rjvoight

Sad day. Eddie was true athlete, performer and showman. He will be missed. RJV

Most cops around here give 10-15mph window. Typically, if you dont break the 10mph mark you are good to go and most give 15 unless you are in a residential area with kids and stuff. Regardless, cops should be professional whatever decision they make. RJV

Yep, I wrote it. I get the bug to ride this time of year pretty bad. Also, we have lots of threads about everything but riding, sometimes its nice to just read about the sport we love.....the riding, camping and social aspects of it. Glad you all liked it. Heres to the next ride....whenever it is.... RJV

The sand glows red as the sun crests over the hills in the east. The crackling of the campfire and smell of coffee are all that is in the air for the moment. Looking out towards the dunes you see the wind must have blown good that night, smooth as glass. That little feeling in stomache twinges as you think about the first ride on virgin sand. Your thoughts are broken as you here in the distance the pulsating thumping of a four stroke. Almost simutaneously a couple of your buddies step out of their respective trailers. Everyone is dressed and ready. A simple smile cracks as you know it is time. No kids on this ride. No beginners. No wives. Just the guys. Another Thumper starts several camps away and you all look in that direction. With a nod and additional grins from the other you walk to the Banshee. A quick look over on the machine and your heart starts to pick up pace. Gas on, little choke and a quick kick and the King of the Dunes screams to life. No melodic thumping. A stab or two on the throttle as the smoke ripcurls around and the bike sets into a perfect idle. The twin waiting patiently. The other Banshees follow in suit. The air is crisp, not cold but cool. You gear up and settle on your machine. a couple more stabs on the throttle. Your hear your buddies pulling up beside you at the edge of camp. No words are said you click the six speed gear box into 2nd, bypassing first and ease the clutch out as the motor spins up. A little roost and you are off. Starting down the whooped out road you click gears barely feathering the clutch. Your buddy blows by you on the right. Your Banshee screams to full life as you jamb the shift lever down and open the throttle just as your other friend tried to make a pass. Leaning back, pulling on the bars just slightly the font end lifts. The back dances over the whoops in a rythmic blitz of speed. You know you are on. Perfect harmony with the bike the sand the weather. Gearing down and cutting hard to the left you look at the first hill of the day. A short but steep climb with a nice s turn bout half way up then a straight shot onto the landing area. second....third through the s.....fourth onto the exit straigt shot. On the gas front wheels off the ground as you clear the crest. A quick glance to the rear and you see nothing but a wall of sand with the distorted view of your buddy who got a little too close......another smile....then the realization you will pay for that one later....smile... chuckle....head back in the game. You see the other member of your party staging at the top of a large bowl. Cresting the bowl.....you see the water pooled in the bottom is a dark green as the sun has touched the sand causing a medley of orange and pinks. The bowl that had been scarred just the evening before was as smooth as glass....like a crystal smooth lake for a water skier. You all enter the bowl at the same time. Skirting the rim in fourth and fith gear staggered just inches from eachother. You know this is a moment made for video but you are strangely happy that it isnt for show right now....its just you and your friends. Nothing else. Trails, whoops, bowls, tree shots and a quick drag race down the flats as turn back towards camp. Bikes parked, the rest of the group has awakened and luckily breakfast is almost ready. A hug from the kids and good morning kiss from the wife. You look around, knowing nods to your friends who shared the morning ride. No stress. Work and the troubles of life are far behind you....lost in the sand somwhere. Knowing you have days of riding ahead of you help get everyone fed. Sit by the fire and look forward to the next ride. RJV

Let me know when you head this way. If its possible, I'll try to hook up with you guys for an afternoon or so. Nothing like the Oregon Dunes if you can hit the spring weather right. RJV

Works Finish = No finsih, that is what you see run on most pro mx bikes (at least on the few two strokes you can still find on the track). Platinum = The goldish finish. FMF and Pro Circuit both offer these finishes. Pro Circuit considers it a more durable finish that resists bluing. Chrome (what I called standard) = Chrome, what else needs to be said? There is an absolute difference between Chrome and Platinum. New out of the box or after several years on them. My buddy is running Chrome FMF Fatty's. I am Running Platinum. They pipes are basically the same age and they have been different from the getgo. They both have the "gold series" stamp on them. If my camera was worth a damn I would walk over to his house right now, snap a photo of his pipes, come back snap a photo of my pipes and post them. But my camera sucks. I cant even get a good pic of my own pipes right now. When the wife had the blaster, we bought a FMF Gold Series Fatty for it. It came with directions for care. The directions stated how to clean and care for the "chrome plated" exhaust. It also made a big deal about how simple it was to clean the "chrome" exhaust and how easy it was to maintain. In the big picture, none of this matters at all. The bottom line is FMF Fattys are a great pipe for a Banshee. They look good in both the platinum finsih and chrome and they are durable. There are without a doubt two finishes for the pipe though. Pick wich one you like and go with it. If I were to do it again, I would go with the chrome finish. RJV

Platinum Pipes = Nickle Standard = Chrome. I run Platinum. My buddy runs Chrome. Both are Fatty's. RJV.

