[TrialsRider]

…The voltage range was measured in conditions ranging from low light through to full direct light conditions.

I think I need to drop another 40$ for a #11-1890-8 before I have a fully operational Death Star.
Thanks for the input

[TrialsRider]

The solar battery tender I acquired ( Canadian Tire 1 watt Powersports Solar Charger, product #11-1894-0 ) seems to lack any voltage regulation and a quick meter test shows the output voltage fluctuates from 0 to upwards of 19 volts. Is this a problem and should I not be adding some circuitry to regulate the voltage output? And, do I not need to make it directional?

The product features list implies that “Built-in overcharge/discharge protection” is built in, but I can’t see anything here other than a melt down fuse to support that claim.

…input would be greatly appreciated, before I go and cook some selenium thx:)

[TrialsRider]

There are solar battery tenders available, I bought one but haven’t hooked it up yet. Eventually I can let you know if they are any good

[TrialsRider]

Here’s another one for you; have you ever visited a power generating station and seen birds attempting to land on the extreme high voltage power outputs? Try as they might they simply can not land on those conductors, they get close and appear to bounce right off. Here is an excerpt from elsewhere describing this same extreme voltage phenomena that I once witnessed: “(in fact, it’s so high that birds can’t land on the wires because the magnetic field surrounding them is so strong, the birds are physically repelled).”
…how cool is that ?

[TrialsRider]

My levers are set about 15 degrees below horizontal, the limit being how far back and low you need to get when going down extremely steep slopes and still reach the lever.
Note the hydraulic reservoir on my clutch, plus the little adjusting screw on the short side of the lever, that’s the true sign of a one finger clutch
This picture shows how little you need to apply it to completely disengage the clutch:

…and there is still lots of adjustment for riders with shorter fingers. These are fully adjustable reach controls

[TrialsRider]

With some further investigation I found this article and some basis for the Old Guy Theory
http://www.thebatteryterminal.com/TechTalk_Batteries_on_Concrete.htm
Still puzzled by the surface “grime” thing though, it almost contradicts everything he said previously?
…I really enjoyed the “Grandfather Clause”

Ponder this!
A storage battery on a trickle charger is a completed circuit.

[TrialsRider]

…the following is not generally an option on street bike controls:

Dirt bike trick; I also move my levers way in on the bars, for increased purchase and to prevent them from pinching your fingers in the event that you clip a tree.

The lever mounting clamp is only tight enough that in normal use it stays put, but in a fall it spins on the bar and will not bend or break the lever

[TrialsRider]

Three years is about par for battery life in my experience also. If you visually inspect the battery electrolyte, you may notice a heavy accumulation of lead sulphate (white goop) in the bottom of the battery casing. Once the sulphate crystals buildup reaches the plates, the battery shorts out internally and prevents it from taking a full charge.

I have read and believe it true that; the older a battery is the longer it requires to charge and the correct charging rate also needs to be reduced proportionately. We are not talking small changes here either! When new, a battery will completely charge in less than 1 hour and when they are old they require many days to fully charge at a considerably reduced charging rate. Fast charging is also known to shorten a batteries life or even destroy the battery.

An really old guy told me to never sit a battery on the concrete floor either, always sit it up on a board or bench. The notion being that electricity is synonymous with magnetism and it’s trying to find its way to earth, sitting it on the ground will cause it to drain faster. Believe this part or not, totally your choice. But I sit mine up off the ground now because it’s not that hard to do and he might be right.

[TrialsRider]

Hope you realize that once you switch to 2 wheels, everything else becomes boring . The best news is; all motorcycles are terrific fun, some models are just suited to perform specific tasks better than others.

You speak of living in the country in the past tense, that’s too bad; if you still lived rural dirt bikes would be a no brainer selection. Dropping a dirt bike or race bike is almost normal, in fact if you aren’t falling off once in a while, you probably aren’t trying hard enough stuff. Not so with street bikes in my opinion; survivability and insurance rates make public roads the worst place to test limits of your riding skill. Crashing on the public roads normally constitutes a motor vehicle accident and local law enforcement has no sense of humor for such things. Falling on public roads should be avoided at all cost and generally implies that you need more practice and road smarts.

Read through lot’s of the older postings on this site for more insight on starter bike recommendations. I tend to suggest much smaller displacement sportbike rides than most here, but you would know better what and where you plan to use it. Your age can also make a big difference as insurance rates and thrill factor are influenced by how old you are. If you are very young, speed and acceleration still might be the biggest attraction, but if you’re an old guy and had your fill of go fast, you may find more interest in small displacement sportbikes, cruisers, dual-sports or classics.

If dirt bikes are no longer an option, taking the training course is clearly your first step, you are so lucky training opportunities exist. When I started riding they were unheard of. Welcome to the BBM site Newrider22

[TrialsRider]

“two boys who may come to ride it” lol, Don’t let the boys on it or you’ll be waiting to take your turn again

… isn’t everything made in China now ?

[TrialsRider]

I was trying to assist two young drivers with reading a hand drawn map that clearly had Montreal and Toronto indicated on a line labeled 401, they were starting from North of 401 and confused about needing to take 401 East or 401 West to get to Montreal. I pointed to the map and inquired “so which way is North on this map?” and they both agreed: “North is at the top of the page” So I turned the page over for them and said “there, now East is on your right” …I wonder if they ever found it

[TrialsRider]

Moto Guzzi Cafe Classic, I loved everything about this bike except the color

…the Guzzi would be the most comfortable beginner for big people.

…best new contender, if I was a beginner this would be it.

2011 CBR125R

…most improved featherweight and even as a veteran rider I want one.
If I get one, I’ll show you how to do a 180 degree turn inside a 7 foot circle

[TrialsRider]

I just returned from the Toronto Motorcycle Show an hour ago, spent a mere 6.5 hours today throwing my leg over nearly every bike of my dreams and brought home a beautiful new Nexx carbon fiber helmet. My show favorites were the BMW K1300S, Honda VFR 1200, Honda CBR125R and CBR250R, Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Classic, Cafe kitted Royal Enfield, MV Agusta, Ducati 1198 and the new 2011 Norton Commando …just in case anyone would like to buy me something nice for christmas

[TrialsRider]

20 minutes is not very long for numb anything to set in, make sure your glove straps aren’t so tight as to limit circulation coming from a cruiser sportbike riding position would feel very unnatural so you might be placing very little weight on the legs and transferring way too much weight on the bars and on your privates. In a normal riding position I can lift both hands from the bars without pushing off or shifting any body weight to compensate. I do alternate between an arched and curved spine posture on long rides, that reduces muscle fatigue and numb bum.

Ninja 250 being a parallel twin she will have some engine buzz, someone else can tell us if the stock bars are rubber mounted as they are on many other bikes. It does have a chain and chains transfer an amazing amount of vibration through the whole motorcycle, especially if they are not adjusted correctly. Shame on the dealer if that was the problem.

Gloves can make a world of difference, if you weren’t wearing any that could be a problem, gloves are almost as vital as a helmet. Personally, I like gloves with a single layer of leather on the palm, any built up layers or insulating material on the palm is not so good, can result in calluses or hand cramps, don’t like the padded grips either.

Control lever positioning can make a big difference, just as keyboarding wrong can give you carpal tunnel.
…hope this helps some

[TrialsRider]

… should have made the race from the top to the bottom and back to the top again

[Author]

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