Well, we did it

We started the process to see if we can buy a house....

Honestly, I'm nervous as hell about whether we will get qualified for enough, or if we will even qualify at all. But also, what we are going to do if we are actually qualified to buy a house.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say that.

The "list"

This is the list of bikes that are on my list for "next"

Suzuki
SV650 - naked sport standard
SV650S - sport
GSX650F - sport standard
DRZ400S - dual sport
DRZ400SM - super-motard
V-Strom - standard/dual sport

Kawasaki
Ninja 650 - sport standard
Versys - standard
Z1000 - sport standard
KLX250S - dual sport
KLR650 - dual sport

Yamaha
FZ6 - sport standard
FZ1 - sport standard
V-Max - sporty cruiser

Honda
919 - sport standard
Interceptor - sport touring

hmm...big list....
looks like a dual sport or sport standard.....hmm....we'll see

shipped off some vfr parts today, think I sold some more!

yay!

Happy Friday!

Yeah, it's Friday.

This task at work is kicking my butt. Not terribly, but it's kicking my butt. Biggest thing I've done in a while and I'm speeding up on it, so it's not too bad, but damn, this thing is not exactly trivial. Compared to what I thought it was when I started the task, it's easy, but I've got it saving data, now I just need to get it loading.

Then, I'm about 1/6 done. Load and Save from a list. Then, I have Auto Save, Fixed Save, and Auto Save from a List. After that, I have to make it load and save a list of files. Once I do that, I have to do all the error checking. Some of these pieces will be easier than others, and some will be hard (error checking....the details are what get you!).

Also, this weekend I am riding. Yes. On 2 wheels. Chad (chipper) is bringing 2 bikes, one to sell, and one to ride, and has offered to let me ride them both at various times. One is a dirt bike and he's mostly getting that so that I can ride a dirt bike to see if I like riding in the dirt. The other is a old Honda 400. Even if I don't end up riding Chad's bikes, I'll be riding my bicycle.

Saturday, I'm riding on downtown to get my bike licensed (thanks Moscow....$5 to ride a bike....) and get a new reflector holder. The old reflector holder got sacrificed into a camera mount tha works WAAAAY too well and so I'll maybe be taking some video as I ride on downtown on Saturday.

This weekend, the weather is supposed to be AWESOME, so I'm stoked about getting out and playing outside.

So, is it a Southern Rock Friday? Is it a Jimmy Buffet Friday? Is it a country music Friday? Well, I think it's a Mike Oldfield Friday....some good Mike Oldfield should get me moving right to get lots done today.

viffer parts that are gone

tail piece
right rear set
right clip on
gauges
coils and most of the ignition system
slip on exhaust

Things to do...

I need something I can do to stay active in the motorcycle community.

I want to make and sell something, but the problem is that most things I could build and sell requires special tools that I don't have (let alone know how to use properly). One thing I was thinking was doing some LED lighting projects or possibly fiberglass and body work.

The problem with LED lighting is that you can't find just empty light lenses and such, so I'd need to have the lights to work with. Fiberglass I would either need molds to use *or* I would need some plastics to learn on. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, I've got the VFR plastics......hmm......just wish I either had a garage or good weather!

Actually, I'm going to take the tail piece and see if I can bring it back up to snuff. The thing has been repaired poorly too many times, so it's basically worthless unless I can fix it all up and make it a good piece again. Sounds like a challenge to me!

hmm....

anyway...

the motogp race was pretty good. the 250 race was better than the big bikes, but shit happens. I was glad I went and watched. Good times, and a great burger. :)

zipper visit, plane rides

So, I took a plane ride.

It was supposed to leave from Pullman, go to Lewiston, and then on to Sea-Tac.

Pullman was too snowy, I got a call to go to Lewiston instead.

WHEEEEE

Meetings all day on Thursday and half of Friday

My new start date at Zipper is May 19

Plane ride back to Lewiston, delayed. Supposed to go to Pullman and then Lewiston.

Pullman is again too snowy, and the wind is too windy.

Down to Lewiston.

