Special Stuff Required

Oh, look.
It's one of the guys who are selling their nice bikes on Craigslist.
Hope he's not the same guy who sold me my forks.

I've told you all about my Smart Performance-modified forks which have their Phase 4 valving done to their internals, all in the name of making the forks absorb smaller bumps better while still being able to take big hits without feeling too soft.


In other words:
The best of both extremes.
That's the philosophy, anyway, and they do a good job of that.
The down side of the Phase 4 way of doing things is that the guy who runs the show at Smart Performance has decided that not only does the valving inside the forks need to be modified, but the fork oil, itself, needs to be changed.
Changed to a proprietary concoction that he calls 215.vm2.k5.
Seriously.
That's what he calls it.
On top of that longish and hard-to-remember name for his fork oil, it comes in three flavors:
SPI-3, SPI-4, and SPI-5.
My Phase 4 valving needs the SPI-3 version, and since I've decided to disassemble the forks in the near future in order to double-check their assembly, I ordered some of this special stuff from the guy at Smart Performance yesterday.



Honestly, I'm not saying that his claims of this oil being the cat's meow and this oil working noticeably better than the stock Kayaba oil my forks originally came with as being completely untrue, but I do think it's a drag having to use his and only his special oil.
The only place I know of where to get it from is from the guy, himself, out in California, so I went ahead and ordered enough for 2 fork oil changes, with a bit extra in case of any spillage.



Why do I want to take the forks apart and monkey around with them?
The total end-to-end length of the Phase 4 forks is about 5mm shorter than the stock forks, and the top 10mm-or-so of the fork stroke seems to have more stiction (sliding friction) than the stock fork.
Naturally, I'm wondering if this is a normal side effect of the Phase 4 modifications (I'd hope not), of if the forks were simply put together incorrectly by the home mechanic who installed the Phase 4 parts (which is supposedly the same guy who sold them to me).


I feel that if I want to put my wonder to rest, I'm going in.
Not a big deal because I've disassembled the forks on a lot of the bike I've owned.
I'm not skeered. :)



Off to jerk,
-John

Everybody's Beautiful, No Matter How Hairy You May Be

Could you imaging running headlong into this creature out in the woods on a dark and creepy night?
God, I'd hope it ain't hungry or lovesick. :)

I got up this morning to the call of some little rodent running around in the back yard woods that I don't remember ever hearing before.
That's saying something because I've lived here my whole life.
If you were to stick your head out my back window, you could spit and hit the woods.
Just make sure nobody is walking past before you spit, first.
Because I've lived out in the woods all my life, I believe I have a practical appreciation and respect for nature, unlike all of the meatheads you see on TV or see on your PC monitor screen, including hearing their whiny little and/or irritating voices condemning you for wrecking the planet.
How dare you mess-up the planet by simply being alive, eating, growing, taking a dump, and even daring to breathe?
Huh?
Explain yourself. :)

Whenever I hear the same old propaganda (bold-faced lies told to make you go in the direction somebody else wants you to go) about how I'm wrecking the planet, all I have to do is to think to myself how funny it would be to have one of these prophets of the impending gloom-and-doom to just spend one night out in the woods behind my house.
That's right.
The next time you see Al Gore, Bill Gates, Hilary Clinton (you know, that just might be her pic at the top of this page, now that I think of it), or any other like-minded asshole/liar/crook/propaganda-spreader telling you that you'd better change your evil-doing ways and do what they say or else you're gonna' wreck this extremely fragile planet by destroying the "delicate balance of nature", just take a minute and try to imagine one of these hopeless city slickers spending the night out in middle of MY woods.
No sleeping bags.
No tents.
No modern conveniences made in all of those evil-doing and damage-doing factories (that they may have vested interests in, themselves, but they wouldn't want you to know that).
That's right, Bucky.
I wanna' see these assholes make it through just one night out there in the woods, and we'll see just how helpless, fragile, and on-the-brink-of-destruction-thanks-to-mankind the simple woods behind my house really is.
To these bullshitters, it would probably be the worst night of their wealthy-and-spoiled-rotten lives because they would be like fish out of water without being able to put on their bedtime slippers, put on their smoking jacket, and read a chapter or two of The Communist Manifesto.
That's right.
The same goddamn idiots that lie to us telling us how we've got to drastically change our lives (in a way that, just be sheer coincidence, would also be toward their advantage) because we're all to blame for climate change and wrecking the planet with our selfish desires would be beaten to a submissive pulp by merely having to tough it out in the woods for one night.

What you think of that?
I think it would be poetic justice.
Naturally, these con-artists would have to be monitored by somebody that's actually trustworthy (anybody but themselves or their like-minded cronies) to make sure they don't cheat by sneaking their Eddie Bauer signature model tent or sleeping bag into the woods with them.
I'd live to see the big (bigger than normal, I should say) bags under Hilary Clinton's eyes after an episode like that, and the frown on her mosquito-bitten face.
Egad, what a scary thought.

Off to jerk,
-John

Secret #146: How to Make a Small Fortune in Business, Today

The secret?
Start off with a large one. :)

I get a kick out of reading posts on message boards where the subject is basically nostalgia tripping.
A guy will post a thread about, for just one example, how the Suzuki PE-175 was an awesome bike.
So awesome, in fact, that Suzuki should start manufacturing it, again, just as it was when it last was on sale for the 1984 model year.
Or, perhaps better yet, revert back to 1981 when it had a twin-shock rear suspension and 9.8 inches of suspension travel.
These guys claim it's all the bike you'll need out on the trails and just plain works better overall than what's available today.

The reason I get a kick out of it is because back in 1984, when the PE-175E was brand-spankin'-new, the bike was praised one one hand because it was, indeed, a good bike for trail riding and general dirt bike riding, but on the other hand, it was criticized for being the same bike that was on sale in 1982 with different decals.
My point is that even back then, the press at the time was already crying for changes to make a good bike even better.
That never happened because 1985 brought no PE-175 at all, and we haven't seen one since, and there are guys out there stating a bike that was criticized in 1984 for fast-becoming out of date would be your wonder bike in 2010.

Well, I was buying, riding, and maintaining bikes from that time period back when they were brandy-new.
Back then, I looked at those bikes as fantastic dirt bikes, but I also knew that as time went on, they'd be replaced by new and improved versions.
In fact, this was expected by avid riders, lest you do what Suzuki did and let your PE become viewed as old and out of date.

I owned some great bikes from those days (like the 1982 Yamaha IT-175J), but I never had the notion in my head that that was the point at which dirt bike development should stop at.
If I were to try to convince another dirt bike rider (especially someone who wasn't even born in 1982) that the IT-175J was better (or even just as good) as a 2010 Honda CR-F250X for trail riding, I'd expect them to label me as just another nostalgia tripper viewing dirt bikes through an old, scratched-up goggle lens.
A Seer brand goggle lens at that - they haven't been around in years as far as I know.

A funny thing you don't read as often from the nostalgia trippers is that back in those days, avid riders were often saying they wanted "tricker" bikes to ride.
An air-cooled PE-175E in the days of the liquid-cooled RMs automatically made the bike look outdated without even riding it.
Why in the heck does one thing Suzuki quit making the PE?
Because it was a great seller for them back then?
If it sold very well, folks, I think it would have gotten upgrades every couple of years after 1982 and would have been kept in their model line-up for years to come.

