HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: manes@magpie.nycenet.edu (Steve Manes)
Subject: Re: Harley Fashionable == Deaths
Organization: Manes and Associates, NYC
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 16:22:24 GMT
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Just to correct a few misstatements in this thread:

1) A Sportster doesn't weigh 600 pounds.  The XLCH1200 is 470 pounds.
 
2) A Sportster doesn't have a 1340cc power plant.  The two flavors are
   883cc and 1200cc.
   
3) A stock XLCH1200 motor produces 52 horsepower; the 1340s produce
   slightly over 60 horses.
   

To correct a conceptual error:

Big engines do not necessarily produce big horsepower.  Most box-stock
600 sportbikes will dust a Harley.  Even my K75S can give my FLHS a good
run, and the hog has over a grand invested in after-market ignition,
cam, air filter, pipes and jets.  Harleys aren't racing bikes (flat track
XRs notwithstanding).  They're cruisers and the engines are built for
longevity and reliability.  With a few bolt-on parts you can pump a
Sportster engine up to 80 horses before getting tricky but except for a
change of pipes, most people prefer the Sporty's predictable, smooth
pulling power.

If you've got the scratch, I think a Sportster is a great beginner's
bike.


And acknowledgement of a fact:

HDs are trendy in a big way now so it shouldn't be surprising that there
are a lot of posing yahoos (a/k/a "unserious riders"... *sniff* *snort*)
being turned into wholesale road pizza on Harleys despite the mild nature
of these machines.  Several weeks ago, I met what amounted to an entire
club of motobabies at Marcus Dairy... five brand-new riders on brand-new
Softails and not one motorcycle license amongst them.  As they pulled out,
one T-boned another while showing off.  If the Evo engine doesn't rule
motorcycling these guys were proof that evolution still rules motorcyclists.
-- 
Stephen Manes					   manes@magpie.nycenet.edu
Manes and Associates/Commontech-NoHo		   New York, NY, USA  =o&>o

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: svoboda@rtsg.mot.com (David Svoboda)
Subject: Re: Harley Outperforms ZX11, Film at Eleve
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 18:36:33 GMT

In article <1bf3atINNs4c@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> egreen@east.sun.com writes:
|
|Assumption 2: they can sell all the sports bikes they can build.
|Ludicrous.

Well, Eric Buell sells all the sport bikes he can build, and those
are sorta-Harleys.  Even at $15,000 a peice he sells all he can.  And
most people I know think they are the neatest thing since sex.

What are you worried about?  Do you think that, say, a 
Harley XCSB Buell-Sport would not sell?  Especially if they put
some race-oriented technology into the motor, and if they
brought the cost down to more along the lines of a BT?

I think the point is that a profit can be made by increased diversity
*if* the customer demand is there.  I think it is, for moderate production 
numbers.  Harleys have something attractive about them, to many people, 
just for being Harleys.  Combine that with the performance of a modern 
Italian or Japanese sport bike, and you would have a Japanese Giant Killer.

Dave Svoboda (rubis@gagme.chi.il.us)        | "I just can't take
90 Concours 1000 (Mmmmmmmmmm!)              |  this weird shit
84 RZ 350 (Ring Ding) (Woops!)              |  before breakfast!"
AMA 583905      DoD #0330    COG 939        |   -- Evo Woman
From: root@elektro.cmhnet.org (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Ride To Work Survey
Date: 15 Oct 92 21:36:30 GMT
Organization: Why do you suspect that?


The questions asked for the survey were:

1.  Did you ride to work on Oct 13, 1992

2.  Do you also have a cage  ( to determine voluntary / involuntary riders )

3.  Do you ride to work most of the time ( Subjective ... )



As of 4PM EDT on Oct 15th, I've got 38 real respondents, with a tally like
this:

1.  Did you ride to work on Oct 13, 1992:  35 yes - 3 no

2.  Do you also have a cage:  32 yes - 6 no or some other quibble

3.  Do you ride to work most of the time: 35 yes - 3 no


NOW, for the good stuff.  Among the answers were:

*  25 responses from Mike Mitten, trying to stuff the ballot box.  *HA*

*  5 responses from David Maconochie, same excuse.  Didn't work for him either.

*  4 of the 'no cage' really said they had one but it was broken,
       one since last January ...
*  2 of the 'didn't ride' really rode a *bicycle* for crying out loud!

*  by location of respondent:

  9 California
  3 Washington State
  2 Canada
  2 Virginia
  1 UK            
  1 Ohio
  1 Texas
  1 Georgia
  1 New Hampshire
  1 Florida
  1 Tennessee
  1 Pensylvania
  1 Alabama
  1 New York
  1 Colorado
  4 CDT time zone
  4 EDT time zone
  1 PDT time zone
  2 Gawd Knows Where
------
 38 so far ...

