redkow97

Seeing Hoblick's bearing link got me thinking about replacing my bearings as well. I noticed those are rated for 7800 RPM when properly greased. this site will tell you your wheel RPM based on speed (and the wheel/tire dimensions) http://www.csgnetwork.com/tirerevforcecalc.html I have not actually measured my tires. I know the rims are 12", and I guessed 4" on the tire sidewall. At 80 mph, the wheel is rotating at 1344 RPM. Using a bearing rated for 7800 (when properly greased). My conclusion: Pack your bearings often, and do it well! ...and the tires are more likely to fly apart than the bearings overheat and fail. I should probably replace my 7 yr old tires, too

Posted here, rather than making another HF 4x8 trailer thread: Mine is probably 7 years old now. I recently noticed that one of the strut hangers (the bracket that holds the struts to the frame) had a sizeable crack in it. I could see a sliver of daylight THROUGH the angle in the bracket while I was under the trailer installing the bolts that hold it flat/open. I attribute this failure to 3 things: 1) the goddamn fenders shake and vibrate like crazy, stressing this piece unnecessarily. 2) road salt, age, and rust and 3) I ran over a deer carcass last year in the pouring rain at about 70 mph. The part that is now cracked is directly connected to the wheel that sustained that blow. I pulled over at the time and inspected the bikes, wheel, and everything else I could see on the side of the road in fading light and heavy rain, but I think it's entirely possible that I've failed to notice this crack for the last 12 months. I deem to be a pretty serious structural failure, and just ordered 2 new parts (replacing both sides, rather than waiting for the other one to fail). Total cost is $34 for the pair. http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/62000-62999/62648.pdf That's the manual. I'm talking about part numbers 12L and 12R. I think I'm going to install the fenders connected to the deck rather than the frame while I have the thing apart. That should eliminate #1 above. I'll either find someone who can make a 90 degree bend in the existing bracket, or make my own bracket to replace the stock one.

I like where your heads are at, and I had the same thought with the runoff in T1. The only problem I foresee with putting a bridge beyond start/finish is that it may block the spectator view of the braking zone from along the paddock fence. That would kind of suck. I'm not sure whether or not I agree that they have "tons of camping area." On the one hand, 99% of dome tents can be set up on the skid pad with no stakes. On the other hand, if there's a light breeze, everything goes flying away. they need level grass areas that are 15 x 40' to park a car and put a tent or two there. Or if grass space is REALLY at a premium, require parking on the asphalt, and make the spaces 20x20' and don't allow cars in the camping area. As I noted earlier, security is a huge expense when you factor in camping. Anyone who has camped at Mid Ohio knows all about that. Eliminating vehicle traffic from the camping area would be a good start, but packing a large number of people into a tight space invites some issues. I was serious when I said I would volunteer to help with the logistics. I'd go out and measure/paint RV parking spots, survey camp sites, etc. for free if it meant we could stay at the track for 3 days straight.

the problem with a bridge to the infield is that it creates the need for so much more fencing to keep morons off the track. the bridge might end up being a smaller project than idiot-proofing the infield. I'd be down for camping and pit bike shenanigans. Are these knobby grass/trail shenanigans, or DOT flat-track shenanigans?

http://omrlmoto.com it's not a stunt group, but there are lots of people with 50's and other small bikes.

Okay, I'm looking at aerial photos. They need bridges to the infields for camping space.

I think they could do it if they planned well. Security (keeping people quiet after midnight) would be the hard part... RV camping for spectators would be tight, but it could work. I'm to think where they still have (flat) grass for tent camping.

Everyone who races OMRL has a pit bike. i can't wheelie for shit, but I can drift for like half a second before crashing, and locking up the rear wheel is fun.

That said, if a particular bike matches the description of one recently reported stolen, and it showed up in a van, i don't think detaining the owner to quickly check the VIN would be an unreasonable seizure.

Police do not need probable cause to walk up to a parked bike and look at the VIN. They're not initiating a traffic stop, they're spectators who happened to look closer than you. Owning an unregistered motorcycle is not a crime. I have owned track bikes that weren't titles in my name. I went to considerable lengths to confirm they weren't stolen, including asking the police to run the VIN.

I wonder if they'd let us camp if we corner worked...

If they don't have on-site camping, that will royally suck. Shit, I will go help them plan for it free of charge. Just let me camp for free! It's a 400 acre facility. I have to believe they could sell at least SOME camping sites.

