HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tedcrum@garnet.berkeley.edu (Ted Crum)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Battery Charger $5, NAPA Auto Parts
Date: 18 Dec 92 21:14:11 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.berkeley.edu

Of course 3 amps is too much for a trickle charge. But there is no reason that 
a motorcycle battery *has* to be trickled. You don't think that the 250 watt
alternator in your bike charges your hard-cranking battery at 600 mA, do you?

Any lead battery, large or small can be safely charged at an 8-hour rate,
provided that charging is stopped when full charge is reached. A 3-amp
charger, which won't put out it's nominal current except into a dead
battery, will work fine for this. Just turn it off when gravity, warmth,
or gassing indicate full charge. While you wait for superlight Ducati
parts or lace new Norton wheels, a 2-hour charge weekly will preserve
your battery with complete safety. And a 3-amp charger will be fine
to trickle the battery in that 68 VW that you mean to restore.

I just intended to let people know about a good value.

-TC
From: dmatejka@netcom.com (Daniel Matejka)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Attn all riders!!!
Date: 15 Dec 92 21:33:51 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services

In article <45042@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> anniey@ocf.berkeley.edu (Annie H. Yip) writes:
[commercial stuff deleted]
>California Cycles has a full parts and service department.  Mention this ad
[commercial stuff deleted]

  Is it just me, or is this exactly the kind of commercial crap which
is completely out of place on internet, and strictly forbidden?????
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles.harley
From: svoboda@rtsg.mot.com (David Svoboda)
Subject: Re: lane-splitting etiquette
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 06:37:48 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.185943.27163@spdc.ti.com> serafin@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Serafin) writes:
|In article <27M902dv2fGz01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> efk00@cd.amdahl.com (Eddie Kieger) writes:
|>Howdy all:
|>
|>This is aimed at riders who live in CA (and other states where lane 
|>splitting (or "lane sharing") is legal. After moving and having to 
|
|Is it really legal, or just tolerated?  My understanding is that it is NOT
|legal, but the authorities tolerate it.  Somebody have any actual code 
|references that they can site.

It is not illegal.  No, I do not have code references, but his was hashed
out at length on rec.motorcycles.  It is legal in California for two cars
to occupy the same lane simutaneously.  It is not legal in my or your
state.

In some counties in California, lane sharing is considered an improper
lane change, and is not allowed.

|But just imagine how our image could be helped if you didn't lane split at all.

Please ride in California, and try lane splitting, before you make a
comment like that.  I suspect that you, in Texas, do not have the kind 
of traffic problems that those in California experience every day.  I 
ride in Chicago traffic all the time, and even that doesn't approach 
the problems of southern California.  Ride there and see.  I can tell 
you, after having occasionally lane-split here in Illinois, where it is 
very illegal, and having joyously lane-split in California, the attitude 
is different.  Drivers don't mind, there.  Those that do mind are the same 
kind of people who try to race you when merging: assholes.

Lane splitting is GOOD for traffic flow.  It's GOOD for air pollution.  It 
is SAFE, if done with care. (Sounds a lot like motorcycling, eh?)  People 
who think otherwise are simply mistaken.  We do not owe them anything, and 
we should refuse to support their ignorance.

		Dave Svoboda
Xref: sparky ba.motorcycles:1160 rec.motorcycles.harley:1578
From: efk00@cd.amdahl.com (Eddie Kieger)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles.harley
Subject: lane-splitting etiquette
Date: 16 Dec 92 16:51:12 GMT
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

Howdy all:

This is aimed at riders who live in CA (and other states where lane 
splitting (or "lane sharing") is legal. After moving and having to 
commute up the major Silicon Valley Highway (101), I have noticed some 
interesting things. Frequantly when I am riding the line, people in 
cages will pull over to the opposite side of their lane to give me more 
room. Whether this is due to paranoia 
(OHMYGODHTHEBIKERSCUMISGOINGTOHITMYCAR!!!) or courtesy, I have no idea. 
Whatever the case, I will hold my hand up and wave at them to let them 
know I am aware of, and appreciate their gesture. Now comes the wierd part. 
Frequently I see the same cars doing this, and they are starting to wave 
back. Not only that, (it may be my imagination), but it SEEMS to me that 
there are more and more cars pulling over for me. Now I always go to work 
at almost the exact same time, so I am sure that most of thjese people see 
me every day, and I must say that there are DAMN few bikes on the road (at 
least few FINE LOOKING HAWGS (tm)), so they probably recognize me. Is it 
possible that my being pleasant and waving is actually to my benefit????? 
Wow, what a concept. I do know that a polite wave (like after you let some 
one merge in  front of you) is rare out here in the land of fruits and 
nuts (CA), so maybe I am having an effect. I also always wave at little 
kids who are staring at me (in obvious awe and jealousy - and also hot 
babes - when the ol' lady isn't with me :-). Hot damn, maybe it helps our 
image. Why not try it when YOU are spliting lanes. If cagers are always 
waved to when they make room for us, maybe more of them will start 
doing it instead of pulling CLOSER because they are pissed that someone 
else is getting down the road faster than they are.

