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HispanicSlammer

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  1. HispanicSlammer

    Why I Ride

    By HispanicSlammer,

    Mountain Road
    I was clearing out some old data CD's from my shelf and ran across a sort of poem I wrote while VFRD was still part of Delphi Forums, way way way back in the day.
    Why I Ride
    Riding my motorbike
    Down a swift road
    Leaning into a turn,
    And then another
    Kicking the gear
    Dropping into third
    Grabbing the throttle,
    Looking down the road
    To where I really want to be
    Humming song of my motor
    Piercing a silent hollow in the forest trees
    Stuttering rays of sunlight and shadow
    Drum my heartbeat
    Thumping as my motor does
    Leaning further into that turn
    With a hint of fear of exhilaration
    Where the scent of Vanilla Ponderosas live
    Strengthened by
    Raindrops on dry asphalt
    I have come on my motorbike
    To steal the rainbows
    From your twisted curves
    I am alive on my
    Mountain Road
  2. HispanicSlammer
    Oh man what day! The Colts fulfilled there destiny and Payton stepped up to get his ring. Not that I care all that much but the guy was starting to look too much my like my very own John Elway with all that dissapointment, these last few years, nobody wants to see reruns! I was glad to see the Colts collect on a promise they made!
    Me however I was listening to the action on the radio as Craig and I drove home from PMI in Pueblo Colorado, not sitting on our asses on some strangers couch eating stale potato chips!! We took our XRs out for some riding instead! Four months of snow and cold and a weather report that said 40 degrees was all it took for the both of us to get the truck loaded up with two honda relics called once dirtbikes (XR'S)!
    SIDE NOTE: We did see some CRF's out there today, matter of fact the place was packed with dirtbikes and ATV's Man I love Colorado!
    Where else can you find so much to do outdoors and all relativly free! Look this way theres Pikes Peak, look that way theres the Spanish Peaks, look that way theres Craig rolling on in some nasty ass mud! OK I think he took me through every mud patch there is in Pueblo and at the end I asked him "is there any mud we might have missed there Craig"?
    Good times and tired! Boy he worked me out - I know I slowed him down on my 650 cause he had to stop a few times once when I avoided a patch of standing water and headed for the thistle only to find a 2 foot deep ditch - down I went, and once down a sortid 60 foot cliff that I wasnt so sure about! Its a 650 man but I went down it anyway! hells ya! The the both of us got schooled by the youger generation on there YZ's and there CRF's doing 60 foot triples where we were going around to easy parts, well I was anyways! Darned kids looked mighty good jumping those berms! I had a great time and was soooooo glad to be back on two wheels and thankful to the Lord for providing us with the bounty of warm weather in Febuary after so much misery and snow these last four months, what a great day! Looks like those of us who had a destiny to fulfil did so on this day, I am a rider plain and simple! I ride!
  3. HispanicSlammer

    Oh Woe Is Me!

