10/28/2004 - It's Halloween this weekend, and last night I did some modeling of a motorcycle I call 'The Widowmaker'. Today I finished it up, adding brakes, and the shift and clutch pedals. Anyway, here is is... Enjoy.

Stephen

10/26/2004 - My wife came home tonight fairly upset. She drives my truck to work on a regular basis, and today someone decided to slap a bit of propaganda on her ride against one of the presidential candidates. The truck has a campaign sticker on it, or it did until tonight. Someone at her work likely did this, as they park in a lot which is surrounded by a chainlink fence, and the sticker is not visible from the street. Someone would have to trespass in order to do it, and the anti-candidate literature was printed using Microsoft Word, with Page Numbers at the top and bottom.. The printer used was a high quality ink jet, or a laser which has it's toner cart going out near the top of each printed page. Anyway, a bit of fact checking shows most of the information to be false... Typical, and disturbing. Someone thought this would make a good joke, or felt they could change her mind (or mine) about the candidate whose sticker we have on the truck. I however find it to be more on the order of harassment, and political intimidation.

I've been reading about yard signs torn down, windows broken, yards vandalized, etc.. in the news recently by people who don't agree with someone else's choice of candidate. This election is turning quite nasty, and as such I took a razor blade tonight and scraped the sticker off the truck, and took my yard sign down... Not because I'm changing my vote for President, but because Americans are acting in a manner so shameful that I have to fear that some idiot will terrorize my wife because of a sticker on her car, attack my home because of a sign, etc... Those who cannot respect the decision of another, the freedom to choose a candidate to vote for and support without reacting in such a manner frighten me because Americans terrorizing Americans over which political party they support is a terrible course for our great nation to be on.

In case you're wondering, I e-mailed my wife's supervisor a nice tactful letter of what happened and that such things should not and cannot be tolerated. An apology from whoever was responsible is all it would take, but unfortunately my freedom of speech in the form of a campaign sticker has been squelched because of someone's tasteless prank, joke, or wanton disregard for the views of others.

Oh, and no.. I didn't say what candidate the sticker was for, because it really doesn't matter which of them you support as you have a right to support them and to show that support and nobody who is decent, good, or calls themselves a patriot would try to usurp that even if they disagree with your choice.

10/13/2004 - The other night I came home and Marie wanted to take her bike for a ride around the block. Well, we've been out riding together in the neighborhood some, so I said sure. I warmed my bike up, but didn't take it for a ride... just warmed it up and cleaned it while she spun around the neighborhood a couple of times. When she got back I took the Kawasaki for a ride myself just to get a feel for it since I am riding it this week to work. Anyway, it's a nice little bike, I just wish the break-in period allowed it to go more than 35 mph!

Some More Pictures Click each picture for a larger image in a new window
My wife in her new riding gear with winter accouterments. The jacket is a Men's Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0. The Women's riding jackets tend to have short sleeves, so taller women have to go for the men's jackets usually.	With her helmet on. The Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0 jacket is VERY reflective.	A back shot of her in her jacket, showing the reflective patch on the jacket and the aggressive spinal padding.
Her on the Ninja 250 after coming back from a couple of spins around the neighborhood.	Her in the driveway posing for the camera on the bike. This picture shows off the custom tailbox I built for her, and the Targa tank mask I bought for her bike from Dennis Kirk.

10/13/2004 - Watched the debate tonight, all I can say is I'm less than enthusiastic about the election coming up with our country as polarized as it is. Democrats and Republicans are likely to be at each other's throats pretty soon. The lack of balance in our government between the two parties so they can even each other out frightens me.

Anyway, here's an image I whipped up during the debate while listening and watching.

10/07/2004 - Well, we took the MSF Basic Rider Course last weekend... and we passed! Marie did VERY well. The class was a blast. We had 13 students, and two EXCELLENT instructors from Arkansas ABATE. All but two of the students passed the class. We both got our motorcycle endorsements on our licences, and I switched my bike's insurance to Bikeline and we got a multi-bike discount (and it saved me ALOT on my Buell's insurance).

Marie has ridden her Ninja in some parking lot riding since the class, and we did some back street riding around the neighborhood the other night. Since the Ninja is limited to under 4000 RPM's for the first 500 miles I am stuck riding it at 35 mph max to break the engine in for her... and then at 6000 rpm for the next 500 miles after that.

I hope to have the first 500 miles broken in before the cold of winter gets here.

We ended up having to order her jacket and gloves online as Metric Bikes never got them in. I've also ordered some accessories for her from Dennis Kirk, JC Whitney, and Aerostitch/Rider Wearhouse that she'll enjoy.

Last night I began working on her luggage. It's a custom tailbox made from a plastic box which I painted with Krylon Fusion. The box itself is yellow to match the bike, the lid is satin black, with nickle shimmer latches and handle. I'll add edging around the bottom of the box, and a non-scratch pad when the paint has cured for one week to be chip and scratch resistant. I'm going to drill holes each side and thread adjustable bungee cords (yellow with red graphics) through them so the box has permanent mounting staps to attach to the mounting points on the back seat. I'm also going to drill holes in the side of the box, and add reflectors to it (either red or amber). I'm going to seal the handle around the inside so the box is water resistant. It should match the bike fairly well, and all together cost less than $20.00.

Anyway, below are some additional pictures of the Ninja (it's a sweet little bike) and the Buell and Ninja together.

Some Pictures Click each picture for a larger image in a new window
A Side Shot the Ninja 250R	A 3/4 Shot of the Ninja 250R
A shot of my Buell and the Ninja	Another shot of my Buell and the Ninja