JackFlash

Thanks Derek. We talked about your helmet at your shop, one day when you were on your way out. You being pleased with it is what made me want to have a closer look at it, myself. I'm currently wearing an HJC CL-16. As a first helmet, I have no complaints about it. Eventually it will be time to replace it and I tend to upgrade when I have to replace things. My idea of an upgrade includes more air flow on warm days and less wind noise while riding. I know the two are often opposing features, but hopefully designers have worked this out. I also require a SNELL approved helmet, as their testing insures a quality far beyond what I trust in DOT only helmets due to the DOT allowing companies to test their own helmets, and not conducting follow up testing. To me, that's like allowing the fox to guard the hen house. The Shoei RF-1200 is at the very top of my list of helmets to consider. I find that the medium size fits me perfectly. Anyone else have experience with one? Give me your feedback here, if you do. . .

I'm always looking for my next gloves, boots, bike, and also, helmet. Do you have one of these? Shoei RF-1200. I would like to know how you like it and if it's better than your previous helmet. Noise rating? Air flow? Comfort? Feedback. Gimme feedback. Big thanks. .

I believe you can get a motorcycle only license in Ohio. But, not if you already have a driver's license. Then you get a motorcycle endorsement added to your driver's license. I don't think you have a choice in that. There is no second knowledge test. That's a one time thing for motorcycle. As for the skills test, do as has been suggested already. Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Beginning Riders Course, the BRC. It cost you $50 US if you take it through the state. Dealers will charge $200 or more. The $150 that you save can be spent towards proper riding gear which you need to have to keep your skin on your body if you go sliding on your belly down the roadway. Here. Click it. Read it. And don't text and ride. http://www.motorcycle.ohio.gov/

http://www.tmz.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-commits-suicide/

It seems that there is plenty of room for "walk-ins" at the last minute. Don't they register and pay on site, providing there are enough seats left? .

It is believed this head gasket problem has been resolved with the later Subaru. I'm still sold on the Outback. I much prefer an AWD as I drive 32 miles one way to work and need to make it there during snowy weather. .

UPDATE......... Got a call yesterday. They pulled a head. The gasket is bad. They are pulling the other head and sending them out to be milled or surfaced, or whatever term is used. They will be magnafluxed and all that. Problem. This is going to cost me more money. I can't find a way to pin this on any previous work that they have done. But, how is it that both head gaskets went at the same time. I got no indication of overheating. They found water in the converter from being sucked in, then blowing out the exhaust. I should have checked that they properly filled the radiator when they did the work the first time, but I didn't, so I can't say they didn't have enough coolant in the system. . . .

Going for a ride, and training are two different things. Don't worry a bit about holding people up by not being as quick as they are. Whenever there is a turn, someone will be there waiting for you so you don't get left behind. It's what we do. The amount of time that people wait for the back of the pack to catch up, gives the faster guys a chance to catch their breath, anyway. I only wish they would allow me to catch my breath, also, before they take off again. I used to feel the same way about holding people up. Not anymore. I'll teach them suckers to invite me along. They haven't learned yet. They have to wait a whole 30 seconds sometimes for me to show up. The waiting time goes very quickly, so it's nothing to be the least bit concerned about. Just come out and ride "your own ride." You are responsible for your own safety, so no need to ride beyond what limits you wish to set for yourself. No need at all, unless you want to push the threshold a bit. Most of us do, I think. I like to keep my limits in expansion mode, but that's just me. C'mon out and you'll enjoy yourself, fast, slow, or medium, it doesn't matter a bit. As for training, a big parking lot, some friends, an empty road, an early Sunday morning, a book of advanced riding techniques, and just a bit of adventure, that all goes a long way when you want to expand your skills. .

It's working for me on Mozilla. Hmmmm........ .

Engrave what you want with a small handheld router. Then blacken the letters with a torch. Sand off any burned places outside of the letters. Stain it, and clearcoat over that. Just an idea. .

Hillbilly Hotdogs is a motorcycle destination. On a pleasant Saturday, there will be bikes coming from both directions. They will line up across the road and as fast as one group leaves, another group shows up. BUT, since i grew up in Huntington, I know where the best hotdogs are. Since 1932, Stewarts Hotdogs have been business at their 5th Avenue location. So, if you really want to try my favorite hotdogs, try Stewarts. You can't get them anywhere but Huntington, and I miss them. I even made a road trip one weekend from Columbus, just to savor that taste that I missed so much. Believe me, they are worth a try. http://stewartshotdogs.com/ .

