what did you do to your vfr today?

Thanks for the offer! But I might have it covered.

The one on there is a racetech'd 929 shock with a spacer on top to get it the right length. Jaime said he could sort it for me and his reputation is stellar, so... I was tempted to send it to racetech, since they're sort of local, but I kind of trust the guy who has tons of recommendations specifically for VFRs.

Anyway, I was digging in my box o shit after I made that post and found the stock shock in there! Lying under the stock seat and taillights. If I feel ambitious, I can yank the shock that's in there and drop in the stocker for a couple of weeks while it's getting reworked.

The previous owner kept EVERYTHING when he made changes, and I guess so did the one before him because he got a box of goodies with the bike. He didn't even know the suspension was aftermarket, as he got it that way, but he was good enough to pass it all along!

 

I've had all three of my bikes done by Jamie so I can definitely recommend his work. I'd throw that stocker on and have him sort it out for you. Maybe even grab his drop in kit for the forks while you're at it.

 

Yeah, they are Channel Islands National Park. The ones on the north end of the island chain, off Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Catalina is mostly a nature conservancy, originally owned by Wrigley of chewing gum and Cubs baseball fame. As before stated, San Clemente and San Nicholas are military owned. Everything from SEAL training to gunnery ranges out there.

Of the others, they are visitable, some are not so visitable because they are conservation areas, but I think they're all open at the moment with the exception of Santa Barbara.

I went to school at UCSB and a friend studying biology at that time got to staff a research station on one of the islands that, at the time, was closed to the public. One of the smaller ones -- Anacapa or San Miguel. She said it was the weirdest feeling ever about the second or third night out there when she realized she literally had this entire island all to herself. Not another human being on the whole place.

 

Damn, dammitty damn damn! I rode today by myself. I would have loved to rode with you. You gotta let me know, In Advance, next time you're up here. You were right around the corner!

 

I'd originally intended to send him my forks. They have been done, too -- I assume racetech -- but they're not right. Hard to describe, but they feel a little unsteady mid corner. Thing is, that can also be the back end being bad, too. I'm really thinking I might save up and get the fork kit, too. Not looking forward to stripping the front of the bike again after the brake line work, but after that long weekend at least I mostly know how to put it back together now!

 

I got to get this done.

 

Yep, Jamie is the magic man for sure when it come to VFR suspension knows. On a side note spring rate is huge here.

 

In all honesty I was invited last minute by two friends who wanted to ride Malibu and since I seem to be the "tour guide" for Malibu rides for the OC riders, they asked me along. It originally started as 3 of us with an 8AM KSU, then turned to a 9AM and eventually we (just two of us at this point) left OC at 10AM. I'm usually done riding by this time, so not my ideal starting time that's for sure but today actually wasn't bad. Normally by this time, Malibu is a ZOO, let alone arriving at 11:00AM.

It's a pretty sure bet that unless I'm out of town for a job, one day out of my weekend is going to be riding. Normally I have my ride planned by the Thursday before but sometimes it's an impromptu ride once in a while. I don't always post rides here as most of the time I'm riding with others who prefer to keep the groups small and semi-private. I do on occasion, particularly if it's Jordan and I making the ride plans as we like to have a bigger VFR presence! That being said, don't be shy if you're ever looking for a riding partner, send me a PM or text, chances are I'll riding somewhere in So Cal. However, it's a good chance the distance will be further from where you live and the typical start time might be an slight deterrent!

 

You'll be so glad you did, once you do.

 

Both San Nicolas and San Clemente are leased by the US Navy and special permission is necessary to make landfall on either. Generally the 12 Islands are known as the Channel Islands named for the Catalina Channel. There are many islands off the coast of California. Some are man made like the oil platforms off the coast of Long Beach and San Pedro, renamed for the NASA Atronauts who died in the capsule fire in the mid 1960s. One other that was built and then removed in the late 1920s and the inshore islands like Balboa. The oil platforms are cleverly disguised to look like they are inhabited sub tropical islets.

