December 22nd, 2010, 08:50 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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Fun day!
Edited: more lackluster version.
Hey everyone, been loving the bike... its great. I'm taking the MSF next Friday. I have a bit over 2k of experiance now. One regret though... not getting a bike sooner. Also if anyone has an android phone try out the app "My Tracks" here's some info from yesterdays ride... From my new ride. So close to 200 miles!!! Last futzed with by Vip3rV333; February 18th, 2011 at 02:49 PM. Reason: To much drama... |
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December 22nd, 2010, 08:56 AM | #2 |
Greenman!
Name: Jack
Location: South NJ
Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 109
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wow glad your ok. Hope you saw some good sights at least. i'll have to try the app out it looks cool
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December 22nd, 2010, 09:02 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brenda
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250ex Posts: 38
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In South Florida that's the type of riding I do everyday. Then add to that all the tourists here yhat have no clue where they want to go or how to get there. You just have to be on your toes at all times and always watching everyone else. First Sunday in December we went on the Toy Run in the Sun with about 30,000 bikes. They close down 95 for the run. Check it out on youtube.
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December 22nd, 2010, 10:07 AM | #4 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paulette
Location: .
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Quote:
Edit: to the OP...glad you're ok, its experiances like that that allow you to become more of an expert in tough situations.
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sometimes I aim to please, but mostly I shoot to kill |
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December 22nd, 2010, 10:08 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.
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take the MSF ASAP.
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December 22nd, 2010, 01:46 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brent
Location: Pasadena CA
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R Pearl White/Ebony SE Posts: 54
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You obviously forgot to turn off your cloaking device.
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December 22nd, 2010, 02:44 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Max
Location: san marcos
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250 Posts: 131
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take that MSF class asap man...obviously you are doing sh*ts thats way over your skills level. one close call is one too many IMO.
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ride it like you stole it! |
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December 22nd, 2010, 02:55 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: dino
Location: Oceanside, Ca
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): '09 250 Street, '09 250 Race, '13 300 Race Posts: A lot.
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People are telling you to take the MSF class not for the physical riding lessons but for the driving mindset and situational awareness issues. After 800 miles, you probably feel fairly comfortable handling your bike but you might be using a car driver's mindset. When I'm on the motorcycle, I assume everyone doesn't see me unless I actually see something to indicate otherwise. But when I'm in my car I usually assume the other person sees me.
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December 22nd, 2010, 04:51 PM | #9 | |||
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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Haha good one, but you didn't know that the cloak disable switch itself gets disabled when as soon as you get on a motorcycle? Quote:
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But just b/c someone does, It wont make them instantly capable of handling anything that gets thrown at them on the road. That comes with time and experience. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to start any fights here, you would probably learn something that would help out in certain situations but that's not even a 100%. I have herd of plenty of retarded people passing the MSF for what its worth. I know I am still a newb, but I'll take it when I can, end of story. No need to |
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December 22nd, 2010, 06:08 PM | #10 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brenda
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250ex Posts: 38
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Quote:
Driving lesson in SoFLa.... 1) From stopped position on I-95 or I-595 pick out a car that goes by going at least 80mph. 2) Count to 100. 3) Now take off (without looking for oncoming traffic) and zip in and out of traffic as much as possible until you catch up to said car in #1. 4) Once you have caught up to said car move over into far left lane and slow down to about 50mph for no reason. 5) Now from far left lane at last possible minute shoot all the way across all 5 lanes of traffic to take the exit. 6) Once you have accomplished this successfully now you can take all the things you have learned and hit the surface roads...lol |
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December 22nd, 2010, 06:18 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brenda
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250ex Posts: 38
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"Uh... I think maybe you got a bit to much 0's there? Sounds like it would be a ride that would kill my ears from all the choppers. "
Link to original page on YouTube. |
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December 22nd, 2010, 06:35 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brenda
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250ex Posts: 38
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As for the MSF Course, you have to have it in Fl. in order to get your endosements. The couse is good for a basis for you skills, but there is nothing like everyday pratice. The more you ride the better your skills will get. The first 6 months I was riding I put about 3000 miles on my bike. I rode everywhere all the time. Its about 40 miles to south beach from my house and less than 200 to Key West so did alot of riding just for pratice. Just dont learn the 'wrong' skills because those are always hard to break. And the best advice you have been given on here so far is to always think that the driver of the other vehicle didnt/cant see you, always have an escape route, and most important ....ALWAYS wear a helmet...
