Chief Gunner

I'm a Newb to a new sport; I've always been into Fishing and I have allot of gear for both Fresh and Saltwater so I bought a used Tapon 160 so I can still get out and stay active while saving up for another DS and so I can catch some dinner from time to time. It's loaded with the essential goodies (bait tank with a gps fishfinder, waterproof pelican battery case with a new battery, rudder set up, rod holders, paddles and some other stuff came with it. I did a solo fishing trip in the bay yesterday (launched at Shelter Island) just to get out and get the "feel" for it. I grew up fishing & paddling canoes in the lakes, rivers and on the coast in New England so it was kind of natural for me to feel at home in the kayak and on the water. I just need to work on technique a bit but I figure it will be just like riding,,, the more of it I do, the better I will get at it I caught the usual Bay stuff on plastics and metal spoons; Spotties, Sandies, a few short Halibut, tons of Makeral and a couple of Sculpin and a few of those nasty lizard fish. I'll be going again early on Monday with a Buddy that just bought 2 new extremes, so if anyone else here is into kayak fishing and can get away tomorrow, you'd be welcome to come with us and teach a few newbs some things about Yaking for fish. Not sure of where we will launch but we will get out on the water and try to catch some fish

Had an EPIC day getting some fresh Fish for the table....We killed 'em, launched at Shelter Island and paddled out to get some bait and did really well. 4 Keepers and 6 break offs between the two of us. Here's me with the one I brought home and Here is my fishing partner Matt with the three barn doors he caught We found my old "Honey Hole" I used to visit when I had my boat, so much more fun on a "Yak" but the long paddle out and back sure kicked our "Butts" LOL Got back a tad late to cook 'em up tonight but did get 'em fillet'd out. Gonna be yummy!

Anyone want to ride some pavement Sat? I'm up for the twisties out East or a coastal ride should do the trick. I was thinking of riding up to Ramona from Lakeside and then deciding on wether or not to continue East . If the temps look like they are gonna be a bit extreme then there's the option of taking a left and catching the 78 out to the PCH and down to PB /OB for Lunch. There's a fellow VMax rider from Massachusetts that's new to the area I am going to invite, as with the DS rides it does not matter what you ride as long as it can do sustained freeway speeds so if you are up for some riding chime in. Time and meet up place will be determined by an agreed general concensus

I am without a Dual Sport for awhile but I am working on getting another one. I often think of and miss all the great times & friendships I had riding with allot of you. I will be back on a new DS in due time. Anyway I have been doing a little work to my VMax and I do get out and ride allot. I just thought it would be great to re-connect with some of my friends here again even if it is on road rides. So if you ever wanna get out and ride some street or super slab shoot me a PM or call me because I always love to ditch the domestic things and get out to ride

Our 11 1/2 year old Chow / Lab mix "Timex" is not doing so well these days and as much as it will break my heart to have to take him in so his pain is gone I felt like I had to think of "Pancho Villa" (our Aussie) who has been Timex's constant companion since he was 8 weeks old. I got offered and accepted a pup from the same guy we got Pancho from. Here is our latest addition to the pack "Ruger", he is Pancho's biological little brother and knowing that I know he will be a great dog. Ruger is adjusting well to his new home

I'll miss the Pig, the 250 and the 125 but my Kid got what she needed and the good thing about it all is that there's a few $$ left. So Dad's scheme'ing out some ways to take what is left and buy a new DS so he can can back into "It"...Sure she's happy now but wait till you guys see the smile on my face when I show up on a Ride on a new bike ...

I need to break in the new tires on my VMax and since I no longer have the pig but still have the need to get out, I'm going to get out and ride this Sat. No real specific route planned except the thought of a run up to Dudley's from Lakeside and then left (North) from there. I'll make my way to the Ortega hwy through Lake Elsinore and head to the coast from there. Once I reach the coast it will be the PCH southbound until MB then eastward to home. I'm not looking to get any speeding tickets but might enjoy me some quick spurts here and there along the way. It's gonna be back roads and avoiding the 15 & 5 as much as I can along the way Heading out around 8-9ish. Anyone wanna ride?

