Revelstoker

North, Middle and south CA are drastically different in their tolerances. Eliminate LA and San Diego and the whole rest of that state is quite amazing. Tahoe is my favorite place in the lower 48. Yosemite, Redwoods and Mt. Shasta area are not too shabby either.

Barber worth it, Is this a joke or real? Ok, I will bite. Yes it is worth it. I have been down there the last 2 or 3 years in March. Weather has always been great (knock on wood) but the track does tend to weep in a couple corners (water comes up in the middle of the track). First couple sessions can be a little cool but it warms up nice by noon. If you enjoy riding Mid-West tracks, I advise you not to go.

I have to check dates as I was thinking about Deals Gap that weekend. But a chance to run Mid-O on a weekend might be too good to pass up.

Autobahn, Blackhawk and Road America too far away to add? +1 on the Indy/Commo days. That Mid-ohio on a Sunday looks like a winner. I am going to have to look into that one.

@ 6'2", I thought it was really low so you should be fine.

I'm in.

Sweet ride, love to have one. But, given the dealer situation and what the bike is, I would take a Triumph first.

Yea, what he said. But, if I had to leave my bike out to the elements, I would buy one of the covers that are more like a bag. Even tied down, all kinds of crap blows up under the cover and animals like to hide out in pipes and air intakes. Just make sure it breathes to let condensation out but something like this is what I would do: http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?id=1384&cid=5

I started up 3 here in the drive way. Wife's scooter wouldn't start and that would have made 4. Kids reved up their Razor electric pocket bike. Big help there but they had fun. Took the Ducati track bike out for a parade lap afterwords. Sorry, no Honda in the stable at this time.

Since your asking, buy one already built. From what I have gathered, the guys that build up bikes know exactly what they want, what they want it to do and what they are going to do with it. Dropping $5-$10k in mods is well within the realm of possibility, even with the ones that you have, if you are so inclined. Either one of your bikes would make a fine track bike just as they are now. Maybe pop for a suspension tuning if you haven't already done so. You will have to take the glycol out and put in Water Wetter or something similar (once you get out of novice). So, swapping between track and street could become a pita if you want to change the coolant every time. Stock plastics are expensive, so get those gone and put on some track skinz. Of course, you will have to get them painted. Since you have two sport bikes now. My guess, the biggest issue is dedicating one to track and not worrying about making it streetable again. If you can't do that, I would suggest picking up an already prepped track bike and riding it without the emotional attachment. Great time to find trackbikes. Take your time and find a good one that is in your budget. Ride it, and sell it in a year or two. By then, you will have a really clear picture of what you want and what you want to do with it.

Don't rule out a Ducati 750, 800 or 900ss. Displacement is bigger but the bikes are air-cooled. Handle really well, most can be bought for under $3k and won't rev into the stratosphere like a 600. 750ss might be a good choice.

STT has an event on 11/26-27. Any takers?

I am with you on this one. As soon as Rossi's bike knocked Marco's hat off, I assumed he was gone. I can't imagine the amount of force or what it would take to rip a helmet off like that so I went out to the garage, strapped mine on and tried to give it a tug. My pure guess is that his neck was broken. Quick, no pain, gone.

I have been to a few STT events where Jake has been in attendance. I wish I could say I was on the track with a future WSBK/MotoGP rider but he was punishing all the A riders.

Well, if they let Xaus on it, the bike will be thoroughly crash tested.

Here he is, I saw him riding the other day. Not really but this one seems appra-po!

I was momentarily distracted earlier. I remember when I bought my 2003 HD that it ran very hot. Thankfully I was in Portland in early fall and the temps outside helped keep the heat at bay. I took it back to the dealer at the break-in service and was told the bikes are set quite lean. I put the Stage 1 kit on, new pipes and a map and the heat was no longer an issue. I ran into a lady from Canada this summer. She had a brand new Heritage and she was miserable with the heat off the bike. I recommended that she look into the Stage 1 and leaning it out as she was not having any fun in the near 100 degree temps on her ride out to Sturgis from Toronto.

Should have stopped right there. "YOU" being the operative word. Manufactures should not be responsibility for user error. Individuals have free choice to buy the chain saw with protection or not. No one forced the user to buy that chainsaw and no one forced the customer to go to Mc Donalds, use the drive thru, put the cup in her crotch and spill it. Shit happens and it isn't always good. I could understand if the drive thru attendent did the spilling but that is not the case. If we were to believe your liberal, nanny state argument - every single person injured in a motorcycle accident can now sue the manufacturer because BMW put ABS, traction control, anti-wheelie, shift assist, hand warmers on its motorcycle and others did not? Now, if your Toyota and Audi running some Microsoft software that controls the operation of the vehicle and it geeks out, causing you to hit a bus load of McDonalds coffee drinking kindergartners - then file all the suits you want and I won't complain. But this country needs to stop legalizing/protecting stupid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_u47bPVeVc&feature=player_embedded Per chance, anyone there and know what happened to cause him to take flight? I can't imagine he squeezed it that hard for T1 but maybe he did????

STT is at Putnam Sat and Sun. I am doing the Indy/Commo day on Monday 29th. Anyone riding/CR on Monday?

Technically, your ass does not leave the seat so you have nothing to fear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx-E4Bj9lQQ&feature=related

Thanks, will do. I am headed over solo and will be riding a ratty '01, ex Penguin Racing 944ss school bike. If you are CRing for Novice, I think it is time for a tow/follow and see if I can get up to "I".

I just signed up for Novice today. Anyone else going?

The bumper is not chrome. It is the same color as the body.