HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jearls@tekig6.PEN.TEK.COM (Jeffrey David Earls)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: More fiamm stuff .....
Date: 20 Aug 92 15:58:26 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.


I'd just like to add confirmation to all that is being said about Fiamm
horns.

A few weeks back I replaced the stock horn on my FJ with a single Fiamm
high tone horn.  I wired it in with the only wire I had handy which was
18 guage lamp cord.  While it was certainly louder than stock, it wasn't
earshattering.

Yesterday I picked up a low-tone Fiamm to add to the system.  I also 
picked up some proper 14 guage wire.  I placed the second horn in the 
tailpiece as there was no available space in the fairing and re-did
all the wiring.

Just let me say that it was a _MISTAKE_ to press the horn button 
inside my garage.  The horns sound like those of a rather healthy truck.
I would imagine that the folks in the apartment just above my garage
probably jumped 3 feet out of their chairs.  =8-O

So the answer is ....  you need both tones and you need to use heavy
guage wire.

I now consider my horn button to be the 'Voice of Impending Havoc' (tm).


Keep on Honking,

--Jeff


--
===============================================================================
|Jeff Earls  jearls@tekig6.pen.tek.com |     DoD #0530  KotTG  WMTC #0002     |
|'89 FJ1200 - Millennium Falcon        |   Squid Factor: 3.67 and climbing... | 
|'86 VF500F - Igor!  It's _ALIVE_!!!!  | "Hit the button Chewie!"... Han Solo |
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: datasbld@bnr.ca (Datasbuild)
Subject: Re: Euro DoD meet
Organization: BNR Europe Ltd, Maidenhead, UK
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 10:35:17 GMT

Tim Keane (timke@microsoft.com) wrote:
: In article <1992Aug11.101930.12238@bnr.uk> datasbld@bnr.ca (Datasbuild) writes:
: >Hurry up and get your HD before the summer flees.
: 
: Harley's have fleas?!  I guess that's one *more* thing they have in common
: with dogs (besides the obvious pickup truck connection).
: 
: Oh, you said "flees"?
: 
: Nevermind.
: 
: >Nick (the Biker)             DoD 1069
: >
: >M'Lud.
: 
: ps.
: Anybody who thinks this is an attack on Harleys worthy of a flame in
: response should seriously consider decaf...
: 
: Tim Keane (aka timke@microsoft.com)       /======\'74 John Player Norton
: -----<---@   Britbikes 'R' Us   @---->----| DoD# |'67 Triumph TR6R
:     A gentleman does not motor about      | 0165 |'70 BSA 441 Victor Special
:       after dark. -- Joseph Lucas         \======/'67 Triumph T100R (Sheila's)

Sigh!  And there I was thinking I could improve the American vocabulary!  Just
one extra little word I thought...  What harm could it do.  The context should
give the meaning, I spelt it correctly, the tense was correct but... Oh no,
it was all in vain!  Oh well, you live and learn (or in your case, not!).
I suppose I had better translate:  "Hurry up and get your Harley before the
summer fucks off!"  I think, is roughly the correct translation for the likes
of you.


Nick (the Etymologically Correct Biker)       DoD 1069

M'Lud.
From: jeq@i88.isc.com (Jonathan E. Quist)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Compressed air for carb cleaning
Date: 19 Aug 92 15:50:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: i88.1992Aug19.155047.20545
Distribution: na
Organization: INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, Naperville, IL

>In article <ALAVIGNE.92Aug17101310@bmerh930.bnr.ca>, alavigne@bmerh930.bnr.ca (Andrew Lavigne) writes:
>> 
>> I am trying to clean my carbs for the first time, and my Clymer manual says
>> that I should clean out my jets with compressed air.  ok.  However, I don't
>> have any fancy compressed air equipment, so what can a low-budget 
>> home repair person do instead?   I was thinking of using some kind of hand-
>> pump type affair, but I don't know if this would be sufficient or not.

Depends on how low your budget is.  For about $20 these days you can
get a portable air tank.  Another few bucks will get you a pressure regulator.
Just find a gas station, if you can, that still has free air, and fill
the tank.  A 100psi charge ought to keep you in air for a while, and give you
enough to top up your tires to go refill the tank...
-- 
Jonathan E. Quist                              INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
jeq@i88.isc.com  '71 CL450-K4 "Gleep", DoD #094        Naperville, IL
	So just where did George Bush get the idea that he gets to
			decide policy for the U.N.?
From: gharriso@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Graeme Harrison)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Helmet forehead welts & itching
Date: 18 Aug 92 20:24:03 GMT
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server

Does anyone have any suggestions [valid, not vapid :-)] on how to alleviate
the forehead welts and itching from certain helmets during long trips? Here
in CA we *have* to wear them so that excludes riding w/o a brain bucket.