    By HispanicSlammer,

    Bad Karma is Kicking My Ass as usual! I have never been one to live my life by a set of unbreakable rules, nor am I paticularlly Pious by any means, however I do have a stong sense of right and wrong and knowingly once in a while, I take advantage of the situation. It never seems to pay off since Karma comes back into play to make things more interesting. Such as my Helibar procurement - of which I am sorry for, read thread if you havent a clue - on "Throttlemisters and Helibars"
    I took the low road on that one! And It surely was strewn with mud, and a lot of members more than willing to sling some in my direction! I know I know! I was wrong, I confess I did it, I regret it but I needed those bars, as I am begining to suffer from riding, some new discomfort did not have before. After riding Baileyrocks bro's bike with the bars I saw that there was somthing I could do about it, and not loose too much sportyness but at the tune of $200 dollars plus?
    Then I saw an ad in the classifieds for them at a substantial discount, albiet used! I had to get them!
    So I emaild the guy from Cali and asked if they were still availible, - waited till he wrote back then pounced! Not thinking I deleted the thread, I guess I just assumed it was a done deal, clicked the delete button and poof no more classified! OPPS! Wait I did not read that all the way, his reply he did not say SOLD!??
    Aw crap what did I just do? Oh well too late now! and for a couple of weeks it nagged me, then having completed the deal with the bars in my hands I realized wait I cant use my throttle miesters with these?? Payback for being greedy from the Karma police? Yea it was greedy and well Karma strikes again, but I still feel guilty for what I did! Bad Karma was not enough to repent!
    So I posted a question and just sort of tacked on a confession of what I had done and wow I feel way better! Half arsed too, Of course it got back to my detractors, the same ones who always seem to pounce on every oversight, or any mistake, any thing that I should be doing with VFRD that I am not doing now that they could do better! Those who see themselves as doing my vfrd job better than me and make every effort to let me know that! More smilies man more smilies!
    If I wasnt using this POS Invisionboard but instead boardIneverheardoff.com nobody uses we would not have been hacked! I am btw the reason that hackers exist, without me there are no hackers they have no reason to hack without me right there is no challenge in not hacking a board without Miguel to spit on!
    Yea right hmm perhaps If I bought out microsoft tommorow and replaced it with firefox all the hackers would just dissapear never to be seen from again, never mind that you have to download 400 plugins to see a webpage now!
    OPPS off on a tangent there! Back to cleansing my soul!
    AHEM clearing my throat!
    Its winter time here and I am bored, tired from long hours at work, and working nights, seems that days of sunshine just dont exist anymore!
    I know there is sunshine I saw the pictures! I remember it riding my vfr, and while blowing up my xr on Rampart Range road! Damn my wrist hurt! My back is killing me and My knees hurt, my butt is a bit sore too! Hey look there are some Heli Bars on VFRD! Hey its not too late either I will just dash off a quick email to the guy and see whats up home! - I work with young folks I pick up slang
    Hmm I dont know why I added that quote - it was a suggestion from one of my detractors, a long standing one who I happen to actually like but hes a ball buster none the less! hes funny so I am amused by the guy even though I know he doesnt like me much! I guess I am just a whore for my fans! More smilies man more smilies! Miguel you suck theres not enough smilies! Why wont you post that video of me at the Texasmac ride last year - but your other videos suck! How do you mount your camera btw I have some videos I can post there are way better? Some member here posted a how to on how to fix your chain can you fix his pictures? (what that was you oh never mind?) I forgot my log in password. Hey you passed that car on a double yellow in that video you give all motorcyclist a bad name! HMM even the ones named Michele Dumbas Dicoff? Shoot a boy named Sue, we already have girl named Martin and guy Named Stephane! You mind if I give you a bad name? I passed on a double yellow so here you go your now named Jabbadodeeddeeee!! (With 6 E's) Barf! gagged on that suggestion post haste! Ignore that one at all cost! Bad name giver that I am, so you see there is no Karma that isnt bad Karma - as I understand it the road to Nervana has no Karma! I expell you Bad Karma! Go git! I confess I suck!!
  4. HispanicSlammer
    My XR that is, this time around!
    Figured out that I had missed an oil jet oring and had it in the wrong spot! no wonder it was chewing up cam shafts! Well anyway I fixed it, then pumped it to make sure oil was getting to the cams! Had it all back together and of course could not get the cam chain tentioner to release! This thing is complicated more than the vfr?
  5. HispanicSlammer
    Now that I have throughly test rode my 1998 I have decided I will keep this bike a while. Cheap bastid that I am I find though that I am hating visiting dealerships more and more! Something about the pointy haired pimply faced race-wannabe-kids manning the parts counters out here that makes me cringe at the thought of having to answer the age old question
    SPike "what bike"?
    Me- "1998 vfr 800?
    SPike - "what size is it?"
    That just makes me want to reach across the counter and smack the stupid out of em! That and the way he sort of rolls his eyes when he says "what bike" like he cant be bothered hes got a lot of RAAAAAAAAAASSSSSIIIIINNN to do right after I get my freaking oil filter!!!
    I get the same thing at MacDonald's too "I will have a Big Mac meal with a Dr Pepper please!" and so voice box says back "what do you want to drink?" As if there is only one script in the world and the script must not be interrupted - ever!! The box only does one thing at a time damnit!