Drive on home.

I'm tired.

Goodnight.

Man's Greatest Tragedy

As we get better at killing, we realize that killing is not the answer.

Suddenly, we understand that by killing certain things, we are destroying a part of the earth that we rely on.

Everything is interconnected, and we cannot rely on the fact that just because we are directly negatively affected by something doesn't mean we don't need something else that relies on that thing.

One minor example: spiders and snakes. Killing them means an increase in insects and rodents.

Wolves, killing wolves means an increase in coyotes.

....philosophy...I wish I was good at it....

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter doods!


So, it's been a year since my wreck last Easter. I've learned a lot since then, racked up another 7 000 miles, and no other wrecks. But, now I've sold the rebel to another new rider. I bought another motorcycle with the intention of fixing it up, but I've given up on that now, and I've come to terms with the fact that I will have to wait for a while before I can justify buying another bike. I'm fairly melancholy recently about motorcycles, but I have hope. I have made a lot of friends and will continue to make friends in the motorcycle community. Instead of riding on the track, I'll be working corners or hanging out in the pits instead.

I'll be back. You can bet on that. I'll be back on 2 wheels soon enough.

Until then, I've got my bicycle and my pickup, and some fishing that needs done.

Unlike last year, the weather isn't beautiful. It looks like rain, and it's chilly outside.

Sherry, I was looking forward to leading some good spring rides this year too. I was hoping that we'd be able to get out and get going. What does your ninjette need? I've got a brand new battery that I dumped into the viffer, and we could get Johnny and I over to poke at it with sticks for a while! Just give me a call, and we'll find some time to come over at it.



So, my next project:
I don't like my tool box. HHAHHA, yes I do, but I want to make it more useful. Instead of a 3 tier system, I want a 2 tier, separate-able system. I've got a roller table that is the right height for a work surface, but needs a wooden top. The smaller tool box can sit on the work surface when it's put away. The middle tier is just a cheap little thing that once correctly tightened would be sturdy for sitting still, but for rolling around is not that sturdy. So, it's going away, and I'm going to make it 2 separate pieces, and make it a work center and a tool box instead of a big standing tool chest. I think it will be better that way. Now, I just need to get some wood for it!

I've had it

I can't keep working on the VFR.

It's not in me to keep throwing money at a toy that I cannot use.

I can't ride it.

First, it was just put levers on, a few small parts, and change the fluids.

Then, the fork seals. Easy enough job, once I figured it out, but that was most of a weekend.

After that, getting levers that worked right was such a pain in the ass, and then making the clutch side fit took much more than it should have.

Then, the starter clutch. After the starter clutch, I found out it had no coolant.

The coolant seems to have gone away because of the leaky head gasket.

I haven't fixed the head gasket. I could do it. It's about $30 for the gasket, and I could do it in a few hours, and I've got friends who might even come and help me. Wouldn't be a big deal.

But, the carbs need to be sync'ed.

The clutch seems to be slipping.

The rear brake isn't working properly.

I need new springs in the front, because when I hit the front brakes, it bottoms out under even moderate braking.

I need new tires soon.

It just isn't worth my time or money anymore.

So, I'm parting it out. I'm going to lose money on it. I think I can lose less if I part it out. But most importantly, if I part it out, I don't have to deal with the moral burden of setting someone else on this project.

Yes, this means I'll be bikeless, as I just sold the rebel as well. It sucks. But, you live, and you learn, and then you don't buy shitty bikes anymore.

It's not all lost money. I have learned a LOT about motorcycles, wrenching, and myself. Thanks to this project, I now feel comfortable tearing into most projects. I learned about suspensions, starters, controls, and I've accumulated a good set of riding gear (boots are supposed to arrive on Monday), tools (some that I've been needing for a while), and confidence in myself.

However, I've also lost some confidence in myself. I've lost some money, not a whole lot, especially considering that the time spent at most other activities would have cost considerable money as well.

The VFR has become an extension of myself, and not being able to fix it seems as though I can't fix myself. I've seperated myself from it over the past few days, and I am finally able to say it was a mistake, and that I'm getting rid of it.