One of the big reasons nostalgia trippers start tripping over old dirt bikes they rode back in the day is because, simply put, they're 25 or 30 years older, out of physical shape compared to how they were back then, and, basically, aren't as physically able while on the bike and riding it over rough terrain.
This is completely normal with getting older.
You constantly hear pissing and moaning about tall seat heights and seat foam that's too hard for comfort, and this is a main reason they want a bike like the old suzuki PE - lower seat height so they can reach the ground easier when they chicken-out over a rough section of trail because they can't or won't ride as fast as they used to.
This is also completely normal.
In my opinion, these are the tell-tale signs of an older and/or out-of-shape rider.
To clarify my view, I'm not trying to say I'm in tip-top shape, myself.
I'm no longer a young spring chicken.
My best days of physical ability on a dirt bike were 25-27 years ago.
I am saying that when I hear a guy moaning about how hard it is to touch the ground on a modern bike, and the guy doing the moaning says he's 5' 10" tall and I'm 5' 5" tall on a modern bike, well, what do you think I'm thinking?

So, basically, I'd love to find a mint-condition Yamaha IT-175J, go through the bike and get it setup to my liking, get it DMV inspected and registered, use it on the Pachaug rock pile trails, and see how it compares with my firebreather 2009 Yamaha WR-250FY.
I can tell you right now that the WR would have mucho better suspension and stability over rough ground, where the IT would be about 20-25 pounds lighter.
The IT would be lighter with a zippy engine.
The WR would have a torquier engine and a better chassis.
It would be a fun comparison.

I really doubt, though, that I'd be trying to tell everyone that the IT-175J should be brought back into production.

Off to jerk,
-John

My Sandwich Has 145 Grains of Sand In It

The guy painting this must also be one of the guys posting those wonderful ads on Craigslist.

....................................................

There are ads a'plenty on Craigslist where the guy writing it couldn't spell his way out of a wet paper bag.

When you're a kid trying to sell your well-used-but-not-well-cared-for dirt bike, that's bad enough.

When you try to make yourself sound like you're the No. 1 motorcycle mechanic in the state and you place an ad on Craigslist trying to lure people to your shop for some business, spelling the words in your ad like they were written by a two-year-old won't cut it.

........................................................

You think I'm kidding, eh?

Well, Bucky, I invite you to take a look at some of these ads and decide for yourself.

He's one I just made-up, but will give an example as to what some of these geniuses spell words like:

...................................................

Got an old bike that needs to bee freshned up, or how about that bober or chopper you allways wanted as a kid.Maybe some custum wheel or crome too.

Dirt bikes street bikes drag bikes,it dont matter to me I can do them all.

From the simple tuneup to a compleet overhall I can take care of you.

I've been working on bikes for 25 yeers so I know what works and what dont.

My bikes always run wright.

Just ask around youl see.

Just ask about big charlies bikes,people know me.

Call me to make an apoinment at 123 456 7890.

.....................................................

Does Big Charlie actually expect to lure people to his mega-shop with this?

Maybe like-minded dimwits who can't remember lefty-loosey, righty-tighty, and all of that complicated stuff.

I'd expect the average guy to run in the opposite direction.

Actually, I believe I was being rather conservative in that example, going by what I've been reading in the real ads on Craigslist.

Next time, maybe Big Charlie will have his 2-year-old neighbor proof read it for him, first.

.........................................................

Off to jerk,

-John

The McDonalds Drive-Thru Cost Me $144

I didn't take my WR-250FY out for the new fork test ride, yet, because I felt tired after I got home from work/grocery shopping yesterday.
I took a nap on the couch for a few hours, got up, ate, and since it was about 5:00pm by that time, I decided to drive out to the Pachaug rock pile and take another nature boy walk down one of the trails.
That helped to wake me up.

I'll be heading over to the garage and taking the bike out for a spin around here and do some dialing-in before I load it up and head on out to the rock pile this afternoon.

..................................

Edit:

I just came back from my shakedown ride with the Phase 4 forks.

Verdict?

They work as advertised, I'm happy to say.

I turned the compression clicker out a click and the rebound clicker out two clicks to suit me, and so far, I'm satisfied.

.................................................

At first, before I left the garage, I wondered how they'd feel once under way because they felt like they had considerable friction while pushing the forks up and down while at a standstill.

I hoped that this wouldn't be the case once taking the bumps off-road, and, that's how it turned out.

..............................................

The performance of the forks have taken a step closer toward the holy grail of suspension action by being better at absorbing all bumps equally well, from the smallest to the biggest.

My final verdict will have to wait until after today's rock pile ride, but, I'm going into it with confidence.

.............................................

Edit No. 2:

Today's ride on the Pachaug rock pile trails was a good one, I'm happy to say.

The Phase 4 forks on my WR-250FY worked well.

Well enough, in fact, that I found myself going faster in practically all of the sections than I did in the past.

There was even one instance where I told myself to slow down. :)

Many times, I intentionally ran straight over watermelon-sized rocks sticking out of the ground as a test of the fork's performance on sharp hits like that.

They worked very well, and so well with the sharp, sudden bumps (that are all over the place in the rock pile), I was almost in awe of the difference in this area compared to the stock forks.

The forks have an overall firm feel to them, but yet, they absorb those annoying, sharp impacts just fine.

It's a good combination - firm enough so you can feel what the front wheel is running into and over, yet the harshness of the impact doesn't make it to where you hold onto the handlebar.

Just as importantly, the front wheel keeps in good contact with the ground.

This is called traction, people.

Good stuff.

.........................................................

I stopped several times along my loop since I was still experimenting with the damping clickers.

Basically, I now have them set at about where they were on my original forks.

Funny, huh?

One setup change I want to do during the coming week is to lower the fork tube height, which means to raise the front end of the bike a wee bit - probably about 1 millimeter.

This is because the new forks feel like they're riding about a millimeter lower than the stock forks (probably having to do with how they were assembled by whoever did the revalve), and since I liked the stock front-to-rear chassis balance as far as the ride height was concerned, raising the front end will bring that feel back.

Just one stinkin' millimeter?

That's right, Bucky.

It makes a difference to me.

.....................................

All-in-all, I'm glad I bought the new forks.

-John

I Just Had 143 Cups of Coffee @_@

Half-day freebee Saturday.
Weeeee!
It's basically a tradition with me.
I do this because working on Saturday is a habit with me, basically, since for most of my life, I was required to work on Saturdays, and often Sundays, too.

Anybody who works in a retail store that sells things aimed at weekend activities - and who doesn't like working weekends - is in the wrong gig.
Period.
I can't say that it tickles me senseless, but, I never had a problem with it.
I have worked with people who did have a problem with it, and these people are the ones who happened to get the job by chance, not because that's what they truly wanted to do in life.
I could tell some funny stories related to this stuff, and one day I will. :)

I'm anxious to try out the Phase 4 forks on the WR-250FY.
I don't mind having to twiddle with the damping adjusters or fork tube height in order to get the bike feeling as I like.
I do hope I can achieve that without having to take the fork apart to adjust oil level or spring rate (the guy who sold them also included the next-softest springs in a box: .42 kg/mm).
By the end of today, I'll know where it stands.

