Forum Replies Created
The “Five to Survive” Rule & Why You Should Use It
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RupmiscParticipant
Hey Spaz, I don’t know if you sat on a 696 before you made your Duc choice, but I need to really press the tank with my knees to prevent sliding forward. Would you consider putting something more grippy on the side of the tank? The 696 is supposed to be a standard, with my upper body just a little forward. Maybe I got the wrong bike? Maybe I should try putting a bar riser on the bike. Sometimes I think the 696 was made for folks 5’9″ or less.
I keep thinking I’ll eat the depreciation and sell the 696 in the spring. I’d like to get something a little more upright, and ABS would be nice. BMW 800 ST? Honda Interceptor VF with ABS? Multistrada (no ABS) or how about the Ducati Sport Classic?
RupmiscParticipantMunch: well said.
Anonymous: “Mainstream media kool aid”? Wouldn’t say anything except to point out that the kool aid can be found just about anywhere, and a little intelligent straining is called for.
“Dominant race”. I respect Munch’s insight so maybe he has a point on the grunge thing. But I wonder if maybe you went in a different direction. Sounds more like you imagine yourself as the member of a “dominant race” that is being threatened. Classic scapegoating? Do you live in western PA? ;-P
By the way, it seems that several nations have used self inflicted woes as an excuse for the inexcusable (see Nazi Germany ).
I won’t disagree that ultimately, we all have to get over the past and take responsibility for our own future. But there is something about the way you say it that has an edge that suggests that currently, you feel yourself to be a victim.
RupmiscParticipantDon’t confuse being PC, with being willing to challenge stupid ideas (even though I will defend the right of those with stupid ideas to speak them). For once, I think I agree with ‘ole Smoky, if I understand what he was saying. Anonymous (brave soul) is sounding a bit paranoid. Does Anonymous think that some people only “perceive” themselves to have been oppressed? Wow, speaking about relativism. Personally, I would say that groups that have been victims of genocide or slavery could fairly claim to have been “oppressed”. I really don’t think “perception” is a big factor.
By the way, there are plenty of people who preach equality without seeking revenge.
Saying “vertically challenged” instead of “short” is PC (yuck). Assuming all short people suffer from some sort of Napoleonic complex is stupid, and can fairly be challenged. Assuming women are bad drivers is probably stupid. It isn’t an assault on free speech to say so.
RupmiscParticipantNo and no. Middle aged, nothing extraordinary about her. I had to stifle the impulse to ask her what we had in common since she might be an expert on driving “like an older lady”. Although, “hawt” really is a matter of perspective. She seemed about my age. Didn’t do much for me, but maybe you’ve got a Mrs. Robinson thing going, Spaz?
She sounded rational enough that I wondered if I had been riding badly. No cell phone, no dangling cigarette, no crazy eyes. Probably just needed to get home from work and get that first drink? I’ll never know.
RupmiscParticipantI locked the Nighthawk in any marginally questionable area. As a practical matter, though, two people could have lifted it into a truck even locked. The 696 is a little heavier, and the lock is done just by turning the key a little further left in the ignition. So automatically unlocks when you start bike.
RupmiscParticipantMaybe I should ask if it is OK to dump on someone’s ass who makes a racist or other stupid prejudiced comment. The person can say what they want, but do we have to put up with it, or can we call them on it. At what point can we withdraw our company (assuming we wanted to)?
Going back to my original question, would it be better to have said,”sorry you ran into an oblivious driver using a cell phone, but making a point of explaining that it was a black woman was irrelevant, and may indicate a flaw in your thinking”? Does that make me PC, or just exercising my right to tell someone that they are offensive? The question has come up before. I agree with another poster who pointed out that the word “Jap” might be offensive. Is that PC, or just courtesy?
I really get pissed when people generalize about groups. It seems, sometimes, that it is considered bad manners on these forums to call someone on an obnoxious comment (and yes, I mean obnoxious in the eye the reader-me or another). So that is the question, is it acceptable on these forums to call someone if they make an offensive comment, and then discuss whether it was in fact obnoxious rather than fall back free speech as a justification. Elwood, except for the Stalin thing, I tend to agree with you-but free speech includes taking responsibility for what is said. Criticizing someone for saying something does not violate their free speech rights. Stopping them ahead of time would do that.
October 10, 2008 at 1:09 am in reply to: Where’s Elwood????………I hope you alright out there buddy! #13646RupmiscParticipantWelcome back young dude person. Ride a Harley, up to you. But get a Mac, and free yourself. ;-P
RupmiscParticipantDitto
RupmiscParticipantNot saying the original poster was wrong, but am saying that those stats don’t show a helluva lot. Some random thoughts:
Between 1980 to 1998, a lot of people who were 25 in 1980 were 43 in 1998.
