Stolen Bike - GSX1400

Some gutless prick has gone and knocked off an absolute pearler of a GSX1400 from a guy I know. It was ridden out of his unit complex this morning in Chermside on the north side of Brisbane after said asshole busted the steering lock. Des had only just put the wheels on last Saturday and he has put a hell of a lot of work into this bike. To whoever stole it...good luck trying to sell those wheels coz they only fit the GSX and the word is out!!

If anyone knows the whereabouts of it or is offered parts (especially those wheels) for a GSX1400, please email me or Des.

Update 1....Des is offering a $1000 reward for any information leading to a full recovery. C'mon, someone must know something!!

Update 2....the reward has now been increased to $1450 due to the generosity of the guys on the GSX1400.org. We gotta catch these knobheads somehow.

Update 3....the reward has now been increased to $2000 due to the generosity of the guys on the GSX1400.org and Streetfighters. A lot of cash - someone must know something.

Ho,ho,ho!!

Merry Christmas to all of you - enjoy the break and time with your families and stay safe on the roads.

Been Very Busy......

Have been flat out at work for the past few days and am working all this weekend, so have been unable to post details from the ride to Kenilworth that a few of us did last Sunday. Will try and post some pix early next week.

In the meantime, have a great weekend and ride safe....

How The Rocket Is Built....

This cracked me up when I first watched it - wonder how much of it is true??

Brand Bashing....

I love looking at a nice bike - any bike, no matter what the badge on the tank says. Having said that, I read a very interesting article this morning that was posted over on BikerSwag.com. In his article, Swag describes how some Harley owners display their arrogance, talking down non-Harley's and their riders. Whilst I don't like this and generally try to avoid these types of people, I do believe that it is a by-product of a brilliant marketing strategy that Harley Davidson has developed over many years. They have been able to make a lot of people think that owning a Harley sets them apart from other bikers. And it's worked well - very well!

Have a read of Swag's post....

I'M NOT ANTI-HARLEY, I'M ANTI-HARLEY-ARROGANCE
If you are from the Middle Tennessee area you don't need me to tell you that the 2007 Tennessee State HOG Rally is in town this week. The event is taking place at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Resort and Harley-Davidson owners from all over the Mid-South have descended on The Music City to enjoy the festivities.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Harley-Davidson terminology, HOG is an acronym for Harley Owners Group which is Harley's national members only club with chapters operating out of local dealership literally around the world. It's a good way for fellow H-D owners to get to know each other and participate in group rides together but it also serves as the primary means for H-D to continue preaching the Harley message to its existing customers.

You have to hand it to Harley-Davidson. They are the masters at building brand recognition, customer loyalty and an overall sense of family. (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and the likes could learn a lot in this area.) Still, although I am a HOG member by default, I am definitely not in to the whole H-D HOG vibe. In fact, some of my friends are aghast because I often flippantly say that I am "anti-Harley".

I guess I need to choose my words more carefully because the truth is I'm not "anti-Harley" but rather "anti-Harley-arrogance". The fact is I love many of their bikes but the Harleyer-Than-Thou attitude that a lot of H-D riders take annoys the crap out of me. Maybe it's because my chosen field is marketing related but it seems ridiculous to me that people actually buy into the message that dropping $20,000 on a particular brand of motorcycle suddenly transforms you from pastel wearing Polo Shirt weenie into certified MOFO in leather who has the right to bad mouth anyone who rides another brand.

Don't get me wrong… I think it's totally cool if someone is legitimately a one brand person (lord knows most of my family has a hard time straying from Chevrolet) but the fabricated personas and the arrogant attitude that seem to frequently come with a lot of H-D owners really chaps me. And it's usually the big-mouthed ones that are the biggest posers. One guy I know takes every opportunity he can to let everyone know he rides a Harley (especially in large settings) but I know for a fact it hasn't seen sunshine more than two times in the last six months. Another guy I know has only been riding his Dyna for about a year-and-a-half… complete with all the H-D branded clothing money can buy. Despite his low saddle time, I hear him smack-talking guys with metric bikes continuously, telling them how their "rice burners" suck. I guess his vast year and a half of riding experience has already made him an expert on brand selection. Amazing! Yet another guy I know, who barely ever rides his H-D was recently bashing a another guys BMW behind his back. Is he serious? Bagging on BMW engineering when he rides a bike that hasn't changed significantly in decades?