It's very easy to forget, or even to fail to realize it at all, how much a good suspension on your motorcycle changes how it feels to you, and getting a good feeling from riding the bike is what it's all about to me.
I'm not talking about having a warm and fuzzy feeling of having the wind in my hair as I gaze with glazed eyes at all the pretty leaves on the trees, as if I were sitting on a touring bus.
So way, Jose (pronounced ho-zay - you try to figure out those silly Puerto Ricans).
I'm talking about getting a good feeling from a bike that feels good beneath you, giving you confidence to ride it any way you wish without any negative thoughts of ending up on your ass because of any funny handling woes.
You want to feel a bike with funny handling woes?
Go ride a Harley.
There's a very big reason why the slobs riding those bikes always say, "Heeeeeeeeyy, maaaaann. I'm not racing out here. I'm just riding my hog......blah-blah-blah..."
What the silly fuckface really means is that not only can't he ride himself out of a wet paper bag, but his obese lead sled of a bike ain't up to anything other than trolling around at below the speed limit, as well.
And that's while staying on the flat and smooth pavement.

Other than that, bikes like that are OK with me. :)

Off to jerk,
-John

142: Over the Kuckoo's Nest One Flew

I didn't write a post this morning as I usually do because I decided to mount-up those Phase 4 forks to my WR-250FY this morning.
That took all of the time I had available, so, I'm doing a little one right now while eating lunch at jerk.
I'll probably post an edit to this once I get home, eat din-dins, and settle-in for the night.

Here's the edit:
Kind of a so-so day, today, except for an ex- coworker girl coming to visit while I was at jerk.
That was great.
Nice girl.

I also got an E-mail from a guy in a nearby town, wondering if my WR-250R was still for sale.
I told him it was sold, and also thought it ironic that, after the flagging and pulling of my Craigslist ad and all of those pesky E-mails from Craigslist telling me it was pulled, that I still get a potential buyer.

Looking forward to getting tomorrow's freebee half-day Saturday out of the way so I can take my WR-250FY for a spin to dial-in my new Phase 4 forks.

-John

141: I'm Forked

I got the revalved forks yesterday, as was scheduled, and they're currently leaning against a table, waiting for the install.
Since there's no guarantee that I'll think they're perfect for me from the get-go (odds are, I won't), I should install them and then take the WR-250FY for a putt down a local dirt road as a maiden test voyage, bringing along my little screwdriver to make any damping adjustments.
Basically, I'll want to do what I can to get them dialed-in and get the feel that I like before I head on out for my usual Sunday rock pile ride.
I hope for good results.
We shall see.

Still ain't seen any used bikes for sale that really float my boat, but the supply of silly ads in plentiful.
Some people obviously don't realize or care how ridiculous their shit sounds.
And I do mean shit, too.
Literal scrap heaps for sale like it's gold, when it ain't even worth starting up the pickup truck to haul it to the dump.
What they really mean is that they should be offering to pay somebody to come take it off their hands for them.

Craigslist, itself, can kiss my ass, as well.
On the last two occasions that I posted a bike for sale, the ads I posted were flagged and pulled within 24 hours.
In fact, the last one for the WR-250RX, was pulled within 6 hours.
Thank God that the guy who bought it saw the ad five hours after I posted it.
What sucks is that I still don't know why they were pulled.
After it was flagged and pulled, I must have gotten 20 E-mails from Craigslist, all saying shit like OMG!!! Your ad was flagged! Click this link to find out what it's all about!!! DO IT NOW!!!
The sucky thing was that the links did nothing when i clicked them.
Well, one link did work, which was a FAQ (frequently asked questions) link about the dos and dont's of Craigslist.

When I read the part of the FAQ explaining why people's ads typically get flagged and pulled, I was not pleased.
Whoever wrote it did so in such a wise-assed, mocking, elitist, snobby, sarcastic, I-am-a-giant-Star-Trek-geek way, I just wanted to puke.
Basically, the scribbling went on to tell me that I should be happy my ad was pulled because it happened on a website that charges nothing for the service, and if it got pulled for some unknown reason, well, just be happy it cost me nothing, and I'm an unrealistic idiot if I were to complain.
I'm not kidding, folks - that was the jist of it.

Kiss my farking ass, you Microsoft dickhead.
Oh.
Have a good day, too. :)

Off to jerk,
-John

I Want $140 Million for my 1907 Squidmobile

A nice pic of the typical piece of shit you'll see for sale on a place like Craigslist, with the asking price high enough to make you either laugh, cry, or choke, depending on your mood at the time.

This is not taking into account the horrible spelling, punctuation, and grammar these supposed ads are written with.

.........................................................

Even though I've decided, for the time being, to just sit on the money I got for the WR-250R, I'm still searching the Craigslist ads daily in case I see something that floats my boat.

You can't win if you don't play, as they used to say on TV back when I actually watched it.

The majority of these ads I'm reading, though, are pretty disgusting, to say the least.

Not only do they look like they were written by somebody who hasn't had a need to remember how to read or write since they were in the 8th grade (I do believe some of them are actually written by kids in grammar school, by the way), the prices they want for these (often) undesirable pieces of shit are beyond rediculous.

More like insulting.

................................................

A typical example is some turkey "writing" an ad for some 1979 motorcycle with a shitty, vague description (he "thinks" it's a 650cc bike), there's no picture of this clunker, and the numbskull is asking some rediculous price like $2,500.

Somebody should walk up to the retard and remind him that a 650cc street bike from 1979 sold for that much money when it was brand new.

What makes him think somebody will agree to $2,500 in 2010, sight unseen, and especially when it was in his hands as far as care and maintenance was concerned.

No thanks, asshole.

I came on Craigslist looking for a used motorcycle to buy, not be insulted by your silly ads where you're obviously looking for a sucker - a very retarded sucker, much like yourself, you dim-wit.

......................................................

Used dirt bikes that are only worth buying for parts are all over the place on Craigslist.

Many of them are written like the example above - some piece of shit that looks like it was hoisted out of a scrap pile is shown leaning against some dork's shed, leaves and dirt hanging off it, drive chain all floppy and rusty, and obviously missing important pieces is being peddled for an outragous price of $2,000.

Typically, the bike ain't worth $100 in the condition shown.

It's hilarious when the chump/crook/pinhead/ignoramous doing the "writing" will say something like:

"I've taken good care of this bike, which is why it's in such good shape.

If it's not up to your own personal standards, well, that's just because I don't have time for it anymore, and it could be restored with some TLC."

Typical double-speak - the fruitcake, on one hand, claims it's mint, then right away counters that with the admission that readers will see the obvious flaws with the pile of shit.

Of course, as required, the asking price is nearly what it cost brand new back in 1899.

These guys can all go choke on an old powerband.

The purple one.

...................................................

On a plus note, my Phase 4 forks for my WR-250FY are scheduled to be delivered today.

Between tonight and Sunday afternoon, I'll be mounting these up and trying them out.

...........................................

