Moto-Brian

The problem is that street riders are typically using habits that are not conducive to doing things right. Whereas, if you went to the track, learned to properly ride the bike and understand the limits of that bike, you will become a far better street rider. Of course, the guys that do not do much if any track stuff will chime in and disagree and that's totally cool. But, after 16 plus years racing and around 22 years of overall motorcycle riding, I am here to tell you that track riding will make you a far better street rider than without. It's all about reserve and I've used this numerous times. There's a reserve that is available when you ride. That reserve is used when shit gets out of hand or pops up when you least expect it. Deer in the road, car pulls out, corner is tighter than you thought, gravel, etc... If your reserve is high enough, you can get through it safer than had you been riding with a smaller amount of reserve and needed it. So, if you ride at 80% of your ability and need some reserve, there ain't as much had you been riding at 60%... Track riding allows you to ride at 60% and be safer and yet faster and more adaptable than had you not been at the track. The variables you learn at the track are things you cannot learn on the street. No matter how fast one thinks they are... I can take two kids and take one and teach them things at the track and then dump them on the street and they will shine more than a kid that sticks solely with street and learning on their own. Remember the old saying that just because one has a load of experience, doesn't mean that they have been doing it poorly all this time and the experience they have isn't good... My feelings are that anytime one can learn something to better themselves, it is a positive. But, I am a little biased... But, I also see a LOT of people with "years" of experience ride around me on the street and their skill sets are very low in ability and they tend to ride well beyond their means... Happens a ton. I ride a little street. Not much at all and typically I have zero interest in riding in groups. I actually hate it. But, willing to if I know the people and trust them. But, I enjoy track too much. It allows me to learn and develop skills all along the way even after so many years. So many young pups to learn from, to develop myself with and to understand things every time I ride. I try and do things to better myself every time I ride a bike. Street never offers that to me. I tend to ride because I enjoy it (Street) and feel it is a great way to get away from the real world, but in the end, it doesn't offer what the track does for me. But, as you say... To each their own.

Technically speaking, it is really OSU's until they leave school. You're right, it really was earned and is there stuff, but again, the rules dictate they cannot gain anything money or otherwise from selling anything they received while participating in sporting activities with the school they attend... I was courted by a few schools for baseball and soccer and trust me, there are some shady things that cross or dance on that "line" if they want you to attend their school. There's a bunch of shit that goes on and I am sure a lot is sketchy. But, realize that they are not shy about telling the players that if they think there is something that crosses the line, they need to talk to someone. The players know 100% that they did the wrong thing...

Here's teh deal. There are rules. Small, large and in between... whatever the rules, they violated a bunch and then they lied. Simple...

These comments are the bottom line. Well put, sir!

The issue is that there needs to be proof and there needs to be a situation where students have violated rules and regulations. Like or hate it, the Cam deal had no real proof that he was courted and that he benefited or was approached in any way. Just because his deadbeat dad talked and was doing shit means nothing... It does, but if Cam denies and the school denies and there isn't a lick of proof, it doesn't mean much. BUT, that being said, look at the Reggie deal... YEARS later and USC pays for it... Well, Reggie did also, but you see what I am saying. It can still come around and blow up...

It isn't their property either. They have strict rules about this whole thing while they are players. It is a rule, in black and white and spoken about constantly as athletes. If they sold them AFTER they left the school, sure. But, during the years they are players, it is a violation of what the NCAA states very clearly.

Oh, and what Tres did and what his background had been - he got off fairly easy. I think his NCAA punishment is fitting. Lie to the NCAA and you get fucked hard. It's like telling lies to a judge and then they find out you did. Think they'd be pissed? I believe so... I also like what they did to Bobbie Dousche. He KNEW he was doing wrong by paying those kids. He got a fitting penalty...

There was more than trading stuff for tattoos. The fact that there were lies being spread around and jacking the NCAA, they got off pretty light. Reggie's deal was a LOT more money and more issues with what was going on there... The OSU deal is a total cover up and frankly, I am amazed that the AD is still on board. Guess getting rid of Tres helped him out, but honestly, he should be thankful he still has a job. Lies and more lies gets you in deep... The Penn State deal will have some consequences once it is done in court. However, the deal on that is that the school nuked the whole program and got rid of everyone. That will help their cause for sure and what OSU should have done straight away. My only issue is that they got to go to two bowls. Last year and this year. Trying to be fair according to Gene is bullshit. They are screwing the kids on the team that will be seniors next season... Bottom line is that they got off light.