Catalina is in Los Angeles county and over the years has been owned by the Bannings and the Wrigleys. Catalina has no water. The population is determined by a consortium. Permission must be obtained to go to many places on the island. Avalon bay is home to the Garibaldi Bass and the bay itself is part of the National Park system. No diving and no fish tacos from that particular fish.. Another "monument" is the home of Western novelist, Zane Gray. Who was an avid fisherman. There is footage on Utube of the old and more recent "Catalina Gran Prix" from the 1950s under the auspices of AMA District 37.

Catalina or more specifically Santa Catalina in the 1930s was a mecca for the Hollywood crowd. Two large "steamers" made daily runs from the Port of Wilmington. Just offshore then just outside the three mile limit were gambling barges with free eats and transportation by water taxi to draw crowds and relieve them of their pesos. The last of the steamers is sunk in the bay in Ensenada, BC. Even an entertainment venue a bit North of Avalon proper is "The Casino" housing one of the last existing examples of art deco theatres in the Los Angeles area. Also a large ballroom where in the years from about 1935 to the start of WWII featured the top bands of the day. Including Benny Goodman ect.

Prior to any thoughts of conservation the Catalina Channel was one of the richest fishing grounds on the planet. The State of California in it's many times limited wisdom or outlook allowed Japanese and Portuguese trawlers and purse seiners to sweep the channel of sardine until the supply was exhausted. Sardines were a large part of the pelagic food chain. After all these years the sardines are coming back.

All this is the short version.

 

Good to know, I'll definitely keep you in the loop

 

A friend redid an RD350 recently. It draws looks -- though he did some pretty serious work on it.

http://classic-motorcycles.com/restorations/japanese/1975-yamaha-rd-350/



Neat little bike. Key word, little.

 

Hot Damn.. well sorta. My son finally got the Christmas present he ordered for me. I like getting presents off the beat, he told me on Christmas it was on its way, what it was I hadn't a clue, he's good at picking stuff out . Whoppie! Only thing, I could tell by the look on his face he was really disappointed, not only did it take 7 weeks to get it , but the package was acordained. When he opened it up to show me, he was like oh man what a bummer, Shiet! What I saw was a Piper cross air filter more or less kinda squished, Still though How cool, now I'm thinking getting the oxygen in is nice, now it turns about getting it out. Anyway love the effort, but he's in a fret to get a new one or his money back, either way it's cool. He took photos of the damage, seeing what can be done, in the mean time I played around with the filter to see if it would still fit and work.. Cool yet IDK..

 

Dayum!
That RD looks awesome.
Makes me want to get out and do something good for my '75 RD200

 

Thought that counts--- what a good boy
Have a K&N since 2010 no complaints


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It just might work out, as even though it was sorta rolled up, I did get it to lay somewhat flat. Shown in photo. Now being the air box its self would more than likely make it lay right. I'm thinking it will work out. but it' still not right that it was received this way. so we'll see how that part is handled. Hate to see paying good money for a product, then gets fob-bard in the process. Then add in its from the UK, so no telling what the time line would be. 7 weeks is a bit much ya think?

 

Depends on the amount of shipping paid for it, if your son paid for it to be used as a cruise shit seat cushoin then it all worked out. Otherwise....

Went to the new motorcycle show in Dallas and dropped off my cousin's 66 triumph in the process. Made some room in the home garage to take the 86 apart for upgrades.

Rain meant tarp and tape, it got there dry.



So much room for activities!


Found a matching beverage at a truck stop on the way back, tasted terrible of course. Literally has the pledge of allegiance written on the can.


This was prolly my fav custom at the show, still uploading pics off my actual camera and this is just a crappy one from my phone


Picked up a Klim TK1200 in white for a good price at the show, haven't had much seat time with it but i dig it so far. Tempted cut some red/blue vinyl to make my own Freddie Spencer replica to match the bike a bit

 

Whoops. Wrong thread...

 

Not at all. What did you do to your snowmobile today?