Way too focused on...

On motorcycles but what the hay? Really as long as it keeps you busy, happy, keeps thoughts off dumb bad thoughts, is creative, makes friends, helps people, is a legal pastime, doesn't cost/spend beyond your budget, doesn't take too much time from the family, isn't preverted, fattening or immoral, GO for it.
Yes I talk, walk and drive motorcycles. Certainly less expensive than airplanes, more useful than boats (this is a desert and nearest water is 100+ miles). Cars are OK but after having many High Performance cars, 2 Corvettes, Z28, TransAm, Mustang, and a STS Cadillac motorcycles are just more fun. They are less expensive, can have 4 in the space of 1 car, easier to work on, more dangerous, makes friends, keeps me busy, I have no quames about wasting gas (45-75 mpg), or leaving for a few hours to get my sanity back.
Except for Cages (cars-trucks) doing stupid things around me I enjoy doing this and hopefully will until the end...
Someday it may meaning 2 wheels will be a scooter, but have you seen them lately? Much more powerful, safer and better looking.
I can do 90% of what I need to on a bike. Everything except grocery shopping and picking up large items. I drive 2000 miles a month. In a car at 20 mpg this would be $200 @ $2/ga. $400 at $4. At $4 in the bikes it was $160 (worst month). Down under $75 now.
Bike insurance is $250 for all 5 bikes. The Corvette was $750. Depreciation was $300/month, bikes is $25?
Except for bad weather, i.e. high winds, heavy rain I use them year around.
My biggest problem is>>> Which One Do I Ride Today???
Our one and only car Is a Honda. Ask me why.

Mr. Mod (short for modification)

My younger sister came 2 winters ago to visit for a week. As I would do, being the perfect male, show her some of the things I do. Her comment was "do you have/buy anything you don't modify in some way?" My answer " probably not" I usually buy things but they aren't exactly like I want, so I adapt, change, or make it the way I want to.
Many times I dream up a project then have to go to Lowes or HomeDepot to find the materials I need. Most times I keep enough old scrap metal, plastic or junk around to make what I want. I've gotten pretty good at making brackets to hold gauges.
I put in 6 different LEDs in the dash of the Venture. Had to find a place visible place and enough room in the back for the wires, they tie in to the switches to turn on 2 sets of lights, the radio and radiator fan, so I know for sure they are on.
Made an alarm for the Venture that goes off when the bike is pulled off the side stand to drive(steal) it. Cost $0.
The Venture now has about a hundred changes to make it the way I like. Almost all are hidden to keep it looking stock. Except the ones in the pic above.
If there is a problem around the house I look for a way to fix it. That was my job at the box plants as the Quality Manager. Also as an Industrial Engineer we looked at resolving material handling problems. In safety meetings we looked for better safer ways of helping people from getting hurt.
KISS. Keep it safe/simple/cheap silly! I have to time to do these now.

Just Busy

Met a new friend 2-3 weeks ago, Rudy. He has a Venture too like mine. His is an 86, mine is a 84. He came over to look at some stuff in my garage and saw my 2 Suzuki's. But Lowell had my brown one and and his black one was here. Rudy sat on my red and Lowell's black Suzuki. Instant LOVE!
A few days later he drove my brown bike. He really likes it.
So to Craigslist I go. Found a search engine that can go through every city they have. Took an hour to download the software. In one more hour I had about 12 to choose from. One without a title. One very abused, several too far away, many too expensive. We settled on one in Seattle for $3k but seller would take $2500. Many phone calls, many hours being caught in the middle making decisions on both ends. Seller was reluctant to release bike without payment clearing his bank. Sent check over night then he's not there to get the check from Mail Courier, URRR!
I booked shipper "Uship" any ways. $545 for 1633 miles. Bike weighs 600#'s.
Rudy lost his cell phone last Friday, then his home phone went out Tuesday. I got frustrated several times, trying to get a hold of him. He has AT&T DSL so that's out too.
Shipper to pick up early next week, deliver late next week.
Spent several days, hours on this project but it kept me very busy.
Bike has 21k miles and looks in very good condition. Just like the one in the picture.
Next week check it out, get inspected, title it and finally RIDE IT!

