WELLLLLLLLLLLL

Follow up story to Motorcycle debacle 09:

I rode in to Riverside on Wednesday, talked to one of the service guys, who, long story short told me that there is no way a battery is going to leak unless it was left in my bike all winter and froze OR I filled it myself.

I told him that there is pretty much NO way either of those things happened, and the way he looked at me, I just KNEW he thought I was a liar.

Then he told me there isn't much they can do, unless the bike only had like 30 KM on it, then they could call it a manufacturers defect.

Today I had to bring it in for unrelated service (the big first 1000 KM one) and talked to the sales guy since he was there.

I basically just told him the whole thing leaves a real shitty taste in my mouth and that while I know it's not a $20,000 crotch rocket like most guys buy, it is still my first bike that I bought NEW and it sucks balls.

He's a legitimately cool and nice guy and understood all of it and shit.

Deep down even when it first happened, I knew they weren't going to be able to do a damn thing. I do understand where they are coming from, in that they have no idea what really happened and blah blah blah.

So we went out to look at it and out of curiosity I asked how much a new stock pipe is worth and he told me it would be best and cheaper to go with an aftermarket one and asked if I'd take a deal on a new aftermarket pipe, and I said probably, since it is better than nothing.

Then he called me on the way home and told me he could give me the pipe, a jet kit and a new battery all installed for $600, which is money I never wanted to spend, obviously, but IS pretty decent deal of around $300 off, plus free install. Add to that the fact that I have been looking at and considering the very same pipe, and it isn't too bad.

So I said do it up.

I realize I could leave the pipe and all that shit, since it still runs fine. but it just bothers me and I want it fixed for myself AND for when I decide to sell it. If that doesn't make sense then...whatever.

my mom thinks I am crazy and that I should have argued even more and blah blah blah, but I DID and it isn't worth swearing and yelling at the guy, because it is just a bit of shitty luck if you ask me.

I'm just glad I have money in the motorcycle fund to cover it.

Oh and he guaranteed me a sweet deal on the next bike I buy. We'll see about that.

Rename this "the motorcycle blog"

Me and my brother took off last night for a ride and ended up covering a solid 130 KM just riding down past the power plant and the mine, through the HAMLET of Tomahawk and then down to the North Saskatchewan river, which involved a little bit of off road action.

The road past the mine and power plant is incredible for riding. hardly any traffic in the evenings, with these great curves and hills and scenery. It was probably the most relaxing and beautiful time I've been on a bike, and really gave me a feel for what going on a longer trip might be like.

The bike was running great and everything, the only bad part is when we got home, I noticed something had been leaking and dripping onto my exhaust pipe. Something that we are now pretty sure is battery acid.

I know it had to have occurred when we were close to home, because we stopped often enough and I would have noticed before hand.

All I could do is wash it down a bit once it cooled.

The stainless steel finish of the pipe is ruined and put a pretty shitty cap on a fantastic evening.

I'm not all that annoyed since the bike should still be under a full warranty. Of course, I'm also willing to bet there is some fine print or something that is going to force them to act like cunts and not fix it for free, but we'll see.

I've got to call the dealer and sort it out later. Or maybe I should just ride it there and cause a ruckus.

eh, really I can't blame anything. Just seems like really crappy luck to me.

Oh well.

Armistice

Ever since I got a bike, I swear that I think about it/riding in general at least once every 20 minutes. It is quite absurd and I am quite sure the old saying of being "bitten by the bug" really applies here.

Having nothing to do yesterday and feeling a bit...off. I set out for a ride as it was a beautiful day. what followed was just a quick hour or so of complete awesomeness.

I found the best feeling in the world is being on a bike and having the road to yourself. I enjoy the highway, but I LOVE the twisty country backroads. Throwing the bike into a curve is something that is exciting every single time.

I still get nervous anytime a shitload of cars are around. Even stopping at a red light. I'm certainly getting more used to it though.

then again, being nervous for me usually equals being very aware, so it's not all bad.

At any rate, I eventually ended up in Spruce Grove and stopped at that little day use park/visitor center off the highway and had a sit on one of the benches for a break.

