Shoop

Derek / Dustin / Jacob - Thanks for the feedback. I don't have any specific questions. I was mostly just interested in the difference between the new OH program versus the MSF program. Those sound like good changes, but apparently MSF has also done some updates. I went through the ERC in 2013 when I got back into riding after 25 years away from it. It was an excellent experience. Then I also took the ARC twice, actually one and a half times. Again, a great learning experience. I think I want to do this for the right reasons. I just want to help people get started in the safest manner, well safest given that they won't spend a few years off-road first. I figure that I have time since the kids are grown up and moved out. I enjoyed coaching rec league soccer for 17 years, during that break from motorcycling, so I know a bit about students with attitude. Also, I have a buddy in NJ who started coaching for MSF a few years ago. He's told me lots about it and would agree that the hard part is handling those that should not hit the streets or that need a lot more practice before getting there. Dustin - thanks for the suggestion that I should get another bike, but I'm up to three now, sport, sport-touring, and dual sport, and the wife isn't complaining yet - but I can see that condition from here. Chris

I'm starting the process to become an MSF trainer for the West Virginia program. Two years ago I attended the Advanced Riders Course in Marietta in the Ohio program. At the time and each Spring since then the Motorcycle Ohio program has sent mail and or emails to ask if I'd consider becoming an instructor. I live in WV and so I thought I'd ask folks in the WV program. Turns out they were interested and now I'm in the beginning of getting into the program. So, I'm asking for any insight that other instructors on here would care to share. Also, I heard in that 2017 ARC session that the MotorcycleOhio program was departing from the MSF approach to use a curriculum that was developed in some other state - WI, or maybe MT. Could somebody involved in the MotorcycleOhio program explain what is different in the new approach? Thanks, Chris

FINALLY got my WR450 to run properly. The problem that kept it starved for fuel for mid- to open throttle seems to have been the needle. Earlier I bought a rebuild kit and replaced everything except the needle. I thought it was better to keep the one that it came with because it had the adjustment slots at the top. The one in the kit does not have those slots. But because the symptoms sounded like the needle/main jet, I finally replaced the needle. Voila! Finally! So, tomorrow, if it stops raining for a bit, I'll be out looking for dirt roads.

I'll be there. If nobody else wants to do it, I'll lead or sweep for the slow group.

OUCH!!!

CONGRATS! 🎉

Weather forecasters are pessimists. Riders are optimists.

Yeah, every now and then I think I'm funny. Till the wife hears about it.

Gorgeous bike. Where were you a year ago? Then again, I ended up with a blue bike so I can make @JustinNck1 envious. But please explain... You drive a Honda S2000 and you whine about the modestly peaky power curve of the FJR? ::shakes head::

Hey David. Welcome to the forum! Lots of riders here, of many different types. Check back often and as the weather gets better you'll see small groups of NEO riders forming up to ride south. Usually there'll be one or two larger rides. Check out the pages under Events / Unofficial Epic Rides for past events. Please also consider the MSTA Motorcycle Sport Touring Assoc group. The group started as the Honda S.T.A. and was composed of guys riding V4's. But then they widened out to welcome all makes. Check out their page at http://ridemsta.com/srblog/ See the 2019 events listed under the "Let's Ride" button on the menu. MSTA rides are interesting. The organizers provide a numbers of suggested routes and the riders break into groups of 3-6, maybe 8 riders to keep it safe and less congested. The Cincy and Columbus sections have monthly meetings - a bit far to ride, but hey. Also we have a large regional ride in Marietta during the third week of August. I'm certain that you'd enjoy meeting the folks that show up. And, this year the large national meeting will be in Bristol VA in the third week of June. That should be a blast with a lot of great roads. Chris

Nivin, I wasn’t complaining about or feeling like your mention was an afterthought. The comment was meant to be about the “few” when, for that post, you only mentioned me. I guess I should have highlighted the word. Humor is or can be difficult in text. I haven’t been to the gap. 20 years ago I used to live in Kingsport, fairly near there. But I wasn’t riding then. I’m sure some people at the Bristol rally will swing thru the gap. But we’ll likely be visiting fav spots near Kingsport.