By net address suffix:

 15 .edu  ( this included most of the "I walked" and "I rode my bike" )
 13 .com  ( these guys are on rec.moto on Company Time !! )   8-)
  4 .location  ( as in .uk  or  .ca )
  4 .org  ( these are the real hackers with a system at home ! )
  1 .net
  1 .gov
 
Obviously, the non riders aren't reading rec.moto! 
Got several interesting comments from wanting sidehack to 
"have sweater, will travel"  Sounds like my kind of riders!


Charlie Smith   charlie@elektro.cmhnet.org  csmith@dsac.dla.mil  whois ces10
MOA# 52888, RA# 15633, DoD# 0709, AMA# 574722, Buckey Beemers 411, BK Ohio V
BMW K1100-LT, R69S, R27 and other even less worthwhile [ 2 | 3 ] wheel stuff

            {  Friends don't let friends ride on ice  }
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: paulb@harley.tti.com (Paul Blumstein)
Subject: Re: Motor Oil codes
Keywords: SAE
Organization: Black Belt Motorcyclists Association
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 23:05:09 GMT

In article <Bw1yu2.LLt@csc.liv.ac.uk> djn@csc.liv.ac.uk (David Nixon) writes:
+Can anyone on this channel explain the SAE rating system for motor oils ?
+Basically I want to know what grades are  unsuitable for my bike; given
+that I am having problems locating the recommended type of gearbox oil.
+
+The work-shop manual for my Kawasaki KR-1 recommends SAE grade E
+or F motor oil, of 10W-40 viscosity: The bike shops
+in my part of the U.K. only seem to stock 10W-40 SAE grade G oil.
+Now I am  wondering if this grade exceeds the specification stated 
+in my manual or is, in some way, unsuitable.

Grade F is a superset of Grade E. i.e., the F standards are tougher
than E.  So you can use Grade F for vehicles that require E.  Each
Grade always has tougher standards than previous grades.  So a Grade
G oil can be used for any vehicle that specifies A through F.  Get it?

+Some oils e.g. "Castrolite" come with a viscosity rating but no other
+classification.

Is Castrolite 1/3 the calories ?-).  The Grade is not an SAE standard:
it is an API (American Petroleum Institute) standard.  Since you are
in the UK, I suspect that cans of oil not intended for import to
the USofA may not be labeled with those Grades.  If I were you, I'd
either write to Castrol or steer clear of it.
____________________________________________________________________________
	"Four wheels good; two wheels better" -- Motorcycle Farm????
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Paul Blumstein, paulb@harley.tti.com, DoD #36, ABATE, AMA, HOG, KD6LAA
            Transaction Technology, Inc., Santa Monica, CA
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: jlevine@rd.hydro.on.ca (Jody Levine)
Subject: Re: Can't trigger traffic lights
Organization: Ontario Hydro - Research Division
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 16:04:54 GMT

In article <1992Oct2.184106.270@pages.com> bigdog!jon (Jon Wright) writes:
>trigger; as they get older and the successive years of expansion and contraction breaks the brittle wire coils, the  
>detection capabilities of these puppies deteriorates.  I've heard that complaints to the special number the city  

The coils work by running current around a loop and looking for a drop
in the current. If the coils break, the thing is broken (most likely in
in the 'turn on every cycle' mode) not just deteriorated. If they don't
work for you it's because they're not adjusted properly and you should 
complain to the city, as the poster said.

I've        bike                      like       | Jody Levine  DoD #275 kV
     got a       you can        if you      -PF  | Jody.P.Levine@hydro.on.ca
                         ride it                 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: greg@pomona.claremont.edu (Tigger)
Subject: Re: Harley Fashionable == Deaths
Organization: Pomona College
Date: 11 Oct 92 00:54:04 PDT

In article <4909@prcrs.prc.com>, terry@prcrs.prc.com (Terry Cunningham) writes:
> 
> One thing that I don't understand is why HD is popular among yuppie types.
> These people (as a stereotypical group, I suppose) tend to want a certain
> style to their toys that is usually more euro or japanese.   It would seem
> to me that the japanese/italian sport bike or the euro cruiser would be
> more to their taste.   I don't understand why the BMW marque wouldn't be
> considered more yuppie than HD.  I don't see that many people that I would
> consider yuppie to be the typical HD rider.  They seem to be more american
> outlaw type (real or imagined) to me.

