Bike Update
Permalink | April 30, 2008 by John in 2002 TBA
The bike is officially back on the road for Riding Season ‘08.
Last weekend I put the front end back together after swapping my right lower fork leg and front master brake cylinder for the same parts off a Speedmaster (which comes equipped with dual front disc brakes). My dual disc spoked front wheel isn’t ready to go yet, so I’m still running my original stock single disc wheel. That isn’t all bad because I still have the floating rotor and metallic brake pads that I installed last Fall. The Speedmaster brake cylinder seems to give a little extra boost to my stopping ability.
As part of the front end rebuild I had the lower fork legs powder-coated semi-gloss black. I also had the upper fork shrouds (metal tubes between the two steering yokes or “triple trees”) powder-coated semi-gloss black. The yokes are still silver. I replaced the lower shrouds (below the lower yoke) with black rubber fork “gators.” The front end looks dead sexy now.
This evening I rode over to Sherri’s house for dinner and video games with The Boy. On the way home at 11pm it was 37 degrees. However, my other recent acquisition is a Gerbing heated jacket liner. And it definitely works well. I was very comfortable on the ride home.
Geekasm!!!
Permalink | April 25, 2008 by John in Entertainment, Geekasm
This Dark Knight Poster is wicked cool…
I don’t own any movie posters but I’m tempted to buy this one if available.
Bloody Brilliant
Permalink | April 22, 2008 by John in Humor
Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.
Sounds like various periods in my life…
UPDATE: Previously and similarly…
Are Tourists Next?
Permalink | April 11, 2008 by John in Current Affairs, Interesting/Trivia
Gotta love hate socialism. In Japan, That Donut Could Cost You Your Job:
To curtail Japan’s overweight population, the Japanese health ministry recently mandated that all waistlines among its 56 million workers over age 40 be below “regulation size” of 33.5 inches (for men). Any company failing to bring its employees’ weight under control–as well as the weights of their family members–will be fined up to 10% of its earnings by the government.
No word on whether this new policy applies to Sumo wrestlers. (Sumo wrestlers are mentioned in the article but not specifically in context of application of the policy.)
I probably haven’t had a 33″ waist since (early!) high school.
Gearhead Lust
Permalink | by John in Auto, Mustang
Oooooh, I want it! I think a Windsor will drop into a ‘65 Mustang without modifying the shock towers. Probably needs different mounts. Crate 351W:
YearOne has designed a 351 Windsor crate engine that makes over 400 horsepower and 415 lb. lbs. of torque, yet is built with daily driving in mind.
The balanced and blueprinted bottom end features a 2-bolt block, cast crank, hypereutectic pistons, and a dual-pattern hydraulic roller cam. Topping it is a pair of aluminum heads with 2.02/1.60 valves, 1.5 rockers, and a dual plane intake.
With 10:1 compression, the engine runs on pump gas, plus it pulls 12hg of vacuum at 800rpm so you can sit on the power brakes in stop-and-go traffic. Each engine comes with oil pan, timing cover, valve covers, balancer, and flex plate. A 12-month/12,000-mile warranty is included in the $4,290 price tag.