Moto-Brian

So, I guess I have to start my own deal to provide the OR group some free sag and suspension info. So, my thoughts are this - I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS! I was thinking that the Mid-O trackdays Sept 15, 17, and 18 would be a fun and great time to do this. Not only opening it up to the track day riders, but get your ass up there if you ride street and wanna get things checked out. My thoughts were to do it there as many of you interested ride track. I think with race knowledge and real world track knowledge, I and a few of my buddies can assist you in getting your bike dialed as well as trying to assist on any questions you might have. I will be talking to Mid-O as I am hopefully going to try an Intermediate classroom session for the I group and would like to incorporate some suspension lessons in that also. I would like to also invite the street guys to come up and get your stuff checked also. You can come up and get a baseline set and try it out on your way back or something. While you are there, take in the track day and see what goes on at a track day as well as maybe look around and see if you might want to be a part of it for next year. Overall, my goal is simple. Setting stuff like sag and a basic baseline shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg. I also think that starting out on something and getting to ride the bike first hand after the changes and seeing how that worked for you and make adjustments if need be is a service you can only get at the track. I don't want guys to get a baseline, ride home and then be stuck if it doesn't work. So, street guys can go out and ride a bit in the scenic area of Mid-O and try it out and come back in and see if changes are needed. I will try and get a few friends to assist that know how to do this type of thing and try and offer some suggestions and technical assistance. The things you need to be able to provide: -Suspension info. what spring rates front and rear if aftermarket. -Special tools. I have the Penske and a couple of spanner wrenches. However, each bike tends to have a special tool they offer if stock. Ohlins is easy as pie, but some bikes with OEM shocks need a certain spanner size. Try and bring that. -Notebook. You need to WRITE the things we do down. I will have some cool suspension sheets I can hand out, but you really need to make some notes. Overall, the idea will be to hold a small session on suspension and offer free sag and baseline setup. I did three bikes the last Mid-O event and not sure how they all turned out, but one of the guys was amazed at how much better it was. Nothing special, but his clickers were all WAY off and the sag was crazy stiff. Nothing was working as it should. Basically, it all depends on the interest. We have a couple of weeks. I will get with Mid-O and see what they think and see if I can do the "I" group classroom stuff. If I do that stuff, it will be limited when we can do suspension. I won't have free tee shirts or decals, but hopefully, we can sort a few things out to make your track day go better and help you along with a baseline that will hopefully assist on getting you up to speed or help with your street machine... Let me know what everyone thinks and we can plan accordingly. I will also accept anyone's help if they are going to be there.

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So, is this thing in the dust and shelved? I see there is a sag session at the dyno event so, I suspect that this topic here is moot and done for?

Echo Craig's suggestion. The upper butterflies need to cycle. When you turn the ignition on, they cycle open and close. If they are not doing this, the gear is stripped and it will not work. However, this should cause a code to come up. Any codes at all?

I don't think we are. I'm with Casper. If this is true, I missed it! Why not just get a GoPro?

Yeah, I actually expected them to sit there and have me pull it off... I wasn't told anything like registration held, etc., but was told there was no grace period and I could get a ticket on my way home if stopped...

PM sent

Chris- Is it worth taking it off and taking pics and going to court or just pay the fine and take it off to avoid hassle? Meaning, do you think the judge will toss it out if I get it removed? Otherwise, why pay for the removal and go to court and waste a morning if I am going to most likely pay the fine anyways...

Shit, if that was Wrobel and being it is at Mid-Ohio, it would look like this: DOH!!! I so got him and he doesn't even come on here!

Yeah, but that Hillbilly rig of yours isn't near as cool as my lifted creeper van! Come on, man! They see that thing and get sucked in to the coolness. Then they notice it is illegal. I need to camo that puppy!!! Paul! Get in here! Camo or flat black pricing STAT!!

Agreed. I've been pulled over more times than probably anyone on here. All times for the most part have been professional and polite and even cool. Had one State Trooper pull me over in my diesel truck for speeding, gave me a ticket and was super cool. He sat there and was asking about the mods I had done to it and was genuinely interested and cool about it. I have a ton of stories like that. But, I have had a few dick heads. But again, it is all about when you catch them in terms of mood and such. But, 9 out of 10 times, super cool and doing what they should be...

Of course you are confused. They used tint as a reason, but the real reason they wanted me pulled over was due to it being a van and looking suspicious. Understand? In other words, if I had my FJ and running the same window tint, they wouldn't have done shit. They use the tint as a reason when the objective was to see what the van was all about. They cannot pull me over just because the van looks suspicious... Get it now? Swing - you are dead nuts right. I am spinning my wheels at this point. Got my answers. Moving along now... Hell, mods? You can lock 'er up if ya wanna. VanDy is probably still confused and even burning a bearing up by now, but I am outta here.

Oh, yeah... I would like to see it on the bike. I think the more examples we show, the better educated everyone will be and these things won't be an issue after a while. It is to the point that a LOT of trackday and race orgs are looking hard at these cameras.

