uh... I need a runway, really... let me explain...

rhody

Sorry Turbo,

I didn't realize you were a Gary McCoy fan, every interview I have ever seen him in, he is a soft spoken kind of guy, but has a special ability that he neither brags or showboats, it is just "his" style. Kenny Robert's senior said he has great bike control, but often rides in Kenny's words, "Over the limit, that is the way he has to ride." McCoy has taken his lumps over the years too, broken legs, etc... I don't know if he still races or not, when I am not too busy I will try to track down what he is up to these days. I have ridden two strokes too, and the power band is so damn narrow it is hard to believe he does what the video's show. Had ones of those fast but small kawasaki triple's, another franken bike suspension too. Compared to what I ride today, current bikes seems so civilized in comparison. I figure if a franken bike suspension couldn't (for the most part with the small incidents I posted earlier) spit me off, then something with a great suspension should be much easier to ride, which has been the case. Knock on wood.

Rhody...

P.S. For those not bike savvy, a franken bike suspension is simply where the power of an engine was mated to a frame and shock system that was woefully short. It would twist, flex and generally misbehave when you began to push it, broken steering heads, and cracked rear wheel bearings, leaking fork seals were common place.

turbo

Rhody, I have been a fan of almost almost anybody who will take a bike to its limits. I'm a nut about danger and risk, and I would pretty much hang with anybody who would push the limits.

rhody

Turbo,

Here is what Gary McCoy has been up to: Garry McCoy Out of WSS and into Moto2?

and this:

WSS: Gary McCoy and Triumph Failed to Reach Agreement, No Ride for McCoy – Official Statement

I wish him well, but from what I have seen from Moto2 races, it is like rolling the dice, they mix in seasoned pros like McCoy with guys with little skill and more ego, a dangerous combination. The races are not exactly exciting, more like the "Dukes of Hazard" on a bad day. Things like a twenty bike pile up (read about it in Sport Rider Magazine recently) on the second or third corner of a race. I winced reading the article and the carnage in the pictures. Moto2 is not on my list of following riders or watching races, that is until they get their act together, someone(s) is/are going to get killed soon, if that happens, and I hope it doesn't, seasoned riders and teams will revolt. I don't know how this happened or came about but, it is not pretty to watch.

Rhody...

turbo

McCoy's loss of sponsorship probably just means more opportunity for his former rivals.

Probably the best thing that I ever did to my Wide Glide was to install a Yost Power Tube in the main-jet throat. I was able to over-jet that racing carb without experiencing the stumble and surge that you have to work around with that set-up. Best of all, with all the increased power, I went from ~45mpg in 2-up riding (about the only time I kept mileage stats) to ~50 mpg with no other mods. Same steep cam, same breather, filters, etc. Just added that power tube (atomizer) and re-jetted the carb. It was scary. That Super-E carb and other mods matched the power-band to that 4-speed tranny as perfectly as could be asked (although I tweaked that a bit, too). Run out of torque? Shift and crank that throttle again. Rinse and repeat.

rhody

I was feeling a little nostalgic, thinking back to the days of "On Any Sunday" with the likes of late legend actor Steve McQueen, ranked 11 top amateur rider at the time and the incredible Malcom Smith, he entered 12 Baja 1000's and won six of them, the other six, he broke down.

Hope you like it, it brought back pleasant memories, was never there but wished I could have been, saw the movie at least a half dozen times over the years.

The guy who takes his dog on his gas tank is a amazing, watch as he gets reconditioned at a pit stop. For those interested, On Any Sunday can be viewed entirely from the link above, it is broken in about 9 or more parts.

Here is a clip about Steve McQueen's need for speed.

And a Hill Climb Sequence from On any Sunday, with Malcom Smith.

Rhody...

turbo

Still mulling over McCoy.... Could that separation have been any worse? Damn!!!

rhody

Look at it this way Turbo, over the years, McCoy has more than his share of bad luck, until Moto2 gets it act together (cringe...), it is a blessing in disguise, I read there is talk of him returning to MotoGP, IMHO where he belongs.