I've posted it in a few places for parting out, and I'll sell what I can, and then dump the rest on someone for parts or something.


...strangely....I want to pull the tail section and learn to do fiberglass and body work...is that strange?


Anyway, I'm also selling my boat. It's been fun, but I won't have room for it in Redmond, so it goes away. Luckily, selling the boat won't be a loss, as I got it for much less than it was worth :).


So, I'm kinda feeling down today...kinda sad. Oh well. In the end, I will be happier.




Oh, and my pickup is now paid off, and I got the title. I sold the rebel for what I owe, and I put the money in the bank, and setup the auto-payer so it will pay itself off this month! The payments I'm getting rid of (together) are less than a bike payment would be, so I *could* afford a new bike, but I'm not ready to take on another payment yet. I've got a goal that I've been meaning to meet, and at that point, I'll be able to buy a bike. Hopefully either this fall or next spring (maybe sooner if I'm good).

haven't blogged in a looooong time

spring has come and gone.

there's a lot that i have to say, but the only thing I'm going to say right now is this:

Construction!

Ok, so, I've had this problem with the VFR for a while now. Basically, a tab broke off the frame. I didn't do it, the previous owner did (problem has been around since I owned it). Here's a really badly drawn version of what it looked like:















Now, I didn't want to do it, but I knew I had to pay someone to do it, so I decided that I knew a welder. FastFoodFred. So, I emailed him and asked his price. His pri


ce was to watch his bike a few months ago, and he wouldn't accept anything else. He also said he'd re-weld my rear-stand for me (which....well...broke....more on that later).

So, I borrowed a ramp and some muscles from JohnnyM and we loaded the VFR into the pickup. Now, this trip had triple duty: welding, Spokane Moto Show, and possibly selling the Rebel. So, we loaded the Rebel up in the pickup too. Both bikes made my pickup sit kinda low, but I was ok with it...hopefully coming back lighter.....(no dice....came back with the rebel....oh well).

Both bikes, Jessica, and I rode up to Spokane in the pickup and I dropped Jessica off at the mall. I called Fred and said I was about to his shop and he said he'd meet me there. I showed up, he wasn't there (yet...still on his way) and the guys at A2Zen came out with a ramp and helped me unload the VFR, and pointed me towards Fred's bay that he's renting from them, and then I waited. About 2 minutes later, Fred showed up and we had to make a run to his other shop (and I don't even have one!) to get a piece of aluminum and some tools. A quick run back and Fred started in on my rear stand.

This is a rearstand I made over Christmas with my father-in-law. He provided the building knowledge and I provided the bad welding and the design. The first time I used it, one of the arms broke off, almost causing a disaster. Fred re-welded that leg back on and then very politely told me that my welding sucks...not in those words...more like "you aren't going to be offended if I go over some of the other welds?" So, I'm pretty sure he went over all of them again, and if not, he might as well have. But, we did put it to the test...using it to hold the VFR up a bit and straighter while he was welding the tab on. Once we got the tab on, he cleaned it up, drilled a hole, tapped it, and made it work. I need to get a more proper bolt for it, but the one I have now will work for now.















Thanks for your help Fred!

So, we loaded the VFR back into the pickup and I headed off to the Spokane Moto Show, with a quick detour to pick up Jessica. I decided that since we were going to be buying a new laptop, we might as well just go do it. I hate Best Buy, but I knew they'd have what I wanted. We walked out about 15 minutes later with a new laptop and none of that other bullshit they try to sell you for more than the cost of the fucking computer...."Have you heard about our 'Geek Squad'"..."yeah....ME"...."How about our security suite"...."I've got better FREE ones"..."they aren't as good"...."you sell computers, I program them....I know".....that shut the fuckers up. Have I mentioned how much I hate Best Buy? Anyway, so, we have new laptop too.