I have no idea about the rest of the country, but there seem to be two
groups of people here in Southern California who buy bikes for fashion.
The rich kids (who may or may not be yuppie-spawn) buy sportbikes.  The
Hollywood/Sunset Strip rocker crowd buys Harleys.  If I read Terry's
thoughts correctly, this is right in line.

Now, all I need to do is wait a couple of years until some of those hair
farmers get tired of the Strip and start selling their Dyna Glide Customs
for cheap...

--
|  Greg Orman                         greg@pomona.claremont.edu  |
|                   DoD #0486 - '82 Vision 550                   |
|     A man's best friends:  a Harley, a Beretta and a Gund.     |
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: jjb@dtc.hp.com (Jim Brewer)
Subject: Re: If you could pick only 5 bikes...
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 18:09:53 GMT
Organization: HP Design Technology Center, Santa Clara, CA

In article <daved.719163795@convex.convex.com> daved@convex.com (David
Dorfman) writes:
...
> YAmaha TZ* for off road to learn riding skills and teach my Son how to ride

  I'm glad you capitalized Son, since it would take someone like that to
learn on a TZ, especially off road!

  The Y is next to the T, right?

  My five:

    '93 Yamaha TZ250 (D model?)  w/spares and free tires
    '93 Honda CR500 (R?)         w/suspension mods and a spare paddle tire
    '90 YSR50 w/YZ125 motor      with motor work by Erv K.
    '93 YZF750                   also w/spares and tires
    '93 FBF Ducati 888           but street legal
From: ravi@maxine.wpi.edu (Ravi Narayan)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Stealth Bra
Date: 16 Oct 92 21:45:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: bigboote.1bnd6cINN58t
Distribution: world
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: maxine.wpi.edu

In a previous article, Stafford@Vax2.Winona.MSUS.EDU (John Stafford) said:
:- A local sports care nut said that 'stealth bras', which
:- absorb radar are available for cars.  True?

	very true! in fact so pissed are the cops that my local dunkin
	donuts has this huge sign that goes "burn the bras" ;)

	peace,

	- ravi

-- 
'''---```---^^^^^^-----#-----~~~~~----'''------~~~~-----````~~~---------$$-----
sig (n): a piece of mail with a fool at one : Ravi Narayan - ravi@cs.wpi.edu
          end and flames at the other. (C).  :       Suzuki GS500E
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: cjackson@adobe.com (Curtis Jackson)
Subject: Re: I won? (NOT!) [Hey Sebastian!]
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 19:27:44 GMT

In article <1b1vqpINNrhr@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> egreen@east.sun.com writes:
}The original poster hit the front quarterpanel of the cage.  He has a
}shot at successfully blaming the cager.

The original poster (Sebastian) was in the left-hand side of his lane,
and drove his highway bar into the cage's "body panel". Nowhere did
he say "front" in connection with that body panel, and I think it is
a bit of a leap to say that because he hit *a* body panel and he was
in the LHS of the lane, that he must have his a front body panel. He
might have, of course.

Sebastian?
-- 
Curtis Jackson		cjackson@mv.us.adobe.com	(415) 962 4905
USPA #A-10080 (lapsed)				DoD #721  '81 Maxim 650
  "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
   safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin (1759)
From: dbc@po.cwru.edu (Dean Cookson)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Shaft effect, What is it?
Followup-To: rec.motorcycles
Date: 17 Oct 1992 04:38:53 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: b62003.student.cwru.edu

In article <1207@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu>, labrg@emory.edu (Ryan Montieth
Gill) wrote:
> 	Shesh you people need to lighten up, that or stop programming 
> 	spark stations....its affecting your realitiy reference...
> 
Oh Jesus! Here it comes...

| Dean Cookson / dbc@po.cwru.edu / 216 754-1834 | DoD #207  AMA #573534|
| Case Western Reserve U. Computer E. and Sci.  | KotNML  /  KotB      |
| "You can lead the house to order, but you     | '81 CB750C           |
| can't make it think"  -William Weld (Gov. Ma.)| '88 Bianchi Limited  |
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: zippy@tc.fluke.COM (Steven Zopfi)
Subject: How to align my Wheels?
Keywords: Wheel Alignment Fork
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 19:56:35 GMT

