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Messages - Bartlioni

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31
I'm liking it more and more all the time.  Rusty is good at coming up with ideas that could be used as categories.  I emailed him to see what he thinks.

32
No problem.  I've been thinking about suggesting to Rusty (our administrator / facilitator) that we consider setting up some kind of awards section on the blog, where we establish various categories and let everybody vote on it at the end of the year.  It would be a blast at Christmas to see which of our scroungy asses got various recognition.  Stuff like:  Most dedicated, most impressive duck-up, coolest mod, best hooligan, so forth and so on.  I think this would help strengthen our bond as members on this site as well as reward the truly cool with recognition.  What do you guys think?

33
Brian,

I've been studying on this carefully, and quite frankly, 10798 miles on a 690e in a single season?  With no handlebar vibration damper no less?  I gotta hand it to you dude.  I nearly choked on my coffee when I read it.  That's the stuff legends are made of.  Rock on!

 ;D

34
Looky here ma'an,

The KTM PHDS will give you about a half-inch of rise if you want it.  It comes with two sets of screws.  One set for with the riser inserts and one set for without.  I went this route because next spring I'm going to put a KTM steering damper on 690 and that will raise the bar about another inch.  You have to spend an extra 50 bucks for adapters to use the PHDS with this steering damper, but it says KTM on it and doesn't look like a retrofit like the Scotts damper does; being all gold colored and shxt.  But the Scotts damper can be had with anti-vibration clamps and is actually a fancier unit.  I just like keeping my shxt lookin' clean.  Your mileage may vary of course.

35
Correction:  Never drop the Harley ma'an.

36
Progressive Handlebar Damping System - Rubber padded handlebar clamps that dampen vibration as long as you order the green elastomer inserts.  It only comes with yellow ones which are too stiff to be very effective.  Check it out on KTM-Parts.  KTM PHDS.

37
Now I'm jealous of the places you western-fried guys get to ride out to.  And 11000 miles on a 690 this year?  I'm impressed and I only weigh 195.  I hope you've at least got the PHDS on your bar.  It made a big difference on vibration on my 690.  But for me I need three bikes for different mission parameters.  Consider the following applications:

1.  Harley - Chick magnet for dirty old single guys like me.  Also suitable for full uniform events such as rides, bike night, and first dates.  Also a very passible touring bike with the 103ci counterbalanced engine.  And  yes, with enough liquid inspiration I've taken scooter off-road many times.  The only catch:  Never drop the Harley.  If it looks like you're gonna fall over then throw your body under it cuz those repair parts are very pricey.

2.  690e - My general purpose hooligan bike suitable for chasing deer, terrorizing the neighborhood, eating up some dirt, flying across open fields, jumping over anything up to and including school buses, and running from the cops.

3.  1290 Super Adventure - Long distance touring in supreme comfort with all the techno-junk yo' mind can imagine.  Nice fast top end although they crippled it with 160hp while the super duke gets 180hp with the same motor.  That's only 10hp more than the 1190 and so I may wind up with the little one when it comes time to dole out the money.  If I ever do make it out to SD from Alabamy, then it will be this bike that takes me there.

Be well - And remember:  I'm out there!

38
"I think I will just chase the deer, they are kinda cute. "

Words to live by.  A lot less back-talk too.  The wrecks sound like you may be riding with an alcohol deficiency.  Single-malt dude.  Doctor's orders.  And try to keep both hands on the bar when those endorphins kick in.  I can see that hyper sexual stimulation could become an issue if you're a righty.  Fortunately I'm a lefty.  Bwaaaaaaaa.

;)

39
Adventure How-To's / Re: Moose Confrontation -- Adventuring Armed
« on: October 07, 2014, 05:04:38 pm »
I guess I'm a little confoos-ed.  I'm from Alabama and we always travel armed.  I was taught that if you see something move in the bushes then throw some lead at it and see what jumps out.  So I guess the concept of not being armed is alien to me.  Well, except we all leave our guns at the front door at Church and take turns guarding them during the service.  I would recommend against blanks however.  If a situation is such that you need to shoot blanks, then I'd have to recommend flinging a piece of 44cal lead past moosy's ugly little beak and see if the audio and visual gives him some fresh ideas about territoriality.  There's just something special about a 44mag when the possibility of close encounters with bear or bigger exists.

"Ah the smell of napalm in the morning..."  It just makes me feel all warm and gooey inside.

:)

40
I can zimply zay deez:

What your experiencing is a perfectly normal autonomic reactive imbalance brought about through extreme stimuli aggregated through multiple considerations including blistering acceleration, light weight, graceful handling, and an uncanny ability to chase deer through open brush.  The prevailing pathology suggests these aggressive stimuli excite the cerebral cortex inducing radical endorphin production consistent with hyper sexual stimulation.  While several treatment regimes have been employed including frontal lobotomy, radical mastectomy, castration, and even stimulating the bottoms of the patient's feet with a peacxck feather in the more extreme cases, the most promising results have been obtained through oral consumption of single-malt whiskey and physical therapy of the vocal chords screaming: "Heeeeeeeeeyylll  Yeeeeeeeeaaaaah" while the patient laughs maniacally as he / she traverses the arid tundra on a 690e. 

