Nolan N43 Helmet review

As you may have spotted in my last post I purchased one of the new Nolan N43 helmets recently.

I first ordered one from a eBay retailer in Italy. This is where Nolan are based and the helmets seem much cheaper from Italian retailers. Unfortunately the seller tried to increase the shipping from 20 euros to 120 euros after the sale. Eventually I got the sale cancelled and decided to purchase from

Good God! Joke. The Harley Davidson Facts...

                                The Harley-Davidson Facts                                  

The inventor of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Arthur Davidson , died and went to heaven.

At the gates, St. Peter told Arthur, 'Since you've been such a good man and your motorcycles have changed the world, your reward is, you can hang out with anyone you want to in heaven.'  Arthur thought about it for a minute and then said, ' I want to hang out with God.'  St. Peter took Arthur to the Throne room, and introduced him to God.  God recognized Arthur and commented, 'Okay, so you were the one who invented the Harley-Davidson motorcycle?' 

Arthur said, 'Yeah, that's me...'

God commented: 'Well, what's the big deal in inventing something that's pretty unstable, makes noise and pollution and can't run without a road?'  Arthur was a bit embarrassed, but finally spoke, 'Excuse me, but aren't you the inventor of woman?'  God said, 'Ah, yes.'  'Well,' said Arthur, 'professional to professional, you have some major design flaws in your invention!

1. There's too much inconsistency in the front-end suspension.

2. It chatters constantly at high speeds.

3. Most rear ends are too soft and wobble about too much.

4. The intake is placed way too close to the exhaust.

5. The maintenance costs are outrageous!!!!

'Hmmmmm, you may have some good points there,' replied God, 'hold on.'

God went to his Celestial supercomputer, typed in a few words and waited for the results. The computer printed out a slip of paper and God read it.  'Well, it may be true that my invention is flawed,' God said to Arthur, 'but according to these numbers, more men are riding my invention than yours'.

son's Of Anarchy Season 2 episode 7 review

• This episode started out with SAMCRO members in prison. Jax says, "The Ariens put out the word. Us white boys are on our own". Without any protection in the big house, the club is in danger of being killed 1 by 1. Clay tries to buy some protection from the One Niners. Clay asks, "If we do this, Black got our back?" The reply was, "When they are both delivered, Harley's gettin all kinds of love from the Fat Man". The Club is to deliver a snitch which was successful, but ultimately got Juice stabbed. (By the way, he lives.) They are also to set up a prostitute, which Opie does successfully from the outside, but this ends up in Trammel getting shot by the prostitue. He says, " I guess she didn't want to be set up."

• Agent Stahl shows her face up again. She tries to work some angles by saying she has no intent of creating any collateral damage in Charming. She is playing the side of the "good" FBI agent by trying to get down to the bottom of the Irish and Zobel.

• Opie's Ma drops the kids off with him. She says she is going up north to see Piney. She packed up all her stuff. She ain't coming back. Opie says she couldn't be a Mom 20 years ago, and she can't be one now.

• Gemma talks to Elliot, and convinces him to post bail for the club. He puts his property up for collateral. $300 against $3 Mill.

• Opie does a little confiding in the porsnstar Lila. Actually agrees to let her take his kids for a while. When she comes to get them, Gemma and Tara won't let her. The verbal exchange of insults between Tara and Lila is pretty funny.

• Bobby tells Jax that it falls in him to squash what ever it is between him and Clay. Jax asks why he should. Bobby tells Jax, "Because Clay is old and mean & He is never going to admit he is wrong & He's earned that." Jax says, "Nah man, time don't mean shit." Bobby says, "I'm doin the best I can to hold us together, but if this split gets any worse, I'm gonna hafta pick a corner. You know this club needs a healing Brother, and you got to be the one to deliver it."