You see, I went w/ a ZX11 pilot over to Road Rider to help him select a
new skid lid as his old one was so loose that it threatened to spin all
the way around when the wind resistance was great enough at triple digit
speeds :-) ... anyway, he tried the Shoei RF200, Arai Signet and finally
the Shoei GRV and selected the Arai Signet despite the $100 additional
expense over the Shoei RF100 because it felt more comfortable against
his sensitive forehead. My RF200 gets rather itchy on long trips as
did his old Shoei RF105 or whatever it was.

So, what works as far as preventing forehead welts and itching when we
take long trips? A headband? Big hanky? Nylon stocking? Bangs? ;-)

Graeme Harrison
DoD#0649
"It's a good thing you don't ride a sportbike cuz you ride that Gold
Wing pretty damn fast!" -ZX11 pilot
From: dd04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (DIANE DYMEK)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: FOR SALE:  85 Harley-Davidson FLHT
Date: 14 Aug 92 13:33:36 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

I am selling my Harley-Davidson FLHT, Electra Glide Sport or Full Touring
Package.  Real clean and mechanically sound.  $8,250 o.b.o.  If interested
call Mike at (215) 867-8333.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: shz@garage.att.com (Keeper of the 'Tude)
Subject: RUB-a-dub-dub
Organization: Office of 'Tude Licensing
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 20:48:55 GMT


I have finally heard a reliable story that confirms the existance of
a RUB!

It seems that a dentist in his 30's wanted a Harley so he went out
and bought a Low Rider.  His father is also a dentist and they work
together.  Unfortunately, Mr RUB's father hates motorcycles and Mr
RUB must hide his Harley from his parents and siblings.  My friend
tells me that Mr RUB frequently rides over from next door to hide
the Harley in his yard or garage.  Now to the good part:  Mr RUB
has had his Harley since *last* summer and has only clocked 971 miles
as of last night (my friend examined the odometer when Mr RUB stashed
it in his garage while daddy dentist was over).

A confirmed RUB!

- Roid
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: scs8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Sebastian C Sears)
Subject: Countersteering a shafty
Reply-To: scs8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Sebastian C Sears)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 01:06:34 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.202231.306103@locus.com> dana@locus.com (Dana H. Myers) writes:
>In article <daved.713802198@convex.convex.com> daved@convex.com (David Dorfman) writes:
>>In <1992Aug13.220924.2802530@locus.com> dana@locus.com (Dana H. Myers) writes:
>>
>>>Who else has discovered that countersteering does not appear to work
>>>correctly on shaft-drive motorcycles?
>>
>>It Sure works just fine on my shaft drive ST1100. Maybe your not doing it right?
>
>Hmmm, I've had two people say "It works fine on my bike". The bikes are
>both have longitudinal crankshafts (BMW R bike and Honda ST1100); this
>must have something to do with cancelling the shaft effect.


	Well, I am not schooled in vague technical terms, but what the hell is
	a "longitudinal" shaft... what other kinds are there? My shaft bike
	steers just fine, and I'm hurt that you didn't notice my first post...

	And I thought I belonged... sob....

=Stanley, Idaho===============Sea-Bass Sears====================New York City=
   o  1979 Yamaha XS750|Perception      )    Corsica|     |       1985  Toyota
 _/\_>       Just ride!|             o /            ||~~~~~~\___       4Runner
O,> /O   e-mail: scs8@ |  ~^~^ <====<\/====> ^~^    ||_--____--_)   Just about
cunixb.cc.columbia.edu |Just  ~^~^~^ / ^~^~^  kayak!|  ()    () anything else!
     If everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane!! - Anon
==============================-->DoD #0516<--=================================
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: cookson@mbunix.mitre.org (Cookson)
Subject: Re: chain replacement
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 18:16:23 GMT

In article <0v0mfw=@lynx.unm.edu> starr@carina.unm.edu (Gregory Starr ME.DEPT) writes:
>It is time to replace the 530 O-ring chain on my VFR.  I want to get a
>good quality O-ring replacement.  Anyone have any advice on brands
>that have given good/bad service?
>
>Also, are master links feasible on O-ring chains?  I had a master link
>come off once on my '69 Honda 750 (first year they made it!) at about
>midnight...was a drag!  They  _are_ convenient, though.
>
I use a 530 Tsubaki o-ring on my CB750.  It's got about 5,000 mi on it.
Is showing no appreciable wear, and I've never had the masterlink
fall out.  YMMV of course.

