From: dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX (The dc-cycles list administrator) To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX Subject: dc-cycles digest for 08/16/08 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ __ /-----\ __ 'dc-cycles' is an unmoderated email discussion list (__\/ _____ \/__) about motorcycling in the Washington D.C. area. =( \___/ )= \ ___ / An archive of the dc-cycles list is available at: | / _ \ | http://www.dc-cycles.org/ \ || || / \|| ||/ Subscribe/unsubscribe requests should be sent to: \| |/ dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX |_| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:31:36 -0400 From: "Perry Coleman" To: "dc cycles" X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] The one time I don't wear pants - Gear Yikes! I hope you're OK. I can relate to the pants thing. I did a mild getoff on a patch of ice many years ago. I put my right knee down on the pavement and my Levi's looked like someone took a razor blade to them right across the knee area. My long johns underneath were kind of shredded and my kneecap had a half dollar sized road rash. Nothing else was more than scuffed. Leather boots, gloves, jacket plus full face helmet protected everything else. Perry On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 6:19 PM, Rich Hall wrote: > > Gear: > Boots - Side B-Ones, scratched/scuffed did a great job. > Gloves - A* SP1's (? Race model that sells for around $90) worked great, > small tear at the bottom of both palms. Could feel in my palms that they > had impact. > Jacket - Protect, got at Loudoun back in '01 maybe. Never seen it else > where. Leather, full perf. Looks like it got dirty. Held up incredibly. > Big thanks to Lizzy, who sewed armor in it about 4 years ago. Finally got > to use it. > Helmet - HJC AC11, 3 small scratched areas, did it's thing. From where the > scratches were, a 1/2 helmet actually would've protected me. I definately > felt safer sliding w/ something between my face and the street though. > Old Navy khakis - Ripped right through, I dont' recommend for motorcycle > use. > _________________________________________________________________ > Talk to your Yahoo! Friends via Windows Live Messenger. Find out how. > > http://www.windowslive.com/explore/messenger?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger_yahoo_082008 > _______________________________________________ > dc-cycles mailing list > dc-cycles@XXXXXX > http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles > -- If your opponent is quick to anger, seek to irritate him. - Sun Tzu _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:35:56 -0400 From: Mike Troutman To: dc cycles X-Enigmail-Version: 0.95.7 Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] The one time I don't wear pants Rich - I know exactly where you are talking about and ride through there every day. The 1/4 mile before 66 headed South on 28 is very sketchy - drivers weaving in from 66 and others stuck in left lane backups pop out into the center lane without looking. We've all ridden in Jeans or Khakis from time to time, you just never know when something could happen. Great reminder to always wear proper gear. Karma will catch the minivan. Hope you and your bike heal quickly. :( _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:00:57 -0600 From: Brian Roach To: Doug Allis Cc: B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Colemans This has never ceased to amaze me. They buy 90% of their (non-oem) parts from Parts-Unlimited (Largest distributor in US - everyone uses them). 90% of that comes out of the NY warehouse. Order by 2pm Eastern from VA, you get it the next morning via UPS standard ground. They get free shipping on any order over $50. This is the same deal anyone dealing with Parts Unlimited gets the same deal. Basically, they just aren't interested in pleasing a customer. - Roach Doug Allis wrote: > They also seem to get parts deliveries only once a week. I've had better luck at other dealers getting parts shipped quickly (sometimes overnight). _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:48:14 -0400 From: "Trevor Angel" To: "Brian Roach" Cc: B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Colemans > This is the same deal anyone dealing with Parts Unlimited gets the same > deal. > > Basically, they just aren't interested in pleasing a customer. This is what's amazing to me in this age of web shopping... it's tough for dealers to compete on price. If I can get stuff faster and cheaper via the web, why the hell do I want to spend half my saturday visiting a dealer that I know probably won't have a part in stock? I recently did that (wasted my time!) to get a spark plug for a KLR. Not in stock! Amazing. To my way of thinking the only thing the dealers have going for them is personal service, instant gratification (by having parts in stock), and the ability to do the kind of work that I can't. Since I do most general maintenance myself, the only thing I need dealers for (apart from warranty work, which was the original topic of this thread) is the first two. If they can't deliver that, then I'll keep doing my business online. And it's a shame that it has to be that way. I'd like to support local businesses - they don't do anything to make it easy thoughj. Trevor _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) From: "Dave Yates" To: "'B-DC cycles'" Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:19:04 -0400 Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] The one time I don't wear pants - Gear Rich commented on his crash: Gear: Boots - Side B-Ones, scratched/scuffed did a great job. Gloves - A* SP1's (? Race model that sells for around $90) worked great, small tear at the bottom of both palms. Could feel in my palms that they had impact. Jacket - Protect, got at Loudoun back in '01 maybe. Never seen it else where. Leather, full perf. Looks like it got dirty. Held up incredibly. Big thanks to Lizzy, who sewed armor in it about 4 years ago. Finally got to use it. Helmet - HJC AC11, 3 small scratched areas, did it's thing. From where the scratches were, a 1/2 helmet actually would've protected me. I definately felt safer sliding w/ something between my face and the street though. Old Navy khakis - Ripped right through, I dont' recommend for motorcycle use. [Dave] Thanks for the reminder and I'm glad you're ok. Gear is expendable and sometimes, especially in the case of a helmet, it's doing it's job correctly by becoming useless. I took a spill in March and smacked a really expensive Arai corsair into the pavement. Were it not for the helmet, it would've been the side of my face and forehead. The helmet easily survived intact, but that would've hurt. My gloves - scuffed only, no tears. Lee parks deerskin. I got a really bad contusion on my right hand from impact. LP are not armored in any way. Sidi b2's fared ok except for ripping out the toe guard. F*ck them. 8 weeks and they couldn't send me that f*ing anchor. Several requests ( Motonation's fault, I hope they go bankrupt ). Minivans. They should be rounded up and scrapped for salvage material. Heal fast and good luck w/ the bike. Dave _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:10:33 -0400 From: Bob Meyer To: Wayne Edelen , B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] recommended Kawasaki service ---- Wayne Edelen wrote: > On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 12:21 AM, wrote: > > > > > > Why the F(*^% do we put up with this shit? I have ordered a part for my wife's car, a Suzuki by the way, and the same day ordered a part for my Honda ST1100. > > Car part? Here the very next day. If I had been there by 10am. it would have been there the same day. > > The bike? The usual two weeks for a service part that should have been in stock at the dealer to begin with. > > What the hell is the difference? Why do motorcyclists put up with shit that no car owner would tolerate? > > I really want to know. > > > The more popular a vehicle, the more parts will be stocked locally. > Also, I don't know that bike dealers have the same extensive parts > networks that auto dealers have at their disposal. Even as a > consumer, I can locate a part for my car on my own using services like > www.partsvoice.com . > > With some cars, you can still run into day or week delays on parts. > It depends on a lot of factors - exclusivity, recently redesigned > parts, parts most prone to failure, how long the model has been on the > market, etc. > > -- Wayne Lots of independent parts manufacturers and retailers for car parts, but motorcycles just don't sell in enough quantity to to merit that kind of aftermarket support. Car dealers frequently buy parts from local auto parts stores. Motorcycle dealers don't generally have that option. Add also the fact that car manufacturers tend to use the same parts on many models, and for many years, while bike manufacturers seem to re-invent the wheel with each new model. It's just not cost effective for dealers to stock huge inventories. -- Bob Meyer, #1157, Fairfax, Virginia '01 Candy Dark Red ST1100, "teSTarossa" Life is all about ass... You're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it, or behaving like one. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:12:53 -0400 From: Bob Meyer To: Wayne Edelen , B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] 2007 Traffic deaths Biased, or a best poor, reporting. The provide fatalties per 100 millions miles for cars, but not bikes. Without knowing something about how the RATE of accidents changed, the raw number is meaningless. ---- Wayne Edelen wrote: > With the increase in interest in 2 wheelers for fuel economy purposes, > I would expect the number of motorcycle fatalities to increase for > 2008. > > -- Wayne > > ---------------- > http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080814/ap_on_go_ot/traffic_deaths > > By KEN THOMAS, > Associated Press Writer Thu Aug 14, 11:26 AM ET > > WASHINGTON - Traffic deaths in the United States declined last year, > reaching the lowest level in more than a decade. > > Some 41,059 people were killed in highway crashes, down by more than > 1,000 from 2006. > > The fatality rate of 1.37 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled > in 2007 was the lowest on record, the National Highway Traffic Safety > Administration said in its report Thursday. > > California had the largest decline, 266 fewer fatalities than the > previous year. The largest percentage decreases were in South Dakota > and Vermont. > > North Carolina's death toll increased the most in the nation, up 121 > over the previous year. The District of Columbia and Alaska had the > highest percentage increases. > > Motorcycle deaths increased for the 10th straight year. There were > 5,154 motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 4,837 in 2006. > _______________________________________________ > dc-cycles mailing list > dc-cycles@XXXXXX > http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles -- Bob Meyer, #1157, Fairfax, Virginia '01 Candy Dark Red ST1100, "teSTarossa" Life is all about ass... You're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it, or behaving like one. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:25:17 -0400 From: Bob Meyer To: Rich Hall , dc cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] The one time I don't wear pants ATGATT (All the gear, all the time). You just can't predict when something stupid will happen. Glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt. ---- Rich Hall wrote: > > I had a meeting yesterday morning. I didn't want to show up in full garb. I left my pants at home. I had on my boots, jacket, gloves, full face. > > Coming down 28 S towards 66. The 66 West exit was backed up. Mini van's in the right lane and center lane. I'm in the left lane. I see the right lane mini van is acting squeamish/squirreling. I could tell she wasn't comfortable. I think we're past the danger. At this point I've caught up to the vans. Then the van in the right lane moves over a foot or two, towards the center lane. The red mini van in the center lane, proceeds to move 3/4 into my lane. I try to brake, but she's coming to fast. I bounce off, as she hit my bar end, I'm leaning left, I lean to my right, trying to balance. Tire(s) hit the median. The curb is about 4" high w/ a 45 degree angle. > > I'm going down. Sliding, I think my head hasn't hit. Head hits, I tumble. Stop. See my bike in front of me. Flick off the mini van, as it drives off. Look back, to see if I'm going to get run over. First car is stopped. Guy gets out. Ask if I'm ok. Dude behind him says he's going to chase down the minivan. > > Cops show up from my left & right. Ask if I'm ok. I'm ok, but know my knee is definately torn up. I'm more pissed that the lady didn't stop than anything. > > Dude that went after the van came back. Couldn't find the van. I was surprised at that. Him and the other guy stuck around and gave reports though. I'm thankful for that. > > Took me into the ambulance, asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I said no. The officer I was talking to mentioned he rode. I had pulled my key out, to stop the bike. Ask him to see if it'll start. I hear my SV rumble to life. I went down on the right side. My Yosh looks terrible. Still sounds great. > > Cops ask if I want it towed. Tell them I'm going to walk to the firetruck, about 50 yards away and back. If I'm fine, I'm riding home. I was only about 2 miles from my house, 35 mph would be the top speed limit. > > I walk back & forth, doesn't feel too bad. Officer says they'll block traffic for me, let me get on and out of the way. > > I got home, started to wash my knee, realized I had no idea what I was doing. Go to urgent care. Wait a couple of hours. Get my knee cleaned, x-rayed. Just road rash. Prescriptions for antibiotics & pain killers. > > The bike is scratched just about everywhere on it's right side. Tail, pipe, mid pipe, tank, bar end, mirror, brake lever, frame slider, etc. Being an '02 SVS, I'm thinking that's enough to total it. We'll see what the shop says. > > If it's totalled, I might get just the mechanics fixed. Might be time for something else. > > Be safe out there. Wear your gear. I should've put my leg armor on under my khakis or had my overpants on, like I do everyday, when I go directly to the office. > _________________________________________________________________ > Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to share. > http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008 > _______________________________________________ > dc-cycles mailing list > dc-cycles@XXXXXX > http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles -- Bob Meyer, #1157, Fairfax, Virginia '01 Candy Dark Red ST1100, "teSTarossa" Life is all about ass... You're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it, or behaving like one. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) X-Authority-Analysis: v=1.0 c=1 a=skCcmPAcSZ8A:10 a=853AuTicqzcA:10 a=_F3Wa-s3-7FKgb3lAbQA:9 a=MYQZv9l8DXY0cYSC-WQA:7 a=MKeSr_-clzP4oL8GDyRxpfqMcJEA:4 a=4vB-4DCPJfMA:10 a=KUJAPYlYduUA:10 From: PenguinBiker@XXXXXX To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX (B-DC cycles) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:14:04 +0000 X-Authenticated-Sender: UGVuZ3VpbkJpa2VyQGNvbWNhc3QubmV0 Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] recommended Kawasaki service --===============0254692090== -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Bob Meyer st1100@XXXXXX > Lots of independent parts manufacturers and retailers for car parts, I’m not talking about aftermarket, I can go to the _dealer_ and get OEM parts for my wife’s car within a day. And not just common parts, oddball uncommon parts that only fit the Tracker/Suzuki. > Add also the fact that car manufacturers tend to use the same parts on many > models, and for many years, while bike manufacturers seem to re-invent