New from another forum
 

I just came in from another forum. I just got fed up when real factual information given on a topic was considered incorrect and laughable. I am hopin this one is a bit different.

My background involves mechanical/quality engineering, teaching industrial technology, 23 years as a full or part time motorcycle salesperson (including helping with parts and accessories), motorcycle set up, doing my own personal repair and modifications, and about 37 years of riding. I still own my first motorcycle from 1971. I've ridden trials, short track, hare scrambles, and general screwing around.

I mainly ride backroad dual sport riding on pavement, dirt, and gravel. We play "Joe Supermoto" on the tight county roads and state routes. Have owned Bultaco, Honda, MotoGuzzi, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki motorcycles of various types. I have had posession of an "Italy-Davidson" 125 Rapido, a Yankee 500 basket case, and a 124 Gilera - I didn't ride any of them. The Gilera is still in my parent's basement, the Harley went for a canoe, and the Yankee got traded off to a friend that did a full restoration to it (thank goodness, cool bike).

I can be argumentative and opinionated, but will admit it if it becomes apparent to me that I am incorrect. I try to back up what I say with facts and figures in most cases. I also relate a lot of my advice to my experience as a salesperson with more of an interest in the customer than in how much money I could make off of them. It seems you get more repeat and referred business from people that like and can ride the bikes they buy. I am a firm believer that starting small is good, the money you may lose in resale or trade is simply part of the cost of learning and staying safe. It is often offset by the unknown savings in less broken parts or worse yet broken bones and injuries. So you will frequently see me make that suggestion with those reasons for doing so.

welcome aboard klx. I see you've managed to navigate around here a little bit, someone always brings back an old post. I liked your answer to the octane boosters question. What part of the country do you generally ride in?

Yeah, it took me a moment to look at the titles and realize there was a chronological sequence. Now I figure I won't reply to anything unless it is like less than a month old.

I ride pretty much locally in a general radius of about 80 miles of Tuscarawas County, in the hill country of southeastern Ohio. I am from New Philadelphia and have plenty of adventure type roads within less than 25 miles, but we've covered so much that we may be in for some overnighters further east-southeast-south. We found we have more unpaved than that around Fairmont WV, so we figure why not stay near home for now.

Mark.

Welcome aboard. I am not near as experienced in the motorcycle world as you and look forward to your input.