smccrory

Tonic, ahem, I'm going to have to agree with Magley on this one... Voter ID is like redistricting - everybody SAYS they want fairness, but nobody seems to want to agree to the specific rules until they've analyzed how it'll likely affect ballot results.

I completely agree. To some, cheap is $100-200 and that's just way too low unless you're robbing a motivated private seller. Even a $350-450 G&L is an excellent starter or even 2nd guitar. A Mexican Strat can be found in that range sometimes too. I loved my '72 reissue mex strat tele.

I rode about 90 minutes tonight and got some time in light rain. Not enough to wash the bugs off though.

Do NOT go cheap - worst thing a new guitarist can do. And don't buy anything you haven't handled. Bring someone experienced too, if you can. I can speak highly for G&L Tribute electric guitars for what it's worth. You see them on CL periodically and if they're not abused, they are a fantastic value for the money. Korea makes good stuff. (This from an owner of an American Custom Shop Fender Stratocaster)

Oh sure, ban ME for doing that!

Only wealthy white sharecroppers should be mailed ballots. The "people" will just get confuzled and run this country into the ground.

I'll be too busy working.

Poor little dude!

Just note that most people don't keep a 50cc dirt bike for very long - usually a year max. You might want to find one used to save a little money.

Good call - and already have it (forgot to mention). It did indeed help!

Or do this... http://www.stuffonbikes.com/?tag=tires

An update - I'm at 850 miles now and I LOVE the bike - thank you Pokey, Tpoppa, LINK and others for the advice! The 600 mile maintenance was a breeze - just oil, filter, some bolt tightening, chain lube and that was pretty much it. I kept full records and pictures of course. I bumped into Pokey at a BP on my way out for a ride today - he was on the way in, and it was sincerely great to connect in person. Love the color of his '1000, and that Corbin seat is enviable. I'm really looking forward to a Romney WV ride on the 2nd - it'll be one of the peak highlights of the year. Man, the 650's engine is silky smooth, along with the clutch and gearing, I'm impressed with that fact every time I ride her. I'm still dumbfounded by how much pep it has for a 650 - more than enough for me, and its suspension is a big improvement over my previous bikes. Last weekend I enjoyed the heck out of it for a 5-hour ride with Hutch and his friends, and while I couldn't come close to keeping up with him, it was because of me and not the bike. How can an ADV also be sporty? Somehow this one is. The Strom is heavy when stationary, but she's still much lighter than my old CB700SC (sold to a friend today - yay!). The bike's height also intimidated me at first but I'm getting used to it, and I rather like being at the same eye level as SUV drivers. I've found that wiggling around in the seat is a fun way to dodge potholes. I feel like I can throw the bike around like a pair of skis at Seven Springs. Alas, I've been farkling. Oh yes, farkling. ROX 2" riders set at a 45* angle (perfect for my neck), foam grip slips, Givi engine guards, Cree 10w LED lights where the fork side reflectors used to be (and wired into the aux connector using an Eastern Beaver kit), a cigar/USB power adapter and iPhone mount, mirror extenders, Givi V35 panniers and another Eastern Beaver lighting kit for my Givi E450 top box. Oh, I also added a $12 Throttle Rocker today - adjusted to the right angle, it stayed out of the way at low speeds while letting me use my palm to maintain speed while flexing my fingers! I haven't added an after-market seat yet, and I hope I don't rue the decision before longer rides. So far I've been pretty comfortable with the stock seat for up to 5 hours as long as I move around a bit and perch up on my feet to get the blood moving once in a while. The only negatives I'd give the bike are that it blows around in the wind - something I've gotten used to but it was a little spooky at first. It's top-heavy in the garage. Engine back-pressure is significant, so you need to slip the clutch at low speeds (not a bad thing to get used to for dirt riding though). It's hard to get off of - I mentioned this to Pokey and it's true - once you're in the zone and connected with the Strom, you GET it. If you're a gun fan, it's like a well-configured AR or Beretta 92 - not the prettiest girl at the dance, but wow, once you dance with her, she's smiles in a way you didn't think you'd respond to, and it's a shame to stop dancing. Yea, it actually it a lot like that! OK, enough Old Fashioned for me because I'm anthropormorphizing again. In any case, thanks again gents - great advice. - Scott

Indeed, excellent!

Sorry to hear! Let's keep things loose until we get to May and then solidify a meeting place, etc. And hop back in if work changes.

So, innovation is back at Microsoft! Those crazy northwest-coasters.

Now that I look at the satellite view, I've been to the Gender Road exit and think Winchester Shopping Center could be an even better place to meet.

The reason why I didn't propose it earlier, max power :-), is last year we had a dozen or more riders meet up at IP and ride in one group down 270 to 33. Groups of more than a dozen are a little different logistically than just the handful who have chimed in so far, but I'm going on the assumption that it could get that big again this year. If it does, meeting at IP and then stopping as a large group at Gender Road is possible, but breaks the cadence and probably pushes times up 30 minutes. It also requires enough pavement to hold a dozen or more bikes with simple ins and outs on Gender Road, and if that's already there, then cool - I just don't live close enough to easily check. I'm honestly cool with it either way and will meet up wherever everyone else wants to meet - I was thinking about how relatively easy IP was last year to depart from. In either case it's going to be a good time.

I'm ok with that.

How dare you be offended! Casper....!

Agreed. Agreed. Agreed.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/txc2ljlwltu24cc/Screenshot%202014-03-31%2021.00.25.jpg (image embedding doesn't work with this Dropbox share for some reason)

Hey Tim, what route did we take, more-or-less?

That just confirmed everything I feared about Canadian Mounties with water winged horses. <shiver> Next thing, they'll be tak'n ur jahbs!

Ditto Hutch! Man, you are totally rocking that Honda. You smoked me in very single turn out there - the only advantage I had was straight-line acceleration and top speed. Great job being a lead too - the route was fun and completely new to me. It was great to meet the other guys too - tell them thanks for the warm welcome. I'll have video ready in the next day or few.

Lotta boating accidents going around - lol.