October 7th, 2017, 09:47 AM | #1 |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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Jobs in the Motorcycle Industry
I'll be graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in a couple of months with a BS in psychology. I'm looking at jobs in the motorcycle industry at the moment but it's hard to search - those jobs don't tend to appear on the bigger search sites.
I worked for about two years as a repair tech for a local shop (not a dealership) that services pretty much all makes/models so I got a good working knowledge of all that stuff... rode lots of bikes, learned lots of things! I also was a service advisor for a short period of time. I'm not opposed to doing that again but I might want to try something new. I have a lead on becoming certified as an MSF instructor here in PA but that's not really a steady enough income for me. I'd be looking for close to $40,000... nobody can live on $10 an hour. I've been googling all the companies I've come into contact with in my time as a motorcycle fanatic, and nothing has really stood out. I'd be willing to move back to DC for the right job. I've looked at all the major brands with US headquarters, AMA, several of the motorcycling magazines, retail/gear brands, dealerships (meh), distributors... any ideas? Has anyone here worked in the motorcycling industry and want to tell me about it? |
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October 7th, 2017, 10:44 AM | #2 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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Wow, that's guts! I grew up in Bethesda, but moved out about 15 years ago and am glad to be done with that overcrowded mess. If you want a job in the motorcycle world, maybe look around in the motorcycle oriented places like western NC and TN. Not only is there a lot of motorcycle related business there, but there's some of the best riding in the country. You might even be able to start a business of your own.
I've been manufacturing ignition systems and other electronics for the Kawasaki triples for nine years now. If you're good at rolling cones and TIG welding thin sheet metal, I can give you some work making expansion chambers. |
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October 7th, 2017, 11:26 AM | #3 | |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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October 7th, 2017, 11:33 AM | #4 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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That's funny... where in Bethesda? I was in Wildwood, a block or two from Democracy Blvd. and Old Georgetown Rd.
Have you been out in the Great Smoky Mountains in NC? |
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October 7th, 2017, 11:38 AM | #5 |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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lol! my parents live right off of Old Georgetown road. right near NIH. I went to Walter Johnson High School right across from the wildwood shopping center.
I haven't been to the Smoky Mountains. I went to the northern part of NC this year to go to the twin rivers chopper fest, and rode down the blueridge parkway and skyline drive. I'm not sure I'd be very good at dealing with the political scene in that area of the country, shall we say... also really really not a fan of swamp weather.. I'd love to live in Utah or northern New Mexico or Arizona but I don't really want to live so far away from my family. |
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October 7th, 2017, 12:03 PM | #6 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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I graduated from WJ in 1975. Small world, huh?
I'm not sure what political scene you're referring to, but I really don't notice anything that stands out. In fact it's more apolitical than where I came from. The Smoky Mountain area is not as hot as it is farther east. If you haven't hung out in the Deals Gap/Cherohala Skyway/Foothills Parkway region, you owe it to yourself to see it for a few days. When I'm at the annual 2-stroke meet at Deals Gap each spring, it's amazing how pro-motorcycle the area is, with lots of businesses renting motorcycles, working on motorcycles, providing lodging for riders, etc.. And it's the only area I've been to where it's common for car drivers to pull over and let motorcycles pass. There are tons of dirt fire roads in the mountains there, too. Like you can ride a hundred miles on them in an afternoon, and see only a small fraction. |
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October 7th, 2017, 12:10 PM | #7 |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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the Smoky Mountains are on my list. but I don't think I'd move to that area unless the job paid REALLY well... although, to live in the DC area you need a job that pays REALLY well.. so I don't know. I love the scenery out west. I love the desert (the whole not-raining thing is a huge plus). for now, I'm looking for something that pays a living wage and is motorcycle-related. if I don't find anything, I will probably go back to the shop I was at while I search for something with a more sustainable pay-to-physical-labor ratio. I loved fixing bikes, but a 45 hour week of doing that, 51 weeks a year, gets really tiring really fast. I had no energy or motivation to do anything on the weekends and like my whole life went to work.