Ahhhh... Yes, looping it to be about 6" seems to make sense. My thought was that if it swings, the wire won't give up, but the housing would. Meaning, it bangs around enough and the housing will crack or be forced open for example. Personally, I think you are damned if you do, damned if you don't on these things... I like the fishing wire idea for sure. I know the sticky things you are using hold up really well. Used them on my USB connection on one of my race bikes and wadded the thing up. The sticky stayed on the tail section and didn't get yanked off.

Dude, I told you five hundred times. i know it is a law. See tail light reference. The issue with your idea is that YES, LEOs CAN and DO apparently make field judgements and determine if the ticket is reasonable or not. If you are speeding like Scruit was and were 25 MPH over. The LEO decides that for whatever reason, it is worth a warning. But, the same day, gets a guy running 15 over and writes a ticket. It's something that happens everyday. Everyday... What I guess I am saying is that there was some sort of judgement call made. This time, I wasn't wearing my KTM or Team shirt. I was in ragged old clothing due to working on our kitchen and picked up supplies at Lowes. I probably looked like a kid or something with the flat bill, etc. Not like a guy that works for a motorcycle manufacturer. Whatever. He made a call. He decided that I needed to be cited. Like a TON of others on here have stated, they too feel it is a BS law and that they even went as far as to get a note from a doctor to allow them to keep running the tint. You've never once been pulled over for something trivial and ticketed? Ever?!?!? I highly doubt it. Otherwise, you'd get what I am saying.

None pulled me over because the tint. They used the tint as a reason to pull me over and check on the van. The third guy pulled me over for speeding and mentioned the tint. The fourth guy yesterday pulled me over and cited me for tint only. The other three were cool and even the one guy on 270 near 23 on the south side was really the coolest. He said that "Other Troopers can be kind of prickish and give you a ticket for tint"... How classic is that? He was even an older guy that probably had more years on the force than most. He just wanted to check on a white van that had black windows and see if everything was up and up... The first guy was on the way up 71 to the IX center when I was hauling an RC8R up to the Cycle World Show. He wanted to verify the cargo as they had several State Troopers in the mediums along that stretch and they were actually pulling over cargo vans and box trucks. Seems they were looking for something. He's the guy I showed the contents to... He simply stated after that he pulled me over to check the van. He initially stated he pulled me over due to the tint. But again, used it as a primary and told me at the end the real story... He was super cool and even apologized as it was spitting snow and handed me my license back and said "get out of the cold". The speeder guy was nice. I always have my license and reg/insurance ready in these situations and when he got back with my ticket, he said "by the way, those windows are as illegal as all get out" or something to that effect and chuckled. He then told me to watch my speed and walked away. Again, it is all about consistency. I know it is a law. i get it. I think it is a law that is just like a tail light. If it is broken, yes, you can get a ticket. It is an equipment violation and not a moving violation. How many LEOs write tickets for tail lights?

But the problem isn't LEOs in general. There are always going to be dicks no matter what field of work you are in. I get that. However, your example of the LEO coming up on a dark tinted window vehicle makes sense to worry IF they have their window up and he cannot see. I put the window down immediately and pulled over quickly and had my hands on the window frame for view. I know what you guys go through as I stated - I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE LOCAL AND STATE TROOPERS AND SHERIFFS. I hear their stories, etc. Again, not wanting this to turn into a LEO is an asshole thread. I respect what they do and how they do it. I also understand that each and every pull over needs to be treated like it is the last one you'll ever do. Got it. Tough job, deadly job, stressful job. Check. But, understand that each and every officer that pulled me over, each and every officer friend I have and know all said the same thing or hinted at the same thing. Writing a ticket for illegal tint is not typical unless the officer is a dick or having a bad day. By the tone of their joking and such, I would have never guessed I was getting cited. Also, being honest with the guy was something I have learned to just be quiet about next time. That obviously meant jack shit to him. Look, this officer is a ticket writer. My buddy is head of a department of State Troopers and he has one guy that he says would write his mom a ticket and is the #1 ticket guy on the team. Some guys are like that. It just doesn't make sense if 3 out of 4 of the same State Troopers think it is something not worth writing even a warning about. Oh, and I have had warnings before. State Trooper gave a written warning on a tint for my VW about 6 years ago. I also got a warning written about my expired license plate on my trailer several years ago. Again, almost all the State Trooper experiences I have had were pleasant and proper. I get caught speeding? I get that. It's one of the highest contributors to accidents. I understand. But again, consistency is what I think we as citizens are looking for. That's all. All I came on here was to ask if one, it was a points issue. If it was, I was going to fight it. Two, if there was anything I can do as I do haul a lot of expensive cargo. I think at the end of the day, if they can tint the shit out of their unmarked cars and K9 unit cars for their work environment, so should we as tax payers and business people be allowed to get the proper registration work to allow it to be used also. I am willing to pay a fee to have tinted windows. Simple as that. Again, you haul a $20k bike and have it stolen and try to keep your job, try to get through the hassle of insurance and everything that comes with the situation. There was a busted end table partially in the freeway about 3 miles prior to where they were sitting. There was a Dole box of bananas in the middle of the freeway right at the Crawford/Richland boarder on the same freeway east of their location. They are paid to do just as their decal on the side of the car says - "patrol". Instead of sitting in the medium chatting and not even clocking speeders, they could have been driving and taken care of the shit in the freeway that is much more hazardous than a guy driving a van with tinted windows... Didn't mean to get you pissed off and have you thinking we all think LEOs are assholes. There is a certain dude on here that I rode with to the races with that I think is a great dude and know he does an excellent job at being an LEO. I don't think he's an asshole or even remotely think he is like this guy that pulled me over. Call it being a cry baby. Call it a deal where I just need to get over it. Whatever you want to say out loud is fine to help you get through it all. But, I just wanted to get answers to two questions really. I'm over it. I am paying the fine and keeping the tint. Move along.

