CBBaron

Because noisemakers and pepper spray are better? I'd rather have an airhorn blaring while being maced than shot with a .22.

But which is more likely to drive off the bear.

Pepper spray and air horn is a bluff, a 22 is probably just annoying.

My guess is 95%+ of the encounters would be easily solved with an air horn and bear spray. Probably most with just an air horn. For the last few percent you are going to want a BIG gun.

For a country where most of it you would want to carry a gun for protection from wild life Canada sure does have restrictive gun laws.

Craig

Regarding your example of Kentucky's hypothetical lack of education concerning CCW... We have reciprocity with Alaska' date=' and they don't require a permit to carry concealed.[/quote']

We have reciprocity with Alaska for Alaskan permit holders. To get a permit in Alaska requires training similar to that in Ohio. So the argument is not valid.

However Alaska does not require its residents to get a permit in order to carry.

Craig

http://www.gizmag.com/ktm-freeride-e-electric-motorcycle-specs/20482/

Competitor to Zero definitely.

Bad news I'm not sure about. It kind of validates the product. And may actually increase sales. But Zero will have to stay ahead of a bigger name like KTM in technology to compete.

Ofcourse this only targets 1 of the several models that Zero sells. And several of those I doubt that KTM would target. It might just push Zero into a different niche.

I think its great to see more competition in the market. One of the Zero XU models looks like a pretty cool commuter.

Craig

First off welcome to Ohio Riders. I'd like to get a lab but my apartment has a weight limit of 40 pounds so I don't really know what dogs fall into that category. But I'm sure I can slide by somehow on that one. Looking for a pup like 4 months at least.

That be nice but I do live in an apartment

Well Labs are about twice that limit and if you get a young animal from a shelter it may be hard to ensure they will not exceed that limit as an adult.

However Labs are the most common breed and black dogs are the hardest to place so finding a good black lab at a shelter should be easy. Plus black labs make great pets.

Good luck. I hope to be looking for one myself soon. Just need a little more work convincing the wife

Craig

shoulda traded me him

So I could have been further behind

Craig

Yep, took my daughter to vote with me this morning before work.

Voting takes effort, and more than just going to the polls. Voting without knowing about the issues or candidates accomplishes nothing.

Abstaining from voting only results in giving more power to those who do vote. If you truly don't care then don't vote. But if you have an opinion then you should make the best effort to influence the politics and voting is one concrete way to do that.

Craig

Well Mccoy didn't come through for me last night. I needed both him and Maclin to have big games and both were below projected.

Atleast I can feel that I didn't leave much on the bench. There wasn't enough difference on the bench to change the outcome.

Craig

Reason #5: At Some Point, You Might Want to Trade Up

Harley's have resale value!

Used to have a point there. Still probably true mostly because Harleys never change and sportbike technology improves much more rapidly.

Reason #4: A World of Infinite Possibilities

You can make them your own--Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the most customizable bike in the world.

HDs are the best selling bikes and its mostly about the image. So there is a large amount of image based aftermarket for the bikes. Plus the bikes never change so there are going to be more choices available than for any sportbike model.

But its not hard to customize a sportbike either. Lots of performance goodies and the plastic this article hates on provides a nice canvas if you wish to be more artistic

Reason #3: So Where Exactly is That Fire?

Harley riders are in relaxed positions, so we can enjoy cruising in style. We know life isn't a race.

Matter of opinion. Neither is very comfortable to me which is why I ride a standard.

Reason #2: The Sound and the Fury

The rumble of the American-made motor, glowing paint, mirrored chrome and lack of plastic make for a motorcycle that commands respect and admiration.

Matter of opinion. I hate loud bikes of either persuasion.

Reason #1: You Had to See This One Coming...

Now, it's not like I'm writing up the recipe for cold fusion. The number one reason Harleys are better than crotch rockets should be obvious.