Safety while driving

Motorcycle driving makes you a better car driver. Ask any motorcyclist. Bikers have to just pay more attention than car drivers because we are more exposed. Here are a few things I do to avoids the "Cages" (cars and trucks)
Drive with your bright lights "ON" all the time. We have only one headlight (or 2 very close together). Car drivers are tuned into seeing 2 dim ones.
Look and turn your head at every driver of every vehicle wanting to turn/cross your path. Do they see you?
Stay as far away from other vehicles as possible. Move over in your lane.
Never drive in a blind spot(s). Accelerate thru it.
Don't let tailgaters continue to do so. Let them go by, speeding up or slowing down really doesn't work.
Drive at a different speed than those around you. 1-3 mph can make difference.
If your the first up at a stop light look both ways before crossing.
Pretend your invisible, not invincible.
Look back in your mirrors when your stopped, to see if others are too.
Don't follow too close behind any vehicle, your in a blind spot.
Turning in any corner is a potential for loose gravel, rocks, grease, water, etc.
Look out as far as possible anticipating potential hazards. Then scan closer.
Driving in the city is hundreds of times more dangerous than out on the highway.
Remember the first one? Bright lights...

Holding our own

Met 2 new bikers today. One has a Venture, of course, like mine. He found me on the Internet. I post many suggestions on how to fix, modify, or do maintenance on these fine bikes. We met for breakfast, he bought. He was looking for someone to ride with. But just as importantly to him was someone that help him with his bike. He has the slow start in the summer problem. Yes I can fix it.
Tomorrow he said he wanted to go with us to the Guadalupe's. It's a 200 mile ride. There may not be any gas so we take some and lunch. His name is Rudy
The other new to our group is Joe. He is retired too. Can ride almost any day. He is concerned about his 3.5 gallon tank. Most are 5. He will have to take extra gas on many of our rides. Most bikes get 40-50 mpg so a 5 gallon tank can go 200 miles stretching it. He might be able to go 150.
Lowell, Mike, Benny, Mark and myself are the regulars but others have joined lately, too. Many ride just once and never show up or respond. So we drop them. I have names of about 40. 3 are female drivers, and a couple of females ride only.
Who's that in the pic? She's from Alaska...

Mr. Fix It

Recently I've been busy fixing many things. Well mostly motor cycles, Dahhh...
Sam's Yamaha Virago starter mechanism wasn't working at all. Yamaha wanted $450 for parts. I got on the Internet and found a Australian who fixed his for a lot less. I bought a bearing for $15 but did not work. I then found a supplier for $10 for the needle rollers I needed. They sent me an email saying the price went up. I remembered that McMaster had everything industrial and got the parts for $10 shipped. I cut some 7mm drill rod to the exact length I needed. I made a couple other modifications recommended, put it together and it would not start. I had flooded it. It did turn over though. Later everything worked correctly. He's got it back with lots of thanks.
I was contacted by a friend of a friend who asked me to fix his 1500 Kawasaki cruiser. It would not start too. He had several dirty starter electrical switches. It was sitting outside. Cleaned them and it started good. Serviced several systems highly neglected.
Same guy had a 4 wheel ATV that would not start. The battery was severely corroded and old. With a new battery and cleaning of the carb it started right up. Serviced it too.
Lowell brought his Venture back over. It was wandering at high speeds. He had just put new tires on it. They have very deep tread. After checking several bearing settings we could not find any problems. It's got to be the tires.
So far I've still not installed the toilet. The weather is too good.
And my Venture has over 125 projects. But not running. I gave my battery to Sam he hasn't ridden in weeks. I think I can find another bike to ride until the new battery comes in. This is the 4th I've bought in the last month.
Still cold in the mornings (27 yesterday) but in 60's by afternoon.
Isn't that our Solar System above?