    That is why I like Walmart, nobody there knows anything about what I am looking for and they don't care - so I am free to roam the isles and pick the stuff I see off the shelves no rolling eyes cause I don't run a liter bike!!! No stupid jokes like VFR - Very F'ing Retarded! I like Wally for the big 5 quart jobbies of Mobile One! That and its rather cheap - imagine that! Wally is single handedly keeping inflation in check by selling this crap to us at such low low prices you have to ask; who needs pointy haired clerks?! Evil empire and all I know. So in definance I must draw the line at purchaseing the Fram oil filter - just sitting there on the shelf within reach. I can even read the box without having to ask some green haired 19 year old to get it for me - and get this it actually fits the VFR! Yet its a FRAM. That's a bit too cheap for me!
    Wally still got me however, I did get the Black And Decker 1-2 amp smart battery charger! $19 bucks ya cant beat that, my toasted up Battery Tender that died on me Last month actually snickered when I brought it home! Yea Yea you cost three times as much and you don't work buddy shuddup!!
    Now I still have to get that darned oil filter. I know a Fram is probably not going to fall off at the first bump or dump dirty oil all over the cam shaft when it get hot for the first time. Yet I just keep seeing those internet pictures of the cheap ass way they are constructed on the inside - a side by side comparison with cut away photos and all!!! Don't ask me! I don't remember the darned link, I know its in the links database here so look it up yourself~ :warranty:
    So upon finally having decided to keep the vfr I thought! What if I bought a Scott reusable oil filter!?That might do the trick - no more "who makes the vfr?" dumasses to walk through at the counter! Where do they find these kids they crop up like flies! No not this time - I mail ordered it! HEH another pet peeve of mine with dealerships! We don't have that we can order it for ya, be here in a couple of weeks - so I have to waste my time coming back to pick it up three weeks later, wait in line at the counter and all that sh&t during normal buisness hours that I dont keep myself! Naw I will mail order it and get it right to my door thanks! :salesman: SO I DID! I got a reusable Scott oil filter now to go along with my reusable K&N airfilter I got 4 years ago. I guess I really must want to keep the bike now! 83,000 miles is a long test ride!
    If it sounds like I am anti dealership sorry I am to some extent, for I don't care for the experience of going to one! No matter how great they are compared to the other! Buying a bike at one is a trauma for me so I am a bit weary of dealers. I never quite trust them completely! Hell they need to make a buck I know that! Those guys have all those kids to feed, pointy haired racing doesn't pay the bills! Like Josey Wales says "Buzzards gotta eat" - I am just a cheap bastid!
    PS I am still stinging from my XR purchase last year, not looking like such a great deal now a year later! :pissed:
  6. HispanicSlammer
    :media:
    Rampart Range Video - The Hard Part
    Dan and Craig ride the roughest steepest part of the Rampart Range Trail system, getting stuck along the way. Dan rides a yz400 race bike not geared for climbing, with a racing flywheel it doesn't have the torque for this kind of riding, he must rev and feather the clutch to achieve momentum a tiering task that is fraught with fatigue if you don't ride well.
    Rock slant Dan and Craig must keep the bikes from sliding off a slanting granite rock face to get to the other side of the trail.
    Google Map of the area
  7. HispanicSlammer
    Well after returning home from the Mosca Pass ride I have not touched the XR since last week, too disappointed to do so. Until I mustered up the patience to replace the scored up cams. Which I did, and promptly ripped up that set too. OOKKKAAAYYY maybe I am missing the root cause here!!
    This time I took the head off and took out the spark plug and pumped the kick start to see if it was oiling the cams? NOPE NO OIL OUT OF THE DARNED JETS!!
    So I took off the plate to the oil filter and shot compressed air in the hole, it sprayed out perfectly - no clog? But then a pin and an O-ring fell out onto the floor? I looked where could this go, checked the manual no pin supposed to be there! WTF were did this pin come from? I then took off the whole side plate clutch cover and found a spot where it could go, checked the manual sure enough there was a pin there in the diagram! DUH!! I was in the wrong place! I put it in, put on a new O-ring and put it back together and did the pump thing again with the kickstand, this time oil came out the hole!! YEA now I am getting somewhere!
    So far I have solved my overheating problem, new thermostat and and a higher compression cap did that.
    Now I think I have the oiling issue licked too.
    Still got this jetting thing to solve though all the recommended jets are in there from multiple sources, I think I have the wrong slow jet its too rich for this altitude! Thats my next task after I replace the cam again! Then on to the suspension it could use some softening up must be gunked up with snotty oil in the forks. New seals, and bushings too! Rebuild the shock too! Maybe a softer spring cause it wants to launch me out of bumps!
  8. HispanicSlammer
    video preview
    :media:
    Canyonlands at Twilight video
    This is a short 5 min video of the our trip through the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Canyonlands National Park Utah. It was incredibly hot for 9pm somthing like 100 degrees in the twilight, I cant imagine how hot it is in full daylight in July?? The road is surreal surrounding you with red rock lava like stone walls on each side and then falling deeper into Glen Canyon along the Colorado River near Lake Powell. Its one of the nations most beautiful recreation spots, a must ride!!!

