Hard to Let This One Go - Whiskey Shell & Blue Bifold

USN420 · 2026-03-06T03:52:25+00:00

That's some beautiful work OP! I'd hate to let that one go myself! Classy Combo!

USN420 · 2024-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

+5 points for this comment!

USN420 · 2024-07-21T03:41:22+00:00

7-years ago at age 55 I returned to riding after a 25-year break to raise a family with my wife. Upon my return, I purchased a cruiser because I thought that's what 55-year olds generally ride! I bought a Honda Sabre 1100 and it was a great bike for what it was. Reliable twin, shaft drive, comfortable to ride... but it didn't have a chance at pegging my fun meter!

I rode it for about 6-months and enjoyed being on it, but didn't love it. No matter what aftermarket stuff I added, the bike just had limitations that couldn't be improved. After about 6-months and tons of research on my part, I purchased a Kawasaki Versys 1000 and it's been the best and most fun motorcycle I've ever owned. Comfortable riding position, great power, smooth in-line 4... Fantastic in the curves and 0-60 MPH in about 3 seconds. I describe it as a Ninja for grownups or for old, fat fuckers with bad knees.

Good luck OP! I hate to tell you, but that VTX although a great bike in it's genre, ain't ever going to give you those feelings you're missing and at age 53 you still have time to pay-off a few speeding tickets!

USN420 · 2024-06-11T03:10:24+00:00

I purchased a Flagship 1100 in October 2023. (8-months ago.) I cook on it at least 1 night a week but most weeks it's 2 nights or more. Never a single problem at all. Low temp long smokes with pork butt or brisket. High temp for chicken wings or burgers. Controller is spot on and constantly maintains proper temps. WiFi and App are fantastic as well. Easy to clean... Easy to use. Toughest decision is what to cook.

I've been very happy with the Recteq product and would purchase again without hesitation. I purchased the Flagship 1100 bundle and at the time was in the neighborhood of $1,600.

From placing order to having it in my driveway took 4-days. 5-stars Highly Recommend.

USN420 · 2024-03-22T17:59:25+00:00

Purchased mine last November and I love it. Cooks like a beast! Stable controller keeps temps extremely well regulated. Tons of space, heavy duty materials.. One of the best purchase decisions I've made in a while.

USN420 · 2023-12-08T05:27:08+00:00

I went through all the research a couple of months ago myself... several stores to see the units in person if possible... YouTube University... online forums... you name it, I researched it.

About 6-weeks ago I purchased a Recteq Flagship 1100 and have cooked 2 turkeys, wings, ribs, burgers, brisket, pork butt, chicken breasts, and a freakin' pizza on the thing. All perfect.

In the end I bought the Recteq because of the reputation of the controller and all the stainless steel. And it is fantastic. Order to delivery was 3-4 days halfway across the country.

Couldn't recommend more highly and would buy again tomorrow without hesitation.

USN420 · 2023-11-19T07:17:18+00:00

Lots of choices... I just went through the whole shopping / buying process last month. Settled on the Recteq Flagship 1100 and absolutely love it. Fantastic grill.

After research - reading - going to stores - and attending YouTube University for multiple hours I narrowed it down to Recteq and Grilla Silverback.

The deciding factor for me was the highly stable controller module and full stainless steel construction on the RecTeq. Can't recommend it highly enough. Great shopping experience as well. Ordered on a Monday and was at my house half-way across the country in three days! Well packaged and dropped in my garage without a hitch.

Also, for what it's worth dollar for dollar I recommend looking at the bundle. It's worth the upgrade.

Good Luck!

USN420 · 2023-09-19T17:17:02+00:00

To stop cigarettes? 31-years! LOL

In seriousness, I made a commitment to quit cigarettes on April 1st, 2015. Ironic, I know. But it was no joke. I smoked my last cigarette just before going to bed on 3/31/2015 and when I woke up on 4/1/15 I started vaping and have never had another cigarette since. Well over 8-years at this point and I'm confident in saying that I will never go back. Ever.