Today was my first day back to work after a two week vacation, and seeing how the shop is closer to work than to home, I waited until today to stop in after work and check on the car. We did the "air into the cylinder" test. I personally heard gurgling when I had my ear up to the radiator opening. So, that means head gaskets on both banks. So, the motor must come out. Thanks to Bad Train Driver for the link. I emailed it to the shop and they were impressed. We all learned something. Thanks to everyone else, especially Sam, as well. All ideas are good places to start. I feared head gaskets may be an issue, but of course hoped it wasn't the case. I'll know more next week. So far, I'm lead to believe that everything is still covered by warranty. I sure hope so, as I don't have a lot of cash to throw around. I'm a po' boy just lucky enough to be able to afford a motorcycle, let alone any major vehicle repairs. I'll post more as it comes. .

The center stand keeps me from leaking gasoline onto the ground after a fill up in hot weather. .

Yeah, I was just wondering if it helped to burn fuel more efficiently by preventing heat loss near the combustion chambers, thus used as a performance enhancer. Okay, thanks. .

By checking out their website, I'm getting the impression that you can use the paint of your choice over top of it. Here are their products. Click on the one you are using and I think you will find your plan to be a good one. http://www.kilz.com/primer/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=c05f90033f9ff110VgnVCM1000008a05d103RCRD Or, tomorrow when you are doing nothing, buzz them up. For Technical Service: 1-866-977-3711 techservice@masterchem.com .

Does header wrap tape do anything for performance? Does it retain heat that is beneficial to performance, or is it primarily for appearance? .

I fueled up on a hot day and parked the bike on the side stand before I went into the store. I was in there for about five minutes and when I came out I had a puddle of fuel under the bike. It was dripping from a hose just like that one. If I spill fuel between the tank opening and the outer metal shell, it comes out there. Of course now, when I fill up I always put the bike on the center stand when I park, until I've used up some of the gas. .

Now that.....is a dream ride. .

I did the ARC yesterday, in Columbus. The Marietta classes seem to be the final two ARC's in Ohio, for this year. Washington State Community College 710 Colegate Drive Marietta OH, 45750 There are 11 seats left for this one. 8/9/2014 - 8/9/2014 Saturday(8/9) 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM And 12 seats left for this one. 9/6/2014 - 9/6/2014 Saturday(9/6) 07:00 AM - 04:00 PM For $50 it's a day well spent. There are maneuvers we may find necessary to execute in a split second, in order to save our hide, and our bike. We take the BRC, and then years go by without practicing how to react in emergency situations. We age, our reaction time slows down, and we lose skills we have not practiced. The ARC is a chance to regain some skills, and give you things to practice on your own, that may one day save your life, and that of your pretty little side kick, snuggled all up close behind you, when you are rounding that blind curve, and suddenly find a deer standing in the middle of the road. .

Word. .

I was hoping that the difference in fit would be from the padding continuing to adjust to my head shape. I can move it around on my head just a bit more than when I first bought it plus, now it is more comfortable. Do you wear the same helmet on the street as you do on the track? I want to ride comfortably, so I do want some comfort features. .

Sounds good, Nivin. I'd like to hear it up close to the red line. It sounds like it wants to give so much more than what those roads will allow. .

My next helmet as of today will cost $626.99. Based on a limit of seven good riding months in our part of the country, it breaks down to around $17.91 per month, over a five year period. I will probably actually wear the helmet longer than that, considering the price because I think it's partly marketing that tells us to buy a new one every five years. But, if I break it down to what it cost me each time I go for a ride, it's not much money to protect my priceless skull. I know it's a big price to pay, all at one time, but if you stretch it out over the time you expect to use it, it helps us to justify the expense. It's like adding a buck or two to a gallon of gas. If gas was five-fifty USD, we would still ride. Maybe we would ride even more, and drive our cars even less. The more you ride, the less expensive the helmet becomes per ride. .

I also was surprised how much they are asking for those Flying Scots. Sounds like a good plan you have. Write a book about your adventures around the globe and I'll buy it. I've read a lot about circumnavigation. It fascinates me. I'd like to give it a go but it would have to be on someone else's boat. It's doubtful I'll ever have a blue water boat unless I move to the coast. Though, Ft. Lauderdale has whispered my name a time or two. Agreed. Fresh water boats will not have the wear that a salty boat will have. .

Nothing yet. I'll know more, Monday and update then. Thanks for asking, Sam. .