the wheel Spark plugs? Oil filters? Brake pads? I’ve been a mechanic for a long time and know about the re-invention aspect but that does not cover the common parts and we have the same damn problems with those. I think the problem is dealers who simply will not order parts more then once a week because it’s cheaper and us for accepting the situation. Motorcycles as “just” toys? Hell yes, as long as it takes a week or more just for a service no one can rely on them for anything else. (unless we do out own work as many of us do out of necessity.) Car dealers can do it because they network parts, it’s about time bike dealers do the same thing. -- John Walters 99 Honda St1100 (Over 100,000 mi.) 83 BMW R80RT (Over 200,000 mi.) 76 Honda CR250M --===============0254692090== _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles --===============0254692090==-- _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:02:28 -0400 From: "Danny Motorcycle" To: mike@XXXXXX X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 Cc: B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Orgy of loud bikes they don't want to be late. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:12:43 -0400 From: "Danny Motorcycle" To: skip X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 Cc: B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Colemans RE: recommended Kawasaki service I had a personal realitonship with the guy who set my suspension up to be stiffer. My ass hurt for a few days after i got my bike back. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:32:42 -0400 From: "Danny Motorcycle" To: "B-DC cycles" X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] The one time I don't wear pants - Gear 99% of the time I ride in jeans and have motorcross knee protectors on, they cover the shin, knee, and halfway up the thigh (the version I have). Seems like a good insurance policy on a compramise to wearing regular pants. Fortunately in my years of wearing such, I can't recall a time using them. A buddy of mine did send himself into the grassy area off an exit ramp. First thing he said was "Glad I had my kneepads on". Then there was a woman on a local dual sport type list and showed her knee damage. In a street accident, the bike was fine.. but her knee required surgery. Not cool. IIRC she was down for quite a while, huge interuption in her life, due to knee damage. So to all you smart enough to wear full face helmets but wear pants like me, I highly recommend the knee protection too. They're making the protection less bulky and it can be worn under the pants. I got the ones that go halfway up the thighs because I always have this idea in the back of my mind that when my bike hits something i'll fly forward and my knees will hit the bars.. and probably in that lower thigh area. I remember one time years ago i did a front wheel lock up on some leaves and went face planted sliding forwards.. without a full face helmet I'd be a lot uglier than I already am. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:45:17 -0400 From: "Danny Motorcycle" To: st1100@XXXXXX X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 Cc: B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] 2007 Traffic deaths I agree that the reporting sucks. One thing I do wonder though, is how many of those motorcycle deaths are the same ones who would have been auto accident deaths from driving like morons... and or alcohol related. isn't alcohol related to like 50% of all accidents? You would think if they cared about highway safety they'd REALLY crack down on it. Sure they have their programs here and there.. A buddy of mine went to court (for a ticket on the parkway). he said the judge was letting drunk drivers go, on the premise that because they were drunk they didn't have the awareness to know what they were doing and that it was wrong. I'm not vouching for it though, I wasn't there. You'd think the gov't would crack down on it really hard... _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:57:30 -0400 From: "Danny Motorcycle" To: PenguinBiker@XXXXXX X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 Cc: B-DC cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] recommended Kawasaki service Anyone happen to know why is it, that MC manfucturers do re-invent the wheel every few years? maybe it helps keeps bike prices high? maybe if parts are easily interchangable and cheap over 10 years, then people would keep fixing their bikes instead of getting new ones? _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:30:19 -0400 From: "Paul Wilson" To: DC-Cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] The one time I don't wear pants - Gear Good grief, Rich is riding around pants-less, and Danny is talking about wearing kneepads and telling us that Coleman's is giving him a sore ass. Not sure DC cycles is going to make it past the corporate filters for much longer! Seriously folks--Rich, heal well. Too bad the ignoramus in the van will probably never get her (?) day in court. And yes I plead guilty to riding around the city in jeans. Even at 25 mph sliding on the asphalt in jeans would really hurt. On Sat, Aug 16, 2008 at 5:32 PM, Danny Motorcycle wrote: > 99% of the time I ride in jeans and have motorcross knee protectors on,... _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles