Richard Z

I know this will seem childish but I guess Its my way of grieving. My best Friend of 13 years passed away today... CSPAN. My Black Cocker Spaniel. He passed while sleeping in his spot next to the bed. I knew something was wrong when I came home from work today and he wasn't at the door to greet me.... The bright spot is I know he had a good and long life and never mistreated. He was there when I brought my 2 children home from the hospital and was never jealous of them. he was my protector and my alarm clock. CSPAN you will be missed..... Richard Z.

You wizzing on my pancake. You asked for it..... All in good fun... An American geography professor has shown the landscape of the state of Kansas is "as flat as a pancake." In fact, geography Prof. Mark Fonstad of Southwest Texas University concluded the topography of the wheat state is flatter than a pancake. Using simple instruments, topography data from the U.S. Geological Survey's Web site and microscopes, Fonstad and his colleagues compared the state's terrain to a pancake from a restaurant. Under the microscope, a pancake looks like the Grand CanyonCourtesy: CBC Saskatchewan Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser 2000 A pancake may look flat to a human examining it from above, but the problem is one of scale. "For an ant walking on a pancake, it would look like the Grand Canyon," Fonstad told CBC Radio's As It Happens. To determine the flatness of a pancake, the researchers cut it in half, took a picture of its outline, and scanned the image into a computer. Thanks for the Rossopuro tip..... Richard Z.

I have a couple of questions.... What the Hell is a GPS? Here in Kansas we can see border to border. Ok I wasn't serious about the GPS. But Kansas is Flatter than a pancake. Look it up... Its true... Serious Question.... Where do I get a set of those Red Anodized Brake and Clutch resivoir caps.....????? Richard Z.

I finally got off my but and did something on the Sport. Here is the pics of the Napoleon AP 104 Bar End Mirrors. Very nice construction. Although I had to replace the stock rubber with a piece of 1/2" vinyl tubing to get it to fit into the bar. Nice and solid. Good view.... Richard Z.

Just a couple of more shots in the Shrine..... Note: guzzi in background... Richard Z.

1982 KZ1000R1 Eddie Lawson Replica.... Just thought I'd share now that its done.... Richard Z.

Its not the weasels you have to look out for around here. Its the Jackalope(aka. white tail deer).... Large rabbits with antlers. The damn things will just jump out in front of you. Just like the one at 3:30 am this morning that jumped out in front of me on the Triumph.On my way to work. Missed it by about 15 feet. There are skid marks, but just in my shorts. Glad to hear that for the most part you are fine. I too endured a broken wrist from my accident last September. It still bothers me. I don't heel as fast as I used to. Make the repairs to the bike. Don't make any shortcuts that you will regret. Fix it right. Good Luck Richard Z.

I still do... Its a GT750. Its aparts awaiting reassembly.... The 1972 with the leading shoe drum brakes. It sounds great. Richard Z.

Here is a look into the corporate mind that is very interesting, educational, historical and completely true! The Canada and US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails)> is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used? Because that's the way they built them in England, and the U.S. railroads were built by English expatriates. Why did the English build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used. Why did "they" use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing. Okay! Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England, because that's the spacing of the wheel ruts. So who built those old rutted roads? The first long distance roads in Europe (and England) were built by Imperial Rome for their legions. The roads have been used ever since. And the ruts in the roads? The initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagon wheels, were first formed by Roman war chariots. Since the chariots were made for (or by) Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing. The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman war chariot. Specifications and bureaucracies live forever. So the next time you are handed a specification and wonder what horse's ass came up with it, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses. Thus, we have the answer to the original question. Now the twist to the story..............There's an interesting extension to the story about railroad gauges and horses' behinds. When we see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. The SRBs are made by Thiokol at their factory at Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs might have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory had to run through a tunnel in the mountains. The SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track, and the railroad track is about as wide as two horses' behinds. So, the major design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse's ass... Richard Z.

I'm good.. No harm taken or given... I thought maybe I violated the forum about posting. To me its not about the brand of bike but the camaraderie that goes with riding. I'm not partial to Kawasaki or Japanese makes just history of motorcycles. The Eddie Lawson is one of those sought after restorations. I'll be more careful when posting my next restoration. The 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley Replica. 1 of 535 built. Richard Z.