Thanks bikeslut; I ended up going solo. I rode out to La Jolla shores to get a look at the Kayak launch and the guys fishing out there (I'm thinking about buying one & doing some fishing from it). From there I rode out to Campo via the 94. I stopped in at CG's place to say hi and turned around and rode back down the 94. Had a great ride and wore some paint of of the center stand and added a few scratches to the undersides of the pipes along the way. Wow, those ME880's are a hard compound rubber,I tried to scuff them in and they still have the "Niblets" down the center and on the edges after a 120 mile ride. They are a bit more sticky now than the were when I 1st rode with them....the back tire isn't busting loose on it's own when I roll the throttle now unless I pump some front brake & clutch it up

I always go to to LED's on all my bikes beacause good quality aftermarket LED turn signals are waterproof, vibration proof and brighter than incandesant bulbs. they also draw less current which means less draw on your battery and charging system. I'm not a fan of the big ugly OEM stuff, especially on Dual Sports. Broke too many off on trails. With LED's you can get your signals tucked in and out of the danger zone and still be perfectly legal as long as they are a minimum of 9 inches apart from each other (the distance of a licensce plate frame is perfect...9 inches is the law in CA, I looked it up). Cycle gear sells universal LED flashers and Manufacturer specific ones too. If you use one of those there is no need for Diodes or Resistors when you install them (cleaner finish, it's never good to hack and splice wires if it can be avoided). You just have to cut the pins on them so you can re-pin them with pins will work on your OEM flasher and signal connectors. On some bikes it does help to solder in diodes to the flasher on your instrument panel so the light will flash properly there due to the way some are wired. If you need a hand shoot me a PM.

I'll be standing by if anyone wants to ride. Gonna head out around 8-9. Thinking twisties to feather the edges on the new tires and then going coastal after that.

That was pretty cool. If Nikola Tesla could only be around to see how his ideas and work have progressed. He was the guy who concieved the idea of remote control, AC electrical power and systems and a whole lot of other things that Edison & Westinghouse screwed him out of.

I've got no problem keeping up with sporties on the VMax...the neighbors Road king is another story. If he don't wanna ride i'll give you a call or maybe even see you guys out there.

Rad; That works too, if no one else wants to do Sat I'll be down to ride Sun, my neighbor might wanna come with (HD Road King).

None of us are Supeman

Some good tunes posted here. My link

I was given two old factory Manuals; One is for '82 - '85 Honda CB/CM 450's and the other is for the Yamaha XT 350 N/NC models (84 & up). free to whoever might want them. These are the factory manuals that the Dealership service centers get from the factory.

I saw you on Mission Gorge at Prospect (recognized the XR and the full leathers in a sec). I was on my way to Lowes to get some Hardy board for my tile project. I was hoping you might have stopped by and coaxed me into tearing up some asphalt with you on my VMax. Wish you had..... I have not checked in on the site in awhile and saw this post, I just wanted to say that you and any of you guys here who know me are always welcomed to swing by if you are in the neighborhood. I keep the XR, the Vmax and the other two ready to go. It seems like it's just been so hard to get away & get out more often these days. I definately need to change that! I really need to get in on some good riding so I can recapture the Zenfull peace of mind it gives me. I miss that feeling so much.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, starting the new year with a refreshed outlook on things. See you out there on the roads and trails!