    Canyonlands Map UTAH highway 95
    Attached map files
    Canyonlands mapsource file.gdb
    Canyonlands MS Streets & Trips File.est
  9. HispanicSlammer
    Part 2 - Craig takes the camera this time as they ascend and descend the Devils Slide at Rampart Range, trail number 676. ATV tracks mostly up steep climbs, whoops, rocks, tree roots, tight switchbacks. Craig on a Honda XR400, Dan on his Yamaha yz400. A few stalls, some rain and lots of good trail!
    THE TRAILS

    THE VIDEO

    Video Preview

    Devils Slide Video
    Runs about 12 min 768kb/sec wmv
    ...................
    Info on Rampart Range
  10. HispanicSlammer
    I let my Buddys Dan and Craig take the vfrd viosport cam with them up to Rampart Range last week and they filmed some good trail riding in the Front Range Foothills. They drove up to Rainbowfalls Trail Head and proceded to ride several of the Rampart area trails, almost 120 minutes of video. I cut it down to 10 minutes of part of Long Hollow Trail #650 for your viewing pleasure, this makes me want to go ride my 650!!


    Long Hollow Trail Video
    Here are some map files of the area
    Google Earth
    Long Hollow Earth File
    Mapsource
    Long Hollow Garmin File
    Here is a popular Rampart Range Website with details of the area trails
    http://www.rampartrange.org/pages/rampart_trails.asp
  11. HispanicSlammer
    Labor Day Plans Out The Window
    I have had a fubared Labor Day Weekend, I was supposed to ride down to New Mexico and go camping with my sister, but she called and said that my Niece has come down with the flu or something and my Nephew looks like he has it too! Kids are in Bed and mom needs to take care so camping was out!
    That is what friends are for!
    My buddy Dan says he got a few guys lined up to go riding half day down to Bishops Castle, since I am out of plans why not go along. I ask him is it a spirited ride? He tells me nay just a couple of squids who have never been on a mountain road before on a bike. So I get there and none but one of his buddies show up, and hes a complete noob but the three of us regulars are there and thats all we need! Dan, Craig, Dans Noob Friend (sorry can remember his name) on his R6, and myself go hunting for a Dragon!
    A click here a click there
    You have read the Robert Frost Poem "The Road Not Taken" a poem I seem to be living as of late. Deep into the twisty part of Greenhorn Highway 165 I found myself being pursued by Craig rather closely, and that has been rare of late as I have not been hunted so closely by him or Dan in the past year or so while on the vfr (dirt-bikes are another pokey story), but sure enough there he was, and soon he was going ahead on past me as I struggled with the bike, bouncy as all get out! I felt like I had lost my nerve on those long extended twists around Bigelow Divide and well getting passed while your going as fast as you feel you can go is always a bit of a let down! OH well I cant ride fast all the time.
    It was later at a gas stop I decided to soften up the suspension on the Ohlins a bit and see what that would do!! OMG I was back to my old self again in no time, the ride back up the mountain had me going much faster in and in far greater comfort than I was feeling before! A click off - and that has made all the difference! I was in third and found it no problem to keep up this time, and after passing some Labor day cage traffic it was a snap to speed up and charge a turn or two and be right back up there with the two of them! It was amazing the transformation!

    Bishops Castle Parking four bikes Labor Day ride

    Craig Buttons up his gear

    Bishops Castle In full glory - SEE THE DRAGON!!
    Mr Bishop was out and about, a smallish sort of dude with huge muscular arms and claws for hands, talking about his rights as usual and complaining about the state of Freedom in America - as usual. It seems to be a favorite topic in the San Isabel area since we ate at the restaurant at the lake and found all sorts of signs on the wall with the same sentiment. Mr Bishop has been building that castle alone since he was 18 years old, and now almost in his 70's he still labors every free moment he as building it, now he is building a dungeon walled tunnel all the way around the property which will connect with the buttresses of the castle. I reached out and shook the mans hand as he was explaining his plans for the tunnel - its not a moat he maintains! The dude has huge hands!

    Dan and Craig walk the plank
    Labor Day it was Crazy
    I had never seen so many people on that road, usually we are on it alone virtually with a car here and there along the 30 or so miles of Greenhorn road. Mostly the traffic is along 93 going to Westcliff near Hardscrabble mountain! I love that section of road near the Mountain its so rugged and twisty, but lots of gravel in the turns cause of all the dual wheeled pickup trucks running short and kicking up gravel. Pickups and SUV's are requirements of living in Westcliff I guess?
    Like I mentioned before we where having to make a lot of passes to ride our normal pace, the poor guy Dan brought along was overwhelmed with the road and just decided to poke along way behind the rest of us, we waited for him at key places - a nice kid who for the most part rode a very mature pace for a guy so young, although I attempted to ride sweep at a few points I guess it made him nervous, even though I kept my distance, he ran way wide on a tight section but did not go off road! I decided to go ahead on ahead and let him ride undisturbed. I did not think I was pushing him but sometimes you just have to feel a new guy out before you figure out whats the best way to ride with him. He seemed to be having an OK time, if not then he was going to jittery all night from the adrenalin shock we gave him! We all tried to give him words of encouragement and told him to ride his own pace Don't let get sucked in and ride faster than your ready to ride - which he did not - thank goodness, but the running wide incident got me worried for sure! So I let him go ahead and take up the rear with no pressure of me following him!

    San Isabel Lake Four riders

    Hardscrabble Mountain as seen from McKenzie Junction
    right before we stopped at the Junction and waited for the R6 I passed a Goldwing pretty fast on a downhill section doing about 90 or so, I knew it was either pass or get stuck behind him for all the good turns, so I gave him uber wide berth while passing and jammed it into the turn about 100 yards ahead of him, and low and behold waiting for the r6 we never saw the Goldwing at the bottom of the hill? Did the new guy make a pass on another bike? I guess so! I mean it took him an awful long time to catch up to us at the junction, I actually dug the camera out and took that picture of Hardscrabble Mountain and had it put away for a good 3 minutes before he rolled on down, still no goldwing? When I passed the guy he was doing at least 70 in the sweepers maybe he turned around for another go?
    Dan was riding like a banshee cause he was supposed to be home at 2pm, and the woman was waiting for their thing together! His buddy brought along a cell phone so he called and you could hear her yelling at him over the phone HEH life as a young sudo married couple! Dan decided to top speed the flat section near the Supermax prison. I saw him pass me, he was about 500 yards before he disappeared down the hill, when I got to the crest of the hill he was already a mile away! Damn!
    It was great to get my riding back into the comfort zone! I was hanging out with my pop for a while later and he asked me where we went riding, I told him Bishops Castle, he said "you have already been down there once this week on your dirt-bike" then he said "you do that ride at least 10 times a summer'? - some people will never understand!
  12. HispanicSlammer