Ok, back to the moto show. The show was pretty good. There were a few bikes there. Ok...quite a few...but this isn't about the Moto Show.... But, I guess it should get equal billing as Best Buy...Ok, I sat on just about every bike I wanted to except for the Ninja 250 (which has been selling too fast for anyone to have one in stock for this show). Lots of stuff there, lots of bikes, lots of gear. Pretty cool. Anyway....back on topic.

So, I had this problem today.














I decided that I needed a ramp TODAY. I could call people with ramps, but eventually, I'd need one anyway. I was saving the project for when I was in Redmond, and Jessica was still in Moscow, but that doesn't look like it will happen that way, so I just decided to build one.

2 8 ft 2x8, 1 3 ft piece of inch and a half steel strap, 24 bolts, 24 washers, 24 nuts, a sawzall blade for metal, and a BFH....uhh...a big hammer... It cost me $30 for materials.

So, I cut the metal strap into 8 inch lengths, drilled 2 holes in one half, and then bent them at an angle using the BFH. Simple enough.

I cut the 2x8's into 6 foot lengths, and used the other pieces as straps to hold them together.

I bolted the whole thing together, bolted the straps together, and I have a 14" wide ramp (because a 2x8 is really closer to 1 1/2 x 7-ish) that could be split in half to accomodate a 4 wheeler if needed!

So, here it is:

Got my rear set!

I got a rearset that is only slightly bent, but should be able to be bent back, and if not, I should be able to use it until I can find a replacement.

I also have both bikes loaded up and ready to take to Spokane! Yay!

I'm hoping that tomorrow will be a good day, both in the selling and the welding department. Yeah, I'm getting some welding done on my rear stand and my VFR so that I can actually attach my new rear set.

Also, tomorrow is the Spokane Motorcycle Show which I'm going to in order to drool and sit on all the new 2008 model bikes, and some of the non-new bikes too ;).

Tomorrow is going to be a motorcycle day, I guess.

But, we are also stopping at Best Buy to look at video cameras and laptops. So, yeah, it should be fun!

hey, new helmet pics!

A couple weeks....

So, I'm just sitting down to blog for the first time in...well....a while.

A lot has happened since then.

Not like normal "a lot", but like a lot a lot.

Well, for 1, I got told that Zipper might want to hire me.
Also, we dealt with 2 feet of snow.
I drove to Seattle.
I finally got a new helmet.
I met a lot of westsiders (from the PNWRiders forum).
I hung out with the Banditos (well...kinda).
I got a new job.
I drove back to Moscow.
I went for a ride.




Well, for 1, I got told that Zipper might want to hire me.
well, my boss told me that Zipper might want to hire me, and wanted to know my "long term plans." So, I figured them out, and emailed boss man over at Zipper. I spent Friday (2/1) in Redmond for a meeting. I met with boss man, and we agreed that I should come over and spend some time working there so we could feel each other out and see how me working for them would work out.

Also, we dealt with 2 feet of snow.
2 feet. Yeah, 2 feet. It wasn't the most snow I've seen this year, but 2 feet in Moscow sucked. I'm glad that once it was all there, I was going to be spending the next 2 weeks in Redmond. Anyway, on the way to Redmond, there was too much snow, I had to redirect to another road. The passes were roads with solid walls of snow on both sides, both sides well over the top of the cab of my pickup.
The snow here in Moscow is almost gone. The snow in Redmond never existed, but the snow between here and there is in various stages of melting.
Just to give you an idea of how much snow there is, they closed the ski resorts, not because the roads to them were closed, but because there was too much snow to ski. Seriously. Too much snow to ski.

I drove to Seattle.
The drive there was a bit hairy. Not too bad, but I was glad the road wasn't much longer than it was. I had to redirect to open roads from Ellensburg to be able to press on. I made it. It wasn't fun, but it was pretty!

I finally got a new helmet.
I went to RMC "Renton MotorCycles" while I was bumming around over on the We(s)tside. HJC. And it doesn't fog up! Oh, and it has some cool designs on it! Black and red and white. Kinda cool.


shit...this is gonna have to wait....I just got a call I've been needing to hear for a while.

It will let me finish my rear stand that I started over xmas.