In the end, my view point is... who gives a rat's ass what brand of motorcycle someone else likes and rides? If I could afford it, I'd have one from every manufacturer. I say ride what you want, ride safe and stop bashing those who happen to like a different brand than you do. News flash... riding a Harley doesn't make you better than the rest.

And BTW, those of you reading this that are just itching to play the Made in the USA card... all I can say is that if you believe H-D is all about American made products, take a walk through the clothing department at your local shop (a significant portion of their profit) and see if you can find more than just a few items that aren't imported... you won't. Preaching the USA only message is valliant but none the less hypocritical when those doing the preaching are wearing Made in Hong Kong Harley shirts, Made in China Harley hats and Made in Mexico Old Navy jeans.

Holy cow… this turned into a major rant... can you tell it's really late as I write this? hahahaha I didn't intend to write a stinkin' book but I think I'll go ahead and post it so I can get a good laugh from the onslaught of emails I'll get from the rabid H-D fans out there who think I'm bashing the Motor Company. Remember morons, I have an H-D in the garage right now. I just don't buy into the all the hype that many blindly subscribe to.

I gotta go now... have to get up early and go for a ride on the Harley... but just so you know, it's with one of my friends that rides a USA built Honda!

It is so true, even down here in Australia. It seems to be just a few weekend warrior, fairweather riding loud mouth types that make it harder for the genuine bike enthusiast.

Footnote: Due to the fact that there was no direct link to this article, I took the liberty of copying and posting it. To view the original article, along with other interesting stories, go to BikerSwag.com.

Time's A Flyin By....

Wow time flies! I haven't really done much riding since my last post, besides the regular squirt to and from Kingscliff - work, the kids, and the regular day to day stuff has been keeping me a little busy!!

Anyway, I thought I would share this that I received via email from a mate of mine down in Adelaide....

The Ten Commandments

1. The one true vehicle is the motorcycle , and thou shalt not put no other vehicles before it.
2. Thou shalt not bow down and worship nor serve the God of Chrome; for, lo, he is a false god and will not get thy butt home.
3. Honor thy authorized dealer and the motorcycles they sell, and that thy days may be long and fruitful in the land of Riding.
4. Remember the weekend, and keep it open. For it is written, five days shalt thou labor, and for two days shalt thou ride thy bike, drink beer, and have some FUN.
5. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's bike, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his cute old lady.
6. From the throne of thy two wheeled contrivance, thou shalt hail all thy biker brethren no matter what they are seated upon (....even if it is a Triumph) - let those who ride decide.
7. Thou shalt not pass by nor turn away from thy brother biker who is in mechanical distress.
8. Thou shalt not pose. Verily, I say unto you, it is easier for a poser to pass his gold Visa card through the eye of a needle than to enter into the true fellowship of motorcycle heaven.
9. When riding thy sled on the Road of Life, thou shalt not whine nor snivel, and thou shalt not suffer to ride alongside those who do.
10. Park not thy bike in the darkness of thine garage, that it may collect dust for want of being oft ridden. Ride thy motorcycle with thy biker brethren, and rejoice in the spirit of the road and the wind.

Biker Dogs

Check this post out that I read over at the Snark's place. Talk about funny - almost looks like one of those animal backpacks you can get for kids. Don't know how much the dog would be enjoying that though - aren't they supposed to love getting the wind on their faces too??

Kind of reminded me of Dodge and Regal.......

Ink

I saw this Polynesian design a few weeks back and liked it so much I went and got it tattooed on my upper back over the weekend. Took two and a half hours on Saturday morning - got it done by Quail, a chick from Ohio in the US, down at Skintastic at Coolongatta. She did a fantastic job!

Pattern stencilled

Outline and half the shading done

Finished

A day later - love the stippling effect she added

Disc Lock Moment

Ever had one of those moments where you jump on your bike and take off, only to find that you forgot to remove your disc lock?? Well I did yesterday and I dropped the bike - AGAIN!