Off to jerk,

-John

Santa Has 139 Little Elves

It's about 40 degrees outside this morning, and it won't be too much longer before I start seeing frost on the ground in the morning.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.
That's a chilling thought, ain't it?
At least we've got some nice daytime weather coming up for the next couple of months.
Then, the ground will start to freeze, you'll be seeing your breath regularly, and that stuff called snow will make an appearance.
Blaaaaah.

But, it's supposed to be 80 degrees for a few days, so, the heck with that shit. :)

I don't think I mentioned that I bought a set of front forks for my firebreather WR-250FY off a guy on a message board.
He owns the same model bike, and had his forks modified for better performance, and this modification is typically called a "revalve".

If it weren't for the oil inside the forks (and shocks) on motorcycles, all you would have is a spring boinging all over the place.
The wheel would take a hit from a bump, and nothing would prevent it from rebounding in the opposite direction with the same amount of energy stored in the spring from hitting that bump.
So, oil is made to go through little passageways in a finely-controlled manner so you aren't simply riding with an out-of-control spring sproinging back and forth, making a mess of things.

These forks I'm getting have been revalved by a suspension shop called Smart Performance, and they have inside of them what they call their Phase 4 treatment.
This means, as is usually the claimed goal when a suspension shop revalves your fork or shock, that the fork is supposed to be better at moving over small, sharp bumps, while at the same time being more resistant to being squashed over the really big bumps.
The best of both worlds, in other words, where you want a soft and supple fork response for the small bumps that can wreck traction if your fork works poorly over them, and yet having the fork firm enough when a big bump is hit, avoiding the fork from being "bottomed-out" with a harsh clank.

This is all in an effort to achieve more traction where your tires meet the ground, not to mention less fatigue for the rider.
The forks I bought are currently en route to me via UPS Ground, and are scheduled to be delivered to my doorstep tomorrow.
So, when I get home from jerk tomorrow, I expect to see a big box waiting for me, where I can then get all forked-up. :)

I'm looking forward to trying these forks out on the Pachaug rock pile, a place that has beaucoup supply of small, sharp bumps that my front fork has to deal with.
I think my WR-250FY fork works in an OK manner (a whole lot better than the WR-250R did, for comparison), but I've read lots of complimentary comments on message boards about the WR-250F and WR-450F riders liking the Smart Performance revalve.
When I saw them for sale, fully assembled, I figured it was my golden opportunity to try it for myself.
The guy selling them gave me the option of getting them with either softer-than-stock fork springs (that he was using), or the original WR-250FY-spec. fork springs (like I use), and I chose the original springs, rated at .44kg./mm.
That means the spring requires 440 milligrams of weight to compress it 1 millimeter.
Go look it up, Bucky.

Off to jerk,
-John

Take Rt. 138 to the Cliff, Then Go Straight

Route 138 is a road I travel quite often, and it runs just 2 miles from where I live.
It goes west into Rhode Island, and I even ride a part of it during my Sunday rock pile rides.
I think that sign needs a cleaning, too.

Had another decent Sunday afternoon Pachaug rock pile ride.
I rate it as only "decent" instead of something like "awesome" because, for the second week in a row, I felt a bit tired and geeky on the bike, and made a few goofy mistakes because I lacked my usual confidence and concentration.
No crashes or close calls, but I just didn't have my usual effectiveness while out there negotiating the terrain.
Hopefully, next time will be back to my usual self.

I had a good time, regardless, and the weather was good for riding - cloudy (which helps me see better), and it was around 70 degrees, which made things comfy.
Seems like it was just yesterday when I was riding until 8:30pm and the temperature was in the mid-90s, but, the Earth has been busy sneeking around the sun and tilting the angle in which the sun's radiation hits the Earth while I've been busy working and riding.
Sneaky, that Earth.
Imagine, that assholes like Al Gore are getting paid BIG bucks for spreading brainwashing lies about the Earth being killed by mankind, where all the time, it's Earth that is the one that's showing me who's boss.
You know, I wonder if maybe one fine Sunday I'll meet Al Gore out there on the trail, where I can then run over his face.
Several times.
A Bridgestone M22 right up his big nose. :)

I've been reading a Norwich Bulletin (local newspaper) article (along with photos) posted on somebody's Photobucket account page, and learned a bit about the Pachaug Enduro Loop's origin.
Seems that back around 1972, some asshole from the state of Connecticut closed the state forests to dirt bike riding.
Local people threw up their arms and took action to let the state assholes know they didn't like that, and these people did what it took (hopefully grabbing some bureaucratic geek by the shirt collar and shaking him real good) to get the state to approve a new trail loop that ran in and around the Pachaug state forest.
It came into being around 1974, and I'm out there riding it on Sundays in 2010.
I believe the route has been modified a bit since '74, but, it's mostly intact as far as I know.
I wonder how much less rocky it was back then.
I know for a fact that it was much less rocky only as far back as 1991, when my buddies and myself would ride it a few times a year.

Back then I even rode the loop on an old 1978 Yamaha DT-250E, a dual-purpose bike that had archaic suspension, even when it first came out in 1978.
The WR-250FY I'm riding there days is about 2,047,396 times better for riding the loop than that old DT-250E, and even then, I do not remember thinking to myself that it seemed as rocky then as it is now.
This, folks, is simply a side effect of a natural phenomenon called erosion, where the top soil becomes loosened-up and is washed downhill by the rains, gradually exposing the rocks below the surface.
Egad, that word erosion, especially done by a guy riding his dirt bike across the ground, would surely work some enviro-nut into a frenzy.
Well, that enviro-nut can kiss my ass, mind his business, and go back to plotting which trees they're going to spike next and which trails they're going to booby trap next, all in the name of "saving the planet" because they're too brainwashed (and stupid) to realize they've been had by crooked liars like Al Gore and his buddies.

Other than that, those guys are OK by me. :)

I really need to buy a new enduro jacket, which I wear out there on the trails, because my old one is ripping apart at the seams after lots of milage.
I'll start shopping for one today at jerk, I guess.

Off to jerk,
-John

I Just Bought a 2011 Car for $137

I got a reply back from the guy selling the 1993 Yamaha TW-200, which is actually called a TW-200E, the E meaning a 1993 Yamaha motorcycle.

He gave me his phone number, so I called him last night, asking a few simple questions.
He says the bike has been sitting for years, has no battery in it, and would have to be kickstarted if I wanted to hear it run.
Actually, I'd be surprised if it ran correctly at this point for two reasons:
1) Some bikes that require a battery won't run correctly without one.
2) Even thought the guy says it was parked for years without any gas in the carburetor, odds are, unless the guy knows exactly what he's doing when it comes to storing motorcycles for 16 years, the carb and air filter will need to be cleaned to have it running in a proper fashion.
Period.

So, I'm set to head down to Westerly, RI. this morning at 11:00am to see the bike in person.
I don't have the $1,300 asking price on me, mainly because I still hadn't heard back from the guy before my bank closed on Saturday, and I didn't know if I'd hear back from him anytime soon.
So, I left the money in the bank, free to be lent out to other people in the fractional reserve banking method that's been used for a trillion years since the elite banking rich con men/snobs/crooks devised the system to benefit themselves.
Doesn't that make you happy?