Rhody...

turbo

He could die in Moto2 though. Sloppy there.

rhody

Moto 2: 2010 at Catalunya

I rest my case, the crash near the end: at 3:05 is horrific, the bike came down on the rider, then went into the apron, the rider rear ended the guy in front of him, sending him to the tarmac at very high speed.

Rhody...

P.S. The crashes throughout this video should give any same racer (there aren't many of them) pause...
and this compiled sequence, watch at 1:00 minute this guy was 6 inches and about 10 milliseconds in the right place at the right time, or he would have been killed for sure. These are older compiled segments, still hard to watch though.

nismaratwork

Wow that's some amazing racing... *approaches 3:05*... yeah, really, whoa... look out!!!
*cleans mouth and keyboard*....

...very... potent imagery.

rhody

I am contemplating small finishing touches, something like the second thumbnail below on the back of the bike, in the tail section, and possibly something like this on the black powder coated swing arm, in blood red, like the formula for thrust, first thumbnail.

BTW, took the FJR out for a bit today, temps in the high 30's parked then did my usual 1 hour walk, sun was just setting as I returned home. Nice day all in all.

I am open to requests for posts, I have a few uncharted areas in mind, but would like requests from the lurkers in this peanut gallery, sorry Turbo, Misnara, Mugs, hehe.

Rhody...

P.S. The last thumbnail is of my daughter, Rhody child (I got that one from Evo), and her boyfriend, home from 82nd Airborne Training for Christmas break, lets call him Green Baret brat, great guy, wish them the best.

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turbo

Rhody, the pepper graphic would be cool. You could play with the palatte too. Maybe make your carbons a nice blood-red, and put a black and green pepper with light highlights on the rear fender. I'm fond of contrasts and inversions.

One reason that I liked my old tweaked Wide-Glide so much when I first bought it was the paint-job that featured "broken" trim over the flames. It's a little visual grabber. It took me years to get the performance on a par with the paint, but it was fun. Luckily, I have a very tolerant wife. She never complained if she came home after work and found a carb all torn down on the kitchen table, and she didn't give me a hard time for using our kitchen table as a work-bench when I rebuilt and restored old guitar tube-amps. She's a saint.

rhody

Stay tuned, the bike is done, Professional Calendar photo's with College models have been taken, and I have a special set with the model who displayed my bike. Will post with pictures of the extra bits that have been added.

All I can say is, wow, to the bike I mean, if you get my drift... Will share when I get CD, Turbo, my buddy said he would have an extra Calendar for you, I took him at his word. The bottom line is, the bike will be a part of history, February 2011. Fair enough.

Rhody...

turbo

Really looking forward to it, Rhody. I love 2-wheeled machines. I didn't own a car the first year that I was married. Even in the winter, I drove back and forth to work on a Honda CL450. Wearing an Air-Force flight-line Eskimo suit with Wolverine-fur trim.

My wife eventually convinced me that I needed to get an enclosed vehicle with a heater. It was for the better, I guess.

Edit: is it February yet? How about now? Are we there yet?

rhody

Turbo,

Paid for the bike today, signed up for track day in June, may do a second day as well because you really don't "get it" on the first one. It arrives tomorrow morning by truck, the roads are just too crappy to ride it. The Ohlins fork action is really supple, smooth, just like the Patron Anejo, hehe... BTW, I will be sending you a calendar with the college models as promised in a week or two. Here is a small sample. The model posed with my bike, February I believe. There should be dramatic photo shopped backgrounds so the pictures should be interesting, a nice memory...

Rhody...

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turbo

Pretty cool, Rhody! Track days can be fun.

An acquaintance and his wife had Ducatis and they did track days as a family thing a few times each season. Eventually, he crashed and got concussions enough times that his doctor told him to quit the track, so he took up flying instead.

rhody

Lest we forget trials riders, a few video's for you:

motorcycle trials

Urban Freestyler - Trials

Best Of Toni Bou 2007

2009 SPEA FIM Indoor Trial World Championship - Madrid (SPA)

2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship - Portugal

2009 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship - Ireland

and a few who need a bit more practice... or we a bit off their game...

We all need practice before becoming proficient

Rhody...

P.S. Too much snow here, last winter I was able to ride ay least once a week, not this year, just dodged big snowfall, only about 10 inches here.