The track deserves it. So much money is going into that facility. I really hope I can attend the weekend. With Mid-Ohio off the schedule, OR should definitely plan to show up in force for this. http://www.motoamerica.com/2017-motoamerica-race-schedule-expands-to-10-rounds#page-3

OHP is quite prolific. I would be surprised if they have the budget for plate scanners on EVERY cruiser, but it's possible. Super Troopers wasn't all comedy. They keep busting drug traffickers, especially heroin, and they're going to keep getting more funding.

This may be common knowledge, but police do not need a reason to run your plate. It's extremely common for officers to run every plate at an intersection when they're waiting on a light. If you have a vanity plate, I can almost guarantee you it's run every time an officer notices it. It's just easy for them to remember and enter without looking back and forth. Plus they're generally curious who thought of it if it's halfway clever.

I rode this with Kent, Biggie, and JB last weekend. It's small, but fun. The closeness of the fence makes some of the layouts unworkable, and I crashed twice in the same turn. Surface seemed slick. Still fun. I would go back.

I'm going to take a class at a trade school before I buy any equipment beyond the mask, gloves, etc. It's clear that I don't know enough about welding to know what kind I would use most often. I also have a basketcase XR100 in the garage that the previous owner did some seriously shitty welding on... Makes me want to do it right.

Docs' first duty is "do no harm." Saying, "sure, ride all you want" would certainly increase the odds of harm. My wife wouldn't throw a leg over a bike while pregnant, and now that we're parents of two (as of 2 weeks ago), we operate like the president and the VP: never in the same dangerous situation, so the kids have one of us left to pick up the pieces. It's morbid to think about... Life is for living. I have no plan to stop riding. That's not to say I won't take an extended break if/when spending time with my girls is keeping me off the bike anyway. I'd obviously prefer to just bring them to the track, but I can't make them love riding

wife bit on the bigger shed idea I floated earlier today. Went to Home Depot to price lumber, because she asked "how much?" i can frame the walls and roof for under $400 the big question now is concrete pad, or sunk posts, and build a treated wood platform? i know the pad will be better, but a 12x20 pad also won't be cheap... I will definitely get estimates, but I'm also going to price out a raised deck built on 2x12's with treated wood. The advantages to that design are: - no grinding the stump for the tree that has to come down - cheaper(?) - DIY versus dealing with a concrete contractor. - easy to make level - I can screw things into the floor when I'm done talk me into a concrete pad? biggest disadvantage I can think of for the raised deck is that animals will definitely make homes under it, and drive my dogs crazy

That does suck, but they could have just charged you for the surgery and then not said anything... as as far as mistakes go, this seems pretty reasonable. I mean, have another doc do an MRI and see what they say, but maybe it's as honest of a mistake as one can make.

Don't get discouraged. That is rule #1 for BRC. Especially if you don't have prior riding experience. It's not easy for everyone. I have seen people throw a leg over a bike and ride it home on public roads minutes later (my brother), and I have seen people take weeks of practice to become confident in simple clutch engagement (my wife). Both have their M endorsement.

And the bike itself. I drive a lot. Like twice as much as the average driver. Since March, 2015, I have spent less than $2500 on gas for the Corolla. That's 35,000 miles worth of driving for less than $2500... initial cost of the bike will almost certainly kill any fuel savings unless gas goes back to $4/gallon, and he rides a TON.

I don't need it to feel "planted" when I'm used to riding the wet noodle XR100 chassis with the front chattering and the rear slipping periodically. Pretty much anything feels feels more stable than that.

His test was stupid. He's comparing times, but wearing jeans? i agree with him that going 100% on public roads is foolish, but that makes his measurement for evaluation irrelevant. My guess is that the V Strom is really the best blend of performance, comfort, and versatility.

I like the DRZ400 SM, but people seem to over-value them on the used market. And as you note, it's not quite "light." I'm currently cruising eBay. Considering buying a chinese 200cc engine and putting in into an older 2-stroke dirt chassis. There are TONS of cheap 2-strokes with a front disk brake and "needs top-end rebuilt" on craigslist. If the engine is the right price, and it will fit in the frame, 200cc (air-cooled) is the upper limit for Formula 1 with OMRL. Plus it would be able to get out of its own way on the street. Probably not the highway, but I can live with that.