Well the first class, Theory 1, is done. We took the final for it tonight and I got a 96 on it. I missed 2 questions. One was reader error. The other, well, I contest the results of this one. I'm not trying to say the instructor was wrong I'm saying the question wasn't worded properly on the test to get the answer they say was right. I don't have a copy of the test so I can't retype it...and I don't have the patience to try and explain it all but its pointless anyway. It won't change my score, just make me feel better complaining about it. Much like everything else in life, even when they're wrong they're right because they're in charge.
Back to the point of the post. The class is done. I got a 96 on the test and finished out the class with a 96 AND perfect attendance. Not one minute late. That doesn't sound that hard but you'd be surprised how many couldn't seem to pull that off.
After finishing the test and getting our grades, and kicking out a few that couldn't pass Theory 1, we started in on a little of the Theory 2 class since we finished early and had some time to kill. Works for me.....I hate sitting around with nothing to do.
Transmissions are the first mission in Theory 2 and just kind of brushed on em lightly tonight. We hit on some basics of the gears and how they link up to each other. We also hit a little bit on the power flow of an indirect drive transmission. I think I'll be OK on this section. Motorcycle transmissions are a little different from car ones, well at least I think they are. I'm not a transmission expert for cars or anything. Hell I know the VERY basics of them but I'm not going to school for those.
For now its MILLER TIME! More like Bacardi but that doesn't sound as good when you say it.
Until next week..............
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
MMI Week 3 - Part 1
We've dipped into 2 stroke motors and a section they call "Shop Math". I call it 3rd or 4th grade math. You'd be surprised how many people need help with this stuff but the dedication I saw last night on quite a few of those people to nail it down was good to see. On that note I have to say that the attitude of our instructor in his handling of classroom rules is very strict. As a matter of fact I had thought it was a little overkill...until last night that is.
We had a substitute last night and let me say that it ended up like being back in high school again. All the rules just went right out the window and NOTHING got done. It's gonna kill us with this final test Friday. Everything we were supposed to get done last night, that we didn't get done, we'll have to cram in tonight and I'll have one less day to study it. A couple fights almost broke out between those of us trying to learn and the ones who didn't care. It got a little ugly a few times. A few of us got a little vocal about our displeasure of the situation, to put it mildly, and offered lessons in manners outside after classes after getting told, and I quote, "shut the hell up we'll do what we want" among other things a little worse sounding. Didn't get any takers though. I don't want to go off on a rant again but it's a fact that all the ones causing the trouble happened to be sport bike students. Now don't read that wrong. I'm not saying all the sport bike students were causing the trouble. I'm saying all the ones that were causing trouble were sport bike students. Young kids with an attitude problem and no real desire to learn I guess.
I'm no angel myself but I'm never that bad last night I was actually keeping my mouth shut cause I know how hard that stuff can be to someone who doesn't get it.
ANYWAY.......Tonight is gonna consist of, after getting our collective asses chewed out I'm sure, checking all the homework from the last two days and starting into clutches and gears.
We had a substitute last night and let me say that it ended up like being back in high school again. All the rules just went right out the window and NOTHING got done. It's gonna kill us with this final test Friday. Everything we were supposed to get done last night, that we didn't get done, we'll have to cram in tonight and I'll have one less day to study it. A couple fights almost broke out between those of us trying to learn and the ones who didn't care. It got a little ugly a few times. A few of us got a little vocal about our displeasure of the situation, to put it mildly, and offered lessons in manners outside after classes after getting told, and I quote, "shut the hell up we'll do what we want" among other things a little worse sounding. Didn't get any takers though. I don't want to go off on a rant again but it's a fact that all the ones causing the trouble happened to be sport bike students. Now don't read that wrong. I'm not saying all the sport bike students were causing the trouble. I'm saying all the ones that were causing trouble were sport bike students. Young kids with an attitude problem and no real desire to learn I guess.
I'm no angel myself but I'm never that bad last night I was actually keeping my mouth shut cause I know how hard that stuff can be to someone who doesn't get it.
ANYWAY.......Tonight is gonna consist of, after getting our collective asses chewed out I'm sure, checking all the homework from the last two days and starting into clutches and gears.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Bald heads and do-rags.