"But what does it all mean Basel?"

      - Austin Powers

It means: yes, it makes you crazy.  But its best (especially for your nads) to just go with it.  This is why I only managed to put 100 miles on my Harley in the time I put 3000 miles on my 690e.  Lord only knows how much single-malt whiskey.

:}

41
Gear / Re: Klim Badlands Pro Jacket
« on: October 05, 2014, 06:15:36 pm »
New info.  I just got back from a 1000 mile road trip on my Harley wearing this jacket.  I got rained on (heavily).  It got hot.  It got cold.  At no point was I miserable.  I was able to quickly configure the jacket for any conditions I encountered.  I've never had a jacket of this quality before, but I have to believe that any quirks with your gear would prove to be torture after 500 miles or so.  This jacket is the bomb.  I mean I shxt you not: the bomb.  On the way back earlier I even finally used the back support for the first time.  Bomb....bom....bom.....bomb.....bomb.

I have to also give special mention to my Shoei R1200 noise reducing full face helmet which performed flawlessly.  I was even able to hear people talk when I pulled over at rest stops.  But back to the Klim Badlands Pro jacket.....did I mention bom....bom....bom....bomb.  I can't imagine what it would be like bouncing around on rough trails and  having a personal experience with mother earth wearing a lesser jacket.

42
690 Discussion / Re: Gear ratios and the RPMs that love them
« on: October 05, 2014, 05:48:47 pm »
Sounds like a job for a 14t on the front and maybe even some touratech foldy-uppy mirrors.  I love mine.

43
690 Pics / Re: Coming Clean with the Pics
« on: September 30, 2014, 07:39:03 pm »
Yeah.  Its a classic.  I ordered a stencil to paint CCCP on the front in military character set. It was a little understated without it.  I sent the shot over to Revzilla and they loved it.  Said they would send it on to Shark which I think is in France.  Doubt the frenchies will incorporate CCCP into the default paint job, but at least they know what it should look like.  I've gotten some wonderfully mean and disgruntled looks from other motorists wearing this helmet.  Most people just point and laugh.  I salute these people.  Plan to add a couple of shields to the sides of my german helmet soon.  No Swatstikas allowed.  Just the german flag on one side, and a scull and crossbones symbol for a panzer division on the other.  I try to show taste when I'm being rebellious.  And rebellious is what I'm good at.  A democrat ducks up....the rest get to see my personal commentary on the situation in symbolic terms we all can understand as I roll on down the road.  I'm a rolling political statement when I feel the need.  But most the time I just like to be annoying as I haul most royal butt on my 690e.  It makes me feel all warm inside.

Be well, and as always remember:  I'm out there! 

44
690 Pics / Coming Clean with the Pics
« on: September 30, 2014, 07:02:12 pm »
Hey Gang,

You guys have been seeing me post a lot of words about every aspect of the 690e, gear, and whatever.  So I thought I'd come clean with the pics.  Showing a little too much boot on this first one.  Sorry.  And yes, that is an inebriated smirk on my mug.




Her's my GPS which is a Zumo 350 that I bought off of eBay for ~$350.  Factory bike mount works great with the wider U-bolt.  This also shows my KTM touring windscreen and foldy-uppy Touratech mirrors.



I'm really proud of my Heidenau tires.  Here's what the 50/50 rear looks like.


Here is the helmet I wear when I really want to be annoying:


And last but not least, here is the Harley I've put 100 miles on while I've put 3000 miles on my new 690e

45
Gear / Re: Klim Badlands Pro Jacket
« on: September 30, 2014, 04:16:12 pm »
I now have the exact same jacket as in your picture.  light grey / dark grey.  I've been riding with it for a couple of weeks now.  I don't have a lot of experience with adventure jackets, but I knew I wanted one with a waterproof shell and not just a waterproof liner.  Previous experience I have had with so-called "breathable" waterproof jackets convinced me to pony up for the Gor-Tex.  I'm thrilled with this jacket. I convinced myself it was the way to go before I knew you guys had a post on it.  Hot weather breathability is wonderful.  So far I haven't had it out below ~55 degrees (no insulation layer needed so far) but I was warm and toasty.  It looks great with my matte black German helmet and Jeantet aviator goggles.  My buds say I look like Seargent Schultz.  I'll post a pic once I digest the instructions I got from Rusty to convert from a jpeg.  I know noooooootthhiiiiink.  nooooooootthhiiiink.

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