Modern Vespa

Which implies to me that he has little to complain about his life outside work (which is funded by a very well paid job).

I don't get the impression that the OP is asking anyone for advice or a solution to what's pissing him off today, he's just venting, and that's good IMO.

Well that's how I read it?

People are whinging about an Englishman whinging about someone whinging?

On a whinging thread 😄

I think the title of this thread -- "What's pissing you off today?" -- is an open invitation to kvetch, and I don't think it's entirely fair to suggest that someone who does so is somehow crossing some imaginary line.

That's what this thread is for, like it or leave it.

Na, that's not what I'm getting at.

If you are unhappy and in a position to change your circumstances then change them.

If you still can and you choose not to then repeated complaining about it is a bit pointless and the listener will eventually tune out.

When this happens the complainer will often figure out a resolution a lot quicker to their plight because the listener has given up on supporting them.

You've all had that friend whose in a shitty relationship who visits every 3 months to vent and because you care, you listen but then the process is repeated 3 months later ? Don't do that. Don't pander. Let them figure it out for themselves.

This isn't aimed at anyone in here. It's a generalised observation.

Also.

What people seem to miss that the English like things a bit crap because it validates us to complain about it.

The Paradox is that complaining about something is often a cover as it's actually an icebreaker to see if someone agrees with us.

It's like a negative conversation about the weather.

But I'm not unhappy here. In fact, I'm happier here than I've ever been at any previous job. But I'm not asking anyone here for a resolution. Like others (and I) have said, I'm venting about some things that, at worst, are mildly annoying for a bit.

That coworker who refused to listen and help? We work together just fine. We still interact with each other in a positive manner.

The loss of the outside clients has nothing to do with my job or how I do it. It was a financial decision made several levels above me. And my clients have taken the news very well.

The cold AC vent blowing air at my desk? I'd rather it be too cold when I'm not busy than comfortable or hot. If it's too cold now, when Texas summers hit and/or we're busy, I'll be comfortable. If it was a comfortable temperature now, my desk area would be uncomfortably warm in the summer, and I'd be sweating as soon as we got busy.

Any change of jobs would most likely be to one that I wouldn't be as happy with. I'd get paid less (money isn't everything, but it does help, and my wife still isn't employed, so we need all the income we can get). I'd probably have lesser benefits. Like theayn, I have a good retirement plan here.

I love what I do. If I didn't, I wouldn't have stayed in this industry for 30+ years. My supervisors/managers all value my contributions and opinions. I understand this. And it's not what I'm looking for. I see some complaints from others here (including you), and don't always see why it's an issue. But I don't stress about it, I simply keep scrolling and move on with my life.

Bill Dog, you're flogging an imaginary dead horse. It's pissing me off.

Sorry about that. I'll get me coat.

You made me think of this.

My go-to ammo dealer got me for about 4 bills with his latest fire sale

Cheered(?) that I found the slow leak in my Triumph's rear tire...seems that there's a nail in it.

Pissed that I now have to toss an otherwise perfectly good rear tire before it's even half worn.

I don't think that I'll take the lazy and risky route and try a plug in it, so there goes $300 that I really didn't want to spend right now.

The plug route isn't risky, especially for a hole made by a nail or screw.

Save yourself $300.

I'd just use a sticky string - all over and done with in two minutes. The only time these don't work is when there's a split in the tyre rather than a round-ish hole.

A courier in London would probably just use a self-tapping screw...

This is Bill.
Bill never complains about his coworkers.
Be like Bill.

Sadly this is one of the downsides of riding such an enormous motorcycle.

The rear tyre will hoover up any detritus in a way that a narrower tyre wouldn't.

If it were me I'd replace it as it has 165 HP running through it.

I know you have nothing but disdain for his motorcycle, but do you really have to make up such outlandish BS?

Surely if your tyre profile is wider you're more likely to pick up more debris ?

I'll admit that hoover wasn't exactly the right phrase but it's a great metaphor for what's going on.

By having a larger contact patch your chances of getting a puncture increases so I'd suggest that it's an unfortunate downside of riding the biggest motorcycle available.

Can anyone join the "Piss and Moan" club ? Do you have to have a certain amount of posts to qualify ? Does this require a good case of the red a$$ in order to articulate your situation or issue? Does a bad rash count ? Just wondering the qualifications of such. Thanks for any feedback.

It is open to all. But Bill might get bounced if he keeps pretending to be the doorman.

I'm sure that they have at some time in the murky past, but I can't even remember the last time any of our three, four-wheel vehicles, picked up a nail in one of their tires. That's twelve tires that have a much, much, larger contact area with the roadway than any dedicated motorcycle tire in all of creation, and in combination, are driven far more often, and more miles, than any of our motorbikes.