I had to take my daughter to the local hospital for a check up - nothing too serious - and as my bike was parked in an isolated area, I decided to use my disc lock. We went in, and about an hour later we were out. On returning to the bike I started it up, we put on our lids and I got on. Cass got on the back and after checking she was ready, we moved off slowly turning to the left. Then....it happened - the disc lock hit the brake caliper and the front end took a big dive.

Because I was slowly turning the bike and had extra weight on the back, it lurched to the left and down we went. I quickly slid out from underneath and got her upright. I made sure that Cass was alright, then removed the offending lock from my front disc. No injuries to either of us but the X wasn't so lucky - the clutch lever was bent slightly and the left rear turn signal housing was crushed. Fortunately, nothing too bad as I was able to cushion the fall. The left rear turn signal was damaged when I went down a couple of months ago, and so I had already purchased another second hand one - just hadn't fitted it.

So last night I spent some time replacing the damaged turn signal, all the while cursing myself for letting this happen. I usually check my front disc for the lock before jumping on the bike, but for some reason yesterday I didn't. Unlike a car, motorbikes are very non-forgiving and if you are not focussed, you pay the price. This time for me it was just a bruised ego and some minor damage.

Think I'll go out and buy one of these reminder-cables!

Extreme Roadworks

How good would it be to ride this road?? I don't know where it is, but all I can say is wow! Unbelievable the way they have literally bored through the cliff face to construct it - kind of reminds me of an ant nest.

What is a biker??

I was just reading an interesting blog by two American guys living in Japan and stumbled across their definitions of what a biker is....

Stinger's version....

The short answer to the question "what's a biker?" A biker is not just one who owns a motorcycle. There are numerous people who own multiple bikes, but never ride them. A biker is someone who owns and rides a motorcycle, and not merely as a means of transportation. Being a biker means taking a motorcycle on long journeys, day and night, rain or shine. And a biker shares a certain rapport with his/her motorcycle. A biker loves being on the road and the heightened sense of their surroundings. A biker respects nature, being so close to it so often. A true biker cares less what you ride and more that you ride. A biker is an adventurer, one who transcends normal life, welcomes the freedom of open motion, and the ecstasy and peace of mind gleaned from it. A biker is a generous and respectful person, who helps those in need and believes in "live and let live". And a biker is driven by spiritual, rather than material needs.

Big Ben's version....

The best definition I ever heard was this: You know a biker by the look in the eyes as you pass each other and wave, a look that says "You ride too, and you know what I'm smiling about." As far as I'm concerned, if you understand what I'm talking about, you're a biker, end of story. And for you posers out there too blinded by brand loyalties to see that it's all about FREEDOM, baby, remember what my brother Carl Whitecrow said when some loser told him his CB 750 was Jap Crap: "It sure as hell beats walking, don't it?"

Read about them here.

Cane Toads

Now I realise that this is not bike related.....but I just have to share this with you. As most of you already know, here in Queensland we have a massive problem with cane toads which were introduced from South America to control another pest early last century.

A couple of young guys have made a short animated film which is an absolute classic - go to this website, download the movie and read more about the cane toad and how the movie was made. I'm sure you will enjoy!

MotoGP

I always knew these bastards were mad.....some incredible footage in this clip set to some great music. Checkout some of the powerslides and monos.....woah!! Enjoy.

MotoGP - video powered by Metacafe

Money

In the past couple of weeks I seem to have become aware of people's obsession with money. A couple of guys that I am currently working with have been "advising" one of the younger blokes on how to go about saving money and trying to get him focussed on purchasing his own house. This has been done in a light hearted manner so far, but I have found it interesting observing how one of the guys appears to live life for money. How to save a few cents on this or where to get the cheapest of that - to me this just seems overkill.

I understand that we all need to be able to fund our lifestyle, I understand that we need to prepare for when we can no longer earn an income, I understand that we need to provide for our kids BUT I just cannot bring myself to spend all my time and energy on watching my money grow and not being able to enjoy it. I am lucky enough to be able to afford my mortgage repayments on my townhouse and I live a modest lifestyle - I don't want or need anything larger to live in, I don't want a garden that requires work in my spare time, I don't want the maintenance that comes with a house.