} /* End Sermon */

Later................

Don't tread on me..........................................I bite
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eddie Kieger                             efk00@cd.amdahl.com 
For Pay:      System Design Engineer     Amdahl Corp.
              Bringing you better mainframe computers
For Fun:      "River Rat"                SBU-XI SPECWARGRU1 (USNR)
              Bringing hellfire and brimstone to a river near you!
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
From: cjackson@adobe.com (Curtis Jackson)
Subject: Honda GB500, Suzuki GS500E, or Yamaha Seca II ?
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View
Distribution: ba
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 00:22:20 GMT

My search for a weekend "fun in the twisties" bike has (so far) narrowed
to 3 bikes. To refresh your memory, I wanted a bike that handled well,
was not a crotch-rocket, and had good low-end acceleration without
necessarily having a top-end higher than 120 (or even that high).
The current choices are:

New 1990 Honda GB500: This was the most recommended bike (well, that means
it got 2 votes). Trouble is, I haven't yet seen one, but dealerships around
this area can get me one for about $3500 before haggling begins. Seems a
bit pricey for a 3-year-old 500, even new.

New Suzuki GS500E: Sat on one today. They want $3300 before haggling. I
think the complete lack of windscreen/fairing is weird and ugly, but I'm
sure I could get used to it. Riding position is fine.

< 300 miles Yamaha Seca II: This is my current favorite at $3300, probably
not a lot of haggling I can do. Has a small but quite liveable dent/scratch
on the gas tank that they claim is from another bike's lever during local
shipping/uncrating. This bike looks and feels good to me, it is a 600 and
I think I'd like the extra power, and has that nice big 4.3 gal fuel tank.

So, before I go out and do something foolish, any advice. As I said, I'm
leaning heavily towards the Seca II; any reason not to?

Oh, for reference, I'm 5' 10". The GS500E felt much more like a toy under
me than did the Seca II. Don't know about the GB500 (yet).

Any and all comments, on the net or via email, would be greatly appreciated.
Handling, reasonableness of the prices here in the SF bay area, reliability,
sheer fun, any of that stuff.

Thanks! I really need the objective help because I have New Bike Fever.
I looked at a repo '88 Katana 600 with < 5000 miles today, but the
scratched fairings, badly dinged tank, etc. etc. just left me cold. If
the bike is gonna be banged up, I want to *earn* every one of those dings
myself. (But I'm willing to take the Seca II gas tank ding for $700 off
normal list).

-- 
Curtis Jackson  DoD #721   '62 Yankee Brunette "Dorothy"    '81 Maxim 650
cjackson@mv.us.adobe.com   '91 Black Lab "Studley"  '92 Collie/Golden "George"
  "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
   safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin (1759)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles
From: jet@boxer.nas.nasa.gov (J. Eric Townsend)
Subject: Time to find a frame shop and replace forks...
Organization: Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation, NASA Ames
Date: 18 Dec 92 16:51:25
Distribution: ca


Well, I got the nighthack back this morning.  For those of you living
in a daze, about two weeks ago Tracy Schmidt had an accident on my '91
CB750 Nighthack.  The insurance co. totaled it, I'm going to buy back
the bike.

It's in amazingly good shape, however.  The only time I saw it after
the wreck was in an unlight junkyard at night.  Now, in the light of
day, I can tell that it's not too bunged up.

The major problems are:

Front fork tubes bent a *slight* amount (enough to put a *slight*
ripple on the concave side).  If I were a bit stupid, and had a torch
around, I'd heat 'em up and hammer 'em straight. :-) Probably better
to just replace the tubes.

The frame *is* bent, I think.  The paint at a couple of welds under
the steering head is chipped, and something just doesn't look right if
I stare at it for a few minutes.  I'm going to go look at one at a
dealer soon and see if I can see a physical difference.