This observation is quick and to the point. A freshly shaved head, an ample application of sunscreen and a nice clean do-rag at 80mph will quickly become a head with no do-rag and a nice lil sunburn. Why I was thinking it would stay on is beyond me but when that wind hit that slick smooth head it came off real quick.
Dawghouse Radio Topics Discussion
I thought I'd start a weekly post about my thoughts on topics discussed on the Dawghouse 2-wheel Radio show. It's live on WJFK in the Washington DC area or you can stream it live Sunday Mornings at 10am http://www.wjfk.com. If you missed it or want to refresh the discussion check out the podcast at http://www.dawghouseradio.com .
The first topic I want to comment on is motorcycle death statistics and the relating lack of a license. Having worked with the police departments in Northern Virginia driving a tow truck, I have cleaned up my share of motorcycle accidents. The statistics discussed today said motorcycle deaths were up about 80% where the rider was at fault and the fact that there are around 60,000+ people without the endorsement. I'm just wondering what percentage of those fatalities were sport bikes and what percentage were cruisers. (notice I didn't say imports to Harley's. It's not a question of the nationality of the bike. It's the style in question) Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying "guns kill people". It's a fact that, very rarely, the bike doesn't cause the accident. It's the rider. I'm just a firm believer that sport bikes are generally a type of bike that should only be ridden by someone who has the self control not to get stupid with it on the road. They, the bikes, have the power that'll just get out of control if you let it. It's the reason I don't have one. I'd kill myself on it. I get that power under me and it would take control.
Let me move on from my rant and get to the topic of having a license. If you can't get a license then you shouldn't even have a motorcycle, unless it's a show bike that never touches the road. I won't even get started on the stupidity of Florida's law that allows riders to not even have to have insurance at any level, unless you ride without a helmet that is. If you don't have the skill to get the license...get off the bike.
Boring and stroking was also discussed today. We actually talked a little about this in school last week so it was good timing for me because it actually helped me understand what the guys were talking about today on the show. This isn't something you need to do to a motorcycle unless you just want more speed. It's nice to get a little more pep but, for me, I'd rather have reliability so there is only so much I'm willing to do to my daily rider that will effect that. When you grind down the thickness on your engine and push it harder it stretches the engine out and wears it down. It's like steroids in a human body. Sure they make performance better but in the long run, if it makes it to "the long run", it will require a lot of extra maintenance and parts replacement.
If speed is what you crave, believe me when I say I like it, then by all means get that speed. Just keep it off the road where you can hurt someone else.
The first topic I want to comment on is motorcycle death statistics and the relating lack of a license. Having worked with the police departments in Northern Virginia driving a tow truck, I have cleaned up my share of motorcycle accidents. The statistics discussed today said motorcycle deaths were up about 80% where the rider was at fault and the fact that there are around 60,000+ people without the endorsement. I'm just wondering what percentage of those fatalities were sport bikes and what percentage were cruisers. (notice I didn't say imports to Harley's. It's not a question of the nationality of the bike. It's the style in question) Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying "guns kill people". It's a fact that, very rarely, the bike doesn't cause the accident. It's the rider. I'm just a firm believer that sport bikes are generally a type of bike that should only be ridden by someone who has the self control not to get stupid with it on the road. They, the bikes, have the power that'll just get out of control if you let it. It's the reason I don't have one. I'd kill myself on it. I get that power under me and it would take control.
Let me move on from my rant and get to the topic of having a license. If you can't get a license then you shouldn't even have a motorcycle, unless it's a show bike that never touches the road. I won't even get started on the stupidity of Florida's law that allows riders to not even have to have insurance at any level, unless you ride without a helmet that is. If you don't have the skill to get the license...get off the bike.
Boring and stroking was also discussed today. We actually talked a little about this in school last week so it was good timing for me because it actually helped me understand what the guys were talking about today on the show. This isn't something you need to do to a motorcycle unless you just want more speed. It's nice to get a little more pep but, for me, I'd rather have reliability so there is only so much I'm willing to do to my daily rider that will effect that. When you grind down the thickness on your engine and push it harder it stretches the engine out and wears it down. It's like steroids in a human body. Sure they make performance better but in the long run, if it makes it to "the long run", it will require a lot of extra maintenance and parts replacement.
If speed is what you crave, believe me when I say I like it, then by all means get that speed. Just keep it off the road where you can hurt someone else.
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