Must be different where this person is from. The average HD rider I see is old and overweight. The women are similar. Rockets are much more popular with the teenagers and twenty somethings and the women on the back are the same.

Sorry I think this is a big fail. Though I agree about the tiny hard seats sportbikes have.

Craig

thats how its been the entire season in my other league. I actually have a better team in that league yet I'm in 7th place because I've had 4 losses where the team I played put up 120+ points and edged me out

PS accept my trade!

lol

Sorry didn't notice the trade offer. I'm not used to this fantasy management yet. However wouldn't matter because McCoy has been too good to me

Thanks but no thanks.

Craig

Damn ryan matthews....lost by 4 points this week...this league is one of 4 im on so im not putting too much attention into it.

yep got me 9.2. Well below projected but enough to get me the win.

I think you want to say damn McCoy. Hes the one who got 32

The defense did quite alright too.

Craig

and I've reclaimed my rightful spot atop the standings after 8 weeks

And I'm right behind you

You've got a crazy points for though, it does not look likely I will catch that.

I there has been atleast 2 matches I have won against the second highest scoring team that week. I kinda feel sorry for a manager like that, who would have beat any one else.

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naa

Craig

I rode to work today.

I rode (the bicycle) to work today

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Yesterday I rode the motorcycle

You all down here don't even know what winter really is. 'Cept maybe those up near the lake.

Down here, 10" of snow and its a major catastrophe and everything shuts down. LOL. The school down here has used up most of their weather days before Christmas! Crazy....

That lake effect can be a real killer.

Chardon just 30 miles east of Cleveland averages almost twice the snow fall as the city. And this is in (nearly) flat lands

But I don't really mind the BIG snows. Its the nearly daily little snows that annoy. The road crews throw down tons of salt foe each snow, resulting in salty slush with every snow fall. Which means vehicles are constantly bathed in corrosive liquid. Modern cars last about 10 years before rust through, most other vehicles (like motorcycles and bicycles) last much less.

Wish we had dry cold winters. Then I could ride much more in the winter.

Craig

So ive been lurking craigslist, cycle trader, etc etc and have NOT been able to find much out there for used super tenere or the v storm 1000. The 650 looks great, but id like a bigger bike for a long ride

You should be able to find some Vstrom 1000s on the market. They were made between 2002 and 2009. However I don't think they sold in the quantities that the DL650 sold. The Super Tenere was just delivered to the first US customer about a month ago and those customers had to pre order the bike last winter. Not going to be many available and non for much under MSRP.

However I don't understand the "need" for a bigger bike. Body and frame the DL1000 and DL650 are nearly identical. And the DL650 has plenty of power.

Craig

Don't forget that people faced with hi-beams will often respond with hi-beams. Usually a quick reminder flash or two, followed by a "If I go down I'm taking you with me" retina-burning war.

Don't you hate it when you flash at someone's hi-beams, only to have the respond by ACTUALLY turning on their hi-beams for a second. "Then adjust your lo-beams, y'schmuck!"

Not to mention that the Vstrom head lights are considerably better than most. I've seen many bikes where the high beam would be barely noticed by oncoming traffic. But the Vstrom lights are the same twin head lights used in most autos. Annoys and distracts other drivers too much.

Craig

Or house keys, or other stuff? I like to keep my wallet ON ME when I ride, and not under the seat or anything, just in case, y'know?

Ninja edit: I wear a tight leather jacket, not a roomy textile, so jacket pocket won't really work for wallet, btw.

I wear one of those "adventure" jackets. The problem is remembering which pocket each item is in

Lets see 2 lower, 2 upper pockets on the outside front. A key pocket in the sleeve. 3 vest pockets on the inside and a rear pocket, that I never use. Might be 1 or 2 other small pockets I forgot.

Sounds like you need a new jacket

Craig

BMW1200GSA seems to be the premium model for this type of ride (though I would hardly call it light )

Other models that are more than capable.

