Finally found the correct forum.
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:36 pm
I have been using the other FJR forum for a while now and was invited to a Tech Day by the man himself, Ray, and thought it was for that other forum. Much to my astonishment it was to a forum I was not even part of yet. So I signed up and am here now! I posted the following copy/paste to give my take on what happened at the tech day and reach out to thank the people involved but obviously it fell on the wrong ears so I will post it here in hopes some of you at least get a kick out of it and even more hopefully the people I am referencing get a chance to see it.
Jun 5, 2022 (Edited)
Today at about 4:30am I sauntered out of my door with arms full of everything I needed (Read: Not everything. I made the obvious 2 trips back inside and back out to the bike to grab the things I almost forgot) to make the 350+- mile journey to Eden New York to go to my first "Tech Day". I was about to meet a handful of people I had only briefly spoken with on the forum and had a nice "long" ride to make all the assumptions and let all of the expectations mill around in my freeway floating imagination.
I assumed I would have the "shitbox" of the group, which I did. But I also assumed there would be some jokes and comments not meant to hurt or inflame but the usual kind of ribbing you would find at any bike meet up. I assumed my bike would not have any interest taken in it and the work that was set out to be done would be more of a chore to the people included then of any excitement to any of those in attendance. I assumed that my "battle scars" and nuances of my ride would be silently judged and so with it myself and my character. All of this I assumed not because of any inkling I got from any of the personalities I have been in contact with online but purely out of my own experiences and quite possibility my own self bike-esteem.
I could not have been more wrong.
What I did roll into was a driveway with beautiful mechanical beasts all with their own character and attitude. They all had the dust of the highway and the carcasses of insects too slow to dodge these perfections of engineering. Steeds that carried their pilot and pillion to vast far away places in comfort and ease and proudly wearing all of their own battle scars to prove they had been there, made the trip home and like a good horse, sit quietly with eyes on their master awaiting the next time they get to go for a run. Every bike was like mine, all newer then mine but all smelled of the musk of miles the same as mine.
What I did roll into was not just "bikers" but an absolutely wonderful and welcoming group of people that had all fallen in the same love. Respectful, kind, non-judgmental and enthusiastic people that understood why the FJR is "it". Every one that I met was open and interested in getting a look and another persons vehicular companion. Before I could even get my gear off, my bike was being stripped naked and splayed out by four of the most capable veterinary hands these steeds could be in the care of. Usually when people touch your bike you are put off, uneasy and feel violated. I knew immediately, even before introductions, exactly who the two men that were about to perform surgery were and I had full confidence. I practically had to strip my protection and make it known I was there to help in any way that I could, but these two had the OR in full control. The amount of knowledge in that one garage held by not only the two surgeons but all heads combined was immense. I hit my mental record button and tried to take in as much as I could and save as many files as possible because this was going to be an experience worth learning from.
I was fully surprised that every person there was interested in my bike, her age and "patina" was part of the thrill and personality. It wasn't the brunt of a joke or three but the point of interest. These people cared about the work that was going on and the success. I felt they had the same care as if they just brought the bike home themselves. Everybody willing to lend a hand and put their two cents in and talk about the subtle changes and differences and even the harsh realities of owning a bike well over the legal age. This was a point of conversation, many of them, and to my surprise none of which felt in any way like a jab or poking fun. Complete and utter settling astonishment, and I figured it out. It wasn't about the condition or age at all, it was about making sure this race horse could keep on racing and every person there wholeheartedly cared about that goal and wanted a long life out of not just mine or theirs but every one that wears the badge. I am impressed.
I was slightly later then I has planned on making it there, for one I am sadly not as good at the longer jumps of miles as I once had gotten and need to stretch a little more often. Secondly I am really piss poor about mornings after Covid life and 10+ years of bartending I just don't rise to the occasion as fast I I did in my 30's. Thirdly I had no idea what I was going to be getting into so I wanted to stop before showing up so I could get some sustenance for when I get there. I am not the type of person to show up and not have my own rations, I just feel like that is rude. So I back tracked after getting off the last exit to grab some decent hydration, a Red Bull before the ride back, a bite to eat later and a few beers to offer up because that is just polite and my Mom made sure you always bring a wine to a dinner party. So all-in-all I was 20 mins later then what I planned on hitting.