-- 
| Dean Cookson / dcookson@mitre.org / 617 271-2714    | DoD #207  AMA #573534 |
| The MITRE Corp. Burlington Rd., Bedford, Ma. 01730  | KotNML  /  KotB       |
| "If I was worried about who saw me, I'd never get   | '81 CB750C            |
| nekkid at all." -Ed Green, DoD #0111                | '88 Bianchi Limited   |
From: raible@nas.nasa.gov (Eric Raible)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Cleaning O ring chains
Date: 21 Aug 92 17:44:40 GMT
	<1992Aug20.122621.14716@rchland.ibm.com>
	<1992Aug21.055835.5003@research.nj.nec.com>
Reply-To: raible@nas.nasa.gov
Followup-To: rec.motorcycles
Organization: Applied Research Office, NASA Ames Research Center


In article <1992Aug21.055835.5003@research.nj.nec.com> behanna@phoenix.syl.nj.nec.com (Chris BeHanna) writes:

	   The o-rings are rubber, a petroleum-based product.  WD-40 is a
   petroleum-based product.  The two are miscible.  The o-rings will soak up
   WD-40 and swell (a bad thing).  They will also deteriorate slightly.  Very
   bad plan.  Someone else here reported very good results using kerosene.  At
   just over $1 per gallon, it's hard to go wrong there.

How does this explain why kerosene (most certainly a petroleum-based
product) also does not cause swelling and deterioration?

Kerosene might or might not work.  I don't know for sure either way,
and I'll keep my opinion to myself, thank you (yes, I realize that
this is a MAJOR breach of rec.motorcycle etiquette).

But your logic is weak at best.

- Eric "I ain't no petroleum engineer" Raible

PS - I thought that WD-40 contained a not insignificant amount of
     kerosene.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: david@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (David Robinson)
Subject: Re: Stuff that fits (was: Hard-soled shoes/boots)
Organization: Image Analysis Systems Group, JPL
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 15:58:40 GMT

In article <1992Aug17.161845.14856@ohrd.uucp> ohrd!jlevine@cs.toronto.edu (Jody Levine) writes:
>Any recommendations for gloves for female riders? Men's gloves are either
>too wide or too short.


Bates Leathers now sells their new deerskin gloves is womens sizes.
I bought a pair for my SO who had gone to a dozen shops without
finding a decent fitting gauntlet glove.  The are in Long Beach
and in the book (310 area code).

	-David
-- 
David Robinson	david@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov
Disclaimer: No one listens to me anyway!	'92 GS500E DoD #480
"An addiction is a drag" - Dennis Hopper	'90 EX250R Ninja
"A tisket, a tasket, a condom or a casket" - Dr. Carl Bell
From: egreen@East.Sun.COM (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Watch out for the spiders
Date: 13 Aug 1992 16:54:18 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
Distribution: world
Reply-To: egreen@East.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 1433@seqp4.sequoia.com, cantrell@seqp4.sequoia.com (Paul Cantrell) writes:
>
>I've always read that Tarantulas are not poisonous at all. 

All spiders are poisonous.  Their effect on humans varies, but they all
kill their prey with poison.

---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: ohrd!jlevine@cs.toronto.edu (Jody Levine)
Subject: Re: FIAMM buying and Installing ( was Fiamms,Re: cage kill,was: Re: Deer) Kill)))
Organization: Ontario Hydro - Research Division
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 14:11:49 GMT

 (Paul Thompson) writes:
>
>There's one other thing to be considered - the voltage drop across the wiring
>and switch/relay contacts.  Even a meager half an ohm of resistance will drop
>about 5 volts, leaving only 12 - 5 = 7 volts for your horns.  Thus they won't be
>nearly as loud as they could be if a heavier gauge wire had been used.  I'd
>recommend 14 gauge minimum, and as short of wires as possible.

The number I've heard is 5 A of current for two horns. I haven't tested it
myself, and besides, I've only got one Fiamm on the bike. This was probably
tested when the bike was standing still with the engine either off or idling,
and the system sitting at 12 V. 12/5= 2.4 ohm. At 4000 rpm with high beam on
my RZ's system is at about 14 V. Taking your half ohm, which sounds like a lot
to me for DC current on a 20 guage wire a couple of feet long (including return
path, of course, but I haven't tested this either, and besides, my ohmmeter 
isn't accurate enough) that gives me 14 * (2.4/(2.4+0.5)) = 11.6 V - whatever
the extra load on system has dropped the voltage by.... blah blah blah.

