After this past Easter weekend of mild weather and a renewed spirit not to mention a new (as per Jeff Nash) RPM sensor unit in RED ??? I feel the need to explain some things that have come into the forum spotlight. Also from time to time if anyone wants to chime on issues or musings that they feel are worthy of scrutiny feel free to post up here.
Some may have thought I was perturbed by comments made last week that was mistakenly (by me) thought were directed at me. Please all, rest assured that it takes much more vile stimulation to make this old fart mad. I know most of the forum knows me by now and what I'm all about. I've said it before and I will say it again that I really do like hanging out with you ALL.
I'll start off by saying that I bought my '04 ST4s last August almost sight unseen. I knew the people at Eurosport and their reputation and felt fairly that if anything came up about the bike that needed attention these people could handle it. Ever since that day I first hopped up on the saddle I have been falling deeper into the pit of motorcycle riding pleasure. Of course things wear in good condition but after a while I started noting that things wear a lot faster at the speeds I was riding. That started a learning curve on all things Italian/Ducati Meccanica knowledge type stuff. It's been really fun to get to know the bike.
One thing that I confess didn't reveal itself to me was the sprocket/chain issue I recently had repaired by Stuart Rust. That plus the fact of the Tech session Steve put together helped me get back on track of motorcycle maintenance. Truth was I was just having way too much fun riding and didn't pay enough attention to the sprocket and before I could fully understand what was going on I started feeling the result and thus is the reason for the (now infamous) Saw Blade [laugh]. That has to be the worst excuse for a sprocket I too had ever seen and just could not believe it when I saw. Thanks guys for the chuckle. I know I may have made some remarks that I should have not and I do profusely appologize if anything seemed directly inappropriate. That's so last week now :o ;D so onward and upward! Anyway, I do promise that it won't happen again. I read all the posts on chain maintenance and took it to heart and have since cleaned the chain every 400 miles with the chain cleaner and wax. Thanks y'all for putting up with me. [clap] [clap] Next up is the tyre issue. I would have done that this week but the RPM sensor thingy had to get the bucks this paycheck.
One more thing, it's been a while since we've all gotten together and did some road work on the twisties as a group I know for various and many reasons. I hope that changes soon now that the weather is getting better. I know it takes a lot of effort on all our parts to keep the bond toghther we share. I for one will put more effort into promoting safe riding and unity into the group from now on. For anything else I'll have to go to the appology thread...yuk yuk yuk... [laugh].
Quote from: RED on April 13, 2009, 06:32:17 AM
That's so last week now :o ;D
So.... shut up and lets ride [moto]
Wait. So that was your sprocket?! [laugh] Oh well, don't worry about it. Seriously. That sort of crap can happen (I don't think anyone gets a special pass on that particular motorcycle fact of life).
Glad to hear you're having fun with the ST4 - that's the main thing, right?
I think a group ride again sounds like fun; this weekend looks good for me ;D And the weekend after that (Sunday the 26th) is the shin-dig at our house...
Quote from: Samsonite on April 13, 2009, 06:57:35 AM
So.... shut up and lets ride [moto]
Name it.
Quote from: Cher on April 13, 2009, 09:20:05 AM
Wait. So that was your sprocket?! [laugh] Oh well, don't worry about it. Seriously. That sort of crap can happen (I don't think anyone gets a special pass on that particular motorcycle fact of life).
Glad to hear you're having fun with the ST4 - that's the main thing, right?
I think a group ride again sounds like fun; this weekend looks good for me ;D And the weekend after that (Sunday the 26th) is the shin-dig at our house...
Uh, :-[ yeppers it was mine, very detailed picture too I thought. I actually need to get a picture of it so I can remember to not let that happen again. Ok, the story is that I hadn't ridden a chain-drive moto in, well let's just say a while and totally forgot about chain maintenance [bang] [laugh] So, my bad. Too also, I was just not in maintenance mode until recently. So, you gotta laugh at shit like that. I was just glad it lasted that long! I think back and it did increase the top end a bit [laugh] [roll].
I can't wait to shin-dig @ su casa. I will try to be a fly on the wall (not that you have flies! [roll] [roll], I mean not you personally....D'oh!)
Quote from: Samsonite on April 13, 2009, 06:57:35 AM
So.... shut up and lets ride [moto]
I get the point. [beer]
Quote from: Cher on April 13, 2009, 09:20:05 AM
Wait. So that was your sprocket?! [laugh]
D-OH! That was supposed to be funny [bang] I obviously missed the target. Sorry :-\ Now where's that Apology thread...
I don't know the underlying issue with this and don't care to know. Sprockets wear out and so do chains. Personally I think you should get a trophy for getting the most miles out of yours! [thumbsup] In this economy I think you did the right thing. Hell, I'm proud of you. Wish I had ridden enough to do that. There... we are done. Move on. [laugh]
[moto] It's ALL good, when's the next beer @ Jacks ? [drink]
mmmm... beer [drink]
We are supposed to clean our chain?
Goodness, there was no issue at all and my feelings are all in good condition [roll]. Although true, I may need psychiatric care, not for this though. ;D
I really thought it was humorous to see the sprocket when I finally found out why the bike would feel like it 'skipped a tooth'. I took a look at it and thought, wow, how could I have not seen that. [bang] And when Slag put that picture up there I fell out. [laugh] I mean, I was really surprised that the bike would even move at all with no teeth! ;D
I'm a Stugots! D 'oh! [bang]
How bout some beers on Wednesday at Jack's? [beer]
I'll be there @ 11:40am slurpping and burpping [drink]
Quote from: RED on April 14, 2009, 01:25:23 PM
How bout some beers on Wednesday at Jack's? [beer]
I'll be there @ 11:40am slurpping and burpping [drink]
Is that a dare? Are we talking today?!? I could go for a beer... ;D
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on April 15, 2009, 07:20:54 AM
Is that a dare? Are we talking today?!? I could go for a beer... ;D
Do we need a new "Lunch Today at JBY(L)CG" thread?!?!?!?!?!?
You can make that happen I know Sir. (Salute! smiley)
Today is the day, and I will try like hell to get there on time too. I've been dumped on today at work and currently under a pile of paper work ???
Quote from: The Svoloch on April 14, 2009, 05:02:41 AM
We are supposed to clean our chain?
What are chains?
Steve
Quote from: sdlrodeo on April 16, 2009, 07:20:39 AM
What are chains?
Steve
Dude, we need to talk, seriously. [roll]
[beer]
Quote from: The Svoloch on April 14, 2009, 05:02:41 AM
We are supposed to clean our chain?
Turns out you're supposed to clean your whole bike, Pat. Especially after it gets dusty...
Reading some posts in here about trips and such. I ran across this link today whilst searching for Deals Gap ride suggestions and got a little caught up looking at the pics. Check out the 'Sportbike' catagory and in particular to the Ducs! There is a couple of photos of some cupcake riging on a yellow SS900 that is pretty dang cool.
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=29876 (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=29876)