Making New Friends

powered by Audioblog.com

Mississippi Dykes and Burning Bridges

powered by Audioblog.com

Bike Ride Reviews: 2003 KLR650 and 2006 KLX250

Also, some KLX250 riding tips from Nate for the loose stuff and The Brown Stain Truth.


powered by Audioblog.com

Graphite Gravel and the Green Weenie Suit

powered by Audioblog.com

The Red Truck O' Death and Fine Dining at Citgo

powered by Audioblog.com

Selmer, Tn and Nate Speaks With a Lisp

powered by Audioblog.com

Morning Update Headed for Mississippi

powered by Audioblog.com

Slick Creek Crossing and Oh Shit Hill

powered by Audioblog.com

A Fork in the Road and The Killer Guinea

powered by Audioblog.com

Day 1 Recap -Summertown to Florence

powered by Audioblog.com

Gettin' Together

powered by Audioblog.com



It's rainin' so here's a few pics from last night.

Here's the SwampThing strapped down for transport. For your protection not his.


The answer to the question, "What's in your garage". When equipped this way a common garage becomes a Stable.


Same scene with Nate's Jekyll featured.


See Nate pickin' his nose.....


Our steeds:

Hey Y'all! We're off.....

Yesterday we got together and made a shakedown run on the bikes then checked for loose fasteners (blue loctite is my friend!) Nate had already run out of fuel once before I even got here - it seems whoever prepped the bike put the petcock on reserve and about a gallon of fuel in it. Our poor mother had to bring him fuel out in the middle of nowhere...

Waterboy,
look into the KLX250/KLX650. They were made from '93 to'97 and there are some really good examples on the market for around 2500 to 3000. Nate's KLX250 is very similar to them if not the same bike.

Nate's bike rocks! Sure it's a little down on power from the KLR650 but it really makes up for it in weight savings. And that SUSPENSION! Oh, Man! It just soaks up everything!

For the record, I was the first to jump Nate's bike.

The AudioBlogs won't have titles, sorry.

Firearms:

Nate - Taurus Tracker .357


Me - CZ100 in 9mm

Trans Am Trail Preview Pics

I won't be able to post pics as we ride, so to give ya'll and idea of the scenery I lifted these off of ADVRider.com and KLR650.net. Bear in mind the rough stuff is not in these as folks are generally too busy with ridin' and survivin' to bother with a camera. These pics were taken on the trail by two fellas who go by "Shrek650" (KLR650.net) and "Yater" (ADVRider.com) through the states we are gettin' ready to ride. Shrek rode in from Florida and Yater from Texas (shout out to EP!) to Columbia, Tn. to ride together. Nate and I aren't gonna suffer quite so much of the interstate as they. So, feast yer eyes:

powered by Audioblog.com










That last pic is what the view from Nate's saddle will be.

Remote Audio Blogging is Up and Running

powered by Audioblog.com

No Comment

This KLR is called "BigFoot"



Oh, Nate still has not picked up his bike. I warned him I was perfectly willing to ride the TAT alone and would lord it over him the rest of his life and even pass the story down to my descendants. With appropriate embellishment, of course.

Diesel Oil In My Precious Motorcycle?

Yes indeed! Auto spec oils are rapidly loosing their phosphorus content due to emmissions equipment sensitivity and the diesel oils still have it in gobs.

From the Rotella website:

Can heavy-duty diesel oil be used in motorcycles?

Motorcycle gasoline engines may not seem in the same league as the big displacement diesel engine under your hood, but they share some of the same lubrication requirements. So yes, in many cases, a premium heavy-duty universal oil capable of serving both diesel and gasoline engines is the best choice for your bike.

The high power-to-displacement ratio of a motorcycle engine means rod and main bearings are subjected to loads that are not normally found in passenger car engines. The valve train is also highly loaded, and requires extreme pressure boundary lubrication. The same can be said about gears in the transmission, which are normally lubricated by engine oil. Oil additives containing phosphorus protect these highly loaded extreme pressure areas (in both gasoline and diesel engines). Because diesel engines have higher loading of components, more of the phosphorus-containing additive is present than in typical passenger car oils. And with advanced catalyst systems for gasoline engines, the phosphorus content has been declining in passenger car oils.