There's actually a good reason why car tyres pick up far less potentially damaging debris than motorcycle tyres. Car tyres tend to run in the same location as every other car on that road, so any debris has been 'kicked' aside or already picked up by another car - of which there are thousands compared to the number of motorcycles on most roads.

The motorcycle tyres however tend to ride in the same location as the car tyres only part of the time - a decent rider is using all the width of the lane or even the road to make good progress. So the motorcycle is often right over where the debris has mostly accumulated.

And why it it nearly always the rear tyre that gets punctured? Because sometimes the front tyre hits the nail or screw first, flicks it up, and the unlucky rear tyre lands right on the point. Especially true for those shorter fatter roofing nails.

This seems relevant: Tire Puncture Survey: Front vs. Rear

Last year I had a screw in between the threads on my newish back tire. It had about 600 miles on it. I took it to five places trying to get it patched or plugged. No one, I mean no one, would do it. I ended up with a new Dunlop. I actually thought of plugging it myself but motorcycle shops and my local service station that is owned and run by a Goldwing rider talked me out of it. It cost me around $130 to replace. Peace of mind and a better sense of safety. Worth it I guess.

Bob

You're just lucky I guess.

Yes, just lucky I guess.

The last nail (roofing nail to be specific) in the rear tire of one of my motorcycles was in 2015 with my brand new 2015 Indian Chief Classic.

The bike had 300 miles on it.

It marooned me on an interstate I-90 entrance ramp about four miles from home.

A phone call to the Sturgis Indian dealership that I purchased the bike from had a truck and trailer heading my way within the hour.

I had to buy a new OEM Dunlop rear tire for the bike, costing about $350 at the time, and mounting etc.

It ended up being a $500 experience then, which would adjust to $655 today.

That was nine years ago.

It hasn't exactly been an epidemic of nail- flattened tires, regardless of the tire's size.

The moral - always carry a sticky string repair kit (or some self-tappers) AND a cheapo small inflator.

It'll nearly always get you home - then decide what to do.

Do NOT get stranded.

Absolutely golden advice Sir! I would never just pop in a plug and run a tire to the wear bars on a motorcycle ( not worth it to me ) but you wouldn't catch me without a plug kit and hand pump riding through Mexico. It will definitely get you home without relying on someone else to help you out. Bravo!

.

The nail in my Triumph's rear tire didn't strand me anywhere other than in my own garage, and a flat rear tire eight years ago doesn't justify carrying a flat repair kit for local riding ALL the time.

I would consider a flat tire roadside repair kit for extended rides far from my home base, but not for local riding in my home region.

Have you tried pulling the nail out yet ? It may not have gone through to the canvas.

There's been a slow air pressure leak in that tire for at least a week, going down 10-15 pounds overnight if topped up at 40-42 the previous day.

So it's gone through the carcass, and was serving as it's own shitty plug.

I'll be ordering a replacement Bridgestone Exedra tire for the bike in a few days. It's what is on there now, is speed and weight rated the same as the OEM Avon, and at $250 is half the cost of the Avon.

So Avons on the front and Bridgestones on the back ?

No, it currently has a Metzler on the front.

The Triumph is on its second set of tires at 14,000 miles.

Is there any discernible difference in handling when using miss-matched tyres or is it such a behemoth there are no detectable variations ?

That Triumph rocks a 240 sized sneaker on the rear?! I though my 200/55R 18 on my chopper was huge.

Not to change the subject but noticed the fancy shades on your new avatar. I think these two characters have you beat though. Who doesn't love Randy, am I right?

Ohhhhh yeeeeaaaahhhhh !

Personally, I don't see any practical need for such gigantic tires on a motorcycle, but they're what was chosen by Triumph to put on this model, so there it is.

I don't ride particularly aggressively on curvy roads, and have no desire to test the limits of a tire's adhesion on any bike, so a keen observer may notice the ample 'chicken strips' on the edges of my tire's treaded bits.

I found those stupid grilled 'sunglasses' in a bin of discount junk at a pharmacy, they were $1 each, so I bought two knowing that they might come in handy for some equally stupid photos.

In my sportbike days at the track on a liter bike the 190's were the best ticket for me. I did try a high crowned 200 but I wasn't skilled enough to drag my elbows on the ground. Guess with certain bikes it's about how the tire looks on the frame. Remember when people tried to put massive tires on choppers? They couldn't turn to save your life.

Yeah but you're on a chopper so you've already thrown handling out the window.

I shortened the footpegs so they don't scrape in the twistys! Let's build a chopper for you and we'll do a cannonball run together. It'll be a blast.😉 Can't do it without ear pro though, I'll make you a really loud exhaust!

Build it and they will come.

Could we negotiate on a Lowrider ?