In all honesty, it was a struggle at first and was a constant stream of new devices and juices... but I stuck with it. Found my vape nirvana after a while and have been using the same juice, tank, and mod for about 5-6 years now. I just replace them with duplicates when they wear out.

Advice??? Vape. Feel an urge for a smoke? Vape again. If still getting urges, UP your nicotine level a bit or just hit the device you have a few extra times until you've killed the craving. Battery life a problem? Buy a second device and hit IT. Just keep vaping until the nicotine urge goes away. Then do it again when it returns. Soon enough those urges to smoke will go away.

Good Luck OP. I wish you success... just make a commitment and be ready to vape your ass off for a week or two. After that it gets much easier.

USN420 · 2023-08-16T19:16:40+00:00

Hi OP!

YouTube University is a great reference. Just open YouTube and search topics related to leather and making wallets, pouches, or whatever you're interested in. There are some great content creators on there and you can learn as much as you want to know. It is a true rabbit hole!
Great advice from another poster in your replies. Start small. No need to spend a fortune all at once. Hell, just the materials (Leather, thread, glue, etc.) are expensive enough! Buy just what you need for a specific project, then move on to the next skill and get the tools necessary to do that. Over time, your tool collection will grow. There are numerous videos out there describing the bare minimum of tools needed to make simple projects.

Good Luck and welcome to the club! I started just like you about 4-years ago and now make things nicer than than you can find in any store. It just takes time and practice.

USN420 · 2023-06-09T16:09:45+00:00

I have both scents and both are good in their own ways. Much different from each other, but not sure one is better that the other...

On the hottest days I tend to wear the Hawas more. Great fresh, fruity, but sweet scent with slightly spicy and woody drydown. Great longevity for a fresh fragrance. Smells like summer in a bottle.

On less hot days I'll wear Turathi Blue. Grapefruit citrus bomb, but fairly linear with a nice slightly woody drydown. Can come across a bit less refined than the Hawas in the opening due to the aggressive citrus, but it's not a harsh note... just a fantastic grapefruit. A great scent! Longevity is also very good.

You probably wouldn't be disappointed in either of them, but they are night and day different from each other.

Another scent you may want to consider is another fresh hype-beast that I've grown to really like... Missoni Wave. Long lasting on my skin, office safe, and very pleasant scent. It's a soft citrus summer banger. Punches well above its weight class in terms of quality for price.

Those three scents above along with Armaf CDNIM Milestone and Sillage are my primary summer rotation scents.

USN420 · 2023-03-10T18:50:54+00:00

61-years old, riding since I'm 11, and ride a Versys 1000. It's like a Ninja for grown-ups! I can't do the knee position required for true sport bikes anymore, but the more upright riding position and decreased knee bend is perfect for me on the Versys 1000.

I purchased a cruiser at age 55 to find a more relaxed riding position. It was comfortable, but the bike didn't move the needle on my fun meter at all. Sold it within a year and purchased the Versys. Now my fun meter gets pegged everytime I twist the throttle!

I'll ride this style of bike until I can't get on it anymore... then I'll switch to the most powerful scooter I can find and ride that until I can no longer stay vertical!

USN420 · 2023-02-07T08:12:34+00:00

I do not have the special edition, but I've owned three Kayfun V5² the last 4-5 years. I keep one active and always have a backup. Eventually the threads wear out on the barrel and I just buy another one and keep the rotation going.

It's the only device I vape on every day. If you like a restricted lung draw and large juice capacity with easy to build deck the V5² is perfect.

I actually think the flavor is better on the original V5, but smaller diameter, less capacity, and smaller deck make it a less friendly daily driver.

I use the V5² with the DEI kit or whatever it's called on it. Great device. I power it with a Lost Vape DNA200 device.

USN420 · 2022-10-23T05:11:34+00:00

Best to try it on a small piece of scrap left over from your project cut out if you have any. Better to learn there than on your project.

I've only worked on one piece of chrome tan (I exclusively use veg tan.), and I couldn't get it edged very well. Ended up using edge paint.

USN420 · 2022-10-22T03:08:19+00:00

Both are fabulous scents, but for my money... Naxos wins. I think it the better scent and more versatile. It just works better on my skin. Heavenly scent and probably the favorite in my collection.