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October 7th, 2017, 12:43 PM | #8 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 7th, 2017, 12:46 PM | #9 | |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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Quote:
I figure that I might have an advantage with my "female perspective" soooo where are all these employers who might be interested?! send them my way.. |
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October 7th, 2017, 01:12 PM | #10 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
http://www.kawasaki.jobs/culture Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 7th, 2017, 01:17 PM | #11 |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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^ I already looked! it appears there is nothing in any area that I could reasonably relocate myself to... I'm just getting started searching, I have like three months to exhaust all potential opportunities lol
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October 7th, 2017, 06:23 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
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I hear there is good money racing MotoGP. Even the slower riders make good money. If you don't mind doing all that traveling it would open many doors in the industry.
Just look at the money Danica makes trying, I mean racing, NASCAR.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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October 7th, 2017, 06:31 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
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On a more serious note, with a lot of BS in psychology why don't you look into writing articles for a motorcycle magazine, test ride bikes (from a women's perspective) for manufacturers, write a book about the ladies of motorcycling, start an all female motorcycle stunt show, interview people at biker events for magazines, or just charge people to hang out with you like I do.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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October 7th, 2017, 06:34 PM | #14 | |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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October 7th, 2017, 07:18 PM | #15 |
Private Joker
Name: Ben
Location: Towson, MD
Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '14
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Working for one of the motorcycle magazines sounds right up your alley. You have a good mix of experience for it from working at CoSS to your BS in psychology. Having a good understanding of people as well as the mechanical side of bikes is a huge plus in that profession. Having experience on dozens of bikes in multiple different riding disciplines doesn't hurt either.
Not to mention you could use that as a platform to advocate for companies to fix the disgrace that is women's safety gear selection.
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I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see? |
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October 7th, 2017, 08:02 PM | #16 |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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Both of these are usually looking for good help.
Racers edge in Cincinnati Ohio Ironpony in Columbus Ohio
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https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
October 7th, 2017, 08:03 PM | #17 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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October 8th, 2017, 08:05 AM | #18 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Tom
Location: Northern Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250, 2019 Harley Ultra Classic, 2001 Suzuki SV650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jan '16
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The Motorcycle Industry Council has an office in Crystal City, VA. Not sure if they have any job openings but it would be worth reaching out to them.
https://www.mic.org/#/contact And if you are coming back to the DC area you need a lot more than $40,000 to live on. If you are going to CA (where most of the motorcycle manufactures are headquartered) you need WAY more than $40,000 |
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October 8th, 2017, 08:45 AM | #19 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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October 8th, 2017, 11:45 AM | #20 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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Good luck, Katie. I wanted like hell (still do!) to be involved in motos or pedal bikes, but that clearly wasn't for me. I'm in a 10000000% different field and my hobbies, unfortunately, will stay nothing more than my hobbies.
$40,000 though... umm... well... that's not much for a metropolitan area? ...wut? |
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October 8th, 2017, 12:05 PM | #21 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: al
Location: NorCal
Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): ex300, gave up looking for a 250 Posts: 435
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What about Revzilla?
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October 8th, 2017, 01:12 PM | #22 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: John
Location: Appleton, WI
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 (race), Ninja 1000 (road) Posts: 504
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I almost kinda hate to say it, but... Here in Wisconsin, I would suspect Harley Davidson would be interested in a person like you, in a position somewhere between sales and marketing. Harley's user base is getting old and dying out, and they need to reach new markets. A female rider such as yourself is a good person to give them some direction.
If any of you guys have seen the Harley 2018's, they are headed in a new direction. Someday they may lose the stigma and become a decent brand. Oh yeah, houses are cheap in Wisconsin. My house would cost a million bucks if it were in Cali. I was once offered a job out there at double my normal salary, but in Cali it's effectively a pay cut.
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Ninja 300 - CCS Ultralight Thunderbike Racing I want to "like" your post but I can't due to forum rules. Sorry. |
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October 8th, 2017, 02:00 PM | #23 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
October 8th, 2017, 04:29 PM | #24 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/...fat_bob_review Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 8th, 2017, 04:46 PM | #25 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
October 8th, 2017, 06:30 PM | #26 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 8th, 2017, 08:28 PM | #27 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
October 9th, 2017, 12:07 AM | #28 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rebecca
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 w/ ABS, 2014 NC700X, 2008 Ninja 250 (sold), 2002 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jan '18, Sep '13
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All I want in life is the men's gear in a smaller size
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My Ninja 300 |
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October 9th, 2017, 06:13 AM | #29 |
Needs a riding buddy.
