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.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
MMI Week 2 (Post test)
I got a 92. It's not as good as I'd hoped but it is what it is. I missed 4 out of 50 questions.
One question was on being able to identify which parts of a cast iron valve are commonly Stellite plated. The option I chose was "tip and stem" and I only picked that one cause the only other choice that I thought that could have been it was "tip and face" and I could have sworn that the stem needed the extra protection too but I was wrong.
Another question I got wrong was about how many times the camshaft turns to every turn on the crankshaft and piston strokes.....I said 2 cam turn to 1 crank....not sure where my head was on that one.
Third one I got wrong was just identifying the parts of a valve. This is the one that I just checked the wrong box. I got cocky and was going a little fast through the test at this point and just screwed up. I told myself to go slow through it so I wouldn't do this sort of thing but.........well. Lesson learned.
Fourth one I got wrong was "which of the following using mechanical method to move the valve" For some damned reason, probably the "going to fast reason" again since it was the question right after the 3rd one I got wrong, I just read it as saying "which of the following doesn't use mechanical method".
It really sucks when you're going over what you got wrong and you know the reason you got it wrong wasn't because you didn't know the answer but because you just screwed up. I think it feels worse to get it wrong from just going too fast than to not know the answer.
I'm not gonna lose sleep over it but I won't get those questions wrong when they show up on the final. I also will try to keep myself from getting excited and screwing up again.
We started 2-Stroke engines last night a little after the test. I don't like 2-stroke motors. They seem like the biggest waste of gas but if they could figure out a way to prevent them from shooting so much fuel mix out of the exhaust they seem like they'd be quite the powerhouses. I could be wrong on that thought but I'm not sure yet. I'll learn more next week on that.
One question was on being able to identify which parts of a cast iron valve are commonly Stellite plated. The option I chose was "tip and stem" and I only picked that one cause the only other choice that I thought that could have been it was "tip and face" and I could have sworn that the stem needed the extra protection too but I was wrong.
Another question I got wrong was about how many times the camshaft turns to every turn on the crankshaft and piston strokes.....I said 2 cam turn to 1 crank....not sure where my head was on that one.
Third one I got wrong was just identifying the parts of a valve. This is the one that I just checked the wrong box. I got cocky and was going a little fast through the test at this point and just screwed up. I told myself to go slow through it so I wouldn't do this sort of thing but.........well. Lesson learned.
Fourth one I got wrong was "which of the following using mechanical method to move the valve" For some damned reason, probably the "going to fast reason" again since it was the question right after the 3rd one I got wrong, I just read it as saying "which of the following doesn't use mechanical method".
It really sucks when you're going over what you got wrong and you know the reason you got it wrong wasn't because you didn't know the answer but because you just screwed up. I think it feels worse to get it wrong from just going too fast than to not know the answer.
I'm not gonna lose sleep over it but I won't get those questions wrong when they show up on the final. I also will try to keep myself from getting excited and screwing up again.
We started 2-Stroke engines last night a little after the test. I don't like 2-stroke motors. They seem like the biggest waste of gas but if they could figure out a way to prevent them from shooting so much fuel mix out of the exhaust they seem like they'd be quite the powerhouses. I could be wrong on that thought but I'm not sure yet. I'll learn more next week on that.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Riding without a helmet......
I had someone ask me "why do you people ride without a helmet?"
Well......
It's like this. We know it's probably not the brightest idea in the world but then neither is living when you think about it.
1. Bad things can happen to you anywhere at anytime. I don't think anyone can argue against that point. Healthy people have heart attacks, people who practice safety 24/7 have accidents, and even the most well protected countries get attacked. Let's face it.....you can't be ready for everything all the time. If you spend your life being worried about what's gonna happen to you then nothing is gonna happen to you. Good or bad.
2. For the safety police that are going to yell "well this statistic shows this..." and blah blah blah blah. I counter with this statement..."I'll take it under advisement". We all know statistics can be twisted harder than a twizzler. Facts are simple...sure helmets will save you from getting brain damage but only if you don't snap your neck, cut your head off or die from any other trauma or blood loss resulting from the accident. The same thing can happen in a car too, it's just more likely to happen on a motorcycle than a car because you don't have that cage of steel around you. Again this goes back to the whole thing of worrying about what's gonna happen. And for the record, I do wear a helmet when legally required and/or in certain riding conditions and situations where I feel the danger factor reaches the point where it would help me survive an accident.
3. Have you ever ridden a bike without a helmet? Ever ridden in a convertible with the top down? Stuck your head out the window of your car while going down the road? It's a blast and it feels good to feel nature going over you. Don't believe me? Ask a dog why they like it.