I got the bike off the lift to clear room for the Wes Cooley. I'm soaking the carbs now and waiting for the piggyback shocks to get here. I should be riding it by Friday. Richard Z.

There is one on Ebay right now that has a bid of $10,000. So maybe in 10 years it might double that. So my answer is NO.... I spent too long looking and rebuilding to sell it. Besides, my next project is a 1979 GS1000S Wes Cooley Replica. They will look good in the living room together. I guess I don't understand this reply: I ask the moderators, all of you, a human gesture by this post. It’s not the post, but the contents of it. And I mean, not the words, but the graphical signals Did I do something wrong? Ok to offset the Lawson replica Pics. I'll share a pic of my Guzzi. Yes thats me.. In the Living Room. Richard Z.

Could it be? Richard Z.

Just a couple of more pics... Its been wet and rainy the past couple days, so I'm getting alot done. Galfer screwed me and sent the wrong brake line for the rear and they are not returning my calls or emails. Still finishing the carbs. I should have them together by the weekend. Richard Z.

I am considering buying a Super Duke. I rode it the other day and it gives me chills it was so damn fun... Which leads me to this question.... I am familiar what is called Supermoto at least here in the U.S. Its runs completely on Hard asphalt/pavement like superbike. But what ever happend to the racing using similar bike running on pavement and dirt at the same time. Not enduro... I just can't remember. Richard Z.

OK Where do I find that helmet...... That thing is too cool!!!! Richard Z.

I started reassembly of the KZR1 last week. Got the frame back from powder coat and have been coating plenty of parts myself. I have to finish the brakes and suspension. I upgraded the brakes with Shindy Cylinder and new braided lines. Here are som pics of the progress. BTW, last monday was 80 degrees. Tonight the low is 18 degrees. I hate Kansas. Disassembled frame ready for blast and coat. Coated parts. I have two ovens in the kitchen. Richard Z.

I'm glad the head Guard made it OK. Yes I got the check. Almost wasn't enuff to justify writing it. I figured the guard would probably have to go over seas and shipping would have been more. I really want a set of 2 finger levers. I like the short levers and have them on a couple of my other bikes. Just haven't been able to find a source for the Guzzi. I figured that being a Brembo brake system that there would be more choices. I'm sure it will cost me and Arm or a Leg for a set. Trying to weld the cast aluminum lever wouldn't justifiy the labor $$$. I thought about shortening the clutch to match and repowdercoating them. I have the technology...... If I don't find anything I'll probably go that route. I tried the Agostini Link but it locked up my computer. I googled them, but wasn't able to find parts on their site. Thanks, Richard Z.

Some of you know that I keep my Guzzi and the Triumph in my living room. I use the sliding glass door as an entrance. Sunday after riding 230 miles on the Guzzi I was pulling into the room and caught the end of the brake lever on the door jab. It broke the lever about one inch from the ball end. Now here is my question. Should I just replace the OEM lever or should I go with a shorter aftermarket? I'd prefer upgrading but haven't found any for the bike after several searches. Please lead me in the right direction. The lever still works fine. It just looks bad and it gives me a reason to upgrade the clutch lever too. Thanks, Richard Z.

Damn, should have gotten a hold of me....I'd loved to have ridden with ya.... I've ridden all that area. Nice scenery for Kansas... I grew up in Douglass and frequently ride to Latham and around to Butler Fishing Lake and Winfield lake. Richard Z.

Probably for rock chips etc. I have a clear bra piece that I have on my headlight. Its a clear vinyl used to protect paint from rock chips but it also works well for the headlight. It can be replaced easier than a new glass headlight.... Richard Z.

For a damn ARK...... 7 day forecast. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Severe Thunderstorms and Rain. Rain. and Rain. Let me know if interested..... Thanks, Noah

http://www.cavemanscrib.com/ Enjoy.... keep clicking the TV and the Shower. BTW, sorry for wasting 20 minutes of your life. Richard Z. aka vesparider

I like it..... It doesn't look like mine...... Richard Z. aka vesparider

I hate you for making me even look at that.......... Richard Z.