    Oh Man Not Again

    By HispanicSlammer,

    Well from my previous blog entry you can see I took the XR650r out for a long jaunt in southern Colorado, long enough to screw up the bike again! I can't say the bike has been unreliable, cause it always starts and keeps running taking me from here to there and back home again - in that respect its always gotten me home! However she is a fragile beast in the cam shaft deptment and has a few quirks the vfr just doesent have!~
    Last spring I rode her out 300 miles and came back home with a burned up valve and tore up cam shaft/rockers. I spend a good deal on rebuilding it,replacing the parts, new rings, valves, oil locks, gaskets, cam chain, cam shaft, new rockers, and all the time I spent doing that myself. I got home last Tuesday with a familiar tapping but not as pronounced as the first time, I had hopped that the bike was just out of spec and needed a valve ajustment. So I did that yesterday, easy enough but when I got her all back together it was still tapping hard?? I guess I fubared another rocker/cam shaft set AGAIN!! Damn this sucker is either running dry on oil or getting too hot. I remember stopping for gas and checking the oil each time, on the last stop it needed oil so I topped it up. What was more significant was the oil was smoking when I opened it up! So I checked the radiator, the thing was dry! Darned it I overheated her again!
    Once I got home I took a look at the thermostat, it was stuck open and the pin had jackeknifed inside the housing! Replaced that! Then I bought a higher pressure radiator cap 1.6 bar Kawi lid so it wont spew so easily, more pressure but if a KLR can take it so can an XR! At the altitudes I ride at it tends to boil off way to easy. I have an oil temp gauge I monitor as I ride and rarely does it go over 200F but I should have stopped when I saw it go down to 150f, that indicates a problem, not enough oil on the dipstick to register the temp!
    OK so I replaced the main components that control the heat and filled it up with new radiator fluid, now I have a new camshaft and rockers on order - waiting to get that, so I can go adventure riding again, perhaps with more confidence it wont spew antifreeze all over the dirt so easy!
    I know hot means lean condition but it boggs down otherwise up in the high country, my problem is I ride up and down mountains too much the jetting issues are difficult to get right!
  13. HispanicSlammer
    I just finished viewing the pictures from the Pacific Northwest Meet put on by Kiethbob and wow what a great time yall had up there - I really looked hard at attending that event, but alas the ride to made it prohibitive (2 weeks vacation instead of just needing one). I really love attending motorcycle meets as opposed to huge rallys for the comeradrie and the sheer fun of riding with kindred spirits. Sometimes it ends a bit of tradegdy, I have attended 2 sport-tourung.net meets and there were crashes in both, one was rather serious, and I happened to have been leading the ride at the time. I blamed myself for pacing a bit too fast but really we all are on our own bikes, and we have individual control over our own rides. It is important to have fun AND be safe! Sure riding is risky and riding in groups is too but without risk what would be the thrill of riding a motorcycle in the first place?
    I see riding in groups as more of a plus than a minus, first off your with people who enjoy the same thing you do! Riding that is, having something in common like that is great! Then you have support from other riders, God forbid somebody should go down there is someone there to help you and seek assistance if need be. Riding with others makes you ride better, time and time again I have improved my riding skills by riding with those of more experience or with better technique than I and so I have learned how to ride better.
    This year I was lucky enough to attend the TexasMac ride and so enjoyed one of the best rides of my life last may, both with the group and the adventure of getting there as well, I saw the south for what it really is a place of great diversity and hospitality - just as the saying goes. Now I have the opportunity to again head south at the pleasure of the VFRD Fall Dragon ride comming up soon next month and I cant wait! It is an opportunity I cant waste nor would I want to, and it is all made possible by the folks here at VFRD! I am greateful for this and would like to attend as many of these wonderful events as possible, thats what I really love doing, meeting the folks I read about on this very site everyday and making new riding buddies!
    Be safe out there and enjoy yourself on your bike!

  14. HispanicSlammer
    I took the XR 650r down south Tuesday for a 300 mile loop through Pueblo, Buela, Colorado City, San Isabel, and over the Wet Mountains to Gardener and Up over Mosca Pass.