I have a question for you net Gods (and you know who you are).  A couple of months ago, I crashed my 85 GPz 550.  The damage was limited to the front end (upper fork tubes, lower triple clamp, front wheel axel.)  I recently replaced these
parts and decided to try riding the bike before getting it painted.  It seemed that the handle bars were slightly off to one side.  I decided to check the steering by first doing a wheel alinment check (using the string method) and sure 
enough, there is about 3/8in difference when measuring from the top of the fork tubes to a common place on the bike.  There is also a 3/8 difference when measuring from the center of the front axle to a common point on the bike.  I don't beleive the upper triple clamp is twisted or tweaked as it slipped right down onto the fork tubes and the steering head pinion.  A friend of mine suggested that the rear wheel may be out of alignment (the marks on the swing arm say that it isok) and he suggested measuring 

from the center of the rear axle to a common point on both sides of the bike like the foot pegs.  When doing this, it appears that there is a 3/16 differential between sides in the direction that would cause 
the steering to be off.  I don't believe that during the crash that the
rear swing arm or even wheel came into contact with anything so I don't
think that there really is a problem there.  What I am looking for is
an alignment procedure to check that my rear wheel alignment is correct
and then the front steering alignment (i.e. do this first then do this
next).  Anybody got any input?  This thing is bugging me!!!
From: thompson@Apple.COM (Paul Thompson)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Pocket size multimeter
Date: 8 Oct 92 06:43:14 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

jlp@blink.att.com (Jon Peticolas(x7058)) writes:

>thompson@Apple.COM (Paul Thompson) writes:

>>Placing a 1uF capacitor between the leads should solve this problem.

>I'm unconvinced, I might try it, but I've looked at ignition noise
>with a 'scope (points, coil and condensor - electronic ignition may 
>differ) and thar's alot of energy in them spikes. A pi network might
>do it but....

Oscilloscopes measure voltage, not energy.  If the 1uF cap still isn't
enough (and I bet it is), then put a 10K resistor in series with one
of the leads.  Which brings up yet advantage to digital meters - high
input impedance!

>>Then you can get the advantages of a digital multimeter - it's more
>>accurate, 
>>more rugged, more reliable, 

>Don't buy it. My cheap analog meters have taken some serious abuse
>and survived. My DVM has a LCD display that mere moisture makes 
>unreadable.  It also requires batteries. I can leave a cheap analog 
>meter in my tail pack/glove box for years and when I pull it out
>some dark night on the side of the road I'm not going to be stopped by
>dead batteries.

Well, my cheap analog meters break when I drop them, and the lithium
batteries in my DMM are good for several years.

>>cheaper.

>On what planet?

Earth.  I'm sorry, I neglected to check where you were posting from.
-- 
Paul Thompson    Apple Computer    DoD #47    Would you remember a 1-line .sig?
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: k21701@kyyppari.hkkk.fi (Teppo Nieminen)
Subject: sticking sprocket nuts
Date:  7 Oct 92 10:03:48 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Helsinki School of Economics, Finland

Roar Larsen wrote (..tougher helmet laws..) about nearly breaking his
skull when trying to loosen a front sprocket nut in his FJ. Do the
damn nuts self-tighten ? I had a similar problem with my Kawi. A three
feet long extension on the wrench wouldn't nudge it. In the end I had
to heat the nut with a blowtorch and still, when it finally opened and
I crawled up from the floor, I was 100 % certain that I had broken
either the tool or the nut. How can it become so tight (supposing it's
not overtightened in the first place), when it has a shim whose edge
you bend up to prevent the nut from loosening ? Does Loctite prevent
this?
						Teppo Nieminen
						Kawasaki KZ750
						DoD #2000
From: delilah@next08pg2.wam.umd.edu (Romeo DeVerona)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Can't trigger traffic lights
Date: 9 Oct 92 06:00:38 GMT
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park

In article <1992Oct9.042122.15849@netcom.com> jfh@netcom.com (Jack  
Hamilton) writes:
> In article <1992Oct8.213106.29332@wam.umd.edu>  
delilah@next03pg2.wam.umd.edu 
> (Romeo DeVerona) writes:
> >
> >yep. got off the bike, tried to open gates by hand (couldn't), looked  
all  
> >around for any kind of manual switch (wasn't any), looked for any  
> >sidewalk-type openings i could ride out by (weren't any). i was stuck.
> 
> You might make an anonymous call to your friendly local fire marshall.   
I
> think they tend not to like enclosed public places with no exits. 
> 
> -- 
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Jack Hamilton   jfh@netcom.com   P. O. Box 281107   SF, CA   94128-1107

it wasn't a building or an indoor garage; it was a fence around the whole  
damn complex. people probably were in no danger of being caught in a  
burning building, just near one. i suppose the fire department probably  
has some kind of emergency access to the place, but...