I met a lot of westsiders (from the PNWRiders forum).
I met quite a few of the people from the Seattle area. Not nearly a big percentage of them, but quite a few anyway. It was good times. We went to a bar one night, Red Robin for a bike night another night, and then to an Irish pub another night. It was good times all around! I can't wait to get to know some of them even more.

I hung out with the Banditos (well...kinda).
One night while I was there (at the bar) about 50 Banditos (a biker gang) showed up. It was...interesting....a couple got tossed out, and things got scary for a minute when that happened. After that, we kinda made our way to the door.

I got a new job.
Yes, Zipper did offer me a position, and I accepted. So, I'll be headed that way around the middle to the end of March, and I'll be working there! Crazy, eh?

I drove back to Moscow.
...rather uneventful, except for the cops who didn't pull me over....that maybe should have. A very long drive home.....

I went for a ride.
Today, I went down to Spiral and back. It was a good ride, but damn were my fingers cold by the time I hit the top of Spiral. I stopped to warm them up and then went on. By the time I got home, it had warmed up enough to not make my fingers numb anymore.


So, I finished my rear stand. The call I got was a guy who has a drill press and let me come and use it to drill the holes I needed to finish it. I was all excited, so I put the bolts into the holes, and lifted the rebel on up. Worked perfect. And fairly easy to use. So, on to the VFR. Yeah, that didn't go so well. I lifted and it gave way. One of the arms came off. Looking at the welds, it didn't penetrate nearly enough (if at all) and looks like I just soldered it with the rod. So, I need to go back and either do a better job, or have it done for me. I need to have the other one reworked as well, just to make sure those are done. As for the rest of it, I think it's fine, but those were my first welds, so I think (hope) that was the problem.

GRR

might be moving and a love poem

So, I got news that Zipper wants to talk to me about moving to work there.

This, of course, is good news. That means they don't hate me.

However, basically, what I have right now is a foot in the door, and that's about it. It's not a job. I'm hoping it turns out to be a job. I've got my fingers crossed. Please cross yours too!
















A love poem by Jeff Holbrook
It's been a while I miss you.
You and I, and just I and you.
Remember those times we spent together?
It seemed like it would last forever.
We'll be back together soon.
Dry pavement, ZOOM!








.....yes, I wrote a love poem to dry pavement...... get over it....

southern rock friday, revisited

http://allsouthernrock.com/


it's back!

The past little while

Well, I've been working on another model in my spare time. I picked up a model of the Jeff Gordan 24 NASCAR race car, which is proving to be more of a test of my painting skills than the NSR was, but also less of a test of my assembly skills.

It's easier to put together, but there isn't anything that can be left unpainted. The bike had many parts in a greyish, almost metallic, plastic that allowed for just putting them together, but this one is all white parts except the windows and tires, and 3 rubber parts.

I'm still enjoying it, but it appears there's only one other level 3 model in Michaels, and only a couple in the hobby store downtown, which means that I'm probably going to need a new hobby soon.

Anyway, I'm happy with the way this is turning out so far, we'll just see how it turns out in the end.


Things in North Idaho are not conducive to motorcycle ANYTHING right now except wishing, so I am hella jealous of my dad, who has no ice (on the roads) to contend with, a dual-sport for if there was ice, and above freezing (for the most part) temperatures. You can read about his adventures here if you are so inclined:
http://67.61.114.241/blog/index.php?d=19&m=01&y=08&category=7

It sounds like he had a lot of fun on his first actual dual sport experience, and it sounds like he'll be writing them up when he goes, which should make some good reading!

My VFR is getting closer to complete. But when I say complete, I mean completely having all the parts for when it gets warm enough to put them on! I picked up some new grips. These feel like "gel" grips, so they should be easy on the hands, but they also feel firm, which should help me maintain a good feel for how the bike is going. I also received the part to my front brake, which I broke because I'm an idiot. Oh, and I got the petcock lever too!