Cosmetic damage: slight ding in the tank, gauges scuffed up, mirrors
scuffed up, levers bent.

Anyone have suggestions on a good frame shop?  I figure if I'm going
to have to have the frame worked on, and redo teh forks, I should have
some fun while i'm at it.   My two ideas are:

 -- scratch-built racer.  Shorten the rake a bit, put on some shorter
forks, a set of clip ons, and a caliper wheel assembly that's a bit
more sporty.

 -- brit-style japanese chopper.  strip off all the plastic and
nonsense stuff, increase the rake a degree or three, get longer forks,
a set of ape hangers, spoked wheels, and a solo tractor seat.  And
paint the thing black with that high-quality Krylon brand paint.

 -- Seriously stupid time (as in ditch a lot of the good stuff on the
bike).  faux sidecar racing rig.  the less said the better.

Hints, suggestions, clues, offers of insanity?
--
             J. Eric Townsend --  jet@nas.nasa.gov -- 415.604.4311
              '92 R100R, DoD# 0378, BMWMOA, AMA, ACLU, EFF, CPSR
                                "HotHead Rules!"
From: cjackson@adobe.com (Curtis Jackson)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Cheap Cold Weather Gear
Date: 13 Dec 92 19:02:12 GMT
Distribution: ca
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View

In article <1992Dec12.232451.12329@netcom.com> dman@netcom.com (Dallman Ross) writes:
}Lisa DeLorme (delorme@garnet.berkeley.edu) wrote:
}: Today I went to a Target store (like a big K-mart) and stumbled across
}: knit neckgators on sale for $2.25 (they are like turtlenecks without the
}: turtle part, I mean without the shirt part).
}
}Good tips.  Those are (used to be, anyway) called "dickeys."  No smiley,
}though it's a silly name.

I got a sweater dickie from Road Rider, and it works *GREAT*. Definitely
not as cheap as the knit ones from Target; don't know if it is any warmer.

I also keep one of those things Lisa described (tube that can be neck
protector, headband, hat, broach, pterydactyl...) in my trunk for
passengers (although it comes out to accompany me skiing).

Thanks for the tips, Lisa! Now I have an excuse to hang out in the women's
clothing section of Target (pronounced Tar-zjEH, of course).
-- 
Curtis Jackson  DoD #721   '62 Yankee Brunette "Dorothy"    '81 Maxim 650
cjackson@mv.us.adobe.com   '91 Black Lab "Studley"  '92 Collie/Golden "George"
  "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
   safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin (1759)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
From: howland@noc2.arc.nasa.gov (Curtis Howland)
Subject: Re: @*^#*$%## California -- what color reflectors CAN one use?
Organization: NASA Science Internet Project Office
Distribution: ba
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 09:54:03 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.132818.2979@wdl.loral.com>, dboddy@pulsar.lrmsc.loral.com (Dave Boddy 5973) writes:
|> 
|> 	When I went to the DMV to take the test for my mototcycle permit I picked up
|> 	a copy of the California Vehicle Code.  It costs three dollars and has everything
|> 	you wished you'd never asked about traffic regulations :-) 

and MORE.....
From: jet@boxer.nas.nasa.gov (J. Eric Townsend)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Time to find a frame shop and replace forks...
Date: 20 Dec 92 18:57:22 GMT
Followup-To: ba.motorcycles
Distribution: ca
Organization: Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation, NASA Ames

"sfi" == Stefan Fielding-Isaacs sfi@btr.com <sfi@public.BTR.COM> writes:

sfi> shop.  Not cheap. Good work. Probably cost you a few hundred
sfi> (like 400-500) to have your frame and forks straightened. If

Considering it's $1200 for a new frame, and about $700 for *each* for
assembly, that's cheap. :-)
--
             J. Eric Townsend --  jet@nas.nasa.gov -- 415.604.4311
              '92 R100R, DoD# 0378, BMWMOA, AMA, ACLU, EFF, CPSR
                                "HotHead Rules!"
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
From: dman@netcom.com (Dallman Ross)
Subject: Re: Battery Charger $5, NAPA Auto Parts
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL7]
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 11:50:55 GMT

Paul Thompson (thompson@Apple.COM) wrote:
: tedcrum@garnet.berkeley.edu (Ted Crum) writes:
: 
: >I just bought a 3 amp charger at an NAPA store for $5 (including $10
: >mail-in rebate). Should be perfect for M/C's (but 12v only). I assume
: >the offer is good nation-wide.
: 
: Does the charger have a lower charging rate available?  3 amps is triple
: the recommended charge rate for most motorcycle batteries.

