Unitrack removal / strip-down?
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From: T i m on 3 Sep 2008 04:23 On Wed, 3 Sep 2008 07:17:32 +0100, totallydeadmailbox(a)yahoo.co.uk (The Older Gentleman) wrote: ><crn(a)NOSPAM.netunix.com> wrote: > >> Many of us regard bikes as a means of transport rather than boys toys. >> The enjoyment is a side effect, not the reason for riding. > >Um.... > >Car: does high 40s mpg, costs �250 a year to insure, tyres last for >ever, carries lots of stuff as well as humans, protects me from getting >wet or cold, has on-board music etc, goes 500+ miles on a tankful. > >BMW bike, does similar to the gallon, costs the same to insure, tyres >shagged in 6k miles, can't carry as many humans or stuff, lets me get >cold and wet, no entertainment, does 200+ miles on a tank.... > >As a logical means of transport, except in town, the car wins out every >time. Not sure logic applies with some people though TOG. ;-) For some their bike *is* (delete as applicable) their social life, a penis extension, a source of excitement, a hobby and all the negatives you outlined above are simply for them, badges to be worn proudly. "I rode f'in 10,000 miles at f'in 150 mph, at night, in a f'in monsoon, got soaked through to the f'in skin and was out_of_my_f'in_brains. What a great f'in ride!" [1] ... sorta thing. ;-) As mentioned elsewhere their bike(s) is bought (and sold) on a whim (like a toy, as the next fastest thing comes out) and the only spannering they might do to it is to remove the highly tuned / matched factory exhaust of it and fit the loudest aftermarket can there is, that and some coloured brailed brakes hoses and matching fairing screw and anodized foot pegs kit etc etc. That's not to say their way is wrong (it isn't) but just not what motivates many of us. Personally, whilst I have great respect for those who can and do actually ride their bikes safely over vast distances (be it on a tour or regular commuting) and those who wring every last second out of their machines round a track or over 120 ft jumps whilst holding the saddle with one hand etc, *I personally* have more respect for those who find a wreck of a bike in a barn or ditch and lovingly restore it to it's former glory (on a budget), because I understand that more. maybe part of that is that I've never had a lot of money (never bought a new bike or car etc) so much of my interest was born from a need to get (and maintain) reliable 'transport' and initially a motorbike was the easiest way to do that. [2] I also 'enjoy' looking at some of the custom works_of_art, purely from the design / effort POV (ie, no use as an everyday motorbike as such). Sad though it may be to some but I am currently 'looking forward' to turning up stainless steel replacements for these rusted plain steel Unitrack bush / sleeves, partly because I like to improve stuff where I can but also because even to buy the stainless and including the parts discount I get, they work out cheaper than buying OEM ones, but mostly because I'd like to think I never have to touch (or de-rust at least) that area again! ;-) All the best .. T i m p.s. Another biker who missed the point on why I'm currently doing what I am on this 550 has 1) offered to loan me his 750 Nighthawk (which was kind) and 2) said "if the bearings have lasted 22 years already ... " without knowing how many sets the bike may have already had in it's life and how long it may have been ridden with the bearings seizing or actually seized up? [1] No I didn't copy / pase that from anyone here <weg>. [2] I actually rebuilt my first car (at 15) before my first motorbike.
From: Champ on 3 Sep 2008 04:32 On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:53:12 +0100, Eddie <eddie(a)deguello.org> wrote: >>> Getting better with the crutches, then? >> >> heh - yeah, not bad. >> >>> I found I could maintain a pretty good speed, once I got used to them; >>> much faster than normal walking pace. >> >> Oh, I'm nowhere near that fast, but that's because my 'good' leg ain't >> that good - the knee on the weight-bearing side is pretty swollen and >> painful. I'm told that this is normal to some degree when one leg has >> to take all the weight - did you not suffer from it at all? > >Not that I remember, but at the time I was a skint dole bludger, so >probably wasn't being as mobile as you are. I can't remember how long I >was on crutches, so maybe it wasn't for long enough to become an issue. Well, my left knee started hurting within two days of being on crutches! My physio has written to the consultant saying my knee needs to be looked at again. I'm a bit cheesed off with this, because I know knee issues can be complicated and take ages. >Also, I've got very strong legs compared to my upper body, so that might >have helped too. I *did* have very strong legs before the accident. Two weeks in a hospital bed followed by 8 weeks in a wheelchair didn't help that, tho. -- Champ What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R600 racer (for sale) | ZX10R racer (broken) neal at champ dot org dot uk
From: Eddie on 3 Sep 2008 04:48 Champ wrote: > On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:53:12 +0100, Eddie <eddie(a)deguello.org> wrote: > >> Not that I remember, but at the time I was a skint dole bludger, so >> probably wasn't being as mobile as you are. I can't remember how long I >> was on crutches, so maybe it wasn't for long enough to become an issue. > > Well, my left knee started hurting within two days of being on > crutches! That's probably not good. Oh, there's something else that might be a factor: I was 23-ish at the time (actually, I had to be sober on my 23rd birthday because of the painkillers and what-not), whereas you're a /little/ bit older... > My physio has written to the consultant saying my knee needs to be > looked at again. I'm a bit cheesed off with this, because I know knee > issues can be complicated and take ages. At least they're going to look at it. >> Also, I've got very strong legs compared to my upper body, so that might >> have helped too. > > I *did* have very strong legs before the accident. Two weeks in a > hospital bed followed by 8 weeks in a wheelchair didn't help that, > tho. True... I was allowed on crutches the next day. The physio said that I could have crutches as soon as my knee (having been battered about while they put the intramedullary nail in) could cope with lifting my leg off the bed. "Like this?" was my immediate response. I suspect my urge to use a proper toilet may have been a strong motivating factor; I got the physio to carry the drain bottle that was connected to my knee and put it on the toilet floor. Rarely have I known such relief. -- Eddie eddie(a)deguello.org His: ZX-9R, Elefant 900 http://www.last.fm/group/ukrm Hers: Monster S4R, GSX600F (breaking, everything must go!)
From: Bear on 3 Sep 2008 05:19 In article <n9ksb4djjnjofjldutifdjc7f7e2ssesra(a)4ax.com>, T i m says... > Well (with respect) we will have to agree to disagree (otherwise I > wouldn't have replied in the first place), unless you would be so kind > and explain how anything I said had any relevance to the reply and > hence why it should have been left in? Oh FFS. I give up. -- Bear 2002 Yamaha R1 Saab Aero Sport
From: Champ on 3 Sep 2008 05:38
On Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:57:05 +0200, Ace <b.rogers(a)ifrance.com> wrote: >>>Also, I've got very strong legs compared to my upper body, so that might >>>have helped too. >> >>I *did* have very strong legs before the accident. Two weeks in a >>hospital bed followed by 8 weeks in a wheelchair didn't help that, >>tho. > >My legs managed to retain their strength when I was down, I guess due >to being able#Wmade to walk, at least a little bit with the physio >assisting, from about ten days after the accident. The relatively >small amount of skiing I did that season (just a 2-3 weeks' worth) >also helped maintain the muscle. > >But the lost core and upper-body strength has taken two years of hard >work, and I'm still not sure it's back to what it was beforehand. Interesting - I feel like my upper body has got stronger, initially using the chair (which is hard work), and now using the crutches (which is harder). -- Champ What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R600 racer (for sale) | ZX10R racer (broken) neal at champ dot org dot uk |