Actually, to be honest, I now feel like I wish I'd just told the guy over the phone that I'll pass on the bike for now and call back when I felt like coming down to take a look at it.
Why?
I'm feeling like I should just wait on buying another bike until I see something for sale that REALLY makes me say, "Yeeeeeeaaaahh. That's the bike."
I know I'd have fun putting through the woods on a TW-200E, but, right now, I'm not craving for one too severely, either.
What would really flick my switch?
As posted earlier, if I ran across a CT. registered Yamaha WR-450F, I'd be all over it in a heartbeat.
I'm still searching the Craigslist and EBay ads daily, so I'm looking for something.

Edit:
I called the guy selling the TW-200E and told him I wasn't coming to look at the bike today after all.
He seemed to take it pretty well, so, no harm done.
Now, I can concentrate on readying myself for today's Pachaug rock pile ride on the WR-250FY, just like Sundays are supposed to be. :)

-John

136 Cops in the Dunkin Donuts Parking Lot

Well, you know what today is, don't you, kids?

That's right - it's Saturday half-day freebee day!

Just look at how happy that bee is, huh?

..........................................

I didn't get a response from the second E-mail I sent the guy selling the 1993 TW-200E on Craigslist, so, I resent it this morning.

I made sure to ask an important question in the second attempt:

Does the bike run?

If a motorcycle sits around doing nothing with gasoline left in the carburetor, the gas will eventually evaporate, leaving behind a mess in there that will have to be cleaned out.

Lots of casual motorcycle folks don't know this, so asking if the bike runs correctly is a valid question.

I can certainly believe somebody forgetting to mention that part, the one about the MOTORcycle not running.

Happens.

We'll see if he replies to the second time around.

...................................

Off to freebee Saturday jerk,

-John

135 Foods That Give You Gas

Well, that 2008 Yamaha WR-250R is down the road and in the hands of somebody else.
With me, that's just fine and dandy, and I hope the new owner, a guy from Rhode Island named Dan, has a lot of fun with it.
He seems to know about dirt bikes, so I think he'll be all set.
Good luck, Dan. :)

Now, it's time to search for another bike to take the place of the WR-250R.
My firebreather WR-250FY ain't going anywhere because I like that bike too much and I haven't gotten anywhere near the point of becoming tired of it.
So, that means I want to get something that is street-legal, and can be ridden back-and-forth to work, as well as off-road.
Two Yamaha models come to mind and are my main focus in this search:

1) Yamaha TW-200.
Fat-tired dual-purpose bike made for slow trail riding.
As I said in a recent post, I've owned two of these in the past, so I know all about them.
They're at their best with off-road woods exploring at a snail's pace, as in blazing your own trail through the woods, or picking your way down an existing trail.
This bike would be ideal for closely examining the trails in the Pachaug rock pile, something that I honestly can't do when whizzing along on the WR-250FY.
The WR is much more for speed, and feels good doing it.
The TW is for slow, and when you're going slow, you can learn the lay of the land in finer detail, and there is a fair bit of trail mileage out there that I haven't been on for years, let alone memorize it.
This is the bike for that kind of stuff.

2) Yamaha WR-450F.
Any model year would be good, but, the newer, the better, naturally.
It's basically the 450cc version of the WR-250FY, and although the WR-250FY is probably the better bike for a small guy like me out in Pachaug, I've always wanted one, and would like to have one.
I'd love to fine one already registered in Connecticut and save the time and expense of putting another bike through DMV inspection in Wethersfield.
But, if I came across the right deal, I'd get one.
It would be my kind of a dual-purpose bike:
Literally a dirt bike with a license plate on the back, one that craves real off-road riding, yet allowing you to ride it home on the street.
This is good fun.

I've already sent an E-mail off to a guy with a 1993 TW-200 for sale on the Westerly, RI. Craigslist for a fair price, so we'll see if he's still got the bike for sale.

Off to jerk,
-John

134: Bike is Out the Door

Results of the guy coming to get the WR-250RX:

SOLD!

Off to jerk,
-John

133: Money for Me

Well, I got an E-mail yesterday afternoon from the guy who is supposed to be buying my WR-250R.
He says he'll be stopping by our shop this afternoon to buy the bike, so right now, I'm heading over to the garage to gather-up all of the little original bits I removed from the bike when I first got it, and load that stuff, and the bike, itself, into the ol' trusty and clammy Ford Ranger.

I'll report tomorrow on the results.

Off to jerk and play bike salesperson,
-John

132, and the Sky is Blue

Blue on top of the clouds, that is.

Had a kinda' funny day yesterday, and I still feel a bit funny.
We got a smallish UPS and FedEx delivery yesterday, so that means even with spending a bit of time playing janitor and emptying some trash, I finished my work and left the building at about 4:15pm.
I can probably count the number of times I left early on one hand, I do say.
It was kinda' funny, too, because I felt a bit tired all day, and once home, I felt tired, still, although I did wash the Sunday dust off my WR-250FY.
I still feel a bit weird, but, I think I'm just fighting off some kinda' viral crap some loser tried to give me by sneezing in my direction.
Come Sunday, I think I'll be good to go.

Off to jerk,
-John

Have a 131-derful Day

Well, I've got a guy who came to look at and test ride my 2008 WR-250R on Saturday afternoon, the bike I ride on the street.
He seemed to be favorably impressed with the bike's condition and performance, and says he'll more than likely buy it from me this Wednesday.
I hope so, because I'm still in I-want-to-sell-this-bike mode.

I still want to buy another bike to take it's place, and while another TW-200 is being considered, I'm also wondering if this is my chance to use the money to get the bike I was actually looking for when I bought the firebreather WR-250FY:
A Yamaha WR-450F.

A WR-450F is basically the 450cc version of my WR-250FY.
I'd need to have it registered for use in the Pachaug rock pile, and, to be honest, wouldn't be looking forward to going through the modify-the-bike-and-put-it-through-DMV-inspection all over again like I had to with the WR-250FY.
Once at the Motor Vehicle Dept. is enough for me in a year's time.
So, I'm wondering if I can find one already registered in Connecticut, and then just do a registration transfer like any other motorcycle that's already registered, no inspection required.
Hmmmmmmm.
Time will tell.
The problem with that is a registered WR-450F for sale in Connecticut doesn't grow on trees.

Off to jerk,
-John

130 Flies Stuck to the Fly Trap

Looks like that might have hurt.
Is the guy falling down some stairs?
Or, is he sliding down a giant saw blade?
Could he be laying down on a jagged mattress?
I should ask him once he gets out of the hospital.

I went on another Pachaug rock pile ride today.
I left fairly early, leaving the truck at 2:20pm, and getting back to the truck at about 4:10pm or so.
I went earlier because it was a cloudy day, and the deep wooded areas would be a bit darker later in the day.
I felt a bit clumsy and uncoordinated compared to how I usually ride, but, I made it without any mishaps or crashes.
I didn't stop except for one time to take a piss at about the 12 mile mark.
After that, it was non-stop all the way back to the truck.
I explored a couple of new (to me) trails that I usually don't take, and they were interesting.
The WR-250FY worked very well, as usual.

I'm good and tired, so, it's time for some beauty sleep.

