ness

First let me say I have nothing against getting drunk. I get lit on ocassion myself. Now that being said I have a friend that is an alcoholic. I didn't know how bad he was untill about three months ago when he got busted for stumbling around in his yard with the keys to his truck in hand. Since then he has been hospitalized twice and gone through treatment. It took him about a day to start drinking again. When he drinks he stumbles, slurs, and generally acts like an idiot. Curently he does not have his license so he can't work as his job requires a license, and is fighting a DWI. He just sits around at home and drinks every day from morning till he passes out. Now I try to be nice to this guy and get him out of the house to go wheeling when I can. I've never asked for gas money, I've wired my truck for trailer lights so I can haul his wheeler. The problem for me is this friend seems to always be so critical of everything I do yet his life seems a mess. As a minor example I wrecked the front end of my banshee and it cost me about $700 to repair. Now I could have repaired it cheaper with used parts, but I decided to upgrade a few things. I get constant shit about my decissions on how I repaired the Banshee. My friend sujests that I should have got a used a-arm, run mismatched tires and rims, and get a used shock. Same would go for just about everything else I do. He has always done this but not to the degree he is doing it now. I try to chalk up his behavior to the problems he is having with the DWI, but when is enough. If I confront him he WILL loose it and I just don't want to deal with it. I have a wife, home, and all the responsibilities that go with being an adult. He has a home, and a bottel. I hate to dump what was a good friend, but am considering it. I've never had to deal with anything like this so thoughtful advice would be appreciated.

At your size you will probably regret the 125. My friend has a TW200 and it is absoultely worthless for anything other than running up to the corner store. You would probably love a Honda XR650L. They are about bullet proof. They have been made for years so you should be able to find one in your price range. I got mine a 1998 with 5600 miles for $2600.

People that always tell you that what you did to your machine they would have done different, or better. These are the same people that do nothing with their machines, but love to tell you I wouldn't have got those tires (Razar2's) I would have gotten _____ while they are still on stock tires. Same with shocks, Noss head, large gas tank. Must be something like penis envy I don't know.

Yellow and black looks great, and would be my choice. I'm not sure about the painting plastic idea. Paint is paint and no matter how good a job your friend does eventually you'll get chips/scratches then it will look like dick. Probably look great for a long time if you mostly ride sand. Good luck

I have a full skid/bash plate for the under side. The mounting points are not perfect. When installed if you look closely you would think my frame is bent because the mounting points on one side of the skid/bash plate do not match up that good with the frame itself (the frame is not bent.) It does stay on fine so far and appears pleanty tuff. I may have just got a lemon, but because of it I don't care for DG.

Do they rub on both right and left upper arms? If it rubs on just one I would bet the a-arm is bent.

Dunedemon, yup it wasn't only the shock that bent (shock, wheel, upper a-arm.) Oh well now I'll have new front rims with Razar 2's, and new shocks. Somehow the lower a-arm, and everything else (including the BFR) seems to have survived.

Great thanks for the reassurance. I was a bit concerned that they might be a little stiff, and no adjustment available. I hope they are a noticable amount better than stock. By the way I found out you can bend the stocks ones.

Yesterday I ordered some Works dual rate shocks. I had two options to choose from. 1. shock set up for 150 - 190 pound rider, and 2. shock set up for 200-250 pound rider. I ordered the 200-250 pound set up. I weigh 185, and the bike has a 5.5 fuel tank. Do you think I got the right shocks? Anyone know what makes the difference between the two set ups? Thanks

I'll go the RockyMountain ATV route. I also need new tires. Any thoughts on the razar 2 front tires? I have 2's in back and like them alot.

Last weekend I ruined a front wheel. I need a replacement problem is the rest of my wheels are stock yamaha black. Besides buying a OEM replacement at $136 does anyone have any sujestions where I could get a OEM replacement for less money. Top a-arm went too, but I already replaced that $92. Riding is fun I just wish my luck was better.

Everyone will tell you not to get it for one reason or another. You like me will probably do what you want regardless of any advice. I have personally have not ridden the R1. I did just sell my 2000 R6. It was more than fast enough to scare the hell out of me. Fastest I have gone on the R6 is 130mph. The R1 will get you much closer to a real world 170MPH. Good luck and be careful.

Do any of you have a basically stock Banshee with 21cc domes? Thinking about doing this to mine, but would like to hear some opinions pro and con. Thanks