quote:

They say "no witnesses to the collision remained at the scene, despite the dense traffic conditions at the time". Investigators are appealing for witnesses to the come forward.

Simkin posted:

The fact that the SUV driver was likely at fault isn't the part of the story, though. This is:


WHAT THE gently caress PEOPLE?

quote:

On 2/26/09 Senator Pavley introduced a bill that would require bikes of model year 2000 and newer to pass a smog test once every 2 years and upon transfer of ownership

Christoff posted:

Oh California

CA Senate Bill 435

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_bill_20090226_introduced.pdf



Yeah, it's just proposed. But these are the kind of laws that pass in CA.

Doctor Zero posted:

Can a bike pass a smog check NOW? It would be kind of retarded to make every bike for the last 9 years make major modifications.

Christoff posted:

It would just make California get the de-tuned/butched version like for cars.

But yeah. I don't see how they could go backwards on models.

pr0zac posted:

California already gets the hobbled versions of bikes. Our initial smog requirements are much greater than other states. Only now we'll have to keep all that stuff on instead of ripping it off immediately like everyone does. Personally I'm torn on the law. Part of me thinks its a good idea, and thinks its only fair that motorcyclists do their part to protect the environment also. The other part knows for a fact that his DRZ won't pass because all the emissions stuff has long since been removed. So I guess I'm neutral and will be ok either way. Will suck having to rebuy all the emissions parts if it does pass though.

Zool posted:

Or you could just you know, leave it on. The charcoal canisters only effect is two pounds of rubber tubing, and a lower rate of lung disease among people who enter your garage.

fronkpies posted:

Always check the simple things first.

Zool posted:

Or you could just you know, leave it on. The charcoal canisters only effect is two pounds of rubber tubing, and a lower rate of lung disease among people who enter your garage.

Ola posted:

Amen. My bike has just started stumbling a bit in the low range, it did last year too and I thought it was fixed. Trying to get all the simple poo poo checked out before I start pondering throwing money at it.

Question in a chat thread: Will a poor battery cause all three of these symptoms?

- Light changes brightness when revving.
- When hot, stumbles a bit up to 3500, seems like less power overall.
- A bit harder to start than usual.

Valves were done last July, only have 4000 mi since then, but who knows...

fronkpies posted:

Learnt a vital lesson for my future career as a mechanic today. Always check the simple things first.

Ola posted:

Question in a chat thread: Will a poor battery cause all three of these symptoms?

- Light changes brightness when revving.
- When hot, stumbles a bit up to 3500, seems like less power overall.
- A bit harder to start than usual.

Valves were done last July, only have 4000 mi since then, but who knows...

Christoff posted:

Christoff posted:

Jesus, who said working on bikes was easy?

Christoff posted:

Jesus, who said working on bikes was easy?

Gr3y posted:

If it helps the first time you do something to any vehicle it always kicks your rear end. You'll get halfway through something and run into a problem you weren't expecting. Next time will be easier for you.

However, you shouldn't mix metric and imperial. Just don't do it. You're inviting costly mistakes. Saving the $3 for the proper socket and stripping the poo poo out something you then need to take (tow) to a shop to get fixed is just stupid.

Also do you have a shop manual? The Cylmer manual I just picked up for my Nighthawk is loving amazing. I've owned a handful of Hayne's and Chilton manuals for cars, but this thing takes the cake. Lots of pictures and step by step procedures (which seem idiot proof but I'll be putting them to the test) for everything I'm likely to do on my own. Plus it only covers a single engine type and model generations, as opposed the one I have for my girlfriends Jetta, which covers three different engines and just as many models.

All the reviews I've read of their other manuals seem to point out that all their manuals are like mine, as in it covers your particular bike, not a range of them. Having good instruction when learning to repair/maintain a vehicle is a godsend, and good reference materials prevent stupid, expensive, and dangerous mistakes once you have learned to do something.

NeuralSpark posted:

When I started working on my GSXR, I easily spent 200$ filling out my tools: torque wrenches, breaker bar, metric sockets, hex keys of all sizes, etc. It made it so much easier. My favorite was a 36mm socket for the rear axle nut.

I also "found" a copy of a Suzuki shop manual which was very useful.

Valfar posted:

Take one beefy carb:

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:

what the hell does one carb need so many tubes for

sklnd posted:

Looks like Texas has a lanesplitting bill that actually made it out of committee this year . . . .

code:

     (2)  the operator operates the motorcycle:
  	                   (A)  at a speed not more than five miles per hour
  	greater than the speed of the other traffic;
  	                   (B)  in traffic that is moving at a speed of 20
  	miles per hour or less; and
  	                   (C)  in a location other than a school crossing
  	zone or a location where the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour
  	or less.
  	       SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

Gr3y posted:

If it helps the first time you do something to any vehicle it always kicks your rear end. You'll get halfway through something and run into a problem you weren't expecting. Next time will be easier for you.

dietcokefiend posted:

I came from lots of car work experience and this bike crap still kicks my rear end. Small clearances are always tough to work with and you always manage to find something else that is broken; always

8ender posted:

I still prefer bike work over car work despite the clearances. Its much more civilized to sit on a stool smoking a cigarette with the bike on a centre stand in the middle of the garage than stuck under a dark car thats dripping fluids and dropping grit into your eyes.

dietcokefiend posted:

and you always manage to find something else that is broken; always

Orange Someone posted:

Is that similar to the statutes in Cali about lane-splitting? I'm referring to the speed limits. Over here (UK) it's at speeds under 40mph and no more than 20mph faster than traffic. TBH I rarely approach those speeds, but it's easier to have a little more speed than just crawling past the traffic.

In other news, I think I'd love to come over there and split on some of your roads. The majority of roads around my local towns hardly have enough room for the car lanes jammed into them, let alone an iterant biker trying to get past.

I have recently learnt to move past the traffic when it's stopped at a pedestrian set of traffic lights, there's never anyone coming the other way as they're all stopped on the other side of the red light. The one thing I have learnt about fighting through traffic is that you should never assume anything that anyone's going to do.

Aflicted posted:

He wasn't even proficient enough to ride in the 5 mph traffic moving and turning around him.

Orange Someone posted:

I can't imagine not wearing kit. I mean, we don't have the temperatures that you guys can have, but it's bleeding windy at speed, and the jacket and gloves make it comfortable.