-John

Flight 129 Now Boarding

The pic above has nothing to do with this post, other than it being the 129th post.
Funny, huh?
I'm splitting my sides with laughter.

We've got a cool and cloudy late summer Sunday going on out here.
Feels like it's in the high 60s, and it's moderately cloudy with a light gray sky.
That makes it perfect dirt bike weather, and you can bet your sweet ass I'm going on another Pachaug rock pile ride on my firebreather WR-250FY.
Well, I assume your ass is sweet.
I may or may not know who you are, you know. :)

I'll post a follow-up later tonight.

-John

I Gained 128 Pounds in 5 Minutes

This is the 2010 Yamaha TW-200Z.

It's a dual-purpose bike that shows it's intended purpose pretty clearly:

Slow trail riding.

The suspension is short, and the engine is torquey-but-not-powerful, but it's excellent at going through the woods at a snail's pace, just as you would when blazing your own trail where none existed before you got there.

...........................................................

I've owned two other TWs in the past:

A 1987 model (first model year) and a 2000 model.

I'm actually considering buying the 2010 model shown in the near future.

In fact, as of yesterday morning, I put an ad up on Craigslist for my 2008 WR-250R (the dual-purpose bike I ride on the street), and there's a guy who is supposed to come check it out this afternoon.

Hopefully, he buys it this afternoon. :)

.............................................................

Why am I selling the WR-250R?

Same ol' reason I've eventually sold every other bike I've ever owned:

I came to the point that I suddenly felt like I was getting a bit bored with it.

I've ridden it fairly regularly since the last week of June, 2009, so that's long enough for me, I suppose.

As I've pointed out, it's a good dual-purpose bike, although it feels much better on the street as a light-weight sporty bike than it feels acting like a purpose-built dirt bike (like my firebreather WR-250FY is) out there on the trails, especially in the Pachaug rock pile.

.............................................................

The TW-200Z is meant for picking your way along, not ripping across rough terrain at speed.

Where the WR-250FY lets you ride over rough stuff as fast as you know how (and enjoy doing it), the TW would rather negotiate those same obstacles slowly, or simply steer around them altogether.

It's like a motorized hike across the wooded ground, save the hiking boots, granola bars, and save the snotty this-is-my-outdoors-and-it's-not-yours attitude.

You don't negotiate the terrain with speed, but instead, you go so slow that you calculate your path as you approach any obstacles, crawling over or around them.

The TW-200 is a bike tailored for turning tight circles around trees, stone walls, big rocks, etc., and it is well-suited for carving your way through the woods, way off the regular path.

Where the WR-250FY is made for speed through the rock pile, the TW-200Z is made for anti-speed.

Two ends of the dirt bike riding spectrum, really.

......................................................

And, to be honest, I feel the TW-200 does it's intended dirt usage a bit better than the WR-250R does at it's intended dirt usage.

The WR-250R, to me, basically feels like it's impersonating a real dirt bike.

It could be soooooooooo much better it it had the front forks and rear shock revalved and serviced by a dirt bike suspension pro.

But, to get that treatment, it's a $900 task.

To me, I'd rather sell the bike, mainly because I've got the firebreather WR-250FY for my real dirt bike performance riding, and, really, the WR-250R would never be as good, no matter how much money I tried to spend.

.............................................

So, I've had my fun with it.

..............................................

Off to jerk for another freebie Saturday half-day,

-John

I'll Take Motorcycle Marketing Bullshit for 127, Alex

I just read on an on-line motorcycle news outlet (supposed to be news, anyway) that this bike, called the Ducati Multistrada 1200, is capable of "disappearing down a fire road".
It's blatant marketing bullshit lines like this that make me envision two types of people.

The first type is the lying sack of shit that spins these catchy lines.
I think of some upwardly mobile pinhead who believes he's a bit smarter, sneakier, and all-around better than you, especially when it comes to making and "growing" money.
I'd like to see this geek with dollar signs in his eyes take this 400-plus pound street bike down a fire road and disappear.
I'd be there with him every step of the way, watching every move.
If he as much as breathed a word about the bike being too big and heavy for that kind of stuff, or so much as broke a sweat, I think I'd wrap a steel tube trellis frame around his little pin head.
Then stuff a couple of desmodromic rocker arms up each of his nostrils.
Then ask him how he's feeling.

The second kind of guy I think of is the guy who actually swallows this shit.
There are guys on message boards (I, thankfully, don't know anybody in person who has of yet gotten in my face about this) who will hop up and down if you say the bike above is a street bike and should be kept on the pavement where it belongs and that you're asking for trouble taking it off-road.
They insist that "...you don't understand adventure bikes nor the guys that ride them..." and other bullshit that is supposed to make you feel that you're just too narrow-minded to explore a new challenge.
No, you goddam idiot.
It means I'm smart enough to know a 450-pound street bike when I see one, thank you very much.
Of course, off-road riding to these retards means tra-la-la-ing down some ultra-smooth grassy path where some little girl walks to go pick flowers for her mom.
I would love to see these proponents of this tomfoolery try to put his money where his adventure bike mouth is and show me what's up with the ability of the typical adventure bike and the adventure bike rider.
If I were to run into a guy on a bike like that out on the Pachaug rock pile loop, I'd actually hope I'd get to see the guy take a turn onto one of the trails off the dirt road.
My God, that would be a sight.
I'd just hope to fuck he had a cell phone to call AAA, because I don't.

Other than that, these bikes are OK. :)

Off to jerk,
-John

1:26 - Time for Lunch

Just a short one this morning because I wanna' get my ass in gear and ride my WR-250RX to work this morning.
Don't want to roll into the parking lot too late, you know.

About the WR-250R:
It's a good dual-purpose bike, but I can already feel myself - after owning it since June of last year - becoming a bit bored with it.
I've ridden it about 6,800 miles so far, mostly on the street, and I feel that I may be approaching the point of been-there-done-that-what's-next-on-the-motorcycle-list with this bike.
Don't really feel like I want to get rid of it just yet, but, who knows what I'll do between now and next spring.

One thing that I did learn (or, maybe I really mean I've refreshed my memory about something I already knew) from owning this bike and the firebreather WR-250FY at the same time is this:
Dual purpose bikes made by Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki are not as good off-road as their models that are made for off-road use only.
This is a fact, and I wouldn't even want to ride the WR-250RX out in the Pachaug rock pile now that I've got the WR-250FY for that use.
Why?
The chassis of the WR-250FY works so much better off-road, it's no contest, really.
I mean night and day in comparison.

The humorous part of that is whenever I mention this on a motorcycle message board (when somebody asks how the WR-250R stacks-up off-road compared to the off-road-only models), people get all defensive and snippy, trying to tell me I'm all wet and that people actually race WR-250Rs off-road and do well.
Sure.
What's doing well?
Finishing 32nd out of 33 entries?
Just finishing at all?
Just finishing in one piece?
I'll agree with those points.
Main reason for my feelings on this?
It ain't the additional 40-or-so pounds of weight (which is a big factor in itself), but it's the (by comparison) poorly-working and cheap-feeling suspension when things get even a little rough, and out in Pachaug, it can get mighty rough, especially when riding as fast as you dare.
I really wouldn't mind having one of the WR-250R proponents - the ones who feel the bike is every bit as capable as the WR-250FY - show me how that's done, and at what pace over what terrain.