I was pretty much the only one there, under the shade of a large tree I just enjoyed the nice breeze and thought about things. Nothing in particular. The point is that it was relaxing as fuck for the 20-30 minutes I just existed there.

Then some other people stared showing up so I got the hell out of there.

It was a fantastic day.

New camera test + New Crippled Black Phoenix =

Two word review of album after listening to one disc: HOLY.SHIT.

TIEM 2 FRAG SOME NOOBS WITH XTREME POWER

My mouse is on the fritz and has been for some time, so...

Last week I was out and about on the hunt for a new one and stopped at a few stores, touched a few of them and really found nothing that suited me.

So I did some research and eventually ended up ordering a Razer Mamba , the self proclaimed king of WIRELESS GAMING MICE. I didn't order directly from them though. fuck that.

The thing cost $160 before shipping, which is expensive for a mouse, but not THAT expensive for a high end one.

Even so, I was a little skeptical of my purchase when I finally did take the plunge.

But I got it yesterday and have been messing about with it today and can officially say that itis AWESOME.

Firstly, not only is it the most comfortable mouse I've ever had my dirty hands on, but it is smoooooth as silk.

You can set it to up to 5600 DPI, which is absolutely absurd, at its default 1800 I noticed instantly how much smoother and faster it is than my old one.

I had them both going for some time and the difference truly is night and day.

I'm still getting used to it, and often it feels a little too sensitive like it is picking up too much of my accidental left/right movement when I want to go up (I notice this in games only, obviously) which I think is also part due to the fact that I also need a decent mouse pad.

It's also badass looking, like it came from the future to kill other inferior mice.

Also includes other features like being able to unplug the dock and stick the usb cable into the mouse, making it a wired mouse and charging it in the process, onboard memory for macros and such, switching sensitivity on the fly (which is cool while in game)

Unboxing the thing was both fun and a complete chore. It comes in its little glass (okay, plastic) box atop and pedestal with little drawers underneath it containing the goodies. The only thing missing was a fucking alarm that goes off if you do it wrong.

Definately premium packaging for a “premium mouse”

So was it worth the nearly $190 total that it cost me?

It's hard to say as of yet. I imagine if they didn't package it like you just made the investment of your life, they could knock $30 off the damn price, but I guess that's part of the appeal for some people. As are all the LED lights, but whatever.

Really, it's like those mastercard (or is it Visa?) commercials to me, and the last line would read something like:

“Not wanting to throw your mouse against the wall in utter frustration every 2 minutes = priceless.

Now I can actually enjoy/finish Crysis, Left 4 Dead more Fallout and countless others.

Crappy photo that reminds me I need a camera still.

uh huh.

Well guys.

I feel I should update but have not much to say.

The weather has been nice and I've been getting in a bit more riding time on the bike and enjoying it a lot.

The strange part is I've been feeling like complete garbage, but while I'm out there just cruising around with no destination, I actually, honest to god feel better. I don't know what it is, perhaps just the fresh air, but it is nice.

My chest feels like it has been caved in with a hammer, something that has been bothering me on and off for a long ass time, actually.

I've had the heart ultra sound, and at least 3 X-rays if I can remember correctly, all of which came back normal, so the last time I went the doctor set up an appointment with some lung specialist, which isn't for like another month, but that's basically the last thing to check because it could be asthma of some sort he reckons. I wonder if I spelled that right. I don't care.

But if it isn't, he says it is most likely some sort of muscle problem in that area which means I basically would just have to deal with it, or try some new kind of pain killers.

That or stress related, which I am sick of hearing.

Anyway, it sucks and pretty much makes me not want to do anything but lay in bed these days.

and ride.

I think about going on a bike trip probably every 15 minutes. I can't wait to go with THE GUYS on an epic journey. That is something that I sincerely hope will happen eventually. Planning it out and riding and camping and killing hookers on the way. FUN TIMES.

Failing that, I might just pack up one week and take off somewhere for kicks. It sure is tempting these days.

In new music news I think you guys should check out Destroyalldreamers, a band from Montreal. I ordered a few of their albums and it is pretty awesome stuff.

Unless you already have.

oh, in movie news, THIS has a chance of being seriously awesome, but time will tell.

I'm gonna go watch some cartoons.

Dan out.