Oh, and I got my adjustable clutch lever finally put on! I knew it wasn't fitting because it was too big in this one area, and I knew just how to fix it! I took the non-adjustable lever off and double checked that the adjustable one wouldn't fit, took a good look at it in the light (last time, was dark, this was day, with lots of reflective snow). Didn't fit, of course, but I could see where it was rubbing, and took the dremel to it. A little grinding here, a little griding there, and wha'la, it fits! But, it still rubbed, so I took it off, colored the part that I knew was rubbing with a sharpie, put it back on and gave it a squeeze. This trick is often used for making stuff fit better. The sharpie rubs off where it rubs, and stays on where it doesn't. A little more grinding and it was like butter. I put the lever back on, with all the attachment parts, and was good to go!

So, rear brake, footpeg, the frame tab, and turn signals, and put the parts that I have on the bike, and I should be good to ride for a while once it warms up!

Once I get it running, I have some body work that needs done. If the tail piece turns out the way I want it, I'm going to do the whole body work, which will mean riding around with half-done body-work for a while, but should make the bike a better bike overall, if only cosmetically.


I got a haircut today. Shortest it's been in years...just thought people should know...


And, I leave you today with some memories. When I was a little-bitty kid (hard to imagine, I know) we use to go spend some holidays at "Leo and Leona's". We didn't see them that often, but I remember them being some of the nicest people around. They were like the grandparents that you don't see very often because they live far away, even though they weren't that far away. The truth is, they aren't my grandparents. They are my dad's cousins' "other" grandparents. We spent lots of time in their backyard. I remember there being huge snow drifts one time, and building a fort in one of them with Scott, A.J. and Steven.

Well, Leo passed away today, peacefully, at 2pm.

Rest In Peace.

wish me luck

I go into the dentist for the first time in about 6 years tomorrow at 7:45.

I'm just hoping my teeth aren't all rotted out.

Then, after that, I get to figure out why I suck at lightmapping! Yay!

Sounds like a great day ahead of me.

But, it's bike night...which always cheers me up.


short and sweet tonight.

peace

water...

Somethings you take for granted, things that maybe you shouldn't.

We got our water shut off last night.

It was either that, or have a puddle in our hallway. We chose to have no water this morning.

The plummer is on his way, should be here "before noon" which means that I'm glad they were able to get a key from the property agency. I'm not going to be here....


Jessica was doing laundry last night and saw a whole bunch of water on the floor in the laundry closet. As soon as she was done taking the laundry out, I had a look. The cold water to the washer was leaking. No big deal, I'll just turn it off....except that it was leaking on the other side of the valve. Turning it off would have just let it keep going.

So, I found the number to our property agency, called, and got their emergency numbers. I called the first emergency number and got an answer. The guy was all dressed up, and I felt really sorry for that, but still didn't want to ruin the carpet or sub-floor.

He looked for a local shutoff in the area, but couldn't figure out how to shut off most of the house, and leave us some, so he had to go outside and shut off the water at the main valve.

So, we have no water to shower this morning. Yay!

Luckily, I didn't do a whole lot yesterday to build up a stink except for scrape the driveway, but that didn't take very long.


Oh, and I bought water...which I hate doing, but I bought enough water to last us a day or so of drinking, cooking, and such.


anyway....yeah...

Hey, I did a model!

It's a 1999 Honda NSR 500 race bike. The paint job started out to match the Repsol Honda that the model was based off, but it ended a bit differently.

I was looking for something to occupy my time this winter, and this took a weekend and a couple nights. Next time, I need something either bigger or more complicated.

I honestly want to get some fiberglass-ing materials and attempt a repair of my tail piece on the VFR, but I'm scared that I'll screw it up so bad that it won't fit back on the bike.

Anyway, National Treasure: Book of Secrets is a pretty good movie. I give it a B. Great movie, well done, but I just feel like I saw it before in the other National Treasure movie and The Davinci Code. Anyway, good movie, and I didn't pay to see it.

Umm....

It's snowing, big, fat, wet snow flakes and I really wish I had something to do other than blog about how I'm bored.

Maybe I'll go pick up another model to work on.....