Maybe the absolute lowest level trail on an FZ... Honestly, not sure where the actual trails are, but we will probably be out there or around that event to some degree... What we did in Vegas was absolutely no place for ill experienced riders nor non capable off road based machines... It was fairly aggressive. That all being said, I am planning on an Adventure demo this year and would be in if I can juggle schedules. I'd hotel it, though...

Looking for black aluminum diamond plate in sheets... Anyone know of a place locally where I can pick it up vs ship?

Hey, someone's got to piss in people's Wheaties!

Before they go and spend a shit pile on expansion, they really need to address paving the existing track and improving runoff... Expansion is pretty silly and unlikely before those two things...

I'll also add that I love Danny. He's an amazing rider, has stupid amounts of talent and has even bumped me before and even in doing that (Was my fault at the WERA National at Barber), he came up, apologized and was super cool. I know the guy that crewed for him, but in the end, he's a fun kid. Amazing to watch and I can promise, if he got a ride in SBK, he'd be a contender or have a lot of eyes watching him as he can twist a grip. But, he needs to stop the partying. It's why he missed Mid-O qualifying. He also got in deep in Vegas and overall, it is his MO. That needs to change...

Uh, if Danny could keep his nose clean and stop partying, he'd be one of the top prospects and worth a lot of money to ride on certain teams. Th epay to play shit is because the teams don't have the budgets anymore. Simple as that. Yosh isn't going to give up Blake and it was Blake or Tommy. Love Tommy and think he's one of the best, but the future is with Blake and not Tommy... Tommy's made enough money and has managed a few up and comers and is set if he doesn't get the seat he feels he deserves. And he deserves a great seat. To get the boot over a paying rider is a slap in the face. However, a LOT of riders pay and most actually are paying to ride. You'd be amazed... The end result is a grid that is going to be a grid of guys that pay to play and have deep pockets or rich moms and dads and a handful of fast guys that are going to still be at the front. As it stands, it will be the Blake, Hayes show with sprinkles of Herrin and others... SBK here in the States is silly. The real racing is in the support classes...

Usually, if earnest money is put down, it is early. Sometimes it is later to show you are serious. No matter what, if the contract is written correctly,, you have the right to bail by the end during the final walk through. Earnest money is held by the realtor. It just basically says that you won't walk without just cause. Roof is just cause. It isn't like you decided that you wanted a different home and want to walk away from this one. That's what earnest money protects from happening... You'll be fine, dude. Trust me. The amount is silly especially this late, but no matter what, it is negotiable. Tell them you'll do $100 earnest. It doesn't even matter really as you are willing to walk due to the roof. Seller will get an answer back by a day or two and if not what you want? You get the money back and can walk away...

We had a deal where we were ready to walk on our house we just purchased. The earnest money is typically only a few hundred dollars, but nonetheless, it is solely based on completion of the deal. It should have been written that you had the total option to walk at even the final hour if anything did not meet your satisfaction. Including up to the walk through. If you decide to bail, the earnest money is returned. Now, the seller can ask for some money if they feel you tied up the process in any way and it can become a bit weird, but typically, it isn't. Remember one thing, your realtor works for YOU and really needs to do what you ask. If you feel it isn't a deal unless they fix the roof, he needs to assist and support you on that and help you out.

Just going off of what I saw from one guy... I am sure some can come machined. I would bet they aren't the same grade aluminum, though... Oh, and don't forget that at the dealer show, they can actually do one off stuff to showcase their product and you get a very different product at production level...

Dude, you have serious issues... If I am a better motorcycle rider than you, should my insurance be lower than yours and should I be allowed to do things that you shouldn't like speed at a certain raised limit, etc? The fact is that there are plenty of people that can drive and talk and use cells while driving and you'd never know it or it doesn't cause a bit of an issue. Why penalize those that can multi task and understand they need to focus while doing both? Really...