    map google earth image

    Buela Colorado Sleepy Little town southwest of Pueblo

    Buela Colorado Main Road

    San Isabel National Forest Hwy 162

    Lake San Isabel west

    Mosca Pass in the distance

    Gardner road miles and miles of dirt road

    Mount Blanca 14,000 foot peak from top of Mosca Pass

    East From Mosca Pass

    Sunset Mitchel Mountain Road

    Sunset Mitchel Mountain Road

    Sunset Over the Sangre De Christo Mountains

    Sunset Glorious Riding
    I spent pretty much 8 hours on the road that day riding mostly flat dirt roads on the big pig, ended up riding home in the dark, and a bit buzzed over the wonderful sunset near Westcliff. It wasnt as easy as riding the vfr but it was still a Honda@
  15. HispanicSlammer
    Well I was surprised to get a PM from Florida Member Jeremy555 that basically invited me to ride with the guys again at Deals Gap in September - airfare to get me there, room, and a bike to borrow for the weekend! WOW what can I say about that - other than yes of course. It would be impolite and ungrateful to turn down a gesture like that, and luckily my boss also agreed and let me have the time off to do it!
    I really don't know what to say really, thank you guys, really its a great thing to do for the "Ole Dumbass" - reference to what a beemer dude once called me while riding in New Mexico, God forbid a VFR be allowed to pass a BMW? So after all the frustrations associated with Hackers, losing cameras, dropping stuff on dirt-bike trails, the day to day grind of our mundane work weeks. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and the Southern VFRD boys are making that possible. Everything I have heard about Southern Hospitality is true! I am so looking forward to coming back to ride those awesome Appalachian mountain roads again!
    It will be great to hang out with Baileyrock again too for a while.
    I mean how can I pass up an opportunity like that??
    read about the Deals Gap ride in the Rider Groups>South forum
  16. HispanicSlammer
    MY VFR that is!
    Just competed the 5th annual Ride to Creede this year was the biggest gathering yet, 7 riders this time, compared to 4 last year. We also made very good time, stopping to regroup where we lost one or two. This time we had 3 BMW's with us from ST.N where I also posted this ride.
    I realize I haven't posted in the blog in over a week, well since I am out riding its hard to keep up. Last week I rode with Craig and Dan in the Rampart Range area on the dirt-bikes, I am thinking I am not so into Dirt-biking as the guys. I just don't have the leg strength in my left leg to take 40 miles of whoops, my knee gives out and then I am sore on the left side for 2 or 3 days later - thats where I broke my pelvis last year. For once I would like to ride a dirt-bike trail without getting injured or overly sore afterward. It really seems I take a beating when I ride a dirt-bike, I don't see how people think its safer? I always feel totally out of control when I go fast on the dirt-bike. I get used to the bike squirming around but when it corrects really hard or falls in a rut I just know I am done for, then I manage to keep the bike up. Last time I was totally on the gas on a very wide jeep road and went wide, tried to correct and fell in a rut. The bike fell out from under me and I bailed off, no injuries just frustrated I lost control. It was later that I got injured a bit I did not see a rock jutting out of the dirt till I was right on it climbing a hill I lifted my left leg over it then when I put it down I got it caught a bit making the next left hander and I sprained my hip. That hurt for days afterward, much worse than actually bailing off. I like climbing and down-hilling but not whoops they suck, jumping is alright but my bike is big and not so soft in the suspension so I come down hard.
    Oh well I have been considering selling the XR after this season I have not enjoyed it so much... and I could use a new cage!
    Working on the website a bit this morning - fixed the nav bar so show the portal and the forums together. Making some automatic backup scripts for the database and working on odds and ends here and there.
  17. HispanicSlammer
    VFRD once again gets hacked, as some of you know, after all the work and the money I spent securing the site with the upgraded forum software I must have missed somthing and they got in and changed the board wrapper with a downloader trojan. I deleted it as soon as I saw it, they seem to always attack the board wrapper and plant a frame in there. I am thinking of writing a script myself that refreshes the board wrapper every hour with a clean wrapper so even if they do get in and change it the script will wipe it clean when it trips.
    The problem is we are not exactly sure if they are changing the wrapper by gaining access to the admin area, using ftp, or directly infusing database code in somehow and avioding passwords and such. I checked my ftp logs and I am the only one on them, I changed the user names and passwords to the database, and put in new passwords for myself in the forum admin area and the cpanel server access area too. Then I ran virus scans, file checker scripts from invision board, deleted all files I no longer needed and checked for any backdoor files they may have left.
    I am sort of resigned to it a bit that I am unable to stop the hacking on the wrapper so I plan on doing some automated clean up scripts that negate the damage for as short of an amount of time as possible. Its like graffite really, you cant stop it you can just paint over it clean it up. I am taking that tac now.
    yesterday some kid from Fort Carson - a young soldier and his buddy were out pulling wheelies on Acadamey blvd, one pulled a wheelie in front of a cop and then they both ran as the cop turned on his lights, they speed at triple digit speeds till one of them colided with a car and died at the scene. I posted it in the forum. My freinds and I gathered at Dans place to watch the MotoGP races I recorded on dvd, and we talked about it for about ten minutes. Craig said he saw the bike still on fire as he turned off the highway to come to Dans place. then we forgot about it as soon as the races started - Darwin wins again!!
    Be safe out there.
    I have a ride organized for this comming sunday check the calender if your in the area and want to sport tour colorado!
  18. HispanicSlammer
    I am sure Craig and Dan had a wonderful time tearing up the Stulz Tanner Trail on the dirt bikes today, me I woke up late and slept in for a change skipped my punishment this week. I am finally fully recovered from a week of soreness from the last time I went dirtbike riding with those guys. I am thinking I really dont enjoy the dirtbike experience as much as they do. Perhaps it is because I ride a 650 instead of a 400 like they do or that I just suck at it? In any case I have to ride to the trails since my truck is now my former truck, the water pump literally fell off. Well it lasted like a trooper. Which is why I bought a street legal XR650 as opposed to a trail only bike.