This is nothing new, as the dual-purpose bikes ALWAYS have gotten the cheap treatment in this area.
Always.
The suspension parts just look like the real thing.

Off to jerk,
-John

One Trick 125

This bike is another genuine works Yamaha motocross bike from the 1983 AMA National Motocross series ridden by a then-16-year-old guy named Ron Lechien.
Looks pretty trick, even today, huh?
I remember seeing this very same pic in Motocross Action or Motocross magazine back then with my tongue hanging out.
If I think it still looks exotic today, imagine what I thought back in 1983.

Being a Yamaha factory works bike, it wasn't called a YZ-125K like the bike you could buy down at the local Yamaha dealer (and which I bought, myself, a year later).
No, they were designated OW, and riding this bike would probably make you say "Ow", too.
It just looks too cool not to.

Look at the engine, exhaust pipe, fuel tank, seat, and swingarm.
Look at that space-age kick start lever, for chrissake.
All special handmade stuff just for this bike and the Yamaha factory's 1983 racing effort, which saw Ron Lechien win some AMA Nationals that season on this very bike.
The bike looks feathery-light, and sports a big-buck Ohlins shock out back.
The shock linkage is the same style that the production YZs would start using in 1986 and do so for about a decade.
Yup, back then, it was common for the factory works bikes to use prototype ideas that would eventually wind-up on the production bikes the consumer could buy.
Now, that's cool.

Unfortunately, in 1986, the decision was made (I forget who really wanted it that way) that the factories like Yamaha would start using the production bikes as the basis for their riders to ride in the AMA races.
So, instead of trickery like Ron's OW, you saw him riding a bike that was a production bike off the showroom with modifications.
The argument was that it would save the factories money while improving the breed of the production bikes at the same time.
Motocross fans across the country sighed in disappointment at this, not being able to see the one-off equipment from the factories in the United States.
To this day, the factory riders are riding modified production bikes.

Off to jerk,
-John

I'll Take 124 Pounds of Ground Beef

This is the Yamaha YZM-500, a genuine works bike from 1987 or 1988.
It was raced by the official Yamaha GP motocross team back then, and considering it still looks exotic and trick today, imagine how much of a mind-blower it was 23 years ago.

A "works" bike, by the way, is a special bike built by the Yamaha factory just for the sole use of their paid riders and paid mechanics, and you cannot go down to the Yamaha dealer to buy one.
Hell, nobody working at the Yamaha dealer would even know what you were talking about if you mentioned YZM-500...except me, that is.
They'd probably just give you the blank stare and then ask if it was time to go home, yet. :)

For example, Yamaha never made a liquid-cooled 500cc 2-stroke motocross bike for the buying public, but this is one.
It's got an aluminum frame, but that didn't show up on the production YZs until 2005.
The cylinder has a power valve on it, too.
Don't know what that is?
Go Google "Yamaha YZ YPVS", Lenny, and get with it.

Today is back to jerk, and at least it's a 4-day work week.
You know, I think I could get used to riding my WR-250FY off-road more than once a week. :)

Off to jerk,
-John

#123: No Horses, Today: Dyke-Free Labor Day Trail Ride

Although, I did see a few piles of horse shit along the dirt road sections of the Pachaug rock pile loop.
I know the horse dykes were out, but I missed them.
Cool.

Today's ride was another good one, but I did tip over while going zero miles per hour, landing my left boot and my left handlebar grip into a puddle of muddy water.
I wasn't happy about that, but I lived to tell about it.
The rest of the 38 mile ride was fun.

I did see several pairs of people out along the trail loop walking, though, and they all had the common sense to make way for the guy on the motorcycle coming their way.
Very nice.
Believe it or not, some knuckle heads won't want to move out of the way, as if they're all pissed-off that I'm out there on the same trail that they are and they want to teach me a lesson.

Freakshows like that can kiss my ass, and I wouldn't be surprised if they have mental problems and/or are environmental fanatics, ready to lay their lives down to save the goddam planet.
Actually, I believe that you do have some kind of mental problem if you go for this enviro climate change bullshit scam, or, at the very least, need to get a grip and get educated on what it's really all about:
Leaving you with nothing, allowing you to do nothing, and living your life as seen fit by a wealthy minority who believe they're genetically superior to you, thus, giving them the right to do this kind of stuff to you.
Nice guys, huh?

Well, I kinda' wish those retards would lay down their lives to "save" the freakin' planet - Al Gore might even crack a smile as he chuckles at the retards for swallowing the environmental (bowel) movement hook, line, and sinker.
You think he really gives a shit about the environment?
Pull your head out of your ass, would you?
He's just up there on stage or on TV putting on a big act because he's been told to do that, hoping to impress and dazzle you, all the time raking in the bucks from douche bags and foundations that will actually follow what he's spewing out.
Same with that Microsoft faggot Bill Gates.
He made his mint with the assistance of the wealthy elite, and now it's time for him to pay back the favor and preach this bullshit about how we're wrecking the goddam planet.

Jesus Christ.
Makes me sick thinking people swallow the lies those fudgepackers spit out.

Well, I'm gonna' heat up the environment by cooking myself a nice supper.

-John

#122: The Day Before Labor Day Must Be Horse Dyke Day

I saw several of these on today's Sunday Pachaug rock pile ride - horse riders that look more than a little bit dykish.

Just got back from today's rock pile ride, and it was a good one.
Being the holiday weekend with Labor Day and all that, I expected there would be a much greater chance of meeting other trail users, and that guess was correct.

First, I went past a guy out there illegally on his ATV, and as I slowed to pass him (he was going in the opposite direction), he signaled that there were a few more riders coming up behind him.
I left the spot, and sure enough, there was a guy on a Honda CR-125R, a guy on a Suzuki DR-Z250, and one more illegal ATV rider.
Come to think of it, the guys on the motorcycles were probably out there illegally, too, because I don't think their bikes were registered, which is a Pachaug requirement.

The guys on the non-registered motorcycles don't bother me, and the illegal-no-matter-what ATVs there don't bother me too much, either, just as they show some common sense and don't ride like they own the place and show no regard for the possibility of traffic (me) coming the other way.
They did, so, no skin off my ass.
Hopefully, they're responsible through-and-through, unlike the yo-yos who got their piece of shit pickup truck stuck out in the middle of nowhere a few weeks back (I wrote about this in a post, so go dig it up, Lenny) and required that Pachaug personnel get involved to extract it from the trail.
This resulted in some Pachaug worker dude bulldozing a pile of dirt at one of the entrances for that section of trail.
I can easily still get into the spot, and I assume the pile of dirt is meant to keep assholes in street-going pickups who think they're in the Baja 1000 out of there.

After I saw the guys on the ATVs and bikes, I met a couple (a guy and girl) riding horses.
I was going much slower than normal in this spot, again thinking I'd see a holiday trail user.
Well, glad I was puttering along, and when I saw the pair of horses coming up the trail, I did what I've always been taught to do:
Pull over to the side of the trail and stop my engine.