-D-
From: bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us (bob pasker)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: the r.m meta flame topic
Date: 15 Oct 92 15:42:30 GMT
Organization: Disorganized Organization

(1) what is countersteering?
(2) bmws never die
(3) fj's v. bmw
(4) shaft or chain?
(5) two stroke or four stroke?
(6) harleys/japcrap suck
(7) is "jap" an insult?
(8) valve springs are for losers
(9) how to put your bike on the centerstand
(10) are helmet laws good?
(11) using the back brake
(12) the s/n ratio is too high and the dod is responsible for it
(13) are .dirt,.harley,.racing groups good?  .tech? .dod?


-- 
-- bob pasker
-- bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us 
--
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: declrckd@rtsg.mot.com (Dan J. Declerck)
Subject: Re: Harley attitudes and other bikes
Keywords: Buell
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: rec
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 19:53:53 GMT

In article <21228@drutx.ATT.COM> klf@druwa.ATT.COM (FranklinKL) writes:
>I've noticed that many of my friends, who are fanatic Harley people
>rave about the Buell, usually referring to it as a "Buell Sportster".
>Now let's think about this a minute folks.  To these screaming
>Harley fanatics, a Buell is a Sportster.  Never mind that a Buell
>consists of a bare handfull of Harley arts, the most notable of which
>is the engine (which Buell modifies heavily, btw).  It is always

Buell does not modify the "Evo" sportster engine, except for maybe 
jetting and exhaust. It still has to pass the EPA emissions tests,
therefore cannot be heavily modified.

>a Buell Sportster.  By that same incredible leap of logic, shouldn't
>a Harley really be called a riceburner.  After all, a Harley is
>an American made bike with a handfull of Japanese parts (carbs, front forks,
>shocks,etc).  Just a thought.  I guess it depends whose ox is being gored.

A buell is more American than a Harley, it has more north American Content
than a Harley. 

-- 
=> Dan DeClerck                      |  EMAIL: dand%isdgsm@rtsg.mot.com   <=
=> Motorola Intl Subscriber Group    |                                    <=
=>                                   |  Phone: (708) 632-4486             <=
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: agent86@netcom.com (Michael McBride)
Subject: Re: WANTED:INTERCEPTER 500
Summary: Reviews of experiences with VF500F
Keywords: VF500F honda intercepter comments warning tires oh no!
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 16:07:06 GMT

>In article <1992Oct7.000751.16366@netcom.com>, agent86@netcom.com (Michael
>McBride) wrote:
>> In article <92280.154056AKS112@psuvm.psu.edu> ALEX STEFANOWICZ <AKS112@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>> 	If you keep good tires on the thing it will handle quite well!  The
>> bike feels very light in the corners.
> 
>   True.  Any suggestions for good tires?

	oh no!...tire wars....Dunlop K591 are good enough
	if you like spending money, go for Mezzler comp-K

>> 	Warning:  the engine is known for a common problem (a costly one too).
>> The cam lobes have a tendency to pit at about 10-20K miles.  I strongly
>> recommend you have the thing looked over thoroughly before buying.  (This
>> cam problem happened to me....right before it dropped a valve! though I
>> think the valve thing is due to the previous !$%#*! owner who cranked down
>> the valves to quiet the ticking caused by the pitted cam. oh well)
                           ^^^^^^^
>    What are the symptoms of this phenomenon?

	I am no engine wizard, but I believe if you start hearing a ticking
	that follows the engine rpms that you should have it looked at.
	From what I heard, not Every VF500F does this, so I wouldn't be
	paranoid or anything (not implying you are).
> 
>> 	Overall this is a good bike if it fits you and the engine isnt 
>> 	screwed up.  Remember that way back when, the 500 Intercepter was
>> 	the original handling machine....I believe the comment was
>> 	"...it corners like a scalpel.." or something similar from a
>> 	long forgotten motorcycle mag.  This is a nice lightweight bike
>> 	and IMHO a good intro to sport class bikes.
>
>    I agree.  With the F1's my bike probably doesn't weight over 420 wet. 
>I can't wait for next spring - new tires, new fuel pump (the only part of
>the fuel system that I haven't cleaned or replaced), and a little carb
>sync'ing - yahoo!  For $300 (+200 parts and supplies so far) who cares
>about cosmetics!  However, if anyone has any suggestions on lower fairings
>and paint schemes send me some email.

	It sounds liek you got a killer deal.  I wish I could say mine
	was nearly as good an experience.  I think when you get it all dialed
	in, you will have spent less than a K buck and have a rockin
	machine....have fun.

-- 
_____________________________________________________________________________
  Michael McBride		   |__"I've done...questionable things."-Roy
  [agent86@netcom.com]		   |~~"More human than human..."-Tyrell
=============================================================================