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December 22nd, 2010, 06:42 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kevin
Location: Tampa
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 250R Posts: 230
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I agree with this. You should not be having that many close calls. You may not be riding defensively enough.
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Kevin 2009 Ninja 250R |
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December 22nd, 2010, 06:52 PM | #14 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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Quote:
I dunno how much more defensive I could have been, people in my lanes and people pulling in front of me... All I can do is slow down and try to make sure they see me. I try to stay aware of my surroundings at all times. |
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December 23rd, 2010, 01:04 PM | #15 | |||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Cindy
Location: Wethersfield, CT
Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691
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As everyone else says, take the MSF course ASAP. Each of these situations could have been avoided easily, and the course teaches you how to watch out for situations like this.
Everyday when I ride, which is a mere 2 miles to work and 2 miles back I have people around me that have no idea how to handle sharing a road with a motorcycle. Quote:
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You are doing yourself a huge disservice by delaying the MSF course. I can see that you are already picking up bad habits by your braking technique and blaming the drivers around you... that is NOT defensive driving. Riding a bike you NEED to be 110% paying attention to your surroundings and predicting that every driver is a bad driver and doesn't see you. Anyways I'll get off my soap box, but please, please take the MSF course ASAP. |
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December 23rd, 2010, 01:25 PM | #16 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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December 23rd, 2010, 01:47 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paulette
Location: .
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situations do happen, and I personally think even if he took the MSF course doesn't necessarily mean that all these situations would miraculously disappear, of course.
Though they do teach you to "think ahead", but the situations you described could maybe not have been avoided. I think the only reason why its imperative to take the MSF course is to not stick to bad habits. They teach you the right way of riding, not what you picked up along the years or what your friends have tought you.
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sometimes I aim to please, but mostly I shoot to kill |
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December 23rd, 2010, 02:35 PM | #18 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Cindy
Location: Wethersfield, CT
Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691
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Quote:
Anyways, I also like to think of it this way, the first time you got behind the wheel of a car, did you do this without prior instruction? Motorcycles are just as dangerous as a car and more so to the rider, and I'm surprised more states don't require an MSF course prior to obtaining the endorsement. |
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December 23rd, 2010, 04:00 PM | #19 | ||
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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Quote:
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I never panicked, in fact I avoided two of those scenarios from coming out bad for the bike. The second I couldn't have done anything about... |
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December 23rd, 2010, 05:07 PM | #20 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Cindy
Location: Wethersfield, CT
Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691
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Quote:
I'm done here. |
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December 24th, 2010, 02:44 AM | #21 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brenda
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250ex Posts: 38
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Quote:
If you are going to continue to ride until you can take the course always remember to keep yourself an escape route (because drivers dont see you taking up 1/3 of the space that a caged vehicle takes) and always be aware of everything going on around you. Expect a car to pull out in front of you, to do sudden stops, to make lane changes without signaling, etc. Remember, to watch everyone around you because they are not watching you. I dont think anyone here is trying to beat you down (so to speak) for not taking the MSF course yet. As for myself, I just want anyone that loves to ride to be safe and to know to ride safe so that you ride for a very long time. We just want to help you and to hopefully help you to know how important the course is for anyone. |
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December 24th, 2010, 04:58 PM | #22 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Eric
Location: NoVa
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa! Posts: 388
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and... Merry Christmas. |
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December 24th, 2010, 06:20 PM | #23 | ||
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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December 24th, 2010, 08:35 PM | #24 |
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Name: rock
Location: greenville, south carolina
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.
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$239 isn't too bad. They want like $600 and an 8 day class from me so I can teach it. There's no actual MSF in this area, you go to the technical college.
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Always get a second opinion because most of these people are makin' this stuff up |
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February 18th, 2011, 08:30 AM | #25 | ||
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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February 18th, 2011, 09:24 AM | #26 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: john
Location: Palm Beach County, Fl Sligo County, Eire
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ninja 250 street fighter, 2008 street fighter ninja 500, 2001 nsr 125 Posts: 812
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You're driving like you're in a car (cage) when you should mantra "i'm invisible." Sounds like you put yourself in someones blind spot, didn't count before taking off on a green, and didn't foresee you way "through" the rotary. All things as a biker you should know and do. Murphys law has a special fondness for bikers, be careful man, ride on.
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February 18th, 2011, 11:37 AM | #27 |
Motorcyclist
Name: James
Location: Maryland
Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: A lot.
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Glad your enjoying the bike. Cool phone app with the map and data!
