Honda 599 New to Now

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#321 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:53 pm

Not that kind of dyno unfortunately. It's old enough that all it can measure is wheelspeed. I did hit 180 without actually trying....

*Edit* well it turns out that it comes with a chart that'll compute your hp based on the resistance put to the rear roller vs the speed. Apparently a Busa only has 90hp. It's a pretty "messed" dyno. We've got a good one that we're trying to get fixed, so maybe I'll have some hard numbers for you guys later in the year.

#322 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:22 pm

How pissed off would you be to find some stranger sitting on your bike? How pissed off would you be to find out that someone who was supposed to be an authority figure allowed this to happen?

This happened to me today. As a result this e-mail was sent to the ladies responsible for allowing it to happen... and the dean of the school. I'll keep everyone apprised to what happens as a result.

Today at aproximately 3:20 there was a tour that came through the pre-employment motorcycle mechanics building and spent some time in the shop. As part of the tour some of the students were apparently allowed (or encouraged) to sit on the motorcycles in the shop. Aside from the fact that all of the bikes were in various states of disassembly and had various components hanging out where they could easily be damaged or snagged by an errant pant leg. Is the fact (that to the best of my knowledge) none of your students have a motorcycle license OR know how to correctly handle them.

These leads to several problems in and around the shop.
1) They may have unwittingly damaged something that one of my fellow students was working on leading to very time consuming corrects to a mistake they did not make.

And most importantly to me:

2) One of the bikes that you allowed them to sit on did not belong to the school. The Yellow Honda 599 that the older man was sitting on when I walked into the shop belonged to me. That is my personal transportation both registered and insured in my name. You cannot imagine the feeling of violation that comes with seeing someone else sitting on your bike without your permission. In all honesty I was storming across the shop to yell at him simply for touching it. The only reason I did not was I was scared he would drop it... which he nearly did. When he set it back on the sidestand he did not ensure that it was locked in the fully extended position. Though fortunately it snapped FORWARDS, instead of backwards which would have neatly tipped the bike onto its side.

Above and beyond this, the right side cover was removed from bike, and the battery was out. What this means is that not only were the battery terminals hanging out to be snagged, but so was the rear brake line, a variety of electrical wire (which I now need to go through and ensure were not loosened or pulled off completely), and the clutch cable. Not only this, but there is now a small scuff on the rear left cowl where his foot brushed against it as he incorrectly dismounted from the bike, though I was able to mostly clean that off (mostly!). You are supposed to get off on the left side not the right side.

What was allowed here is tantamount to going through someone's underwear drawer or even walking up and grabbing them in an inappropriate way. You would not be happy to see some random stranger sitting inside of your car if you left it unlocked in the shop. You would not be happy to see some random stranger trying on your clothes or utilising your computer. In fact I'm positive that if I were to walk into your office and use your computer and be caught at it I would be yelled at and thrown out of the room. Why would it be okay to sit on a stranger's motorcycle? Ask Dan or Brad, or Steve, or Phil or any one of your instructors who owns a motorcycle, you DO NOT TOUCH it! It's a very good way to get your "O Ring" kicked. Once again, the only reason I did not yell at him was because I was scared he would drop it. And both tour guides were gone by the time I got in there.

All of this however is simply not acceptable, and I hope in the future that you will at least check for a missing license plate (to indicate that the bike does not belong to a student) before allowing someone to sit on it. However I fully believe that you shouldn't have random people touching a bike that is being worked on. Something as simple as pulling a brake lever while the caliper is not centered on the disc can lead to several hours of work in order to correct the mistake that the student did not make.

Once again, You Can Not Touch Someone Elses Bike. You just can't. Seeing someone do this to my bike has singlehandedly ruined the rest of my day. I was unable to focus on my shop time for the remaining portion of the afternoon, and got very little accomplished on a task that I should have been able to easily complete in the remaining class time. What would have happened if my bike was dropped or severly damaged in some way? Why do I have to go through the trouble of writing this e-mail now? And what happened to respect for personal property?

Jeff Dewald
Resource 3D

Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:35 pm

Awww Jeff - that just TOTALLY sucks. I admire your restraint - really - because you know for sure what I would've done and it would've involved a physical confrontation cause I just blow up.

That was a good letter. I sure hope the right people get it/got it and ensure dodo like that does not ever happen again. Ever. Blowing some liability issues their way and making them aware of those issues would certainly help too as these "institutions" never like to be caught offside and exposed.

Man, I sure hope the rest of your week gets better.

#324 Unread post by **Skier** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:38 pm

I bet the person didn't even understand what they were doing and how much of a no-no it was.

The guide should have corrected that action quickly and decisively with a clue-by-four, in my opinion.

Here's hoping the rest of your week is calm!

#325 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:48 pm

Skier wrote:I bet the person didn't even understand what they were doing and how much of a no-no it was.

The guide should have corrected that action quickly and decisively with a clue-by-four, in my opinion.

Here's hoping the rest of your week is calm!

That's the problem, I have the distinct impression that the guide encouraged the kids (highschoolers) to climb on the bikes around the shop. I'm literally seeing red right now. Going to be an interesting morning tomorrow.

Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:54 pm

I hope the guides get chastised. That was very irresponsible of them. Aside from the potential damage to any bikes, or parts, there is also potential for injury....and not the kind you would offer...

Although this is a smaller thing....your story reminded me of years ago when I was at college getting my cooking diploma.
I had a cake in an oven....this was for marks....when another student went in and turned up the oven temp for his baking..while my cake was still in the oven.

Some people are just so stupid.

#327 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:06 pm

blues2cruise wrote:I had a cake in an oven...

Darned good thing it wasn't a "BUN"

BubbaGump · Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:53 am

Hey Bro - you need Malice & I to come up and straighten some people out - you just say the word.

We'll bring Soozee and watch her kick everyone's "O Ring"!

Malice · #329 Unread post by **Malice** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:06 pm

Put a sign on the seat: "Zippers and buckles scratch, please do not sit on this bike unless you are naked"

Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:14 pm

Malice wrote:Put a sign on the seat: "Zippers and buckles scratch, please do not sit on this bike unless you are naked"

Hmmm, a naked "older man" sitting on Sev's bike....

I don't think he'd like that too much.