Ran into a bit of trouble today

[ripley16]

A little off topic but;
The potential for bad things to happen is the reason I've gone to an almost cashless lifestyle and do not use ATMs. Of course I have cash on me and need it some times, but I carry very little and resupply from a stash obtained from a bank teller every few months during routine banking. Probably 99% of my purchases are cashless, (I use credit card with a rebate benefit). I realize not every lifestyle would be able to go "cashless", but IMHO, ATMs can become magnets for muggers, especially in certain areas.

[OldLincoln]

Every once in a while I miss the old, less careful, days. I love your bike Scoundrel. It shows what I might have done in those days, bags strapped down, sleep under the stars, ride hard but enjoy the scenery. I only rode friends bikes but let them borrow my car also, so it worked out.

[Scoundrel]

Not really off topic.
I actually had $18 cash on me. I was depositing business checks. But a mugger might not know that.

[Tilos]

Yes, what sharpetop said, but we're not an armed society, and when some dirtbag sizes up this geezer and starts chest poking, he will be shot.

Another saying I like better:
Don't pick a fight with an old man, they don't fight, just shoot.
Tilos

[OldLincoln]

This is off topic but as they say in court, you opened the door. I watched with fascination a documentary called "Catch me if you can" the other night. A security expert took us through the disappearing experience as if somebody (govt) was out to find you. The short of it is that it's about impossible to do it successfully and it's tougher every day as security cameras and recognition software improve. Like he said tho, normal lawful folks need not be concerned, but if the feds are after you, you have your work cut out.

[Scoundrel]

Every once in a while I miss the old, less careful, days. I love your bike Scoundrel. It shows what I might have done in those days, bags strapped down, sleep under the stars, ride hard but enjoy the scenery. I only rode friends bikes but let them borrow my car also, so it worked out.

Thanks! It was a good bike, but not a great bike. The 1998 Honda Nighthawk 750 was smooth and comfortable to ride, but it was geared too low, as it was designed primarily for inter-city travel. Thus I found, even on short highway trips, that I kept trying to find one more gear to get the RPMs down.

I've been through a couple of different bikes since then, trying to find my sweet spot.

I bought a Honda ST1300 (http://images04.olx.com/ui/8/19/46/1...1281611784.jpg) which got me lots of attention, had WAY too much power, and upon which I went the fastest on the road that I have ever gone. I don't remember the exact speed now, I want to say 175 but am not sure. I started to run out of road. But, it had a few problems, and it didn't turn out to be any more comfortable for long trips than the 750, though its RPMs certainly were low enough. The ergonomics were bad, the engine blasted a lot of heat at me, and the "pocket of still air" that the windshield created (and the advertising makes such a big deal about) had a tendency to trap diesel exhaust and keep it with me for miles and miles. Plus, the thing was super heavy, and good luck backing it up even a small slope to get out of a parking spot.

I traded it in for a Suzuki SV650 (http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/images/b...zuki-sv650.jpg), which is a very nimble, powerful and modern bike, but again, not good for highway trips. I can't say that there was anything specifically bad about it other than the ergonomics, but it sat in my shed and was not ridden for years. So I eventually sold it.
Note: When I traded in the ST1300 for the SV650, the dealer wrote me a check for about $5k. It was the first time they had ever paid money out for a trade-in deal. Everett Powersports is a good dealer.

These days, I seem to like scooters. They're more comfortable to drive, and the low center of gravity is awesome. My current ride is a 2008 Kymco XcitingR (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1d1OMhUPzz...ng+500+Ri+.jpg).

One day, I may get the itch for another long motorcycle trip. Then I might look at the Honda SilverWing, which is very similar to the XCitingR only bigger. But for now, I use the motorhome to do the long trips, usually with ATVs and sometimes the scooter on the back.


Doing the "strap a tent and sleeping bag to the bike and just go" thing seems like a younger man's endeavor to me now, or something for an older man who is tough as nails and has no obligations at home. Once in a while I want to be that person, but I cannot deny the comforts of not being that way.

[OldLincoln]

Doing the "strap a tent and sleeping bag to the bike and just go" thing seems like a younger man's endeavor to me now, or something for an older man who is tough as nails and has no obligations at home. Once in a while I want to be that person, but I cannot deny the comforts of not being that way.

Yeah, I tell my buddy that for me a Holiday Inn is a rough as I go. He's my age, but it's harder for him to let his youth go.

[JohnInFlorida]

Wynn - If you like Heinlein and Weber, try this one ...
Freehold
by Michael Z. Williamson
available as a free online download in a variety of formats @

http://www.baen.com/library/authors.asp

[beatlesfan]

I'm currently reading Heinlein. Loving it so far.

Sent from Tapatalk

[wyntrout]

Wynn - If you like Heinlein and Weber, try this one ...
Freehold
by Michael Z. Williamson
available as a free online download in a variety of formats @

http://www.baen.com/library/authors.asp

I read a LOT of Baen books and I've read all of MZW except the older ones... just got The Scope of Justice (2004), though it's not high in my queue right now. I like the concept of a planet selling its military weapons to the CITIZENS who form its "militia"... ALL weapons, which comes in handy later when the U.N. decides the planet needs to come under their control.

Wynn

[OldLincoln]

I just went through several free book listings at Baen and all I saw were the world being taken over, dragons, sorcery and stuff. Do they have any modern day mysteries or factual fiction type military books?

[JohnInFlorida]

As far as I know, Baen is strictly SF & Fantasy publisher ...


from their banner:
"Baen Books. The best in Science Fiction and Fantasy publishing."

[wyntrout]

I would guess that at least 85% of my 100's of books... paperbacks and hard covers(can't wait) have the Baen logo on the spine. I do read military and techno-thrillers, too. I've been an avid reader since learning how to read at age 6. That's something that kids miss out on these days... imagination & empathy... experiencing adventures with your vivid imagination in FIRST PERSON... as a character in the book. Too many kids sit around with their electronic games blowing away anything and everyone... promoting their self-esteem... that they are the center of the universe! That's real preparation for dealing with others or seeing things from anyone else's perspective.

I don't think it made me any less manly when I was Nancy Drew solving a mystery, or Nurse Bartlet(?), or the Hardy Boys, and others I read about in those very young years, but I got into science fiction very early and learned quite a bit, as a lot of the early writers were sticklers for science facts, as well as fiction... HG Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs(Tarzan and John Carter), Jules Verne, and Robert Heinlein... and Andre Norton... didn't know she was a woman... didn't care... great writer!

Wynn

[OldLincoln]

I'm fortunate to have a BIL close by who is a reader. He keeps pushing off boxes of fine novels on me and I read & return them. I've gone through most of his collection and tired a bit of the murder mysteries. I dropped off stuff at the local Salvation Army store and took a look around for the first time a few weeks ago. Bought a dozen paper backs and 6 or 7 hard backs for $2. Went back for more the other day. With them so cheap I'm buying authors I don't know about and just finished a really terrific one by Larry Bond called "Red Phoenix".

I like realistic military and spy action, with some not so realistic tossed in such as Clive Cussler's "Oregon Series". I do like some science fiction, but not a fan of fantasy with vampires, dragons and stuff.

[wyntrout]

Red Phoenix is terrific. I think that Clancy helped him with that one. Larry Bond is a favorite, too, not as prolific as some, though.

Wynn