Instead I show up to a packed cooler, with more offerings then the group of us could ever finish, both alcoholic and sustenance. We were lovingly presented with a homecooked local favorite of Beef on Weck that would put any of Albany's Irish Pub's best to complete shame, handmade fruit salad and a family sitting down opening their home and dining table to a group of stinking-like-gasoline, grease and bug covered pavement junkies and offering them seconds. Then later on lets just offer up some homemade buffalo dip to share because "why not?", lets pile the hospitality on even more. To say that I am impressed with the effort, kindness and generosity would not begin to scratch the surface. Thank you.
I had originally spoke about getting my valves checked and adjusted and the throttle bodies synced as I knew there was something off and who better to have look into it then the wizards I had been learning from on this forum. Well, turns out the valves were close to perfect but the effort was not in vain. And believe me when I say that there was a whole heap of effort involved. We cleaned the years of water-and-road "plaque" and "tartar" from her powerful heart and by the time the throttle body sync (way off) was done I literally had a new bike. I showed up with what I though was an amazing bike but what I left on was a whole different breed of rocket. While I will get into that later in the thread I am not writing this while I decompress from the miles and the day to explain the work so I won't get into that tonight but lets just say if you have seen any of my other posts about the maintenance done (or not done) on this philly it was a lot of the same. A lot. What I am writing this for is to express the care, attention to detail and just plain resolve demonstrated in working on this little mess of mine. "A rollercoaster of emotions" was had while we came across grit, grime, seize, and trouble to which the likes of %99.9 stood zero chance to stop these two absolute scholars of the FJR. For that I am greatly in the two of your debt. Bill's and Ray's knowledge and handling of tools is "impressive" to say the infinitesimally least. I learned an invaluable amount from both of you today and for that I cannot thank you enough.
All in all if you have not been to one of these I HIGHLY recommend going even if you do not plan on putting a wrench on your bike. Just the attitude and the character of the people that you will meet, the work and bikes you will see, and the conversations and jokes thrown around is humbling and an absolute joy to be around. Never would I have ever imagine a down-and-back trip on I90 would have been so rewarding.
To everyone involved,
I am truly impressed and I thank you all dearly.
So I am rocking a 2003 60k absolute piss missile of a bike and have turned it into something of a oddity with a lot more to come. Interested parties feel free to ask and I will be sure to spend some time here as well as the other site. Thanks!
Jun 5, 2022 (Edited)
Today at about 4:30am I sauntered out of my door with arms full of everything I needed (Read: Not everything. I made the obvious 2 trips back inside and back out to the bike to grab the things I almost forgot) to make the 350+- mile journey to Eden New York to go to my first "Tech Day". I was about to meet a handful of people I had only briefly spoken with on the forum and had a nice "long" ride to make all the assumptions and let all of the expectations mill around in my freeway floating imagination.
I assumed I would have the "shitbox" of the group, which I did. But I also assumed there would be some jokes and comments not meant to hurt or inflame but the usual kind of ribbing you would find at any bike meet up. I assumed my bike would not have any interest taken in it and the work that was set out to be done would be more of a chore to the people included then of any excitement to any of those in attendance. I assumed that my "battle scars" and nuances of my ride would be silently judged and so with it myself and my character. All of this I assumed not because of any inkling I got from any of the personalities I have been in contact with online but purely out of my own experiences and quite possibility my own self bike-esteem.
I could not have been more wrong.
What I did roll into was a driveway with beautiful mechanical beasts all with their own character and attitude. They all had the dust of the highway and the carcasses of insects too slow to dodge these perfections of engineering. Steeds that carried their pilot and pillion to vast far away places in comfort and ease and proudly wearing all of their own battle scars to prove they had been there, made the trip home and like a good horse, sit quietly with eyes on their master awaiting the next time they get to go for a run. Every bike was like mine, all newer then mine but all smelled of the musk of miles the same as mine.