Since many bike engines are air-cooled, and tend to be operated at high power outputs and speeds, their lubricating oil needs to be more resistant to high temperature oxidation. That’s another advantage of a premium universal oil. Another thing you want in your motorcycle is oil that has excellent viscosity control, so that with use it retains high temperature viscosity. Some multiviscosity grade passenger car oils, subjected to extreme loads, can quickly thin out. Their viscosity can drop to the next lower grade.

One last thing to consider is whether oil contains friction modifier additives. For improved fuel economy, most passenger car oils have such an additive. But the wet clutch in your bike doesn’t perform right with friction modifiers. Universal engine oils don’t have friction modifiers.

Be careful choosing diesel oils. Not all of them are universal. In addition to the API Service Category CI-4 PLUS for diesels, look for API Service Category SL.

Premium universal oils like Shell ROTELLA® T Multigrade are formulated for heavy-duty performance, and your bike engine has some heavy-duty challenges for oil. For optimum performance, be sure your oil is up to the challenge.

Did a Little Custom Seat Work Today

I cut about 2.5 inches out of my seating area and replaced it with 1/2" of firm closed cell foam. I glued it down and left the pillion area as it was so it would have "stadium seating" like a sportbike. I feathered the new foam in and smoothed the transition to the pillion pad with a disc grinder.

All that's left is to spoon on the Kenda K270 DOT knobbies and I'm good to go!!

Nate's pickin' up his KLX250 Monday and just called to tell me there is an impromptu motocross track (with Jumps!) across from his new neighborhood so he'll have all week to break it in and get geared up for the ride. Barring injury, of course.

It's Catching.

Ooops! The link below was incorrect. Here is the good one: HondaChopper.com

Got an old '72 CB 750 SOHC that I saved from being landfill, and the thing was half assed semi chopped ( weren't they all back then ) with a 16" H-D rim laced to the rear hub, and the damn thing has a Arco (Armstrong) tire on it from the '70's, and the tire is not dry rotted.
Brand X

Now we're talkin'!

I have a confession to make:
I dig the old Jap and Brit Choppers. The uglier the better. With every tom, dick, and honda makin' V(iagra)-twins they are the only way a "cruiser" can truly be different.


BrandX go here.

We want pictures BX! You hearin' me? Pics before. Pics during. Pics after.

I'm thinkin' BrandX might be obsessed, too....

The World's Fastest Indian

Anthony Hopkins plays Burt Munro in this limited release film about one man's obsession with his Indian motorcycle and speed. I know those two phrases should be mutually exclusive but....




He was Obsessed!

I'll be watching this at the Kentucky Theatre tomorrow afternoon. Think I'm excited about it? You think right!


Update: That was the best movie I have ever seen. Hollywierd's usual preaching was kept to a bare minimum and overshadowed by the wisdom of age counterpointed by the recklessness and determination of a youthful soul.
I don't know if you'll like this movie or not but if you crave the peripheral blur of scenery, the roar of a harnessed explosion subject to your whim, and the soaring of spirit that comes from partaking in the joy of speed - all of it, every ounce - you'll say the same thing I did.

That was the best movie I have ever seen.

When Men Were Men

They didn't need no damned sissy suspension!

SwampThing Mod.a

A few things are on the bike now.

- barkbusters
- headlight guard
- skidplate
- high-flow air filter
- levers are bobbed
- 13tooth countershaft sprocket installed (2T under)

The Progressive fork springs are sitting in the boox as yet along with the rear master cylinder guard, 15wt fork oil, and jet kit.

I am awaiting a new (better) shift lever, a Supertrapp slip-on, and new brush/hand guards.

I did some cosmetic work to break up all the green on the mini-fairing (MrsJAC assisted) and worked the plasitc back into it's original color.

How's SwampThing comin' y'all?

Dale B. is a poster over at advrider.com. Send a prayer up for him if you think about it. Be careful out there.

Yesterday, 07:09 AM
DaleB
Virginia Beach, VA


Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 90



My number is up...
After 2 years and 25k miles on my trusty steed karma pulled my number last sunday.

i was slowing to negotiate a left hand turn off of a 2 lane road and was struck from behind by a young teen driver traveing appxox 65mph (in a 45). My speed was approximately 15mph and slowing, hyper lights going.

Long story short, i'm now parapalegic. T12 and L1 were crushed along with the spinal cord in the middle.

I'm heading to surgery today to fuse and reconstruct the physical support mechanism i need to at least be able to sit up in a wheelchair.

I believe in the power of prayer and would considerate it a great honor to be included in any prayers over the next few days.

Cheers,
Dale
__________________
"Not all who wander are lost."

---------------
'05 R12GS
'04 LemFiddyGS
'84 RM125

Cousin to SwampThing?

Quick! What's the reference?

I'm Puttin' my Foot Down !

I've had too many, "I've made up my mind and I'm buyin' a (fill in the blank with a dual sport motorcycle)" phone calls from Nate.

Listen to me Jr, Here are your options:

The I Want to Be a Burden to my Riding Buddies Option: You are going to buy a new BMW of any flavour. I will help you pick it up four times. These can be the first four times you drop it or the 12th through 15th or the first 15th, 31st, 35th (you get the idea) but only four times. After that you are on your own. I will carry only one hanky for you to dry the tears shed from ruining the appearance of a gorgeous motorcycle, and I will not accompany you home and witness the abuse you will take when DrWho sees what you have done to your pretty bike. I don't want to hear from you again until it's done.

The Money is No Object Option:
You are going to buy a new KLX250S. I don't want to hear from you again until it's done.

The I Will Grow Into It Option:
You are going to buy a slightly used and upgraded yellow DRZ400S. I don't want to hear from you again until it's done.

The I Just Need a Ratbike to Get Going with DualSport Option:
You are going to buy a slightly used !cheap! street legal dirtbike of any brand, color, size, so long as the balls of your feet touch the ground. I don't want to hear from you again until it's done.

Of course there's always the SwampThing......

And what's all this talk of house selling, moving, childcare, eating, and breathing? There are motorccle things to be done. Get your head on straight!

Super Dad !

I'll let my youngest tell the tale:

My dad and I went to a car dealer. He said I would be surprised. I wasn't. We went into a building. I saw a small dirtbike. It was yellow. Then my eyes glanced over and I saw the dirtbike of my dreams! I sat on the yellow one, then I sat on my dreambike. It was perfect. I asked Dad if I could get it. Then he payed for it and signed some papers and we left. We went to pick up my older sister. When we got home Dad got my dream bike out. He also got the yellow bike out and me and my sister rode them.

See the girls here!

* 17 Mb file - Bandwidth Warning

The Modern Woman : Dateless

I took the wife on a date Saturday night. Babysitter, Limousine to Louisville and back, Prime Rib, George Strait; pretty much the works. Big Fun, people. Go see George before he hangs it up. He's really startin' to show his age. The show, however, was flawless and Ol' George is old school when it comes to entertainin'. He just steps to the microphone and sings #1 hits one after another. No twistin', or obnoxious unmanly dancin' whatsoever. Just toe tappin' and croonin' the way Hank invented it.

The first thing we spot when we pulled up to Freedom Hall was a woman exiting an adjacent limo ass-first. Note I didn't say skirt first. That's because it was ass with pretty much a washcloth over it, or riding up over it. Nothing left for the imagination as the goods were clearly displayed.

Turns out that was to be the rule rather than the exception. There was much of many a female body displayed in all states of bloom and decay from nubile to "rode hard and put up wet" and often more sheer volume of exposed abdominal flesh than be comfortably viewed on a 20 ounce prime rib.

This was in stark contrast to most of the menfolk there, as nearly to the man they wore starched shirts, shiney boots, and Stetson hats. Hell, some of the older fellas even had creases ironed into their jeans (a sure sign of a loving wife).


Half way through the concert after a few beer/bathroom runs I noticed most of the females in attendence were solo or with a buddychick or two. I'm not quite sure what to make of that as the wares were on display for any interested party to consider. Personally I'm thinkin' these (ahem) ladies, aside from their display of bare excess cellulite, have become the "havenots" in the male/female courtship rite by virtue of offering goods so cheaply they have stifled demand. Flooded the market, as it were.

That's what I think. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Guilty!

I'm a slacker.