Vstrom (650 and 1000)

BMW F800GS

Triumph Tiger 800XC

Yamaha Super Tenere

KTM 990

There are a few others that are more road oriented with 17" wheels on the front.

I went for the Vstrom as they are available at prices far less than the other on the list and it is nearly as capable and atleast as reliable as any of the above.

However all of the other models have better suspension, more power, and are in general more sophisticated.

Craig

I have seen one or 2 around. The 250r is still a better more versatile bike and can be had for sub 3k.

Why do you say the Ninja 250R is better and more versatile? I agree that there are many good used models on the market for under $3k but I don't see what is obviously better about the Ninja.

BTW I owned an `06 250R. It was a great bike and I liked it. But if I was buying new I would probably go for the Honda.

Craig

Just the same as when they ditched floppy drives and ps/2 ports to go all USB/Firewire. The PC folks bitched and bitched (even though they hate Apples and it didn't affect them). Sure enough, PCs don't have ps/2 ports nor floppy drives anymore, but always come with USB and Firewire ports.

OK Ill give you USB has replaced PS/2, serial and Parallel ports. However I don't think firewire is on many computers expect Sony and Apple. Doesn't appear that firewire is required for any thing and is not used for much.

Craig

Yep they expire.

I thought it was 30 days but it may be 60 or 90.

In any case you will now have to either retake the course or schedule a test with the BMV.

Craig

The GUI, Mouse, etc... Touchscreen phone...

Sorry but he was not the first to envision or invent these products.

Though I could argue Apple products were the first to make really effective use of all of these.

RIP Steve Jobs

Haven't I said that the future will see wars over fresh water?

There always has been wars over water.

Oil, food, fresh water and fish. Those supplies will all peak in our lifetimes.

Four crucial resources that may run out in your lifetime

Completely unrelated to the article.

The islands get all of their fresh water from rain fall collected off of building on the islands. They have had a very long drought and even with very limited water use they will run out of fresh water in days.

Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) ran out of water once a year.

They turned it off every other day.

Quite a pain in the butt.

I think they built a larger reservoir and a desalination plant.

This is relevant as a larger reservoir and/or desalination plant would help but the size and income of the islands probably prevents major investment. Cheaper to provide short term relief and minor improvements to help in future crisises, or just abandon the smaller islands.

Craig

Apparently foremost doesn't differentiate between a YZF600R and a YZF-R6. I was told instead of listing as a YZF-R6 it'll now be listed as YZF-600-R and the rate is exactly the same.

Time to shop around.

It seems rates will vary wildly between different carriers. This is true for home and auto insurance also.

I'm sure you can get much better, especially if you do liability only. I figure one the value of my vehicle drops much below $5k it doesn't take much damage to total it. And if they total a low value vehicle then you don't get much funds to replace it either.

Plus I can live without my motorcycle for a while if I have to save up to replace it. Just my reasoning.

Craig

The first try was the "whoops, quick pick it up!"

The second try was the "Gosh, that's heavy."

The third try was the "Yut Uhhhhh!"

I don't have big muscles!

Did the same when I dropped mine.

Jumped off and tried to quickly pick it back up. Realized that a Vstrom was not easy to pick up by the handlebars. Stopped took a breath and used my leg muscles and it went up easy.

Craig

I havn't had many opportunities to ride with others (and I missed this one damit).

However for a new rider I found reading the book "Proficient Motorcycling" very helpful. I really found myself using many of the techniques in the book and using the information learned to help ride more smoothly.

That and actually riding curvy roads. Kinda hard to do around Cleveland but one trip down to Marietta and back made a huge difference.

Hearing about the fuel stops makes me appreciate my Vstrom. On that 450 mile ride to Marietta and back I only stopped for fuel once. Granted I don't ride really hard but I still got about 230 miles before the fuel warning light went on. That and there is no stress on the shoulder/arms as you sit much more upright on that bike. Ofcourse the downsides are it is tall and heavy compared to a supersport and has much less power.

Craig