What I did roll into was not just "bikers" but an absolutely wonderful and welcoming group of people that had all fallen in the same love. Respectful, kind, non-judgmental and enthusiastic people that understood why the FJR is "it". Every one that I met was open and interested in getting a look and another persons vehicular companion. Before I could even get my gear off, my bike was being stripped naked and splayed out by four of the most capable veterinary hands these steeds could be in the care of. Usually when people touch your bike you are put off, uneasy and feel violated. I knew immediately, even before introductions, exactly who the two men that were about to perform surgery were and I had full confidence. I practically had to strip my protection and make it known I was there to help in any way that I could, but these two had the OR in full control. The amount of knowledge in that one garage held by not only the two surgeons but all heads combined was immense. I hit my mental record button and tried to take in as much as I could and save as many files as possible because this was going to be an experience worth learning from.
I was fully surprised that every person there was interested in my bike, her age and "patina" was part of the thrill and personality. It wasn't the brunt of a joke or three but the point of interest. These people cared about the work that was going on and the success. I felt they had the same care as if they just brought the bike home themselves. Everybody willing to lend a hand and put their two cents in and talk about the subtle changes and differences and even the harsh realities of owning a bike well over the legal age. This was a point of conversation, many of them, and to my surprise none of which felt in any way like a jab or poking fun. Complete and utter settling astonishment, and I figured it out. It wasn't about the condition or age at all, it was about making sure this race horse could keep on racing and every person there wholeheartedly cared about that goal and wanted a long life out of not just mine or theirs but every one that wears the badge. I am impressed.
I was slightly later then I has planned on making it there, for one I am sadly not as good at the longer jumps of miles as I once had gotten and need to stretch a little more often. Secondly I am really piss poor about mornings after Covid life and 10+ years of bartending I just don't rise to the occasion as fast I I did in my 30's. Thirdly I had no idea what I was going to be getting into so I wanted to stop before showing up so I could get some sustenance for when I get there. I am not the type of person to show up and not have my own rations, I just feel like that is rude. So I back tracked after getting off the last exit to grab some decent hydration, a Red Bull before the ride back, a bite to eat later and a few beers to offer up because that is just polite and my Mom made sure you always bring a wine to a dinner party. So all-in-all I was 20 mins later then what I planned on hitting.
Instead I show up to a packed cooler, with more offerings then the group of us could ever finish, both alcoholic and sustenance. We were lovingly presented with a homecooked local favorite of Beef on Weck that would put any of Albany's Irish Pub's best to complete shame, handmade fruit salad and a family sitting down opening their home and dining table to a group of stinking-like-gasoline, grease and bug covered pavement junkies and offering them seconds. Then later on lets just offer up some homemade buffalo dip to share because "why not?", lets pile the hospitality on even more. To say that I am impressed with the effort, kindness and generosity would not begin to scratch the surface. Thank you.
I had originally spoke about getting my valves checked and adjusted and the throttle bodies synced as I knew there was something off and who better to have look into it then the wizards I had been learning from on this forum. Well, turns out the valves were close to perfect but the effort was not in vain. And believe me when I say that there was a whole heap of effort involved. We cleaned the years of water-and-road "plaque" and "tartar" from her powerful heart and by the time the throttle body sync (way off) was done I literally had a new bike. I showed up with what I though was an amazing bike but what I left on was a whole different breed of rocket. While I will get into that later in the thread I am not writing this while I decompress from the miles and the day to explain the work so I won't get into that tonight but lets just say if you have seen any of my other posts about the maintenance done (or not done) on this philly it was a lot of the same. A lot. What I am writing this for is to express the care, attention to detail and just plain resolve demonstrated in working on this little mess of mine. "A rollercoaster of emotions" was had while we came across grit, grime, seize, and trouble to which the likes of %99.9 stood zero chance to stop these two absolute scholars of the FJR. For that I am greatly in the two of your debt. Bill's and Ray's knowledge and handling of tools is "impressive" to say the infinitesimally least. I learned an invaluable amount from both of you today and for that I cannot thank you enough.
All in all if you have not been to one of these I HIGHLY recommend going even if you do not plan on putting a wrench on your bike. Just the attitude and the character of the people that you will meet, the work and bikes you will see, and the conversations and jokes thrown around is humbling and an absolute joy to be around. Never would I have ever imagine a down-and-back trip on I90 would have been so rewarding.
To everyone involved,
I am truly impressed and I thank you all dearly.
So I am rocking a 2003 60k absolute piss missile of a bike and have turned it into something of a oddity with a lot more to come. Interested parties feel free to ask and I will be sure to spend some time here as well as the other site. Thanks!