The horsey couple seemed to appreciate the dirt bike rider (me) doing this, and the guy said something along the lines of, "I do say, old chap. No need to stop - just slowly ride past at a steady and slow speed."
I replied that I'd always been told to stop when i came upon horses so they wouldn't get spooked and get all squirrelly on the rider.
That's the down side of riding a horse:
It's an animal with it's own little pea brain in it's head, and if it gets scared, it might get all silly.

The girl was absolutely charmed by my courtesy and waved and thanked me for doing so.
This inclines me to think she's been there and done that as far as having to deal with a spooked horse that started freaking out at the sight and sound of a great dirt bike...a dirt bike like they should have been riding in the first place if you ask me.
But, oh well, not everybody is into dirt bikes, and some would rather be bored silly on a dumb horse.
No offense if you like horses. :)

I had a good rip down the pine-needled section I walked yesterday, and after exiting that section, it was a right turn down a paved road to get to the next piece of trail.
This is how it is in the Pachaug rock pile:
Trail, road, trail, road, etc.
Luckily, there's about 8 miles of road for my 40 mile loop, so that's not too much pavement to be bored on as it wears my knobby tires down.
But, that's one of the reasons you need a registered bike to ride the loop.

Anyway, as I rode this section of road, I saw yet another horse riding girl, and she looked pretty cute, too, and if she was a dyke, well, she's one of the better-looking ones on a horse.
Too bad I decided not to stop but just putter by slowly and as a steady pace on the opposite side of the road, just like the guy on the horse I'd met earlier recommended.
Well, guess that's not good advice because this girl's horse did get a bit spooky and was getting all nervous as I rode past, prancing about in an unpredictable manner.
Wish I'd a' come to a stop like I was taught, but, at least the girl stood on her horse, which I could see in my rear view mirror.
She probably thinks I'm another dirt bike riding asshole out to terrorize people.
Sorry, girlie.
How can I make it up to you? :)

Next person I met was my ol' pal the DEP officer, AKA one of the Pachaug tree cops.
These guys are basically the police for trail users out there, and while I don't hate them, I do wish they'd leave me the hell alone - if I need them, I'll call them.
Trust me.
Highly doubt I'd ever call on them, though, because I'm out there to ride, not to be stopped and have my bike inspected to see if it's registered, which is what the tree copper did.
Once Mr. DEP saw my license plate on my tail light gleaming in the sun, he patted my shoulder and said, "OK, dude. You're good to go. Let 'er rip!"
OK, he didn't say "dude" or "let 'er rip", but that was the idea.

Funny, because just before I stopped by the tree copper, I saw another trail user who was actually on a paved road at a 4-way intersection and riding a Yamaha YZ, another bike that's a good candidate for not being registered.
He was carrying a passenger, too (even though a YZ is a motocross bike without provisions for carrying a passenger), and seemed to be heading down the same road I was traveling toward the tree cop.
I wonder how he and his chick passenger made out.
Made out as far as being scrutinized by the copper, not wondering how they made out with their lips and hands, dammit. :)

The next couple I passed were on foot, and this was on the trail that goes past Maude's grave (look it up - it's been discussed by me in a past post, Lenny).
Non-eventful, as they just stepped off the side of the trail when they saw me coming, just like it's supposed to work:
You hear a motorized vehicle coming?
Get the fuck out of the way.
Thank you.

The next horse incident was with another dyke on a horse who seemed to be taking another horse out for a walk, like you see some people doing with their non-leashed dogs.
I saw the free-roaming horse first, and when I got a bit closer, it turned and ran in the opposite direction, just like the survival instincts in it's itty-bitty brain told it to.
I wondered if it was an escapee from a nearby horse coral on some rich bitch's back yard, but a moment later, I saw the head dyke sitting on her horse as the free-roaming horse trotted past her.
I got within about 150 feet of the dyke, stopped, shut my engine off, and yelled, "So, whadda' ya' want me to do? Stop or what?"
Luckily, she got the hint that I'd rather not sit there for three hours while she got her dyke kicks on her horse, and, she turned to go home while saying, "No, you're good. Thank you for stopping, and I'm turning off in just a minute."

What she meant was that she was (thank God) riding down the trail for a tiny bit, and then going down a way that I wouldn't be taking.
I sat there for about a minute or so, started my WR-250FY, and pinned it out of there.

Well, considering I usually meet zero other people out there, today was jam-packed with dykish horse activity.
Glad it was a good ride, and I plan on being out there again tomorrow afternoon.
I'll have to be on the watch out for more horse dykes and tree cops.

Now, time for a seriously yummy-tasting pizza.

-John

I've Heard "Everybody's Working for the Weekend" 121 Times

Hip, hip, hooray.
I've got a real, bona-fide two-day weekend on my hands.
It's been a while since that happened.
You can bet your ass that I'll be doing some dirt bike riding on both Sunday and Monday.
Weeeeeeeeeee.

I went for a walk along part of the trail I ride every Sunday, once again to get a better and more close-up view of what I've been riding over every Sunday for the past 5-or-so months.
This time I picked a favorite part, one that's through a nice pine tree section, and one of the very few spots where there's actually dirt (and pine needles) on the ground, along with some rocks and tree roots from those big pine trees.
If the whole Pachaug rock pile trail loop were like this, well, I think I'd be delighted.

-John

I Did 120mph on My Bicycle...Uphill

The 1983 Yamaha IT-250K.
Another off-road bike that was basically an air-cooled, off-road version of the 1983 YZ-250K motocross bike.

I bought and owned one of those bikes.
It was fast, physically large, and softly-suspended.
For the places I had to ride it at the time, it was probably a bit too large in physical side for me, but, it was fun, nonetheless.
For a taller guy out someplace with lots of more open terrain where you could really open the throttle and let 'er rip (after the suspension was stiffened a bit), it would have been a missile.

I thought of this bike because I just read a thread somebody started on a message board asking why no more dirt bikes were made with air-cooling.
Why?
Because, for one, that would be asking the factories making the bikes to swallow their technological pride and take a big step backwards.
The Japanese motorcycle factories have a history of wanting to produce machines that are cutting-edge, not stone-aged.
These days, any dirt bike that's not liquid-cooled is a playbike made for riding slow and/or beginners and/or farting around in the back yard.
Period.
If they were to bring out a modern day version of the above IT-250K, I really wonder if it would sell in 2011.
People will always armchair quarterback about what the motorcycle manufacturers SHOULD be making, but when it comes time to put their money where their really big mouths are, will the same joker with the mouth actually buy it?
Probably not.

Why in hell were bikes like the IT-250K eventually dropped from production, anyway?
Was it because they sold every one they could make in record time?

Another factor is the ridiculous EPA/environmental regulations the bike must meet.
I think the regulations these days are so ridiculously tight for any new model, the bike would have to be choked-down in a ridiculous manner to pass.
You can thank this bogus environmental plan put forth by the rich elite aristocrats that started the UN, and continue to make worldwide policy for us to this very day.
Of course, the goal is fewer people and no fun like riding an IT-250K on public land.
They want no public land, and no motorcycle riding.
Period.
That's what they're implementing, one step at a time.

Sounds like a fun place to be, don'nit?

Off to jerk,
-John