Doc1647545523

Don't be too sure about that, Boy Drifter. I just might bring out the Lotus and show you how to drive in the snow.

Prolly not. Now that people know me they'd go to great lengths to keep me out

You get sick of the smell of those pine tree air fresheners. Find one in every car. You'll see.

:nopics: Unsolicited advice: Read the instructions in the stickies and follow them, elsewise, this is not going to be productive or pleasant for you.

You're right about that, at least the dry clutch Ducs are noisy as hell. But they're a lot more dependable than people think. Mine's a 2005 999 that I've put 26k miles on, and it's taken me wherever I wanted to go. I wouldn't be afraid of the Buell 1125R, either; it does a lot of things well. Maintenance is going to be simpler than with a desmo valve Ducati, and it's just as "exclusive" if that's something you're going for. I'd highly recommend riding the bikes you're interested in before buying anything. For me, it's more about how the bike fits me and feels to me than it is about performance stats or image. Most modern bikes have more performance potential than their riders have skill. But the bike you end up loving is the one that communicates well and gets you in the groove. It seems to have its own "soul." And after a thousand commutes or a thousand miles, it still makes you laugh out loud inside your helmet. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/999.jpg On the Blue Ridge Parkway with my triple niner

Couldn't possibly be Paul; the words are spelled correctly and the sentences all make sense.

I've been dealing with Iron Pony for thirty years. They were just a small shop when they started (very close to where they are located now), but I've always known them to be ethical and customer-oriented. I think of that as an achievement, considering what the motorcycle world has been through during the last 3 decades and considering the growth their business has sustained. I think we're lucky to have a store with their selection and volume so close to us. I don't buy all my cycle gear there, but I always hit their end-of-season markdowns--I've never seen those prices beaten anywhere. I hope this is a good business move for them. They bring a lot to the party. I think it takes balls to invest a lot of money in a retail motorcycle venture right now, but I feel that any shop they buy is bound to improve under their management.

The plan that's always worked best for me? Carpe diem.

Pity. I could use your help moving a body. Best to do it before daylight.

about an hour from now I'll be having breakfast at the Waffle House at Polaris ...... that'll give ya a little driving to clear your mind

Isn't it past you boys' bedtime?

I hadn't heard about the problem, but I'll ask around. Thanks for the tip. ND2RACE is right, though..... I take care of them like I'm going to keep 'em forever, but then I usually turn 'em over before they're out of warranty.

Well, for starters, I could tow the cars that run against me at the strip and break because they need so much spray to keep up with me that their drivers burn holes in their pistons ...... I'm also thinking of a larger trailer for my bike, maybe one that will accomodate more than one bike, possibly a small toy hauler that would also be a camper. I go south in the winter with the bike, and the FJ wasn't set up to haul a big trailer. It was rated for 5000 lbs, but over about 1200 lbs you really need stabilizer bars. This Tundra's rated for 10,300 lbs the way it's set up. The cap also gives me a lot more hauling options. The FJ was a 2007 model delivered in March 2006, so it would be 3 years old this March and the warranty would be up. It was never a bit of trouble, but the dealer gave me close to an even trade for the Tundra, and I couldn't imagine a better deal than that. Finally, I've got something a little unusual on my Christmas list, and if it breaks down on the road it isn't likely any mechanic's going to have ever seen one before, so it might be handy to have something to go pick it up with.

The PIAA's I like will run about $600, and for the limited use I would have for fog lights on this truck, it's given me pause ......

I also needed a cap, and they gave me a great deal on this Leer cap which is insulated and has extra lighting and power outlets. The rear window latch is integrated with the remote locking system. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/July%20cars/tundra/Pict0041.jpg They installed chrome handles to further remedy the plastic-y look, and they even had a chrome tailgate handle which accomodated the rear camera: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/July%20cars/tundra/Pict0042.jpg Kyle did a great job recommending the right accessories (and saved me money over what I had picked out on my own) and they got the parts in quickly. The techs did a day's worth of installation in about 3 hours because I needed the truck right away. That's service! I don't hesitate to recommend them for car & truck accessories and performance work. Thanks guys!

Last month when gas prices were still high and dealers were practically giving away pickups, I decided to update my hauler/tow vehicle. I've owned trucks from Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge, and Toyota. For power, economy, reliability, towing capacity, and resale I think it's hard to beat the new Tundra. I got a great deal and bought a Double Cab with the 5.7 V8 and 4WD. In my opinion the Tundra's weakness is in its styling. Compared to a Ford Super Duty the Tundra looks pretty cheap. So I wanted to beef up the looks without getting too fancy, and I wanted to keep the stock wheels--after all, this is a tow vehicle, not a fancy driver. Scotty2Hotty, Brady@PPC and Kyle hooked me up with this 3-piece billet aluminum grill which really changed the "plastic" look the front of the truck had: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/July%20cars/tundra/Pict0037.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/July%20cars/tundra/Pict0038.jpg

I can't recommend IPS highly enough. They've done top notch work for me on a car most shops won't touch (SL600 RENNtech). I look forward to seeing your pictures of the progress ....

Nice, Zach. I'm on the fence about getting an 09 1000GSXR all black. I'm very impressed with the GSXR's. When I first rode one a couple of years ago, it wasn't at all how I imagined it would be. With a couple of mods, such as exhaust, it's every bit the bike that an MV Agusta F4 is. I rode both bikes the same day and was very impressed with the Suzi. Congrats!

Furniture all gone ...... thanks everyone!

Well, I needed some help applying the vinyl graphics and help lifting the wing into place ....

Mr. & Mrs. Wonderboy and I are headed to Red Robin @ Polaris at 7:30 tonight. Anyone wishing to join us is welcome.

Did this idea die? I'm looking for an excuse to get the Lotus out and covered with road salt ..... Red Robin at Polaris would be my pick, but I'm open for suggestions

Lotus, suspension lift kit, tire chains.

LOL. I've been in a number colleagues' offices, but I've never seen another matchstick ship. As I think about it, the most common theme I've seen from office to office is one of offbeat, suggestive artwork. And most of their chairs are upholstered and comfy. And lots of big pillows. And Kleenex .... everywhere boxes of Kleenex So I guess the short answer is that I really don't know. How do you feel about that?

Yep. Sofa table and end table have bolt-on legs. They were purchased from The Great Indoors and are like new. Although they are very sturdy, they are not of the same quality as the other pieces. If I remember correctly, they were around $250 new.