I had a job a few years back that paid really well but felt that I was constantly under stress - I had some trouble sleeping and was always thinking about how to reduce costs, to improve productivity - I ended up leaving that job to study and move into my current occupation. Today I feel no stress - I am able to perform my duties with very little to worry about and when I leave for the day I do exactly that.

At this point in my life I feel the need to focus on something that I am passionate about and that provides a release from the daily ritual, the daily issues, the daily worries. Riding my motorcycle is what does it for me, not watching my bank balance grow or spending my weekends maintaining a house.

September 11

2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11. On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Each person will pay tribute to a single victim. We will honor them by remembering their lives, and not by remembering their murderers.

I realise that I am an Australian and so may seem a little removed from what occurred on this day five years ago. I still remember exactly what I was doing on hearing the news and then watching the buildings collapse - it was early morning and after arriving at work a mate of mine asked whether I had seen what was going on. The rest of my day was spent watching the TV and trawling the internet for some sort of confirmation of what was happening. I did not know anyone who was involved but many innocent people were murdered in cold blood, so I thought I would participate in paying tribute to one of the 2996 victims.

John J. Badagliacca
35 Years Old,
New York, N.Y., USA
Bond Salesman for Cantor Fitzgerald

Not that many people get to be somebody's soul mate. John J. Badagliacca truly did, says his wife. It began when they were 10 and she fell over his bicycle in their Staten Island schoolyard. They became friends that day and were married in 1992.

O.K., they did break up a few times. Sort of. Mr. Badagliacca wanted to date others when he took a share in a summer house and when he got his first car. "All the convenient times," Nancy Badagliacca said with a laugh. "But we had all the same friends, were always together. We were perfect for each other. The first kiss was his, the first everything."

They enjoyed the same things, especially spending time with their children, Nikki, 6, and John, 4, at their summer home. Mr. Badagliacca, 35, a bond salesman with Cantor Fitzgerald, rebuilt that old house in Brick, N.J., from the beams out with his brother-in-law.

He kept their house in Staten Island in good shape, too.

"He was soooo organized," Mrs. Badagliacca recalled. "If a bulb went out he would have to change it in the next minute. If my cabinets got messy, he would reorganize them. It would drive me nuts! And his tools -- you can't touch his tools."

He was so handy that she would tell him he could change professions. "I'd say, 'You could do just that.'" She paused. "I wish he did."

THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 28, 2001

I will remember my cousin John as always happy, always a smile on his face. He was quick with a joke, always laughing. I don't think I ever saw him sad.

He was a beautiful person, inside and out. I wish I could've told him how much I loved him, how much he meant to me. I will never forget the fun we had as children
growing up. He touched my life in many ways. I will miss him forever, and I'll
never, ever forget him.

Lisa Migdalen, cousin

Such a waste of life, but he will be remembered.

Crikey!!

Bloody hell mate - the Croc Hunter is dead....killed by a stingray and not a crocodile.

Steve wasn't only a warrior for animals and wildlife, nor was he just a quirky character on the TV. Everyone in Australia felt like they knew him personally because of his open manner and caring attitude. This is why he will be sorely missed. 20 million people in Australia and countless other millions around the world have lost a dear mate. And two little kids have lost their Dad just a day after Fathers Day.

Rest in peace Steve Irwin.

It is amazing how much of an effect Steve Irwin had on people, not only here in Australia but around the world. As the flowers and personal tributes pile up outside Australia Zoo, I thought it appropriate that I post this poem penned by a well know Brisbane wordsmith...