Screw the numbers. It's easier to try it with the wires that are already
there than to change them (I'm not using a relay, either). If you don't
like the way it sounds or you put your voltmeter on the horn contact while
the horn is on and don't like what you see or the wires are getting hot, 
worry about it then. 

And while you're at it, change the whole wiring system. Redesign your frame
to fit a Delco battery under the seat, and put a nuclear powered, steam-
turbine generator behind the engine. Then attach baseball-field lighting under
your handlebars, a ham radio to the passenger seat and a sattelite dish to
the sissy bar. Put a 735 kV step-up transformer on the rear fender, and wire
the output to the wheels through slip rings and broooohahahahoooohahaha!

Toronto (c.p.): High voltage engineer goes mad while reading usenet news...

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: cookson@mbunix.mitre.org (Cookson)
Subject: Re: DUCATIs
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 13:39:26 GMT

In article <5744@m1.cs.man.ac.uk> dnd@spec0.ee.man.ac.uk (Darryl Davis (RA)) writes:
>
>any Help appreciated before i commit my pennies
>
I've really got to start drinking my coffee BEFORE I start to read news.
The first time I read this I thought it said:

>any Help appreciated before i commit my penises

I'm real glad it's Friday...

Dean
-- 
| Dean Cookson / dcookson@mitre.org / 617 271-2714    | DoD #207  AMA #573534 |
| The MITRE Corp. Burlington Rd., Bedford, Ma. 01730  | KotNML  /  KotB       |
| "If I was worried about who saw me, I'd never get   | '81 CB750C            |
| nekkid at all." -Ed Green, DoD #0111                | '88 Bianchi Limited   |
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: matth@progress.COM (Matthew J. Harper)
Subject: Re: Another DoD first (was: Re: jeff Achenbach)
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 14:41:34 GMT

cookson@mbunix.mitre.org (Cookson) writes:

>In article <1992Aug13.032740.8784@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> cdw2t@dayhoff.med.Virginia.EDU (Clifford David Weston) writes:
>>
>>but they were *very thick* glazeds/glazed's/glazedes/whatever -- doughnuts.
>>you should have kept watching, though; you missed the incredible finale
>>(i couldn't say 'climax') with the girl, llama, and tennis balls.
>>
>So Cliff, are you trying to say that the holes were of smaller that usuall
>size??

  Perhaps those new Dunkin Mini's?...


          Matthew J. Harper ! Progress Software Corp. ! {disclaimer.i}         
             Kinda' new to rec.moto but I love a good flamefest!
   God created heaven and earth to grow barley and hops. Now he homebrews !-)  
--
          Matthew J. Harper ! Progress Software Corp. ! {disclaimer.i}         
   God created heaven and earth to grow barley and hops. Now he homebrews !-)  
From: frankb@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Frank Ball)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 17:18:21 GMT
Subject: Re: Re: Gun control in California
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles

*    the folks in rec.motorcycles discuss that with Johnson.  I'll just
*    point out that it is ILLEGAL for car drivers to wear a helmet, and the
*    reason given for that restriction is that a helmet interferes with
*    their sight and hearing.  I wonder why Johnson thinks that helmets
*    don't have that effect on motorcycle riders.

I can't find anything in the CA vehicle code that would make a helmet
illegal in a cage.  Do you know someone who got busted for this?  Did
it hold up in court?

Frank Ball   1UR-M          frankb@hpsad.sad.hp.com
Hewlett Packard   
1212 Valley House Drive     (707) 794-4168 work  (707) 538-3693 home
Rohnert Park CA 94928-4999  KC6WUG Seca 750 XT350 IT175 DoD#7566 I'm the NRA.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: essbaum@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Alexander Essbaum)
Subject: Re: Leaning
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 22:47:28 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM Rochester

In article <1992Aug18.203010.21710@progress.com>, matth@progress.COM (Matthew J. Harper) writes:
|> rct@fulcrum.bt.co.uk (Richard Taylor) writes:
|> 
|> 
|> >In the USA you should be leaning harder for the right handers, you`ve the
|> >camber of the road to your advantage. It's the lefts that should make you
|> >nervous.
|> 
|>   This makes no sense to me.
|> 
|>   If you have the camber of the road in your favor going into a right hander,
|> you get it for the left hand when you go the other way, no? (This assumes that 
|> you're on a two lane road like the original poster alluded to.)  
|> 
|>   Feel free to tell me I'm clueless, but only if you can explain why!-)

methinks he means the crown of the road.  ie. the center of the road is higher
than either edge (to help rain run off?).

