mello dude

Before they built the Harley mega store up the road -- it was in 2 small buildings really close in that area on Dixie. Half Harley and half Yama/Suz/Kawi....some others too.

^^^ Is that a new shop? Or just part of the old Harley dealer?

I'll give you 2 more to think about. One of the most dangerous situations is when people are turning left - either dont see you coming into the intersection or dont see you coming throught their blind spot. Here's my one major effe up -- I was turning left in a major intersection - 2 lanes each way plus turn lanes. I got thru my turn into the left lane and seeing a clear shot and no traffic ahead, I whacked the throttle wide open. Just at that moment a pickup truck in the right lane, abruptly turns into the left lane and I smacked the left front fender of the truck and did a somersault over the hood. I was ATGATT, so I ended up with just a few bruises, I was fine. --- So what happened? Well the truck driver was cited but in reality it was my dumbass fool for zipping passed his blindspot. If I was just a bit more aware and carefull, I could have avoided a totaled bike. -- Watch for slow pickup trucks and know what they are doing before you make a move. Story 2. -- My buddy and I were headed for the dragon and moving south on the Tenessee 129 side at about a 60ish clip. My buddy Dean is in the lead on his ZX6R and me on the viffer. We come up on a slow pick up truck maybe doing 20. Dean being the impatient fool decides he's gonna whack the throttle and pass the truck on the left. (Its a 2 lane state route) Well I've seen this video before. I remember yelling in my helmut, no Dean no!. Truck turns left, Dean smacks rear quarter panel. Dean goes to hospital, bike totaled. -- So what happened? Dean to this day still blames the truck driver, yeah there wasnt a signal. But if Dean had just taken a moment and asked "what is this guy doing?" - We would have been able to hit the dragon happiliy for a good day. Instead I got to check Dean in the hospital, babysit his wrecked bike to a dealer. And never did hit Dragon. Dean was saying "you should go.." - but I had this ever repeating slow motion video in my head of Dean smacking that truck. Like I'm gonna go burn twists with that bouncing around in my head. Trip hosed. -- Watch for slow pickup trucks and know what they are doing before you make a move.

A while back, California gave Honda a lot of crap about some VOCs or something close in the Honda Polish that was being sold. CA threatened a ban if Honda didnt change the formula. Being a super popular product, Honda didnt want that, so they came up with a new formula and then sourced it to a new manufacturer, and pull the plug on the people in Marietta Georgia who make the original formula Honda polish stuff. So what doe the Marietta group do? Stick thier own label on it of course. "Original" Spray Cleaner and Polish. I tryed the "new" Honda stuff when it came out and didnt like it as much. The "Original"? Same as the 1st formula Honda Polish, because the same people have been making it since the beginning. Same cleaning power, same shine, same smell, because it is the same. Current Honda Polish, NO! ---- Original Polish, YES!

^^^^^^ Honda Polish is now Original bike polish - any bike shop has it. http://www.originalbikespirits.com/SprayCleaner_Polish/

^^^^ Go to a big parking lot or empty backroad and practice your "oh shit" braking moments.

Havent taken the MSF course? Do it!

The bike guy kicked her car first.

Thanks for the tip..

I've watched around a thousand I would guess. Yes, loud, loud. Its essentially rocket fuel powered and set off in a controlled explosion. We would video the deployments set up in a test stand with ultra high speed cameras. A lot of focus is on how the bag comes out and "presents" itself to the poor occupant, who is about to get the crap knocked outta them. -- Its better than dying though. It was a great job.

I developed airbags for a living a while back. Hand, wrist, and finger injuries are super common on deployment. -- You dont want to be honking the horn in the event of a crash...... that would be very nasty.

Oil? Mobil 1 or Amsoil Filter? Pic from chart link http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/FilterXRef.html

I learned to ride on dirt bikes and some motocross. By the time I decided to go to a street bike, I already had some skillz. 3 hot items of advise. 1. Ride like you are invisible to all other people on the road. (They dont see you, but you see them. 2. Always -- look where you want to go. (If you see trouble, dont look at it, look to the way out, you will instinctively steer that way. 3. Practice, Practice, Practice. - Youve heard of atheletes doing reps. Why do they do this? So, when situations come up, the correct action is automatic. The more you practice, more you wont have to think what to do, you will react correctly, safely. Good luck, grasshopper.

I would be freaked! I occasionally dream something that happens to me a month or two later and I get that deja vu feeling, then remember that I dreamed it.

Guy lives under a rock....

NADA is $2600 for average condition - that one is excellent. http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/2000/Honda/VF750C2Y-MAGNA-748cc/Standard-Equipment It's the same base engine that's in my VFR - They go 100k miles no sweat. I rode a magna for a test for a buddy - its pretty sweet. - -Buy it. More - Blue Book - excellent condition $3100 dead nuts - yes - buy it. http://www.kbb.com/motorcycle/retail/2000/honda/vf750c2-magna-deluxe/69876/

Favorite quote of the story --" But the most intriguing aspect of all of this may be the flat out hatred these schools have for one another. " Damn straight! Luv college b-ball!

Decide if you are looking to go on a trip or just want to cruise local backroads. For trips go for a bike sport tourer - FJ1300, ST1100/1300 - For local cruising there is a ton of options. I have a Valkyrie, I like it cause its kinda weird and out of the mainstream, 6 cylinders and will haul ass when you crank it. Ive had it since new and still like it. If you found one it would be around 5k.

Sweet ride! Got any more pics?

Check over at VFRD.com - VFRDiscussion.com- a good viffer forum. There's usually plenty of stuff for sale or trade. New kit http://www.spieglerusa.com/controls/handlebar-conversion.html

Harbour Freight sells one for about 10 bucks. Other places to get one are Radio Shack, Sears, just about any auto parts store, mbe even Walmart. Or if you have a buddy that has one, it only takes 30 seconds to check it and get a reading. If you dont want to do that, you'll probly end up taking it to somebody. Maybe even Hoblick could look at it. -Ditto on the alterator, you have a stator.

^^^ Ditto - do a voltage at the battery with a multimeter, at idle it should be in the 13s and then 5000 rpm it should be in the 14s. Your battery needs to be fully charged first for this test. A bad battery will screw up the readings.

Tried twice - no go