THE CROCODILES ARE CRYING

Endless visions fill my head – this man – as large as life
And instantly my heart mourns for his angels and his wife
Because the way I see Steve Irwin – just put everything aside
It comes back to his family – it comes back to his pride

His animals inclusive – Crikey – light the place with love!
Shine his star with everything he fought to rise above
The crazy-man of Khaki from the day he left the pouch
Living out his dream and in that classic ‘Stevo’ crouch

Exploding forth with character and redefining cheek
It’s one thing to be honoured as a champion unique
It’s one thing to have microphones and spotlight cameras shoved
It’s another to be taken in and genuinely loved

But that was where he had it right – I guess he always knew
From his fathers’ modest reptile park and then Australia Zoo
We cringed at times and shook our heads – but true to natures call
There was something very Irwin in the make up of us all

Yes the more I care to think of it – the more he had it right
If you’re going to make a difference – make it big and make it bright!
Yes - he was a lunatic! Yes - he went head first!
But he made the world feel happy with his energetic burst

A world so large and loyal that it’s hard to comprehend
I doubt we truly count the warmth until life meets an end
To count it now I say a prayer with words of inspiration
May the spotlight shine forever on his dream for conservation

…My daughter broke the news to me – my six year old in tears
It was like she’d just turned old enough to show her honest fears
I tried to make some sense of it but whilst her Dad was trying
His little girl explained it best…she said “The crocodiles are crying”

Their best mate’s up in heaven now – the crocs up there are smiling!
And as sure as flowers, poems and cards and memories are piling
As sure as we’ll continue with the trademarks of his spiel
Of all the tributes worthy – he was rough…but he was real

As sure as ‘Crikey!’ fills the sky
I think we’ll miss ya Steve…goodbye

RUPERT McCALL 2006

An Expensive Weekend

Unbudgetted Expense No 1 - Unavoidable and Inconvenient
My camera looks like it is dead - went to check it before leaving for our trip on the weekend and it just died with the lens fully extended. I did try to power it up using the 12V adaptor and nothing happened. It seems like something has blown in it, so looks like I will be visiting the camera store to get this one fixed. Consequently, my post for the weekend away at Bikers Dream will be picture free until I can get hold of some of the other guys to mail their pics my way.

Unbudgetted Expense No 2 - Totally Avoidable and Stupid
Kat had to get to an appointment mid afternoon on the Monday holiday, so we left the Bikers Dream group at a lookout on the road coming down the range from Queen Victoria Falls. As we were riding towards Ipswich, just after passing through Boonah, I passed a police car doing 119 in a 100 zone. We were heading up to the top of a crest in the road and so I thought I would give the bike a bit to reach the top - next thing the cop car came over the top of the hill heading in the other direction. Doh!! Of course as soon as I looked in my mirror his lights came on, so I just pulled over there and then. He turned and pulled up behind me as I sat on my bike cursing and swearing while Kat tried to calm me. He slugged me 3 points and $150 for the privelage. I feel like putting a smart arse comment in here about what a prick the guy was, but he was only doing his job and it is me who was the idiot!!

Some pix....

What a view - kind of puts everything into perspective - I know it's not really bike related but I thought this photo of a boat, taken by Killboy near Deals Gap in the US, was spectacular...


Check out more of his pics at Killboy.com

Now for some bike related stuff - just had to include this one (NOT from the Killboy site) which I got a laugh from....

The First Days of Winter

Winter is definitely here and , wow, am I feeling it!! It is so cold but so very dry - my lips are just starting to show the first signs of cracking from the open face helmet. I now try to cover my face when riding and apply lip balm every time I get off the bike. As a point of interest, the Brisbane City Council has declared that as from next Tuesday, 13th June, we will be on level 3 water restrictions, mainly due to the fact that our total dam capacity is due to fall below 30% and we wont really get any real soaking rain for another few months. The government seems to have been forced into action by announcing plans for 2 new dams and other water saving initiatives - but it isn't going to help us now - they should have been looking at this a few years back - must be an election in the pipeline!! This is the dryest I have ever seen Brisbane. I must admit, it is great weather for riding but we really do need some decent rain.

Anyway, didn't do any decent riding on the weekend as I had my daughters, but did manage to slot in a Sunday afternoon cruise around my local area. Rode over Mt Cotton then out to the Redland Bay Hotel for a bite to eat while we soaked up the afternoon sun and admired the bay views. From there we headed back to Cleveland Point and then to the Grand View Hotel - sat out the front in the sun. Really nice way to finish the weekend.

Looking forward to another 3 day break this coming weekend - we are heading out to Bikers Dream, a biker friendly camping property near Warwick, with some of the Logan Village guys so that will be another excellent few days of riding and nights of entertainment.