4 stroke, street legal, etc. It might be worth waiting a few years to get the right bike rather than compromise. I've looked at all the Japanese manufacturer's and they just don't make something like that (unless I'm willing to dual sport a 4 stroke motocross bike).

ouch! that would really suck. Just made me reconsider doing a track school day. I like my collar bone and bike in one piece.

oh man... just checked out the 530. You're right. That's EXACTLY what I want.

That's exactly what I'm looking to do with it... serious trails. I don't want something that is just good for open dirt paths... I want to do some real climbing and get air under the tires. You know, get a little wild. I'll look at the bikes you're talking about, but I doubt I'm going to have KTM money for a while.

This thread is starting to remind of this movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJXYrx0kEow&feature=related spider, bees, quicksand, strippers...

I guess I hadn't considered that. The bikes are so different (other than the ones with the Harley motors). The newer bikes were real sport bikes... the Rotax motors were worlds ahead of the Harley stuff. I think they really screwed up from a marketing standpoint. First of all, they needed to get some brand separation from Harley to attract riders like you and me. I have been into a Harley dealership 1 time, and that was enough for me. Also, why didn't they use the Porsche designed V-rod motor in a sport chassis? I can't get my head around that one. And, who really cares if they sell more Buells? The money is all going back to the same company. Or, are you saying that they sell the Harley branded models at a premium, and the margin wasn't as good on the Buells? I can't wait to see what Eric Buell does after his non-compete is finished. I hope he sticks it to them big time.

Thanks for the advice. I was looking into a DRZ-400E and doing a dual sport conversion to it. I want something that is barely street legal so I can get to the trails without trailering and being harassed by the cops.

Speed Triples suck. You'll be lucky to get half that for it! What an ugly bike.

I don't see how that would work. Harley is committed to making overpriced tractors, and Buell was becoming competitive in the supersport market. I still think it was more about ego than dollars and sense. They didn't want to see anyone succeed where they couldn't.

my thoughts exactly

nope, lol

oh... do tell