Hey!, I got a new bike that needs dollin' up and I'm bettin' not a one of ya' holds me culpable for wrenchin' instead of bloggin'.
I must admit to some guilty feelings, however, for not postin' pics of work in progress so I'll see what I can do on that score. Thanks for stoppin' by though.

Neither I nor my brothers are ever so diligent as when we are tending to motorcycle business. Except Nate. He can't seem to make up his mind. Draw from that what you will.....


I painted the front fender black and installed the radiator guards. You can see the ultra-cool HID light on the left side of the fairing. I'm lookin' for a guarded place for that.....



Here's my Moose skidplate. It interferes with my preferred positioning of the shift lever so IMS shift lever is on order. (Like I needed an excuse)


Check out the Maier Woods Pro "barkbusters"! I still need to guards to keep the air off my mitts. Those heated grips are nice, but a little wind protection sure helps, too.


So, that leaves installation of the Progressive Fork Springs, Race Tech Cartridge Emulator, Moose Roll Chart Reader, Ram Mount GPS Mount, Moose Air Filter, FMF Jet Kit, Kenda K270 tires, and removeal of the lowering links.

Then the airbox mod and I have to do something about the seat, then decide whether to get an aftermarket pipe or gut the stock lump, figure out what to do about the reaer shock/spring, and choose a countershaft sprocket from my collection of 12T through 16T.

I'll be around, and opinions/advice/experiences are hereby solicited.

Ipods and idiots

I find it too much of a cooincidence that shortly after ipods went cheap the whole world is suddenly in danger of hearing loss. What's this say about your typical Apple customer?

The more things change in Deutschland, the more the commie rat bastards stay the same.

Does anyone doubt that these super-psycho-subservent sumbitches love authority in any form?

Sick

I don't think we're all that far from this. Hate crimes. Truth is illegal. Idiots.

Test

I just wanted to try puting video up on the blog. This is plumb scary but, if you stick with it, towards the end when traffic opens up you can get a pretty good idea of what it would be like were you to ride with me on any given day. Listen for the exhaust and intake notes to deepen and start to harmonize then tell me you don't hear that same little voice in your ear saying, "You like that? That's nothin'. How about some more? Well? Get some! C'mon big boy, GO" It's a disease, and I know it.

High bandwidth warning.

Bill's Back From Florida Y'all !

And he's a pretty good photographer, as you can see from these pics from the Everglades:







If y'all have any questions for him ask 'em in the comments. He's around here somewhere...

I want to know what he was carrying while frolicing with the alligators.

Does this look like fun to anyone else?

Sign on Petersville Road, Alaska.

Here it is, Res.

KLR650 Trail Prep - Post Under Consturction

Since my other brothers are a litlle slow about gettin' their two wheeled mules into the stable, I'll see if I can't point the way by goin' over some useful additions to the Swamp Thing. All of the required "Change this out or it will torpedo the engine" things have been done so now I need to get it ready for the trail.

I have, roughly, a $500.00 budget and will be addressing the following issues:

- Radiator and Reservoir Protection

There are four ways to go here
a.) Purchase a larger tank with integral radiator fairings that will provide protection.

The KLR doesn't need a bigger tank as it already holds six gallons. This would be a $270 purchase to protect the cooling system.


b.) Purchase guards for the Radiator/Reservoir.
$38.00



c.) Purchase the cool exoskeleton that guards the entire front of the bike.

This is the $189.00 option that currently appeals to me most, due to the fact that I believe it would have the additional benefit of adding to the resale value and make the bike much more desirable to any prospective buyer though it does cramp my suspension/power budget.


d.) Make guards.
If I made 'em they would probably be similar to the minimalist guards in "b". Welding thin wall tubing.... ugh. I could use EMT to keep weight down. Probably cost $10 bucks and take a half day to make/couple hours to install and could maybe address the issue of longitudinal weakness.

- Engine Case Protection

a) Skid Plate $70.00 purchase.

b) Make one $15.00/ half day/ weld aluminum. ugh. I could make it as heavy as I wanted though....


