Modern Vespa

Will build to suit owner. Just don't ask me to paint flames or skulls, not my bag.😛

Interjecting on this one, so tell me to piss off if you feel the urge.

Flames, skulls, anything like that just cheapens a bike. For one thing, you can't re-sell it for the money you piled into the paint job. Secondly, it's disrespectful to the machine itself. Try to match period paint (giggity), on the tank, fenders, and sides. If you want to mess with the tail pipe, ask first.

I've just never liked the look, even on old hotrods. One of my older sisters is totally into skulls. Maybe it's like music. You seem to like a wide spectrum. Other people might just be into metal or country for example. What's right for some might not be right for me but I'm cool with that. Whatever gets us through the day.

Some subtle Ed Roth somewhere on a very nice paintjob would be nice. Or maybe a desert bike with a Ralph Steadman painting. It would have to be subtle, though.

IMHO any distance is too far to depend on someone else to come to your rescue. Standard equipment in the Liberty 150 pet carrier are a plug kit and 12 volt pump.

OFG

Met Ralph Steadman twice. He was drunk both times.

In the astronomically rare times that it happens to me (read: maybe once in two decades) I'm prepared...that's what wives, credit cards, and F-150's are for.

My bikes are usually no more then several years old and kept in good condition. I don't sweat it about local breakdowns of any sort, it so rarely happens in my experience that it's not even a consideration, and does not merit carrying around special tools, kits, every time I ride, as a matter of course.

Of course, it's fine if you would choose to.

To each his own. You go your way and I'll go mine.

OFG

Sounds fair to me.

The original Avon was a somewhat better handling tire on the Rocket than the current Bridgestone I have on it. I attribute that to it's slightly larger circumference altering the geometry of the bike by raising the rear a bi

The stock Avon is 240/50 16

The Bridgestone Exedra is 240/55 16

With the Avon, the bike was absolutely neutral in corners.

With the Bridgestone, corners would require a slight countersteer pressure to hold it into the lean.

On the positive side, the slightly larger circumference of the Bridgestone corrected out about one third to half of the Triumph's speedometer error, which is a substantial 8 to 10 percent.

Then there's the Bridgestone's price, which is fully half of the Avon's, and from safety and servicability standpoint is a reasonable alternative to the Avons.

The original Avon lasted almost 12,000 miles on the Rocket, and is an excellent tire for this bike. If I can get a little monetary windfall later this season, I will very likely put another SET of OEM Avons back on the Triumph, but doing so is a $1000 proposition that I can't handle at the moment.

I'm not sure why people think one ought to have identical types of tyre on both front and back - as they do completely different jobs on a motorcycle.

Marketing from Tyre Companies I'd assume.

You know how people don't question things Jim.

It's just logical that a mismatched set of motorcycle tires will be as good as the least performing one between them.

I never fell for the 'tires must match' stuff I've heard plenty of over the years.

The tires on a motorcycle do not communicate with each other, and they behave independently of one another.

I can understand where matching tires would be a meaningful factor in motorcycle racing where the bikes are ridden to the very edges of their performance potential, but for 'normal' street/road riding, it's not going to matter much if
known quality tires are mounted.

This is kind of pissing me off today.

First time.

Oh Bugger. That's nasty.

I thought it was all over ?

You made it all the way through the pandemic and got hit with it now? That sucks, but thanks for the reminder, I'm overdue for my vaccine booster. I've avoided it so far...

Get well soon sir.

That's why I always strap a good old BF Goodrich all season radial on the back of my bike. They're cheaper and last a lot longer. They were good enough for my Dad's Buick, they're good enough for my motorcycle.

(covers head, tucks and rolls under table)

Any symptoms?

Fever, chills, stuffy nose. Hit 100.0° last night, but am keeping it under 99 at the moment.

Gah! Nasty stuff. Sometimes. Mine was nasty.

The worst is the lingering effects. Hopefully you don't have any.

Get better.

I've been lucky so far. Hope you get rid of this soon!

Blech. Sympathies. My Dad used to recommend large doses of Whisky Mac. Instead of feeling grotty you don't feel that much at all.

Well, shit.

Been down that road twice now, but fortunately not all too bad. Hope you get through it quickly.

I bought this fancy connected thermometer during Peak Pandemic Frenzy (when it was almost impossible to buy a regular thermometer) and have hardly used it since then. I guess I'm finally getting my money's worth out of it?

It's also worth pointing out that 98.6° is actually a slight fever, for me. My baseline is about 1° lower.

Bummer.

I made it to last Thanksgiving.

I hope it's not too bad.

I know I had it once several years ago, tested positive, but I was fortunate in that it was relatively mild, probably because of the vaccinations prior softened it's possible severity.

I think that I may have had it again last year, but it was like a mild cold and I didn't bother having it confirmed...probably was just a mild cold.

Anyway, best wishes on getting back to normal, whatever that is these days.

Our thermometer (forehead) baseline for me seems to be about 97.9.

Besides, Dr. Philip A. Mackowiak's thermometers were calibrated incorrectly for his study.

Get well soon, Jess.

(Been there, done that... jabbed 4x too!)

Jess,

Were you in contact with someone that defintely had Covid? Also, some people are out in the public more often and subject to catcing stuff.

I got the three shot series during the height of the pandemic. Luckly, never contracted Covid. Just sick symptoms after each shot.

Get well.

Bob Copeland

Ugh! Rest up.

First dose of paxlovid has been administered! 👍🤞

Yep. I don't need to name names, though.

That should get you back in the game. You're a full fledged member of the Covid Club now. Hope it passes fast!

Caught it last August for the first (and only) time. Both me and my wife caught it most likely after visiting a BBQ restaurant- eating with our fingers... I had every symptom possible even pink eye. Took about ten days to pass. Good luck. Relaxing is very important to let your body heal. Drink up the fluids!

Bob

Fell better soon. Hopefully, it won't be too bad and just mild symptoms.

Hope the meds work and you are over it quickly.

Twice for me, late in the Covid timeline. First time in 2022, I am not positive I got it as no test was done and we didn't have home tests. The second time in Apr 23 I had a positive test with a home kit. Both cold symptoms over in a few days.

I spilled my chicken noodle soup on my keyboard.

Twice.

You would think I would have learned from the first experience, but you'd be wrong.

You should have a spill-proof keyboard.

I would think that he does, considering that he spilled on it twice.

Because manufacturers make and match fronts and rears. One manufacturers front may not match others rear but both from the same manufacturer usually function nicely.