The 1-amp max for motorcylce-rated batteries is well-known.  Funny thing
is, though, that it is not widely known or acknowledged in Germany.  Or,
at least this was so 10 years ago.

In 1981 and 82 I was living in South-Central Germany and riding my
GS 1000 EC (which I had shipped over).  I wanted to buy a battery charger,
and had read for years the advice in the mags not to exceed 1 amp.
Well, I searched high and low, but could not find a charger with less
than a 3-amp rate; and furthermore, none of the German motorcycle-
shop mechanics that I spoke with ever admitted hearing such a 1-amp
rule.  I thought this very strange for a country renowned for its 
engineering acumen and great motorcycles.

I eventually wrote a letter to the Yuasa Battery Company about this, 
since I had one of their batteries in my bike.  Well, they sent me, 
unsolicited and free of charge, a plug-in trickle-charger that I could 
use.  It was damn nice of them.  Too bad for me that, in my rush to try 
it out, I plugged the 110-volt charger into a 220-volt German outlet and
promptly burned it up before I could ever use it.  :-(  I never had
the heart to tell Yuasa about my goof; and I resigned myself to using
a 3-amp charger for the remaining 10 months of my stay.

--
 __D_a l_l m a_n  _ R o_s s _ |dman@netcom.com /or| /-\o /-()  -- -  --   - 
 l  \\ l\\   /l  /\\  l\\   l |dross@well.sf.ca.us| \_/ \\/ )  -- -    --   
 l   >)l \\ /ll /  \\ l \\  l |350 Perkins, #108  |       |/_\  -- -  --   -
 l  // l  \X ll/--- \\l  \\ l |Oakland, CA  94610 |        \_/ .  . . ........
_l//___AMA Life #585368___\\l_|phone:_510/645-1883|_DoD #696_Suzuki_'82_GS750E
From: tedcrum@garnet.berkeley.edu (Ted Crum)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Battery Charger $5, NAPA Auto Parts
Date: 16 Dec 1992 21:01:58 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.berkeley.edu

I just bought a 3 amp charger at an NAPA store for $5 (including $10
mail-in rebate). Should be perfect for M/C's (but 12v only). I assume
the offer is good nation-wide.

-TC
From: kris@bsg8.Corp.Sun.COM (Kris Skrinak)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Helmet and Boots for Sale
Date: 16 Dec 92 19:46:54 GMT
Reply-To: kris@bsg8.Corp.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: bsg8.corp.sun.com


Helmet:	$100 Full-Face AGV motorcycle helmet. White with blue stripes. Purchased
	one month ago! Scarcely used. Size: Large

Boots:	$75 Black leather motorcycle boots. Size: 6 1/2

Call Kirk 415/824-4741
From: robinson@cogsci.Berkeley.EDU (Michael Robinson)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: @*^#*$%## California -- what color reflectors CAN one use?
Date: 13 Dec 1992 21:22:12 GMT
Organization: Institute of Cognitive Studies, U.C. Berkeley
Distribution: ba
NNTP-Posting-Host: cogsci.berkeley.edu

In article <1992Dec13.185731.10412@adobe.com> cjackson@adobe.com (Curtis Jackson) writes:
>Anyone got any recs on
>where to get really obnoxiously reflective tape, either already contrastingly
>striped a la barricade tape, or with different colors (white and orange/yellow,
>I would assume) so I can stripe it myself?

I picked up some obnoxiously reflective tape at Ace hardware (check the 
automotive section).  I've found that if you use very reflective material, 
just a little bit goes a long way. 

Also, one way you may be able to skirt the letter of the law is reflectorizing
your helmet.  I put a yield sign (inverted triangle made out of white and red
reflective tape) on the back of one of my helmets, and never got any notice
from law enforcement.


-- 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Michael Robinson                          UUCP:   ucbvax!cogsci!robinson
                                        INTERNET: robinson@cogsci.berkeley.edu
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles.harley
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: lane-splitting etiquette
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 15:48:46 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.214246.394@netcom.com> dman@netcom.com (Dallman Ross) writes:
>Eddie Kieger (efk00@cd.amdahl.com) wrote:
>: Why not try it when YOU are spliting lanes. If cagers are always 
>: waved to when they make room for us, maybe more of them will start 
>: doing it instead of pulling CLOSER because they are pissed that someone 
>: else is getting down the road faster than they are.
>
>Well, it's a nice idea <wan smile>.  But when I'm splitting lanes
>(usually across the Bay Bridge), I am in a very heightened state of
>concentration with my right hand ready above the brake at all moments
>and my left hand ready to apply the horn or flash my high beam or both.
>I always figure, if I can't find the special level of concentration I
>require to feel safe splitting, say, because I'm tired or out of it,
>then I don't do it that day.  (I like to think of the level of
>concentration I require of myself as a kind of Zen thing.)  Anyway, with
>both hands very busy at the ready-and-waiting, I can't see removing one
>to wave every few seconds.