My whole point is this....I wouldn't die today if I had to wear a helmet everywhere I went but it wouldn't be as fun and with all the crap I've been through in the last year, BEING SAFE BY THE WAY, I don't want to spend my time worrying about what might happen. I'm not saying run out and play Russian roulette but think on this statement......
The most fun I've ever had is when I didn't know what was gonna happen.....
Well......
It's like this. We know it's probably not the brightest idea in the world but then neither is living when you think about it.
1. Bad things can happen to you anywhere at anytime. I don't think anyone can argue against that point. Healthy people have heart attacks, people who practice safety 24/7 have accidents, and even the most well protected countries get attacked. Let's face it.....you can't be ready for everything all the time. If you spend your life being worried about what's gonna happen to you then nothing is gonna happen to you. Good or bad.
2. For the safety police that are going to yell "well this statistic shows this..." and blah blah blah blah. I counter with this statement..."I'll take it under advisement". We all know statistics can be twisted harder than a twizzler. Facts are simple...sure helmets will save you from getting brain damage but only if you don't snap your neck, cut your head off or die from any other trauma or blood loss resulting from the accident. The same thing can happen in a car too, it's just more likely to happen on a motorcycle than a car because you don't have that cage of steel around you. Again this goes back to the whole thing of worrying about what's gonna happen. And for the record, I do wear a helmet when legally required and/or in certain riding conditions and situations where I feel the danger factor reaches the point where it would help me survive an accident.
3. Have you ever ridden a bike without a helmet? Ever ridden in a convertible with the top down? Stuck your head out the window of your car while going down the road? It's a blast and it feels good to feel nature going over you. Don't believe me? Ask a dog why they like it.
My whole point is this....I wouldn't die today if I had to wear a helmet everywhere I went but it wouldn't be as fun and with all the crap I've been through in the last year, BEING SAFE BY THE WAY, I don't want to spend my time worrying about what might happen. I'm not saying run out and play Russian roulette but think on this statement......
The most fun I've ever had is when I didn't know what was gonna happen.....
MMI Week 2 (pre-test)
This week started off good. We finished covering engine theory and started into 4 stroke engines. I'm kind of surprised how much I thought I knew. I shouldn't be shocked as I've learned over the years most of the stuff you think you "know" is wrong. We are still in the book and note taking stage of things and most of us are anxious to get our hands dirty but if you don't know what you're doing it's pointless.
At the end of the night on Monday some genius decided to pull the fire alarm. I'm not sure when I went back to high school but I thought paying for school was supposed to bring out the grown-up in people. Once again.....something I thought I knew.
I've noticed a few people not showing up to class and showing up late. It's only week 2 and already people are taking a serious hit to their grades. My only hope is that I don't get real sick for the next year or two as that's the only reason I'll be missing any time.
As the week has gone on the information has been flowing at a rather quick pace. If you blink you really do miss quite a lot and let me tell you, it's a BITCH to catch back up. I've been studying my ass off and I think I've got a pretty decent handle on things.
It's Thursday night, well technically Friday morning, as I'm typing this and the big test is Friday night when we walk in the door. I've got a lot of studying to do to make sure I not only get a good grade on it but actually know what the hell I'm doing. Getting lucky on a test isn't good enough for this guy. I've got a few people who are looking to me to do well down here and one in particular that I really don't want to disappoint, who has helped me a lot so far. More than I can ever hope to repay but I know that I'll do her right by learning all I can. Oh and don't think I forgot about the crowd back home just waiting to give me a hard time if I mess up. Most of which will be a load of good humored poking but painful none the less.
At the end of the night on Monday some genius decided to pull the fire alarm. I'm not sure when I went back to high school but I thought paying for school was supposed to bring out the grown-up in people. Once again.....something I thought I knew.
I've noticed a few people not showing up to class and showing up late. It's only week 2 and already people are taking a serious hit to their grades. My only hope is that I don't get real sick for the next year or two as that's the only reason I'll be missing any time.
As the week has gone on the information has been flowing at a rather quick pace. If you blink you really do miss quite a lot and let me tell you, it's a BITCH to catch back up. I've been studying my ass off and I think I've got a pretty decent handle on things.
It's Thursday night, well technically Friday morning, as I'm typing this and the big test is Friday night when we walk in the door. I've got a lot of studying to do to make sure I not only get a good grade on it but actually know what the hell I'm doing. Getting lucky on a test isn't good enough for this guy. I've got a few people who are looking to me to do well down here and one in particular that I really don't want to disappoint, who has helped me a lot so far. More than I can ever hope to repay but I know that I'll do her right by learning all I can. Oh and don't think I forgot about the crowd back home just waiting to give me a hard time if I mess up. Most of which will be a load of good humored poking but painful none the less.
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