• Jax and Clay get questioned while in prison by FBI Agent Stahl. The questioning is individual and private. She tries to play them against each other. Clay gets questioned first. She shows him a picture of the Irish and Zobel making a deal. She says she will make things go back to normal if he will give her information on the Irish. She says she is only interested in catching the Irish, not SAMCRO. Clay doesn't buy her line, and says he knows nothing about the Irish. Before questioning Jax, there is a HUGE BRAWL between Clay and Jax. The club and the rest of the inmates, let the brawl go on. They both mutually kick the shit out of each other. Then it's Jax's turn for questioning. Same thing happens with him. Jax doesn't bite either. He tells her that she took a huge risk asking them for information on the Irish. He said that because of this he knows she ain't got shit on SAMCRO. Then Agent Stahl, tells them they are free to go. Bail was already posted.

• The boys return from prison. Gemma and Tara are at the clubhouse parking lot when they roll in. They all but Jax go in the one clubhouse main door, and Jax in another. No one speaks a word. Gemma and Tara truly look stumped, like WTF was that all about?

• Thus ends another fantastic episode. I can't wait to see how they will top this one. We'll see soon!

Railway Excursion

Finally well enough to go for a ride. So excited I even woke up extra early!Haha, and then back to bed to nap a bit longerI had this idea for a ride to try trace more of the old Murwillumbah to Lismore railway line. It has not been used for years and the government is looking at the 'walking path' conversion option like has been done elsewhere (with little success or general use).I more or less

Wicked Springer

The other day I was driving along and saw this really kick ass Springer. I just had to shoot a few photos of it.

.

Thought you might enjoy it at much as me.

Really though, Ain't it one of the cutest things you ever did see?

Aaahhhhhhh

Need I say more?

Son's Of Anarchy Season 2 episode 6 review

. This episode begins with the ambulance taking Chibs away.

. Unser and Clay are talking about the fact that bombs bring in the Feds. Clay wants revenge, and Unser wants Clay to keep it outside of Charming. Clay says to Unser, Then you get me a home address on Zobel and Weston. They both live out of town-otherwise you'll be watching Main Street on the ten o-clock news". Unser replies with a "Jesus Christ."

. We see Hale and Jax talking. Hale says to Jax, "This was Zobel." Jax, "Otto, now Chibs; this guys trying to break us all." More chit chat between the two.... Hale wants to know what Jax will do if he finds Zobel before the rest of the club. Jax says. "We both know this guy's got some kind of leverage on you; Think of it as a self serving favor" Hale agrees to help Jax by getting an address for him on Zobel and Weston with some information on where they might be.

. Opie's Ma tries to get Jax to help her. Opie is not spending much time at home with the kids, and she wants Jax to talk to Opie.

. Tara asks Jax if she is in danger, If they are in danger.

. SAMCRO holds a meeting. Clay says, "Zobel tried to kill 2 of us in the last 12 hours. This charter doesn't wait any longer; We kill em. Do I need to take a vote?"

Nobody says a thing. Clay gets up and leaves. Shortly after, the rest of the club does too.

. In a room inside the clubhouse where Opie has been staying, Jax has his conversation with him about him not being right yet with all that has happened. Opie turns the tables, and tells Jax, he's the one with the problems. He starts accusing Jax of wanting to take the club over and basically states that it's Clays Club, and he'll just have to get in line. It ain't his time yet.

. The Irish have a meeting with Zobel. (WTF?) Can't wait to see what'll arise out of this in the future.

.With the help of Hale, they get the address of A.J. Weston. They break in after seeing some movement in the window. Gun fire is exchanged right away, only to find out it is Weston's little kid. I think about 10 years old max. The kid gets caught, no one shot, but damn close. He's a mouthy little prick. When asked where his dad is, he says, "I ain't tellin you shit, race trader." Then he spits on Jax.

. Clay breaks into Impeccable Smokes and trashes the place.

. Gemma and Tara are in the hospital. They are talking and we find out that Chibs is stable but in critical condition still. He has major head trauma that could possibly need some pressure relieving if the swelling doesn't go down on its own.

. While in the hospital Tara asks Gemma if she can get a ride home with her. Gemma obliges. She says she'll wait around till Tara is done. Also while at the hospital while waiting for Tara to finish her shift, Gemma talks to Hale and finds out that Hale knows about the rape. Unser had no choice but to tell Hale because Hale was starting to believe the bullshit about Zobel being good for Charming. Unser wanted Hale to know the truth about what kind of shit bag Zobel really is. Hale gets Gemma to tell him about the Blonde girl (Zobel's daughter) who trapped her so that she could be raped. Gemma is surprised to find out David Hale wants to hurt them as bad as SAMCRO.

