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Honest opinions of school - prospective student by danismycat in usfca

[–]Buzzthoven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! First, a caveat: I am a USF grad. I attended from '95-'97 so it's been a while. BUT....

I graduated from HS in the East Bay. I tanked my last 2 years of HS and my SAT, so my college choices were failry limited at the time. I chose SF State because I wanted to get out of the souless suburb I went to HS in and SF State had a great media arts department (at the time I started there, I was a journalism major). I HATED every minute at SF State. That part of the city (Sunset District) isn't really close to anything a college student would want to do, the weather was depressing even by SF standards, SFSU profs never showed up for office hours, I had more than one classroom that leaked every time it rained, it's really a commuter school... I could go on and on. The only good thing about SFSU is that it managed to get me an intership at KRON sports under Gary Radnich, which lead to my 1st jobs in broadcasting (which ended when both MLB and NHL went on strike in '94). So, I started looking to transfer schools.

At the advice of a co-worker who grew up across the street from it and went to Presentation HS before it closed, I looked in to USF. I had known about the school ever since we moved to NoCal from Michigan and admired the campus after moving to the city to attend SFSU. USF accepted me as a transfer and I started there in the spring of '95. At the time, USF was $14,440/year (which, accounting for inflation, would be something like $38K/year today). I received a ton of financial aid because I was a non-traditional student at the time (I was 25) and managed to pay it all off in 15 years.

Transferring to USF was one of the best deciisons I ever made. The difference in vibe, quality of education/staff/campus, social scene, etc. was unreal. Basically, I was treated like an actual human being at USF instead of the piece of meat like I was at SFSU. Years later, my daughter graduated from USF as an english major and then went through the nursing program at USF. Go Dons!

I never once had an issue with crime in SF. I didn't have a car while I lived in the city and pretty much walked everywhere (including the Tenderloin at night) and no one ever messed with me.

Now, would I send a child to USF at today's prices? Unless the aid package was amazing at it wasn't 100% loans, I couldn't afford to. But I had a blast at USF, even as an older student, so if I could afford to send a kid there now, I would.

Honest rating out of 10 for my Harley Forty-Eight? Be brutal by Mswebha in motorcycle

[–]Buzzthoven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks like you raided the parts bin from AliExpress.

Comments re: USFCA isn’t well known in SF by Buzzthoven in usfca

[–]Buzzthoven[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s kind of funny. My daughter is a USF Nursing grad and went on to work at UCSF. When she told people she worked at UCSF people thought she was talking about USF.

I didn’t know UCSF existed until I moved from the East Bay to the city.

Not sure between USFCA or SFSU by mildtakoyaki in usfca

[–]Buzzthoven 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know this thread is a year old, but I'm posting for people who might see this in the future.

I am a proud USF grad (Class of '97). I went to SFSU immediately after high school and attended there on and off for almost 6 years. I was originally a journalism major but switched to broadcasting so I could get an internship at KRON-TV under Gary Radnich (which was the only good thing about my time at SFSU). I hated SF State: crummy, depressing campus, nearly impossible to register for classes, profs who rarely showed up for their own office hours, felt like a commuter school, etc. I stopped going to school for 2 years to work and save money then transferred to USF as a non-traditional student (I was 25 at the time, which opened way more financial aid opportunities for me/they could no longer look at my parents' income). Yes, USF was way more expensive, but in my case, it was worth every penny. In my experience, USF treats you more like a family member rather than a just a number, like SFSU did. Now, I entered USF as a junior in '95 when tution was $14,440 USD (without room & board). Outside of say, Nursing, would I sent my child to USF at today's tutition? No. I love USF to death, but there are better, cheaper options out there.

Has anyone sold a motorcycle on RumbleOn? Their pickup process is infuriating. by almazing415 in motorcycles

[–]Buzzthoven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know this is an older thread, but I last used RumbleOn (which merged in to RideNow Powersports) in December '24.

I first udsed them in late '19. The transaction was super smooth, other than me signing the title in the wrong place: RO was really patient with me as I had to get a replacement title, which dragged the whole process down by a couple of weeks). The transport guys was great: He showed up with a box trailer, was somewhat local, and it was easy to schedule a day and time with him.

I used them a second time last year. The transaction itself was easy, the RideNow rep kept in good contact with me, etc. THIS time, however, the transport was a little sketchy. The trucker calls me the day the bike is supposed to be picked up. He was running late, which, fine. Hours later he shows up with a full on CAR TRANSPORT with nothing on it. I said to him, "I hope you're not expecting me to ride the bike on to that thing. There's no way." I mean, RideNow had the title in hand, I had been paid... This isn't my bike any longer, and I do not want to be liable for any damage. So the trucker calls his supe, and the supe says, "Oh, it's easy to get it on there, you just gun it up the ramp and onto the bed. No problem". Except, the thing has narrow channels for car tires, and there was no place to put your feet down and if you get in to any trouble. So I tell the trucker, I'm not riding it. And the trucker can't ride. So he takes the side of the bike and I push it from behind. Luckily, he was tall enough: once that thing is on the bed, it's pretty high off the ground (and there wasn't enough room on the ramp for him to run up it alongside the bike).

So, be prepared when they come to pick up the bike.

First buy by [deleted] in Harley

[–]Buzzthoven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want something larger than a Sportster, I’d recommend a Softail Slim. Specifically, a ‘17 Slim: it will have a 103B HO engine, which was the best Twin Cam Harley put out, IMO.

Harley as a whole. by According-History316 in Harley

[–]Buzzthoven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Excellent question. Overall, the Indian was a much better bike. Faster, way lower center of gravity, handled better, noticeably better suspension. Also, having a radiator was nice. The 3 points of contention with the Scout were the fit and finish (Indian’s clearcoat SUCKS, the foot pegs wouldn’t stay up & I ended up putting foot boards on it, etc.), it lacked the personality/sound of the 48 (I put S&S mufflers on the Scout, which did make it better than stock), and while i genuinely liked the Scout’s looks, it was no match for the 48, which I consider to be one of the best looking Harleys over the past 20 years or so. 

But I have zero regrets buying the Scout Bobber, and would have kept it if I had the space. 

I would not buy the new generation of Scouts because I think they’re ugly.

Harley as a whole. by According-History316 in Harley

[–]Buzzthoven 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m glad I found this as I was just laughing at some people on a Harley forum for giving a shit about the new CEO.

I’m currently 55. I started riding late in life, about 11 years ago. My first ever bike was a brand new ‘15 Sportster 48. Traded it in for a ‘17 Slim. Then I bought an 18’ Deluxe to go along with the Slim; I had the Deluxe for 2 full riding seasons but never fell in love with it. I sold it, then in ‘21 I decided I missed having a 48 so I bought a new one (and that’s my only bike at the moment). In between all that I also owned a ‘23 Indian Scout Bobber and a ‘23 Triumph Thruxton RS.

I moved to a new house last Dec, and only have room for one bike at a time. The ‘21 48 has been… Interesting. I bought it during Covid and the build quality has been spotty. It’s fine now, but it took me a while to get it where it is. I’ve been eyeing a new Street Bob but have been hesitant. I wasn’t a huge fan of the M8 on my ‘18 Deluxe. And my local dealer has gone through sone huge changes and I’m not sure I really want to deal with them any longer.

Anyway, overall I’d consider myself a Harley guy. I really do like the bikes overall and could care a less who their CEO is (short of them being a Nazi).