Wilsons Sandbox

On 9/16/2012 4:43 AM, Ron Criswell wrote: > Yeah Andy, bikes today are a little more reliable than yesterday's > bikes. My buddy had a 76 Sportster that had issues. It had an oil leak > so bad, the rear tire was wet with oil (shiny wet). I told him he needed > to fix that because hr was going to fall on his ass leaning into a turn. > His response was "oh we don't lean much" (heh). He had a bad gas leak > out of the engine spraying gas all over the engine. Reminded mr of the > song Light My Fire. He never fixed that. He was too busy adding fenders, > ape hangers and stuff. > > My worst Two wheeler was my Cushman Highlander. I wanted a Harley Hummer > but Dad in his infinite wisdom said motorcycles were dangerous....so > bought me the used Highlander for $75. It had a headlight with the power > of a cigarette lighter. It had one lousy and questionable rear brake. > The ....ahh....suspension was two springs in front. Very high tech and > fancy (heh). It would go just fast enough to kill you....but would take > a block or two to get there. > > It never lived again after our cousin showed us how to take the engine > apart to over haul it. This was a good thing. A much better brand new > Vespa followed it. Night and day difference in technology. But....sadly, > my crashing and wrenching completely distorted it in a year and a half. > A friend had a Lambretta.....better still. > > Another friend bought a Japanese scooter (the first thing I saw from > Japan). It looked kinda like that old Harley scooter (Topper I think it > was called). This Japanese scooter had electric, orange turn signals. > Very new and girley, girley....but safe. > > Criswell > > Sent from my iPad > > On Sep 15, 2012, at 11:18 PM, "achesley43@... > " > wrote: > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > , Ron Criswell > wrote: > > > > > > I had a BSA 250 with the same alloy tank the Victor had. It was pre > Victor. It would literally unscrew itself riding along. I sold the BSA > when the spark plug blew out and hit me in the leg. > > > > > > Criswell > > > > That got a laugh out of me Ron. LOL! My '69 Norton Commando had a > habit of unscrewing the mains and letting them drop to the bottom of the > float bowels. My '72 Honda 750K2 didn't like me not tighten up the rear > after a drunken : just had to adjust the chain one night : so it broke > the chain and wiped out the engine case in front of the sprocket. I > showed it whom was boss with some Alu Plate and plastic metal; every > 1000 miles had to add plastic though. Oh, my '59 Triumph 500 didn't > like spinning the rear tire in grass and hitting pavement with it > spinning. Broke the Transmission 2 times like that. And, sadly, I was > prewarned by the Triumph Dealer about the weakness in the 500 trans. Oh > Well, that taught me how to rebuild that transmisson in 1960 at 17 years > old. LOL! Out of the 5 Harley's I had, the last one, a 1975 ( think ) > Superglide was the most dependable cept for breaking the coil bracket on > a run. The BMW's ( '95 R11GS; '97 R11R and the '02 R1150Gs ) were the > easiest to maintain. No problems in the 125,000 miles I put on them. I > think I was on the '02 when I met you guys in Southern Colorado coming > back from Washington. > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

On 9/17/2012 4:34 PM, greg coyle wrote: > > Criswell., > thanks for sending me down a nostalgia trip > when push came to shove my dad 'forced' to get a motorcycle instead of > the cushman which all of my friends had. thank goodness. i was 13 at the > time and we went and looked seriously at the new 250 ducati. oh if i > could roll back time on that decision... after i got my 100cc parilla my > neighbor, not to be outdone, went down and got the harley scat... oh > fond memories...thanks... > greg > > On 9/16/2012 4:43 AM, Ron Criswell wrote: > > Yeah Andy, bikes today are a little more reliable than yesterday's > > bikes. My buddy had a 76 Sportster that had issues. It had an oil leak > > so bad, the rear tire was wet with oil (shiny wet). I told him he needed > > to fix that because hr was going to fall on his ass leaning into a turn. > > His response was "oh we don't lean much" (heh). He had a bad gas leak > > out of the engine spraying gas all over the engine. Reminded mr of the > > song Light My Fire. He never fixed that. He was too busy adding fenders, > > ape hangers and stuff. > > > > My worst Two wheeler was my Cushman Highlander. I wanted a Harley Hummer > > but Dad in his infinite wisdom said motorcycles were dangerous....so > > bought me the used Highlander for $75. It had a headlight with the power > > of a cigarette lighter. It had one lousy and questionable rear brake. > > The ....ahh....suspension was two springs in front. Very high tech and > > fancy (heh). It would go just fast enough to kill you....but would take > > a block or two to get there. > > > > It never lived again after our cousin showed us how to take the engine > > apart to over haul it. This was a good thing. A much better brand new > > Vespa followed it. Night and day difference in technology. But....sadly, > > my crashing and wrenching completely distorted it in a year and a half. > > A friend had a Lambretta.....better still. > > > > Another friend bought a Japanese scooter (the first thing I saw from > > Japan). It looked kinda like that old Harley scooter (Topper I think it > > was called). This Japanese scooter had electric, orange turn signals. > > Very new and girley, girley....but safe. > > > > Criswell > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > > On Sep 15, 2012, at 11:18 PM, "achesley43@... > > > " > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > , Ron Criswell > > wrote: > > > > > > > > I had a BSA 250 with the same alloy tank the Victor had. It was pre > > Victor. It would literally unscrew itself riding along. I sold the BSA > > when the spark plug blew out and hit me in the leg. > > > > > > > > Criswell > > > > > > That got a laugh out of me Ron. LOL! My '69 Norton Commando had a > > habit of unscrewing the mains and letting them drop to the bottom of the > > float bowels. My '72 Honda 750K2 didn't like me not tighten up the rear > > after a drunken : just had to adjust the chain one night : so it broke > > the chain and wiped out the engine case in front of the sprocket. I > > showed it whom was boss with some Alu Plate and plastic metal; every > > 1000 miles had to add plastic though. Oh, my '59 Triumph 500 didn't > > like spinning the rear tire in grass and hitting pavement with it > > spinning. Broke the Transmission 2 times like that. And, sadly, I was > > prewarned by the Triumph Dealer about the weakness in the 500 trans. Oh > > Well, that taught me how to rebuild that transmisson in 1960 at 17 years > > old. LOL! Out of the 5 Harley's I had, the last one, a 1975 ( think ) > > Superglide was the most dependable cept for breaking the coil bracket on > > a run. The BMW's ( '95 R11GS; '97 R11R and the '02 R1150Gs ) were the > > easiest to maintain. No problems in the 125,000 miles I put on them. I > > think I was on the '02 when I met you guys in Southern Colorado coming > > back from Washington. > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Sep 17, 2012, at 6:34 PM, greg coyle wrote: > Criswell., > thanks for sending me down a nostalgia trip > when push came to shove my dad 'forced' to get a motorcycle instead of > the cushman which all of my friends had. thank goodness. i was 13 at the > time and we went and looked seriously at the new 250 ducati. oh if i > could roll back time on that decision... after i got my 100cc parilla my > neighbor, not to be outdone, went down and got the harley scat... oh > fond memories...thanks... > greg > > On 9/16/2012 4:43 AM, Ron Criswell wrote: > > Yeah Andy, bikes today are a little more reliable than yesterday's > > bikes. My buddy had a 76 Sportster that had issues. It had an oil leak > > so bad, the rear tire was wet with oil (shiny wet). I told him he needed > > to fix that because hr was going to fall on his ass leaning into a turn. > > His response was "oh we don't lean much" (heh). He had a bad gas leak > > out of the engine spraying gas all over the engine. Reminded mr of the > > song Light My Fire. He never fixed that. He was too busy adding fenders, > > ape hangers and stuff. > > > > My worst Two wheeler was my Cushman Highlander. I wanted a Harley Hummer > > but Dad in his infinite wisdom said motorcycles were dangerous....so > > bought me the used Highlander for $75. It had a headlight with the power > > of a cigarette lighter. It had one lousy and questionable rear brake. > > The ....ahh....suspension was two springs in front. Very high tech and > > fancy (heh). It would go just fast enough to kill you....but would take > > a block or two to get there. > > > > It never lived again after our cousin showed us how to take the engine > > apart to over haul it. This was a good thing. A much better brand new > > Vespa followed it. Night and day difference in technology. But....sadly, > > my crashing and wrenching completely distorted it in a year and a half. > > A friend had a Lambretta.....better still. > > > > Another friend bought a Japanese scooter (the first thing I saw from > > Japan). It looked kinda like that old Harley scooter (Topper I think it > > was called). This Japanese scooter had electric, orange turn signals. > > Very new and girley, girley....but safe. > > > > Criswell > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > > On Sep 15, 2012, at 11:18 PM, "achesley43@... > > " > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > , Ron Criswell > > wrote: > > > > > > > > I had a BSA 250 with the same alloy tank the Victor had. It was pre > > Victor. It would literally unscrew itself riding along. I sold the BSA > > when the spark plug blew out and hit me in the leg. > > > > > > > > Criswell > > > > > > That got a laugh out of me Ron. LOL! My '69 Norton Commando had a > > habit of unscrewing the mains and letting them drop to the bottom of the > > float bowels. My '72 Honda 750K2 didn't like me not tighten up the rear > > after a drunken : just had to adjust the chain one night : so it broke > > the chain and wiped out the engine case in front of the sprocket. I > > showed it whom was boss with some Alu Plate and plastic metal; every > > 1000 miles had to add plastic though. Oh, my '59 Triumph 500 didn't > > like spinning the rear tire in grass and hitting pavement with it > > spinning. Broke the Transmission 2 times like that. And, sadly, I was > > prewarned by the Triumph Dealer about the weakness in the 500 trans. Oh > > Well, that taught me how to rebuild that transmisson in 1960 at 17 years > > old. LOL! Out of the 5 Harley's I had, the last one, a 1975 ( think ) > > Superglide was the most dependable cept for breaking the coil bracket on > > a run. The BMW's ( '95 R11GS; '97 R11R and the '02 R1150Gs ) were the > > easiest to maintain. No problems in the 125,000 miles I put on them. I > > think I was on the '02 when I met you guys in Southern Colorado coming > > back from Washington. > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On 9/17/2012 5:36 PM, Ron Criswell wrote: > > I traded my piece of crap 250 BSA for a 250 Ducati single. I loved the > engine on the Duc....but, don't leave the gas on....or you will have a > crankcase full of gas. The electric system had issues. I sold that > bike to my brother for $75. He thought he got screwed. That bike today > would bring at least 5 grand....at least. > > Criswell > > Sent from my iPad > > On Sep 17, 2012, at 6:34 PM, greg coyle > wrote: > > > Criswell., > > thanks for sending me down a nostalgia trip > > when push came to shove my dad 'forced' to get a motorcycle instead of > > the cushman which all of my friends had. thank goodness. i was 13 at > the > > time and we went and looked seriously at the new 250 ducati. oh if i > > could roll back time on that decision... after i got my 100cc > parilla my > > neighbor, not to be outdone, went down and got the harley scat... oh > > fond memories...thanks... > > greg > > > > On 9/16/2012 4:43 AM, Ron Criswell wrote: > > > Yeah Andy, bikes today are a little more reliable than yesterday's > > > bikes. My buddy had a 76 Sportster that had issues. It had an oil leak > > > so bad, the rear tire was wet with oil (shiny wet). I told him he > needed > > > to fix that because hr was going to fall on his ass leaning into a > turn. > > > His response was "oh we don't lean much" (heh). He had a bad gas leak > > > out of the engine spraying gas all over the engine. Reminded mr of the > > > song Light My Fire. He never fixed that. He was too busy adding > fenders, > > > ape hangers and stuff. > > > > > > My worst Two wheeler was my Cushman Highlander. I wanted a Harley > Hummer > > > but Dad in his infinite wisdom said motorcycles were dangerous....so > > > bought me the used Highlander for $75. It had a headlight with the > power > > > of a cigarette lighter. It had one lousy and questionable rear brake. > > > The ....ahh....suspension was two springs in front. Very high tech and > > > fancy (heh). It would go just fast enough to kill you....but would > take > > > a block or two to get there. > > > > > > It never lived again after our cousin showed us how to take the engine > > > apart to over haul it. This was a good thing. A much better brand new > > > Vespa followed it. Night and day difference in technology. > But....sadly, > > > my crashing and wrenching completely distorted it in a year and a > half. > > > A friend had a Lambretta.....better still. > > > > > > Another friend bought a Japanese scooter (the first thing I saw from > > > Japan). It looked kinda like that old Harley scooter (Topper I > think it > > > was called). This Japanese scooter had electric, orange turn signals. > > > Very new and girley, girley....but safe. > > > > > > Criswell > > > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > > > > On Sep 15, 2012, at 11:18 PM, "achesley43@... > > > > " > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > > , Ron Criswell > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > I had a BSA 250 with the same alloy tank the Victor had. It > was pre > > > Victor. It would literally unscrew itself riding along. I sold the BSA > > > when the spark plug blew out and hit me in the leg. > > > > > > > > > > Criswell > > > > > > > > That got a laugh out of me Ron. LOL! My '69 Norton Commando had a > > > habit of unscrewing the mains and letting them drop to the bottom > of the > > > float bowels. My '72 Honda 750K2 didn't like me not tighten up the > rear > > > after a drunken : just had to adjust the chain one night : so it broke > > > the chain and wiped out the engine case in front of the sprocket. I > > > showed it whom was boss with some Alu Plate and plastic metal; every > > > 1000 miles had to add plastic though. Oh, my '59 Triumph 500 didn't > > > like spinning the rear tire in grass and hitting pavement with it > > > spinning. Broke the Transmission 2 times like that. And, sadly, I was > > > prewarned by the Triumph Dealer about the weakness in the 500 > trans. Oh > > > Well, that taught me how to rebuild that transmisson in 1960 at 17 > years > > > old. LOL! Out of the 5 Harley's I had, the last one, a 1975 ( think ) > > > Superglide was the most dependable cept for breaking the coil > bracket on > > > a run. The BMW's ( '95 R11GS; '97 R11R and the '02 R1150Gs ) were the > > > easiest to maintain. No problems in the 125,000 miles I put on them. I > > > think I was on the '02 when I met you guys in Southern Colorado coming > > > back from Washington. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> I have an 05 klr 650 that had the oil plug rattled out and took out > the the lower end. I have a new 2008 klr 650 to go in but i noticed > a metal tube coming out of the top of the engine, does it go to a > oil cooler??? The 2005 doesnt have it.