Hey Nivin! I’m honored to be one of your “few more folks” but sadly June is going to be too busy for me to make it on the weekend on/after 6/8. My younger son is getting married in PA the next weekend. Then the wife and I are going with the MSTA folks to the national rally in Bristol VA the last week of June. I’d be thrilled to visit VA TN NC twice in a month! But the wedding will have us hopping and will stress the wife more than a bit. So, just one MC trip that month 😀 Chris

I think, HOPE, that I finally fixed the carb in my new-to-me WR450. I've been trying different things most weekends since I bought it in December. Poor thing sat for most of two years without being ridden. It barely ran when I first got it. Ran a tank of fresh gas through it, but no change. Got better after I cleaned out the carb but from 1/4 to mid throttle it still had no power and stuttered. I had found the pilot jet had some fibrous stuff mostly clogging it. I drilled it out, then later replaced the jet. Small improvement. I'll skip the several steps and parts replaced that didn't work. This time I checked all of the circuits and found some of the same fibrous crap completely plugging the line from the pilot jet into the throat. Got it out with a wire. The bike started up fine. Idled great. But it's SNOWING now, dang it, and it's supposed to be below freezing till Friday.

I am NOT in the market for another bike, not even an orange one. https://www.ktm.com/us/events/us/ride-orange-street-demo-Columbus/ Location: AMA Headquarters in Pickerington May 17 & 18, demos run from 10-3:30. Likely bikes: 1290 Super Duke R 790 Duke 390 Duke 1290 Super Adventure 1090 Adventure R 790 Adventure 690 Enduro R Web magazine article: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2019/02/06/2019-ktm-ride-orange-street-demo-tour-nationwide-events-announced/

Neither did she!!! (Sorry - couldn't resist)

https://www.webbikeworld.com/ktm-announces-790-adventure-and-790-adventure-r-pricing/ For @smccrory I am not in the market for another bike. Chris

I was there from opening till a bit after noon. Around noon it started to get crowded. Before then it was great. The show continues to shrink. Ducati, BMW and several other brands were not there. A KTM dealer was there but not the corporate folks. Overall I thought it was well worth it, even with a 4 hr drive each way. @smccrory Here's a pic of KTM's new smaller adventure bike. I think it must be a 79.0 Adventure 😀 I asked a sales guy about the 790 Adv S. He said it was not yet available in the US and they didn't know when they would get one.

I and a group of 5 to 10 guys from Marietta and Parkersburg will be there early then leaving sometime around 2. We’ll be the grey bearded bow legged guys drooling over the Ducati girls. Wait, that’s 9 of every 10 guys at the show. We’ll be stopping for early dinner at the Brown Derby on Bagley st. Y’all are welcome to join us if that time is convenient for you. Chris

If he's going to 2016 he'll need a flux capacitor and 1.21 gigawatts! Oh, and ... "Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads."

Question 1: Nationality? Questions are not guesses, right?

Thanks Max. It's the stock Keihin FCR 39 mm. I'll just order a full set of of jets and check the needle settings when I'm in there to replace the jets. If/when you get your FJR you should check out the MSTA events (Motorcycle Sport Touring Assoc). There are a lot of spouses riding or on their own bikes. Mostly older guys that used to be fast - or think they were. The most local event is the week of Aug 19 (Mon-Sun) in Marietta. Usually have about 100 bikes show up. The larger national meeting is in Bristol VA this year the week of June 23-26 (Mon-Thurs). This event draws 200 bikes, sometimes 400. The Bristol event should be very well attended. Here's a link to their ride events. I think you need to be a member to post but you should be able to read the pages. http://www.ridemsta.com/mstaforums/index.php?board=13.0 Chris

Sorry to interrupt the comedy (love it). But I’m looking for suggestions on next fix attempt. Disassembled and cleaned the carb (scary lots of fiddly little parts. Found the pilot jet was partially blocked. Ended up drilling it out. Yes, I tried lots of other things first. Will order a new one tomorrow. So, reassembled it and had to change idle screw pretty far but got it to smooth out. But on the test ride it still misses badly when transitioning from low throttle to higher throttle. But goes ok if I bog it then give nearly full throttle. Also, the bike stumbles/misses if going constant 45 or 60. Seems to want to be on full throttle or off. Forgot to check the jet needle setting. That wasn’t in the YouTube instructions for a cleaning. 🤣 If it’s the jet needle it need to go richer, right?

It's all my neighbor's fault. He wanted somebody to ride with on gravel roads and trails so he nagged me about it. Well, maybe twice. Then he found a good deal on this mostly street legal bike that's just the right color. Thankfully I have long legs - this bike is tall! I had to put DOT tires on it, a license plate bracket w light, and mirrors - but it already had the rest of the required parts and was titled as a street vehicle. Next I just need to sort out a carb problem. The bike sat unused for 2 years. I think whichever jet handles the mid-range throttle position is messed up. And then the fun part will be remembering my dirt bike skills. It's been 40 years since I owned a dirt bike, 75 Yamaha DT400b. This one is a much more capable bike! Chris

Drum roll, please ...........

Congrats!