I split on both the Bay and GG Bridges. There is a LOT more room in each lane
on the Bay than GG Bridge, and so when I see someone move over, it's easier to
wave on the Bay Bridge (unless I'm going way too fast). People DO move over,
I've noticed, and if they can take the time to pull their vehicle over a tiny
bit, I can make the effort to ease off the throttle enough to acknowledge their
action. Not very Zen, of course, but I doubt the founders of Zen rode 
motorcycles. Call it a hunch.

Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - Oh come on! You didn't think I was serious, did you?
From: dmatejka@netcom.com (Daniel Matejka)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Attn all riders!!!
Date: 18 Dec 92 00:14:07 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services

In article <1992Dec17.035142.9426@dumbcat.sf.ca.us> marc@dumbcat.sf.ca.us (Marco S Hyman) writes:
>
>Mild flame...
>
>While the article may have been in bad taste and out of place --
>	USENET IS NOT THE INTERNET AND NOTHING IS FORBIDDEN!
>
>Sorry, the forbidden comment just happend to push a button.
>
>... end flame

  I thought it lent a nice air of authority, but you saw right through me...

>
>On the subject of Motorcycles, my winter gloves have worn through after three
>years so my wife gets to get me a Christmas/Birthday present.  They were a
>combination leather/gortex that kept the fingers mostly dry in the wet stuff.
>Anybody see anything like them?

  Not specifically, but I'm a fan of hunting supply stores like Cabelas
and Gander Mountain for that kind of thing.
From: cjackson@adobe.com (Curtis Jackson)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles
Subject: Re: @*^#*$%## California -- what color reflectors CAN one use?
Date: 13 Dec 92 18:57:31 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View

Thanks for typing all this stuff in, Jack!!

In article <1992Dec12.195651.28276@netcom.com> jfh@netcom.com (Jack Hamilton) writes:
}All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a
}vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the
}emitted light from all lamps or reflected lights from all reflectors
}complies with the required color.  [other stuff]

This has got to be the stupidest paragraph I have read in ages!
It seems to mean that:

1) I can paint the *housing* of any lamp any color I want, as long as the
lens of that lamp causes the required color light to shine when I turn the
lamp on, and

2) I can have any color reflector I want, as long as the color of the light
it reflects is the required color.

Sounds like it is time to get some reflective barricade tape for the rear
of my trunk, since at least that was specifically called out as being legal.
I got some reflective orange tape at an auto parts store, and it was fine
except that it wasn't reflective at all.  *GRRRR*  Anyone got any recs on
where to get really obnoxiously reflective tape, either already contrastingly
striped a la barricade tape, or with different colors (white and orange/yellow,
I would assume) so I can stripe it myself?

Thanks again, Jack,
-- 
Curtis Jackson  DoD #721   '62 Yankee Brunette "Dorothy"    '81 Maxim 650
cjackson@mv.us.adobe.com   '91 Black Lab "Studley"  '92 Collie/Golden "George"
  "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
   safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin (1759)
Xref: sparky ba.motorcycles:1172 rec.motorcycles.harley:1593
From: emarsh@hernes-sun.Eng.Sun.COM (Eric Marsh)
Newsgroups: ba.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles.harley
Subject: Re: lane-splitting etiquette
Date: 17 Dec 92 00:47:15 GMT
Organization: Sun
NNTP-Posting-Host: hernes-sun

In article <1992Dec16.185943.27163@spdc.ti.com> serafin@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Serafin) writes:
>In article <27M902dv2fGz01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> efk00@cd.amdahl.com (Eddie Kieger) writes:
>>Howdy all:

>>This is aimed at riders who live in CA (and other states where lane 
>>splitting (or "lane sharing") is legal. After moving and having to 

>Is it really legal, or just tolerated?  My understanding is that it is NOT
>legal, but the authorities tolerate it.  Somebody have any actual code 
>references that they can site.

Seems to me that unless there is a law against something then it is
legal to do that thing.

Eric