Using the “age” theory, with growth in engine displacement assumes a correlation which doesn’t necessarily exist.
Theory ignores stats from auto crashes which show younger drivers have a much higher accident rate. “Older drivers” can be a problem, too – but, I believe, these are generally considered to be age 70+. I’ll take a mature 40-65 year old, with a bunch of road experience and a little maturity, over an 18 year old with an itch for speed.
Theory also ignores change in cars over the same period (both HP and handling at speed). Where most compact cars can cruise comfortably at 90, the old advantages of extra acceleration for bikes have disappeared.
Cell phones, drive through food, coffee holders, multi-tasking. Lots has changed.
Crumbling infrastructure: read pot holes, bridges needing repair, hazards.
What is the number of bikes on the road?
I could go on. I’m not saying you may not be right (although I do doubt that you are), but your stats certainly are not a valid argument for your case, at least without substantial additional data.
RupmiscParticipantI’m 54, and don’t lift weights. Not in bad shape, not in great shape.
On any bike where your position is leaning forward (i.e. sportbike) you need to be able to hold your body up (back and core strength), especially at lower speeds. It also helps to be able to use your legs, thigh muscles to move you around, or lift you off the seat. Flexibility helps too.
Good news: I suspect most people, especially those under 40 are in good enough shape. Also, riding the bike gets you in shape.IMHO.
RupmiscParticipantWas 20 miles into an 80 mile trip today when my shifter “skipped” a “stop” [??] and became frozen in the down position. The 696, with just over 200 miles, is at the dealer’s. The dealer was very responsive, got truck to me within 1.5 hours, gave me a lift home, and then took the bike to be double checked an hour away. Sad event, great dealer so far (I have yet to meet a Ducati dealer I haven’t found to provide superior service.
My friend Anonymous is right about having to watch the throttle. He’s right about the clutch. I do find that the handle bars are low for me, and fully turned are very close to the tank. Although the bike is flickable and light, it isn’t blissfully easy at slow (road test) speeds because of the forward upper body, and longer reach. Come the spring, I may add risers, or even trade the 696 for something with a more upright position.
After the Nighthawk, the 696 is so secure on the highway. Anonymous is also right about the fairing. At highway speeds, the wind actually supports your body in its forward position (which is, I understand, not uncommon on sport bikes).
After the 696, the Nighthawk (which I still have) is so great in bumper to bumper, or in those 25-30 mile an hour zones. After the 696, the Nighthawk is just so easy to ride, I started appreciating it all over again. So many bikes, so little time.
To be honest, though, sometimes I wish I had gone for a more upright touring bike, even if it had slightly higher HP, and might be harder to ride. I think when things settle, I’m a standard kind of guy, naked or faired.
RupmiscParticipantProblem with motorcycles is that the market is small, compared to cars, and the opportunity for dealer bullshit is higher. The manufacturers don’t seem to be in any hurry to help, and don’t believe that they have any incentive to do so. If buyers in groups, started favoring manufacturers that set dealer standards for sales and service, it is possible that the situation would improve.
In a perfect world, freight and assembly would be standardized and on the invoice. The idea that you should pay a dealer to do normal administrative paper work is ludicrous. License fees are fine (waiting in line to get the plates), if you have the option to get your own license instead.
No one in their right mind would pay anything over sticker for a car. There just isn’t the same amount of shared information on motorcycles. Also, the manufacturers aren’t doing enough to ensure that any dealer, will service the manufacturer’s bikes, regardless of where they were purchased.
Not only is it now fall, but cash is scarce. Car dealers are doing almost anything to sell their inventory. Gotta wonder why we aren’t seeing deep discounts on bikes. When I go to some local dealers, I see two and three year old (new) bikes, for sale at maybe 10% below their original prices. Hard to see how anyone can afford to carry inventory that long. Pardon the rant, but it is clear that there are a lot of inefficiencies in this particular market.
RupmiscParticipantEven if modulating headlights aren’t OK to install, I flick back and forth from my low beams to high when I want to be extra visible. Of course, there’s always the horn (although you can’t quite predict whether they’ll hear it, or what they may do if they do).
RupmiscParticipantThis thread was a response to a post by “jayman2078”, not one by you. Just thought you should know. It’s not about you.
For all your flaws, I haven’t seen you apply stereotypes based on genetic groups to individuals. Nor have I seen you offend anyone in that way.
Other ways, sure, but you don’t seem to be a bigot.
RupmiscParticipantLooks really good. Maybe even a little more upright than the Ducati 696. A hell of a lot cheaper.
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