. Tara and Gemma leave. We find them talking about guns. Gemma asks Tara if she still has the one she gave her. She said no. She got rid of it after Cohen. Gemma gives Tara a new gun. The go out and do some target shooting. The blonde pornstar that has been trying to steal Jax from Tara pulls up in her car. Tara points the gun at her, and she goes running inside the studio. Tara says, "That was fun." Gemma says watch this; and shoots out one of the tires. Then the two of them shoot the crap out of the car and leave.

. Hale pops into Impeccable Smokes. Zobel's daughter is there cleaning up. Hale asks her where Ethan is. She say's, "Do I look like his keeper?" She refuses to cooperate, and says, "Charge me, or get out." Hale threatens to cut himself and say that it was her that did it to him, and she cooperates. She tells Hale about a gathering where Ethan is. Hale tells Jax. Too bad the bitch twisted the information up a bit. There would be many innocent people at this place. It's not quite where you want to have a shoot out.

. Clay and the rest of the club figure out where this is going to be as well by getting the information out of the computer, it is at a Christian Center.

. Jax warns them that the cops will be coming, and if they go in, they are all going to jail. Clay says, "A.K.'s and shot guns, let's go!". They storm into the place only to find out it's like a church supper or something, and A.J. Weston at Zobel's nod, fires a shot at them. The end up storming out, and the cop's are indeed waiting for them. Opie seems to have been running late to this and is riding his motorcycle and crashes it; gets up and is hiding behind the bushes, only to find the entire club getting cuffed and stuffed into the paddy wagon.

Season 2 Episode 7 can't come soon enough my friends!

Riding weather

Life's been busy lately. Lack of time to do much but work. Weekends always seem to be too short. I even have a hard time keeping up with SOA. I watch it, but find little time to really sit down and write something that will do the last episode justice. I will. Soon. I promise. I just need more time. I should have taken the time to do so yesterday, but instead hopped on my bike for ride with a couple of friends to go leaf peeping. Boy was it a splendid afternoon. I was in such a rush to get out there and enjoy one of the last really nice weekend days of the season that I didn't even remember to bring my camera. I'm hoping for some of those Indian summer days coming soon where I can take advantage, and get out a few more times yet this season for rides that last more than 15 minutes. Fall is my favorite season, and to me the best riding weather. Can't beat the scenery and the mild temps. It's one of the few times where you can be suited up with the proper safety riding gear and feel comfortable temperature wise. I led the ride on some of my most favorite twisty back road routes that I know. Yesterday, we rode almost nonstop for about 5 hours and only put on about 150 miles. You do the math. That's a lot of twisties.

Hope you all had a great weekend. I'll post my SOA review soon.

Son's Of Anarchy Season 2 episode 5 review

Highlights:

Clay pays a visit to Impeccable Smokes, the new smoke shop in Charming owned by Ethan Zobel (played by Adam Arkin). Clay say's he is there to give him a proper welcome. He informs Zobel that he is going to need some protection. Zobel says, "That seems awfully nefarious for mechanics and Harley enthusiasts". Clay says, "Well, you pay, or you go away. Your choice Adolf. Welcome to Charming." Clay exits the store but not without taking a few boxes of cigars to pass around to the club.

Just after that, A.J. Weston the skinhead played by Henry Rollins walks in. Zobel says to him that Mr. Morrow needs to be humbled. They put a hit for a beating on Otto, who is a member of SOA and currently in the prison system. Jax confronts Deputy David Hale about this and asks him, "Where are you at with it". He says "No where".

Unser confronts Hale as well. Hale gets in Unser's face. Say's who are you to talk? You've been on Clays tit from the beginning. Unser tells Hale that he chose him for a reason. He is the good guy. He needs him to stay that way, or the entire department will be nothing but a god damn joke.

Unser makes Hale keep a secret, and informs him about Gemma's rape.