250X FourTrax. 1988 - 1994, I think. This is a 1991. RJV

Check the air filter, make sure you have good gas in the bike. Check the brake, make sure it is not hanging up on you. Check your choke lever, make sure it is working correctly, clicking into both positions freely, check your spark plugs, make sure one or both are not fouled. I have no experiance with the TORS going bad, but I have heard a lot of people say TORS can cause a lot of trouble....do a search on TORS to get more info on what kind of problems it can cause and how to disconnect it. I know these are just basics but everyone can forget. I dropped 45 bucks on my KX at a shop cause the darn thing died and would not start. I did everything I could think of.......except check the spark plug. guess what....spark plug. What an idiot!!! I've been around bikes riding and doing minor maintenace since I was 3! Good luck, there is nothing more frustrating than a bike that wont run right, especially a brand new bike. RJV

Billet Banshee/Sandpit ATV I just got mine, it works really well thus far. It wired right in with no problems. The link provides information about what and how it works. Maybe this will help someone figure out why some of them blow out bulbs right away.... RJV

Good for you dude, keep it up.........and I agree, the rush of the Banshee is unlike anything else. RJV

you know, KTM has 300XC woods bike that is a 2-Stroke......think about that. And given the fact they put high quality stuff on their MX/Woods bikes I imagine they would do a quad right. Hmmmmmm........... http://www.ktmusa.com/frameset.asp KTM RJV

I have a lot higher hope for KTM, I am hoping they do not just rebadge the Predator. If they do, it is an absolute waste of time and money. I have heard though that they are making an all new race quad utilizing their new KTM 450SX motorcycle motor. Seems to be the trend. RJV

Got my light from Billet Banshee (ebay) today. Simple hook up and works great (thus far). At this point I would recommend them. Looks nice and they are bright! RJV ps: I know, my pipes are bent, I pulling them off and repacking them tonight so I will try to straighten them out, that happened when the wife plowed into me breaking the taillight thus leading to this thread.....

In that price range, dont count out the old Honda 250x. I have talked this quad up before in similar threads. They are great handling, comfortable, good styling and bullet proof. It was the first Quad I ever rode, both my brothers rode the piss out of it, all three of our wives learned to ride on it and every time we go to the dunes it still comes and gets ridden every trip by just about everyone at one point or another. I cant say enough good about the bike. Grab a cycle trader as well as ebay. They are our there, dont be afraid of scarred plastic maier makes full kits for it. Heres a pic of the old girl with the other members of my Dads collection (Check out the Honda FATCAT!!! That thing is a classic!). Still running strong. RJV

Congrats, my little girl should be here in Feb......but if she is anything liker her mother I expect her to be late . Seriously, congratulations. RJV ps. Post a pic of the little one when you get a chance......

I race MX on a bike. I have posted here a couple times bout MX stuff including AMA MX stuff and gotten little feed back, except for when I pointed out Bubba didnt have that great of a year, that fired some people up. Anyway, Ill try to spend some time on the mx thread. RJV

Started my wife on a blaster. She out grew it in about 1 season. It is a great little bike, dont get me wrong and they are relatively cheap. As to how they go on the sand, we ran a set of geckos on it and it went just fine everywhere. With that said, after about a season of riding she was ready to jump up. We got her a Raptor 660, K&N, White Bros E2 Pipe/Jet Kit and dropped the front sprocket one tooth. It is way easier for her to ride, way more comfortable and she is way more confident on it than she ever was on the blaster. She is 506 and bout 135-140 and loves the bike, is completely comfortable. I cant shake her now either. Best bike decision we ever made was going for the Raptor for her. Also the day drags on and she gets tired or lazy, the Raptor is so forgiving. She can just leave it in 2nd or 3rd and not worry bout reving it out or killing it. If I was you, I would look at some stock or mildly modded used Raptors. RJV

McGrath just signed a deal with Honda to race the first six SX races for 06. He says he is going to take it more seriously this year. He claims he is going to be in "race shape" and just see what happens. If he is physically fit, it will be fun to watch. Hopefully Bubba wont burn like he did this year. if Chad Reed stays healthy and Windham can put a couple good races together we could get the season we all wanted this year. RC of course is going to be tough and his new teamate Ivan Tedesco, this years 125/250F SX and MX champion is going to be fast too. I cant wait for JAN 06

This guy needs to have everything he actually owns taken from him and given to the people he has ripped off. I reported it as well. RJV

honda had a 70cc quad way back when. a buddy of mine has one for his 2.5 year old. they go really good in the dirt and will get the little one round on the dunes too. dont see many around any more but he picked his up for 400bucks. In reall good shape. just a thought. RJV

God Creates Everything Adam and Eve Mess Up Generations try to be good enough and fail. Mary concieves as a virgin Jesus Christ is born He grows fullfilling all the prophecy about the coming saviour At 33 years old, his own people turn on him. He is murdered on a cross, an innocent and sinless man. The penalty for all the sins of humanity is paid in full 3 days later he rises from the grave Today we have hope. All we have to do is accept him. "For God so loved the world, he gave his Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him"...... A quote from Jesus as he explains who he is and the plan of salvation to Nicodemus in John chapter three. I posted this a long time ago in a thread that went full circle. Pretty basic and not a perfect description but you get the idea. When it is all said and done, this is what it boils down too. Jesus, King of all Kings. Saviour to all who call upon him. Salvation is what matters. The rest is secondary. RJV

Check this crap out, Allesi vs Tedesco!!! http://media.putfile.com/GlenHelen

Did anyone follow the season? The 250 class was what I expected, RC Dominating, Bubba crashing out and the rest of the guys fighting it out for 2nd and third. The 125 class was incredible to watch from the very first race. That entire field seems like any of them could win on any given day. I am glad Tedesco was able to put it together and spank Alessi. My money had originally been on Hepler but he just couldnt get the consistancy he needed. I am ready for SX. Hopefully everyone will be healthy and the series we all wanted last year will actually happen this year. I havent heard how the Quad guys ended up this year....anyone know what the final standings were/are?

When I called ALBA on a banshee it was 8700. I said what? I just read an article about how you guys sell bikes already set up for the same as stock. He said "we do". I said then shouldnt it be like 5999.99. He said yeah, but you have to pay freight and set up. Draw your own conclusion but I think it is a huge scam. RJV