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doug m

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Posts posted by doug m

  1. I haven't contributed here in a while, haven't been able to ride for the last couple seasons, so I live my life vicariously through you guys. Had to sell my bike due to $$$ needs for wife's health followed by me pulling my right bicep off the elbow. Luckily, during pre-operative testing they found a bigger issue, beginning for me what will hopefully be the worst week of my life.

    Monday- I am diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal blood cancer, in 3rd stage. I have no noticeable symptoms...THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT...Average life expectancy 2-7 more years IF FOUND IN THE FIRST STAGE. Now THAT'S a kick in the balls...

    Tuesday- My company's founder died. Now his kids, who aren't 1st hand knowledgeable about our work, own it.

    Thursday- My Dad dies unexpectedly....WTF!?! And of course, he heard my diagnosis, that still kills me.

    Saturday-Sunday- wife's continuing health issues put her in hospital, it will turn into surgery.

    I just turned 53 this December. I have 14 and 11 year old kids with needs, graduations, weddings, etc...Everyone around me is moving to floorboard effin' cruisers, I want clip ons, pegs, screw your 700 lb land yacht! I can still camp weekends with a tank bag, sleep wherever, I'm too young for this shit...

    BUT, we live in an amazing time. Well into our last century, simple infections killed many commonly. NOW, The DNA/genome project has led to me getting drugs, specific to MY cancer, for the first time in mankind's history. Two weeks from today, I "bubble boy it" for the second time for an autologous (I provide my own) stem cell transplant. My wife continues to deal with her issues/recuperation, like a real trooper. I'd rather have what I have then to deal w/ her day to day struggles.

    SO...It seems obvious. It is said so often it almost becomes perfunctory, blasé. And every tragedy has it's own unique obstacles...

    Stay strong, ask for and accept help, Pray, and NEVER QUIT FIGHTING.

    Best of luck for you, and everyone of us who prove daily that getting old ain't for sissies. Me, I don't count on luck, I pray a lot, and try to live by this mantra,

    "I never heard of Multiple Myeloma before, but it never met ME, either. We go in a room for a few weeks together. I walk out, ALONE."

    Hope to meet any and all of you out riding sometime in the foreseeable future, S.H.

    Hey Savage, I just read about your situation,and know there are people praying for you and your family, God Bless you,and thank you and everyone for their kind responses.

  2. Hey Guys, just wanted to reflect on how your life can change drastically over night, or in an instance for that matter.  You may think,as I did, that life is going OK despite the many difficulties we all face. I had some nice bikes and other toys I acquired, despite not really affording them...some have probably been there.I have not been on the site much in the last few years, as my priorities have changed somewhat you might say.I don't want to bum everyone but,a few things have happened;2016..   step-daughter passed ,cancer, Dad passed away. Spent new years 2016 in hospital stage 4 cancer tumour removed,,,, thought I'd take my Ducati out this spring and had my 1st crash...write off and buggered my foot up. A week later my wife had a massive stroke and was in the hospital for 3 months. She is still messed up and has been back and forth to the hospital with seizures, and shortness of breath etc....New Years 2017 spent in the hospital again. Not exactly good conditions for healing cancer..   Now my priorities are doing a will and trying to liquidate what I can.. All the bikes and parts are up for sale.   Talk about life's a bitch and then you die! Anyhow I am not looking for sympathy, ...GET A COLONOSCOPY WHEN  YOU ARE 50.Don't be stupid like me and wait till it's too late. 1 in 2 or 3 people over the age of 50 are diagnosed with cancer nowadays, up from 1 in 20 100 years ago.Talk about population control...what a system,  Anyhow just wanted to say thanks to this site and it's members...ENJOY EVERDAY AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER...CHEERS! Doug.

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  3. If you want to save your seals it is a good idea to install a set of fork slider covers, such as seal savers. They keep dirt, bugs, and grime from working its way through your seals.They will protect your sliders from rock pitting also.I have not replaced a seal since installing them  years ago..Definitely download an ohlins manual.Couple of notes;   Note the number of turns your preload nut is set at, before you back it all the way out for disassembly. you can do this while still mounted on bike.Once the top assembly is pulled out you have to undo the nut that is just above the tube by pushing or holding down tube to expose the top nut and then loosening the top preload nut.  You may have to hold the top assembly tool on while loosening the two nuts (spring preload and nut under tube).      ## note nut under tube is about 3 or 4  threads up from  bottom which is approx. where assembly bottoms out when screwing on to piston rod.. Once apart you can pull apart upper and lower tubes.  It is agood idea to measure your oil level before and after assembly/  Rinse forks with fresh oil and drain again...solvent may damage the seals.