The club takes a vote on retaliation now or later for the beating of Otto. The vote turns no majority so they will wait until they learn more and they can play it safe. They realize that the League is really big and powerful.

Two episodes back, a blonde woman tricks Gemma into helping her with her choking baby. Then to find out the baby was a doll, and she clocks Gemma and knocks her out. This is how they got a hold of Gemma to gang rape her. We find out in this episode #5 season 2 that this woman is Ethan Zobel's daughter. She has planted a car bomb minivan for the SOA mechanics to stumble upon. Chibs, played by Tommy Flanagan practically gets blown to kingdom come.

Luckily he heard the timer when he went to start the van, and took off running just before it blew, which I doubt would be covered by van insurance. He did get caught in the explosion though, and was somewhat burnt, cut up, and knocked out. This is where the show ended.

Again this was action packed, and the trailer for episode #6 has got me itching for more.

I can't wait!

Life, and everything it has to throw my way....

Well the Frost your nuts run that I was supposed to go on last Saturday ended up being something I did not participate in as It snowed the night before. Frost and snow are two different things. I do my darndest not to ride in snow. Since the Frost your nuts run landed on my birthday this year, and that happened to be a Saturday, I decided to take the Friday prior, off from work and celebrate my own little holiday. I hate working on my birthday, so the last few years in a row I've made it a tradition to take my birthday off. If it lands on a weekend, I'll take the Friday off prior to it. I like to get in a little riding time and a wee bit of fishing as well on my birthday. It makes it special when the rest of the world around me is working and I'm off doing my own thing.

So I started off the morning by opening a gift that my In-laws gave me early. I'd had this since the weekend prior, due to a family gathering for a nephew's birthday. I hung onto it unopened until this last Friday. I opened my gift and here is what I found.

This card, LOL! with some cash.

Well, one has to wonder; What should I do with this new found cash?

I do believe a motorcycle ride to Tattoo Asylum was in order.

I had and 21 Yr. old Tat. of Mr. Horsepower that needed a facelift.

It's been bugging me for about the last 15 years or so.

Neil Reitan from Tattoo Asylum made it right for me.

I caught no fish, but I got out there. It snowed the Friday night that I got my tattoo, so riding in the Frost your nuts run was not a good option, but I got my tattoo taken care of. I also got to spend a lot of time with my family this weekend. This means a lot with our busy schedules. We even went out to eat for a special birthday dinner. I even found some time to get some projects done around the house. All in all, it was a great 3 day weekend for me.

I hope you all had a good weekend too.

By the way, its like 7:30 a.m. as I'm typing this now, and the picture below is what it looks like out my window. It's snowing right now as I type. This blows. I ain't ready for this shit yet.

P.S.,

Yeah, I know I'm behind on my S.O.A. review. I'll get to it.

Disney Channel - Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure!

For those of you with young children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews who want to enjoy a little toolman "riding a motorcycle" and having a great adventure, be sure to tune in, or record this for the little ones.

Even Disney is now exposing the newer generations to motorcycling!

The Disney Channel is airing a primetime family special Sunday, October 4th. 7PM/6Central, called "Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure".

So get your DVR's, and VCR's ready to record.

P.S. Check out the really cool 3/4 old school racing striped helmet Handy Manny is wearing!

How cool. How cute! I love it!

It reminds me of MY Fulmer 3/4 old school V2 helmet.

Son's Of Anarchy Season 2 episode 4 review

Episode 4 starts off W/ Gemma helping Clay inject Cortisone shots into his hands. Unless I missed something earlier on in previous episodes, and unless this is entirely related to Clay beating up Gemma's escalade with his fists, then there may be something more we will learn about this in the future. We do find out later something that happens to Clay as a result of his hands not being right.

S.A.M.C.R.O., Son's Of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original, "Community Servants" is going to be doing charity rides. They set up for a blood run for the Children's hospital of Ureka. This may be Legit., but is ultimately a cover for the gun running trade they are involved in. They end up using bedrolls with hidden pockets sewn into them to hide their guns in for shipment while tied down on their bikes. The thought process is it will look like they are traveling and need bedrolls for sleep, and the cop's won't hassle them while they are doing service work for charity.