Thanks, guys. I try and rotate lids often just so I can keep up with the new stuff and look bitchin. But seriously, I try and keep everything clean and well maintained. I guess being anal has it's rewards when you go to sell stuff. People who have seen the race bikes in years past can attest to my obsession in keeping everything tip top...

What's really cooll is that it has a story that is personal to you and you want to get it inked. That's what I like about tattoos. Each has a story to tell and what is really cool is when someone asks you and you tell them the story. It essentially will keep your mother in your thoughts and touch each person who asks. Very cool. Let me know how it goes as I am wanting to do a half sleeve, but really want a kick ass artist.

I was told this doesn't work anymore by my State Trooper buddy. He said unless appointed and approved by a judge, it is just a piece of paper and won't fly. Again, if the guy is a dick, he can write you a ticket. Even with the doctor note...

The thing I did (Steve can maybe give an idea of how it looked also from Putnam) was run safety wire through the metal rod that is the door hinge to the camera housing. I then wired it to a diaper pin like you did, but drilled a hole up near the fairing stay. Essentially the exact same thing you did. However, my concern in looking at your setup is the length of the wire. Too long and it will dangle around and bang the body up and possibly swing around enough to break and come off anyways. Keep the line shorter so that it doesn't swing around too much. Also, the Graves guys are using a rivet/button on the tail section. The safety wire runs from the body of the housing like I mentioned I did and then wired to this button/rivet. Again, not long enough to swing around and spin and break off, but would secure it if the arm breaks. Also worth noting, GoPro has a tether system that sticks a base to the bodywork and has a nylon string that secures to the body. They use these on Trophy Trucks, etc. Great idea for the tail sections as a lot of guys do not have a bolt or similar close enough to wire to on the tails... Great idea, though. Just show me the finished deal so I can asses the length...

Again, the difference as to why I didn't pull the tint was based on the fact that the officers that pulled me over were very cool and understood my thoughts and really, I believe they pulled me over and used the tint as a reason to really check to make sure I wasn't hauling bad stuff in a white van. So, not pulling it was based on the idea that three different State Troopers in three different parts of the state all essentially were not worried about the tint and really weren't about to write a ticket for such nonsense. Yes, it is the law. But again, do officers pull people over for 1 mph over the limit? They use judgement and use common sense. Guy pulls over quickly, gets the window down quickly to show himself and not get the officer worried and has all his paperwork in order. Has a 2 year old with him, wasn't speeding (OK, was at 72 on the clock according to me) and was cordial and honest. Using judgement, sounds to me the officer was a dick. It was all fun and games with his buddy who was Chatty Cathy with him in the medium while checking the tint and yet decides to cite me. Just seems weird that there isn't some sort of consistency. Crawford County HWP officers must be ticket happy or just plain jerks and citing people no matter what. In this world, there are always rules and laws. But, at times, how you break them or go against them can be thought about and determined if the offender is worth a ticket or not. I understand it is the law. But, had the other three done something and not blown it off? It wouldn't be on, man.

Dude, that thing is SICK!!! I've always liked the looks of that bike and with the wheels and frame color, it's one of those I would really like to own. I bet it sounds as sick as it looks with the Akras, also!! GLWS!!

How about this question... Can anyone tell me if the $115 is the norm or if it was higher than typical? I am not going to fight it, I guess from talking to friends and what you all have mentioned. But, I also don't want to pay at the high end of the spectrum because I got short with the guy once he decided to cite me. I suppose I should have kept quiet and maybe he would have cited me for something else that was cheaper or something... Dunno... $115 seems a little high. I think my dad paid something like $75 last year...

Yeah, I drive in four different states, pass by State Patrols, City Officers, Sheriffs, etc. This is the only guy with a hard on to give me a ticket... It's Labor Day Weekend so, I expect it. But again, when the guy says "Shame on the other Patrolmen..." I knew I was in for fun. Mr. By the Book was standing outside my window... I be honest with the guy, friendly, explain why, etc. He doesn't take any of that shit into account. I should have acted like I just bought it and had zero idea it was a bad thing... Dunno. That's what I get for being honest, I guess...