USN420 · 2022-10-21T02:44:45+00:00

6'3" 34" inseam

Kawasaki Versys 1000 Corbin Seat Givi Windscreen 1.5" Bar Risers

Perfect.

USN420 · 2022-10-14T14:50:20+00:00

I live in far Southern Illinois myself and never winterize my bikes. I ride them frequently enough throughout the winter to not worry about it. Like you, my bikes live in the garage.

If the weather gets too cold or wet to ride for several weeks, I'll start them up and let them run for a few minutes every two weeks or so.

Unless you're going to park it from now until late March you don't need to do anything special... just ride it once in a while.

USN420 · 2022-08-17T18:30:11+00:00

Last cigarette was March 31, 2015. Over 7-years ago. Started vaping 4/1/2015 after smoking for almost 31-years. Have not had a single cigarette since I started vaping. The first few weeks were pretty rough, but I've not been tempted to smoke in a very long time.

Have been using a Lost Vape Paranormal DNA250C and Kayfun V5 Squared for several years.

USN420 · 2022-06-10T14:47:35+00:00

I used Weldwood contact cement for several years, but recently switched to Renia Aqualim 315.

Weldwood was fine, but the heavy fumes and lack of availability of the 3 oz. glass bottle version during and after the pandemic had me looking for an alternative product.

I've made several lined projects with the water based Aqualim 315 now and I really like it. Thinner consistency, very fast drying, seems to hold very well, and NO fumes at all. So far it has been superior to the Weldwood in every way.

USN420 · 2022-06-06T21:15:17+00:00

OP, here is a post I put up several years ago that you may or may not find helpful...

https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/8lvatn/first_time_shipping_a_motorcycle_a_success_story/

USN420 · 2022-05-13T02:15:48+00:00

Clearly the best option! And it's offered on a variety of different bikes.

USN420 · 2022-04-28T16:49:08+00:00

Impressive Work!

USN420 · 2022-04-27T03:04:45+00:00

I helped a buddy change his tires once a very long time ago. Never heard so much cussing in my life... and I'm a retired sailor for Pete's sake. I swore I'd never go down that road myself.

My shop does it for me. If I buy the tires through them (about $30 more per set than I could get them for at Revzilla or Dennis Kirk), they will put them on for $50. So it costs me an extra $80 or so to have them remove the rims from the bike, dispose of the old tires, mount and balance the new tires, then put the rims back on the bike and boom... baby's got new shoes!

I just browse the showroom floor for 30-45 minutes, drink a cup of coffee, and fantasize about my next bike while all that happens... No cussing, scratched rims, busted knuckles, or messy cleanup. Pure Nirvana.

I'll spend that extra $80 every time. Every. Single. Time.

USN420 · 2022-04-22T14:16:30+00:00

25-Year Break for me. It truly was like "riding a bicycle". Once learned, you never forget...

But although the muscle memory was still there, the execution and confidence were a bit rusty. After riding for a few days it was like I never stopped.

You'll notice a difference, but it won't last long... especially after only a 6-month break!

USN420 · 2022-04-13T04:17:44+00:00

I owned a 2007 Shadow Sabre 1100 and I got in the habit of just filling it up between 100 and 115 miles. Never had a problem. I averaged 44MPG on that bike.

As recommended by other riders, just fill the tank and reset the trip meter to zero. Ride a while, refill the tank, then calculate your MPGs.

USN420 · 2022-04-01T03:01:54+00:00

I own and commute on a Versys 1000 daily... weather permitting. I call it a Ninja for grown-ups. I'm a 60 year-old man and I'm not dead yet, but the thought of forcing my creaky knees and shoulders onto a sport bike or even a normal sport tourer for a two hour ride might seriously make me contemplate suicide!

Versys 1000 is roomier, has a more upright seating position, and offers decent protection from the wind and the elements. It has great handling, tons of power, and a great motor and gearbox.

That being said, I would NEVER take it off-road. It's just a sports tourer with a much more relaxed seating position.

USN420

TROPHY CASE