Name: Taylor
Location: Houston
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 1986 Honda Elite 80 Posts: 29
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October 9th, 2017, 07:15 AM | #30 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
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One word of caution - the motorcycle industry is not stable.
Good jobs are hard to find, even in good times, and the pay is usually not the best. Right now the motorcycle industry is in decline - especially Harley. I doubt they are hiring. Polaris Industries shut down the Victory line, but has shown steady sales of Indian motorcycles even as overall sales of motorcycles and scooters are down. Sport Rider magazine just shut down after 25 years. Sales of sport bikes have been consistently slipping. I don't want to be all negative, but just wanted to point out the current situation affecting the industry. As a female rider you may have more opportunities. The female rider section of the industry has been growing in recent years. I know you are an enthusiast, and wish you the best of luck finding a fun and exciting position in the industry. |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
October 9th, 2017, 09:35 AM | #31 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
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October 9th, 2017, 09:38 AM | #32 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
"And the seasons go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on a carousel of time . . ." Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 9th, 2017, 10:51 AM | #33 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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True, things come in cycles, but they aren't circular with same beginning and ending. More like waves of a stock-chart with each bottom and rise being in a different place. When things come back, it's a different arena that's driving it as products and their markets evolve.
Motorcycling seems to follow auto-industry by wave or two behind. It used to be engineering that was key to developing better more functional products. When motorcycling comes back, it will follow what happened in the auto-industry. Engineering and manufacturing is bygone specialty, can be done by any number of off-shore plants (look at how many GM jobs got moved abroad). What will be hot ticket in motorcycles next is software. With more hybrid/electric vehicles appearing, software is key. Taking what is bleeding-edge brand-new technologies seen in top-of-line bikes and MotoGP prototypes and making it commodity feature available in all bikes. ABS is already here, can be more sophisticated. Direct-injection and variable valve-timing is all that's left to improve on ICE on bikes. Next up, it's all-electric 2-wheel-drive for motorcycles. Traction-control/DBW to make raw HP and torque easier to tame for new riders. Stability-control/auto-steering, cornering-assist, obstacle/intruder scanning & avoidance, auto-pilot/navigation, auto tyre-balancing/pressure-control, etc. will be features that lures in new buyers for the next wave. |
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October 9th, 2017, 11:22 AM | #34 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Agreed. And to the detriment of motorcycle racing and shade tree mechanics. It will be a new world for sure. Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 9th, 2017, 12:59 PM | #35 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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October 9th, 2017, 01:07 PM | #36 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Al
Location: York, Pa
Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '14
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Luddites are so cute
I said that 2 years ago hahah
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Keep calm and ride on -Motofool Never quit on a rainy day -ally99 |
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October 9th, 2017, 01:11 PM | #37 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Gordon
Location: new york
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): '95 DUCATI 900SS/SP '07 DUCATI SS800 '19 HONDA CBR650R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Nov '18, Mar '17
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As long as my old, air cooled, simple 2 valve Ducati crap is not legislated out of existence....I'm good with my "keepers".
i'm not interested in the latest, greatest tech...and the attached inevitable added complexity and expense. Sorry, OP, to veer off topic.
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Custom Carb Service |
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October 9th, 2017, 01:13 PM | #38 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Al
Location: York, Pa
Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '14
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Quote:
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/n...city/86859454/
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Keep calm and ride on -Motofool Never quit on a rainy day -ally99 |
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October 9th, 2017, 01:35 PM | #39 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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October 9th, 2017, 01:40 PM | #40 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Gordon
Location: new york
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): '95 DUCATI 900SS/SP '07 DUCATI SS800 '19 HONDA CBR650R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Nov '18, Mar '17
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I'm still looking for the cam chain on my VFR
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Custom Carb Service |
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