    A 400 just cant be ridden at highway speeds on the highway and well drivers around here are predatory ya know. But then I suffer on the trails cause they just wind away so easily in the tight technical sections, and of course I suck. I am also trying to overcome a serious mental block when it comes to riding the dirtbike, as some of you may remember I broke my pelvis riding Dans dirtbike (Jan 2005) and I just dont have the cojones I used to when it comes to riding off road. I could use the exorcise though and do find it to be physically challenging in a good way, always gets my heart rate up, and I seem to be gaining fitness as I continue to pursue off road riding.
    I have to fix the xr yet again cause I ripped off the rear turn signal in a failed attempt to ride up a difficult hill last week, and had to bail off when the bike pitched over, breaking the signal off - it actually melted on the exhaust can. I am thinking of ditching the outrigger signals in favor of smaller ones that mount on the plastic and dont stick out so much, this is the second time I have lost that right rear signal.
    Instead of riding I worked on the forum again, and was quite entertained at BR and his picture posting woes. Das Bone who cant find his shoe laces lately stole a laugh too. These two guys can ride the snot out of a bike but when it comes to being computer savvy naw!
    Concerning the VFR I have some new issues - replaced my brake pads yesterday with new EBC HH pads all around and now am thinking perhaps I should have gone with a G pad in the back or an H? Its a bit grabby, and for some reason I get a stutter when I press on the rear brake petal at low speed, like I am riding over ripples in the road? I took the shims off perhaps the pads are shaking or jostling in the caliper? Or perhaps I need to bleed the rear brakes again, the Proportion Control Valve might be causing this. I know its not a warped rotor cause I just replaced that off season, and it doesn't happen at higher speeds and it is not happening every time at low speeds either? I am at a loss to explain it, its very frustrating to have spent all of a hundred bucks to replace all the pads and to have this stuttering as a result. I read somewhere to take off the shims on the pads when installing the rear brake pads, perhaps thats incorrect?
    In any case I also ordered new wheel bearing for the front, new oil seals, axle and axle bolt for the front wheel. Baileyrock noticed they were worn when I was staying at his place in preparation for the TexasMac ride last spring, and now I am finally getting around to taking care of that too. Fun Fun Fun btw I am loving the Pilot Powers never gone faster than with these babies or have I had so much confidence in the bike even with stuttering brakes and worn front wheel bearings, when I get this all sorted it will be a dream ride!
    Now I just need to get motivated to do my valves - I can hear some ticking in there after 77k miles I am sure I need to replace a shim finally (incredible 4 valve checks and still have the original shims)> and last time I was painting my headers I broke a header stud need to remove it and replace it, and drill out another one and replace it too. The header bolts just corrode on them and they break off too easy, I hope I dont have to remove the engine to do that job? That would be a PITA just to replace two header studs?
  19. HispanicSlammer
    I dont think I have ridden that fast for so long! We did the Cripple Creek thing like planned then we headed over High Park Road and hwy 50 for a Burger at Texas Creek. I think we rode the entire streatch of hwy 50 at over a hundred plus, all three of us, and had so much fun we turned around and did it again, passing the same cars over again.
    "Excuse me can I get by ya - AGAIN" Dan said as we talked about it at lunch.
    One green SUV we passed pulled into the restrant and slowed down and stopped where our bikes were, I guess to give us the what for, but thought perhaps the possibility of getting beat up by three motorcyclist was too much and screetched out of the parking lot when he saw me pointing at him through the resturant window....the A-Side street bike gangstas we be (Atmel employee riders)!
    :squid: Craig was doing his normal passing on the right thing, which I just wont do, and well cause it scares the piss out of me when he does it, so I wait and get around them when I can. I am no double yellow puss either! I mean its a sport bike right! Dan was haulin on his gixxer, I could get up close in the first part of the turn but he would pull away with that big liter coming out of the turns, no way when he rolls on out of the apex.
    Then High Park Road which is a bit scarry really, Dan piled into a gaurd rail two years ago on it, and another local rider died on it 4 years ago when her bike piled into a cow on the road, its open range out there. Its got long straits inviting you to roll on then it hits you with an off camber corner into a blind left then another left, and then rolling roller coaster type hills where the road dives off in one direction or another. It also comes complete with large chunky chipseal and gravel in some turns from the recent hard rains. You gotta respect High Park cause it doesnt bark it bites! You cant help it though to ride it fast! We also did the peg scraping turns from Victor to Cripple Creek and that was where the kinks where worked out for all of us, it was go fast time from then on! Jebus we were going fast today! Hey I know the guys, I know where each of us is fast and slow, and we ride together pretty good now! Nothing like squiding it up with your friends once in a while, tommorow they both punish me on the dirtbikes again.
    They had the trail maps out for the dirt bike tommorow and just kept piling on trail after trail. Craig says "From the Tanner Trail you can ride all the way to Lake Isabel" Assuming of course you got the stamina and the skill to do it! LOL I am in for it tomorrow!
    :squid:
    PS the EBS pads were a bit grabby at first but the rear is doing this choppy thing at low speed, like a stutter when I get on the rear brake a bit, maybe I need to take them off and refit them with the shims that came on them, I read somewhere to take off the shims for the rear brake? It feels like rolling over a warning strip. I dont like it, perhaps I need to bleed the rear proportion valve again? It does not do it every time?
  20. HispanicSlammer
    Just fitted the bike with EBC HH pads all around, and put on a few stickers for the crappy plastic hugger. Going to head up to Cripple Creek, Victor with Dan and Craig for a bit of fun. We wanted to do hwy 67 to Pine but the CDOT says its closed due to flash flood damage. Dan has to be back early so its just a local ride.
    It is sunny out and a bit cool should be fun!
    When I was fitting the new brakes I noticed a bit of play in my front wheel - wheel bearings are shot, thanks Baileyrock for bring that to my attention when we were at your place putting on my wheels after the texas mac ride, I have been monitoring them. I think I will replace everything, the wheel bearings, the seals, the axle and the mounting bolt too.
  21. HispanicSlammer