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February 18th, 2011, 11:47 AM | #28 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Brian
Location: Detroit, MI
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.
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Glad you made thought your days. Sometime's it's sheer luck and to be fair, intersections and parking lots are the worst. I havent had any close calls yet (fingers crossed) but even in the car, I find tons of people in cars are too lax and so their awareness level drops dramatically. I think the major thing the MSF course did was increase my awareness level and being on a motorcycle is all about remembering not to take the security of a cage for granted. A lot of the techniques for safety I transfer over to when I'm driving now and you'll be surprised at the ridiculous decisions some drivers do that you didnt notice before.
Good luck, have fun, and stay safe. Lets save those close calls for the track if possible. |
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February 18th, 2011, 01:36 PM | #29 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Marc
Location: Crawfordville, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Suzuki S50, 2006 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F, 1990 Honda PC800, 2000 Yamaha TW200 Posts: 848
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To add some more here - your max speed was almost 87 mph? Is there a reason for that? You may be riding beyond your ability level and the longer you delay the course, the harder it is to unlearn bad habits. Overconfidence is a big reason people get into accidents. $230 for the MSF course is a lot less money than a trip to the ER or recovering from a bad injury. You going ATGATT or is that just for sissys too?
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February 18th, 2011, 02:36 PM | #30 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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Quote:
I just love it when ppl reply w/o reading the rest of the thread... post #25 to be exact. Since you probably cant read all of it yourself, I'm taking it next week. As for the speed, If I see a big empty stretch of road for a few miles and no cars in either direction then you better believe I'm gonna give it some extra throttle. (and no this isn't a dark forest inhabited with suicidal dear) There's a reason I got a sport (250 sport much less) bike and not a cruiser... Last futzed with by Vip3rV333; February 18th, 2011 at 04:44 PM. |
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February 18th, 2011, 04:16 PM | #31 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Brian
Location: Detroit, MI
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Advice is just that, Advice. On that same note, thanks for the advice on the android app. will check it out. Just about to wire in a USB plug to power my gps, maybe i can splice in a microUSB plug for the phone as well. |
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February 18th, 2011, 04:54 PM | #32 |
ninjette.org member
Name: 01010010 01101111 01101101 01100001 01101110
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r Posts: 38
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For those long rides on the weekend it would be a every good idea to get riding boots and pants... hmm. But the thing with pants is I ride the bike everyday now to school and for work. I would need so many "riding jeans or pants" for 5+ days a week so I'm not wearing the same thing everyday. You know what I mean?
Im not really a sneaker type of guy so I only wear leather boots that go over the ankle right now. I know its not a riding boot but it works. They are laced up tight enough to where hopefully they wouldn't fly off in an accident. As for the phone I just got a extra battery in case it dies along the trip. I would not trust my phone attached to the bike with some clamp/case/holder on some of the bumpy roads. And thanks for the advice, I am going to be shopping for some nice gear for "spirited riding" on the weekends. |
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February 18th, 2011, 05:19 PM | #33 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Brian
Location: Detroit, MI
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Be sure to tuck in the laces if you use normal leather boots. That could get bad real quick. I wouldnt be worried about the phone falling off. The mounts for gps's and phones are pretty sturdy. I have the one for a garmin nuvi 200w and the plastic practically wraps around the whole thing and with the ram-mounts, it's not going anywhere. |
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February 18th, 2011, 07:33 PM | #34 |
Mr. 988
Name: Jeff
Location: Sandy, Utah
Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): One Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 1
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Roman, have fun, learn all you can, ride smart, and don't cash checks your riding skills cannot cover.
Motorcycle over pants work great. You can wear anything you want for school and just stash the pants in a backpack. I wear them over my work clothes, zip them off and hang them on my cubicle.
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"I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to" - Jimi Hendrix Cancer |
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February 19th, 2011, 02:25 AM | #35 |
MotoGP Junkie
Name: Ace
Location: San Diego, CA
Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 250 Ninja Posts: 40
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Love the MyTracks app. Great for hiking and rollerblading with the dog
Kudos to you for signing up for the MSF. Seems to me that people around here are just worried for you. Whatever you do, ride smart cause even 1 incident a day is 1 too many As for gear, I also make the compromise with the riding pants since I run between classes and am on and off the bike throughout the day. For me it's touring boots which are nice & comfy, jeans, and a good set of knee pads <--finding a pair that are inconspicuous & comfortable for all day use can be tricky though (knox crossgaurds & icon field armor seem to be the most recommended). |
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