Thanks to Dennis H. and Stanley for sharing some of their personal background stuff here. I know this site is primarily about our beloved Nighthawks and that's a good and sufficient thing in itself. But, all of us got to where we are now in our lives via some hard and twisted roads, and, personally, I find it adds to the site to hear stuff like this, occasionally.
A lot of people had nasty stuff happen to them along the way ... and didn't make it this far. They crashed and burned on the side of life's highway. So, it's good to hear some about how those of us to did make it this far got here. Just my personal opinion. Cheers from New Zealand, Dennis G. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of stanley/ Randolph Sent: 18 February, 2010 11:14 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! For most people, yes, it would be as you call it, Kim, paradoxical. But for me, the death did not devastate me. Do I misss him? Even that is an ambiguity. I do and I don't. He was never there for me, and only in his later years did he finally realize that being Mexican in origin and native American does not make me stupid. My dad's, second wife, who was more prejudiced against the two races of my origin than she was against Negroes was intensely abusive toward me: physically, verbally, sexually, and spiritually. I have just recently finally found some of my cousins and an aunt from my mother's side of the equation. They say that my mother, who died at the young age of 29, died of a broken heart over the loss of me. Somehow, my father got custody and I finally had to live with him and his second wife. Legally, my mother did have custody, but somehow lost me at a year of age. I was about to go use some of that inheritance to find her, when her kin who are still alive found me. I would love to have lived in the house my dad owned. He added a back end, two stories, larger than the original house. I helped with the joists for the second story, way back when. Since I did not have the money, I could not purchase the house. It was worth over $400,000; but because of a cracked foundation, it finally only sold for $180,000. His health wasn't good so he didn't have the energy to go fight city hall to force them to do the right thing. The ground shaking from driving in pilings to widen a bridge next to the edge of his property is what caused the serious crack in the foundation. As for him being gone, there are questions that I may never have all the answers to, but I can accept that. At least, I have had revealed to me that my mother, despite information to the contrary, did love me with a love that only a mother can give her children, even though I was robbed of experiencing it. Believe me, moving on has not been an easy thing at times. I own my mistakes, but I have learned - am learning - to forgive myself. I started out on bicycles since before school and it has always been two wheels for me. It is good transportation, it is closer to nature than a car, and a boon to my often weary soul. So, while cars figure in there, mainly Cadillac and Volkswagen, it has always been bicycles and motorcycles for me. And despite the fact that they're "rice-burners," I have always owned Hondas. Wouldn't own a Hog, only a Rice-burner copy, because Yamaha made the improvements Harley should have, years - decades - ago. Stanley ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- From: Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, February 17, 2010 10:31:42 PM Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! I know what you mean. My parents bought this house in '53. I grew up here and now I live in it again. I had three years left on my mortgage when My Mom passed away. I sold that and moved back. Spent all the money from the other house on putting a second story on this. I figure my folks wanted me to have this and not sell it. The second story was something my Father wanted to do back in the 60's. Honoring their wishes makes being enhanced by them passing a bit more palatable. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- From: Kim Paddock <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, February 17, 2010 8:47:46 AM Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! That's a double-edged sword Stanley. Someone's death means that you'll live better. I never knew quite what to think of that myself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- From: Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, February 15, 2010 9:42:33 PM Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! Sorry about your father. We only get one set of parents. Home buying ? Be very careful. Good time to buy distressed. (they call it "motivated" ) Kendas on a 250 ? No problem. Not for sport bikes that may be ridden hard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- From: stanley/ Randolph <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, February 15, 2010 2:36:32 PM Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! I do understand safety, and will be able to afford the best now, because of my inheritance. Father died. I have enough to buy a home (if I do it soon), plus some to live on as well. The 250 was purely commute. To work and to the store for groceries, etc. Last three cars died from under me - transmissions - but now I have a nice F150, extended cab. Great truck, but IMO, uses too much gas. Will be hooking up one of my newly revised (fifth "generation" ) hydrogen generators this week to discover how much of an improvement it will make. I think I will probably put it on a Ford analysing machine, to determine if there are any tuning issues. It has a slight imbalance at some moments that comes and goes. Stanley --- On Sun, 2/14/10, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: From: Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! To: [email protected] Date: Sunday, February 14, 2010, 9:28 PM No secret, they are a bargain brand tire that I won't use on any bike that can be used for anything other than commuting. When replacing tires, I like to use a better grade than OEM. IMHO Kenda is not. Plenty that are though. I understand budget concerns but can't justify sacrificing safety. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: stanley/ Randolph <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sun, February 14, 2010 6:26:53 PM Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! Dennis - I would like to know - why no Kendas? While I had no trouble with them, they're not trustworthy if it's been sitting. The Dunlops that were on it when I bought it were imbalanced and I am sure it was from sitting in a garage for some nine years. It only had 815 miles on it. So, I would not use any tire that has been sitting for a few years, regardless of how much tread it has on it. When I replaced the originals with the Kendas, they made a huge difference; and they needed replacement some 8,000 miles later. I replaced them myself both times, with the tools in the OEM kit and a pry bar. At the time I had very little money and had just recovered from my accident enough to go to work part time. It was hard going at first, being on my legs for that long. I worked at night and the 250 was our main transportation, for the both of us. Mostly, it was for my wife, though. Now, she won't get on it: go figure. We both or each went to work on that bike rain or shine, did all of the maintenance, and she was faithful to take us everywhere: over 15,000 miles in two years, seldom using the car, because it used too much gas, even at 31mpg in town. We were starting out anew, had little, and spent little. That little Honda 250 Nighthawk performed well, never complaining, not even in the rain, except once, when a plug went bad: nooo problema... When I actually put the 450 on the road in the spring, it will have new tires(-haven't decided which yet, Metzler or maybe Avon), rebuilt caliper, and maybe some attention to the carbs, if I still feel a slight hesitation after running a tank or two with SeaFoam. Stanley --- On Sat, 2/13/10, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: From: Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 9:23 PM If you say so.. The condition you describe makes me still think a tire problem. You bought it with these tires on ? Block it up so the front wheel is free and spin by hand. Look close for the tread to run true and from the side, for out-of-round. There is usually a line around a tire that is close to the rim that can be used to reference the bead. Sometimes your hand is the best instrument to use. Spin the wheel and let it run through a light grip. Imperfections can be felt that aren't easily seen. If it meets all of these criteria, we'll look elsewhere. It slips me for now, what model is this again ? # No, Kenda is not a brand I would buy or use. sorry. The official policy of Honda when pursuing a problem like this is to replace a tire to determine if that is the cause (when all else checks out fine) Hidden defects can be resolved this way. Barring that, we'll get into more chassis detail. You've done a good job of eliminating most things already. I take very seriously anything that can compromise safety. -------------------------------------------------------------- From: NM85NightHawk <[email protected]> To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 4:00:45 PM Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Hello from New Mexico! Hey guys! I didn't find any flat spots on the tires. They are nearly new and still have the little nubby's along the extreme outside edges. The bead looks to be nice and even on both sides. I had a friend double check just in case I went blind. The tires are Kenda Cruiser K671 front and rear. Are these known to be good tires? Or should I look to replacing them pretty soon? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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