    Hello Vfrd

    By HispanicSlammer,

    Hello Ladies and Gents,
    Opps thats a bit optistic, since I have ridden with some of you, perhaps women and dudes is better? In anycase I am proud to announce the blog service arm of vfrd availible for vfrd members.
    I am hosting a ride to Creede here in Colorado on July 23rd sunday if your interested and are in the area to ride. It is a big ride so bring your best gear.
    Above are pictures of last years ride.
  22. HispanicSlammer

    Work Has Begun

    By HispanicSlammer,

    Where to start starting with the chain
    All my parts arrived one by one, the chain and sprocket set first, then the brake pads, fork oil, fork seals, and various other things. I decided to replace the cradle on my Zumo and with it install a bmw style plug in the head tube from Powerlet. They make a vfr kit so I bought it, using the existing molex setup I had before I just solidered the molex wires to the kit and then taped it all up good. I figure I need a disconnect if I want to use the new head stand I bought, I will need to move the wires out to use it.
    I took a look at my brakes and boy they look good up front, I decided to keep them on since the new ones are not much thicker. I was under the impression that my brakes were in bad shape when I bought the parts, not the case. So I set about removing the front wheel and taking out the forks. Fork service has become easy for me, lots of practice with the dirt bike and my vfr, buddies bikes too I have done it a number of times. My fork oil was dark and dirty as it can get. I removed all the parts and cleaned it up best as I could and then replaced the bushing and slider with new parts, new seals and topped it up with new fork oil. I thought perhaps my forks were a little harsh so I checked the spec with racetech and sure enough I had too much oil in there, I must have used stock oil hieght - I used 120 mm for the gold valve/racetech setup I have. Should be a bit less harsh on the bumps with a larger air pocket. It took me an hour to finish both forks off and anther half an hour reinstalling the front end and torquing it to spec.
    Country music blasting in the garage cause I cant stand Prarie Home Companion - sombody please tell that guy Garrison Keeler that he cant sing for squat, please stop! Sometimes its funny the skits but I dont agree with the guys point of view - So I changed the station. I never listen to Country music let alone a nationally syndicated program from Nashville but for most the night it was kind of fun easy listening, the longer the night the twangier it got.
    I got the forks done and decided to make a how-to-video (not yet edited) on chain and sproket replacement. I did not think I had time for the fork service, to stop and go over every step and deal with the camera so I skipped that. Changing sprokets is a messy job. On into the 3am region (I work nights so its old hat for me) I was done by 5am. The garage was a disaster area and grease and grime everywhere.
    Sounds like an opportunity to change the radiator fluid, I sort of lost my fan switch this summer and so I was boiling off on a trip to New Mexico, I used alot of water to replace the boiled off stuff, I fixed the fan switch but by then I had spit out a good portion of my coolant onto the road. A stop at the grocery store in some small town and a bottle of distilled water topped me back up. Its been super cold lately and so I started it up to see - what if I got too much water in there and not enough antifreeze? I wasnt about to chance it for the rest of the winter, the worst is yet to come! So I changed the antifreeze. I did a great job on it tightended the plug so much that it got easier as I went, so easy in fact that it came right off! Snapped - damn it! I did not have the correct size and my easy out was not getting the broken part out. Good thing I had a bucket handy I just drained off all the coolant, a sort of half ass flush job all over the garage floor. I did manage to get most of it into the bucket. I took the cover off and drilled out the hole and then tapped it with a larger plug, works doesnt leak and it did not snap off this time! '
    Much more work to go, need to remove the shock and get it serviced, my old Ohlins has 70k on it now! wow time flies. My plastics are in bad bad shape and my tank is too. In think I need to replace them, I cant paint for shit so I wont even try that! Unless anybody is a painter wizz on the forum? I happen to like red! I could put some VFRD graphics on it! That would be cool eh?

    Removing the speed sensor

    Removing the clutch slave cylinder
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