- Traction
The Trans-am trail in TN appears to be mostly dirt/gravel roads and I look for quite a bit of mud this time of year so I am looking at the more aggressive tires. None of them will last over a few thousand miles so I am leaning toward the Kenda since a lot of folks like 'em. I'm looin' at the Maxxis, too, Gregg.

a.) Continetal TKC80
b.) Kenda K270
c.) Maxxis C6006
d.) Dunlop D606


- Suspension Action


Larry Roeseler Signature Series Fork Springs $80.00
RaceTech Cartridge Emulators $160.00



- Throttle Response/ Low End Grunt
One tooth down from stock on the countershaft sprocket (14T) $21.00

I have located a 685cc kit and cams for it, but they'll have to wait 'til the next upgrade session....

I know I'm gonna catch shit from Gregg, but......

This is my new DualSport bike: a 2003 Kawasaki KLR650.
The Swamp Thing!
I traded the Mothership(1988 Voyager) for it and got $500.00 to boot!
Gregg, It was too good a deal to pass up, and I've still gt a line on a DRz400s.....



Yes, Spacebunny, I know it's ugly.

A Motorcycle Link and a Traveler's Alert for Nashville

First watch the greatest riders on the planet at play on the fastest bikes on the planet. Note the power sliding curves, the clipons shoved into the pavement. Watch Valentino Rossi put his whole body on the left peg in a wheelie at 1:25 Troy Bayliss applying 220 HP to the rear tire at the 2:12 mark Or Sete Gibeneau wheelie through a turn at 3:19. If that doesn't make you want to twist the "GO!!!!" handle I consider you've been dead awhile already.

ANIMALS!
High Bandwidth Warning: 46MB file.


There is a Two Wheel Traveler's Alert for I-65 north of Nashville. This is specific to bikes as we are more apt to fall into these. Please beware of large cracks on the pavement.

Pics below:






















Ride Safe.

Can't Kill 'em All? Bullshit !

I was listening to Shawn Hannity today (spare me the "He's a hack!" comments) and he had Ann Coulter and some blackmuslim militant on. They were both gettin' whipped by the girl, but that's beside the point. The BM lunatic made the statement that if we left muslims alone they would leave us alone (BS) and besides there are 2 billion of 'em and we couldn't kill 'em all and even if we could they ain't afraid of dyin'.

How's he figure that? We can kill 'em all quite easily and with amazing rapidity. I think we have demonstrated that. The two shortest wars ever were against "fearless" and fearsome muslims. They are definitely and demonstrably afraid to die. Their fear of death/injury (AKA cowardice) is their defining characteristic.

Equus Pallidus Steps In It

Not to be pickin' on ya' EP, but looks like these fellas sprung an ambush from where I'm sittin'.

FT

What makes me mad is people who drive on roads everyday don't mind taxes going for matenance of said roads. Yet they don't see agriculture as part of our infrastructure, it is just crazy.
equus pallidus | Email | Homepage | 02.07.06 - 7:40 pm | #

What makes me mad is people who drive on roads everyday don't mind taxes going for matenance of said roads. Yet they don't see agriculture as part of our infrastructure, it is just crazy.

What?! Are you nuts? Are you advocating publicly owned farms?

First off, regarding roads, almost everyone uses them and nobody wants toll booths, so we pay taxes - there's near universal agreement about this (outside the fever swamps of VoxVolk). Not so with farm products. There's absolutely zero problem getting people to wait in line and pay for beef and bread as they want them, there's a very nice system for doing this that has been in place for years, maybe even decades.
Bill | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 8:34 am | #

No Bill

I am talking about any kind of farm subside and people cry murder.
equus pallidus Edit comment Delete comment | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 3:54 pm | #

ep, sorry as a farmer I disagree with you. I believe that those subsides hae been the cause of the continued disappearence of the family farm. The government subsides mass production, the enemy of hard work and time value that the family farmer has to offer. I can beat the big operations hands down on low cost of production because I have time and labor to put into the mix. Mass production is more expense and requires a government handout to keep them going.
farmer Tom | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 7:35 pm | #

FT

They took away the dairy subsidies and almost all the small dairy's went out of business.

They took away the peanut subside and My brother is about the only one left in the county that did not go out of business.

Then they heep more and more regulation on them, unpaid mandates, that put many out of buisness.

The subside's are what keep the small farmer in business. I have worked in agriculture professionally for 20 years. I have been to hundres of farms and I have seen what this has done.
equus pallidus | Email | Homepage | 02.08.06 - 8:14 pm | #