This. I think I agree on one hand and argue on the other. I work via my phone and drive about 3 times the miles of an average person does. Sure, I make mistakes, but it isn't something I think deserves the same penalty as a DUI. The other thing is that we are going to be judged with assumption. The assumption is we cannot do it and drive. All the while, people are putting on make up, reading the paper, reading notes, watching their Garmens, changing the radio stations, grabbing something to eat while driving with their knees... The point is that there are a TON of things that fall into this category. The problem is that young kids that are fresh at driving are doing this and the accident rates are high. Thus, a focus... What about speeding? Should it be assumed we all don't know how to drive and the assumption be that we'd kill someone if we speed? What about the fact that a lot of people don't even pay attention when driving and AREN'T even using or doing anything I listed? Sitting in the fast lane zoned out and when you flash them to alert them to move over, they snap and brake check you and cause a dangerous situation? I think it is stupid and basically just another way to generate revenue. Make it make sense. Allow for cell use only with a headset device. Handsfree... We all have phones, we all drive. Hands at 10 and 2 are fine and should be allowed. If they get distracted at talking and driving, they certainly shouldn't be allowed to listen to the radio, have a Garmen or do anything outside drive. Those things are next I bet and then it will be a deal where they put cameras in our cars to police what we are doing when the ignition is on...

Quigley is what most people think of as they actually work hand in hadn with Ford and get the vans new off the line and convert. However, they are assembly line produced and the components aren't as good as they could be. Especially if you decide to go off road... The best company right now and one that is getting a ton of traction is U-Joint Off Road. Chris over there is super cool and they build their shit at twice the durability and for a lot less... The value of a 4x4 van is crazy. You'd get it all back and then some... But, it is pricey...

Not the proper terminology anymore? Sorry man. I run black wheels on every vehicle I have including the trailer! I have always wanted a matte black properly painted vehicle. The PPG stuff is actually more than painting it gloss black... I am thinking to have Paul paint the RC8 this year matte black and gloss black panels...

The chinese levers are shit. They are not machined from the same material and they are typically pressed or cast and made to look like CNC machined higher end aluminum. We had a set of rearsets a guy was using from a chinese maker and they actually broke at the seam where they were pressed together. I mean, you crash, they will break and fail as will the good stuff. However, if it falls over and hits and fractures and you don't know it and hope they don't fail while riding your bike, you get off lucky where the ASV levers will most likely not bend and will certainly not fracture and you are good to go. With the budgets being so tight on race teams all over the world, if the chinese shit was worth a fuck, they'd be running it on their bikes. As far as I know and from the racers I run with or am around, not a single privateer puts faith in Chinese shit... Car jacks aren't as important as levers...

Dude, I've always wanted to have a van like that!!! In all seriousness, I am talking to my buddy and thinking of doing PPG's BMW M3 matte black on the thing. Murder it out and cause nothing but grief to everyone around with a badass exhaust, tuner, intake, etc package from Banks...

If you getting 20mpg on a 7.3, you are one of very few as they typically get about 17-ish not towing anything. The dually was getting 15 as it had 4.10 vs the 3.73 you find in SRW trucks... That's vs the 13-15 on the V10... Non towing... $.80 more a gallon means you pay almost $29-$30 more a tank and are only getting 2-3mpg better. On a full tank with the 7.3, you'd get about 540 per tank and about 468 on the V10... That's 72 additional miles and for almost $30 more, that's not equal to the V10. That $30 will get you about 9 more gallons or 115 or so more miles on the V10... Then you work the oil changes... 15 qts of oil on the 7.3 vs 6 qts on the V10. All things equal, that's over double the cost. Not to mention the oil filter costs... Fuel filter changes on the diesel at every other oil change and that's additional as the new diesel fuel requires you to do this. Also, you really need to run an additive to compensate for the new fuel. Also, even though you should and don't, you should be in the winter to prevent geling and help with the winter additives they put into the fuel up north... Then, two batteries vs one. Basically, the savings I will receive on this V10 vs my 7.3 are pretty astonishing...

Honestly, it isn't much worse if not the same as the dually was. Plus, diesel is $.80 plus more than gas and along with the maintaining costs associated with diesel, the cost of operation is excessively high... But, that said... I already miss my 7.3...