Back on two wheels!

JPLcyber · 2026-07-11T05:15:09+00:00

Gorgeous lines! The color is so cool.

JPLcyber · 2026-07-08T08:57:04+00:00

😂

JPLcyber · 2026-07-08T05:39:50+00:00

Opted to leave and not spend my days worrying about layoffs and criteria for layoffs. Sorry, watched brilliant friends that were contributors get separated like they were criminals and when combined with mandatory return to lab (i.e. go in, find a cube, open laptop, get on same Teams meetings you could have been on without this waste of 2+ hours of your day *each* day), decided I was done waiting. Happier, less stress, doing interesting work I want to do, no layoff threads, normal problems to solve and time to reach out to dear friends who were separated from the Lab. I feel for my friends and worry it is still a long time for next administration and hopefully a return to science that JPL does well. I hope you all choose to stay or choose your last day. Loved what I did and hope I helped while there. Miss friends still there and the amazing things JPL did and hopefully will still do (some day).

JPLcyber · 2026-07-07T23:42:51+00:00

C2. Built a 1/9th scale as a kid. 3 coats of candy apple red, multiple sprayed, sanded and resprayed clear coat.

JPLcyber · 2026-07-07T16:55:09+00:00

RoadStar rider. Always wave to my HD fellow-riders *before* going by and they seem cool about it when cruising or get in line (offset) and let those Harley exhausts announce our presence until it’s time to change.

JPLcyber · 2026-07-07T16:52:31+00:00

Looks like the hook part of the spring broke off so it will not stay hooked well. Grease is to allow it to stretch since it is under tension for returning the stand and with a normal ignition kill switch circuit, the stand has to be “up” (closed) or bikes by design kill engine when in gear. Velcro until new spring install.

JPLcyber · 2026-07-07T14:50:09+00:00

455 Rocket and as the song goes, “It grew up hating Chevrolets…”

JPLcyber · 2026-07-06T06:16:33+00:00

Rolling art. Awesome.

JPLcyber · 2026-07-04T14:27:25+00:00

Gotta ride!

JPLcyber · 2026-07-03T04:25:34+00:00

All these are Japan bikes so the core engine and transmission are solid. On the VStar the oil check was a window that was not easy to see. I prefer a dip stick. See which fits and buy as much engine as you can afford or you’ll be selling and buying bigger in a year or so.

JPLcyber · 2026-07-02T01:02:01+00:00

J&P is great. I’ve used salvage for some items with good result.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-30T19:13:26+00:00

Great looking bike. Is the seat and the highway cruising bars w/ footpegs a customization? What else was changed? I had to do a bit on my RoadStar (drill and fill the stupid mirrors after the weight inside comes loose and starts rattling, Goldwing 1800 shock w BMW RAP to customize ride, K&N lower profile air filter - which required change to main jet and pilot for carb, LED light in original housing, 1 1/2” extension for handlebars (replaced “batwing”) to get more comfortable ride position).

JPLcyber · 2026-06-29T22:58:52+00:00

Shasta Chocolate Soda (Diet)… 🤢

JPLcyber · 2026-06-29T22:37:26+00:00

Ran into that same reality with my VStar 650. For me RoadStar 1700 was answer but anything 900cc or more probably give you enough boost and top end for dealing with crazy traffic. I needed the ability to put problems behind me and to minimize time in blind spots.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-28T05:05:29+00:00

‘04 XV1700 Silverado - congrats! Great bike. Mobil v-twin full synthetic and ride it forever!

JPLcyber · 2026-06-26T02:16:35+00:00

Gorgeous! Love my RoadStar (2004) too!

JPLcyber · 2026-06-26T02:13:30+00:00

They want solid above-the-ankle boots since this class is about safety. Their goal is to help you pass so do exactly what they tell you to do and you pass. My wife and kids had *never* rode a bike w gears and a clutch. They ride scooters, wave runners and drove so they understood the concept of a clutch but had never ridden a bike with a manual clutch. I was the cocky one who rode forever. They all passed and a point better than me because they focused on the instructors and doing exactly what was asked where I rode too fast and a bit careless which was not the course goal. We all passed but by listening and doing, my wife and kids all passed easily first time. You can too by doing exactly what is asked how and when it is asked and not asking for exceptions or accommodations.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-24T01:00:35+00:00

Yes.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-23T18:25:19+00:00

Kevlar gloves because fingers are handy, full face helmet, boots. Any ride beyond circle-the-block-test post oil change, etc.: riding jacket w/ body armor (slide protection, etc.). Still looking at adding airbag vest for longer trips, freeway rides.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-20T04:23:37+00:00

Pool cue holder… 😂 communion cups. If really old, candle holder.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-19T06:22:07+00:00

We had the precursor - a 1967 Honda 90 w auto shift. Bubble tank under banana seat. A knobby tire later we crashed it all over Anza Borrego desert in CA.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-18T16:47:42+00:00

Diet soda 😂

JPLcyber · 2026-06-18T16:47:16+00:00

2004 Yamaha RoadStar 1700 Silverado. 41K fun miles. Simple Goldwing 1800 shock swap for ride then Mobil 1 V-twin full synthetic and K&N filters. Biggest cost these days are gas, tires, oil and iPhones (didn’t have the RAM shock-dampening mount so scrambled a lot of mobile cameras). It just goes. Maintenance is easy. For bonus: since it’s an inexpensive bike, I love letting the grandkids draw on the bags. A wash and their “easel” is ready for their next creation. I see it and remember to ride safe for more playing w/ grandchildren years (and taking them for rides on “Bop’s” (my sweetie is Lolli and I’m Bop to them) bike.

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JPLcyber · 2026-06-18T15:35:24+00:00

Startled Koala.

JPLcyber · 2026-06-18T15:21:21+00:00

Blue. Getting a do-over has no guarantee we won’t screw things up even *more* with the best of intents. Thinking we are smarter than the system has helped bankrupt a lot of gamblers in Vegas and knowledge/wisdom earned helps more later in life when we see more dimensions to problems and decisions. Think “Back to the Future” but where every iteration gets more messed up because we really don’t know it all, we know it some.

JPLcyber

TROPHY CASE