axel
From: 85p8379@csdvax.csd.unsw.edu.au
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Finally.... DoD Polo Shi*ts are in!!!!
Date: 20 Aug 92 00:45:06 +1000
Organization: University of New South Wales

In article <1992Aug18.030543.12716@news.columbia.edu>, twang@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Tony Wang) writes:
> THEY'RE HEEEEERRRRRRRRE!!!!!!!! And they look great.
> 
> The long awaited DoD Polo Shirts are in. Most of them at least. Those
> that ordered the XXL Dark Jade will have to wait at least another
> week, sorry. I'll try and get them out as soon as possible (within
> the next two days, for sure). Unpopular opinion aside, thanks to all
> those that made this project a success. As soon as I figure out the
> final amounts, I'll send a check for the AMA to Arnie. Thanks again.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Tony Wang
> 
> DoD#0122					This sig under construction
> AMA#450147				
> 					
> twang@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu


Hey man, how do us distance disadvantaged DoD's here in Oz get one of these ?

     Barry Manor, Naturist, Neuroscientist, Bicycle-lover              
                                                            .%%%%.     
     Postgraduate Student in Biomedical Engineering        %% oo %%    
     University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia     %%\ ][ /%%   
                                                         %%% (~~) %%%  
     Email: 85p8379@csdvax.csd.unsw.EDU.AU   DoD# 620         %%       


Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: spindler@emr1.emr.ca (Chris Spindler)
Subject: Re: Wearing a helmet
Summary: Waaaah!
Organization: Energy, Mines, and Resources, Ottawa
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 23:06:59 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.204455.23656@ttinews.tti.com> paulb@harley.tti.com (Paul Blumstein) writes:
>+In article <1992Aug8.233849.269@halfdome.sf.ca.us> bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us (Bob Pasker) writes:
>+:> Hmmm I wonder what would have happened to an unhelmeted person shot
>+:> under a car with the same velocity.
>+:
>+:african or european?
>
>They make cars in Africa?

Finding that difficult to 'swallow'?

-- 
              Chris Spindler - Seismologist @ Large       
   '86 Ninja 1000R   - - - - - - - -  o    Never ascribe to malice       
   '91 550 Zephyr  - - - - - - - -  _/\_>    what is easily explained    
    DoD #6371    - - - - - - - -   O,> / O     by stupidity.
From: jeq@i88.isc.com (Jonathan E. Quist)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Cheap Gas in BMW K-100 RS? Corrections and mea culpa.
Date: 14 Aug 92 15:23:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: i88.1992Aug14.152347.24766
Organization: INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, Naperville, IL

In article <1992Aug12.234555.242151@cs.cmu.edu> phg+@CS.CMU.EDU (Paul Gleichauf) writes:
>In article <1992Aug10.170222.275@halfdome.sf.ca.us>, bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us (Bob Pasker) writes:
>|> In article <1992Aug10.215253.171811@cs.cmu.edu>, phg+@CS.CMU.EDU (Paul Gleichauf) writes:
>|> > Octane is deliberately lowered for high altitude useage (to avoid
>|> > pre-ignition or knocking?).  The manual rated octane figures are 
>|> > based on sea level useage.  The fuel injection system on the more
>|> > recent BMW K-series bikes senses both engine fuel octane and altitude
>|> > to adjust the mixture. 
>|> 
>|> this is a joke, right?
>
>Octane additives are supposed to be lessened for altitude and it is not useful
>to search out gas stations that sell high octane fuels because your owner's
>manual says that your bike should be fed a steady diet of 90-some octane. A
>good quality premium grade fuel should serve a motorcycle, or high performance
>auto engine, with no problems.  I have noticed a performance decline with
>elevation, but I never attempted to verify whether it was real.

This is real, in any normally aspirated engine.  You simply can't get
as much fuel-air mixture into the cylinders.  Last time I looked at
the manual, my 172 was rated at 70% power at 10,000 feet with full throttle,
and the mixture properly adjusted.  For ground vehicles, there is
a slight payback in the reduced drag.  Anybody know how much drag
is reduced with altitude?  Enough to overcome the power losses?
-- 
Jonathan E. Quist                              INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
jeq@i88.isc.com  '71 CL450-K4 "Gleep", DoD #094        Naperville, IL
Which is worse: using vast wealth to trounce a small country on the battlefield,
or using vast wealth to trounce several countries on the basketball court?