Tara has a light bulb moment and realizes that she is Jax's "Old Lady". This is kind of funny. It's funny in the way she realizes the Cliche' is now her.

A little bit of tension is kind of foreshadowed between Opie and Jax.

As S.A.M.C.R.O. starts gathering for the blood drive, Bobbi pulls up on his trusty old piece of shit FatBoy. The bike is smoking and backfiring, and the rest of the guys are giving him shit. A FatBoy on a FatBoy. Bobbi gets in his diggs on them and their Dynas. More funny shit is said back and forth, including a revelation that Half Sack Kip the Prospect will no longer be a half sack soon, as he is getting a Nueticle;"prosthetic nut". They all have a good laugh on his part.

Gemma receives a package containing one of the rubber masks that the guys who gang raped her were wearing. She sees who sent it, and sees A.J. Weston on the streets, and puts two and two together when she notices the peace sign tattoo on his neck. She also puts two and two together with Ethan Zobel. She is sitting in a parking spot, smoking a cigarette, and trying to get ahold of herself after figuring this out. A bitchy lady is giving her shit about wanting her parking sopt. Gemma pulls a gun on her. This lady reports it to the cops. Unser shows up. Talks to Gemma about pulling the gun. Gemma shows the mask. Unser figures it was Zobel, and pays him a visit at his new shop, Impeccable Smokes. Makes threats to him, and tells him his time will come.

Gemma goes after A.J. Weston, and is thinking about killing him with her gun. Just as she is getting ready to pull the trigger, she overhears him talking on the phone to his son, like any old regular guy, and she can't do it.

While on the blood drive, Bobbi's FatBoy starts fouling, and backfiring and smoking. This causes Tig to crash! While they get Tig to the hospital, he ends up getting picked up from bounty hunters for an old outstanding warrant. More tension rises between Clay and Jax. They are arguing about if they should continue with the Gun Run first, or rescue Tig first. Jax want's to get Tig, and Clay wants to get the guns delivered. Clay thinks that they will be held up at the hotel long enough to wait to get Tig, and Jax thinks otherwise. Clay says he's going to deliver the guns, and starts taking off. He dumps his bike because his hands aren't cooperating with him. They guys help stand his bike back up. Clay goes off by himself and sits on the curb, and Opie goes over and joins him. This is when Opie shows he has taken sides. He declares his loyalty to Clay. (HOW FUCKING IRONIC IS THAT!)

Shortly after this Piney shows up with a Flat bed. Jax declares that they are going to go do some shit kicking. Jax calls the rest of they guys onto the flat bed and they go and rescue Tig by surprising the bounty hunters and back the flatbed right through the motel wall with shot guns pointed at the bounty hunters, it was a quick easy rescue and escape. Piney tried to convince Clay that the whole thing was on him, not Jax. Clay ain't buying it.

Meanwhile, Tara is getting some flack from a supervisor, or someone like that at the hospital for having "A lot of visitors from both sides of the law". You gotta wonder when this whole Old Lady thing was going to get in the way of being the good Doc.

The episode ends with a bang. They are at a party outside. Everyone's having a good time smokin and drinkin. Jax and Clay are off on their own sitting on their bikes. A conversation ensues between the two of them like this:

Jax: "I don't know what the old man was up to today crashing through...

Clay cuts jax off from talking.

Clay: "I don't give a shit about today. Where does this go tomorrow, Next week?

Jax: "Where's what go?"

Clay: "Your need to undermine my every goddamn play."

Jax: "I got no need to undermine you. Things I call out are about the club."

Clay: "Nah, 'Bout you and me."

Jax: Yeah, Maybe they are. Guess I gotta get it right with you; what you did."

Clay: "Yeah, You do."

Jax: "Well you got decades of experience. Why don't you tell me how I do that. How I get right with you trying to kill a brother behind the club's back. Your little trigger boy blowing an innocent woman's head off?"

Clay: "Well, You are gonna have to figure that out for yourself son. But, I'd do it soon. 'Cause if you mention Donna or the incident again, I'll kill ya."

Then Clay gets up and walks away.

There you have it. left hanging again. Man, In my opinion, this was the best episode yet out of all of them including season 1.