My good friend Dan invited me to ride with his group of CMA (Christian Motorcycle Assosiation) riders on Sunday on a Memorial ride in support of the Saddle Tramps and thier recent losses. He told me it will be short ride so it will not be an all day event. There is usually a church service and prayer session before the CMA rides, but if that's not your thing you are still welcomed to show up and ride with them. They are good people and no one need feel out of place. I just thought I would extend the invite here since I know some of you know or knew those involved in the tragic accident. This one struck too close to home for me to not get out there and help out. 1200 Sunday at El Cajon Harley Davidson is the meet up, from there we will ride out to Renegades for the memorial service. Anyone who would like is welcomed to come to my house and unload a bike or just ride there with me & Dan. We will roll at 11ish. My contact info is in the members only thread if you want to talk to me about it. Hope to see some of you there. Aaron

I've joined up with the Patriot Guard Riders and will be riding on my first mission in a couple of weeks. I believe in supporting the cause, especially these days when we got kids half my age dying for the freedoms we all enjoy everyday. They Honor those who have served by organizing memorial rides at Military funerals and memorials and they shield the families of the fallen from protestors at funerals for the fallen (in a peaceful non-violent way as is the group policy). They are not a bike specific organization, as long as it's got a plate anyone can show up (once they register).They are a group of commited Patriots who believe in respecting and honoring those who have fallen, either as a result of combat or those who pass long after their honorable service ended. If you might be interested in checking them out and reading about who they are and what they do here is a link; My link

I did not see a single SDAR member there that I knew. The SaddleTramp's Pres and a whole Gammet of riders from the HA's, Peckerwoods, the clean and sober clubs and of course the CMA and Vet riders & many more accepted my prescene and made me feel at home with them yesterday. I'm done here, Please delte me.

I came acroos a "Riders Review" magazine awhile back and liked it. there is lotts of diversity in thier issues and a very refreshing "Down to Earth" style to it. There's always something for everyone in the issues, Metrics, Harleys, Sporties, Dirt, etc. It's very cool to have a local Magazine dedicated to Riders, and bikes. Here's the link to thier home page, enjoy! My link

Pancho Villa my Aussie always acts like he wants to hop up and go for a ride on the VMax but it ust isn't going to work unless I get a hack for it (that will never happen . After a nice long ride with my buddy Dan and my wife Felicia today we parked the bikes in my garage and our cat Sheba let us know exactly which bike she prefers, the wife agrees so I guess it's time to get something with a comfy 2 up seat ]http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu208/EXGMC/ShebaontheHarley.jpg[/img]

I'll be meeting up with some nice folks at the Burger King on Mapleview and Main St. in Lakeside tomorrow morning for a group cruise through the East & North parts of the county. I was told to expect Kickstands up and be rolling at 6ish. The route will be from Lakeside to Ramona to meet up with some other riders and then the back roads up to the Temecula area for lunch and some more riding. I'm not sure exactly where we will be heading but that's the point of getting out for a ride anyway isn't it? I'll be on the VMax and my wife Felicia will be there (enoying the easy chair on my buddy Dan's Ultra classic). We will be meeting up with some members of the CMA (Christian Motorcyle Association). I've done a few rides with them, they are really nice people and not "in your face" with the religous stuff. They just share a common love of riding and their Christian faith. I can tell you that the few times I've ridden with them I was put at ease by the obvious skill, respectful ways and easy pace of all the riders in the groups and I always felt welcomed with them. So if you'd like to get out and get a nice day of riding in feel free to join up with us.

I have thought about putting an aftermarket exhaust on the VMax but have decided not to, I already have a loud bike and really don't want or need another. With that said I have experienced the occasional car swerving into my lane on the freeway and in town and used the clutch & rev while riding the XR and it did get their attention. I have also been told by oncoming riders on trails that they heard me coming so I guess the XR having an exhaust that is louder than stock does seem to have a few benefits aside from the performance that it does give. I had no idea how loud that exhaust was gonna be when I bought it and after paying like $500+ for it I'm not about to just toss it. I do have a SS tip I bought for it and that quiets it down allot Which I am going to use for all of my non open desert rides just out of respect for the communities that I pass through. I just want to ride, I do not want to cause anyone any reason to be angry just because I have a loud abnoxious, snorting pig of a bike.