  4. 01403cb5404506c99dc6d1a3c71bbbfb843e455155.jpg01d9743cecbfc25f4131cbfd8c2a59fe47094176fc.jpg017c8658cd660b4731616bfd5bcd14c0901a87e861.jpgProbably not in the right  forum location, but anyhow.....check the fairing work , gamma's were notorious for cracking up. Mine is all original. The bottom fairing used to be 3 pieces, now it is one. The rear of the tail section I fused a piece of stainless around the taillight. The top fairing has internal reinforcing bars,and most weak spots are beefed up with more plastic resin etc., I have put over 100,000 miles on the two rg's that  I have owned. They were the fastest 500 production bike ever sold , and the fastest 2 stroke bike ever made. In my books one of the best street bikes suzy made. I love the smell of 2 stroke in the morning..... 

  5. YEAHp... the ALIENS (from the far side of the moon), will show up in full force, first collecting the Illuminati's gold reserves, giving them time to hunker (down) in their bunkers, and then the shit hits the fan for the rest of us LOWLIFEs. I READ this on the INTERNET...gotta be true..:grin: Seriously though, WHAT IF IT IS TRUE????:drink: The world is going to shit, over money- greed- oil =Power.

  6. Torque helps off the line, for the first 100 feet...that's about it though, what a joke! Harley's still SUCK and their owner's SUCK TOO! Most of them need a good half an hour HOT shower and a DE-LOUSING !:P By the way don't take me too seriously; I have moments where I suck too!....and no, not literally, if that's what you're thinking....:stupid:

  7. This is great.

    I wish I could understand the narration.

     

     

    Film of 1970 Elephant Rally

     

    COOL old footage-literally.Reminds me of an old gent named Walt Healy who had a delearship in these parts,he would ride year round with his sidecar rig, I believe till he was about Eighty. Pretty hardcore! I used to like studding up the dirtbike and going out on the ice ,usually a frozen lake...good fun, particularly after a snowfall. Having the bike crossed-up in 5th gear and berming the snow 10 feet in the air like waterskiing was kind of a hoot. Riding on ice and snow with a heavy streetbike is a different ballgame though, especially without a sidecar! I don't think I will be studding up the Guzzi anytime soon!

  8. Hi, New Guzzi owner as of tonight. :helmet: I just purchased a V11 Lemans Tenni from a friend and forum member! I've been lurking for a few weeks so the questions will now commence....

     

    Welcome to the site,probably the best MC site on the planet,with a lot of very knowledgeable and helpfull members. You're not left handed are you?:grin: Enjoy..

  9. Well I would say it "could" be worn clutch plates but not "definite" without further investigation.

    First thing you could do is look through the timing inspection hole,or better yet remove starter and look for fluid.There are two seals in there,one for the engine oil,one for the transmission fluid.If fluid gets on the plates,they'll slip.Also if the clutch MC fluid hasn't been flushed for a while you can try changing that and see if it helps,unlikely but worth a shot if the housing looks dry inside.

    If you have to change the plates it involves pulling the transmission or engine,which I did a few months ago.Not a huge job but you'll need parts and tools and a way to lift the bike.(A simple hydraulic lift and a factory rear stand will do)About a day or two depending on your ability,experience,tool selection and if you have help.

    Let us know what you find,if it is the plates ,a good winter project!

    Michael

     

    There are about 20,000 kms on the bike. I am usually not to hard on the clutch,so I am a little surprised it is going away already. I will take your good advice and check into it and will post what I find when I have some time to get to it. My gamma motor has been sitting on the bench for a few months now, waiting for a reinstall, and I have to get to that as well...sigh. Too many bikes and too little time.....ah well, things could be worse. I'll have to quit my job and just work on my bikes full time .......I wish! Thanks again for everyones input,,Doug

  10. First off, hope everyones doing well, I haven't been around for quite a while. Just wondering if anyone else gets a power surge through the driveshaft, usually when on the power hard. It seems like the engine revs up quicker than the driveshaft can respond to the power. I know that there is a bit of power lash on driveshafts, but sometimes it is quite noticeable. Perhaps it is not the shaft, but clutch issues?

  11. Suzuki DR 650 SE part #51153-14330 seals will work in a bind, although they are single wire with dimensions 43x55x10. Ohlins call for a 43x55x11.5 You can get them through aprillia, part #AP8123975 Desc;front fork revision.

  12. If you are using rizoma bar ends, the internal weights that work with the stock bar ends would have to be removed resulting in a lighter less dampened set up.(you would have to order the internal weight that connects to the stock bar end set-up, as well, when switching back to stock, if you do.) You can always insert a rubber hose-fuel line stuffed with cut off bolts,steel rod ,or what have you to cut down the vibes/man.

  13. Very sweet Bike... I settled for the Paul Smart for myself... Hard to call it a mistress though....

     

    I was thinking cash flow-wise, as one can spend a pile of money maintaining them, not to mention all the tasty add ons one can purchase. I'm not really into kinky sex with my bikes...or am I ?.... :lol: I always liked the design of the Paul Smart replicas. Really nice bikes.

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